This is the second in series and a fun cozy mystery read. I enjoyed the first in series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley.

Tara Meehan has relocated from New York City to Galway, Ireland. She is opening a salvage shop with her uncle. A newly sobe women with amends to make hires Tara to host a amends event at her shop. The event will include gifts to all that attend. Veronica is soon murdered and with her enemies gathered Tara has her hands full investigating whodunit and piecing together clues. The police are convinced someone at the event is guilty including Tara.

Tara is a good amature sleuth. She is savvy and good at getting people to talk. I like her as a protagnist. The setting of Ireland is always fun to read and enjoyable. The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion.

This is the 2nd in the Home to Ireland mystery series. Tara Meehan has moved to Ireland from New York City and is using her interior design background to be in business with her Uncle Johnny and their salvage business. She is set to open a store Renewals when she is sidelined by murder. Tara is taking a ride out to Connemara as there was a flyer left under her door about a cottage for sale so she decides to go for a ride. She is assuming it is from her “friend /boyfriend” Danny but when she gets there, she hears a dog barking and when she goes to look for its owner, she finds the body of woman who appears to have died of natural causes. The Garda (police) come out but after a week no family member has retrieved Savage the dog the owner left behind. She continues to work on the grand opening of her shop when an heiress Veronica O’Farrell shows up and wants to hire her to buy her “amends” gifts as she is one year sober and wants to make amends to some people in her life. Tara does not want to turn away a job but Rose (Uncle Johnny’s love interest and who does readings in her caravan) has warned her of a stranger and danger. Veronica is over the top and as they have their discussion, she is upset that her sponsor from AA has not yet called her back only to learn that she is the woman (Nancy) that Tara found the week earlier. Veronica is all upset and Tara is spooked especially since a book “Places to See in Ireland Before You Die” was anonymously left in her shop and one of the places is where Tara found Nancy’s body. Tara does not believe in coincidences and when Veronica is found the next day dead murdered by a brooch that she had Tara take a picture of the previous day. All too strange. This was a good solid mystery and I can see how Tara gets involved with this whole murder but I did have some questions as to why the killer brought her into the equation in the first place and why they wanted her involved. She decides to back off and let the Garda investigate but then another murder happens at the grand opening of her shop when the guests of Veronica show up even though Tara never invited them. Thrilling end with loads of suspects (all Veronica’s amends people plus some of her employees) and lots of red herrings that keeps you guessing who is guilty until the very end. Love all the beautiful descriptions of Ireland and look forward to the next installment in this series. Enjoyable read.

Tara Meehan has relocated from New York City to Galway, Ireland. She is eager for the grand opening of the salvage shop she will be running with her uncle. While preparing for the big day, heiress Veronica O’Farrell hires Tara to host an event for her at her new shop in which the newly sober Veronica can make amends to people she hurt when she was drinking. Tara is also to choose a gift for each of these seven people as part of Veronica’s apology. However, things turn deadly when Veronica is murdered. Tara and the other guests become the main suspects, and Tara must do some sleuthing of her own to clear her name and find the real killer.

This book is the second in the series, and although I was a little worried since I hadn’t read the initial book, I was able to quickly catch up. I really enjoyed the Irish setting and the details the author includes about the area, especially the castles, to create a realistic atmosphere for the story. I think the setting and the way the author makes it come alive, is my favorite part of the book. The characters are interesting as well. Tara is a likeable, but sometimes pushy, main character. She is a clever, but not perfect, amateur sleuth. This is sometimes frustrating, but makes Tara seem more realistic than if she was a flawless detective.

There are plenty of people with motives for the murder which makes the investigation more interesting. I thought I knew who the killer was, but I was wrong and was surprised when everything was revealed at the end. There is a potential love interest for Tara, but I’m glad the author is taking that part of the story slowly because I’m not sure Danny is the right guy for her. Time will tell what happens next for this potential couple.

I’ve read a few books in the author’s Irish Village series and think fans of that series will also like this one. Overall, it is an evenly-paced, enjoyable mystery with an interesting take on the transplant to a new city/country theme that many cozies share.The touch of humor throughout the story adds to the enjoyment. Readers who are unfamiliar with this author, but like Sheila Connolly’s County Cork series, will want to give O’Connor’s Home to Ireland series a try.

~ Christine

I loved re-visiting Ireland in this fun and entertaining cozy mystery series. I will definitely be returning for any new books in this series.

