Siobhan is now officially a garda officer and the priest brings her her first case. Who is the American found dead in the graveyard? Is there a reason he is pointing at the grave marker? Is it family or stranger who had it out for him? Will this case be the end or beginning to her romance with the detective? This is a nice small town Irish mystery.
Goodreads

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Siobhán is now Garda O'Sullivan and is getting ready for her first day. When she is summoned in the wee hours of the morning by the local priest, Father Kearney, she heads off to the cemetery in the Churchyard to investigate a dead body above ground. With it being a murder, Sergeant Macdara Flannery, Siobhán's ex-boyfriend, is summoned from Dublin to head the case. The victim is an American in Ireland to make a documentary about his Irish roots and ancestors. As Siobhán and Macdara investigate the family and documentary makers, it seems there is more than one suspect, as well as an old lady that has been seen skulking around.

I really enjoy the character of Siobhán, a smart woman who uses her intuition and gut feelings to her advantage. She is a family woman, who takes care of her siblings and still makes the bread for the family bistro. She is hurting about the loss of her relationship of Macdara and I was happy to see that perhaps they might get back together. Technically, she is no longer an amateur sleuth, but I still consider this a cozy mystery. Her immediate supervisor, Garda O'Reilly, is not a very likeable character at all. He is constantly trying to get her in trouble and write her up, personally I think he is jealous of her success solving previous murders. The plot was well done with red herrings, clues sprinkled sporadically, some likeable characters, some not and a well paced storyline. I really enjoyed this story and figured out some things, but was still pleasantly surprised when the culprit and the motive were revealed in the story. I will definitely continue to read this wonderful series from Carlene O'Connor and recommend it to cozy mystery lovers or those who enjoy a nice visit to the countryside of Ireland.

Garda O'Sullivan has her hands full with this richly described, atmospheric mystery. This Irish community sounds like somewhere I could visit. I loved the bit about the victim being from a different Dublin.

I think it is good luck to start your police career off with a dead body. Or at least that is what I am going to tell Siobhán O’Sullivan. Just when night begins to darken she is called to solve a murder, that is still warm. Enter into a mystery so well planned that readers will be thrilled to be apart of it.

I personally have loved all the books in this series, and feel right at home solving a mystery in Cork County.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really liked this book and liked Siobhan. Yet again this is another book in a series so I shall have to read the first 2

Thank you for the review copy via NetGalley!

Another Cozy Mystery series to add to your cozy reading shelf! I promise you will love this series!

Murder in an Irish Churchyard is the third in the "An Irish Village Mystery" book series and boy was this a great addition! I certainly hope many more will be coming from Siobhan's village!

In this latest installment, Siobhan is officially Garda O'Sullivan (Garda, for those who don't know, is a police officer) and things are picking up for this natural born sleuth. With a body found in the church graveyard (and we aren't talking a buried body!), things go a bit left for Garda O'Sullivan! Who murdered this poor soul and why? Of course, read the book and you'll learn more.

The book's pace is perfect and keeps you guessing. I need more Siobhan!

Title: Murder in an Irish Churchyard



Author: Carlene O’Connor



Series: Irish Village Mystery book 3



Chapters: 33



Pages: 325



Genre: cozy mystery



Rating: 4 stars





In Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O'Connor book three in the Irish Village mysteries. Siobhan is now Garda O'Sullivan. No longer just a restaurant owner and part time sleuth she is now a cop in her small village, ready to take on her first murder mystery as a professional. However the garda force is pretty much a man's only club, and they give her a hard time. Then Macdara Flannery who's now a detective sergeant and Siobhan's ex has come back to the village to oversee the case. And he's keeping secrets.



Murder an Irish Churchyard looks at just how far someone is willing to keep genealogical secrets a secret. Whoever said family history can be murder must have had this book in mind. Not only is the victim researching his family history, Siobhan's first big case as a Garda she has to deal with America's to boot. But she does what she has to, in order to solve this case. Even if she tries to solve it in her slightly unordothdox way.



I enjoyed Murder in an Irish Churchyard more than the first two books in the series. Siobhan's starting to come into her own by this book. She's finally figured out how to balance all the things in her. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. As well as any other books by Carlene O'Connor.





I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

“Murder in an Irish Churchyard” earns 5/5 Shiny Gardai Badges!

