A cute start to a new series. I enjoyed the quirks of each twin. I can't wait to see where this series goes. Maybe a little romance for each woman as well. The narrator was a pleasure to listen to.

Cozy mysteries set in Ireland are one of my absolute favorite things to read. Unfortunately, I couldn’t even finish this book. The narration was good but that’s about it. It was poorly researched. A serving spoon in the mouth of someone having a seizure? It hasn’t been common practice to do something like that in over 20 years. The wording of some things was very confusing. I’m not sure if the detective works for the Garda or an imaginary police force. I can’t keep track of whether the sisters are suspects or not. The setting seemed like the author took the quintessential English village and threw in some caricature of the Irish. The only thing missing was a leprechaun.

"An Irish Bookshop Murder (Mercy McCarthy Mystery #1)" by Lucy Connelly is the first book in a bookshop themed cozy mystery series. Well bookshop and book writer themed. Mercy McCarthy and her twin sister, Lizzie, move to Ireland after inheriting their previously unknown grandfather's cottage and a series of tragic events back in Texas. Mercy is a successful mystery writer and Lizzie ran a successful lavender ranch. Now Mercy will work from her home office in the cottage and Lizzie will run their grandfather's bookshop.

After their welcoming party they find their neighbor having a health emergency. Mercy, who is well versed in CPR, tries to save him. However, she's unsuccessful. Due to the low rate of crime before their arrival and a few other clues hinting their way, Mercy takes on investigating what happened.

I found this mystery very entertaining. I did have one person that I kept coming back to as a suspect. It also had the typical detective who gets a bit of tunnel vision. There may be a bit of a love hate troupe going on between him and Mercy.

The narrator of the audiobook version did a great job with the various characters. Each one was unique. Since this is a book set in Ireland they also had to do an Irish accent. That was well done as well.

I loved the relationship between the sisters in this book. These twins find out about a grandfather and he has left them his home in Ireland. They decide their lives are in a place where they should move there and start over. On their first night there, a grouchy old man, a judge, suddenly dies and they are questioned about the death. One sister is an author and starts investigating the death and weird things start happening. The neighborhood they live in is full of Irish characters who seem to take care of each other but the fear is that there is a murderer in their midst. I can see this series becoming a much loved series for me. Thank you #NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.

Lucy Connelly is quickly becomming one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. I love her Scottish Isle series and now I get to love this new series as well! This was such a great series debut! 📚

A cozy murder mystery; a murder victim disliked by everyone, locked-door Agatha Christie style. Generally pretty wholesome, no violence, S M U T or gore. I listened to the audiobook, well acted. I can listen to American accents at 2x speed but I slow down British/Irish accents. The narrator slipped flawlessly from the Irish characters to the Americans. The main characters are from Texas and they inherit a house in a gated community, Shamrock Cove, from the grandfather they never knew. This is the first in a series, I will read the rest.

I found the ending unsatisfying, the murderer's motivation was odd and honestly I didn't really buy it.

I really liked the main character, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie. There is a still a lot about their family history we don't know that can be revealed in further books. Their neighbors are all characters and sometimes suspects- next door neighbors Rob and Scott, husbands who have lived in Shamrock Cove for 10 years, are great characters. They are also willed a quaint bookshop, with customers and a setting you are sure to get lost in. I look forward to reading more about Mercy McCarthy.

thank you to @netgalley and @Bookouture Audio for the ARC. Book to be released August 22, 2024.

Newly arrived in an idyllic Irish village, Mercy and her sister become embroiled in a murder mystery when their dying neighbor points an accusing finger at Mercy. She sets out to clear her name and uncover the secrets lurking beneath the town’s charming facade before she becomes the next victim.

This fast-paced mystery is well-written and kept me guessing. I prefer a little more humor and emotion than this book offered. Also, the character backgrounds are a little darker than I expect for a cozy mystery, including a child death. I enjoyed the side characters and the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.