Book 5 in the Beacon Bakeshoip series by Darci Hannah
I really enjoyed the plot of this story, and the characters. It’s definitely cozy, and it was a good time. I have not read this author before and I’m happy i have now.

Well anyone who loves a good Irish tale will definitely get into this latest tale by Darci Hannah. We have leprechauns, green beer and pots of gold in this latest visit Beacon Harbor. I really enjoy this book. It feels like coming back home to see what my favorite characters are up too. I especially love Wellington. I was totally wrong on whodunit, maybe because I wanted a particular person to be guilty, who knows. It was fun getting the gang back together to sleuth this one out, a perfect reunion for Lindsey and her bestie.

Book Review: Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah

⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 Stars

Alright, folks, grab your shamrock sugar cookies and let's dive into "Murder at the Blarney Bash" – a cozy mystery that's as charming as a lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan.

So, we're back in Beacon Harbor with our amateur sleuth Lindsey Bakewell and her trusty sidekick, Wellington the Newfoundland. They're knee-deep in St. Patrick's Day prep at the Beacon Bakeshop when things take a wild turn. Lindsey's boyfriend's uncle, Finnigan O'Connor, lands himself in some serious trouble after being accused of a leprechaun-themed murder. Yep, you heard that right – a pot of gold, a missing shillelagh, and a whole lot of blarney.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room – Kennedy. Ugh, can we talk about a character going off the rails? She was like a totally different person in this book, and not in a good way. But hey, aside from that, the writing was spot-on. The mystery had me guessing with all its red herrings, and the pace kept me turning those pages.

The characters (well, except Kennedy), the adorable dogs, and the charming setting – all still top-notch. And let's not forget those mouth-watering recipes at the end. A nice little bonus that brings a taste of the story right into your kitchen.

In a nutshell, "Murder at the Blarney Bash" is a solid addition to the series, despite a bump in the road with one character. If you're a fan of cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of Irish flair, this one's for you. Can't wait to see what Lindsey and the gang get up to next!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Murder once again comes to Beacon Harbor,Michigan. Lindsey Bakewell and her staff are busy whipping up delicious treats for St. Patrick’s Day when a man dressed as a leprechaun is murdered .
When Rory’s uncle is suspected of the crime claiming he found a pot of gold while following a leprechaun all suspicion points to him . Lindsey and her staff once again set out to solve the murder.


I love this series !! Each installment is better than the last . I just can’t read Hannah’s books on an empty stomach.

I just reviewed Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah. #MurderattheBlarneyBash #NetGalley

A quirky storyline that falls short. Cozy mysteries do not always have depth, but Murder at the Blarney Bash is too superficial and the plotting is repetitious and slow. There is a blend of humor yet the mystery element feels forced and I began to wonder if Darci Hannah had any idea where she was going with the plotting since it culminated in an out of nowhere conclusion.

I have enjoyed the previous book in this series, but I should have DNF’d this one.

Darci Hannah’s “ Murder at the Blarney Bash” was an awesome St. Patrick’s Day book. Rory’s uncle and cousin have moved to Beacon Harbor from Ireland to open an Irish store. Following a leprechaun on St. Pat’s night, uncle Finn finds a pot of gold. A drunken vision? Nope. The leprechaun has been seen all over town for two days. When he’s found murdered the next morning, Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, and the rest of the gang begin their own investigation.

Love her books, and this one is just as good.

Murder at the Blarney Bash was a fun cozy mystery filled with twists and turns.

Love the characters and the overall storyline.

Murder at the Blarney Bash
By Darci Hannah
Kensington
January 23, 2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Beacon Harbor, and Beacon Bakeshop owner Lindsey Bakewell is baking up a storm of green-tinted, Guinness and Baileys infused treats. She’s also thrilled that her boyfriend Rory O’Connor’s uncle and cousin are arriving from Ireland to open their Blarney Stone Irish gift shop and will even be leading the town’s annual Leprechaun Parade. Despite all of the Paddy’s Day celebrations going on, Lindsey was not prepared to literally run into a Leprechaun with her Jeep or learn that the same Leprechaun is seen attacking Village Hall clerk Fred Landry with a shillelagh and leaving him in a coma. Lindsey doesn’t believe in Irish fairies of course, but she can’t deny now being covered in green glitter or that the sprite she saw running was dressed in vintage clothing and was observably not a child. It only gets weirder when the Leprechaun himself is later found murdered with the same walking stick, after being stalked by Finn who was on the trail of a Pot O’Gold.

Even though he’s the primary suspect Finn is not held by the police for long, allowing Lindsey to focus on the other dramas occurring in the town just off Lake Michigan. After a traumatic recent event Lindsey’s best friend Kennedy Kapoor has returned, bringing along all of her usual over-the-top antics and self-involved behavior. Having broken the heart of police officer Tuck McAllister, Kennedy has arrived in Beacon Harbor with a souvenir from London in the form of her new boyfriend, Niall Fitzhugh. He seems rather amused with the Americans, especially with rumors of a pot of gold circling and Finn adamant that he had found just one of many hidden treasures. Lindsey and Rory are less than enthusiastic about Finn’s determination to track down the wee folk, as there is not only a real live murderer on the loose, a simmering love square threatens to disrupt their family and group of friends.

Nothing will get readers in the mood for St. Patrick’s Day like the shamrock-themed decorations and Baileys-filled treats that abound in this 5th of the series. A delicious recipe for Baileys and Guinness cheesecake is included in the end, as is one for an Irish Guinness Stew. Cozy lovers will also appreciate the presence of Lindsey’s ginormous Newfoundland pup Wellington, whose encounter with a skunk starts off the novel. The self-centered Kennedy has had her confidence knocked a bit down since earlier installments, which allows her to be (slightly) more sympathetic and definitely more tolerable. While her jealousy at seeing Tuck move on with Rory’s cousin makes Kennedy more human, it also has Lindsey questioning whether her best friend is ready for a relationship at all. The writing is at its most entertaining when it focuses on the charming and very entertaining characters who reside in Beacon Harbor, and Lindsey and Rory the perfect couple. The Beacon Lighthouse Lindsey calls home, as well as the new boathouse she and Rory renovated, allow for a unique setting and place for them to gather and celebrate. Clever writing, a finale that will surprise all, and a very satisfying conclusion leaves readers wanting more, exactly what mystery readers want in their favorite mystery reads.

This was a cute cozy mystery. Lindsey is preparing for St Patrick’s Day when a Leprechaun runs into her car then disappears. A man fitting the description of the leprechaun is found murdered a few days later. I enjoyed all of the characters and watching them solve the murders .

Murder at the Blarney Bash is book #5 in the A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah.

I really like the characters in this book, though I’m not a Kennedy in this one. The St. Patrick’s Day theme was fun with all the wonderful baked goodsRory’s Uncle Finn and Colleen opening their pub and shop. I love the setting. The mystery had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the end. I look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

Oh how I lovwnthis series!!!! I cannot sing the praises of this series enough, and this installment delivers in every way. Darci has a unique way of making cozy mysteries the perfect mix of fun, lighthearted mysterious, but yet intriguing, captivating, and swoonworthy. The baked goods, the hilarious banter and cast of diverse characters, and the fun and GOOD mysteries are like no other cozy mystery series. I can imagine the characters so well! I immediately form images of them in my mind and it plays out like a movie. Seriously, I LOVE THIS SERIES! I'm already dreaming of the next!!!!!

Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah is a new series for me and I loved the characters, especially Rory’s uncle Finn who had just immigrated from Ireland. He and his daughter were to open an Irish gift shop and pub on St. Patrick’s Day which was just a couple days away. Another important “newcomer” was Lindsey’s best friend, Kennedy, who was returning from six months abroad, recovering from the last murder they had investigated. She brought her her boyfriend, Nial who was also a major fabric supplier for her shop and turned out to be more than he appeared. This was guaranteed to set off plenty of reaction as she had broken up with a local man, a cop, as she was leaving town. Lindsey was very afraid he was going to be hurt. But, on to the murder: a leprechaun did it. Many of them had seem him, including the woman who shared the village of Beacon Harbor’s office with him. She had seen the leprechaun run right after he had beat the man up. He didn’t die right then, though, later.

As are all cozies this is a character-driven novel and the characters can only be described as varied, and mostly likable. Now, it is true Uncle Finn liked his drink, which may have led to some of the troubles. While drunk, he set out bait for the leprechaun, followed him, and discovered a pot of gold. If that doesn’t grab the reader’s attention, I don’t know what will. Lindsey Bakewell owned a bakeshop and she had loyal employees who didn’t mind staying behind while Lindsay and Rory investigated. Lindsey’s mother was a snowbird who spent Michigan’s winter’s elsewhere. She was Kennedy’s partner in an upscale boutique, designed for tourists. Hence, she and Kennedy had both been out of town. She still was. Kennedy Kapoor, with her darker skin and English accent, was self-absorbed at best. She was not likable in this novel although I guess she was in the past. Every cozy needs someone who is not quite in step. She is it. It was an entertaining novel which had a slightly far-fetched, but entertaining plot. The mystery was home-based and born of greed: nothing new there. I found it an enjoyable read. Thank you Darci Hannah!

I was invited to read a copy of Murder at the Blarney Bash by Kensington Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Kensington #DarciHannah #MurderAtTheBlarneyBash

Totally enjoyable cozy at the Beacon Bakeshop with Lindsey Bakewell, her boyfriend, best friends and dog, Wellington. Hallmark of a great cozy series is when the whole cast of characters feel like real people with own eccentricities that you look forward to seeing in each book. Lindsey left Wall Street to open a bakery in a beautiful and peaceful locale. Beautiful, yes, but it's far from peaceful when what appears to be a real leprechaun attacks an accountant and runs into Lindsey's jeep. And things go downhill from there. Good mystery which I thought I had solved, but there was one last twist.

This story follows Lindsey Bakewell, the owner of a lighthouse-turned-bakery on the shores of Lake Michigan, as she tries to solve the murder of a mysterious leprechaun who was found dead near the new Irish gift shop and pub owned by her boyfriend’s uncle, Finnigan O’Connor. Finn claims he stole a pot of gold from a real leprechaun, and he becomes the prime suspect when his shillelagh, a wooden walking stick, goes missing and is believed to be the murder weapon. Lindsey, with the help of her adorable Newfoundland dog, Wellington, and her friends, sets out to clear Finn’s name and find the real killer.

The book is full of colorful characters, witty dialogue, and mouth-watering descriptions of baked goods. Lindsey is a likable and smart heroine, who balances her baking business with her amateur sleuthing. Finn is a quirky and eccentric character, who adds humor and intrigue to the story with his tales of leprechauns and magic. The author also includes some recipes at the end of the book for readers.

Murder at the Blarney Bash is a fun and festive read that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries and Irish culture. It is the fifth book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series, but it can be read as a standalone, Thanks to Kensington for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I love this series – the setting and the characters are so inviting, the mysteries are always solid and well-paced, and the writing will draw you in and keep you invested in the story the whole way through. I liked the addition of Rory’s uncle and cousin, as well as the leprechaun sightings. My disappointment in this one was with Kennedy and her attitude throughout the book; she wasn’t fun and carefree as she usually is; instead she was demanding and bratty, which may be because of what happened in the last book, but it made her unlikeable. Otherwise, a great addition to the series and I look forward to the next.

Murder at the Blarney Bash is the 5th installment in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series. What a terrifically fun series this is! Lindsey Bakewell is getting ready for St. Patrick's Day while her boyfriend is helping Finnigan O'Connor, his uncle Finn, with the gift shop he is opening. It seems that Uncle Finn likes to tell the story of stealing a pot of gold from a leprechaun and now people are seeing a leprechaun running around. After he is arrested for the murder of a man dressed as a leprechaun. Now it's up to Lindsey to find the real killer!

