This is the first time I have read anything by this author, I didn’t read the first of the series, so wondered if I was going to be at a loss reading book two. Fortunately, I was not. I think I found the Irish family dynamics as much fun, if not more so, than the mystery itself. The book centers around our heroine, Bel McGrath who, along with her family, own Shamrock Manor. Bel is acting as wedding chef for the Casey wedding scheduled to take place at the Manor. In the process, money is lost, a staff member goes missing, the groom turns up dead, not to mention the men in Bel’s life giving her trouble. That is a lot of action for a book as cozy as this one. Largely I found it enjoyable, although I thought the exchange between Bel and Kevin to be a bit out of character and rather tacky.

This is the second book in the Belfast McGrath Mysteries. I have enjoyed both of them, although you do not have to have read the first to enjoy this one.

Belfast (Bel) is the chef at her family's banquet/wedding venue as well as their home, Shamrock Manor. The Manor is just beginning to get back in the black following a murder in the last book. The wedding that opens the story is Pegeen Casey, whose family is involved in import/export and quite well off to Gerrard, a retired police detective and now private investigator. At the end of the wedding, Gerry is found dead in the women's washroom by Bel. This death is ruled a heart attack. Shortly after this, one of the Manor's servers, Pauline, is missing. Has she been kidnapped by her abusive husband, detained by ICE as she is an illegal or just run off with the $10,000.00 tip. Bel and her brother Cargan, set out to find her for very different reasons. While this is all going on, the mystery of what happened to Bel's BFF from her youth is also playing out.

Bel is either fearless or just does not think, as she puts herself in some precarious situations. She is still trying to sort out her emotions about men after having a nasty split from her previous fiancee. She is not sure where her new beau fits in to her life and still seems to have some buried feelings about Kevin, her highschool sweetheart who is also the police officer investigating the death at the manor as well as the disappearance from years earlier. The McGrath family are a hoot. They are a large Irish family that all work at the Manor so are always in each other's lives. Bel's mother is the typical interfering mom who wants the best for her daughter as well as for her to get married and have kids. They have Sunday dinners together and the sibling teasing is another light part of the book. A quick story with a plot that moves forward with short chapters to keep you reading, just one more. I enjoyed this story with just one exception, the ending regarding the missing server was not what I expected or liked, otherwise, a good read. I would recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers who enjoy plot twists and a good mystery. The publisher provided me with a copy of this book via Netgalley.

In an Oyster Shell – It was an okay cozy mystery.

The Pearls – I love cozy mysteries so this book had that going for it. The mystery was a surprise and the end was even more surprising. I like when the author outsmarts me as the reader and I can’t guess the ending. Its an added bonus that there where two mysteries going on at once. The over-arching series mystery and the book mystery. I’m super curious about the series mystery of her best friend’s disappearance, that alone will be enough to have me continue the series.

Having the main character being a chef at a wedding venue was interesting. I love cozies that feature chefs and food is a main component. I wouldn’t suggest reading this book hungry. It won’t work out well for you if you do. The descriptions of the food were scrumptious.

The book read great as a stand-alone. I have not read the previous book and I did not feel lost at all. This book does a great job of summarizing the previous book without giving too much away. So you could go back and read the other book if you wanted.

The Sand – There wasn’t enough humor in it for my taste. The romance was a little off-kilter.

Bel of the Brawl was a charming mystery filled with the right amount of humor and suspense. Bel is currently working as a caterer at her parent’s wedding manor, which has already seen its fair share of murder, when Bel’s past suddenly comes back to haunt her. Evidence from a friend’s disappearance surfaces and just before Bel has time to think, the groom that has agreed to investigate, turns up dead at his own wedding. Now, Bel must find a killer and hopefully the answers she seeks before another person ends up on the victim list.

