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Mercy McCarthy Mystery #2
Death by the Book
Irish scones, shamrock shortbread, a local literary festival… and a rather dead author? Join Mercy McCarthy on her next case!
Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are settling in to the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on the west coast of Ireland. Lizzie throws herself into organizing a book festival and mystery writer Mercy even agrees to come out of her bookish hidey-hole to do get involved. But then the star author for the event is found dead. James Brandt was killed by a falling bookshelf in his own cottage…
The local detective is not convinced by Mercy’s suspicion of murder but when someone else turns up dead, the police cannot ignore it. There’s just one Mercy and Lizzie’s beloved dog Mr. Poe sniffs out the second body in the storeroom of their own bookstore. And now all of the gossips seem determined to pin the murder on Mercy!
Convinced the police are focusing on a red herring in this real-life case, Mercy needs to act fast to clear her name. A meddling mayor, a cheerful chef and a bashful botanist make her suspect list, but it’s not until Mercy discovers a tatty old photograph in the local library archive that she is onto the killer’s trail.
With the police keen to shut her out of the murder investigation, can Mercy play this case by the book, or will she be the next to fall off the shelf…?
A totally gripping and twisty cozy crime novel, perfect for readers who love Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor or Faith Martin! This incredibly fast-paced and fun murder mystery will whisk you off to Ireland and won’t let you go until the final page!
What readers are saying about Lucy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Y’all, THIS WAS FREAKING AMAZING. I don’t think I was even 5% in and I was going to my group messages and telling my bookish friends that they NEEDED to be reading this… And that reveal… HOLY FREAKING COW. I don’t think my heart has beat that fast in ages. ;-)… Now, go find this and read it. Yes, right now. Go on. I’ll be waiting here when you are done and need to talk about it… SO. WELL. DONE.” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I loved everything about this mystery! I was turning pages deep into the night when I should have been sleeping I just couldn’t put it down! 5*****” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Wonderful… I gobbled up this book. I loved every minute of it.” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Delightful… thrilling… keeps you hooked… I found myself glued to the book, eager to see how it unfolded.” The Book Decoder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Excellent!!!… One of the best mystery novels I read in 2024… Definitely looking forward for the next book!!” Goodreads reviewer
“Fun, fast read to the very last page!” NetGalley reviewer
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Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are settling in to the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on the west coast of Ireland. Lizzie throws herself into organizing a book festival and mystery writer Mercy even agrees to come out of her bookish hidey-hole to do get involved. But then the star author for the event is found dead. James Brandt was killed by a falling bookshelf in his own cottage…
The local detective is not convinced by Mercy’s suspicion of murder but when someone else turns up dead, the police cannot ignore it. There’s just one Mercy and Lizzie’s beloved dog Mr. Poe sniffs out the second body in the storeroom of their own bookstore. And now all of the gossips seem determined to pin the murder on Mercy!
Convinced the police are focusing on a red herring in this real-life case, Mercy needs to act fast to clear her name. A meddling mayor, a cheerful chef and a bashful botanist make her suspect list, but it’s not until Mercy discovers a tatty old photograph in the local library archive that she is onto the killer’s trail.
With the police keen to shut her out of the murder investigation, can Mercy play this case by the book, or will she be the next to fall off the shelf…?
A totally gripping and twisty cozy crime novel, perfect for readers who love Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor or Faith Martin! This incredibly fast-paced and fun murder mystery will whisk you off to Ireland and won’t let you go until the final page!
What readers are saying about Lucy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Y’all, THIS WAS FREAKING AMAZING. I don’t think I was even 5% in and I was going to my group messages and telling my bookish friends that they NEEDED to be reading this… And that reveal… HOLY FREAKING COW. I don’t think my heart has beat that fast in ages. ;-)… Now, go find this and read it. Yes, right now. Go on. I’ll be waiting here when you are done and need to talk about it… SO. WELL. DONE.” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “I loved everything about this mystery! I was turning pages deep into the night when I should have been sleeping I just couldn’t put it down! 5*****” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Wonderful… I gobbled up this book. I loved every minute of it.” Goodreads reviewer
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Delightful… thrilling… keeps you hooked… I found myself glued to the book, eager to see how it unfolded.” The Book Decoder
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “Excellent!!!… One of the best mystery novels I read in 2024… Definitely looking forward for the next book!!” Goodreads reviewer
“Fun, fast read to the very last page!” NetGalley reviewer
n
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 12, 2024
2240 people are currently reading
664 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
November 8, 2024
(4.25 stars)
With this second book in the series, I am now positive that I’ve found a new favorite cozy mystery series! Death By The Book takes us back to the small town of Shamrock Cove, Ireland for another adventure.
