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Whispers on Main Street: A vintage roller-coaster of humour, adventure and intrigue
'Fans of Richard Osman's The Thursday Murder Club Series and Graham Norton will love this.
'A small town's gossip turns deadly, unravelling a web of secrets in 1961 Ballantur.
Nate Wheatley runs a mobile grocery shop for the countryside around the town of Ballantur. He isn’t a mere purveyor of goods – his service is the lifeblood of communication between the isolated farms and villages. Nate loves to gossip and relishes his role as the town’s unofficial newsman, weaving tales from one doorstep to the next.
One night Nate’s wife, Babs, is publically caught in a passionate embrace with the local postman, Sammy Joyce. This is also witnessed by an enraged Nate, who assaults and threatens Sammy.
As morning light breaks over Ballantur, Sammy’s lifeless body is discovered by the roadside – the victim of a seemingly random hit and run – or is it? Suddenly, Nate becomes the story he would love to tell about anyone else.
As the locals struggle with grief and suspicion, the town is torn asunder by harmful whispers that are making too much noise.
This makes life for the local gardaí impossible, especially for new bangharda, Caitlín Kennedy, as she and her colleagues strive to get to the truth.
'A small town's gossip turns deadly, unravelling a web of secrets in 1961 Ballantur.
Nate Wheatley runs a mobile grocery shop for the countryside around the town of Ballantur. He isn’t a mere purveyor of goods – his service is the lifeblood of communication between the isolated farms and villages. Nate loves to gossip and relishes his role as the town’s unofficial newsman, weaving tales from one doorstep to the next.
One night Nate’s wife, Babs, is publically caught in a passionate embrace with the local postman, Sammy Joyce. This is also witnessed by an enraged Nate, who assaults and threatens Sammy.
As morning light breaks over Ballantur, Sammy’s lifeless body is discovered by the roadside – the victim of a seemingly random hit and run – or is it? Suddenly, Nate becomes the story he would love to tell about anyone else.
As the locals struggle with grief and suspicion, the town is torn asunder by harmful whispers that are making too much noise.
This makes life for the local gardaí impossible, especially for new bangharda, Caitlín Kennedy, as she and her colleagues strive to get to the truth.
450 pages, Paperback
First published February 5, 2024
39 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 6, 2025
Had a great craic reading this one. The backstories of some of the main characters, the humor and wit, and the satisfying resolution made the novel an enjoyable read. The epilogue made sure I closed the book with a huge smile on my face :D
March 5, 2024
My Rating: 3.5*
Whispers on Main Street by Marie O’Connor published with Poolbeg Books January 25th and is described as ‘a vintage roller-coaster of humour, adventure and intrigue.’ Set in the 1960s, in a small town in Mayo, Whispers on Main Street introduces the reader to Garda Caitlyn Kennedy. Caitlyn is one of the first female guards in Ireland so she is determined to impress her superiors but, after a disastrous first day, Caitlyn is embarrassed and frustrated. She knows she is capable of far better and is very conscious of her position within the male-dominated environment that she now inhabits. Her boss, Sergeant Lamb, has little time for Caitlyn and is very dismissive of her abilities, so she knows she has to be more confident and authoritative in her daily activities.
Ballantur is a small rural village in Co. Mayo where the sense of community is very strong and the gossip mill is constantly churning out the minutiae of everyday life. At the centre of Ballantur’s social hub is Nate Wheatley, the owner of the mobile grocery service. Nate thrives on gossip. Embellishing a certain bit of news here and there is expected when Nate stops by, delivering the groceries to the locals. Nate is married to Babs and he is content, to a point. His days are fairly routine. The all important injection of gossip, with a few pints in the local, sustains him through his days. But Nate has his own personal history, one that he has kept a secret for years
When a raid on the local pub takes place one evening, all are shocked when Nate’s wife, Babs, is discovered in the arms of Sammy Joyce, the local postman and a friend of Nate’s. Angered and ashamed by his wife’s behaviour, Nate’s reaction is evident by many so when Sammy’s body is discovered near the roadside early the following morning, all fingers point toward Nate. But did he do it? Did he kill Sammy? Was Nate, the lovable gossipmonger, capable of such a heinous act?