I love the characters in this series. It was nice to see Kennedy again but I'm more excited for a new dog friend, Bailey. Wellington is such a sweetie! Lindsey, Rory and Tuck are a lot of fun to read about. I can't wait for the next book!

It’s Uncle Finn himself who seems full of blarney when he gleefully reveals a pot of real gold he claims he stole from an actual leprechaun. And Finn’s fortune takes a turn for the worse when he’s arrested for the bludgeoning of a small unidentified man dressed as a leprechaun—the murder weapon alleged to be his now-missing shillelagh..
Who killed the people? Surely it's not a leprechaun.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book.

Murder at the Blarney Bash
(Beacon Bakeshop 5)
Darci Hannah


Darci Hannah is the author of two historical novels, and two mystery series Very Cherry and the Bakeshop mysteries. August 2024 will also find her debuting a new mystery series called Food & Spirits.

I love Wellie, Lindsey, Rory, and the gang. So, I’m happy to return to Beacon Harbor at every opportunity! We arrive with the story already in progress. Uncle Finn and his daughter Colleen are putting the final touches on the new store slash pub, as well as getting ready to lead the kid's St. Paddy’s parade. Lindsey thinks someone is playing a prank after hearing about a leprechaun being sited. Sadly, she quickly learns there is something a miss with the sightings after a town official is attacked!

While I think the two new characters, Colleen and Uncle Finn, could become wonderful additions to the community. I just don’t feel like I was able to get more than a passing glimpse of their possibilities.

I don’t feel like this is the best out of the five. It’s a really good book, entertaining and laughable, with a curvy mystery. It just doesn’t stand out. 4****

Murder At The Blarney Bash is the fifth book in the Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series by Darci Hannah.

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Beacon Harbor, and everybody is seeing leprechauns–it seems.

Lindsey is on her way to the groomer's to pick up her dog Wellington, who had gotten skunked earlier. The grocer tells Lindsey she had just seen a leprechaun looking in the salon window. Then, as Lindsey was passing a group of children dressed as leprechauns, a leprechaun ran into the side of her car. She stops to see if the person is hurt, but he has run off. Mrs. Hinkle comes running from Village Hall, calling out to Lindsey that Fred Landry has been brutally beaten.

At the Beacon Bakeshop, Lindsey’s boyfriend, Rory, is visiting with his Uncle Finn and cousin, Colleen, who have just moved to Beacon Harbor from Ireland. Uncle Finn plans to open a pub, while Colleen will open a gift shop featuring Irish goods. An evening meal is planned to welcome Finn and Colleen to Beacon Harbor. Uncle Finn doesn’t arrive until the dinner is almost over. He tells everyone that he is late because he tricked a leprechaun and took his pot of gold, which he put on the table. But when a man dressed as a leprechaun is found dead on a sand dune with Uncle Finn’s shillelagh near his body. Uncle Finn will become the prime suspect, and Lindsey and Rory must set off to find the killer.

This is a delightful series with a wonderful cast of characters. They are well-developed, believable, and enjoyable. In the previous books, I had enjoyed Kennedy, Lindsey’s BFF, who has returned for a visit. But in this one, I was put off by her. She seemed protective of her boyfriend, Niall, while simultaneously being jealous that Tuck, a local policeman, and Colleen were showing interest in each other. The book is well-written, plotted, and descriptively written, and I felt I was there with the characters. The book reads at a good pace. Wellington has a new playmate, Bailey, Finn, and Colleen’s dog. Hopefully, the next book will be in the Spring/Summer, so Lindsey’s parents will be in town along with their two Westies.

Delicious-sounding recipes are also included in the book.

I’m anxiously awaiting the next book in this engaging series.

Charming St. Patrick's Day mystery featuring dangerous leprechauns, finding pots of gold at the end of rainbows, danger, lots of twists and turns to keep a reader guessing, and the love of family.

I absolutely adore this series. The mysteries, the characters, the town, and the yummy recipes keep me coming back for more stories.

Many thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.