Thank you to the author, publisher, narrator and Net Galley for providing a free e-audio version of this title in exchange for my review.

I've read a LOT of cozy mysteries, I've watched a lot of Hallmark Mysteries, and growing up, I loved "Murder She Wrote" - even wanted to grow up to be Jessica Fletcher! Cozy mysteries are great for a light read and are set in a small town that has a big community of characters, a light mystery without much blood and no gore, little sex or cursing. This book just might be the definition of a cozy mystery. In some ways, it's a little TOO cute and sweet. Twin sisters, bookstores, Ireland .... Maybe if I hadn't just read a handful of Cozies, I would have really enjoyed this one. But it was the wrong time for another cozy for me, and it was a bit too long for me. I'm not sure if I just wanted the book to be over, or if it was longer than usual, but every time I looked at the time left on my phone, I was surprised to see so much yet to go.

Maybe it's my mood - it probably is. I might give this series another try, if I have more time to fit it in when I'm not cozied-out. For those who love cozies about sisters, bookshops or Ireland, I'm sure you'll love this one.

3 stars for "liked it"

“An Irish Bookshop Murder” by Lucy Connelly is available now in paperback and on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited and Audible.

After receiving 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 older man—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.

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“Where secrets are buried between the pages, and murder lurks in the quiet corners—an irresistibly charming mystery that will keep you turning the pages long into the night.” - Paloma Wraith

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#books #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #murdermystery #cozymurdermystery #kindleunlimited #crimefiction #reading #lucyconnelly #irishfiction #aiart #horroraimages

This was a really enjoyable read and a great introduction to a new series.

The story is based around Mercy and Lizzy all American twins relocating to a quaint Irish village which was a great little setting to this easy murder “who done it”

I listened to the audiobook which was well read with a good pace.

Nice and easy, very enjoyable

This was a great cozy mystery read, I listened to the audiobook and can’t fault it.

Mercy and her twin sister has just moved to a wee village in Ireland, their grandfather left them the house and bookshop and they are having a great time. When their neighbour dies/ murdered the mystery starts. Who would want him killed and why? Being a mystery writer she wants to get involved.

The narrator really brought this book to life and makes it really easy to listen to. She prompted each chapter well and her accents were really good with all the different characters.

Really enjoyed this 5 star read.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is a cute small-town mystery. Lucy and her twin sister have a very intriguing and tragic background. There is a lot more to be unfolded in relation to their past and with Lucy's stalker and enough to keep the reader wanting to read the next book to find out more.
The mystery is slow-moving and a little meandering but it is a light easy read.
I listened to the audiobook and found the narration very good. The narrator did not go heavy on the fake Irish accent which made it easier on my ears and a pleasant listen. I would choose to listen to the audio for the next in the series.

I was disappointed in the research that went into this book. The first thing I noticed was that Lucy's first response to a man having convulsions or what could have been a seizure was to stick a spoon into his mouth. I learnt as a child not to do that and it has been reinforced in every first aid course I've done since the 90s. Not one person questioned her on it.

There is a general lack of authenticity in relation to the setting- Ireland. I would call it an Amerian or Hallmark idea of what Ireland is. Thankfully no leprechauns or four leaf clovers make an appearance although the town is called Shamrock Cove. It reads like every other small town in cozy mysteries except with the odd sprinkling of things associated with our fair isle e.g. we all have fairy houses in our gardens (snort). I appreciated that the locals weren't eating cabbage and bacon but I was disappointed at how the wakes were portrayed.
Also, I couldn't understand why a detective was policing a small crime-free town. It would have made more sense for him to be referred to as Garda whatever his name was and for him to be stationed at the local Garda station instead of wasting his time delivering parcels. And when Lucy rang 999 for emergency services which covers police, ambulance and coast guard- the call went directly to his mobile phone! come on now.

3.5 stars! This was my first cozy mystery read! So I honestly had no idea what to expect, but I’ve been wanting to try cozy mysteries for a while and when I saw the ALC for this on NetGalley…well, I jumped in! I’m a sucker for an Ireland setting and the “I just inherited a home/business” trope!

This did catch my attention right from the start. We are following American twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie, they end up both needing a fresh start and move to Ireland after an estranged grandfather they never knew left them his house and bookshop! The story starts immediately with a murder on their first day in town and kinda goes from there!

I will say I was expecting more cutesy, small town and I don’t think this super delivered on the “cutesy”, but again this was my first cozy mystery so I have no idea if my expectations are accurate. 😅 The small town vibes were there and we get a good cast of characters in the town with them in Ireland. This did have a heavier, darker theme to it, with both women losing people in their lives. Their mother recently passed, and Lizzie lost her fiancé and fiancé’s daughter. I did like the buildup of the mystery but it felt anticlimactic sadly once things are revealed, and like didn’t make the most sense either. But it’s a quick, first in a new series, gorgeous Irish setting, cozy mystery! And I do want to try more in this genre!

