By: Lucy Connelly
Many thanks to Bookouture for the ARC of the book and the stop on the book tour!
About the Book
A grand castle, a glass of Irish whiskey, a good book by the fire… and a rather mysterious murder?
Historic Inishmore Castle is opening its doors for the first time, hosting a charming weekend of whiskey tasting and soda bread baking. Sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are badly in need of a break, but their relaxing trip takes a decidedly unrestful turn when Mercy finds fellow guest Father Brennen slumped over the desk in the library… Did he have one glass too many or did someone want him dead?
Even more curiously, Mercy swiftly learns that the priest was no priest at all. So why was he searching through dusty old journals? Can the legend of Inishmore’s lost treasure possibly be true?
Mercy’s suspicions of foul play are confirmed when another of their party is found drowned in the lake at the edge of the manor’s estate. It can’t be a coincidence! Someone in this idyllic Irish castle is up to no good and Mercy is determined to find out who’s behind it, accompanied by her reluctant fellow sleuth and beloved dog Mr. Poe.
With a host of frightened guests and worried staff, and a storm closing in, Mercy soon has more suspects than bedrooms in the castle. Could it be the unconvincing nun, the busybody birdwatcher, or are the owners hiding something sinister? When Mercy realises there are secret passages in the walls, she thinks she might have cracked the case… but will she track the killer down, or will Inishmore be her resting place forever more?
My Review
This is book 3 in the Mercy McCarthy Mystery book series, and it’s another fantastic one! This can be read as a standalone, but why read it as one when the first two books are equally as fantastic. For this book, we’re set at a castle in Ireland and bad storms make the castle secluded. We have our usual cast of characters from the neighborhood with a few extras here via the guests at the castle, the castle owners, and the castle workers. Of course my favorites were Mercy and Kieran.
With this cozy mystery series, it’s a true whodunnit. There are moments where I sometimes giggle, the dog Mr. Poe is absolutely fantastic and such an asset to Kieran. I can’t wait for him to officially join the force! I also love how even though Kieran seems “annoyed” that Mercy keeps inserting herself into the investigation, he secretly enjoys her help.
As for the whodunit aspect, I didn’t guess at all. I was guessing and going through the investigation right along side Mercy and Kieran. Connelly expertly writes these cozy mysteries and I absolutely cannot wait until the next one in this series!
About the Author
Bestselling author Candace Havens has published more than 25 books. Her novels have received nominations for the RITA’s, Holt Medallion, Write Touch Reader Awards and National Reader’s Choice Awards. She is a Barbara Wilson Award winner. She is the author of the biography Joss Whedon: The Genius Behind Buffy and a contributor to several anthologies. She is also one of the nation’s leading entertainment journalists and has interviewed countless celebrities from George Clooney to Chris Pratt. Candace runs a free online writing workshop for more than 2000 writers and teaches comprehensive writing classes. She does film reviews with Hawkeye in the Morning on 96.3 KSCS, and is a former President of the Television Critics Association.
https://www.lucyconnelly.com/
https://www.facebook.com/LucyConnellyBooks/
https://www.instagram.com/Candace_Havens
https://x.com/CandaceHavens
Publish Date: April 10, 2025
Find the book here.
* This post contains an affiliate link. I earn a small commission if you purchase the book through this link.
Book Addict Book Blog 