Murder in an Irish Village

By Carlene O'Connor

A little slice of Heaven on the Emerald Isle…

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.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR CARLENE O’CONNOR AND MURDER IN AN IRISH VILLAGE

“If Janet Evanovich and Maeve Binchy wrote a book together, Murder in an Irish Village would be the result. The Irish setting rings with authenticity and Siobhan O'Sullivan is a character to savor. She's funny, feisty, and fearless. I want her to be my new best friend. I also want another book by Carlene O’Connor to read. This one is delicious fun.”—Laurien Berenson, author of Live and Let Growl

“A smart whodunnit in an idyllic locale. I dare you not to be charmed by sleuth Siobhan and her siblings, the O’Sullivan Six.”—Barbara Ross, author of Musseled Out

“A delightful, funny, fast-paced romp of a book. O’Connor has written a vivid evocation of life in a small Irish town, an evocation replete with sharp characterizations and dialogue real enough to make you believe you’re sitting in an Irish pub. A satisfying read that will keep you entertained from the first to the last page.”—Isis Crawford, author of A Catered Tea Party

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Feb 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781617738456

Carlene O'Connor

Carlene O'Connor comes from a long line of Irish storytellers. Her great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America during the Troubles, and the stories have been flowing ever since. Of all the places across the pond she's wandered, she fell most in love with a walled town in County Limerick and was inspired to create the town of Kilbane, County Cork. She currently divides her time between New York and the Emerald Isle.

Reviews for Murder in an Irish Village

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The O'Sullivan Six have had a tough year. Their parents were killed by a drunk driver. Twenty-two year old Siobhan has given up her scholarship to University in Dublin to remain in Kilbane in County Cork to run Naomi's Bistro and take care of her 4 younger brothers and sisters while her older brother deals with his alcoholism. Things are going okay, until Nial the brother of the drunk driver who is in jail, shows up in the Village. He tells Siobhan that he has proof that someone else caused the accident that killed her parents and tries to extort money from her for the proof. She refuses, but when he turns up dead in the bistro one morning, her brother James is arrested and charged with the murder. Siobhan and her siblings take matters in their own hands when the feel that the police are not going to find the real killer. When everyone in the village seems suspicious the O'Sullivan's become the bad guys when they accuse many people of being the murderer. When someone else turns up dead, they know that it could not have been James as he is in jail. Siobhan is not only dealing with trying to prove James innocent, but the owner of the building where Naomi's is located, is trying to sell it out from under them as well as figuring out her feelings about a couple of gentlemen in the mix. A fun adventure where the whole family gets involved in solving the mystery. I will definitely look for more books by Carlene O'Connor. A great cozy mystery that would be enjoyed by many.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[nlb1050 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A great start for a series. Will be reading more.

[chazzifrazz · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Siobhán O'Sullivan has put aside her dreams of attending college in Dublin and taken on the raising of her 5 siblings and running the family bistro. A year ago, both her parents were killed in a head-on collision with another village resident. Determined to provide for her family and keep them first has been her focus.When the brother of the young man convicted of the accident is found dead in the bistro and her oldest brother is suspect, Siobhán determines to find the killer and prove that she nor any of her family are involved. She takes up her own investigation, tracing down clues and the threads that lead from them. Questioning villagers and asking uncomfortable questions, it becomes known that she is sleuthing, and it leads to threats against her.Her investigating also pits her against Garda Flannery, the policeman she finds attractive and who thinks she is attractive also, yet neither has made a move. It may be Garda Flannery's job to find the murderer, but Siobháh is determined to do the job herself.The tight family ties, the various characters of the siblings, and the portrait of small village life help give this a complete picture/backdrop for this mystery. A pronunciation and glossary help with the Irish names and terms. The dialogue has just enough dialect to get the feel of being there yet you can understand what they are talking about.The only thing that bothered me was when Siobháh would analyze what she had found and ask herself 101 questions. Sometimes she seemed to just run with a series of questions...maybe a bit too much. But then maybe that is part of her personality. I have another in this series and plan to read it, so I guess I'll find out.