Tara Meehan is exploring the grounds of an old stone house in the Irish countryside, when she makes two unexpected discoveries. One is an abandoned pug wearing a pink collar with the name Savage spelled out in crystal letters. The other is a body of a woman wearing a purple and white tracksuit-an outfit totally unsuitable for the summer heat. The woman is later identified as Nancy Halligan. Why she was killed out in the Irish countryside is a mystery the guards have yet to solve.

A week later, Veronica O’Farrell sweeps into the Tara’s shop, brushing off Tara’s protests because the shop doesn’t open for another ten days. Veronica, however, is determined that Renewals, Tara’s shop, is the perfect place for Veronica’s event. She has chosen to celebrate her first year of sobriety by making amends to a small circle of people she hurt over the years. Veronica also hires Tara to shop for gifts for the guests, gifts that represent Veronica’s apology.

Veronica’s AA sponsor has encouraged the event, but Veronica can’t get hold of her. Tara is horrified to learn that Veronica’s sponsor is Nancy Halligan, the dead woman Tara found a week earlier. Despite Nancy’s passing, Veronica decides to proceed with her amends party.  But Veronica’s body is found the next day, dressed in a track suit.
It becomes apparent the killer is playing games with the group, and the guards need Tara’s help to find the killer. But as the bodies begin to pile up, will Tara be the next victim?

Thoughts

It was a joy to return to Connemara, Ireland, and Tara Meehan’s world. A New York transplant in the first book, Murder in Galway, Tara has started to settle into her new life in book two. Now, if only she would quit discovering bodies as she goes about her business. O’Connor’s use of concrete detail when describing scenes from the book drew me in into Tara’s world.  I have to admit, I was fairly certain of the murder’s identity, (maybe I’m reading way to many cozies one after the other-is that even possible?), but that didn’t diminish the pleasure Carlene O’Connor.

I read and enjoyed the first book in this series and suggest, for continuity and continuing plot lines, that the series be read in order.

Tara Meehan has relocated from New York City to Ireland. She has found family and wants to be closer to them as well as enjoying the lifestyle of a much smaller city and country.

She is about to open her own design store based on salvage from her uncle’s salvage store. A woman comes into the shop, before it is officially opened, and turns Tara’s somewhat ordered world upside down.

When the woman, who is a celebrity heiress is found dead, Tara becomes, first a suspect and then a sleuth trying to solve the case.

The action, for the most part, moves to a luxury hotel located in an historic castle in Connemara but does move back and forth to Galway, Tara’s newly adopted hometown.

Time is running short on Tara’s ability to open her shop as well as solving the crime.

I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.

Set in the small town of Galway, Ireland, Tara, an American transplant, is setting up her new shop Renewals. This is an involved murder story with lots of mystery. I enjoyed the setting, loved the characters, and was mislead many times into finding the solution. Loved it!

Now that Sheila Connolly is gone, I follow Carlene O’Connor to Ireland for cozy mysteries. Murder in Connemara is the second Home to Ireland mystery featuring Tara Meehan, an American who followed her family roots home to Galway.

Tara is only waiting for her permit to open Renewals, her architectural salvage shop. So, she has the time to gallivant off to Connemara when someone leaves her a flyer about a small cottage for sale. She falls in love with the cottage, but also finds a little pug whose tag says “Savage” before she finds the body of the dog’s owner. After she reports the body, she thinks that will be her last connection to the victim, Nancy Halligan. Ha!

She was warned. Tara’s Uncle Johnny sees a woman named Rose who reads cards. She told Tara to take the day off. Instead, she went back to Renewals, and was swept up in the plans of an over-the-top heiress who sweeps into the shop. Veronica O’Farrell was always known as the “wild heiress”. Now, she’s been sober for one year, but she doesn’t know that her sponsor, Nancy, has been found dead. Veronica wants to make amends to seven people she hurt. She’s invited all of them to stay at Ballynahinch Castle. And, she wants Tara to source gifts for all those people, gifts that suggest the amends she plans to make. The night before all of Veronica’s plans are to fall in place, she calls Tara. But Veronica has been drinking. When she’s found dead the next day, Tara has that rambling message. And, all of Veronica’s guests are now suspects.

