Author: Carlene O'Connor
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Digital Book (Audiobook Available)
ISBN #: 9781496744449
Kensington Cozies
304 Pages
$27.00; $13.77 Amazon
February 20, 2024
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Siobhán's brother Eoin's new family restaurant, The O'Sullivan Six, is so close to opening -- but waiting on the necessary permits puts the heat of July in the village of Kilbane in County Cork is driving everyone a bit mad. Macdara Flannery comes to the rescue with a plan -- take a holiday by the sea and stuff themselves with fish and chips to support the struggling business of the aptly named Mrs. Chipper.
But when they arrive, a crowd is gathered in front of the closed shop: a local fisherman with a fresh cod delivery, a food critic, Mrs. Chipper's ex-husband who's opening a competing fish and chips shop directly across the street and a repairman to fix the vent for the deep fryer. With Siobhan and Macdara as witnesses, a local handyman gets the locked door open, only to find the proprietor lying dead and covered in flour at the base of a ladder, its rungs coated in slippery fat. Clearly this was not an accidental tragedy...
Even as the local garda take over the murder investigation, Siobhán and Macdara can't help themselves from placing their long-delayed honeymoon on hold -- at least until they can help apprehend an elusive killer.
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It's the middle of summer in Kilbane, Ireland, and Siobhán O'Sullivan-Flannery is waiting for her brother Eoin to open his new restaurant. Everyone is at odds and ends, even the younger O'Sullivans. That is, until Siobhán's husband Macdara returns home one evening and informs them that he's booked a vacation for them in a small town on the seaside. He tells Siobhán that this is their long-awaited honeymoon, and even the family can come. Seeing the excitement everyone has, she agrees and they set off.
The first thing Siobhán wants is fresh fish and chips, but when they arrive at the chipper there seems to be a long line outside, and no one knows why it isn't open. Because of her instincts, she finally finds someone to get the door open, and she and Macdara find the proprietor, Mrs. Chips, dead on the floor in what appears at first to be an accident. But Siobhán isn't convinced, especially when she notices clues that others don't see.
But it's not their case, and she's on honeymoon. At least until she convinces herself -- and it doesn't take long -- that she can find the killer. Now she's in a case in another town, but could it cause more than the trouble it's worth? And is the killer ever going to be caught?
This is the tenth book in the series and I must say that this one is the most intriguing so far. While I love the change of scenery, and the descriptions of the town are aplenty, it's Siobhán I am most interested in. She has an analytical mind, and I love that. She's not convinced this was an accident, although even her husband tries to tell her it was. And the more she thinks about it, the more she's sure it was murder. But who would kill the elderly woman? Her ex-husband is a suspect, even if it appears that he's trying to give her a proper memorial. There are also others in the village she finds suspect, and not everyone around her is happy about it.
When she starts to get closer to the answers, she realizes that someone is watching her and doesn't want her to figure things out. Now Macdara doesn't want to let her out of his sight, and her siblings are enjoying themselves but keeping an eye on her. Will she be able to solve the case before they have to go home? And why can't she just enjoy herself?...
I don't want to say anything else about the book as it might give too much away. But it is one of Ms. O'Connor's best, and she draws you in easily from the first chapter. After all, who reads a mystery unless you want to solve the crime yourself?
I will say that I was completely taken by surprise at one point in the book. While I figured out the murderer shortly before our protagonist did, I was hoping that I was wrong, since I really liked almost everyone in this sleepy little seaside town. (Of course, there are those you don't like). But the ending was delightful all the same. While we are transported to Ireland for a short time, we once again find ourselves involved in the lives of the O'Sullivans, and it is once again just as entertaining as the previous books. The family closeness is endearing. The mystery was fascinating. The entire novel was enchanting. I love this series and await the next. Highly recommended.
I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Carlene O'Connor's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/o/carlene-oconnor/
