While "An Irish Bookshop Murder" by Lucy Connelly might initially intrigue readers with its seemingly authentic Irish setting, it quickly becomes apparent that the author's pen name is a facade. Connelly, an American with no more knowledge of Ireland than the average person in her country, fails to capture the true essence of Irish culture and landscape. The pen name appears to be a deliberate choice to lull readers into a false sense of security, only to disappoint them with inaccuracies and clichés that reveal the author's lack of firsthand experience. The charm and authenticity one might expect from a story set in Ireland are sadly missing, leaving readers feeling misled and disconnected from the narrative.

As the first of in the Mercy McCarthy series, I can’t wait to read future books. I love any book about bookshops and then when it takes place in Ireland, I am in love. The characters are well developed and you will be cheering Mercy and Lizzie along as they work to keep their grandfather’s bookshop open and become part of the community. Great mystery in a delightful small Irish town with lots of suspects who could have committed the murder. Lots of twists to keep you invested in the story. I actually listened to the audiobook. The narrator, Kimberly Weyherell did a great job. I hope she will narrate any future books in the series. I definitely recommend you add this to your to-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookoutre for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Cozy mystery
Crime
Fiction
Ireland
Mystery
Thriller

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the audio version.
I read enjoyed this novel. It is a cute and cozy murder mystery. I loved all the characters and the main character was cute. If you are looking for a good read give this one a try.

I was granted unabridged audio copy of the book free of charge from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I really love the narration and the the narrator really worked hard to bring the book and people of shamrock cove to life. It was throughly brilliant.

Bookshops are some of my favourite places in the whole wide world. They have a magic to them that no other place has. So a book about a bookshop murder? I am so there!

Add in some brilliant characters and I am hooked. This book is a truely cozy mystery that kept me guessing .
I enjoyed this read and can see myself returning to shamrock cove very soon!

This was my first experience with a cozy mystery and I enjoyed the audio production of this novel. I liked the dynamic between the sisters and the setting of the novel. I thought the mystery part was well done and kept the reader guessing. I liked the community that was part of the story and thought the book was just a great listen while I had to do laundry or dishes.

American Twins Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy inherit a house and bookshop in Shamrock Cove, Ireland, from a grandfather they never met. Mercy, a mystery writer, has had prob less with a stalker. This provides a great place for her to start fresh and work from home as her sister runs the bookstore.
Their arrival is met with less than open arms. They find a woman on the floor of the house, who thankfully is not dead, and then a man dies, accusing them of being murderers as Mercy gives him CPR. What is going on in this place? The community at the Cove lives by its own rules. It is a sought-after property, but you cannot just buy a piece of land there; you must inherit it or have it promised to you. Their grandfather's house is much sought after. Has this made them enemies before even stepping onto Irish soil? Mercy is determined to find out, but not without frequent run-ins with the Chief of Police, whom Mercy and Lizzie are not sure they can trust.
I love a good Irish book, especially a mystery. This one is lovely as it weaves local lore and community members into the mystery. As outsiders, Mercy and Lizzie are at a significant disadvantage - they do not know the history of Shamrock Cove or even their own Grandfather. Lucy Connelly does a wonderful job conveying the sense of place without letting it become a caricature. I enjoyed getting to know the locals as well as Mercy and Lizzie in this first installment.
I look forward to seeing what happens next in Shamrock Cove.

My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in return for my honest feedback.

Omg who doesn’t t love this new Lucy Connelly Cozy Mystery! She is on of my favorite now.. Love this. Will give a better review at a later date but definitely 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️s.. thank you NetGalley for this opportunity. And Lucy Connelly for writing a fabulous book


bookscoffeebrews Book Review: An Irish Bookshop
Murder (Mercy McCarthy Mystery #1)
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Lucy Connelly @lucyconnelly
Publisher: Bookouture @bookouture
Thank you to @netgalley and @bookouture for ALC

Twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie unexpectedly inherit a
bookshop in the small town of Shamrock Cove,
Ireland. Their grandfather whom they did not know
existed left them his store and also his house. It has
been about six months since their mother passed after
a long fight with cancer. Lizzie‘s fiancé and
stepdaughter were also killed in a tragic accident
recently. The girls decide to move to Ireland to start a
new. Lizzie is going to run the bookshop and Mercy,
who is a rather famous mystery writer, will write her
books in Ireland. When they get to their new house
they find a lady on the floor. Luckily, she is only passed
out sleeping. Later they end up finding their neighbor
dying on his front porch shouting ”you’re a murderer“.
Mercy tries to save his life by performing CPR but it is
too late. Mercy thinks foul play has occured but the
police detective does not. Mercy decides to start to
investigate anyways. As she investigates she has quite
a few runs in with the local detective. She eventually
becomes a suspect in the murder. As Mercy and Lizzie
get to know their neighbors and the town’s folks,
they’re also learning lots about their grandfather. Will
Mercy with Lizzie‘s help be able to find out who killed
the neighbor next door? Will she be able to get along
with the detective or make an enemy of him? There
were plenty of twist and turn in this story and I kept
wondering who the actual murderer is. I often can
figure out who the killer is before the book ends but in
this one I did not. This was a wonderful surprise and I
enjoyed enjoyed this story. I look forward to more to
come and can not wait to see what the twins do next.

#CozyMysteryBook #CozyReads #MysteryAddict
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Lucy Connelly’s An Irish Bookshop Murder is a delightful cozy mystery that combines the charm of a picturesque Irish village with the intrigue of a gripping whodunit. The story follows a bookshop owner turned amateur sleuth as she navigates the twists and turns of a murder investigation that hits close to home. The narration by Kimberly Wetherell is an absolute highlight, capturing the warmth of the setting and the distinct personalities of the characters with finesse. Her engaging voice work and pacing add depth to the suspense and keep listeners hooked from start to finish. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries with a touch of Irish charm, this audiobook is an utterly enjoyable escape into a world of books, secrets, and unexpected twists.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is the first book in the Mercy McCarthy Mystery series. Twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie arrive in Shamrock Cove to start fresh after personal tragedies. They learn they’ve inherited a cottage and bookstore from a grandfather they never knew, and decide to take a chance on a new life in Ireland. At a welcome party thrown by their grandfather’s friends, the sisters meet an elderly judge who is skeptical of their place in the community. On their way home, they find him dying from an apparent attack. When his death is revealed to be murder, the sisters question whether they can trust anyone in their new home. Looking forward to book two in the series.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is narrated by Kimberly Wetherell, and I thoroughly enjoyed her narration.

Publication Date- August 22 2024
#AnIrishBookshopMurder #NetGalley

This was genuinely brilliant. The perfect cosy mystery - ideal for this weather to keep you company as the nights draw in!

The biggest win of this new start to a series is its main characters - twins Mercy and Lizzy. A close second is the mystery. It's clever and kept me guessing. I look forward to returning to this series for future installlments.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really liked it, stuck with me & would recommend
A quaint town with quirky characters, a book store, and a cozy mystety, what's not to like. Additionally, there was great sibling dynamic, healing from loss, and connecting with unknown family through stories about their life. I really enjoyed this one and am excited for more in this series.

The narrator, Kimberly Wetherell, did a good job, I had no trouble understanding who was saying what, where, when, and with what expression/intension.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio, NetGalley, and author Lucy Connelly for providing me with a digital ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. An Irish Bookshop Murder is out August 22, 2024.

The story follows twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy as they arrive in Shamrock Cove, trying to rebuild their lives after personal tragedies. They discover that a grandfather they never knew—and who they never knew about—has left them a cottage and a bookstore in Ireland. Hoping for a fresh start, the sisters decide to take a chance and move.
They’re warmly welcomed by a lovely group of their grandfather’s friends and neighbors at a party thrown in their honor, where they hope to learn more about him. However, one neighbor, an elderly judge who was a friend of their grandfather, doubts their place in the community. On their way home from the party, the sisters find him in distress on his doorstep, and although Mercy tries to help, the judge tragically passes away. When it’s discovered that he was murdered, chaos erupts. Can the sisters feel safe here? Could the murderer be from the neighborhood? Who can they trust?
This engaging tale is hard to put down, featuring an enchanting setting, colorful characters, and a captivating mystery. I can’t wait to revisit Shamrock Cove for more adventures!

It is always difficult for me to give a review on a book that wasn't particularly for me.

And unfortunately, An Irish Bookshop Murder just wasn't for me. And I one; wanted to like it because the premise was fabulous, and two; it's a book about BOOKS. That is one of my favorite kind of books! But this just fell flat.

I had a tough time with the narrator. She just wasn't for me. Maybe it was the combination of me not enjoying the book and the narrator, or me just not enjoying the narrator (I can be quite particular), but I didn't feel like she was the right choice for me.

I also thought the character development was lacking, or just off in general. And the dynamic between the sisters was just, idk, weird?

So, as I usually do in reviews that aren't that favorable to the author/book, I always say if it seems like the type of book you may enjoy, try it! We may have incredibly different tastes in books, and I am also unique in my own tastes. Maybe it will be one of your favorite books. you just never know.

A classically fun Who Dun It! Quirky and interesting characters with just as interesting motives. I really enjoyed listening to the audio version of An Irish Bookshop Murder. A story that was easy to follow and listen to full of charm and mystery.

I haven't read or listened to anything by this author before but I am tempted after listening to the audiobook of this, the first part of a new series.

Mercy and her sister Lizzie have moved from America to Ireland following the death of a grandfather they didn't know they had and having inherited a bookshop and house. All seems to be going well and they appear to be getting on well with their new neighbours when a judge drops dead at a gathering but before he dies, he points the finger at Mercy as being his murderer ... and so it begins.

This book is well written and at a good, steady pace. The characters are really interesting and, again, well written. The mystery is intriguing and kept me guessing with the reveal surprising ... well to me anyway! The narrator was excellent and did a really, really good job of voicing all the characters and keeping my interest

Overall, a really good cosy murder/mystery and a promising start to a new series and I must thank the author, Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for enabling me to listen to and share my thoughts.

A good old fashioned who done it with excellent characters and wonderful descriptions of the locations. Most enjoyable.

eBook - 3 Stars
I didn't love this, nor did I hate it. It was just a very average read for me. Which is surprising as I have absolutely loved her Scottish mystery series.

The premise [which was a new one for me] for this series is a really great here [though my dislike of HOA's - American *OR* Irish - just increased with this read], and I really feel you cannot go wrong with a bookshop [though we don't spend nearly enough time there IMO]. Add in an interesting group of characters, a twisty unexpected [but not unwelcome to the locals it would seem] murder, and you should have a really great read. Alas...

For me, a lot of the problem lies with Mercy and her almost insufferable snotty attitude [even though the initial accusations would put anyone off {and had me rolling my eyes and muttering "you MUST be kidding me"}, her continued aggressive, combative attitude was extremely off-putting and showed why so many Europeans dislike Americans], her constant threats of using her solicitor to induce firing [to. the. police. W T H??] and also as "blackmail", and is so overbearing in her belief that only SHE can solve this mystery [simply because she is a mystery writer], and her disregard of EVERYONE'S genuine concern for her safety, and, and, and...I honestly think she is the main reason I really struggled with this whole book as I truly enjoyed everyone else, PLUS, there is a huge private library in the house they have inherited [as well as many, many hidden doors], which made me slightly green with envy, and neighbors who are truly caring [and one that cooks like a dream and made me want to SNACK all through whole book], and this realization makes me hope that if there is a book two, some of Mercy's off-putting attitude and snotty behavior [look, I will say here there are glimmers of her being a really decent person - her exchange at the bookstore with little Liam absolutely melted my heart and her willingness to try and save someone that had been very rude to her shows that she CAN be a decent human being and her love for her sister is completely enviable] is gone; it would be a real shame if she continues with the same behaviors as she has the potential to be one of my favorite characters. I guess all we can do is wait and see.

Audiobook - 4 Stars
The narrator [Kimberly M. Wetherell] is already a favorite as she narrates the other series by this author and so I knew I was in for some excellent narration and I was not wrong. She does a fantastic job with the Irish and I like the voices that she picked for Mercy and her sister [she does snotty REALLLLLY well LOL]. I highly recommend this audiobook for those looking to listen to this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Lucy Connelly, Kimberly M. Wetherell - Narrator, Bookouture, and Bookouture Audio for providing the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

I very much enjoyed this story. It was great to see the character development. I am super excited to continue the series.

This was a cute book! I listened to it during work drives and it definitely kept me entertained - HOWEVER - I found myself getting extremely frustrated with the main character. It took me out of the story with how quickly she was enmeshing herself in the village and making some pretty serious accusations. I would read another book by this author, but this one wasn't for me.