Author: Carlene O'Connor
Genre: Mystery
Mass Market Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781496731708
Kensington Publishing
368 Pages
$8.20; $6.99 Amazon
July 27, 2021
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Former New York interior designer Tara Meehan is eagerly anticipating the grand opening of her architectural salvage shop Renewals in her newly adopted home of Galway. She's in the midst of preparations when heiress Veronica O'Farrell bursts in to announce she's ready for some renewal of her own. To celebrate one year of sobriety, she's invited seven people she wronged in her drinking days to historic Ballynahinch Castle Hotel in neighboring Connemara to make amends in style.
But perhaps one among them is not so eager to pardon her past misdeeds. Veronica is found lying inthe ruins of manor house Clifden Castle with an antique Tara Brooch buried in her heart -- the same brooch Tara Meehan admired in her shop the day before, posting a photo with the caption #Killerbrooch. Now she's a prime suspect, along with Veronica's guests, all of whom had motives to stab the heiress. It's up to Tara to pin down the guilty party...
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Tara Meehan moved to Galway, Ireland after her mother's death. It was her mother's homeland, and she had her reasons for coming. But now she's found an uncle, and she's part-owner in an architectural salvage business, and has decided to open a shop in town called Renewals. One day when she's preparing for her grand opening, a woman, larger than life, blows in through the door and announces she wants to hold a small party here for the guests she's invited to celebrate her sobriety. Stunned, Tara is also taken by the beautiful brooch the woman is wearing. Veronica O'Farrell turns out to be an heiress and invites Tara to wear it and take a picture. Tara posts it online, and when Veronica leaves thinks nothing of it. But when Veronica is later found murdered with that same brooch, Tara is now a suspect. Trying to clear her name might not be easy, but if she can figure out which one of the guests actually killed the woman, her worries will be over. Unfortunately, they might also be over if the killer finds her first...
This is the second book in the series and I have to say that I utterly enjoyed it as much as the first. I like all of the characters in this book, although I will admit I am a bit on the fence about Tara's maybe-boyfriend, Danny. Time will tell, I suppose. But I do like Uncle Johnny, Breanna, and Detective Gable. He treats Tara like a person, not an annoying gnat.
What I didn't care for in the book (and the loss of one star, unfortunately), was the fact that Tara would just walk up to people and start asking them questions like she was a garda herself, without even an introduction or why she was asking. It was a tad uncomfortable, and I would have told her to bugger off. Surely there are better ways to get answers than putting someone on the defensive immediately. But I did like the fact that both Danny and Johnny had her back, and that showed that they cared about her.
Other than that, the plot was very good, and there were questions throughout that get you wondering how certain things were done. Even looking for clues was a bit difficult, but it really didn't matter, as the ending was worth the wait. Speaking of that, it was definitely unexpected and came out of nowhere, but please do not peek to see who the murderer is! You will have more fun reading this book if you just wait, and it will all be revealed in time. The reason for the murder is rather sad, but who knows what goes on in the mind of the deranged? I do look forward to the next in this series. Recommended.
More on Carlene O'Connor's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/o/carlene-oconnor/
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