In a cozy mystery, the amateur sleuth always has to have a reason to get involved in the investigation. That’s actually the flimsiest part of this mystery. Although Tara found Nancy’s body, she thinks she has to stay involved with the entire group of suspects because Veronica asked her to find gifts for them. In fact, she hadn’t even started looking for the gifts before Veronica’s death, but she says she was paid, and has to get to know the suspects to find the right gifts. Her Uncle Johnny tries to warn her against getting involved, as does Danny O’Donnell, the man who is “more than a friend, less than a boyfriend”.

What amateur sleuth has ever resisted sticking a nose in where it doesn’t belong? At least in Carlene O’Connor’s mysteries, we get to see the country through the eyes of a newcomer. For me, the visit to Ireland, and Tara’s small group of friends, Uncle Johnny, Rose, and Danny are the highlights of the Home to Ireland mysteries.

Tara Meehan moved back to her mother’s childhood home in Galway. She is very busy trying to get her salvage shop open, along with the warehouse, but is impatiently awaiting her permit. She is slowly becoming a part of the community as well as trying to progress in her relationship with Danny.

This entry to the series involves an heiress and her history. Veronica has not been a nice person, but she is prepared now to make amends, and dropping into Tara’s unofficial shop engaged her to help pick out the appropriate gifts for each on her list.

Unfortunately, Tara had discovered a body which is quickly tied to Veronica in death as well as life. The murder mystery introduces the reader to castles and intriguing support characters and touches off a treasure hunt for clues, along with twists.

Tara is a subtle but dogged protagonist after discovering her job did not end with the death of the heiress and now includes the discovery of the culprit. It’s a well-plotted and paced narrative and moves into the conclusion with a life or death struggle. I did suspect the perp, but not wholly the reason, which is revealed in the wrap up.

I really enjoy this atmospheric Irish Village Mystery series that manages to plunk the reader right into the middle of the countryside villages and people.

I have enjoyed Carlene O'Connor's Irish Village mystery series so I was eager to read her new series. There are only two in the series, so far and they are both great reads. After Tara Meehan honored her mother's dying wish to tell her brother Johnny that she was sorry, Tara decides to stay in Galway and use her talent as an interior designer to partner with Uncle Johnny in his business of architectural salvage. She is also getting ready for the grand opening of her shop, Renewals. When a customer sails into her shop and makes an unusual request, Tara says yes to the job. The woman, heiress Veronica O'Farrell, has been sober for one year and wants to invite seven people who she wronged while her was drinking. She also wants Tara to pick out a gift for each one. Before the party can begin, a killer strikes her down and the murder weapon is a Tara Brooch and that ties straight to Tara Meehan. Despite the murder, Tara picks out the seven gifts and sets out to distribute them. If she isn't careful the killer will silence her, too.
This armchair trip to Ireland was delightful. The scenery, the people - both new and recurring- were well developed and Tara's relationship with the Garda was refreshing as she wasn't dismissed as a bothersome nosey parker. Add a very well plotted mystery with plenty of twists and red herrings, I was sorry to reach the last page. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Busy cozy mystery - lots going on (whether pertinent to the mystery or not). So many possible suspects...but who actually committed the murder? I changed my mind a couple of times before I got to the end of the book. The mystery was interesting, as was the treasure/amends hunt. I liked Tara, on the fence about her friend Danny. Overall, an intriguing mystery that's well-worth reading.
I haven't read the first book in this series (although I plan on looking it up), but I didn't feel lost or like I'd missed anything.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Having missed Carlene O'Connor's début novel in her Home to Ireland mystery series I grabbed the chance to read this, Murder in Connemara, the second instalment anyway, happy to dive in as I love a good cozy mystery.

I got to meet interior designer Tara Meehan for the first time. Protagonist Tara had been living in New York but moved to be nearer to her Uncle Johnny who owns an architectural salvage business in Galway, following her mum's death. In Murder in Connemara, Tara's grand opening of her new shop, called 'Renewals' is imminent. When Veronica O'Farrell, an heiress and ex-heavy drinker celebrating one year of sobriety rolls into town, she tasks Tara to find seven gifts; they are for seven people she has wronged back in her drinking days. When Veronica is found dead, Tara becomes a suspect apparently linked by a brooch embedded in the victim's heart.

