Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

This is book two in a new cosy murder mystery series by Lucy Connelly. Mercy McCarthy, an American crime writer, and her twin sister Lizzie have recently inherited a cottage and bookshop in Ireland from a grandfather they never knew. Shamrock Cove, especially a posh housing estate called The Court, has a tight-knit community into which the sisters were warmly welcomed.

This time we are at the ten day Shamrock Cove Literary Festival in which both sisters are heavily involved. The first murder is author James Brandt, an arrogant diva not many people had a good word to say about, apart from his literary agent Sebrena. But then she is found murdered too. Who has an interest in seeing them both dead, and has it something to do with their past in Shamrock Cove and an old manuscript?

The author skilfully draws up an atmospheric literary setting, with the bookshop exhibiting secret doors and a fairy garden, plus there is a lot of mention of food!

The Americanisms in an Irish setting take some getting used to - there is definitely no sign of assimilation to Irish English yet but I've learned the word "hinky" for suspicious.

The mystery about their father and some letters continues, plus there is scope for a relationship between Kieran and Mercy, who still aren't dating but getting on very well, with Kieran allowing her some sleuthing under the proviso that she doesn't get herself in danger.

This can be read as a standalone as anything worth knowing will be seamlessly woven into Mercy's narrative, though Mercy's stalker way back in New York and Lizzie's traumas from the past really didn't need repeated airings, especially as they have nothing to do with the case.

I can't wait for the next installment, not for the murders so much as for the interaction between the quirky community members! They and dog Mr Pie really make the book.

This is a fast, easy, warm-hearted read that doesn't disappoint. The characters are interesting and the setting is beautiful. Who doesn't love an Irish community where even the police are called by their first name?

Love this series, love the twin sister sleuths, love the glimpses of Irish life. A fast paced whodunnit that keeps the pages tuning. Set in the world of bookshops, authors and publishing it is a delectable treat for a bibliophile. A highly recommended read.

An Irish Bookshop Murder (Mercy McCarthy Mystery #1) & Death by the Book (Mercy McCarthy Mystery #2) by Lucy Connelly

An Irish Bookshop Murder and Death by the Book, the first and second books in the Mercy McCarthy Mystery series by Lucy Connelly have set a pretty high bar for future stories in the series.

With captivating and realistic characters, unique mysteries, and the setting of a small Ireland seaside community the stories draw you in and keep you engaged and speculating to each story’s conclusion. As the very well crafted clues are gathered and unraveled, the stories become more and more intriguing. Both Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are fully relatable and believable…thereby keeping both stories effectively flowing from beginning to end. The secondary characters are equally engaging and easy to form an attachment to.

All in all, I find this series one that I will keep on my “Watch List” for additional stories about Mercy et al.

This ARC book was complimentary…provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily offering my honest review.

Mercy and Lizzy, sisters living in Ireland, are involved in a literary conference when the most obnoxious author turns up dead. when a short time later his irritating agent is also found dead, Mercy feels compelled to help solve the mystery. Fun cozy mystery series. This is book 2, and a series and author I recommend.

Mystery writer and new Irish bookstore owner Mercy is thrown into another investigation in this cozy series. It works well as a standalone, as the author has the knack for giving you the backstory from the first book without making it intrusive. Mercy and her sister are setting up a literary festival in their small town in Ireland when murder strikes, then strikes again. Mercy follows her own instincts in sorting through the suspects as some hints at personal developments from the first book appear to take a back seat. The mystery is well done, although it felt a little like Mercy stumbled into the ending. A minor quibble in a very good series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are entirely my own and offered voluntarily.

#DeathbytheBook #NetGalley
I love this new series featuring Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy.
The sisters are living in Shamrock Cove, Ireland, starting their lives over after suffering incredible losses.
In this book, Lizzie is organizing a book festival, and she's hoping that nothing goes wrong.
Of course, in our cozy setting, someone is bound to be murdered, and this time, the suspect list is long.
The victim, the star author of the festival, is found dead, is it an accident, or is it murder?
Join these fabulous sisters and their dog Mr. Poe on a whirlwind adventure that will keep you guessing until the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

Mercy and her twin sister continue to fall in love with their new home in Ireland. Busy with the annual literary festival, a murder to solve is the last thing they need on their plate. But Mercy cannot help herself! A wonderful series

Death By the Book is the second Mercy McCarthy mystery by Lucy Connelly. I am really enjoying this new series. The Irish small town setting and charming characters are a joy to read about. I love how Mercy and her sister have fit into the small town of Shamrock Cove, Ireland so well and most cozy readers would love to inherit a bookstore in a small coastal village. The mystery was well written and it was just a nice escape from life to read about Mercy and her friends. Lucy Connelly is one of my favorite authors and when she writes a new a book it goes right on my To Be Read list.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.

unpleasant-victims, local-law-enforcement, sisters, twins, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, Ireland, series, small-business, small-town, local-gossip, bookseller, festivals, investigation, murder, grieving, depression, mental-health-issues, mental-health-awareness, coping-mechanisms, writers, fragile-personalities, inheritance, negative-publicity, relatives*****

Shamrock Cove is hosting a literary festival and has invited a number of authors to speak and sign copies of their books.
The first body was under the fallen bookcase in the cottage, the next body was the egomaniac's curmudgeonly ex-wife found by the twins' dog in the storeroom of the bookshop. And so the investigations dig deeper and deeper into personal and local histories.
Backstory: Mercy McCarthy went from Texas to NYC bigtime mystery writer to an inheritance in Ireland from a grandfather she never knew. Her twin sister Lizzie went from Texas to deep depression after sequential tragedies, to Ireland with her sister for the healing of change.
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected advance review copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you! Avail Nov 12, 2024
#DeathByTheBook #MercyMcCarthyMysteriesBk2

Oh man! I loved this book so much that I finished it in one sitting! Mercy and Lizzie are back and are once again tossed into the fires of another investigation. How can this keep happening to them? They are still amidst the makings of their new life and trying to carry on when another death happens. Obviously, it brings up some of the feelings of the first investigation where they were clearly suspects, this brings them into a whole new type of trouble.

With tons of thrills, chills, wild rides, failed attempts on their lives and stretching thin some of the relationships they have just started to build with the townsfolk, these women know what they have to do. They have to figure out who is killing people in their village before another one gets killed again.

There are so many mysteries tied up in this one, you almost don't know where to look. Red herring after red herring gets thrown at you and you just have to keep ducking! This series is invigorating, and I loved being in the midst of it. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I cannot recommend this and the first book enough. They are just a grand time to be had.

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Lucy Connelly for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

Set in the small picturesque seaside village of Shamrock Cove, Ireland this book is the epitome of a cozy mystery. It elevates a regular character, in this case Mercy McCarthy, a mystery writer into a quintessential sleuth. Her investigative skills rely on good old face to face interview and modern research tools including AI which I thought was a nice touch. The author adds in lots of misdirection, a bit of intrigue, some colourful suspects, an interesting backstory about Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie, a literary festival and has created a charming cozy. 3.5 stars rounded up


Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.

I love the characters & setting in this book & series. I didn’t love that the investigation doesn’t really go anywhere, it really slows the story. #DeathbytheBook #NetGalley

Mercy and her sister Lizzie moved from the states to a small Irish village when they inherited a cottage and a bookshop. Now there is a 10-day literary event with many authors visiting. The primary author was raised in the village, but it’s the first year he’s agreed to attend the festival. He turns out to be impossible to deal with and rude to everyone, as is his agent. When Mercy and Lizzie find his body in his cottage, crushed by a bookcase, Mercy immediately suspects its murder and discovers a long list of suspects and motives. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.
I love the village and Mercy’s friends and neighbors. Their small dog, Mr. Poe, is a true hero in this book, despite his diminutive size.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mercy is a famous author and her twin Lizzie runs a bookshop. When an unpleasant author is murdered, Mercy can't help but get involved.

It's a cosy murder mystery set in a quaint Irish village.

There weren't any big twists for me but I still enjoyed it. Mercy is personable and you follow her around as she signs books along with trying to find out who dunnit.

This talented author has written a page turner. Secrets and red herrings…family and friends…twists and turns…guessing…this is a good series. Even the title is intriguing. Mystery…thanks Netgalley.

3.75 - Small cozy town in Ireland, a book festival and a murder.. what else does you need?

In "Death by the Book," Lucy Conelly masterfully blends cozy mystery elements with an engaging plot set in the enchanting village of Shamrock Cove, Ireland. Did I google if Shamrock Cove actually exists, because I want to go and visit? Maybe..

The story follows Mercy McCarthy, a mystery writer, and her sister Lizzie as they settle into their new home, only to find themselves embroiled in a real-life murder investigation during a local literary festival. While the local detective dismisses Mercy’s hunch about foul play, her suspicions intensify when a second body is discovered—this time, in their own bookstore, uncovered by their loyal dog, Mr. Poe.