Mercy and her sister Lizzie are settling in to their new life in Ireland. They inherited a home and a bookshop from a grandfather they’d never known or even heard of. Lizzie runs the bookshop with some help from Mercy, but Mercy is a best-selling mystery writer and is often under deadlines, so needs to concentrate more on her writing than on the shop. The town hosts a literary festival every year and so Lizzie is quite involved in it this time. And of course she has recruited Mercy to be on panels, do book signings, and so forth. One of the authors who is a big draw is very rude and when he turns up dead, there are a lot of possible suspects, even though it looks at first like an accident.
Mercy once again puts her sleuthing skills to work, this time with the semi-blessing of the local detective, Kieran. The mystery is pretty complex and hard to figure out. Over the course of the book, we find out a lot about the dead author’s background, which includes the fact that he grew up in Shamrock Cove.
There is a lot to like in this book. One of the really fun things is the back-and-forth between Mercy and her editor, Carrie, about deadlines. Mercy tends to get really lost in her writing or her research. She needs to set alarms or she misses appointments because she loses track of time. She has been known to actually fall asleep at her computer. She and Lizzie have become great friends with their neighbors, a delightful and diverse group of people. There are a lot of delicious-sounding meals in this book! Their pup, Mr. Poe, is adorable and his alertness becomes important to the story.
I’m looking forward to more books in the series, especially since there’s information about their grandfather and father that they still have not discovered.
NOTE: I think you would be fine reading this as a standalone, but you’d miss the fun of meeting all the series regular in book one (An Irish Bookshop Murder).
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
With this second book in the series, I am now positive that I’ve found a new favorite cozy mystery series! Death By The Book takes us back to the small town of Shamrock Cove, Ireland for another adventure.
Mercy and her sister Lizzie are settling in to their new life in Ireland. They inherited a home and a bookshop from a grandfather they’d never known or even heard of. Lizzie runs the bookshop with some help from Mercy, but Mercy is a best-selling mystery writer and is often under deadlines, so needs to concentrate more on her writing than on the shop. The town hosts a literary festival every year and so Lizzie is quite involved in it this time. And of course she has recruited Mercy to be on panels, do book signings, and so forth. One of the authors who is a big draw is very rude and when he turns up dead, there are a lot of possible suspects, even though it looks at first like an accident.
Mercy once again puts her sleuthing skills to work, this time with the semi-blessing of the local detective, Kieran. The mystery is pretty complex and hard to figure out. Over the course of the book, we find out a lot about the dead author’s background, which includes the fact that he grew up in Shamrock Cove.
There is a lot to like in this book. One of the really fun things is the back-and-forth between Mercy and her editor, Carrie, about deadlines. Mercy tends to get really lost in her writing or her research. She needs to set alarms or she misses appointments because she loses track of time. She has been known to actually fall asleep at her computer. She and Lizzie have become great friends with their neighbors, a delightful and diverse group of people. There are a lot of delicious-sounding meals in this book! Their pup, Mr. Poe, is adorable and his alertness becomes important to the story.
I’m looking forward to more books in the series, especially since there’s information about their grandfather and father that they still have not discovered.
NOTE: I think you would be fine reading this as a standalone, but you’d miss the fun of meeting all the series regular in book one (An Irish Bookshop Murder).
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
October 9, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing me with an arc in exchange for my honest review.
October 19, 2024
It was definitely fun to go back to Ireland to spend time with the McCarthy twins. Mercy and Lizzie are in the middle of a big literary festival in their adopted home of Shamrock Cove. Mercy as a guest author and panelist and Lizzie's bookstore as the center of a lot of events. The guest of honor is a local who has become an Irish author of some note, but James Brandt had never returned home until now. Determined to be disagreeable and better than the rest, it is still surprising when Mercy and Lizzie find him dead in the guest cottage he had been assigned after he failed to show up for a signing. When his agent shows up dead in the bookstore the next day, you know Mercy's curiosity and concern for her sister will lead her to assist her friend Kieran, the local Detective Inspector in finding out what is going on. Unfortunately, digging into the author's past also includes stirring up some things on prominent citizens, including the current major, who may not be too happy about that. It's definitely a twisty, turny tale that will keep the pages flipping! Thanks to #Netgally, #Bookouture, and the author for a chance to read! #DeathbytheBook #MercyMcCarthyMystery #LucyConnelly #bookreview #bookideas #retiredreader
December 2, 2025
I did not like Mercy at all she was so annoying.
January 6, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book!
I’m always a fan of a good cozy mystery, and this one had all the hallmark characteristics that define the genre. The small town vibes, specific theme (books and publishing) as well as a few mysteries to solve outside of the main murder mystery itself. I liked the main cast of characters and how they interacted to bring tidbits forward until Mercy could solve everything.