[sus456 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Siobhán O'Sullivan hasn't had an easy time of late. Her parents were killed in a car accident by a local boy accused of driving under the influence. Now she's left with the prospect of looking after the family business Naomi's Bistro as well as, keeping an eye on an older brother who has a history of drinking too much and raising her four younger siblings. As if that weren't enough to deal with, a body is found dead in the bistro and Siobhán's older brother James is accused of the murder. Now she has extra work. She is determined to find the killer, even if it is one of her nearest friends or neighbors. This is a terrific cozy mystery set in a small Irish village. It's full of fun characters and Siobhán, despite an uphill struggle is delightful. She rushes head long into her investigations, often without even thinking things through. This is not always good in a village where it's hard to keep secrets. But Siobhán is persistent and she is determined to keep her family together through thick and thin. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries set in idyllic locations then this is one for you. Curl up with a cup of tea and see if Siobhán has any luck looking for the killer. Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[kaulsu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What a fun listen! Due to the finite number of characters in the book,it was pretty impossible to actually STUN a he reader with" who dunnit," but it was still a bit of a surprise. This is definitely a book to listen to. Narrator Caroline Lennon did a very good job of distinguishing between characters, plus her Irish brogue made even the nastiest language sound as if it belonged in my grandmother's parlor. I'm not giving any of the plot away. But please, please, listen to it rather than skim through a book. Although, if you're at all like me, a peek at the next book helped me to remember the Sullivan clan after seeing the names in print.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was for me a particularly aggravating crime novel -- the kind that drives you crazy while you're reading it, but that keeps you reading until the bitter end. Why crazy-making? First, I found it hard to follow, what with everyone whirling about at a great rate. Secondly, the self- conscious Irishness of many of the characters seemed overdone. Finally, the heroine is one of those who insists on putting herself in danger -- she won't tell the policeman about the threatening letter, she will drop heavy-handed hints of suspicion around possible murderers, and she will go to the private meeting at the secluded cottage where --- you get the drift. Still and all, I kept reading to the end, because I wanted to find out who had done it, or rather I wanted to find out if my guess as to who had done it was correct. It was. I toyed with reading the next in the series, "Murder at an Irish Wedding", but have not yet succumbed. Shall probably do so, and will probably resent it.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Siobhan and her five siblings are doing the best they can after losing their parents in a car crash nearly a year ago. She is the guardian of her younger siblings, and she, along with her brother James run the family bistro, with help from the younger kids. Then another tragedy strikes: one morning as she enters the bistro, Siobhan sees a man sitting at one of the tables, dead, with a pair of shears sticking in his chest. And it gets worse when James becomes a person of interest in the murder. He was off on a bender, and really can’t remember much of what he did the previous night. The first in the series, this novel lacks nothing. The mystery is well thought out, the characters are introduced and well defined, especially the older siblings. There is a good sense of the setting in the small Irish village. The audio version was superbly performed by Caroline Lennon, adding much to the enjoyment of the story.

[katebaxter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a delicious start to the "Irish Village Mystery" series by Carlene O'Connor. Although I had read some equally enjoyable subsequent installments in this series, I thought that it was about time for me to get some of the groundlaying material for it. The story has Irish wit and charm. The author utilizes common Irish nomenclature and kindly provides a brief vocabulary primer for the non Irish speaker. The relatively well-developed characters have their charms and quirks too. I loved the sense of family, community and caring (perhaps synonymous with "nosy"?) which eminated throughout the book. There were a number of red herrings and the tension built up gradually to an exciting climax. The conclusion was satisfying with a hint that future stories would unfold. There was a chaste budding romance between the main characters which no doubt, will develop over time. All in all, this was a most enjoyable cozy mystery.