Conelly does an excellent job of weaving humor and charm into a story filled with twists. Mercy is a relatable protagonist, driven to clear her name as the townsfolk begin to suspect her. Determined to prove her innocence and convinced the police are missing key clues, Mercy dives into the investigation. With a meddlesome mayor, a cheerful chef, and a shy botanist among her suspects, her breakthrough comes when she finds an old photograph in the library archives that could lead her to the killer. The author’s vivid descriptions of Shamrock Cove transport you right into the heart of this idyllic yet dangerous setting.

Even though it is the second book in a series, you can perfectly read this as a stand alone. The author refers to things that happened in the previous book in such a subtle way, that you know enough to keep on reading but it doesn't spoilt the entire plot of the first book.

Death by the Book is a fast-paced and delightful read that will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie. With its captivating characters, clever plotting, and a perfect mix of suspense and humor, this cozy mystery will keep you turning pages until the very end. Conelly has crafted a tale that is as engaging as it is entertaining, making it a must-read for mystery lovers!

Death by the book is the 2nd book in the Marcy McCarthy Mystery series. It takes place in the town of Shamrock Cove, Ireland. Mercy McCarthy is the main character. She is a well known author, She and her twin sister, Lizzie moved from the U.S. to Ireland as they found out they inherited a cottage and a book store, Book and Antiques from their grandfather on their father's side whom they had never met. She and Lizzie have been through alot over the year with the death of their mother and Lizzie's fiance and his daughter's death in an automobile accident. They decided to move to Ireland for a new start. The cottage, No. 3, is in a special court that the only way in is by a hidden door, Lizzie has a dog named Mr. Poe who is devoted to her. Their neighbor Scott and his partner, Robb live next door.

Lolly O'Mallery is one of their neighbors has asked Lizzie to head the Shamrock Cove Literary Festival. She has authors lined up to do readings of their books. James Brant is going to be the main speaker. He had been born in Shamrock Cove and grew up there until he went to college. Lolly had been trying to get him to participate in the festival and was excited that he had accepted. Sebrena Walker is his agent. When James an didn't show up for his main event at the store Sebrena asked Mercy and Lizzie to go to the cottage he was staying in to get him. They knock on the door but no answer. They find the door unlocked so they go in. They find him dead under a fallen bookcase. They call the police. While waiting Mercy checks out the room. On the table she sees 2 manuscripts. One is his and the other is an old one with no title page. She is very curious about it. Kiernan is the local detective inspector. He is also Lolly's grandson. He arrives with his 2nd in command, Sheila. He can't believe that Mercy is the person who found a body again.

Mercy can't get the old manuscript out of her mind so when she goes to the police station to speak to him about if he will let her see the manuscript but he is not there. She says she wants to leave a message so goes to this office and sees the box with the manuscript in it. She takes pictures of some of the pages before she leaves. Kiernan is at the church to supervise a group that has gathered to celebrate James. Mercy wants to talk to Sebrena about yesterday. She asks her about bookplates to put in the books that they had for sale at the bookstore, She say she has some and will get her office to send them some to the bookstore.

Mercy asks Lolly about James. She tells him that James had had a fallout with his dad. Didn't know what it was but James had been in trouble when he was a teenager. Something about bullying a girl. His parents threatened to sue the school so it was dropped.

Lizzie got a call from the chef that he was having problems with Sebrena about the dessert. Lizzie asked Mercy to go and straighten it out. When she got there she found them arguing. She also found out that Sebrena and the chef, Patrick, had been married for 3 years and he had been one of James best friends. She had left him for James.

At the Awards Banquet the attendees were able to sit at a table with the author. Sebrena was holding court as James table. Thomas Gilfoy, mayor of the town spoke about James saying that he had grown up with James and said positive things about him but Mercy got the feeling there was bad blood between them. James had won the award for thrillers. Sebrena accepted the award for him and made a speech. Mercy noticed the Mayor in the back of the room giving her a death stare. Kiernan met Mercy outside and asked her why she wanted him to do a tox screen. She told her that they did and found a toxin in his system but not sure what it is yet. Whatever it is stopped his heart.

At the book store Lizzie told Mercy that Sebrena was acting weird. She was acting as if James books were hers. She was taking ownership of his books. Mr. Poe kept looking at the cupboard where there was a secret room behind it. They went to investigate and found another body. It was Sebrena dead. What was she doing there. Kiernan arrived. Lizzie told him that she had been acting weird and had come to the store a couple of times. There was a man she saw arguing with her.

This is where the story takes off with so much drama there is too much to put on paper. I will leave it to the reader to enjoy to the exciting end.

I enjoyed this book. The author keeps the reader guessing who killed James and Sebrena and why. I look forward to the next book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookcouture for this ARC.