Murder at an Irish Christmas is the sixth book in Irish author Carlene O’Conner’s Irish Village Mystery series, featuring Garda Siobhan O’Sullivan and Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery. As Siobhan and her five siblings arrive to meet brother James’s fiancé’s family in a small village in West County Cork. Elise is the granddaughter of renowned conductor Enda Elliott who is set to perform a special Christmas Eve concert in an old whiskey mill said to have perfect acoustics and is close to the Elliot family compound.

Crowds have gathered at the mill on the morning of Siobhan’s arrival all awaiting the arrival of the famous conductor and orchestra to set up and rehearse. However, when the mill is entered and the lights turned on it is to find the body of Enda lying in the spotlight with a harp settled atop him. There are more questions than answers when he is found wearing a trench coat over his pajamas.

All are questioned but it would appear that local guard Cooley seems to have decided upon the guilty party with no actual evidence. This does not set well with Siobhan, nor with her partner and fiancé Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery when she relays what is happening. As it is Christmas, Siobhan is in West Cork with her siblings while Macdara is spending Christmas with his mother before traveling to spend New Years with Siobhan, but when he learns of the murder he convinces his mother to join them all in West Cork for the concert and so he can help.

This is a well written mystery with many twists before the final chapters and the unexpected outcome. This is the first of the series I have read but it definitely stood on its own merit with enough background information included for the new reader but not so much as to bore the series veteran. I did enjoy this book and will look for this author in the future. I do recommend this book.

I had not read one of Carlene’s books up until seeing this on Netgalley. After I took a look at the storyline and the location I was sold!

What I loved right off the bat on this one was the location. My family hails from County Cork Ireland and I wanted to read a story that was set within these boundaries. It was well written, fast paced and super enjoyable. So much so that I intend to grab the first five books in the series! Cast of characters, the music they mention, it just felt cozy, and how I see my family back in Ireland.

Highly suggest you pick up a copy and Introduce yourself to this author and her series! Well done!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kensington books for my copy of Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene O'Connor in exchange for an honest review. It published October 27, 2020.
This book is number 6 in the Murder in an Irish Village series, and I think it's safe to say it may be advantageous to start from the beginning with this series. It seems as if there is a very detailed backstory that I was missing out on. I didn't really know who the characters were, and spent much of my time trying to understand their backstory.
That being said, this was a solid cozy mystery. I enjoyed the setting, the themes, and the characters themselves. I just need to go start at the beginning!

A continuation of Siobhan's story. The family has traveled to visit The O'Sullivan clan of County Cork, Ireland, at Christmas Garda Siobhan O'Sullivan's holiday plans hit a sour note when murder rearranges the Yuletide carols into unexpected eulogies... This December in Kilbane, if you're planning to warm up with a cuppa tea at Naomi's Bistro, you may have a bit of a wait--the entire O'Sullivan brood has gone off to West Cork to spend the holidays with brother James' fiance Elise's family, including her grandfather, the famous orchestral conductor Enda Elliot. Siobhan is so happy for James and Elise but also quietly disappointed that she must put her own wedding to fellow garda Macdara Flannery on hold. Mac will have to join them later, so he can spend part of the holidays with his mam. When the O'Sullivans learn everyone will choose a name from a hat to buy a music-related Christmas gift for someone else at the gathering, it seems like their greatest concern--until the cantankerous conductor is discovered crushed under a ninety-pound harp in a local concert hall. With the extended family--including Enda's much-younger new wife Leah, a virtuoso violinist--suspected in his murder, it's up to Siobh n to ensure the guilty party faces the music. But as a snowstorm strands both families in a lavish farmhouse on a cliff, Siobh n had better pick up the tempo--before the killer orchestrates another untimely demise

Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene O’Connor

The O’Sullivan clan of Count Cork, Ireland, are back, in this book, to investigate another murder , only this time at Christmas. It was great meeting Sioban again in this lovely Irish town. She, on her own, has to solve a murder, since the other guardas are going up the wrong path. Her family is furious. They are suppose to be having a mini vacation. Enjoyed this book as much as all her others. I recommend this book.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review..

Murder at an Irish Christmas is the 6th book in the Irish Village Mystery series.

I haven't read the other book within the series but I had no difficulties keeping up with characters or the storyline of this cozy mystery.

I really liked the main character Siobhan.
The O'Sullivans are meeting the future in-laws for Christmas but a murder may change their plans as this musical family try to solve the crime. It's her brother's fiances, grandfather gets murdered, which means it is likely someone within the family.

I enjoyed this fun, cozy mystery. It's perfect for the season. If you like cozy mysteries and books set in Ireland you will enjoy this book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I will admit that the beautiful cover first made me want to read this book. It is the sixth in a series set around Garda Siobhan O'Sullivan and her family. Her brother is marrying and the whole family travels for the event, but murder intervenes. It is all good fun and not too serious. I had never read any of the other books in this series but now I'd like to start at the beginning and find out more about the clan. Thank you to the author, her publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to ready this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked that it for straight into the storyline and I think the characters were great.