For the past two Februarys Carlene O’Connor has given us engaging mysteries with a delightful Irish twist, so what does she have for us fans of Siobhán, the O’Sullivan Six, and residents of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland? Murder in an Irish Churchyard!

The Irish countryside may be quaint, but watch out for the dead bodies! Siobhán O’Sullivan is anxious to start her new career as a member of the An Garda Siochána, The Guardian of the Peace or Irish police, stationed in the quaint Irish village Kilbane, County Cork…but in her pajamas? Father Kearney shows up at one in the morning frantic after finding a dead body in the churchyard. Ok, it is a place riddled with dead bodies, however this particular dead body is above ground and lying in a pool of blood. Call 9-9-9 and a seasoned Garda will be assigned to the case; her novice status will undoubtedly be paperwork and answering phone calls, so maybe she should check it out first? Siobhán has an opportunity to put her recent studies at the Garda College into practical application: observe the scene, don't touch the body, keep an open mind, and take photos before the snow obliterates footprints and evidence. All following protocols. However, she is frowned on by the arriving Detective, and given a verbal warning…not a great first day on the job. But, her critical thinking skills and investigative talents could put her on the trail of a killer, instead she's on the trail of a pair of missing wooly socks.

I have become a big fan of Carlene O’Connor’s Irish Village Mystery series, but newbies should not worry that starting with the third book might put them at a disadvantage…this is not the case. There were plenty of references to background and character connections to make this a great place to start, although the details and nuances are well worth revisiting by going back and reading or listening to both previous books. This “…Churchyard” mystery is clever, nail-biting at times, with a plethora of suspects and motives to keep you engaged. But beyond the delightful Irish tone (the dialogue is written with an obvious sense of the Irish brogue), the focus on family ancestry was a fascinating theme sending me to revisit information on my own English/German/French pie chart. However, it is the characters with which I have become invested. Siobhán still struggles with the death of her parents in a tragic car accident and laments that her life’s path and romantic interests took an unexpected turn and her role as mother to her younger siblings often goes without recognition, but family is important…well, the dynamic between Siobhán and her new sister-in-law and the “Brown Bread” conflict is so eerily realistic (my potato salad is the family tradition). Former love interest Detective Macdara Flannery has been brought in from Dublin to head the investigation creating an interesting dynamic between exes. I highly recommend the series…it is a perfect example of a “cozy mystery.”

Siobhán O’Sullivan has just started a new job as a police officer at the Kilbane Gardaí Station. It’s Siobhán’s first day and Father Kearney requests her help when he discovers the body of gunshot victim lying in St. Mary’s Churchyard. Siobhan checks out the scene and agrees it’s murder. Even though she’s a rookie, since she is the first on the scene, she’s allowed to work on the case along with the lead investigator. That person happens to be newly promoted DS Macdara Flannery who is called in from Dublin. Siobhán must now work with her former boyfriend while she’s learning the ropes of her new job to make her first case a success.

Murder in an Irish Churchyard is the third in the Irish Village mysteries, but I haven’t read the first two. I easily got caught up on the most important details of Siobhán’s life and quickly became invested in the story. I admire Siobhán’s skill as an investigator and her loyalty to her family. I don’t like how she sometimes allows herself to be walked on by her new co-workers and by her brother’s pushy girlfriend. Some of what she was going through at the police station was uncomfortable to read, and I’m glad Macdara put a stop to the hazing as soon as he came into town. Unfortunately, James’s girlfriend Elise remains annoying throughout the book. Siobhán and Macdara make a great team investigating the case and I like how they are able to put their awkwardness aside for the good of solving the crime. When they allow themselves to relax, their rapport is a delight.

In a lot of American cozies set outside the United States, the main character is a transplant from the U.S. I’m happy that in this book which takes place in Ireland, Siobhán and her family are natives, which gives the book a different feel that I enjoy. Although Siobhán is a rookie police officer, she refers to crimes she solved before she joined the force, so she makes a competent and caring investigator. I like that Macdara takes her ideas seriously and doesn’t brush her off because of her rookie status or their complicated relationship. After a big build-up, the ending is a bit rushed. However, the characters and settings are interesting, and I would enjoy reading another book in this series to watch Siobhán grow as a police officer and see how things with her and Macdara. Fans of Shelia Connolly’s County Cork mysteries will enjoy the Irish setting of this book.