The rumour mill takes off as everyone has an opinion, with stories and false truths circulating every corner of Ballantur. With so many divided viewpoints, and much speculation, the investigation into Sammy Joyce’s murder becomes a challenge. Caitlyn has arrived into the village as a new member of the force, so with fresh eyes, and perhaps an alternative way of analysing things, she begins to slowly unravel the events that lead up to this shocking murder. But is the village of Ballantur ready for the truth?
The atmospheric descriptions are quite vivid throughout, making it easy to decipher the different personalities and characteristics of this close-knit community. In writing this novel Marie O’Connor ‘wanted to write a story that brought out the best in Irish society, a vivid colourful story full of adventure, taking the reader on a journey around Ireland, the UK, to the Continent and to the US’. The mobile grocery was very much a feature of rural Ireland, connecting communities and neighbours, while also providing a very valuable service. They were a predecessor to the supermarket delivery trucks of today and were a great source of news, especially when telecommunications and technology were virtually non-existent in most rural communities.
The tittle tattle surrounding the demise of Sammy Joyce is intertwined with the background story of some of the main characters, providing the reader with insights into the environs and into the homes of Ballantur. Garda Caitlyn Kennedy is a very steadfast individual with her head screwed on. She is aware that her every move is being monitored but she is also aware that she has a role to fulfil as one of the first female members of An Garda Síochána.
Whispers on Main Street is a gentle crime novel that has a very old-fashioned feel to it. An entertaining read, it is an enjoyable, cosy mystery that will appeal to all who like their crime fiction a bit on the lighter side.
Whispers on Main Street by Marie O’Connor published with Poolbeg Books January 25th and is described as ‘a vintage roller-coaster of humour, adventure and intrigue.’ Set in the 1960s, in a small town in Mayo, Whispers on Main Street introduces the reader to Garda Caitlyn Kennedy. Caitlyn is one of the first female guards in Ireland so she is determined to impress her superiors but, after a disastrous first day, Caitlyn is embarrassed and frustrated. She knows she is capable of far better and is very conscious of her position within the male-dominated environment that she now inhabits. Her boss, Sergeant Lamb, has little time for Caitlyn and is very dismissive of her abilities, so she knows she has to be more confident and authoritative in her daily activities.
Ballantur is a small rural village in Co. Mayo where the sense of community is very strong and the gossip mill is constantly churning out the minutiae of everyday life. At the centre of Ballantur’s social hub is Nate Wheatley, the owner of the mobile grocery service. Nate thrives on gossip. Embellishing a certain bit of news here and there is expected when Nate stops by, delivering the groceries to the locals. Nate is married to Babs and he is content, to a point. His days are fairly routine. The all important injection of gossip, with a few pints in the local, sustains him through his days. But Nate has his own personal history, one that he has kept a secret for years
When a raid on the local pub takes place one evening, all are shocked when Nate’s wife, Babs, is discovered in the arms of Sammy Joyce, the local postman and a friend of Nate’s. Angered and ashamed by his wife’s behaviour, Nate’s reaction is evident by many so when Sammy’s body is discovered near the roadside early the following morning, all fingers point toward Nate. But did he do it? Did he kill Sammy? Was Nate, the lovable gossipmonger, capable of such a heinous act?
The rumour mill takes off as everyone has an opinion, with stories and false truths circulating every corner of Ballantur. With so many divided viewpoints, and much speculation, the investigation into Sammy Joyce’s murder becomes a challenge. Caitlyn has arrived into the village as a new member of the force, so with fresh eyes, and perhaps an alternative way of analysing things, she begins to slowly unravel the events that lead up to this shocking murder. But is the village of Ballantur ready for the truth?
The atmospheric descriptions are quite vivid throughout, making it easy to decipher the different personalities and characteristics of this close-knit community. In writing this novel Marie O’Connor ‘wanted to write a story that brought out the best in Irish society, a vivid colourful story full of adventure, taking the reader on a journey around Ireland, the UK, to the Continent and to the US’. The mobile grocery was very much a feature of rural Ireland, connecting communities and neighbours, while also providing a very valuable service. They were a predecessor to the supermarket delivery trucks of today and were a great source of news, especially when telecommunications and technology were virtually non-existent in most rural communities.