[sweetiegherkin · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

At 22, Siobhan O'Sullivan is in charge of her five siblings after the death of their parents in a motor accident a year earlier. When the brother of the drunk driver who resulted in said accident shows up in their small village, he causes quite a stir -- and ends up murdered right in the O'Sullivan's residence/business. With her brother James seen as the most likely suspect by the police, Siobhan is determined to find the real killer.This was a fun gem to have stumbled upon rather randomly. The characters were quirky and richly drawn, as was the town as a whole. It felt like being transported right into this "Irish village." There was a dash of romance, definitely lots of family drama (of various sorts), and there were certainly comedic moments as well (particularly with Siobhan's brood of younger siblings). Sure, I correctly guessed who the killer was pretty early on, but there were enough other suspects thrown around that I wasn't 100 percent sure until the actual reveal and the story was rich enough that it didn't matter so much anyhow.The audiobook narrator was excellent at presenting the assorted characters (including one American) and I really enjoyed the extra tracks on this version that included background music at various points in the story.

[dreamweaver529 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

When the brother of the drunk driver that killed her parents found dead in her café, Siobhan find out who done it before her brother is blamed.I very much enjoyed this audiobook. I don't know how it would have been as a book, with the abundance of Irish slang. However, with Caroline Lennon's excellent narration, it was a fun romp that had me cursing in a charming lilt.

[rretzler_2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Siobhan O’Sullivan lives with her five brothers and sisters in the small village of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland. She and her brother, James, have been in charge of their younger underage two brothers and two sisters since their parents were killed by a drunk driver a year before. Natalie’s Bistro, the family restaurant, barely makes enough money to keep the family going, and Siobhan has turned down a scholarship to a college in Dublin to stay in town with her family. One day, Niall Murphy, the brother of the drunk driver, returns to town and insists that Billy, his brother, was not at fault. He attempts to sell her the proof for ten thousand euros. When James, a recovering alcoholic, learns of this, he gets drunk at the local pub and has words with Niall. Early the next morning, the Siobhan and her siblings find Niall dead in their bistro and determine that James did not return home that evening. James is arrested for Niall’s murder, but Siobhan knows that he was not capable of killing anyone. She takes it upon herself to find Niall’s killer to the consternation of garda Macdara Flannery, who has an interest in Siobhan.I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It reminded me somewhat of an Agatha Christie novel, where the plucky young girl takes it upon herself to solve the mystery. There were enough clues that it was possible to figure out the mystery, but it was not obvious. Siobhan and her family end up suspecting most of the people in town before Siobhan finally solves the case. That part was a little unrealistic to me because the villagers, for the most part, were not angry with the family, but seemed willing to overlook that they had been accused of murder.I thought the characters were very likeable, and I enjoyed the budding romance between Siobhan and Macdara. The villagers were somewhat stereotypically humorous, and it was fun to read about their interactions with each other. Just like many small towns, everyone knew everyone else’s business, but many of the villagers still had secrets they did not want to be brought into the open.Without giving away the ending, I felt that it was a little weak. It did not make sense to my why the person who killed Niall did so. He was murdered to cover up a supposed crime, but in my opinion, I’m not sure that what happened was actually a crime.Anyone who enjoys a good cozy mystery would appreciate this book. One warning I have is that the author uses Irish slang and many Irish names. She does include a pronunciation guide and a glossary at the beginning of the book that was very helpful, but some people may find the Irish dialogue hard to read.I think that Carlene O’Connor shows a lot of promise, and I will be on the lookout for future books from her. I received an advance reader’s copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[kathy89_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Siobhan O’Sullivan is the oldest child of 6 and is the guardian of brothers and sisters since their parents died in a car accident a year ago. They all work in the family bistro but money is scare when they discover a murdered man sitting at a table in their café one morning. The 2nd oldest, James is arrested for murdered and Siobhan starts investing while fighting her romantic feelings for Garda Macdara and the attentions of a handsome American.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Siobhán O'Sullivan runs the local bistro in Kilbane along with her siblings. When her brother James is accused of a murder that occurred after the grand opening of a hair salon where all attendees received a pair of scissors, Siobhán feels she has to investigate to clear the charges. He had a fight with the man, but most of her friends agree James would never kill a man and that he was too drunk to kill him. The local garda simply settles on him as the easiest suspect. The Irish names make the reading a bit more difficult. The author does provide a pronunciation guide for the names in the front. As with most cozies, it is not that difficult to puzzle out the perpetrator if enough clues are followed although the author does throw in one red herring near the end to make it a bit more interesting. The village atmosphere would have been enhanced if the characters had moved a little further out of the inner circle and more about the town itself. The novel felt as though it were driving a bit too much by conversation. I'm not certain if this is intended as the start of a series or not, but it's one I might revisit to see if the author develops the setting beyond the Irish names and occasional term. This review is based on an advance reader's galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes.

