A perfect cosy murder mystery set in a small town bookshop with a array of colourful unique characters, What's not to love?

The very definition of cozy, this is a feel-good story of two sisters working together to save each other and the bookstore they inherited from an unknown grandfather, and also get to the bottom of the murder of their new neighbor.

This didn't stand out to me as memorable or exceptional, and I have liked other books by Lucy Connelly much more than this one. However, it hits the spot when you need something cozy, and something championing women and their struggles. Also, they are fish out of water in this new country, with new responsibilities, and you will easily want to step into their shoes despite the dead bodies, family secrets, and accusations flying. It's good, clean, fun.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is the story of Mercy and Lizzie, twins who inherit their grandfather’s bookstore in Ireland. But on their first day there, someone Murders their new neighbor. Will they figure out who and why?

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


✨ a small town thriller
✨ murder
✨ a friendship



✨the story was focus on twins who inherit a bookshop in a small village after there grandparents die. As the village was small and people can easily recognise together and they welcomed the twins.
As one of the twins, Mercy is an author and struggle with it she turns into a detective work.
As some of the events was annoying because she was interrupting some of the police work.
Other than that, it was an easy read for a small village thriller .



✨ Thankyou #bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.





🫶🏼shaye.reads

Thank you to Lucy Connelly and NetGalley for the ARC (audiobook).

I really liked the sound of this story - a small town, a bookshop, a murder - everything I love in a book. And it didn't disappoint. The story follows twins Mercy and Lizzie after they inherit a house and a bookshop from their grandfather after he dies (a grandfather they didn't even know about I should add). The area of Shamrock Grove they move to is incredibly tight-knit and some are hesitant to welcome them to "the Court", though they very quickly find their place.

Mercy is a mystery writer and therefore takes it upon herself to become detective, especially when she suspects that the local detective is 1. not great at his job, and 2. fixated on arresting her at any opportunity. I did get a bit fed up of her at times because she really did not respect that the police have their job to do, and acted like him looking into a suspicious suspect (her lol) was a waste of time. Spoiler alert: until the police look into you, they don't know that.

I was unsure on the narrator at times. The accents she went into were wild at certain points - I even started to think her American accent was fake. But still, she was consistent in the characters so it was easy to follow along.

I wasn't a big fan of the ending, mainly because I sussed it out earlier on but also the rush of the last couple chapters seemed an entirely different pace to the rest of the book.

I did really enjoy this book and I'm looking forward to the next ones in the series.

An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly is a cute, cozy murder mystery set in Shamrock Cove. Twin sisters Lizzie and Mercy move from Texas to a cottage in Shamrock Cove. They inherit it and a bookshop from their grandfather. Trouble started shortly after they arrived. The detective, Kieran did not think it was a coincidence that the trouble started then. Mercy is a murder mystery writer, trying to finish her next novel and settle into life in a new place.

The characters of the Cove were likable. I'm looking forward to the second book in the series!

Thank you for the advanced reader copy.

This was a great start to the new A Mercy McCarthy Mystery series. I love that Mercy and Lizzie inherited the bookstore and house from the grandfather they never knew and that this inheritance is giving them the opportunity to learn more about their father's side of the family. I hope in future books that the village is more welcoming of the sisters.

Kimberly Wetherell did a great job narrating this novel. Kimberly kept a great pace and made listening to this book an enjoyable endeavor.

I’m very thankful for this NetGalley audiobook and I enjoyed it, though I found the characters a bit annoying at times, specifically the main ones. Repeating writers brain as an excuse for things got old fast. The town however omg it was gorgeous. I was absolutely in love, I wish I could live there even with the murder mystery. I felt transported to the mystical town and I loved it. I even loved the potential romance a bit. I enjoyed the murder mystery but I did feel like I would’ve preferred it if it was harder to work out. It was pretty simple and I felt like the crime just wasn’t realistic enough like why would that person do that for those reasons exactly?? The logic didn’t feel like it worked out but that may just be me. Overall I loved the atmosphere, romance and enjoyed the murder mystery.

Mercy, a coffee lover and a crime writer moved to Ireland from Texas with her twin, Lizzie after receiving unexpected inheritance from their grandfather. They are now owner of a cottage and a cozy bookshop in Shamrock Cove.
But the day they arrive in the village, the judge drops dead on his own doorstep and when Mercy tries to help him, he accuses her for murder. So now Mercy is trying to get her cleared by trying to solve the mystery by herself.
The setting is beautiful and cozy. The villagers are very sweet so its difficult to suspect most of them. I loved all the scenes of bookstore.
I loved seeing Mercy and Lizzie's sisterly bond. Also how Mercy took care of Lizzie because she was going through some things.
The process of solving mystery was fun and I loved seeing Mercy in her detective element. But the mystery itself got solved quickly in the last few pages and it was underwhelming. The reasons for the murder didn't justify the crimes.
I will still read the next book in the series since it was a debut novel and I think the author has potential to write better mysteries.

After inheriting a house on an exclusive estate, and a bookshop from their late grandfather that they didn’t know existed, Mercy McCarthy and her twin sister Lizzie relocate from Texas to a small village in Ireland called Shamrock Cove. When the Judge, a prominent figure in town, dies right in front of them shortly after their arrival, Mercy, a mystery writer puts the twins in danger by investigating his death.

I loved this charming, cozy mystery. The small seaside town setting of Shamrock Cove was beautiful despite the murder and is full of interesting characters – it made me want to move there and work in a bookshop! The main characters, Mercy and Lizzie are likeable, funny and have a great relationship.

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was brilliant. Her Irish accents were amazing, and she voiced the range of different characters so well, it was easy to tell them apart.

The pacing was a perfect blend of day-to-day activity to help you get to know the characters and the setting, mixed in with some action and small reveals (but not enough for me to guess who was responsible for the murder!).

I did feel like some questions were left unanswered but these had more to do with the main characters’ story/back story rather than the murder case so I feel like they will be covered in future instalments which I am looking forward to.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ALC.

EXCERPT: I stood in front of the navy front door and looked up at our new home. The spring breeze ruffled my hair, and the fresh scent of the sea assailed my senses. I rubbed the shamrock keyring in my hand, hoping for a little of its luck to rub off on me. The house had a beautifully kept, small front garden. I glanced at my twin sister and hoped we had made the right choice in moving to Ireland.

ABOUT 'AN IRISH BOOKSHOP MURDER': 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. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbors drops dead!

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbors hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the judge—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighborly knitter who killed him?

Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.

Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit, or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?

MY THOUGHTS: Set in a small Irish seaside village, Shamrock Cove, An Irish Bookshop Murder is the start of a new cosy series by Lucy Connelly.

The cottage sounds somewhat grander than anything I would call a cottage and the fact that it is in a Close and a desirable residence that people may, quite literally, kill to gain admittance to only reinforces my suspicion that it is more like a grand house, complete with secret doors and passages and a plethora of rooms. Certainly it is large enough that both sisters can live there, seemingly without tripping over one another.

The residents of The Close and the proprietors of the local businesses make up the main characters, and suspects, in this cosy murder mystery. How hard would it be to move somewhere new and then be worried that people you were counting on to be new friends may in fact be murderers?

It seems that no sooner have Mercy and Lizzie arrived - they don't even get time to move in! - than they have their first body on (or should that be in?) their hands. With their fresh sets of eyes and their lack of any preconceptions about the potential suspects, they are able to see things that perhaps the local detective can't (or won't) and that doesn't exactly endear them to him. Mercy and Lucy suspect him, and he suspects them! This leads to some sharp exchanges between these characters and several trips into the interview room of the local station.

This is a thoroughly enjoyable read with an entertaining cast of characters. I certainly didn't guess the villain or the motive and it wasn't for lack of trying!

I enjoyed this author's Scottish Isle mystery series and now it seems her Mercy McCarthy series is going to be every bit as good!

I received both a digital and audio ARC and did a read/listen. I enjoyed both formats and could not choose between them. The audio is well narrated by Kimberley Wetherell.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.1

#AnIrishBookshopMurder #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Lucy loves traveling the world, but her favorite place is at home with her dogs and family. That said, she's always up for adventure and is constantly on the lookout for killer inspiration--as in who will be the next killer in her books?
She has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all the things. And she's been published by many other names.

Thank you to Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for providing both a digital and audio ARC of An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

I absolutely loved this story from start to finish. I never wanted to step way from it. Looking forward to more from this author

I have become obsessed with cosy murder mysteries and this ticked all of my boxes, a bookshop, sisters, a writer and a hot detective. I enjoyed the village where the book was set and the eclectic mix of character that live there. I hope there is more books to come from this as it would make such a great series. I loved the clash if worlds of rural Ireland and two women from Texas.

Imagine your grandfather you never knew dies and leaves you and your twin sister an Irish bookshop in the cozy town of Shamrock Cove. How much fun would it be to move across the pond and get settled into this new town!! 🍀📚
It seemed like the fresh start Mercy and Lizzie desperately needed. However, not long after they arrive, the Judge dies right in front of them, saying that Mercy killed him. Everyone in the village knows the Judge was not happy that they were inheriting the bookshop.
As a mystery writer, Mercy is basically an official detective and gets right to work trying to find out who killed the judge. Will she be able to help clear her own name?
This was a fun book to read. I enjoyed the premise and getting to know all the villagers of Shamrock Cove. I was right there with them the whole time trying to figure out whodunnit. However, I listened to the audiobook and to me the narration was a little irritating. I am generally not a fan of narrators doing fake accents/voices for other characters and this book was one that really annoyed me. I also kind of disliked Mercy’s character. Creating mysteries doesn’t make you an actual detective. She was so insistent that she was going to solve the murder, which just seemed egotistical and unrealistic to me.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this audiobook!

A charming little murder mystery for all fans of the more cosy mysteries. Ireland was a sweet little setting for this small town, and the narrator did an excellent job switching between all of the accents for the Irish characters and the American ones. The little town sounded so idyllic, the whole cast of characters within it were all charming in their own little ways. Despite the murders, I would love to step into it.

Would recommend to all cosy murder mystery fans.

l thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery novel. The main characters; Mercy and Lizzie felt very relatable and l was living vicariously through them as they continued operating their grandfathers book shop while Mercy, an author, continued her craft of writing murder mystery novels. Her insight into murder mysteries makes Mercy highly skilled at trying to discover who is murdering the members of the highly sought after homes of the court.

We were given some insight into the past of the girls' grandfather but l am hoping to discover more next book. But the romance blossoming between Mery and the local detective Keiran is swoon worthy.

You get to know many of characters and l was still could not pick who the murderer was until it was finally revealed to us. l had my suspicions but l was way off.

The narrator was amazing and l will definitely be getting the next book in the series.

I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I loved this one. The mention of twins right off the bat grabbed me. Mercy is the star, but I loved Lizzie also. In this first book of the #MercyMcCarthyMysteryseries, I loved the setting in Ireland & the bookshop the twins inherit. What a dream!
I don’t often go for a #cozycrimemurdermystery, but this book opened my eyes!

I enjoyed Kimberly Wetherell’s narration.

Thank you, Lucy Connelly, Bookouture, Bookouture audio & netgalley for my ecopy & audiobook! All opinions are my own.

A really enjoyable listen. I enjoyed the plot and the character descriptions. Although it was very cosy it made for a great listen and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole story. Will be looking forward to the next in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me access to a review copy of this audio book.

This was such a great cozy Irish mystery, the audiobook really brought the quaint Irish village to life, with its charming setting and wonderfully narrated characters. The story is a perfect blend of intrigue, warmth and juts the right amount of suspense to keep you hooked from start to finish.

Mercy is a murder mystery writer and an amateur sleuth who finds herself entangled in several murders in the small Irish village she just moved to. The twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

I’m eagerly anticipating more from Lucy Connelly and can’t wait to see what mysteries await in future installments. If you’re a fan of cozy atmospheric murder mysteries, this one is a must-listen!

This was a fun cozy mystery set in a beautiful setting. It has everything I look for in a cozy mystery; it was set in a bookstore in an Irish village filled with interesting, likeable and quirky characters. The main characters, twin sisters, were engaging and I wanted everything to work out for them. The mystery itself kept me guessing. The narrators did a good job bringing the characters and the story to life. I hope that this is the start of a series because I would love to see more of these characters.