This is the second book in the series and even though I haven’t read the first, I was able to jump right into the story. I adored Bel and her crazy family. I could see that her friend’s disappearance has haunted her all these years and I was hoping that she could finally discover what really happened that fateful night. This mystery was smart and well-written and I loved every minute of it. I’m looking forward to going back and reading the first book just so I can spend more time with these lovely characters.

I am really enjoying this series with Bel. This is the second book in the series and both have been very fun. There is always a dead body at the manor but it is never in a gory way. I also like the underlying mystery that is included. I received this book from St. Martins's Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This is a great book; this is the second book in the Bel McGrath series written by Maggie McConnon. Bel McGrath loves her work as a wedding chef. But with her latest event set to take place at Shamrock Manor, she just can’t seem to catch a break. The Casey wedding has left her with ten thousand greenbacks in the hole, a missing staff member, and a dead groom. Now, in between Guinness beers and pub brawls, Bel must find a way to crack the case even though what she should be cracking are eggs into the batter of the wedding cake.This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great authors. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Last year I heard a lot of buzz about the new Bel MacGrath Mystery series by Maggie McConnon and was intrigued. My great-grandmother immigrated from Ireland to America so I’m drawn to everything Irish and loved the premise of the story. When I had a chance to read BEL OF THE BRAWL, the second book in the series, I jumped at the chance! Even though I still haven’t read the first book (I need to correct that soon!), this second book was easily read as a stand-alone. There is just enough backstory to help the reader know what’s going on but not so much that it detracts from the pace of the book. BEL OF THE BRAWL starts out with a flashback to a dark mystery surrounding Belfast ‘Bel’ McGrath the summer after graduating high school. She can’t remember what happened the night her best friend disappeared and became “the girl who never came home”. Bel moved away from Fosters Landing and moved on with her life, becoming a chef.

Fifteen years later Bel is back home and working as head chef for her family’s Irish wedding venue, Shamrock Manor, where the murder of a groom during his wedding, threatens to ruin their business. When one of their waitresses disappears with a huge sum of money belonging to her family, Bel decides she needs to get some answers. It’s not long before unsavory characters make their way to Shamrock Manor and Bel has her hands full trying to find the killer before another murder takes place. Working with her traditional Irish parents and her four brothers leads to shenanigans that had me laughing out loud at numerous scenes. While there is, at times, heart-wrenching anguish over the loss of Bel’s best friend, the author provides many humorous interludes to break up the darkness so that the reader doesn’t get overwhelmed with the tragedy. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a dark mystery, but a traditional cozy with a long unsolved disappearance theme running through it. Ms. McConnon skillfully writes the transitions so that the flow and pace of the story never lags making me want more after I devoured the very last page!

Bel of the Brawl by Maggie McConnon is the second book in A Belfast McGrath Mystery series. Bel McGrath lives in Foster’s Landing and is the chef for Shamrock Manor. Shamrock Manor is run by her parents and is the go to venue for wedding receptions in their area. Every member of the family helps out in some way (her brothers are in the band). Their current client is Pegeen Casey and her fiancé, Gerry Mason. Bel is intrigued with she finds out that Gerry is a private investigator. She wants to discuss hiring him to investigate the long-ago disappearance of her friend, Amy Mitchell when he returns from his honeymoon. Unfortunately, Gerry is not going to be available to help her. Bel finds Gerry dead in a lady’s room stall (her stall was out of toilet paper). After everyone has left, the McGrath’s discover that one employee is missing as well as the $10,000 tip they received from Pegeen Casey’s father. When Pauline fails to show up the next day or arrive at home, Bel becomes concerned. Bel starts looking into Pauline’s disappearance and why her friends are so reluctant to report her missing. It seems that there is quite a bit that the family did not know about Pauline. It appears that Pauline has been a very busy girl when she is not working. There is another issue taking up Bel’s thoughts. The police have found Amy’s belonging (after all these years) in the local river along with a set of remains. Have they finally found Amy after all this time? In between cooking for weddings, looking for Pauline, and worrying what happened to Amy, Bel has little free time (though she does sneak in a little time with her boyfriend, Brendan Joyce). Sometimes Bel is not sure she made the right decision returning home to her unruly family. Will Bel discover Pauline’s whereabouts and the location of the missing money? To see if Bel makes it through another week at Shamrock Manor, read Bel of the Brawl.

