EXCERPT: Paul cleared his throat. 'We must assume that someone had a personal motive to kill Kevin. As horrible as that is - I truly believe the rest of us will be safe.' He looked around as if the killer might confess. 'Be assured. The guards will be watching our every move. There will be no more violence.' Siobhan couldn't tell if he was pleading with the killer or threatening him. Or her. Or creating a distraction if in fact he were the murderer.
Motive was the thing Siobhan had to suss out. Who wanted Kevin dead, but most importantly, why? Certainly he had shaken almost every apple in the cart last night - but so far none of his shenanigans seemed to warrant such a merciless repercussion. A blow to the back of the head suggested two things: fury and cowardice. This was personal and yet the killer didn't give Kevin a chance to see it coming. This the killer was a coward. Siobhan studied the pale Irish faces in the group and sighed. It hardly narrowed the field . . .

ABOUT 'MURDER AT AN IRISH WEDDING': A celebrity wedding in a small Irish village goes from festive to funerary when the best man is murdered in this cozy mystery novel. Any wedding is a big deal in the County Cork village of Kilbane, but with a local lad marrying a famous fashion model at Kilbane Castle, there’s no talk of anything but the upcoming nuptials. Siobhán O’Sullivan and her five siblings have their plates full catering the three-day affair from their bistro. But the celebratory mood suddenly turns sober when the best man is found murdered in the woods. For Siobhán, the tragic turn is more than grist for the gossip mill. Her beau, Macdara Flannery, is the prime suspect—and she intends to clear his name. Now, like the bride walking down the aisle, Siobhán needs to watch her step. For as she gets closer to unveiling the truth, the murderer is planning a very chilly reception for her.

MY THOUGHTS: Although Murder at an Irish Wedding is the second in the Irish Village Mystery series, it is easily read as a stand-alone.

Siobhan is a very forthright character who often doesn't have a filter, i.e. she doesn't think before she speaks and/or acts. She has a terrible habit of rushing in where anyone with any sense would fear to tread. It does make for good, entertaining reading though. I pity Mcdara, her Gardai boyfriend - he honestly doesn't stand a chance against her when she has her mind made up to do something. But she is the one asking the questions, making deductions and planning ways to entrap the killer; not the Gardai.

The story is fast-paced with interesting characters - the brides parents are two in particular. I had no idea who the killer was, and I was quite shocked when it was revealed.

I did a read/listen of Murder at an Irish Wedding. The narration of the audiobook by Caroline Lennon was superb.

I am looking forward to reading more of this series. I have already read several of the later books and am now playing catch up with the unread books.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.2

#MurderatanIrishWedding #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: An admitted wanderer, Carlene spends as much time in Ireland as possible while currently residing in California and Chicago.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Kensington Books via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O'Connor for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Enjoyed the first book in this series but I wasn't a fan of this one. The Main Character is to pushy when it comes to trying to solve the crime. I didn't like how she was telling the police what they should be doing. I really like the setting of this series but I have a feeling it will never be a favorite which is a bummer.

Siobhan and her O Sullivan klan are set to help cater a wedding when the best man is found. Siobhan loves finding the answers to mysteries and cannot stop stepping on the toes of the police and her boyfriend. After Macdara becomes a suspect he asks for Siobhan
Goodreads

I was provided a free digital copy from NetGalley early on in my reviewing career. This book disappeared from my device before I completely understood the system. Although I made an appeal to the publisher (through the "opinions-to-publisher" avenue), I was not granted an extension to read the book, and so I was unfortunately unable to read it. I had every intention of reviewing every book that I have read on NetGalley and have consequently done so. This one is the one black mark on my record.

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

Siobhan O'Sullivan runs a bistro in the fictional town of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland. She is also the chief caregiver/parent for 5 siblings since both her parents were killed in an accident. The whodunit was well written and kept me guessing right until the reveal.The relationship between Siobhan and her siblings and their personalities ring true to life for me.