~ Christine

A hard to put down cozy mystery set in a small town in Ireland. The only minor issues I had was stumbling over the names and Macara’s tone towards Siobhán. A few times I wanted to reach into the pages and give him a smack. When the local priest wakes Siobhán and leads her to a dead man in the cemetery the plot takes off. Working together, they have a mess of suspects as the victim was visiting with his family from America. Got a few chuckles, like when one of the men asked about calling in Ireland, she explained that you punched in a series of numbers, listened to a ringing, and respond with hello. All said with a straight face. Highly recommend this book and author, and look forward to more books with these characters.

The night before Siobhán O’Sullivan is due to start her first day as a Garda (police) in her hometown of Kilbane, Ireland, Father Kearney, the local priest, knocks on the O’Sullivan family’s door at half past one AM. After hearing a gunshot, Father Kearney had investigated and found a dead body in the church graveyard. Although Siobhán is not yet technically a Garda, she has been successful in catching two previous murderers in Kilbane, and Father Kearney wants her to be the first on the scene. The next day when the case is officially assigned, Siobhán is chagrined to discover that she will be reporting to DS Macdara Flannery, her former boyfriend, who has moved to Dublin while she attended police college. Siobhán and Macdara learn that the murdered man and his family are from Dublin, Ohio and are visiting Ireland to research their family’s ties to Kilbane. They must put aside their feelings and work together to discover which of his family might have wanted him dead.

Murder in an Irish Churchyard is the 3rd book in Carlene O’Connor’s Irish Village series. Carlene is an American author whose great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland with many stories about Ireland. O’Connor also writes under her real name, Mary Carter. I’ve read the previous two books in the Irish Village series and was fortunate enough to receive this book courtesy of NetGalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed this cozy mystery series. While it is possible for this book to be read as a standalone, I think it makes the book more enjoyable to know the background from the previous two books. The mystery here is unique, well-plotted and holds together logically. The recurring characters, mainly Siobhán’s five brothers and sisters and a few townspeople, are fun and engaging characters, although there is less emphasis on the family in this book than in the prior books. I also appreciate that although the series started out centered around the family’s business, Naomi’s Bistro, O’Connor has progressed the main character, Siobhán. She has gone from primarily running the family business to becoming a Garda, so there is a logical reason for her to become involved in a criminal investigation.

I was also excited that Dublin, Ohio, my home, was mentioned in the book. Carlene graciously responded to my email, and I found that she has visited here for the annual Irish Fest. She also told me that she had signed another three-book deal for the series.

I recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a fun and well-written cozy mystery. I’m looking forward to the next three books in the series.

This is book 3 in the Irish Village Mystery Series. This book can be read as a stand alone . I do highly recommend the entire series.
This is a excellent mystery series with all the right elements including being located in a charming small Irish village. The village adds a mysterious and fun backdrop to the story.
The unique quirky characters all add fun to the story . I enjoy the masterful story telling in this series and look forward to the next in series. The mystery is well crafted and keeps this avid mystery fan guessing until the end.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my personal opinion of this book.

Lovely scenic details of Ireland provide the background for a cozy murder mystery set in the country village of Kilbane.
Siobhan O'Sullivan has completed 2 years at Garda College and it's her first day on the job when Father Kearney convinces her to come with him to the cemetery instead of phoning in the body he has found. It's been a year since Macdara Flannery became an Detective Sergeant and moved to Dublin, the pain of loss love still lingers in Siobhan.
The dead man is American, Peter Mallon, here to document his family history on film. Peter's dysfunctional family, the filmmaker and local Kilbanites all come together to provide plot complications, and plot twists for Siobhan & Macdara to figure out, drawing their personal history into the present working investigation.
This third installment in the Irish Village mystery series is not a 'light' as the previous novels but was equally enjoyable.

After reading Murder in an Irish Church yard I wondered how the heck I had missed the previous two entries in this delightful series? I now have the first two books (I sure hope there will be m ore) to catch up with Siobhan, her siblings and the rest of her home town of Kilbane. She is now a newly minted Garda and on the verge of her first day on the job when there is a knock on her door about 1am and the parish priest begs her to come with him to the church yard, breaking protocol by not calling it in to the station. A body has been found dead in the falling snow and he isn't a local. He's an American tourist of Irish descent. Given that this is Ireland and guns are rare as far as murder goes, this becomes a big challenge for a young Garda who can count her days of working experience on one hand - with a finger or two to spare. Lucky she has the support of Macdara Flannery now with the Dublin Garda, at one time the love of her life. (I enjoyed the romantic thread and its complexities.)
The writing is smooth, the pace is just right, the mystery is very satisfying but the best, for me, was the character of Siobhan. One one hand she is the new Garda with all of the rules and regulations but on the other she has solved murders in the past as a civilian and knows her town very well, just let her get on with the investigation. She also worries about her siblings and the family bistro she helps run. There are many layers to her character, the best might just be her inner voice and her sense of humor. There were times when a funny comment would pop into her mind and I would feel the need to share it with somebody, it was so good. There was perfect balance on all levels. I really do hope there will be a fourth entry in the series.

The descriptions in this book reminded me of a travel to Ireland that took place more than 25 years ago.
The people, the dialogues, and the situations were all really lovely and interesting.
I loved the plot, the description of the village, the relationship between the different characters, and the style of writing
It was really enjoyable and entertaining.
Even if it's the third instalment in a series and I didn't read the previous there was no problem in undesting the characters and their relationship.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books

4 Solid Stars!
This is the third book in the Siobhan O’Sullivan series, but first I have read. To be honest, it took me a couple chapters to get into the book’s story and the background of the characters.
Siobhan just finished up from 2 years at the garda academy and the story starts out in the middle of the night with her preparing for her first day of work. A knock on the door surprises Siobhan and when she opens the door, it’s the local priest. The priest saw some movement out his window, went to investigate and now is looking to get some support from Siobhan. Instead of calling it in, which Siobhan gets into trouble for later, she goes to investigate.
The body ends up being an American who is in the area researching his and his family’s ancestry for a film program he is has commissioned to be taped. His entire family and workers, including the film maker and a nurse are also along for the documentary.
A lot of background comes out in the story about Siobhan including a relationship with Macdara, the investigator sent from Dublin. Siobhan has to deal with her feelings for Macdara as well as juggle taking care of her younger siblings and the café that her family runs.
The characters are all well developed and there is significant detail around their interrelationship. Ms O’Connor does a wonderful job of allowing those details to come out and evolve of the course of the narrative.
The mystery has many layers to it too. A lot of twists and turns along the way to the final solving which, for me, was a surprise.
The more into the book I got, the more I enjoyed the village and the characters that were being developed through the story as it unfolded. A completely enjoyable read once I got into it!
Thank you NetGalley and publisher, Kensington Books, for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book is the third in a mystery series set in Kilbane, Ireland. The heroine, Siobhan O'Sullivan has recently graduated from garda school, the Irish police academy. The night before her first day on the job, her priest asked her to come the the church's graveyard to investigate a dead body.

Although there are hints of past investigations in the story, this book is a standalone novel. The cast of characters is large, but it is easy to feel familiar with them in no time. The way the dialogue is written, you can hear the Irish brogue in every word. For anyone who has ever visited Ireland, or wanted to, the description of Kilbane and the surrounding area is food for the imagination! The story revolves around an American family who was doing genealogical research into their family tree and found some surprising information. This book was very engaging and it was hard to put down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 3rd installment in this series and I continue to love every one. Time has passed since the last installment and Siobhan has been to school to be a police officer or Garda as they are called in Ireland. She is set to start her first day on the job when the parish priest comes to her telling her there is a body (dead and not buried) in the churchyard!
Siobhan should have called this in but off she goes investigating (getting into a little hot water with her supervisor). A detective is dispatched from Dublin and of course, it is Macdara! Things are a little awkward at first but they work well together. Siobhan is so dedicated to her family and the entire village that has not changed from any of the books in the series. The kids are all growing up and it is good to see the development of the family dynamics. The characters are so real and you feel like you are part of the village and in Ireland. Hope this series continues.

If you have never been to Ireland this book sure makes you wish to go. The descriptions of the land and its people is phenomenal. I have never been so I can’t vouch for the description but it sure makes me want to go! I did not read the other book(s) in the series but seemed to manage alright. Obviously at one point I started wondering which is why I know that a series exists. This is more like a cozy romantic mystery and if that’s what you like then that’s what you will get. The characters are delightful but maybe the heroine who is on the first day after graduating from the police academy a little bossy and self determined than would ever happen in real life. Like I said, it’s a nice little cozy mystery you can when you don’t want to be challenged too much. I received this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review. I would recommend this book to to others.