Carlene O'Connor peppers this novel with some gorgeous descriptions of the Irish countryside. The characters are mostly relatable and perfect in their roles. I really enjoyed this compelling story and I found Tara passionate and determined. There were some soupçons of romance and the mystery kept me guessing, especially in relation to the motive. All in all a very worthwhile read and a series I intend to continue with.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Murder in Connemara
Carlene O’Connor
July 27. 2021

Tara Meehan returns with another adventure in her return to her home country, Ireland. She is still living with Uncle Johnny above his huge salve shop. She finds an ad for a stone house for sale in Connemara. It sounded so inviting that she headed off to explore the beautiful countryside. Huge mountains and fields of cows, sheep, and horses. In the distance she saw the glimmering bay . Although the heat was blistering, so very unusual for Ireland, she drank her morning coffee pulling up to the worn stone shelter. On the door, she found a number taped to a piece of wood. She took photos of what she could see, wishing she had a key to explore the inside as well. It was all so sublime, sitting on the hillside. It had been a dream to own and rehab such a fine piece of work. In the back, among the grassy acreage Tara nearly tripped over a woman lying prone. Her lips were blue, she appeared to have died of the heat. Tara dialed for help, knowing that the ambulance and guarda would respond but it could take awhile.
Tara was 10 days out to open her own shop, Renewals. She and Danny had been stocking the store with items they had found since she had arrived in Galway. Johnny’s partner, Rose, lived in a caravan by the bay reading fortunes for the tourists. Some thought her full of useless talk but Tara found her advice quite handy paying her a weekly visit to keep her life in check. When she stopped by Renewals with Johnny that morning. She said the River Corrib was rough, nasty weather will follow. Before she left she turned and spoke of a visitor, stating that Tara shouldn’t be alone, perhaps she should leave the shop. I’ll have the dogs with me and I will be fine. Not long after she was working alone, things were still and strange. In came a woman well dressed and beautiful. Veronica introduced herself along with her associate, Bartley, Although Tara let the duo know the store was closed, they refused to leave. It seemed that this woman had very strange business for her.
This bizarre tale of comedy and murder is O’Connor’s latest tale in her Home to Ireland Mystery series. They are humorous, yet peculiar from start to finish. I do enjoy them although I have become a bit lost and needed to revisit some of the particulars. Murder in Connemara by Carlene O’Connor will be published on July 27, 2021 from Kensington Publishing. I appreciate their allowing me to read and review this latest account of Tara’s explorations in Ireland. O’Connor has a way of creating a circus-like journey for her characters in this series. Her readers will find a different set of characters in their exploration of finding a solution to her riddles. I do enjoy her books, with the gaelic tones and an odd twist to the plot. Pick up this latest, Murder in Connemara. Enjoy!

Omgoodness! Tara's new client Veronica has been killed with a brooch! yow. Tara, an American who has moved to Galway and found family (and a hunky love interest) is waiting for the permits to be approved so that she can open her salvage shop. Veronica who is (well, was) celebrating a year of sobriety, asks Tara to help her find gifts for the seven friends to whom she plans to make amends. But then someone murders her and Tara, despite warnings from the Garda, sets out to find out who did it (it was her brooch, after all). It's a nice cozy in a fun setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I missed the first book but thoroughly enjoyed this as a standalone.

** 3.5 Stars **

I thoroughly enjoy this author’s Irish Village Mystery series and was very happy to find she had started a new mystery series also based in Ireland. This time, the lead character is a transplanted American interior designer whose family roots are in the Galway area of Ireland.

Tara Meehan is anxiously awaiting her business license in order to open her architectural salvage shop, Renewals, in downtown Galway. While she’s waiting, she is getting the shop set up and preparing for her grand opening. She is absolutely beyond excited. As a top interior designer in New York, she never expected to give it all up and move to Ireland, but here she is and she loves Ireland already. She has come to love the uncle she never knew she had (Murder In Galway), and then, there is Danny O’Donnell… Danny is more than a friend, but perhaps less than a boyfriend – Tara just isn’t sure what their relationship is aside from being occasional bed partners.

Tara found a flyer, on her shop’s front door, listing an old stone cottage for sale. With all the nervous energy she’s built up awaiting her license, she decides to go check out the cottage. She is absolutely entranced with the location and the crumbling cottage – until she discovers a tiny abandoned pug named Savage, and a dead body with no identification on it. Uh-Oh – another adventure begins.