Bel of the Brawl is easy to read and is full of action. While Bel of the Brawl is the second book in the series, it can be read alone. The author updates the readers on what occurred in Wedding Bel Blues. I found that this book was more cozy than mystery. The death of Gerry Mason was easily solved. I wish it had been a little more perplexing. The case of the missing best friend (Amy Mitchell) continued from Wedding Bel Blues into this book. It still remained a mystery at the end of the novel. I am curious how long the belongings would have stayed in the bottom of that river. Most items would deteriorate and float away after a number of years (maybe they are made of rubber). It seems to have become common place for authors to provide a secondary mystery in their books that play out in the background over the course of several books (unfortunately). I give Bel of the Brawl 3 out of 5 stars. I had a few issues with this story. It is a little unrealistic. I am puzzled how Bel can provide a multi-course wedding dinner for a hundred plus guests with only a sous chef. It seems impossible. I am curious as to why anyone with money would want to hold their wedding at Shamrock Manor. It sounds like a rinky dink outfit more suited to budget brides. Considering the number of discounts that Mr. McGrath hands out, I am surprised that Shamrock Manor is still in business. Personally, I am not a fan of Bel. The same goes true for the rest of the McGrath family (just too over-the-top ridiculous). Bel of the Brawl is more suited to readers who like humorous (wacky) cozy mysteries full of madcap antics. While Bel of the Brawl is not for me, I believe other readers will enjoy the zaniness of the McGrath family.

Bel of the Brawl is a fantastic sophomore book in Maggie McConnon's Belfast McGrath Mystery Series.

The past has a funny way of sneaking up on people living in the present. In the most recent past, the drought conditions have cause the rivers, lakes, and streams to dry up. As such, items that belonged to Bel's long lost best friend from high school appear. Amy's disappearance still hasn't been solved, she hasn't been found, and everyone hopes that additional items at the scene can't be traced back to Amy. Both Bel and her high school boyfriend, Kevin, who is now a police officer, are engulfed with years of pent up emotion and grief. The author does a great job writing the two characters in the context of the sad and mysterious disappearance of Amy.

In book 2, Bel has fully reintegrated herself back home in Shamrock Manor with her parents and brothers. She is the chef for all of the wedding ceremonies and receptions. One recent wedding reception has rocked the Manor again when Bel finds the groom in the women's bathroom during a medical event that takes his life. As the death is investigated, one of the undocumented waitresses vanishes, seemingly without a trace, along with money that belongs to the McGrath's.

Between the anguish concerning the long standing mystery surrounding Amy and the new death at the Manor, the book takes the reader through a myriad of thoughts, actions, characters, and scenes. As with book one, Bel of the Brawlisn't your typical light-hearted cozy mystery. There are some light and humorous moments but overall, the book has many serious overtones. The author does a great job taking multiple story lines and weaving them together into a fantastic and cohesive book of mysteries. There are many twists and turns that take the characters and the reader on a wild journey that doesn't just involve the death at the wedding.

I enjoyed Wedding Bel Blues as both the traditional cozy mystery but also as a more suspenseful book. The characters have their different quirks that add to overall tone of the book and each one is well developed. The story is well-told and full of twists and turns that keeps the reader guessing. The plot is pretty solid; I didn't read anything that didn't make sense or contradicted a previous statement or action.

I was engaged with this fast paced novel from the very beginning. I wasn't bogged down with useless or filler information about the characters, the location, or the backstories. The author did a great job with descriptions that were very vivid. The vividness allowed me to put together my own version of Shamrock Manor and the lives of those who dwell within. I look forward to going wherever the author takes us next with Bel.

