The wedding of a Hollywood action star and his heiress fiancee is scheduled to take place (in secret) at the McGrath Castle. Rayne and Ciara (the owners) are rushing to make sure this last-minute wedding goes off without a hitch. But, a murder causes all sorts of havoc and they're rushing against the clock while dealing with a police investigation. The identity of the killer was well-disguised (I didn't guess it), and the mystery kept my interest right up until the very end. The characters were a tad stereotypical, but the story was enjoyable nonetheless.

Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing an advance review copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

British Cozy Mystery about an American bridal wear designer who's Irish family castle's first time as a wedding venue turns deadly after the bride's best friend's assistant's killed.

5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Brannigan's Irish Castle Mystery series which is a Literary Cozy Mystery that takes place in Ireland and features an American bridal wear designer-turned-entrepreneur who's rundown family Irish castle's first time as a wedding venue turns deadly. In order to raise funds to repair her home, she offers the castle to a bridal wear client and her actor fiance's for their wedding but the occasion's marred when the bride's best friend’s assistant is found dead. While dealing with villagers protesting the new enterprise, she'll have to unearth all of the wedding party's secrets to catch the killer. With plenty of twists and turns, Brannigan has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Brannigan's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Rayne, her cousin and business partner Ciara and the folks of McGrath Castle and Grathton village. I really like seeing the progress (and occasional setbacks) that Rayne and Ciara's making to meet the terms of the will. Oh and there's Rayne's lovely loyal dog, Blarney. Brannigan touches on some serious subjects; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Murder at an Irish Castle.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Secrets are rarely good, especially in cozy mysteries. In this case, there are so many secrets floating about that I almost felt like I needed a scorecard. Wow, I definitely didn't see that twist coming at the end. While I wasn't wowed by this book, I enjoyed it. The main characters, Rayne McGrath and her cousin Ciara Smith are both interesting, likable women. They come from very different worlds, Rayne from the fast pace of Rodeo Drive fashion while Ciara has spent her time in Ireland. Both bring different strengths and weaknesses to their shared goal, however, of keeping McGrath Castle productive and thus helping support the village. They have a year to make a profit or lose it all according to terms of Rayne's grandfather's will. Rayne thinks her prayers may have been answered, however, when Hollywood comes to call in the form of two stars seeking a remote, secretive place to marry. Things seem ti be looking up but, oops, then there's a murder.

That's when the story takes off. I won't detail the plot other than to say there are secrets galore, the unexpected, villagers in not-so-secret rebellion, a lost diary, an adorable dog, quaint pubs, carriage rides, gunshots, jealousy, an escaped prisoner, and, well, that's just the basics. The side stories were just that, kept to the side. I felt a bit deflated that one of them seemed to be building to a climax of some sort than....nothing. I assume it will be continued in the next book but just found it annoying. Through it all, however, Rayne proves highly resourceful with the help of Ciara and the castle regulars. Even Blarney, the dog on the cover, gets a moment to shine.
Bottom line, an okay book but it didn't quite hit a home run with me. That said, I loved the cover, liked Rayne and was happy to see Ciara and her working together this go-round instead of at odds with each other. It definitely kept me wondering what was going on with the wedding party the entire rime and the big reveal, with everyone brought together, was well done. The virtual tour of the castle was fun, too, and with so much left still hidden away, I expect to hear more about it's medieval furniture and objects as the series goes along. Thanks #CrookedLaneBooks for allowing me this early, quick visit to an Irish castle to catch up with the efforts of Rayne and Ciara to save McGrath Castle. What a lovely setting for a wedding.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ellie Brannigan for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Death at an Irish Wedding coming out December 10, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I really loved the first book, so I was excited to receive the second book. I love the Irish castle setting. Weddings in cozy mysteries are fun. I think Rayne is a fun character and I enjoyed the mystery. There were a few things about the book that seemed a little shallow though about the descriptions of characters. There was some repetitive language like her always putting her hand on flat stomach. It just seemed unnecessary after the first time. But overall, I really enjoyed it. I would check out more books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries!

A delightful and cozy mystery! This is the second installment in the series.

Rayne McGrath, a bridal wear designer, has inherited a crumbling family castle with her cousin Ciara. Together, they're transforming it into a unique wedding and event venue. Their first major booking is a private wedding celebration for heiress Tori Montgomery and her actor fiancé, Jake Anderson. But things take a dark turn when an assistant to one of the actors is found dead, turning the joyous occasion into a crime scene.

The story is full of unexpected twists as Rayne and her family work to unravel the mystery behind the murder, keeping readers hooked until the very last page. The lively family relationships and Rayne’s loyal pup, Blarney, add warmth and charm to the investigation.