The tittle tattle surrounding the demise of Sammy Joyce is intertwined with the background story of some of the main characters, providing the reader with insights into the environs and into the homes of Ballantur. Garda Caitlyn Kennedy is a very steadfast individual with her head screwed on. She is aware that her every move is being monitored but she is also aware that she has a role to fulfil as one of the first female members of An Garda Síochána.
Whispers on Main Street is a gentle crime novel that has a very old-fashioned feel to it. An entertaining read, it is an enjoyable, cosy mystery that will appeal to all who like their crime fiction a bit on the lighter side.
March 31, 2024
I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. This is different from many other books I've read before - I don't even have an appropriate shelf for it! At first I wondered where it was going, it seemed to be meandering through the lives and times of the inhabitants of Ballantur, a small country town in rural Ireland in 1961. The book begins with new Guarda (I won't begin to try for the whole name!) Caitlin Kennedy, arriving and meeting one of new colleagues in an embarrassing situation. The primary focus was Nate Wheatly, who drove his grocery truck around the town and villages where shops were rare, listening to and sharing all the local gossip. There is a cast of characters. The author gives us a snapshot of the previous lives of those who feature most prominently in the story as it unfolds. For several chapters the book feels like a series of vignettes of the lives and times of those characters. There is a hint of something that happened in London a long time previously to Nate that only Sammy the well loved postman, knows anything about. Sammy is possibly the most popular character. But when he is found murdered and Nate is arrested the town erupts into a fountain of gossip. Guarda Kennedy proves herself a huge success as one of the first female officers in Ireland. I wasn't sure if I would enjoy this book, but by the half way point I was fully invested in the lives of these often lovable people, and I was rooting for Nate until a satisfactory conclusion was reached for all. Except of course, poor Sammy the Postman. I would happily read another of Marie O'Conner's books
February 20, 2024
A surprising cozy mystery!
The book starts off strong, slows in the middle, but kicks into hyper-drive at the very end. From the very first chapter, I was sucked into the mystery surrounding the death of a postal worker, Sammy. As the chapters progressed, I was led from one backstory to the next of several townspeople. Rumors begin to circulate in a poor game of “telephone” and the whole town is in an uproar over conspiracy theories and conjectures over the crime. Neighbors are pitted against each other and unnamed suspects are thrown into the mix, leaving the detectives working overtime to solve the case.
“We are appealing to you all to be mindful about who you are talking about and what you are saying. You may not realize how much damage you are doing or the fact that you are breaking the law yourselves. These are your friends and neighbors. You should be pulling together now, not throwing bricks through windows.”
There is a subtle chaos that gradually builds under the stories of the gossiping townspeople. I enjoyed the characters and all their drama. It was a great cozy mystery with many twists. I loved the season in which the novel was written. The crime played well with the irony of the town acting less “neighborly” during the holiday season.
I only left off one star for fragments and incorrect word usage in the first few chapters, otherwise it was such an enjoyable read for the winter season.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the publishers for the advance review copy for an honest review.
The book starts off strong, slows in the middle, but kicks into hyper-drive at the very end. From the very first chapter, I was sucked into the mystery surrounding the death of a postal worker, Sammy. As the chapters progressed, I was led from one backstory to the next of several townspeople. Rumors begin to circulate in a poor game of “telephone” and the whole town is in an uproar over conspiracy theories and conjectures over the crime. Neighbors are pitted against each other and unnamed suspects are thrown into the mix, leaving the detectives working overtime to solve the case.
“We are appealing to you all to be mindful about who you are talking about and what you are saying. You may not realize how much damage you are doing or the fact that you are breaking the law yourselves. These are your friends and neighbors. You should be pulling together now, not throwing bricks through windows.”
There is a subtle chaos that gradually builds under the stories of the gossiping townspeople. I enjoyed the characters and all their drama. It was a great cozy mystery with many twists. I loved the season in which the novel was written. The crime played well with the irony of the town acting less “neighborly” during the holiday season.
I only left off one star for fragments and incorrect word usage in the first few chapters, otherwise it was such an enjoyable read for the winter season.
Thank you to Book Sirens and the publishers for the advance review copy for an honest review.
September 15, 2024
3.5 stars.
With 5 hours of train travel in a day, I had planned to read, had my bag all packed up by the door. I forgot it, of course. Luckily, I was able to go to the library upon arrival and grab one to read for the ride back.
That book was Whispers on Main Street.
I'd wanted to read it because I like to support local Irish authors and I'd read an article about this one as being an author from the west coast of Ireland and it was her debut work so I decided to give it a try. I have to say it was okay but not amazing, and it's clear it was her first novel.
The pacing of the book was a bit odd, jumping all over the place. I had expected to read a cosy crime novel set in the 60s, which technically it was, but really it was several small snippets of stories, little vignettes, all in in one novel and actually the action of the mystery only took a fairly small amount of pages.
Overall I found it very readable, I found it very good at immersing you in rural Ireland of the 1960s, as well as Hawaii, which a small portion of the book was set in, but the writing style was clunky, slow, and could do with more editing.
With 5 hours of train travel in a day, I had planned to read, had my bag all packed up by the door. I forgot it, of course. Luckily, I was able to go to the library upon arrival and grab one to read for the ride back.
That book was Whispers on Main Street.
I'd wanted to read it because I like to support local Irish authors and I'd read an article about this one as being an author from the west coast of Ireland and it was her debut work so I decided to give it a try. I have to say it was okay but not amazing, and it's clear it was her first novel.
The pacing of the book was a bit odd, jumping all over the place. I had expected to read a cosy crime novel set in the 60s, which technically it was, but really it was several small snippets of stories, little vignettes, all in in one novel and actually the action of the mystery only took a fairly small amount of pages.
Overall I found it very readable, I found it very good at immersing you in rural Ireland of the 1960s, as well as Hawaii, which a small portion of the book was set in, but the writing style was clunky, slow, and could do with more editing.
March 15, 2024
I received an advanced reader’s digital copy from BookSirens of Marie O’Connor’s debut novel “Whispers on Main Street.” It recently was published by Poolbeg Press. I’m providing the following opinion of this enjoyable book VOLUNTARILY.
“Whispers on Main Street” is a light, easy to read book that doesn’t command any type of deep thought or emotion. It’s a cute murder mystery, “whodunnit,” story set in a quaint, quiet, friendly, small town in Ireland, where everyone knows everything about everybody, but communications and stories get jumbled up as they are told and retold and retold, similar to the children’s game telephone, or, apparently, as it’s referred to in Ireland, “Chinese Whispers.”
The characters are, for the most part, likable and easy to root for; even the town “black sheep” is more gray than black. Although I had my suspicion regarding who the true culprit was, the final reveal was much more interesting and complex than I had imagined. As this is Ms. O’Connor’s first novel, I expect her future work may be even better.
“Whispers on Main Street” is a light, easy to read book that doesn’t command any type of deep thought or emotion. It’s a cute murder mystery, “whodunnit,” story set in a quaint, quiet, friendly, small town in Ireland, where everyone knows everything about everybody, but communications and stories get jumbled up as they are told and retold and retold, similar to the children’s game telephone, or, apparently, as it’s referred to in Ireland, “Chinese Whispers.”
The characters are, for the most part, likable and easy to root for; even the town “black sheep” is more gray than black. Although I had my suspicion regarding who the true culprit was, the final reveal was much more interesting and complex than I had imagined. As this is Ms. O’Connor’s first novel, I expect her future work may be even better.
February 13, 2024
I was a little underwhelmed with this book. A cozy mystery set in the 1960s in a small town. The postmaster is run over in the early morning, and it turns out to be a hit and run. At first, there are 2 suspects, one being a well liked man in town that just found out his wife had an affair with the vitim.
The book is all over the place to be honest. It goes back in time for stories about the different characters. Some of the stories, I still don't know what they had to do with the ending of the book. I got lost several times, and almost did not finish the book.
The ending was a surprise, but not very well done. Even though this is a cozy mystery, a little more suspense and mystery was needed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The book is all over the place to be honest. It goes back in time for stories about the different characters. Some of the stories, I still don't know what they had to do with the ending of the book. I got lost several times, and almost did not finish the book.
The ending was a surprise, but not very well done. Even though this is a cozy mystery, a little more suspense and mystery was needed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 1, 2024
This was a strange/unique story about small town USA and the gossip/rumor mill, and how it affects solving the murder. I was going to give it a few chapters to see if I liked it, but oddly enough for a reason I can't understand , I was drawn in chapter after chapter. There is a murder and they work on solving it, but along the way you get backstories and side stories about the town's people who are quirky and interesting in their own unique ways. This was a fun lighthearted read for the most part. I voluntarily read a free copy of this provided by book sirens and am giving an honest opinion.
February 17, 2024
The story begins with the tragic murder of the local postman. There's some suspects and a new young policewoman to solve this crime, but this is not a typical cozy mystery, instead we have here a tale about a small town in Ireland during the 60's. There are a lot of funny moments and a great assembly of nice people. I always like when the setting is in the countryside, and people live in a tight community, and this book was no exception.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 27, 2024
This was a murder mystery about a small town in Ireland and its close knit residents. Their well-liked postal carrier is run down by a truck and his friend is implicated. The town’s gossips are hghlighted.
I had trouble staying with the story. It bounced forward and backward in time and sometimes lost me. It did get easier though as the story unfolded. And there is a nice twist at the end.
I believe it will have regional flavor for readers from that area of Ireland. All in all, though, I voluntarily read a free copy and giving my honest opinion.
I had trouble staying with the story. It bounced forward and backward in time and sometimes lost me. It did get easier though as the story unfolded. And there is a nice twist at the end.
I believe it will have regional flavor for readers from that area of Ireland. All in all, though, I voluntarily read a free copy and giving my honest opinion.
February 2, 2024
I was given an Advance Reader Copy of Whispers on Main Street by Marie O'Connor and it was not what I expected. . We have a murder however most of the book is written around the back stories of the suspects. I enjoyed this approach rather than the normal murder mystery where you have a murder and then the investigation. The book really has several stories all woven together with a result that I was not expecting. Marie O'Connor has captured the essence of the Irish town of Ballantur and the characters who live there. Add to that the local gossip and ideas on who the murderer is and you have a very entertaining story. I've given a 4 star rating. This is a voluntary review
April 25, 2024
I always enjoy a good small town story and then you add some mystery to it. You got my attention.
Nate is a gossiping portable grocery store on wheels. Reminds me the olden days with peddlers. He feels its his job to past the latest gossip to all the isolated farmers and their wives. Until the guy he got into a fight with turned up dead.
Will he bearable to prove he is innocent? Will the whole town discover that his wife was cheating on him with Sammy the dead guy?
Nate is a gossiping portable grocery store on wheels. Reminds me the olden days with peddlers. He feels its his job to past the latest gossip to all the isolated farmers and their wives. Until the guy he got into a fight with turned up dead.
Will he bearable to prove he is innocent? Will the whole town discover that his wife was cheating on him with Sammy the dead guy?
May 12, 2024
Having lived in a small town in Ireland, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The depiction of village life, the colorful, quirky characters, and the language were true to form! The underlying mystery & romance kept me guessing until the end.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 29, 2024
A cozy mystery set in the 60’s. Typical small town, “no one can mind their business” drama.. Everyone LOVES to gossip, especially Nate, who just found his wife cheating with the postman, who is now dead and fingers are pointing at Nate.
Enjoyed this book very much. The whodunnit kept me hooked.
Enjoyed this book very much. The whodunnit kept me hooked.
August 13, 2024
While it was well-written, the author neglected to build up drama, opting for each chapter being these old tales in connection to potential suspects. I found it a bit boring compared to true thrillers… Still the killer was a nice surprise but almost tied up in a bow too quickly
January 9, 2026
Thanks to BookSirens, publishers and author for an ARC of Whispers On Main Street.
A fun book around a murder in a small town/village in the west of Ireland, and the rumours and stories that can run wild in the towns.
Enjoyable read.
A fun book around a murder in a small town/village in the west of Ireland, and the rumours and stories that can run wild in the towns.
Enjoyable read.
February 15, 2024
A humorous and solid mystery. I had a lot of fun and read it in one sitting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
February 16, 2024
brilliant
Really enjoyed this book and great craic typical of an Irish village storytelling at its best look forward to more from this author
Really enjoyed this book and great craic typical of an Irish village storytelling at its best look forward to more from this author
April 22, 2024
Who killed Sammy Joyce and why?? An inheritance??? I enjoyed this story and recommended the book.
September 17, 2025
Good
I enjoyed this book. The characters were real, very small village tiles. And he story was catching. It deserves to be read.
I enjoyed this book. The characters were real, very small village tiles. And he story was catching. It deserves to be read.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews