This is a series that I like to call an armchair travel series. I love to visit Ireland in each book in this cozy mystery series and also check in on the entire family. I have read every book in this series and hope it continues for a long time.

Murder in an Irish Garden
Carlene O´Connor
February 25, 2025

We are back in Kilbane in County Cork, Ireland for O´Connor´s latest adventure in her Irish series. The town is having their annual garden contest with many of the townies participating. In addition, we find Siobban studying with Macdara for her Detective Sergeant exam. Eoin is baking and cooking in the restaurant's kitchen working out recipes for the opening. Things seem normal and happy with the rest of the O´Sullivan 6 to join them for the event.
O´Connor gives another exciting suspense story that involves many of the colorful town characters. Yes there is a murder and it takes up most of the plot trying to solve who did what and why. Itś enjoyable yet full of Irish fun and fall out.
Murder in an Irish Garden will be published by Kensington Cozies on February 25, 2025. I was able to read and review O´Connor´s latest novel via NetGalley. I have read the entire Irish Murder series and have enjoyed them all, a truly delightful read.

I so wish I had begun this series at its inception! I enjoyed the book, but felt like I'm was missing out on a lot of backstory...because I did! Siobhan and her husband Macdara are fun and very interesting. I was able to follow along with this cozy mystery well enough, but I KNOW I'm not getting the little nuances that being a long time reader of this series would add.

The story moved along well, and I liked the interplay between Siobhan and Macdara. Their dialogue was interesting and sometimes playful. I enjoyed their talking over the case and the clues they had as they moved toward the reveal of the....well the murderous ending was fabulous! There is much to celebrate for this whole family!!

4 stars from me...only because I really needed to know more backstory since this is a long running series. I would say you can read and enjoy this book without reading the previous books, I did, but there is so much more to this whole family and their interactions that's I would have liked to know.

Hard to believe this is book 11 in the Irish Village series! Siobhán and Mac are settling into married life, half the brood if off on their own life adventures and their house is getting awfully quiet. But with Eoin's restaurant about to open, they are all hands on deck, helping him with his entry into the Garden Show, meant to bring them lots of publicity. But instead a murder shuts his restaurant down, as a possible crime scene. So of course Mac and Siobhán have to be involved before any further harm can come to their family! It's a fun entry into the series, with a behind the scenes look at garden competitions, and a sneak peak into some future plot twists involving family members

MURDER IN AN IRISH GARDEN is the eleventh book in the Irish Village Mysteries by Carlene O’Connor. It’s been a joy watching protagonist Siobhán and her five siblings grow and spread their wings over the course of the series. A lot of changes happen in this book, but it was a delight watching where life is taking them. And while this can be read as a standalone mystery, seeing the character development from the very first book is highly recommended. Ms. O’Connor has outdone herself with a complex mystery that contains multi-crime scenes set at what was supposed to be a premier gardening competition. Siobhán and her detective sergeant husband, MacDara, must bring their collective investigative skills together to solve the case, and even then, at times it seems overwhelming when faced with the multi-faceted pieces of the crimes. The author also portrays the pitfalls that might happen when a couple works and lives together, bringing an emotional level along with fun banter to lighten the seriousness of the crimes. I love the characters’ cheeky sense of humor and, when combined with a brilliant whodunit, it’s no wonder this has become one of my favorite series!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Murder in an Irish Garden
Book 11 in the Irish Village Mystery Series
by Carlene O’Connor
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
Publisher: Kensington Publishing/Kensington Cozies
Pub Date: Feb. 25, 2025
ISBN: 9781496744456

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an e-copy of the book. All opinions are my own.

Humor is a strong element throughout the book. The opening paragraphs are a humorous exchange between Siobhán and Macdara as he helps her study for her Detective Sargent exams. After an all-night study session, patience is short and funny, snappy retorts are flying.
The mystery kept me stumped throughout the book. Plenty of twists and turns threw me off balance every time I thought I had the mystery solved. It was a challenge to try and solve the murder, and I enjoyed the challenge.

The characters have kept me coming back to the series. Siobhán is the second oldest of the six siblings, and she raised them after the death of her parents. Watching this family grow into individuals as well as grow into adults has been one of the strongest draws in these books, especially in this one. Each character is well-developed, with distinct personalities. It’s a family I would like to have living next door. Never a dull moment.

This series is one of my favorites. The well-developed characters, immersion into the Irish countryside and culture, and difficult to solve mysteries have kept me coming back book after book. Murder in an Irish Garden is a solid addition to a well-written series. 5/5 stars.

Loved this latest installment of this series. A garden competition is being held and at the reveal of the gardens, something goes completely wrong! Eoin is about to open his restaurant and Siobhan and Macdara are arguing over her exam to be a detective sargent. Lots of suspects in this book and the resolution of the mystery takes lots of brain work to uncover. The story grabs you from the beginning and keeps you enthralled until the last page! Love these characters and excited to see what lies ahead for them.
I received an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

This is a great series: wonderful Irish setting, terrific family cast of the O'Sullivan siblings, and interesting mysteries as well.

This time out, Garda Siobhan O'Sullivan and husband DI Macdara are sniping at each other while he tries to help the stubborn Siobhan study for a promotion. Both are too proud to apologize so things are edgy. In the meantime, brother Eoin is preparing for the grand opening of his restaurant and a local gardening competition is taking place.

When one of the competitors is found murdered in a bizarre scenario, Siobhan and Macdara must work together to solve a very complex crime with multiple garden crime scenes. And all the many suspects are lying or omitting something.

There was lots of action in this one and the usual terrific banter amongst the O'Sullivans. The mystery plot was a bit over the top but fun nevertheless. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for the opportunity to read "Murder in an Irish Garden" in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is the 11th book in the Irish Village Mystery series following the lives of the O'Sullivan Six. This story starts with Siobhán studying for her Detective Sergeant's exam. She's exasperating and pretty much picks a fight with Macdara (although she claims he needs to apologize), it's almost like she doesn't want to be a DS.

This story has many changes in the family. Eoin is getting ready for the opening of his new restaurant The Six, Ann is studying at the University of Limerick, Gráinne and James are renovating her new inn in Lahinch and Ciarán has his leaving certificate and is taking a "gap year".

Kilbane's Top Garden Contest with Cassidy Ryan using a spot near The Six. A strange crate is delivered for her but she can't be found to sign for it. Then Sean Bell appears to have been locked in a garden shed all night and while his garden was being destroyed. One by one the Gardai find that all the competitors gardens have been destroyed. When they get to Cassidy's garden - hers is perfect but has identical elements to all the other competitors gardens. When a body is found painted gold in her garden, Siobhán and Macdara realize that they are facing a murder.

How were four gardens damaged in one night and no one saw or heard anything. How does a missing rare orchid fit in as well as a Cease and Desist letter? So many questions for the team to answer where did Cassidy die, how, why and when was she killed and by who when everyone has an alibi?

This story had the most crime scenes in the series and the most complex series of criminals. Ms. O'Connor has set up an impressive story and the reveal of who the killer is, the murder, the frame and cover-up will have the reader turning the pages to see how it's resolved.

At the opening night of Eoin's The Six there are more surprises in store. Clues are planted throughout the book and it's exciting to see if the reader is on the right trail. Very much looking forward to where the series will go next.

I always enjoy each release in this series and returning to Ireland with the O'Sullivan family, This is the 11th release in this charming cozy mystery series., Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

Our protagonist Siobhan is busy with her exams while her Brother is entering a garden contest to advertise his new business., The landscape designer he hires is difficult and creates a problem with the contest and entries. When a murder occurs Siobhan and her clan are on the case soon finding out nefarious dealings with the victim and many who wanted the victim dead. Many red herrings and clues abound in the investigation and soon Siobhan and her husband are on the path of a killer.

A enjoyable addition to the series. I love the rich atmospheric setting of a small Irish Village and the culture the author writes so well. The sleuth kept me guessing to conclusion. I look forward to the next in series.

The Irish Village Mysteries is a favorite series of mine. This is book 11, and yes, I have read all of them. I will admit that I was a little confused by the beginning of this book. Macdara is helping Siobhan study for her Detective Seargent exams and they get into an argument that goes on for the first few chapters. But I must say the way it is written is true to life and downright funny. Plus the end of the argument brought tears to my eyes. The mystery part of the book happens during the yearly garden compaction that takes place in Kilbane, their hometown. This story has lots of possible outcomes but I love the way Carlene O'Connor twists and turns our thoughts and then settles on an outcome I didn't expect. The very end of the book is another tear-jerker for me. I enjoyed this read very much.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Cozies for an ARC.

Siobhan O'Sullivan once again investigates murder in a quaint Irish village in County Cork in the 11th book in this series of cozy mysteries. This time, the annual garden competition has been infiltrated by a professional landscape designer, and the locals are not happy about it. When a body turns up, Siobhan will have to use all her resources to catch the killer and to corral the rest of the gardeners as things begin to spin completely out of control. With a touch of Irish folklore thrown in for good measure, cozy fans will certainly enjoy this whodunnit from a master storyteller.

Followers of this series will appreciate catching up with the goings on of the O'Sullivan family in this book, but new readers will find it easy to jump right in as well. These characters are fun and familiar, and I appreciate the fact that any squabbles or disagreements are always wrapped up by the end of the book. The side characters who populate the village are also a welcome addition to this series, and we catch up briefly with a few of them as well. The mystery here is solid, and I enjoyed the references to different types of gardens and plants found within these pages. Although a common enough setting and theme in a cozy mystery, it works well here. There is not so much detail that that I, who am certainly not a green thumb, got bogged down, but there is enough that I was able to appreciate the art and hard work that goes into creating beautiful spaces.The set up for the murder was a new one for me which was nice; although I did manage to guess the ending. Overall, this was a fun read that will keep me coming back for more of this series in the future.

I tried hard to enjoy this book, but it was a slog to read even a chapter a day, so I decided I had to give up. I think it may be because this was several books into the series, and I didn't have the background with this group.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy.

I started out kind of confused as Siobhan and Macdara fought about her studying for her Detective Sargeant exams (a ridiculous fight). I think it was supposed to be seen as overreaction but it kind of just distracted me. Not having the whole family of 6 siblings together felt strange, though it is entirely normal for them to be off having their own lives as adults. I found the murder itself interesting and actually had hoped for a different outcome so the ending was a little disappointing. Everything to do with the reporter confused me and felt really forced and not entirely realistic. The way the “secret” between Siobhan and Macdara was managed also felt unrealistic. I guess I struggled with this book a bit and hoping I can get hooked again in the next one. That being said, I still had a hard time putting it down because I wanted to know what would happen next, I just wasn’t happy with what it was.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

I was thrilled when I received the ARC for this. This series became my go to comfort series last year and I’ve loved each new addition.

What I loved most about this one was just how twisty it was. The ending was so satisfying and I loved how layered the plot was. The world building in this series is phenomenal. It’s layered with new faces but never losing sight of the heart and the characters you’ve grown to know over the course of the series. The new villagers and shops that get introduced for the plot are never outlandish, and I love that they almost always make a comeback later in the series. It just shows an attention to detail that not every author manages over the course of a long book series. As always Siobhan was wonderful and stubborn and sometimes frustrating, but I’ve loved her growth over the series. She doesn’t lose herself or change herself, but she grows. And I’ll never tire of Dara. One of my favorite male main characters in a long time.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the ARC.

A strong 4.5 stars for this enjoyable read. I love to revist County Cork and all the wonderful, entertaining characters this author has created. The descriptions and language make this a treat for those of us who travel vicariously through our books. The plot was very well developed and paced - keeping you guessing with all the clues along the way. The "fighting" between Siobhán and Macdara was a bit overdone but you can't help but love these two together - and I figured out early what jig was up! Such a great book and I'll be playing my Irish music while waiting impatiently for the next installment. Many thanks to the Author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I LOVED reading Murder in an Irish Garden!! Great cozy mystery.

Siobhán is busy studying for her Detective Sergeant exams, while her brother Eoin is focused on the grand opening of his new restaurant, *The O’Sullivan Six*. In an effort to attract customers, Eoin enters Kilbane’s Top Garden Contest, hiring a mercurial landscape designer known for her dramatic designs but tarnished reputation. Her controversial methods and questionable behavior threaten to overshadow the competition and cause turmoil.

Despite the drama, the garden she creates emerges as the winner, complete with a stunning golden statue at its center. However, the celebration takes a dark turn when the statue becomes the focal point of a shocking discovery—a brutal murder hidden within the garden's intricate design.

“ Murder at an Irish Garden” the 11th instalment in the "Irish Village" Mystery series by Carlene O’Connor. This is one of my many favourite cozy series and I loved this story!

I always love visiting the village of Kilbane in County Cork and the O'Sullivan Six this time a murder investigation blooms out of a deadly gardening competition. Eoin hires a mercurial landscape designer known for her killer designs. His new partner’s unflattering reputation and questionable practices nearly eclipse her talents—and plunge the prestigious competition into chaos.

I love the characters which are well developed. I also like where the series is heading as the siblings spread their wings. The mystery is super interesting and well plotted, and loaded with red herrings. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

We're back in Ireland with Siobhan and Macdara and I love them so much! Truly, every time there's a new book in this series I drop everything. There's something so charming and cozy about this whole cast of characters and the landscape. Of course when I saw this particular installment centered around a Garden Competition, I was sold. There were quite a few plot points that I saw coming, but that's part of the charm of these for me. If you love cozy mysteries, look no further.

Fans of Irish bestselling author, Carlene O’Connor will want to pick up the eleventh installment of her popular Irish Village Series, Murder in an Irish Garden. In this novel, the residents of Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland are excited for the annual Gardening contest, and several serious gardeners have been chosen to compete. One of the competitors, Cassidy Ryan, grew up in Kilbane but moved away and some of the residents don’t think she should be allowed to enter the contest. She is a professional landscape designer with a bad reputation and unfortunately is murdered, sprayed with gold paint, and placed in the center of her garden as the showpiece. All of the other contests, as well as their crews are suspects. In addition, Siobhán and Macdara are having their first big argument since their recent marriage while Siobhán studies for her Detective Sergeant test, and that makes it hard to investigate the murder. In addition, all of the contestants, crews, and others connected are lying about different things, so Dara and Siobhán end up with plenty of suspects and a lack of clues.

O’Connor has a way of capturing the Irish culture in her books, and readers will feel they are actually there. She is an excellent storyteller, and this series is fun to read. The characters have Irish names, and readers will find themselves looking up pronunciations because the characters seem real and we want to pronounce their names correctly in our minds. She does an excellent job of developing the characters and they are likeable. The supporting characters are also well developed, but not always so likeable. They vary from book to book, but help to move the story along.


All told, this is a good addition to the series, and even though it is a light cozy, it has plenty of suspense and ups and downs to keep readers interested; as usual, readers won’t know who the murderer is until the dénouement at the end of the book.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.