I voluntarily read a review copy provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Bel of the Brawl: A Belfast McGrath Mystery
By Maggie McDonnon
St. Martin’s Press
March 2017

Review by Cynthia Chow

As much as Bel McGrath loved growing up in Foster’s Landing, New York, the traumatic disappearance of her best friend after their high school graduation party forced Bel to leave home as she pursued a career as a talented professional chef. When both her engagement and prestigious job spectacularly and very publicly imploded, Bel returned home to help her family run their Shamrock Manor catering hall. Attempting to elevate the menus of her very traditional Irish family is a struggle as she rebuilds her reputation, something definitely not helped when Bel discovers the body of the latest groom dead in the women’s bathroom.

Bel had recently asked the late private investigator if he could look into the fate of her former best friend Amy Mitchell, whose belongings had recently been recovered from the river. Bel is still haunted by the fight and last harsh words between them, especially as it led to Bel’s breakup with her then-boyfriend, Detective Kevin Hanson. Bel had begun to move on with Brendan Joyce, but a sizzling kiss has her questioning her choices, not helped by the news that her next job will be catering Kevin’s upcoming wedding. Her personal life will have to take the sidelines though as Bel deals with the family business, considering that one of their waitresses has apparently absconded with their $10,000 tip, the remaining staff is terrified about their immigration status, and the mystery behind Amy’s disappearance seems no closer to becoming solved.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the author of stellar mystery novels written under her name Maggie Barbieri has crafted yet another series featuring such a realistic, witty, and sympathetic heroine. The Murder 101 series is one of my favorites, and this novel displays the same biting wit and sharp dialogue of cynical but vulnerable characters. Bel’s very Irish parents and four brothers bring their share of comedic moments and chaos, yet they remain entirely relatable and fun. Bel’s father undercuts her with family discounts, is unable to pronounce “Downton Abbey” correctly, and believes in the customer being right even when Bel knows that they’re wrong. Yet despite the family Sunday dinners featuring Irish Alzheimer’s – everything is forgotten but the grudges – there is no denying the love and support the boisterous crew has for one another. Bel is closest with her brother Cargan, a former NYPD undercover officer whose own family was unaware of his assignment, so it shouldn’t be surprising that he is often the one she leans on when feeling responsible for cleaning up all of the McGrath family messes. The many laughs and humorous dialogue never gloss over the nuanced layers of family drama and deeper mystery plots, which continue to develop throughout the series. Readers will be left satisfied but eager for the next installment of this highly entertaining, extremely well-written novel by a very reliable and talented author.

This is my first visit with the whirlwind that is the McGrath family but it definitely won't be my last! I love a wedding in a mystery because there's so many things that can go wrong and pretty much all of them happened in Bel of the Brawl! Really I'm not sure much can be worse than a dead groom but there were plenty of other mishaps that developed as the book went along. Throw in Bel's more than a little whacky family and hilarity ensues though I definitely had some sympathy for Bel with a plethora of siblings, a mother with rather set in stone opinions, and a father who just loves to discount things she has a LOT on her plate. And all that's without even thinking about the drama the finding of evidence from a decade old missing persons case has unearthed. I enjoyed how multi-layered the mystery was with the current murder, figuring out just what is going on with the families involved, all the details involving the missing staff member, and the old mystery and all the emotional ramifications Bel has from that.

While this is the second book in the series this is my first visit with the McGrath family. For the most part this wasn't a problem as what had happened in the past was easily explained and most of what I needed to know happened on the page. I did get a little confused early on with all the names regarding the missing persons case -both in the flashbacks and with the present day discussion. As well it took me a little while to get the names of a few of Bel's siblings straight - especially with a cousin thrown in the mix.

Despite the minor flaws (and there's a distinct possibility that my confusion early on was caused more by copious amounts of cold medicine coupled with a pretty massive head cold than by the book itself) I really enjoyed this mystery. It was fun, quirky and really cute and I'm curious about what will happen next with the McGrath family.

Bel is a chef for weddings at her family's estate, but murders keep happening around the happy events. This time, its the groom who has died, and a waitress and ten thousand dollar tip that have gone missing. And remains have been found on the island where Bel's best friend disappeared many years ago.

This was a great cozy mystery. The characters are vivid and unique, as is the setting. There are a lot of twists and turns, and a budding romance as well. The crime from the past, that of Bel's missing best friend, is really intriguing.

I wanted to know more about Bel's best friend's case! But that is not a fault of the author, rather a plus in her book, as it means she has me hooked for more books in this series.

I didn't like that the solution to the previous book in the series was mentioned in this book, thus giving that ending away before I could read it.

If you like cozy mysteries, I would definitely recommend this one. It has all the hallmarks of a great book of this genre-unique characters, a vivid setting, and a compelling mystery, plus something that has you hooked in and needing to read more.

Bel McGarth is at it again - a murder investigation that is, and we are lucky enough to be along for the ride. Bel has returned home to her large Irish family's catering business, Shamrock Manor and when the Casey wedding's groom turns up dead and the family business is in trouble, Bel once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. This is a complex and interesting story, full of both big and little surprises written by an entertaining story teller with a great ear for dialogue. I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

When I first saw the blurb for Bel of the Brawl, I knew I had to read it. It’s a cozy mystery, set in a small town. It focuses on Bel and her family who owns the Shamrock Manor (seriously, I love the name) the family is also very Irish. I didn’t read book one, but I kind of get the feel for it in the second book. There has been a murder and Shamrock Manor is suffering a little because it’s a wedding place, so the brides and grooms have a bit of reservation when it comes to booking their wedding. It also doesn’t help that when they do book, Bel’s father gives them massive discounts.

After managing to book the wedding, despite some obvious concerns, things seem to go smoothly until the end of the wedding when Bel discovers the groom – dead in the women’s bathroom. Now the tip money from the wedding is missing, along with one their server’s, and Irish gangster’s are breaking into Bel’s apartment. Can she sort through all the lies flung at her and uncover the real killer?

This was a quick read. I really appreciated the quick short chapters, with my schedule it just seemed to work out well for me. What I liked most about this book is the sibling relationship between Bel and her brother Cargan. The two are very close in this book and are working on the mystery behind the murder and the disappearing banquet server together.

This book was filled with interesting characters, from Bel’s mother and father to her brothers. I really adored the family and the closeness and how they seem to look out for each other. I absolutely adore the way her mother complains about Bel’s cooking, because Bel likes to branch out and try thing that are outside of her parents or Irish comfort zone.

I followed Belfast (loved her name) as she sorted through the lies and was bold enough to approach some people that she never should have.

Also, there is a secondary ongoing mystery in this series with Bel’s long lost best friend Amy. A girl who disappeared years ago and seemed to have shaken the little town. In this book it seems remains have been uncovered and Kevin (Bel’s friend, ex boyfriend) believes that this might be Amy. New evidence has come to light about that night also that shake Bel’s world.

What didn’t I like?

I found myself a bit peeved at Bel and Kevin. In this book Kevin is also getting married to what seems to be a wonderful woman, but because of the connection they share over this mystery with their disappearing friend – Kevin and Bel find themselves in a lip lock not once but twice now. I guess, that bothers me a bit. Bel has some unresolved feelings for Kevin and Kevin seems to as well – but they are also indirectly hurting Kevin’s soon to be wife, who seems to be Bel’s friend and a wonderful person.

The pacing was interesting, but there seem to be a few things I was left unsure of. I wanted to know what happened to the Irish Gangster and the man that was helping him, Donnie.

The reveal was weird and also felt a bit anticlimactic. If you are looking for a cozy mystery that is really just a bit subdued – this will be for you. Also, I wasn’t sure I was 100% on the same page about the reason behind the murder.