Murder at an Irish Wedding is the second installment in the Irish Village Series by Carlene O’Connor. It is set in Kilbane, a small village in Ireland, and Siobhán (a popular Irish name pronounced shiv + awn) O’Sullivan, along with her siblings who run Naomi’s Bistro (named after Siobhán’s late mother), are very excited to cater the wedding of a famous bride at a resort near them. It’s a three-day event which will keep them very busy. Siobhán becomes friends with the bride and since her boyfriend is friends with the groom, she is also invited to the wedding. Unfortunately, the best man (who was disinvited by the bride’s father for making a fool of himself) is found murdered in the woods, and suspects abound. One of the guests is poisoned when drinking champagne out of a flute engraved with Siobhán’s boyfriend’s name, and he becomes the primary suspect.

Siobhán is a bit pushy, and as an amateur sleuth with connections to the police (her boyfriend is a garda), she pushes to get the information needed to investigate the murder. One way she gets into the scene is to bring some of her famous – purported to be the best – Irish Brown Bread for everyone to taste. Of course the bride’s parents are rich and snobbish, and pooh-pooh Siobhán’s gesture and accuse her of poisoning the bread.

O’Connor is a good storyteller, and the setting – a small town in Ireland – makes for a delightful novel. While the murder is a serious matter, the book has the feel of a light-hearted tale, and even though there is a bit of suspense and of course, danger for Siobhán and her siblings due to meddling, readers won’t be too worried about the outcome. The outcome, however, is unexpected, and quite surprising.

Cozy readers will enjoy this book, and of course, the other two books in the series. They are light, fun reading and the books can be read in a matter of hours, rather than days. Lots of fun. The only real flaw in this book is the absence of the recipe for Siobhán’s Irish brown bread which readers will want to make at home and eat while reading the book.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

I loved the first book in this series and was happy to see that the author is continuing with a new cozy mystery. Carlene O’Connor based this series on the actual town of Kilbane, County Cork in Ireland that she is familiar with and loves. I’m sure that’s the reason why the book has so many little details about the town and people. I love to “travel” when I read, so I’m always thrilled when an author gives me an glimpse of what life is like in other countries.

The Sullivan 6, Siobhan and her siblings, are back in this book with another mystery to solve. I enjoyed reading about the new characters, although they weren’t all likeable. The story kept me guessing until the end when Carlene wrapped up everything nicely.

One of the things that bothered me about the book was the frequent use of Jaysus, Irish for Jesus, as an exclamation throughout. I don’t typically see things like that in cozy mysteries, and that is one of the reasons I read them. I don’t think it adds anything to a story, and as a Christian, I’d rather not have it pop up all the time.

This is book 2 in the series. I read book 1 and gave it 3.5/5, but this one is only 2.5/5. Siobhan O'Sullivan is a young woman who has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders. She runs a bistro in the fictional town of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland. She is also the chief caregiver/parent for 5 siblings since both her parents were killed in an accident. She does have an older brother, but he is a recovering alcoholic.
She is catering a wedding in her small village, when a murder takes place. The best man is found dead.
Pros: The author, an Irish American, has done well incorporating Irish slang/speech rhythms into the dialogue. The plot does get resolved with all threads completed. I like that Siobhan is a plucky woman who is drawn to be a detective(setting up plot line for book 3).
Cons: Siobhan is not a police officer(Garda) but still can't help herself investigating the murder. She puts herself in dangerous situations unnecessarily. She is attacked by the killer twice and in real life would probably be dead or at least in hospital. She only has bruises. My wife says this reminds her of Mannix, tv show from the 70s. Mannix would get into knock down fights and end up with not a hair on his head out of place. One of her siblings complains that she promised to take them shopping for new school clothes but now is too involved with finding the killer to keep her promise.
I may, or may not , continue reading this series. NetGalley invited me to review this book and I thank them. (less)

Murder at an Irish Wedding is the second book in the Irish Village Mystery series by author Carlene O'Connor. If you have not read the first one, this book could be read as a stand alone. The only difficulty may be getting familiar with Irish slang and the names which were explained in the first book.

