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.

Ireland - check. Bookstore - check. Coffee - check. Cozy murder mystery - CHECK! This was a really fun listen, the story moves along quickly and there's a quaintness to it all. Slam dunk cozy crime fiction.

This is a hard review to write because I liked the actual story but I absolutely hated the narration of the audio book. If I had read a physical copy I probably would have given it more stars.

When the vast majority of characters in a book are irish the narrator should be, if not irish, at the very least be able to do an Irish accent. The accents she tried to do were just bizarre!

As for the actual book. I have all ready said I liked the story but a LOT more research on ireland should have been done before setting a book here. One example off the top of my head. If you order a drink in an pub over here called a 'black and tan' you are much more likely to receive a slap in the face and a lifetime ban than an invitation to join the local qui team.

Maybe it's because I am from Ireland that it annoyed me so much but it was full of misleading insulting stereotypes.

As this is the first book in a series I truly hope more research is done for the rest of the books... (at the very least have an Irish person proofread it). The characters are very likeable and have so much potential. And the actual storyline was really good. It's just such a pity the stereotyping let it down so badly.

If your not irish and don't know anyone who is you will probably love this book!

Who doesn't love a cozy mystery set in an Irish village with a cottage, a bookshop and a fun cast of characters?
That's the basis for Lucy Connolly's "An Irish Bookshop Murder." Twin sisters inherit their grandfather's home and bookshop in Ireland. One twin is a mystery writer and the other is recovering from the loss of her partner and stepdaughter.
This wasn't just a fun cozy mystery, it also dealt with healing from loss and reconnecting with an unknown relative through stories about their life.
I really enjoyed this read, for the story and mystery itself, but also the characters, sisterly relationship and of course the setting.
The narrator did a good job, using both American and Irish accents where needed. Her timing was well-done.
I look forward to the next book in this series, and I'm hoping we spend more time in the charming bookshop.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Auduo for the opportunity to listen to this ARC.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is a fun start to a new cozy mystery series by Lucy Connelly. I really enjoyed her Scottish Isle series so was excited to read this one as soon as I heard she had a new series coming out. It was entertaining to watch Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie work to figure out who was the murderer in their new little town and butt heads with the local handsome police chief. And who can resist a book that has a bookshop in it?! It was a perfect book to listen to as I traveled to the Cliffs of Moher with my family. I could just imagine the sweet little town of Shamrock Cove and would totally love to visit there!

I read/listened to the audio book which I really enjoyed. Kimberley Wetherell did a wonderful job narrating.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 22 August 2024

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook!

I really enjoyed this cozy crime mystery. The narrator was fantastic and really added to the overall vibe of the story. The author’s style of writing kept the book interesting and easy to follow.

A true cozy mystery read! Lucy Connelly’s books are a great series to check out for those that love Carlene O’Connor.

The main characters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy were so likable and enjoyable to follow. The members (and suspects) of their new community are quirky and engaging. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but overall it delivered on being a fun, cozy mystery.

The narrator was enjoyable and the pace of the book was good.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Cozy mysteries is one of my favorite genres. Add in an Irish setting and I am all in. I enjoyed meeting all the charaters, many of whom were a bit quirky but likeable. There seemed to be a little romantic interest brewing between Mercy and the detective that I would like to see grow throughout future books. One of my favorite moments was seeing Lizzie stand up for herself. She'd been dealing with grief from the loss of her mom, fiance and future bonus daughter and lost herself a bit to PTSD. Then it was as if she said no more and got the strength to face off with the detective and tell Mercy to stop coddling her,

There were only a few of things that didn't work for me:
1) Mercy asking for a spoon to put in someone's mouth when they appeared to be having a seizure. The first thing you learn in a first aid class is never try to stick anything in a person's mouth when they are having a seizure. You turn them on their side if possible and support their head. A simple internet search or even a first aid class would have made a difference here.
2) The big reveal just didn't make sense and fell flat. The reason behind the killer's actions felt like the author didn't really think that part through. It was rushed and just thrown together.
3) This was a little longer than it needed to be. The story was stretched out far longer than necessary.

Overall, I enjoyed the book and look forward to visiting the characters and Shamrock Cove again. Oh and the narration was perfect. Please stick with the same narrator for the rest of the series.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC.

Story: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Narration: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

After receiving an unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. Their plans take a turn when a body is found.

I loved the start to a new cozy series. There’s a hint of romance, which i always enjoy. I loved how Mercy is an author. I can’t wait to see where this story goes.

ALC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly

✨ Small-town charm
✨ Murder mystery
✨ Strong sibling bond

An Irish Bookshop Murder combines all the elements I love—an idyllic village, a cozy bookshop, and a thrilling murder mystery. The story follows twins Mercy and Lizzie as they inherit both a house and a bookshop in Shamrock Grove after their grandfather's death—a man they never even knew existed. The close-knit community is initially hesitant to accept them, but the twins quickly find their footing.

Mercy, a mystery writer herself, can’t help but dive into detective work when she suspects the local police are not up to solving the crime. While I appreciated her passion, there were times when her constant interference became a little frustrating. She seemed convinced the detective was out to get her, which felt a bit over the top, especially given she was a legitimate suspect. I wished she had respected the investigation more at times.

The audiobook narrator did a solid job distinguishing the characters, though some of the accents felt a bit exaggerated, which threw me off occasionally. That said, the narration was still easy to follow.

As much as I enjoyed the book, I found the ending a bit rushed, and I had guessed the twist earlier than expected. Despite that, An Irish Bookshop Murder was a fun and engaging read, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.

A big thank you to Lucy Connelly and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook!