Bogs, Brews, and Banshees

Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery #1

by Rowan Dillon, Christy Nicholas

She’s looking for a fresh start. But with eerie noises in the night and murder most foul, can she keep from going down for a crime she didn’t commit?Skye Brigid O’Shea is desperate for an escape. Losing big in a nasty divorce and taking the fall for a patient’s death, the stressed-out thirty-two-year-old jumps at the chance to move to Ireland after inheriting her grandmother’s B&B. But the nosy American quickly lands back in hot water when she investigates unearthly howls and discovers the disagreeable local she argued with earlier stone-cold dead.

Named as the prime suspect, Skye finds herself relying on the constable’s wife and the cryptic clues from her gran’s talking black cat to clear her name. But when her ancestor’s diary points to a supernatural culprit, the ex-nurse isn’t sure if she’s cracked the case or lost her mind.

Can this novice detective overcome a rival pub owner, a dogged policeman, and a thick web of ancient myths to stay out of the slammer?

Bogs, Brews, and Banshees is the charming first book in the Skye O'Shea paranormal cozy mystery series. If you like amateur sleuths, fish out of water, and sídhe sidekicks, then you’ll love Rowan Dillon’s snarkalicious whodunit.

Buy Bogs, Brews, and Banshees to peek behind the veil today!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Paranormal, Ireland, Fantasy, Audiobook

266 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 15, 2024

Reviews

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was more of a 3.5 rounded up to 4 because I did like the writing. The main character ticked me of so my times with her TSTL actions 🤦🏾‍♀️🤦🏾‍♀️🤦 but the story itself was good, with a blend of murder, mystery and magic? Or is it. Starting over isn’t easy, having to start over in a new country, where no one knows you is even more daunting. However, the MFC is determined to put the legacy from her GM to use as soon as she solves a murder.

[Lauren Giacalone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Book Sirens, Rowan Dillon, and Green Dragon Publishing for an arc of this cozy mystery, book one in the Skye O’Shea series! If you enjoy a mix of paranormal mystery and beautiful Ireland settings, this will be the book for you! Check it out March 15,2024!

One of the key things for me at the start of this reading journey…. Was the pronunciation guide! Honorary shout out for this fine addition; this reader thanks you!

We first meet Skye as she’s flying over the Atlantic to get to Ireland. A newly divorced woman, she’s heading to take over what her Gran had left her. An estate, a B&B, and a pub, which has seen many better days. Skye was a complex character, in that she didn’t really know who she was until coming to Ireland. She knew she was leaving behind an abusive husband and life in the US, but she wasn’t completely aware of the special magical elements that awaited her.

Skye runs into problems right off the bat, and her new “fearless, I will conquer all” persona was front and center of this new life she was starting. After a dead body is found on her property, she feels the need to investigate. Her lack of skills in this area don’t hold her back though.

She questions a lot of the people in the town, especially the Gard and police. Everyone has a weird aspect to them… and Skye is trying to piece it all together, while trying to somehow fit in. The only other pub owner, seems a bit hostile and extremely unfriendly towards her. The doctor, Alise, appears kind and friendly, yet her husband the Gard, is hard headed and flat out rude. Owen, a possible love interest, is handy, considerate, and looks out for her. I hope during the second novel we focus more on the other main characters and how their relationships evolve!

As she continues trying to solve the murder, she starts to unravel things about her life. Her new cat, for example, can talk. I wish we knew a little bit more of this cat and the relationship he plays into their family. She finds Gran’s diaries and soon dives into a world that she is now becoming a part of. The Fairy Folk, it appears, are back… and they’re back for her.

Book one kept me interested! I wish there was a little more development in her backstory, along with what her special powers are and what she needs to keep learning. But then again, it’s only book one!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun, and mildly spooky, supernatural cozy mystery. When Skye O'Shea inherits her grandmother's home and pub in Ireland, she sees it as a great escape from her abusive, soon-to-be ex-husband in Miami. (I highly recommend reading the short story prequel, A Mystical Legacy: A Skye O'Shea Paranormal Cozy Mystery Prequel, first, as it gives a lot of context to this first, full-length installment.)

Skye is a woman determined to change her life around. With this move to Ireland she quickly decides that she is no longer going to be meek and impressionable, but strong-willed and will stand up for herself.

While not everyone is excited about an American taking over her grandmother's failing pub, she quickly meets a cast of characters who are rich in personality and helpful towards Skye. However, when a murder happens right in her backyard, Skye begins to suspect that Irish fair folk have a hand in it.

With a talking black cat familiar, Faelan, and her new friends from town, Skye embarks on an investigation into the town's history, those perhaps capable of murder, and finds herself along the way.

The writing was intriguing and the plot well thought out. Every page was a piece of the puzzle revealed. There was never a dull moment. I do hope Faelan makes more of an appearance in later installments. I would have liked him to be more present in this one. I will definitely be continuing with the series for Faelan and because the story of Skye is inspiring.

[Lola]

I received a free ecopy from the author through BookSirens and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I DNF'd this one at 48%

I was in a cozy mystery mood and this one caught my eye on Booksirens. I couldn't resist getting a copy. It just sounded so good and Irish folklore and mythology playing a role in a cozy mystery. The start was good, but the further I got the more I struggled. I didn't care about the mystery, the main character only barely got involved at 48% and I wasn't even sure why she cared except for the fact the body had been found on her property and she was a nurse. The writing style also didn't really click for me. This one also felt very typical for a cozy mystery with the main character losing a lot (divorce and her job in this case) and then inheriting something (her grandma's B&B, pub and house in this case), nothing wrong with that as I usually enjoy these tropes, but this book had nothing to make it stand out. I had hoped the Ireland setting and mythology would help, but so far that hadn't gotten interesting yet, just some vague hints and happenings.

I didn't like reading about the main character, something about her just didn't work for me. I appreciated she wanted to be more assertive, but instead she often came across to me as aggressive or contrary for no good reason. To be honest she does seem to attract the rude people too, so there is some reason for her behavior, but it didn't make for fun reading. There is one likable side character the local doctor and a possible love interest, but besides that most of the characters are rude to the main character or aren't interesting.

[Penny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love cozy paranormals, and I couldn’t resist trying this one. We are introduced to Skye who’s inherited her grandmother’s property in Ireland, and she’s an American. There’s a murder, and she is a suspect and must try to help solve it when the local Gard seems to want her to be the culprit. This book isn’t perfect, but it is well-written and interesting. We didn’t get to know the characters as well as I would have liked, but I got to know them well enough that I want to learn more. It’s the first book in a series, and I know sometimes the first books can be a little rough to write. I was enchanted with the world, and I will definitely read the next one. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Melora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, light read - just what I look for in a cozy mystery. Skye O’Shea flies off to her grandmother’s home in Ireland, nervous but ready to take on a new adventure far away from the depressing failure of her previous marriage and the interference of her ex-husband. Sadly, but fortuitously, she has inherited her gran’s pub and guesthouse. Of course, there’s lots of work to be done, but before she can even begin a dead body appears in one of her outbuildings and strange things begin to occur as Skye learns about her surroundings and the supernatural goings on. I thoroughly enjoyed beta reading this for the author and couldn’t wait to open it each day and read a little more. It promises to be an enjoyable series.

[Delphia Von Heeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bogs, Brews, and Banshoes is book 1 in A Sky O'Shea Cozy Mystery by Rowan Dillon. I really liked having the story set in Ireland. The author used many Irish expressions and even had an index in the back to help with understanding. Skye is divorcing her lousy husband and leaving Miami for an Irish B nd B and Pub that her grandma left her. What Skye was not expecting was to find a dead body in her shed on her first night! The fairy cat, Faelan, can talk… whenever he wants, and I found the characters to be very authentic. Irish lore and a coming together of the community made a marvelous story. I can't wait to read book 2, Whispers, Whisky, and Wishes. I received an arc for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a delightful read set in Ireland. Skye O’Shea wants to start a new life and inheriting her grandmother’s farm seems perfect. She leaves the U.S. with emotional baggage which she struggles to overcome. She wants to be braver and stronger and more confident. We see some of that development. She wants to be a part of the community and not seen as an outsider - an American tourist. I enjoyed learning more about the Fairy Folk of Ireland and look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an advanced readers copy for free and leave this review voluntarily. Thank you Book Sirens.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’ll start by saying I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is a perfect fun read taking you into small Irish village with the superstitions mixing into reality. A perfect get-away style of book for our own imagination.

Escaping a life that had fallen apart, Skye heads to Ireland to take over her grandmothers estate/pub. It’s a complete change of life - giving up everything from the US and heading to make a new life for herself in a foreign to her country.

I always worry about these styles of books as even as an American - I swear we can be quite harsh in our judgements and probably rude to people of foreign countries - yes even when traveling to their country.

Skye isn’t like that - she has a strong desire to fit in. Though the storyline in some places was a little jumpy time-wise, it actually worked as Skye’s brain was having that same issue - so you are actually feeling it vs having a direct knowledge of the time line.

I also like the fact that this first book in the series isn’t all backstory and fussing, it dove right in to a problem that needed to be solved and solving it. The pieces are now there for us to find and explore more in more books!

Definitely one I would recommend to those who like paranormal cozy’s

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5

Firstly, I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. These opinions are all my own.

My biggest gripe with this was the paranormal side to the book - we were introduced to some creatures and had some hints dropped here and there about Skye, but ultimately we never really delved into that.

There was a brief explanation towards the end to try and tie it into the unknown, but a lot was left open-ended for the next book to come. Which was unfortunate, because there really were some solid groundwork into it, as well as Faelan.

Overall though, removing the above, I found it quite easy to get into, and ended up getting through it all in one sitting. It was an enjoyable whodunnit, with some paranormal ideas sprinkled into it.

[Me Christine Crawley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy Irish Fae Folk mystery suitable for Young Adults upwards.
Skye is escaping Miami and an ex husband, as she has inherited her gran’s pub, she decides to flee to a little Irish village and start a new life. However, before she even gets there she finds herself embroiled in a mystery. Skye has to navigate unfriendly locals that bore a grudge to her gran and Fae Folk, who she is not sure really exist. With the help of Alise, the local doctor, Skye begins to investigate the mystery she has found herself at the centre of.
This is book 1 in the series: A Skye O’Shea Cozy Mystery, very enjoyable and as Skye is engaging I would definitely read more. I was an ARC reader for this book.

[Thea Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is the first cozy mystery book that I’ve read, and I’m so happy that I did it. It was really mysterious, fun and exciting. I’m giving it 4 starts since I really liked and enjoyed it. I received this as a free ARC, for my honest opinion. And honestly, this is a good book

[April ♥"LOS" ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a fun and interesting start to a new cozy, mystery series. I’m excited to see where this series takes us.

[Stormy McDonald · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book. I really did. The concept - magic, Fair Folk, and a murder mystery - sounded great. Unfortunately, the story was a bizarre jumble of conflicting action and information, with an abundance of mixed up names, information that the character knows in one paragraph and then suddenly doesn't in the next, and events that are presented as important then dropped with no resolution.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a difficult book for me to get into. To me, it seemed a little choppy or just didn't flow well. I liked the idea of Skye going to Ireland and starting over but it just didn't sit well with me. I get the fact that she has panic attacks from lots of things that have happened to her in the past and I know she can't just act like her past is gone, but I think she needs to put more effort into the here and now. I think this will be a good series once it settles in, I will definitely be reading the next book, just hoping it goes a little smoother. I love the Irish folk tales that were talked about and can't wait to see what kinds of "creatures" show up in the future.

[Alice Hazelbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skye O’Shea finds out she’s just inherited her grandmother’s estate, in Ballybas, County Cork, Ireland, including 5 acres of woods and farm, a house with B & B and an attached pub. Oh, and did I mention a talking cat named Faelan?! He informs her that she had powers, which she would need to discover. The owner of the other local pub, threatens her and says an American couldn’t run an Irish pub, so, of course she has to prove him wrong! A fun book to read, with the local paranormal legends mixed in. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Skye! An ugly marriage, and divorce, a bad boss and her grandmother passing on would make anyone sour. She inherits her grandmothers home and pub in Ireland, in a small town she vaguely remembers visiting when she was a child. Finally reaching the small town she gets rear ended by a not so nice man. People are always hesitant to warmly welcome American strangers, but, she never suspected an Irish folk tale of a blood sucking Dearg-Due to be real. What has she gotten herself into? Will she stay in Ireland? A truly fantastic Irish book!

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I started this book twice. The first time I got to about page 100 and put it down. The next day I started it again bound and determined to finish it. Sadly, I didn't connect with any of the characters. The storyline seemed to go round and round, and I just lost interest but still I trudged onward to the end. Perhaps it's me, and others will find what I did not. I voluntarily read a free copy of this provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first foray into cozy mysteries and I’m so glad I gave it a try! The setting of a small town in Ireland was charming and I was intrigued by all of the characters. I found the main mystery interesting, but was even more invested in the magical mysteries that will only be solved by reading the next books in the series. I only wish there was more of Faelan the cat!

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This narrative is a captivating blend of evocative storytelling, immersive descriptions, and a gradual build-up of suspense that culminates in an intriguing twist. The author masterfully crafts the protagonist's journey, seamlessly intertwining mundane tasks with eerie and mysterious events.

The writing excels in painting vivid scenes, transporting readers from the protagonist's exhaustion after a long journey to the unsettling atmosphere of a quiet village. The incorporation of Irish folklore, particularly the banshee legend, adds depth and an intriguing layer of supernatural mystery to the story.

