An Irish Castle Mystery Book 3
Author: Ellie Brannigan
Genre: Mystery
Hardcover; Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9798892422581; 9798892423137
Crooked Lane Books
320 Pages
$29.99; $19.99; $14.99 Amazon
August 26, 2025
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Entrepreneur Rayne McGrath's wedding venue is open for business until a dead and unburied body is found at the cemetery in the third Irish Castle cozy mystery.
With six months left to fulfill the provisions of Uncle Nevin's will and save the fixer-upper castle she and her cousin inherited, Rayne McGrath and Ciara Smith's bridal venue venture is finally bringing in money. To unite the reluctant villages, some who'd vehemently protested their efforts to modernize the village, they agree with Father Patrick's idea to create a group of volunteers to clean the old cemetery behind the beloved church. When a body is found by one of the historic tombstones, the cousins must work overtime to solve the newest case.
The plot thickens and an unsolved crime from the past is unearthed when it's discovered that the body was on top of a fake grave that has connections to Rayne's ancestors. With two weddings scheduled at the castle and her mother on the way, Rayne fears she won't be able to balance it all, yet she rolls up her sleeves and dives into old family journals in hopes of puzzling out not one but two mysteries.
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When her business partner/boyfriend Landon Short stole everything she owned, and her bank account, too, it seemed fortuitous that her late Uncle Nevin in Ireland would leave her everything he owned. Especially when she discovered that Nevin had an illegitimate daughter, Ciara Smith. What's worse, she and Ciara, who were left to manage everything, need to work together to save the village of Grafton and Grafton Castle in one year, or they are to dispose of everything and split what is left, if anything remains.
At first Rayne decided to do just that, since Ciara didn't seem to like her at all. But then, Rayne chose to stay and try to make it work; first by working on Modern Lace, her business, from the castle. Then to host weddings there as a venue, and hope that it will bring in enough to save them. If not, she can always sell her designer handbags, right?
But the first wedding didn't go off as planned, nor the second. This next wedding is her last hope for salvation, and they both plan to do anything to make it work. Plus, they have to gain the trust of the village, by helping them as well. That includes cleaning the cemetery for Father Patrick. The first day all goes well, with many volunteers; most of them are seniors, but they do the job and never complain.
However, the next day when Rayne and Ciara arrive, there is a body by one of the gravestones. It is of a local, and the stone he's propped up against is one of their ancestors. They wonder why the man wasn't buried in the McGrath plot, as he should have been.
But there's more going on here -- Ciara is having doubts about her future marriage; Rayne knows that Landon has escaped from jail but not where he is; an old trunk is holding a century of secrets; a neighboring village wants to swallow them up -- and will, if they can't make this work.
Finding a killer is the main thing, but not the only one. They also are trying to keep the information from their wedding guests, because they want this to go off without a hitch. But how can it, when a killer is on the loose, and one of their friends is a prime suspect? Saving the village is important, but saving their friend even more so...
I have read the other two books in the series, and they just keep getting better. I'm becoming attached to the residents of Grafton Village, and I want the best for them. The book is full of action, surprises, and intrigue; the two women aren't the only ones who are hiding a secret, and one of them may lead to clues to find the murderer. We learn more about others who work on the grounds, and even some history of their own Irish ancestors. I love the fact that both Rayne and Ciara are growing and realize that they need each other, in their own way.
I loved how everything came together; the struggles, and the realism of the characters and the village. It makes me want to visit. That's the best compliment I can give. The book does tell a wonderful tale, and I heartily look forward to the next one. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley, but this in no way influenced my review.
More on Ellie Brannigan's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/b/ellie-brannigan/
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