I received an audio ALC from NetGalley, all thoughts in this review are my own.

This was such a fun start to a cozy mystery series! I loved the idea of two headstrong sisters from Texas settling down in small town Ireland, and the small town vibes were immaculate. I also loved following our heroine, who was a crime novelist that has picked up a lot of odd tricks from researching her novels. To be honest, the mystery was quite straightforward and easy to solve, and I wasn't completely sold on the romance, but I do think this is a promising start and am excited to see where this series goes in the future as the sisters get used to their new lives in Ireland.

I am officially in my cozy mystery era after reading this!! I have never venture into the cozy side of the subgenre and I have been missing out.

Lucy does a phenomenal job of pulling you into the story and keeping you on your toes trying to figure out what’s going on/what happened. I need a long lost relative in Ireland to leave me a bookshop, please.

The audiobook was fantastic, 8/10!!

This is going to be a great series. The characters are all very unique & entertaining in their own ways. The small town of Shamrock Cove sounds like a dreamland. For a cozy mystery I was surprised at how tragic the backstory was for one of the main characters. Other than that it checks all the boxes for a fun cozy mystery. It did keep me guessing who the murderer was & I wasn’t able to figure it out before it was finally revealed. The narrator was enjoyable to listen to & her voices for the characters were fun. I’m excited for this series to continue & to get to know these characters more.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for the advance copy.

Thank you to Bookouture for an ARC copy of this novel that comes out August 22, 2024.

Shoutout to this narrator, she was awesome! I thought her Irish accent was a little hammy at times, but she did a nice job and gave a voice to all the different characters. I was able to tell them apart in my head.

I have alwaysss wanted to try a cozy mystery story. This was my first one! The "cozy" part in this novel meant it took place in a quaint Irish village, Shamrock Cove. I loved the setting and the premise of this book. Firstly, the setting is beautiful green Ireland, on the sea. Their new home is in a small little village where everyone knows each other. Also, THEY NOW OWN A BOOK STORE (more on that below)! As for the premise, two American sisters get the opportunity to move to Ireland when their grandfather passes away and leaves his cottage in their name (YES PLZ!). Along with inheriting his home, they also inherit his business: a two-story book shop! When they arrive to their new home, a surly old man in the village dies unexpectedly. One of the sisters is a mystery writer and sees this as the perfect opportunity to play detective, while the other sister is hoping for a drama-free fresh start in Ireland. Everyone is a suspect.

I really did like this book, but the ending killed it for me. There was a ton of buildup and a rushed ending that I felt was anti-climactic and didn't make a ton of sense. It says this is the first in the series, so I would give the second book a try, whenever that comes out. I hope it explores the ending of the first book and the romance I was hoping to get in the first.

Thank you for this ARC in return for an honest review

What can only be described as a cosy mystery I devoured this audiobook in less than 24hours. Set in the tight-knit village of Shamrock Cove, this story follows Marcy and Lizzie who move to Ireland from American after they inherit the grandfathers house and bookstore.

This book was so enjoyable and caught my attention right away. This book was perfect for a very Autumnal feeling August evening. It has all of the elements that you'd expect from a good cosy mystery; dead bodies, secrets to uncover, a cast of locals and a potential love interest. The author brought the story to life with her characters, keeping me guessing throughout the book. Just when I thought I'd figured it out, she added a twist making me question who the killer was. I think I accused everyone in the village. I like where she left the story and cannot wait for the next book.

Book 1 of A Mercy McCarthy Mystery: An Irish Bookstore Murder is released today, Anyone who enjoys cosy murder mystery should check this out.

Twins Mercy and Lizzie are new to Shamrock Cove after a surprise inheritance lands them there with a coffee shop and bookstore to run! Mercy is a crime writer and takes on solving a real life mystery when the town judge ends up dead on her doorstep and he points to HER as his murderer!

Cozy mysteries are one of my favorite genres and this one did not disappoint! The town and characters were charming, the mystery was fun, and I enjoyed the themes surrounding family and connections. This was a very solid read and I’ll be continuing the series!

This audiobook was narrated by Kimberly Wetherell. She did great, I was engaged for the entire story and enjoyed all of the characters!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Lucy Connelly, and Bookouture Audio for providing this free ARC. This is my honest review! This published on August 20th!

I have posted my review on Goodreads, my Facebook book club, and will make a TikTok to post before the pub date raving about this book!

This is the first in the series of The Mercy McCarthy Mystery Books.
When twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy inherit a cottage and bookstore from their late Grandfather they relocate to Ireland from America to have a fresh start.
Mercy is an author specialising in crime writing and as soon as the sisters arrive in their new town they are faced with a real life murder when one of the local community members is murdered. Suddenly the girls and other members of the local community become murder suspects!
There are lots of interesting characters and twists and turns throughout with quite an un-expected ending.
A well narrated, light murder mystery - I look forward to reading more books in the series.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced listener copy of this audiobook.

I downloaded this audiobook from NetGalley and listened to it while doing some admin.

It's very clearly written for the American market, and the portrayal of Ireland by the author and the accents attempted by the narrator were quite interesting from the perspective of a British person with colleagues and friends in Eire.

I wasn't quite sure why the bookshop had to be situated in the made-up Shamrock Cove, or why the author didn't set her cosy crime in smalltown USA. Her website says she loves travelling, and I can see that she's been very successful with previous writing projects, so I expect that her established readers will love this book too.

The actual crime fiction element is really good, and if it were not for the faux Irish setting, I would have really loved this novel. I still liked it, in the same way that at Christmas time I have a special place in my heart for Hallmark movies set in my native Scotland written by and starring people who have never lived there.

Three Word Review: American-style Irish mystery

Full disclaimer; I could not finish this audiobook. I found it incredibly clichéd and overdone and as an Irish person myself, I found it genuinely offensive at times. It could not have been more obvious that this book was written by an US American. The entire "idyllic Irish countryside village where nothing ever happens" was laughable and the caricatures were stereotypical and incredibly under-developed. The twins irritated me from the very first page as their entire "personalities" and roles in the story were explicitly stated. There was an appalling lack of research done on Ireland and the police system here especially (FYI, they're not called the "police" here, they're called "gardaí") and the town name "Shamrock Cove" made me want to die from cringiness. The narrator's voice was very happy and enthusiastic which wouldn't be an issue in any other genre, but for a murder mystery, it was a little off-putting at times. And although I cannot speak for the authenticity of their Texan accent, the Irish accent was definitely unrealistic and even turned stereotypically-Scottish at times.

A mesmerizing start to a new series that I’ll be keeping my eyes out for. I can’t wait for a sequel.

The setting of the story in the idyllic village of Shamrock Cove creates the perfect atmosphere and makes for - together with the lovable and quirky characters - a perfect whodunnit cozy mystery that leaves you craving more.

A special shoutout to the handsome police officer for not being a walking red flag as in so many other cozy mysteries (seriously why are they always written like that?)

Kimberly Wetherell did a wonderful job narrating the story. I had so much fun listening to the audiobook and was hooked right away.

3.5/5 stars. Audiobook performance 4.5/5 stars.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for this advanced reader copy. Happy publishing day to Lucy Connelly

Mercy is a celebrated and successful mystery/crime writer looking to escape the big city and the shadows of a stalker and her twin sister, Lizzie, is a successful business woman needing a change after multiple tragedies when they receive an unexpected inheritance from a grandfather they hadn't known.

Mercy and Lizzie are now the owners of a small antique bookshop in a close knit Irish village. Upon arrival they meet the cast of characters (soon to be suspects) at a welcoming party. On the way home, one of the community members, Judge, is outside their house, gasping for air and with his dying breath, accuses Mercy of murdering him.

The whole book feels cozy, zany and like something I would read on vacation. I loved how Mercy wanted to insert herself in the investigation but was also appalled that the detective would want to question her. The ending left me wishing for a little more. The crime felt out of proportion with the motive. Reading this book felt like watching an episode of Father Brown. The perfect read to cuddle up in a blanket next to the fire with a cup of tea and relax.

For the audiobook I give the narrator 4.5/5. The vocal performance, accents and pace were very immersive and engaging.

Although cosy crime is not usually my go-to genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. The narration was flawless at bringing the storyline and characters to life. The plot kept me invested in finding out who and why, and the twists were well executed. Another book to fuel my desire to visit Ireland! The setting sounded beautiful, and the community spirit was divine!

I didn't give this book a five-star rating because the pacing didn't quite match my preferences, but I understand that it might be typical for this genre. I haven't read enough to make a fair judgement. However, I am excited to read or listen to the next book in this series and explore more of this author's work.

If, like me, you are considering trying out a new genre, this would make the perfect introduction in any format.

I really enjoyed this story for the most part, and will definitely be recommending this as a cosy, winter read.

Lucy Connelly’s first entry into the Mercy McArthur Mystery Series is cozy in the way that a Hallmark movie warms your soul after a long day.. While the story was a tad predictable, it managed to be so in a charming way that was perfect for a quick, easy read on a fall day. At points the plot dragged a bit due to repetitive turns of phrase or rehashed minor plot points, but this did not greatly detract from my enjoyment of the book. Listening to this on audio, I did find it at times difficult to keep track of all the characters but overall due to the familiar but interesting plot it was manageable. Readers who need a brain break from heavier materials/thrillers might appreciate delving deeper into Shamrock Cove’s quirky community. I’m grateful I had the chance to listen to this book and think that fall readers will appreciate curling up by the fire with a nice “cuppa” and this book.