Overall, the narrative's strength of this book lies in its ability to seamlessly blend everyday tasks with an undercurrent of mystery, keeping readers hooked and eager to uncover the secrets hidden within this cozy yet suspenseful tale.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ireland? Magic? Talking cat? Cozy mystery? Sign me up. This is just my type of book

Sassy magical cats are one of my favorite things.

I love the period of time before the MC realizes she's magical, when there are so many things that don’t make sense, like no cleaning supplies in the house. O

THIS CAT is SO funny omg

This was such a cute and fun read. I loved that it kinda kept me on my toes the whole time. I’m very used to having a good idea of how a cozy mystery is going to go, but I didn’t for the most part with this one. I think it's the paranormal parts that kept me questioning what I thought was going to happen next. I read quite a bit of paranormal cozy mystery books, but most of those follow the “standard” cozy mystery set up, where while this book kinda does, it also kinda doesn’t and I really enjoyed that.

I LOVED the lore in this book so much. There are books out there that are set in Ireland but don’t feel like Ireland, that is not this book. This book feels so much like Ireland, from the town, to the magic, to the people of the town.

I’ve read a lot of paranormal romances with talking blacking cats, and for the most part the cat is a familiar and they help the MC every step of the way. So that's what I was expecting going in, but I was so pleasantly surprised by this. First I love that even the cat is so deep into Irish lore. Second, the fact that he can’t talk all the time, makes it so fun. He is so sassy no matter what, and I will always ALWAYS love a sassy cat.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye O’Shea is looking forward to starting over after a bitter divorce and being blamed for a patient's death. She sells everything she can and flies to Ireland where her recently deceased grandmother has left her a small B & B and pub. Unfortunately, in a small Irish village it’s impossible to blend in ad fade in the background. Eerie howls in the middle of the night lead to her discovery of a dead body in her shed, and things quickly take a turn for the worse when the local constable sees her as the prime suspect in the murder of a man she was seen arguing with earlier. Her only friend, who happens to the constable's wife, her grandmother's diary, and the large black talking can she also inherited are the only sources she has for clues to help clear her name and finding the real killer.
Skye O’Shea is a wonderful character, and the entire cast of characters in this book are compelling and well written. Talking fae cat, paranormal fae creatures that go bump in the night and unexpected twists and turns in the plot make it hard to put down this must-read cozy mystery. I recommend this book to other readers who enjoy paranormal mystery with some humor and a sassy lead character.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a cozy mystery book and I really enjoyed it. Murder, mystery, fantasy and laughter, possibly some romance to come in book 2.

Skye O’Shea leaves Miami to live in Ireland where she has inherited her Grandmothers pub. Things are not plain sailing from the beginning & then she finds a body in her shed! She meets some friendly townsfolk and some not so friendly as she stumbles into the investigation trying to solve the murder. There is some insight into Skye’s backstory, but it’s not dwelled upon. She is a likeable character, I would like to see her developed more in the second book as well as find out the back story to some of the other characters, like the police gard.

There was a pronunciation/glossary guide at the back of the book for some of the ‘Irish’ sayings. This was very handy. Only issue I had is reading on the kindle you have to go back and forth, not as easy as reading a book where you can have the reading page open whilst checking pronunciation.

I’m Looking forward to reading book 2.

I received an advance review copy of this book for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Cassandra Montalto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye came from Miami to a small town in Ireland after the death of her grandmother, where shortly after she discovered a man dead in her shed. The mystery surrounding the man's death kept me reading, and I enjoyed this book. I liked the paranormal aspects and the talking cat was the best part. I am looking forward to additional books with the main characters since Skye's story seemed far from complete. It took me a bit to get into the book, but once I did I really enjoyed it. I did feel like some of the character development was lacking especially the main character's backstory, so I am hoping that the author explores that in the next book in the series. In addition to that, I also hope the author delves more into Skye's grandmother's diary and the paranormal happenings in the town. There was some of that at the end but it felt rushed. However, with that said, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
There was a glossary of Irish terms and how to say them in the back of the book, which would have been a lot more helpful to have in the beginning.

I did receive this arc for free and am doing this review voluntarily.

[Sapphyria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bogs, Brews, and Banshees is the first book in the Skye O’Shea Mystery series. Skye’s life has crumbled between divorce and taking the fall for a death she didn’t have anything do with at the hospital where she works. When her grandmother passes and leaves everything to Skye, she jumps at the chance to get out of Dodge and jumps on a transatlantic flight to Ireland. Her horrible juju follows Skye when she’s accused of murdering a local.

I enjoyed Bogs, Brews, and Banshees. Skye was dealt a less-than-stellar last few months and moving to Ireland should have been her reset button, a new lease on life. That’s not how her life goes though, and Skye now must try and clear her name. Skye’s character is written well, and I loved learning about her life in America and her new life in Ireland.

The story pulled me in and kept me engaged. I loved the setting and world-building. The book flows like a movie in my head. Hopefully, there will be a little more information about Skye’s backstory and her cat, Faelan. I’m excited to get my hands on the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book.

[Lianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read. It's a classic 'whodunnit' with a bit of magic, and Irish folklore, and it worked so well together. I liked that the book got straight to the point: 'There is a problem, and we need to address it' instead of giving an elaborate backstory. It has a nice pacing and it never feels rushed or hurried. The combination of the supernatural and reality blended smoothly.

The author gives beautiful descriptions but without unnecessary wordiness or detail. Every description serves the story. The characters are also nicely written, especially Skye, who already feels like a multi-dimensional character.

I liked that there is a glossary/pronunciation list at the end of the book for the Irish names!

I read this book in 1 sitting, and I recommend it to everyone who likes a cozy, charming whodunnit. I am already excited for the second book!

I received an advanced copy through BookSirens for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily. These opinions are all my own.

[Antonia Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light hearted, whimsical tale with a strong paranormal thread running through it. There is lots of gentle humour and puns a-plenty. Skye, the American woman looking to start a new life in the Emerald Isle, really grew on me. A fragile character with a difficult past, Skye finds her feet in her new community and solves a murder along the way. There are talking cats, a friendly local doctor and a few less friendly characters who all add interest to the story. As a native Irish person it was interesting to consider an American perspective on living in Ireland. There were a few places in which Irish characters used American words, which did jar a little for me - for example, Skye's Irish Granny, talked about 'candy' when referring to chocolate. This is a lovely, fun, frothy and entertaining read to curl up with on a cold, dark night… but don't be too frightened if you hear any odd growls, screams or your moggy starts giving you advice! I received this book as a free advance copy and am happy to leave this review which reflects my honest opinion.

[Christina Frøkjær · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a perfect fun read taking you into a small Irish village with the superstitions mixing into reality. Great for a getaway for our imagination.

Escaping a life that has fallen apart, Skye heads to Ireland to take over her grandmother's estate/pub. It’s a complete change of life - giving up everything from the US and heading to make a new life for herself in a foreign country.

I always worry about these styles of books as even as an American - I swear we can be quite harsh in our judgments and probably rude to people from foreign countries - yes even when traveling to their country.

Skye isn’t like that - she has a strong desire to fit in. Though the storyline in some places was a little jumpy time-wise, it worked as Skye’s brain was having that same issue - so you are feeling it versus having direct knowledge of the timeline.

I also like the fact that this first book in the series isn’t all backstory and fussing, it dove right into a problem that needed to be solved and solving it. The pieces are now there for us to find and explore more in more books!

[Kay Cobbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gripped by this story and had to find extra times in which to read so, all too soon, I finished it! This story had lots of my favourite elements; a length I could get my teeth into; a strong plot; characters with depth; an empathetic heroine and Irish legend. Rowan Dillon conjures up a wonderful atmosphere of foreboding and I felt Skye’s emotions as various situations assailed her. I loved Faelan and the fact that, for Skye, her Gran would always be “there” to support her. I warmed to Elise and Owen, and even O’Leary turned out to not be as obnoxious as I, or Skye, thought, once he learned to accept Skye for who she was. The fact that Gard McCarthy was the character Rowan Dillon portrayed him as, allowed Skye’s need to investigate the murder more pertinent. Just when it seemed as though all which had happened had a natural connection, Rowan Dillon reminded us that Irish Legend was, supernaturally, alive and howling! I can’t wait for more! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Skye O’Shea start to her new life in Ireland isn’t at all what she expected or needed. Her last known relative, her grandmother Siaorse O’Shea bequeathed her a farm, B and B and pub in Ireland that allowed her to escape a bad marriage and difficult boss in Miami, but the property comes with troubles of its own. In addition to having been vacant since her grandmother’s death, and not kept up during her final illness, the property comes with a dead body, and a threat that Skye herself may be a suspect in the man’s demise. On top of that, Skye sees colors around people, has conversations with her grandmother’s cat Faelan, has her house burgled, and is exhausted. All of this makes for a pleasantly readable story with a bit of suspense and the introduction of a village that may provide several more opportunities for Skye to determine if Ireland is truly magical. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.