A force of nature, in the form of Veronica O’Farrell, bursts into Tara’s yet-to-open shop and demands to be able to use the shop as the venue for her ‘Amends’ party. Veronica, along with her butler/lawyer Bartley, and driver Andy totally ignore Tara and her protestations that she could NOT allow the party to take place in her shop because she couldn’t open for business without her license. Since the fee Veronica is offering is exceptional and she wants additional tasks done, Tara manages to figure out a way to accommodate Veronica without losing the commission. It won’t take long for her to be very sorry about that decision – because Veronica is soon found murdered – and the murder weapon is one Tara had posted a selfie with – and the hashtag #KillerBrooch.

The overall mystery was a good one, but there were entirely too many people and suspects involved. We kept going off on tangents and it just bogged the story down. Then, there is Tara’s attitude. I haven’t yet managed to get to like her and a lot of that is her attitude – especially about the Garda. She just goes about doing her own thing whether it interferes with their investigation or not. I don’t know – I think it is her Holier-Than-Thou attitude that just rubs me the wrong way and she seems to think the Garda are stupid. Frankly, I wouldn’t blame Danny for walking away from her because she certainly doesn’t seem to give him any consideration either.

I’m certainly on the fence about this one. Once I’d waded through all of the extraneous chaff, the underlying mystery and motivation of the murderer were compelling and interesting. The suspects - John and Sheila Murphy, Elaine Burke, Mimi Griffin, Eddie O'Farrell, Cassidy Hughes, and Iona Kelly – are on Veronica’s ‘Amends’ list, but they spend almost all of their time loudly arguing and blaming each other for the murders. All of that just slows the pace of the story and bogs it all down. None of it adds to the mystery and a lot of it just doesn’t make much sense.

I am giving the book a 3.5-star rating (rounded to 3), so I guess that boils down to a conditional recommendation. The mystery really is a good one even though it is paced too slowly and has scenes that either doesn't move the mystery along or could easily be condensed to speed up the pace a bit. My bottom line is – I will read the next book to see if Tara (and Danny because I didn’t like him in this book) grows on me. If I don’t like her better by the end of the third book, I’ll discontinue reading the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Take a delightful trip to Ireland. Enjoyed learning the slang common to the area. A clever and convoluted mystery. Some surprises and a few things that didn't quite ring true. Of course this is a cozy mystery and the protagonist is given liberties with the local police. They are always getting involved in murder solving which should be left to the cops. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.

Not quite the travelogue level of book one in this series but very well written.

While Tara Meehan's waiting for her permit to open her interior design shop in Galway, she accepts a commission to find gifts for seven people that Virginia O'Farrell plans to give as part of her AA program 'amends'.

Tara is compelled to solve the murder of Nancy Halligan and Virginia O'Farrell no matter where this leads, from Connemara to Inis Bo Finne and the scenery and history of the regions are beautifully described.

I figured out the murderer pretty early in the story but the reveal was well handled.

I have read some others book by Carlene O’Connor but not the first one in this series. No problem following the story and of course it is nice to have some more background which will have me put book one on the to read list.
Love the difference in attitude from the transplanted American verses the Irish locals. For a former New Yorker it certainly isn’t easy to get used to living in a small Irish village.
The story was a great mystery plot where we ended up with three victims and everybody is still guessing wrong but then we do have multiple suspects who all had legit reason for revenge.
The various local characters are very colorful and plenty of material for an ongoing series.

Everything about this cozy mystery had me wanting to read it: the cover, the setting and the main characters choice of job! I read it over the course of 2 days and it went every where with me so I could nab a page here and there. A worthy read and as it is part of a series I haven't read yet, now I know what my next reads will be!

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Kensington Books, in return for an honest review. While the second book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Tara Meehan, ex-pat American and new Galway, Ireland, resident, is thrilled about the upcoming open of her architectural salvage shop, Renewals. She’s taken aback when the very rich Veronica O’Farrell, sweeps into her shop to announce that she’s hosting an ‘amends’ party at a very upscale historic hotel and she wants Tara to select unique gifts for each of the seven participants, based on thumbnail bios that Veronica created. Since money is no object, Tara is intrigued to accept the challenge and the opportunity to enjoy the hotel. Sadly, things really go awry when Veronica’s body is discovered near the hotel and circumstances make Tara a prime suspect. The recurring cast of supporting characters support Tara in her quest to clear her name and solve the crime. The seven gift recipients each have motives to kill Veronica and the author weaves a good story to bring each motive to life. Looking forward to the next in this series!