Siobhan O'Sullivan and her five younger siblings run Naomi's Bistro in the small village of Kilbane. They inherited the cafe when both parents were killed in an automobile accident. In this story, Alice, a famous and rich fashion model, is getting married to Paul, a friend of Macdara's (Siobhan's boyfriend). When the best man is murdered the day before the wedding, Macdara is unable to investigate because he was in the wedding party and they are all suspects. He asks Siobahn to help out. There are a lot of suspects from the bride's parents who think Paul is not worthy of their daughter, to the photographer who is always sneaking around, the chef who found the body, the groom's parents who do not like Alice's family and even the groom who hates the brides father. The rest of the O'Sullivan 6 and many of the residents of Kilbane add some meat to the story as well as some humour. The one thing that bothered me about this book was the way Siobhan treated the people she was questioning. She was rather rude and obnoxious and did not seem to have any concern with personal boundaries. Even though she was trying to solve the crime, she is not a gard and therefore really did not have a leg to stand on, yet pretty much everyone answered her questions. It turns out that once again, she proves that she is a good investigator. She asks intelligent questions, she is a good listener and she is very observant. The story was fast-paced, and kept me guessing throughout. Once I got part way into the book, I did not want to put it down until I found out who the murderer was. The ending took me by surprise which always makes a good read for me. I'm looking forward to reading about Siobahn's future adventures. There are a lot of ways that Siobhan's, her siblings' and Macdara's lives could go. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a relatively non-violent mystery.

Clever mystery that is a quick read. I would recommend this book for readers that like mysteries set in Ireland.

This is the second book by Carlene O'Connor featuring recurring characters. I enjoyed the first one so was pleased that I got hold of another one as I found the O'Sullivan family to be a great bunch of characters.

This time celebrities have come to Kilbane. A famous model is to be married, but the morning after the wedding party have arrived at the venue the best man is murdered. Siobhan with her love of mysteries cannot help but get involved.

There are red herrings galore, snapshots of type-cast Irish folk which all makes it a bit of a romp. I do find that the frequent peppering of slang jars with the rest of the narrative however, that apart, it is an enjoyable light read.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley for giving me the chance to read & review it.

Having read the first book in this series, Murder in an Irish Village, I  looked forward to getting reacquainted with Siobhán and her siblings, and getting another glimpse into the fictional Irish village, its people and customs. Siobhán is a strong-minded young woman who is not easily deterred in her efforts to prove Macdara’s innocence and find out who killed the best man, and why. The members of the wedding party are a diverse crowd, with complex relationships between them.  At times, Siobhan’s actions seem a bit ill-advised and far-fetched, but are in keeping with her character’s sometimes impulsive and pushy nature. It was also interesting to watch her relationship with Macdara develop. The story moved along at a steady pace, with bits of suspense and romance mixed in. Unfortunately, the writing was not as polished as in the first in series. Nonetheless, it made for an enjoyable weekend read.

Murder at an Irish Wedding is the second book in the Irish Village Mystery series by author Carlene O'Connor, and I hope it won't be the last! The story was fast-paced, and kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing throughout. We return again to Kilbane, where the wedding of a famous model and her fiance (a friend of Macdara) is to take place. The best man is murdered the day before the wedding, Macdara is unable to investigate due to his relationship with the groom and bridal party, and Siobahn is asked to help out. The rest of the O'Sullivan 6 and most of the residents of Kilbane also feature in the book, as well as a host of characters brought in for the wedding. The ending took me by surprise (always a plus!!!), and I'm looking forward to reading about Siobahn's future adventures. Highly recommend! :-)

The second book in Carlene O'Coonor's series is fun, and the solution to the mystery was definitely not simple. I especially enjoyed seeing the growth within the members of the O'Sullivan family and in Siobhan's relationship with Macdara. Those and the complicated relationships among the wedding guests would easily provide plenty of topics for book discussion groups. The details about poisons and the way they were worked into the plot were particularly interesting. The ending was enough to make anyone want to know what happens next with Siobhan and her family and friends. Thanks to Kensington and NetGallet for providing access to yet another good mystery!

This is the second book in the Irish Village mystery series. This book does stand alone although I recommend reading the first in series as it is also delightfully good mystery Fun. This next in series has all the perfect elements for a great mystery. The quaint village in Ireland is perfection, the castle detail is as if you are transported to a Irish castle. The mystery has depth and a great cast of characters that add to the story. I loved the elements of the sleuth and how the mystery weaves into multiple scenarios. This is mystery lovers delight. I look forward to the next I. series.