This is a must-read for cozy mystery fans who enjoy a mix of suspense and family drama!

This is a competently-written mass market murder mystery for readers who enjoy drama and watching rich and famous people behave badly.

In the second installment of the Irish Castle Mystery series, Rayne has inherited her father’s family’s castle, and, along with her cousin Ciara, is tasked with making it profitable in a year’s time or losing it. They’ve converted the castle into an exclusive wedding venue and are hosting their first wedding party – dashing actor Jake and hotel heiress Tori – along with select friends, family and employees. At first the guests are happy and things seem to be going well, but then the heiress reveals secret information to Rayne that throws wedding preparations into chaos. Locked rooms also mysteriously end up unlocked and tampered with, and then, finally, a member of the party is found dead. As they rocket closer and closer to the wedding that must be a success for the sake of saving the castle, Rayne must deal with the increasingly suspicious – and dangerous – odd occurrences happening all around her while the police hit roadblock after roadblock in explaining the death that hangs over them all.

While I don’t think this book particularly stands out from the hoards of mass market murder mysteries that are published each year, I don’t think it intends to. I believe it’s goal is to provide a fun, easy-to-read, quick, engaging read, and it does that well. The book kept me interested, wondering who was responsible for the wrong-doing happening in the castle, as well as what secret dynamic between the members of the wedding party would be revealed next. I also give it credit for tricking me into incorrectly guessing “who dun’ it.” I was totally sure that I had the scenario figured out, and I was miles from the mark.

I also thought the “big reveal” moment at the end, when the characters were gathered together to determine the identity of the murdered, was well done. It was full of drama between the characters and unexpected revelations about relationships. I was taken on a ride as the scene seemed to summarily suggest and then reject characters as the culprit.

My biggest frustration with the book, however, is that it was difficult to keep the characters straight. There are a lot of characters – the wedding party of eight, the castle staff, people who live in the town, etc. – and many of them are introduced in close succession. This meant that early on I was frequently having to flip back to earlier pages to figure out who was who. Even as I felt more confident in my knowledge of the members of the wedding party later on, I sometimes still struggled with less-involved characters.

I also felt that the sub-plot involving the main character’s ex-boyfriend ended unsatisfactorily. It was built up to be a major point or tension but then resolved in just a couple lines, leaving me feeling like I had been cheated.

Overall, the book was a fun way to spend a few hours, and I really appreciate it for that.
Thanks to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for providing an advanced reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

This is the second book in the Irish Castle Mystery series. I really enjoyed getting to know the characters more. Rayne and Ciara are settling in and making changes to try to save the castle and the town that relies on it. A bridal dress client from LA needs a venue for her wedding so Rayne convinces her to have the wedding at the castle. It is very important that the wedding goes off without any problems. When one of the people there for the wedding is found dead, Rayne and Ciara rush to solve the mystery of how she died to salvage the wedding and their reputations. Will they be able to make the wedding a success? Will they be able to save the castle and the town?

Rayne McGrath and her cousin Ciara are trying to save the rundown irish castle they inherited by hosting weddings and other events. The first event they host is for the last minute wedding of wealthy heiress Tori Montgomery and her heart- throb actor fiance' Jake Anderson. From the start there is tension among the small wedding party. Rayne finds someone tampered with the wedding dress she created for the bride and has to scramble to repair it before the wedding. One of the guests jumped or was pushed off the balcony, the soon to be groom has cold feet, and Raynes former business partner/boyfriend has escaped from jail and is headed for Ireland. What else could go wrong? This was a fun cozy with great characters and multiple red herrings. I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one, and look forward to reading the next book in this enjoyable new series.

This was good, the intrigue level and captivation were right on par, with great characters that lend the story its richness to the Irish culture. It was engaging, and exciting making it a great read.

An enjoyable and cozy mystery read. This is the second book in the series.

Rayne McGrath is a bridal wear designer and owner of a rundown family castle with her cousin Ciara that they have inherited. They are using the castle for events and wedding venues. Their first wedding venue is a small and intimate wedding party of heiress Tori Montgomery and her fiancé actor Jake Anderson. This wedding turns into a fiasco when one of the assistants to one of the actors turns up dead.

Lots of twists and turns trying to find out who killed the assistant along with other twists to keep you engaged until the end. I enjoyed all the family dynamics as well as Rayne’s pup, Blarney in helping with the murder.

I highly recommend this book to the cozy mystery lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for an advanced copy for my honest review.

Death at an Irish Wedding was a decent read for me.

There is an ongoing plot from the first book that took up a good deal of page time in this book and left me feeling a little lost. And when that plot picked up again in this book there was no resolution. I'm assuming it will pick up again in the third book, but Death at An Irish Wedding didn't feel like it ended on a cliff hanger, it felt like it ended without tying up loose ends. Also, the cast of characters was large and difficult to keep straight.

The mystery was decent enough but I never felt like I had a good red herring that lead me astray. It felt like the biggest 'red herring' was the chaos of the wedding day, which was a distraction but didn't really give us many clues or momentum in solving the murder. It was just a lot of the FMC asking herself a bunch of questions but never really making any progress with clues until the very end.

Overall, it was a decent enough read. I liked the Irish setting, the castle is cool and the FMC has a cool job as a wedding planner/high end wedding dress designer. There's a moderate amount of swearing which I didn't love, but that's just my personal preference.

I received a free copy of, Death at an Irish Wedding, by Ellie Brannigan, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I have been to a lot of Irish weddings, none with a death though. Rayne McGrath is trying to save her family castle, but she ended up setting fire to it instead. Rayne is asked to help at a wedding at McGrath Castle, and she thinks her prayers have been answered, until Tiffany is found dead. This was an enjoyable read.

Death at an Irish Wedding follows Rayne McGrath and her cousin Ciara as they plan a secret celebrity wedding at their newly inherited Irish castle.
They need to turn a profit with their business in order to save the castle and hosting the wedding of a hotel heiress and hollywood heartthrob will fill their coffers. Rayne is also making the brides dress and that was how they were introduced as a venue for the couple. THe wedding needs to go well and be kept a secret from the media, until the couple chooses to share the good news with the world, so there is a lot of pressure.
As with every cozy, things do not go as planned. There are sabotaged dresses, harassment from villagers, infighting between the bride and groom and worst of all a murder.
Overall I was entertained and enjoyed this mystery, but I do think I would have benefited from reading the first in the series. There were a lot of characters to learn and the backstory of the castle and the inheritance would have been better understood.

It looks like I came in the middle of the series here, which was my error.

This was a very interesting concept but I didn't connect with the writing style the way I hoped I would and had some trouble getting into the book and even connecting with the characters.

This is definitely a book people who love a slower pace in their books will like. It's also a great book for people who want to know a little more about irish history. I hope to go back and read the first book in the series very soon!

A fun cozy that will brighten your day. A wedding dress designer who inherited a run down castle in Ireland. As always weddings can go in a million directions. Grabs your attention and keeps it. Lots of twists and turns. Thanks#Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

I really enjoyed reading Death at an Irish Wedding by Ellie Brannigan. The Irish castle setting in a small village is the perfect setting for a cozy mystery. I liked reading about the cousins who inherited the castle and the mystery was fun to figure out. It’s always fun to figure out who the bad person/people are and this book really kept me guessing. I look forward to reading more about these characters as they work to set up the castle as a wedding venue. Hopefully another book will be coming soon.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

"Death at an Irish Wedding” the 2nd instalment in An Irish Castle Mystery series by Ellie Brannigan (Traci Hall). What a great follow up to book one, I absolutely loved it! Bridal wear designer-turned-entrepreneur Rayne McGrath remains in the Irish countryside ready for some wedding mayhem

I loved this story right down to the small Irish village, the people (even if they were being rude and protesting the wedding venue), Rayne, her cousin Ciara and her puppy Blarney I really enjoyed all the family dynamics and not all family is blood.

Overall I just loved how the story made me feel and by the end I was smiling, cheering on Rayne and wondering what life had in store for her next.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself but I was right on who the killer was.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance readers copy from Crooked Lane and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Since it has been a little while since I read the first book in the series it took me a few chapters to get all the characters down, including those living in the village and the wedding party who are new for this book. Overall, I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one in the series.

Reading the first book in the series is not needed to enjoy the story, but it will help you appreciate what Rayne and Ciara have accomplished with the castle and their relationship.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced copy.

Rayne inherits a run down castle in a beautiful setting in Ireland. She is a wedding dress designer, but now must bring the castle back to life when a body turns up. Fun cozy mystery

Rayne and Ciara have a celebrity wedding booked at the castle and need to get it in shape. Time is ticking to turn a profit and this is a great opportunity for them.

Unfortunately, murder abounds the locals fear a curse has been brought upon them. Can Rayne and Ciara solved the murder and save their business? Or is this another legacy that will be ruined by a curse?

The second entry in this series is far better than the first. I found our two main characters working together far better this time and it made for a much more enjoyable read. I love the setting, the cast of characters, but most of all the mystery. It’s what keeps me back for more.