In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Naomi's Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O'Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago.
It's been a rough year for the O'Sullivans, but it's about to get rougher. One morning, as they're opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest.
With the local garda suspecting the O'Sullivans and their business in danger of being shunned—murder tends to spoil the appetite—it's up to feisty redheaded Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.
"Kicks off a new series in splendid fashion! If you love cozy mysteries and traveling, then give Murder in an Irish Village a try. You'll feel like you've stepped into Ireland as you turn the pages."—Fresh Fiction
"A smart whodunnit in an idyllic locale. I dare you not to be charmed by sleuth Siobhán and her siblings, the O'Sullivan Six."—Barbara Ross, author of A Maine Clambake Mystery Series
"A delightful, funny, fast-paced romp of a book."—Isis Crawford, author of A Mystery with Recipes Series
In the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, Naomi's Bistro has always been a warm and welcoming spot to visit with neighbors, enjoy some brown bread and tea, and get the local gossip. Nowadays twenty-two-year-old Siobhán O'Sullivan runs the family bistro named for her mother, along with her five siblings, after the death of their parents in a car crash almost a year ago.
It's been a rough year for the O'Sullivans, but it's about to get rougher. One morning, as they're opening the bistro, they discover a man seated at a table, dressed in a suit as if for his own funeral, a pair of hot pink barber scissors protruding from his chest.
With the local garda suspecting the O'Sullivans and their business in danger of being shunned—murder tends to spoil the appetite—it's up to feisty redheaded Siobhán to solve the crime and save her beloved brood.
"Kicks off a new series in splendid fashion! If you love cozy mysteries and traveling, then give Murder in an Irish Village a try. You'll feel like you've stepped into Ireland as you turn the pages."—Fresh Fiction
"A smart whodunnit in an idyllic locale. I dare you not to be charmed by sleuth Siobhán and her siblings, the O'Sullivan Six."—Barbara Ross, author of A Maine Clambake Mystery Series
"A delightful, funny, fast-paced romp of a book."—Isis Crawford, author of A Mystery with Recipes Series
Reviews-
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January 18, 2016
Siobhán O’Sullivan, the feisty 22-year-old heroine of O’Connor’s lively debut set in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, has been running the family bistro while taking care of her five siblings, who range in age from 10 to 24, since their parents died in a car crash. As the first anniversary of the fatal accident approaches, the family suffers another shock with the discovery of a dead man in their dining room, a pair of scissors jutting from his chest. James, the eldest brother, turns up later, battered and bloody, with no recollection of the previous night’s events. When James becomes the prime suspect, Siobhán determines to clear his name, but she must stay one step ahead of a murderer who also calls Kilbane home. The cheeky and close-knit repartee among the O’Sullivans goes on too long at times, but their antics are sure to appeal to cozy fans, who will also appreciate the warmth and spirit of the people of Kilbane. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. -
March 1, 2016
After their parents were killed by a drunk driver, the O'Sullivan Six--Siobhan, James, Ciaran, Eoin, Ann, and Craic--were left to run Naomi's Bistro in tiny Kilbane, County Cork. Niall, the driver's older brother, soon returns from Dublin to blackmail Siobhan in regards to a secret about her parents' deaths. No one is terribly upset when Niall is discovered dead in the bistro until James is charged with his murder and another body turns up. The headstrong Siobhan decides to investigate, even though Macdara Flannery, the handsome Garda sergeant, tells her to keep out of it. VERDICT This entertaining combination of Maeve Binchy's old-world Irish charm and Janet Evanovich's roguish humor is a smart, fast-paced read. The complex Siobhan is a singular character who struggles with her new role as guardian to her younger siblings. The Irish dialect feels authentic, and a handy glossary is useful for learning the local lingo. Devotees of the Hibernian mysteries of Dicey Deere and M.C. Beaton will toast this debut with a pint of Guinness. Slainte!
Copyright 2016 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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April 25, 2016
Film and theater actress Lennon has a thick, musical brogue that she uses to great advantage reading this whodunit set in the village of Kilbane in County Cork. The Irish cozy’s heroine, Siobhan O’Sullivan, and her five siblings were orphaned a year ago when their parents died in a car crash blamed on drunken driver Billy Murphy. Billy was sent to prison, and Siobhan was forced to forgo college to run the family bistro. Shortly after Billy’s brother, Niall, returns to town claiming to have proof of Billy’s innocence, he is found dead in a booth at the bistro. When James, Siobhan’s hot-tempered brother, is arrested for the crime, she decides to find the real murderer, much to the dismay of her potential love interest, handsome local copper Macdara Flannery. Lennon crafts vocal personalities for each character—gruff Niall; bellicose food market manager Mike Grainger; Siobhan’s angry brothers, James and Kieran; fast-talking, genial bicycle shop owner Seamus Sheedy; his chirpy wife, Bridie; and Sheila Mahoney, a local beautician with a chip on her shoulder. Lennon is so perfectly tuned to the protagonist that you can almost hear Siobhan’s flame-red hair being wind-tossed as she races from neighbor to neighbor, interrogating them with vigor and determination. A Kensington hardcover.