But it was cozy, and it did feel like a page turner for me. I didn’t find this boring at all.

Overall, I loved the Irish family dynamics. I loved the secondary mystery lurking in the background and I enjoyed the authors laid back writing. This series comes with well fleshed out characters, some sibling love and an interesting mystery. I did enjoy following the clues and meeting the town locals. I am looking forward to seeing where this takes us next.

Bel of the Brawl, written by Maggie McConnon, is the second book in the Bel McGrath Mystery series. This book can be read as a stand-alone, however, I highly recommend reading the first book in the series, Wedding Bel Blues.

The story is about Bel McGrath, a wedding chef at her family owned Shamrock Manor. The McGrath family is a large Irish family that all work at the family hotel/restaurant in one way or another. In the beginning of the story, you will learn about Bel's best friend, Amy, who disappeared more than ten years ago. It is something that not only haunts Bel, but the town as well!

Shamrock Manor is hosting a huge wedding, and the McGrath family is doing whatever they can to make the Casey wedding go off without a hitch. Of course, that is always easier said than done. Bel has a conversation in which she learns that the groom is a private investigator. Her mind instantly thinks of Amy, and she contemplates asking him to help her find out exactly what happened. Little does she know, but he will never get the chance to look into it because Bel finds him just as he is taking his last breath. What else can possibly go wrong?

The story that unfolds is full of mystery and intrigue. As the family scrambles to preserve their reputation, a full bown investigation ensues. The author brilliantly weaves together the storyline of Amy's disappearance and the possible murder of the groom. As with any good mystery, there are other twists in the story that will keep you guessing. I love the way this story flowed at a great pace that held my interest from beginning to end. This is also a story about friends and family, and all of the drama that goes along with it. The characters are well written, the story is completely engaging, and the plot will keep you guessing. I am looking forward to the next installment of this series!

I received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A mystery within a mystery. Bel of the Brawl is the 2nd installment of the Bel McGrath mystery series. Bel who has returned to Foster's Landing after a very public firing at a hot New York restaurant in the last installment. She has settled in and is working for the family business as the Chef at Shamrock Manor. Bel has drama. The story starts with a flashback to the night her best friend Amy went missing. They have found Amy's backpack in the water and there are some bones -- are they Amy's? On top of that another murder happens at Shamrock Manor, this time it is the groom, the $10,000 tip money and a waitress disappear. Bel is tracking it all down. Her old boyfriend Kevin is the detective and is finally going to marry his girlfriend and the wedding is at the Manor. This is not a simple cozy as the emotions run very deep and of course her Irish family provides lots of entertainment along the way. Can't wait for the next installment. Great teaser from the next installment -- is Amy alive?

This is the first book I've read in this series and I'm hooked.
The style of writing flowed smoothly and the author kept me interested all the way through.
Working in the family business, Bel McGrath loves her work, catering weddings allows her to create the foods she loves.
The Casey wedding is set to go, but with a death on scene, missing money and possible illegal waitresses is enough to cause Bel a whole lot of trouble.

Setting: Foster's Landing, a small river town

Characters:

Belfast (Bel) McGrath, only daughter, sister to four, professional chef
Kevin Hanson, Bel's ex-boyfriend, police detective
Cargan, Arney, Derry, and Feeney, Bel's brothers
Plot: It's been years since Bel's best friend disappeared. Bel, Amy, Kevin, and others were having a party on Eden Island. Bel can't quite remember what happened, but she woke up alone on the island and, after wading to shore, found that her brothers and boyfriend had been searching for both her and Amy all through the night. They only found Bel. The memory has left a haunting imprint - in both Bel's memory, and that of the town, it seems.