[celticlady53 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The O'Sullivan siblings are left orphans after their parents were killed in a car crash by a drunk driver. The running of Natalie's Bistro, named after Siobhán's mother, is left up to Siobhán and her siblings. It is hard work but they manage to keep the Bistro open. Siobhán and her siblings are affectionately refered to as "the six". The O'Sullivans are a tight knit family and do what they can to help each other out. Siobhán had had plans to attend Trinity College in Dublin but now she is unable to do that. One morning upon opening the Bistro, they find a man sitting in one of the booths dead. He is Niall Murphy who's brother was responsible for the deaths of Siobhan's parents.The day before his death, Siobhan came across him in her friends shop, he demanded money from her so he could hire a lawyer to find out who really was responsible because he firmly believed that it was not his brother who did it. Enter the Garda, who by the way is a hunk, and Siobhan's brother James is arrested for the murder as he has no alibi. She decides to investigate on her own as to who the killer was and get her brother out of jail as she believes in his innocence. During this investigation, she tends to put herself in harms way to the consternation of the policeman Macdara.There is a definite attraction between Siobhan and Macdara but that is put on the back burner during the investigation. This is a sweet cozy mystery featuring a charming, or not so charming, bunch of characters with Ireland as the backdrop for a novel that will sweep you into this quaint little village. I loved that because it took place in a small Irish community, there was all of the idiosyncracies and charm that is Ireland. I loved it! Well written and fun to read. If you love cozy mysteries, then you will love this one too!

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O’Connor is set in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland (and first book in a new series). Siobhan O’Sullivan (twenty-two) is part of the O’Sullivan six. Siobhan run her family restaurant called Naomi’s Bistro and takes care of her younger siblings (the eldest is James, but he has a drinking problem). Niall Murphy has returned to town and is not receiving a warm welcome. Niall is the brother of Billy who killed the O’Sullivan’s parents (auto accident). Niall claims to have proof of his brother’s innocence. To get his brother a decent attorney, Niall needs money. One morning the O’Sullivan’s wake up to find a dead man in their dining room (they live over Naomi’s Bistro). James O’Sullivan is the number one suspect (he was drunk). It does not help his case that he got into an argument with Niall the previous evening. Siobhan sets out to prove her brother’s innocence (and their restaurant). Will Siobhan be able to find the killer? Also, can she find out if Billy did or did not kill her parents?Murder in an Irish Village is an interesting book, but it had too many Irish phrases and slang (which made it difficult to read). There is a dictionary at the beginning, but I do not wish to continually refer to a dictionary (disturbs the flow when reading and difficult when reading on an e-reader). I found that some information was repeated frequently throughout the book (the suspects and facts surrounding the murder). I did not understand why the writer felt the need to keep repeating the same information multiple times. Siobhan was not the most likeable character. She ran around alienating every friend the family had with her investigation (and wild accusations). I give Murder in an Irish Village 3.5 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Murder in an Irish Village from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.