Murder in an Irish Garden is the eleventh cozy mystery is the Irish Village mystery series. Siobhan is in the middle of studying for her Detective Sargeant exam when a gardening competition turns deadly. There are too many suspects and twists and turns that make this a hard case to solve. Will Siobhan be able to get to the bottom of the case before a killer strikes again or flees town?

I’m a big fan of cozy mysteries, but haven’t read this series yet. I had no problem picking up eleven books in, except I played catch up with some of the reoccurring characters which was expected. This mystery was enjoyable and kept me guessing. The twists and turns kept me on my toes and I enjoyed how the ending played out even though it shocked me. The main characters in this book were strong and will have me coming back for more. If you are a cozy mystery fan this one is worth checking out!

The 11th book in the An Irish Village Mystery series focuses on the O'Sullivan family getting into another whodunit mystery. Siobhán is supposed to be studying for her Detective Sergeant's exam, when she gets pulled into solving a murder during Kilbane’s Top Garden Contest.

This was my first book in the series. Set in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland, this was a fun cozy mystery with enjoyable twists and characters. Who doesn't love some Irish accents?

Thank you NetGalley and RBMedia for the Advanced Listening Copy. All opinions are my own.

Audio book review: The lilting tones of Caroline Lennon bring to life this charming "whodunnit" mystery and sent just the right amount of atmosphere that the story flows. The narrator's soft and smooth accent chronicles the events of a callous murder with ulterior motives leading you down the garden path and through all the possible connotations! Enjoy

I listened to the 11th book in the ‘Murder in an Irish’ series. This one being Murder in an Irish Garden by Carlene O’Connor. Others have been Bookshop/Village/Farm/Churchyard/Bakery etc. All set out in little villages in County Cork, Ireland. The narrator has a fabulous Irish accent and matter of fact way of speaking that gets the story across perfectly. You just know the main character doesn't take any nonsense from anyone, including her husband.

I haven’t read any of the others but read a little about them. At 22 Siobhan takes over her parents’ bistro when they are killed in a car crash and becomes a second mum to the rest of her five siblings, putting her studying on hold. By book 11 she is about to take her Detective Sergeant’s exam and her husband, Macdara, is helping her study for the exam.

The local garden club is hosting its annual competition. A celebrity landscaper has got the locals up in arms as she has also entered the competition and it’s supposed to only be for amateur gardeners. On the day of the competition the body of the landscaper is found in her garden propped up like a sculpture and painted gold. Soibhan and her husband, who is also a Garda, is called in to investigate. Who wanted her dead?

A lovely cozy murder mystery set in Ireland.

Thank you NetGalley for my audio ARC, this book released yesterday, 25 February 2025.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ACL.

This is more of a 4.5 stars for me, rounded up because I did really like it a lot.

Loved the husband/wife detective duo, although probably a bit far fetched. When it came to the whodunit, the story kept me guessing until the end. The ending had a very Hercule Poirot feel. I also really enjoyed the perfectly intertwined one-liners like “Everything is certainly not coming up roses.”

The husband and wife’s argument lasting half of the book was very strange and not needed. Removing it or having their makeup sooner would not change the story at all (if it doesn’t affect the story, it should be cut out). Also, her health thing was very obvious and handled unrealistically. Maybe it’s different in Ireland but with her thing going on, she would absolutely not be working out in the field.

Chapter 1 was a bit odd. It breaks the 4th wall and I think maybe having it as a preface would be more appropriate.

The narrator was wonderful and made the experience even better.

This was my first Carlene O'Connor novel, and it was quite delightful. I wasn't familiar with her "Murder in a..." series (such as Murder in a Pub, Village, Wedding, Chipper), but I jumped in with the latest installment, Murder in an Irish Garden.

The story unfolds in real time, much like the TV show 24 (starring Kiefer Sutherland). I don’t think I’ve ever read a novel with this pacing before, and it definitely kept me hooked. There are no filler scenes like “waiting for DNA results,” just one potential crime scene after another as the detectives work tirelessly. There’s no rest for the weary!

The story begins with lead detective Siobhan O'Sullivan, who’s studying for her Detective Sergeant exam while also dealing with tension in her marriage. Not exactly the best frame of mind when she stumbles upon the murder victim. As Siobhan and her husband collect clues, they continue to bicker...sounds like a normal day in my household as my husband and I go about our days after a fight!

The plot dives into a local garden contest in the quaint, sleepy village of Kilbane. Initially, I wondered how the stakes would be raised, but when the most despised and famous gardener of the bunch is found murdered and displayed as a "garden feature," things take off with a bang and don’t slow down until the second-to-last chapter.

I’m no gardener—I can barely keep an indoor plant alive—but I learned so much garden-knowledge from this book. From hostas to the beautiful ghost orchid, poisonous plants, and more, it’s a treasure trove of botanical knowledge. Plus, there’s a fun dose of garden humor throughout, so be prepared for that.

As Siobhan digs deeper, she finds that although Occam’s razor suggests the simplest explanation is usually the best, in this case, things are far from simple. The possibilities are endless.

I also learned the term “purple prose” from this book, which was a fun bonus! I hope I planted the seed for you all to pick this book up!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and will definitely check out Carlene O'Connor’s previous works. I could easily see this being adapted into a Netflix series.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book, and I'd like to thank @netgalley for providing it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read Murder in an Irish Garden! Carlene O’Connor delivers yet another captivating cozy mystery, blending the charm of an Irish village with an intricately woven whodunit.

From the very first page, I was transported to Kilbane, with O’Connor’s rich descriptions making me feel as though I were strolling through the lush greenery myself. The setting plays such a vivid role in the story—so much so that it almost feels like a character of its own. “The garden was a masterpiece of wild beauty, nature’s secrets whispering between every leaf.”

Siobhán O’Sullivan continues to be a fantastic protagonist—intelligent, determined, and deeply connected to her family and community. Her investigative skills shine as she untangles a mystery filled with secrets, misdirection, and a cast of well-developed suspects. At every turn, I found myself second-guessing what I thought I knew. “In Kilbane, even the smallest of whispers can bloom into the loudest of truths.”

O’Connor’s writing is as atmospheric and engaging as ever, with a perfect balance of intrigue and lighthearted moments. The dialogue is sharp, the pacing is excellent, and the twists kept me flipping the pages late into the night. This is the kind of mystery that reminds me why I love the genre—clever, immersive, and utterly satisfying.

A must-read for fans of cozy mysteries, Irish settings, and expertly crafted whodunits. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Siobhán and the O’Sullivan Six!

Another great addition to this series! I love these characters so much. It’s like coming home every time I read (or re-read) each book. Caroline Lennon is also a brilliant choice for narrator for this series, her voice is spot-on for the characters and adds to that feeling of coming home.

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This was perhaps the most suspects yet in this series! The Six restaurant is just about to open amidst a gardening competition, and a high profile contestant has been designing a garden for the restaurant grounds. All of their carefully laid plans are thwarted of course when a murder is discovered. And it could be any of dozens of garden crew members or countless others for that matter. Siobhan and Macdara are due for another surprise yet, though!