Bel's working as a chef at Shamrock Manor, her family's wedding hall, doing her best to focus on food and the future. When the groom at the wedding being held at the Manor reveals that he's a Private Investigator, Bel wonders if she might finally be to find out what happened to Amy. It's a short-lived hope; Bel finds the groom just as he takes his last breath, meaning another mystery at Shamrock Manor. In the midst of her haunting memories and the groom's mysterious death, is the fact that some of Amy's belongings have surfaced from the river bottom and one of the Manor's servers has disappeared, leaving everyone short-handed and curious as to where she might have gone - and if leaving was her choice or not.

All of these elements mingle together like a finely tested recipe, resulting in a story mystery readers will savor.

Pacing: Good

Predictability: Low; there's so much going on with the various plot points, that the author leaves you no room to ruminate over a suspect before directing your attention to another detail.

Wild Card: While I have not read the first book in this series, I don't feel like I missed anything; the author does a good job of recapping. At the same time, I now want to go back to read the first, because I enjoyed this one so much! I especially enjoy the relationship that Cargan and Bel have . . . and I've got my suspicious eye on you, Brendan.

Hit, Miss, or Draw? Hit

This is the first book I've read in this series.It is wonderfully told.
Bel is the chef in her Irish family's Shamrock Manor. Geared to hosting wedding parties,her entire family participates in the business, some have other jobs, some solely work at the manor. Since I missed the first..and bits of the back story are mentioned, but the book can and does read as well as a stand alone.
In this tale there is another body at a wedding party, it is mortifying for Bel, she comes across the dying groom in the ladies room, while she is trying to get her pants back up.
She and her brother, Cargan, a N.Y.C. police officer on medical leave are determined to help Kevin Hanson, city detective and old friend solve the death...is it the heart attack it appears..or something more sinister.
Intrigue, mystery, humor, family angst and a bit of romance are all tied up in this tale. Several stories tie neatly in and you will want to see the resolution to them all.
I requested and was fortunate to receive this ARC from Netgalley but must go and buy the first.

Bel of the Brawl is the second book in a series featuring Belfast McGrath, daughter of a large Irish family who works as a chef at Shamrock Manor. Shamrock Manor being a very large hotel/restaurant on a sprawling piece of land near the Hudson river.
Belfast (Bel for short) has three brothers, who all have their own careers but are also the ‘house band’ of Shamrock Manor, especially when there is a big wedding booked.
In this second book of the series we read how Bel’s best friend Amy Mitchell disappeared when she was only seventeen, something that has haunted Bel every day since then. Especially because Bel had a fight with Amy that night because Amy kissed Bel’s boyfriend, Kevin.
It’s more than ten years later and Bel is to cook for a big wedding. Gerard Mason and Pegeen Casey are getting married and over a hundred guests will attend the dinner. But, as the groom dies unexpectedly, a larg sum of money gets missing, there is trouble with the staff and Bel triest to start with a new relationship, there is hardly any time for her to enjoy her own cooking.
I wish I’d read the first book in the series, because this second one is really a great read. I love all things Irish, I love cooking and I love a good mystery where not all character are only good or bad, but have something of both in them. Although the story is set in the US, Bel and her family are still ‘typicall Irish’ in their stubborness, their love of music and food and above all their fierce love for each other and their loyalty to friends.
Being Dutch, I had a good laugh when reading about the ‘satay’ Bel is planning to make for the wedding dinner, which is described as ‘… chicken on a skewer with a peanut dripping sauce’. It sounds atrocious, one of Bel’s brothers remarks. Yes, he is right. But let me tell you that ‘satay’ or ‘sateh’ as we call it here, originally an Indonesian dish, is usually made of pork or chicken, marinated for a few days and grilled on charcoal or on a very hot plate. The best sateh is made with goats’ meat, by the way. It is really delicious ;-)
This book is not only filled with mystery, music and food (when some human remains are found, everybody is curious whether this could be what’s left of Amy), friendship, love and betrayal, but most of all with interesting characters. It is also very well written, entertaining and with just the right amount of humor. I loved it!