Murder at an Irish Wedding by Carlene O’Connor is the second book in An Irish Village Mystery series. Siobhan O’Sullivan is called to bring brown bread up to the Kilbane Castle for a wedding party. Her families’ café, Noami’s Bistro is catering the meals for the wedding group. Fashion model Alice Cahill is marrying Paul Donnelly on Saturday. The female members of the wedding party are outside waiting for the guys to show up to take a group picture (they are all in matching blue tracksuits). The men slowly show up, but one member is still at large. Kevin Gallagher, the best man, has not been seen. They soon hear a scream, and Chef Antoine runs out of the woods. He states there is a dead body in the woods. Garda Macdara Flannery is among the wedding guests and he takes off to check out the chef’s story. Siobhan, of course, is not about to be left behind. The dead man is face down so they cannot confirm his identity. Siobhan does notice that Macdara’s garda cap is under the man’s arm. Instead of investigating the crime, Macdara ends up at the top of the suspect list. Siobhan feels compelled to investigate the murder (she feels it is her calling). She starts questioning the wedding guests while they are awaiting for the investigators. The bride’s father, Colm Cahill is glad there is a reason to call off the wedding. Siobhan, though, offers to help Alice find an alternate location. Colm feels Alice is marrying beneath her. Alice is determined to have her wedding day and marry the love of her life. The local garda do not appreciate Siobhan’s assistance with the case, but that does not deter her. When a second victim turns up dead, Siobhan hatches a plan to catch the killer.

I found Murder at an Irish Wedding to be easy to read and has a lovely setting. I have always wanted to visit Ireland. Murder at an Irish Wedding is not my type of cozy mystery. I found it a little far-fetched and over-the-top. Each member of the wedding party is worse than the next (of course). They all have issues. Siobhan is a very unpleasant character. Her idea of an investigation is to run around annoying people with her questions and badgering them for answers. I have no idea why anyone outside of her village would answer her questions. Siobhan steals evidence and withholds it from the police (unless it suits her). She then badgers the investigator in charge with her theories (which they do not appreciate). Many times, Siobhan passes herself off as an officer of the law (she is dating an officer which is close to the truth according to her). Then, all of the sudden, the police allow Siobhan to help (it makes no sense). Siobhan believes herself to be the best investigator in the town (which is mentioned more than once). The book is packed full of action. It is one silly thing after another. I give Murder at an Irish Wedding 2 out of 5 stars (just too ridiculous). The best part of the book is the mystery. If you are an avid mystery reader, you should be able to identify the killer before the reveal (this is why I gave it 2 stars). The author used many clichés in this novel. I also found three different words for garda. We have garda, guard, and gardai (which one is it). At the wedding the author trotted out numerous old Irish wedding traditions (the bride wearing blue, Irish lace, burying a Child of Prague statue, etc.). Can you imagine a bride going down the aisle carrying a horseshoe in one hand and a bell in the other? The romance between Siobhan and Macdara seems forced. There is no chemistry between them. I will not be continuing with An Irish Village Mystery series. It is just not the right type of book for me.

Light entertaining cozy set in Ireland, which made this all the more charming. Siobhan is a fun character, even if the rest of her family, and the wedding party, are not. Macdara is a good foil for her. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC- this is an easy read that's perfect for a lazy afternoon. I'd like to read more from O'Connor, especially if it's set in Ireland.

2 stars for "it was okay"... I did not personally feel comfortable reading on. It's marketed as a cozy mystery, but it in fact does not conform to the "clean" understanding for the genre. After a few too many details on who's sleeping with who, who might be in the family way, what a "hen party" is, drunkenness and smoking, and quite a bit of taking God's name in vain.

The cultural aspect is fun, and the writing good...I just didn't feel that it fit into the cozy-mystery expectations and thus not into a genre I enjoy reading....there was a trifle too much "soap opera" for me.

I received a free copy from NetGalley for review purposes.