Murder at an Irish Christmas is a wonderfully creative holiday cozy. Siobhán is a magnificent character. Having taken care of her siblings since their parents died has been an undertaking and altered her life. Sometimes she harkens back to the days when she had dreams of going off, attending university, and building her own life. All of that came to an end with her parent's sudden passing. At times, she regrets the choices she had to make, but she wouldn't change a thing most of the time. This year, many things have or are about to change, but the love she has for her family isn't one of them. Christmas time reminds her of everything and everyone she loves, and she will do whatever it takes to keep them safe and happy.

While visiting James' fiances family during the Christmas holiday, a brutal murder takes place. It's difficult for Siobhán to sit back and keep her nose out of the investigation. Before long, however, she realizes that if she doesn't do something, an innocent man may go to prison for a murder he didn't commit. Very quickly, suspects are uncovered; the killer could be anyone in the victim's family, including an ex-wife, a current wife, several children, an entire orchestra, or anyone living in the Irish countryside near Elise's grandfather's home. It takes Siobhán a while to start eliminating suspects and track down evidence. While she is doing all of this, she tries to keep the local garda from arresting someone who may be innocent but whom everyone thinks is guilty.

There are plenty of red herrings for readers to figure out, more twists and turns than expected, and a few surprises thrown in that make Siobhán grateful and worried at the same time. Murder at an Irish Christmas flows nicely, is a quick read, and has readers savoring the descriptions and pictures of the lovely Irish countryside during the Christmas holidays. This is a cozy book readers will want to spend time with and enjoy every moment.

The O'Sullivan Six are supposed to be enjoyed the Chritsmas holiday with their future in-laws ... but a murder has sidelined Siobhan's celebrations.  This cozy mystery was light and entertaining, but we saw very little of Macdera.  The way his absence was handled made me think of one of those shows where one of the main characters is off making a movie, so the script it written to have them off on some holiday or business meeting.  It felt a little weird in the context of a book.  I really loved the inclusion of a recipe for brown bread.  I will definitely be giving this a try for the holidays this year.  Another fun installment and I am looking forward to diving into Murder in an Irish Bookshop (Irish Village Mystery #7).

The O'Sullivan Clan are back in the sixth edition of an Irish Village Mystery. This time they've left Kilbane and headed off to West Cork for Christmas with James' fiancée's family. Of course, murder seems to follow them, and shortly after arriving, they find the patriarch of the Elliot family, dead on the floor of the Old Mill where a Christmas Eve Concert is supposed to take place. At first it is ruled an accident, but as clues and facts are uncovered, it is obvious, that it was a murder. Siobhán puts on her Garda cap and offers to help in the investigation.

I really like the O'Sullivans. The younger siblings are lovable, but frustrating. They are bored and just want to celebrate Christmas. Siobhán is amazing. Not only did she take on guardianship of her siblings when her parents were killed, but she is an excellent Garda with a great set of skills needed for her job. Her observation, intuition and ability to read people comes in handy. There was a glut of suspects in this one. Throw in an ex-wife who is in a wheelchair from an accident where Enda was driving, a son who is about to be cut off, a grandson who wants money for an endeavour that his grandfather doesn't support and a granddaughter who's access to tuition is going to end and there are numerous suspects just in the family alone. It was fun to try and solve this one along with Siobhán and the local Garda, who thought they had it all figured out. This is a well written mystery with some red herrings and great characters. I had no idea who the murderer was and was quite surprised and pleased with the reveal and the motive. I love this series and will continue to follow it

A delightful cozy mystery set in rural Ireland. I really enjoyed the conversations and interaction between the characters, possibly because I am half Irish and could almost hear members of family speaking. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept this reader engaged. I would definitely read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for kindly providing me with a digital copy of this book for review.
I’ve read the first book in this series and have all the others in between that and this book sat waiting on my TBR. So I’ve jumped ahead in the series by reading this book but I don’t think it’s vital that you read them in order.
I love the humour in these books - like who would think that a harp could be the possible murder weapon? The asides that some of the characters make also have me chuckling.
This book is set at Christmas (obvious right?) and I found it had the right balance of festive cheer and cozy murder! I really recommend it if you enjoy a good bit of crime at Christmas time as I do. I usually take part in mystery reading challenges in December, so this would be perfect for those kind of events.
I will be going back and reading the other books in the series and will be keeping my eyes peeled for the next in the series.

This is the sixth cozy mystery to feature Siobhan O’Connor. The first in the series was Murder in an Irish Village. This title combines a holiday theme with a musical one. When a murder occurs (no surprise there), it is up to Siobhan to figure out “whodunnit,” a task that she accomplishes.

Readers of cozy mysteries should enjoy this title. It has an Irish setting, familiar characters and plays according to the rules.

Regular readers of the series note, this time the story takes place away from the usual village. This provides a nice change in my opinion. New readers, know that you can begin the series with this title and then go back to read the others.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

"Murder at an Irish Christmas" is the 6th instalment in the Irish Village Mystery series by Carlene O’Connor. I love this series and was excited to be able to read an arc of it.

I really enjoyed this story, and it has made me want to catch up on the series. I have several of the earlier books in my TBR pile. I loved visiting West Cork and the remote coastal village where Elise grew up.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. Getting to know Elise’s family was a challenge as everyone had secrets but in the end you grow to like them.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's Christmastime and Siobhán Sullivan and her siblings (the O’Sullivan Six) are visiting West Cork for the holiday. James’ fiancée, Elise, is there with her whole family, including her famous grandfather, Enda Elliott. Enda is a well-known orchestra conductor and has a Christmas show planned for the family and village. Siobhán is missing her own love, Macdara Flannery, but she has promised her siblings she’ll focus on Christmas and family this year, rather than any of her Garda duties. Unfortunately, Siobhán may not be able to keep the last part of that promise when Enda is found dead and murder is deemed to be the cause. Who wanted the famous conductor dead?

MURDER AT AN IRISH VILLAGE is the sixth book in An Irish Village Mystery series and probably one of the few in the series that is easier to appreciate if you’ve read at least one other book in the series. As with many Christmas books, there’s a plethora of characters since all of Siobhán’s family is together plus we have the added bonus of meeting the family and musical friends of James’ fiancée. Readers who are already familiar with Siobhán and her family will have a much easier time following the storyline since we already know the various siblings and some of their personality quirks. Otherwise, the story itself stands on its own merits.

And oh do I love visiting with Siobhán and her siblings! The warmth of the O’Sullivan clan especially when they are out of their own element is highlighted against some of the icier personalities of Elise’s extended family, making them all the more lovable. The reader can’t help but feel for James and wonder if he’s marrying into the right family as the various clashes and undertones in her family are not always the most welcoming. Elise’s own need to do things exactly her way is a bit frustrating as well, but hopefully is a product of her own grief at losing her grandfather. The ordeal over Christmas gifts is particularly telling, although I love the one Siobhán picks for her secret pick!

Visits to Ireland with Carlene O’Connor are always a treat, so it’s no real surprise that MURDER AT AN IRISH VILLAGE is a joy to read. Carlene O’Connor does a marvelous job with the ambiance of both the village and Christmas itself, as I could easily envision the village shops twinkling with Christmas lights and festivities. The mystery is quite clever, and the characters are memorable. I look forward to future books in An Irish Village Mystery series as I can’t wait to see what the O’Sullivan clan deals with next!

*Review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

This is such a fun cozy mystery series! I love all of the books. And this one is no exception.

Siobhan O'Sullivan and her family are spending the Christmas holidays with James's fiancee's family in West Cork. Elise's grandfather is a famous conductor Enda Elliot. But when they all arrive at the place where a Christmas concert is going to take place, they find the famous conductor dead. Can Garda O'Sullivan help the local Gards solve the case before the killer gets away?

I loved this book in this series! I love Siobhan and her whole brood. Each of the characters has such a developed personality, and with so many characters I know that's harder to do. I love the relationship that Siobhan has with Macdara, too. I have loved seeing how much Siobhan has been learning and growing. I love the mix of suspense and comedy that Carlene O'Connor incorporates in this book. It is such a fun read and I was totally kept guessing through the whole thing. I had no idea what was going to happen and I loved that! I can't wait to see what's next in this series!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

This is the 6th in the "Irish Village Mystery Series" by cozy author Carlene O'Connor. I have read some of the previous books in the series and enjoy returning to this series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. I loved this Christmas theme mystery with the O'Sullivan clan . This is the perfect read for the holiday spirit we all need right now.

Siobhan and her family are spending the holidays with her older brother James and his girlfriend’s family. They are all in the holiday spirit and looking forward to spending time together with both families. When a murder occurs Siobhan is drawn into the mystery of the murder once again and determined to solve the crime. The remote location coastal Ireland makes this such a perfect Holiday theme read. I love all the supporting charcters and the quirky in laws. This was a fun mystery that kept me guessing to conclusion. I look forward to the next in series.

Murder at an Irish Christmas by Carlene O'Connor is book six in the Irish Village Mystery series. I have only read one other in the series. I was able to get current quickly.
This easy to read Cozy has likeable characters. You will feel like you are in Ireland. The twists and turns are plenty and just when you think you know who is guilty, you are given an other possibility. There is also humor, romance, and family. This Christmas cozy will have you wanting your Christmas tree and a cup of tea.
I was given an ARC by Kensington and NetGalley for an honest review.

"Murder at an Irish Christmas" draws the reader into a cozy family Christmas celebration with Siobhan and her delightful siblings. As they prepare to attend a Christmas concert in the small town of West Cork, things go awry when the orchestra conductor is found dead at the concert venue, beneath a beautiful harp! Although this is supposed to be a holiday spent off-duty, Garda Siobhan and her fiancee Garda Macdara soon become involved in solving the crime, before someone else gets hurt.

The setting in Ireland, with music, served as the main attraction for me to read this novel. Although I had not read any of the others in this series, I greatly enjoyed getting to know the main character and her siblings. Enough suspects abound to satisfy any mystery reader. The rapid plot and changing suspicions kept me turning the pages. When all is revealed, there are many surprises and secrets that come to light.

This is a clean read, without strong language or descriptions of adult situations or violence. I highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy a cozy mystery and would love to be enthralled by the Irish setting and people.