It takes a special cozy to get five stars these days. The game of give and take needs to be spot on and the story different yet memorable. If you’re looking to add a new cozy to your TBR then look no further!
Five stars.
I’m always a fan of a good cozy mystery, and this one had all the hallmark characteristics that define the genre. The small town vibes, specific theme (books and publishing) as well as a few mysteries to solve outside of the main murder mystery itself. I liked the main cast of characters and how they interacted to bring tidbits forward until Mercy could solve everything.
It takes a special cozy to get five stars these days. The game of give and take needs to be spot on and the story different yet memorable. If you’re looking to add a new cozy to your TBR then look no further!
Five stars.
March 19, 2025
I love a cozy mystery, but this one in particular irked me. I love the setting and can totally see myself in Shamrock Cove, Ireland. However, the editing needs serious work, I’d love to smack the proofreader upside the head! Mercy and her sister are twins. In the beginning of book it is mentioned Mercy’s eyes are green, her sister’s eyes are blue. Then towards ending Mercy’s eyes are now blue and her sister’s eyes are now gray. The constant word salad regarding the sisters being twins (it’s established multiple times), the twin sister’s fragility and her backstory (again mentioned several times), that they always protect each other (how many times do you have to reiterate you would do anything for your sister) and the overuse of the word “shiver”. I could go on- enough word salad but this seems to be the writer’s MO (word salad also in her American in Scotland series). The lack of editing and redundancy kept distracting me from the not-so-big reveal. This entire series was released practically all at same time- was there a rush and no one finished editing?
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April 28, 2025*NO RATING*
I want to like/love this series [as I love the author's other series, set in Scotland], but they just don't work for me [], and unfortunately, after this disappointing read [that I waited MONTHS for an audiobook for, only to have to BUY it. UGH!], I have to be done with this series.
What a huge disappointment.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I want to like/love this series [as I love the author's other series, set in Scotland], but they just don't work for me [], and unfortunately, after this disappointing read [that I waited MONTHS for an audiobook for, only to have to BUY it. UGH!], I have to be done with this series.
What a huge disappointment.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 7, 2024
I continue to enjoy this new cozy mystery series set in a small town in Ireland, and featuring two American twin sisters. In this second entry, Lizzy is helping run the local book festival, while Mercy (our main character) is assisting, but also serving as a speaker at the festival. Soon after the book begins, the two come across a dead body. Mercy is sure it's murder, and once again begins to investigate. There are a large number of potential suspects, and many possible motives. I liked the mystery, liked revisiting many of the secondary characters from the first book, but am hoping that Mercy is a bit more careful in future entries.
December 4, 2025
I liked this one better. Fun use of a village event, strong characters acting in a way that makes sense, nice feel of familiar village and returning characters. Ugh, though, still using weird words (why repeatedly calling the dog “little dude” - no. And stop with the letting out the breath I forgot I was holding).
October 21, 2024
“Death by the Book ” by Lucy Connelly the 2nd instalment in the " A Mercy McCarthy Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and think it’s a great sequel to this series. Irish scones, shamrock shortbread, a local literary festival… and a rather dead author?
I really enjoyed visiting Shamrock Cove, Ireland again and the cottages on the court. I enjoy the relationship between Mercy and Lizzie, although I noted some repetitive themes, such as Mercy's concerns about Lizzie's fragility (also present in book 1). Thankfully, this didn't detract from my enjoyment. I loved watching the sisters embrace their new life in Ireland and become integral to the 'Court' family.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Mercy did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
I really enjoyed visiting Shamrock Cove, Ireland again and the cottages on the court. I enjoy the relationship between Mercy and Lizzie, although I noted some repetitive themes, such as Mercy's concerns about Lizzie's fragility (also present in book 1). Thankfully, this didn't detract from my enjoyment. I loved watching the sisters embrace their new life in Ireland and become integral to the 'Court' family.
It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Mercy did.
I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Bookouture and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
October 12, 2024
#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.
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.
November 21, 2024
This mystery had all the elements it needed: a head-scratching case, an interesting main character, a cute setting, quirky characters, and a variety of suspects. Where it loses me is the main character, Mercy; I just can’t connect to her. She’s a little annoying. And I am a little concerned about her breathing: she is constantly letting out a breath she didn’t know she was holding (at least 3 times!). There are so many clichés like this and the quirky characters, as I mentioned after the first book, really seem like caricatures of what is expected of quirky characters. Despite the cute setting, I think this series is just not for me.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
October 7, 2024
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!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
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!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for sending me a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2025
Shamrock Cove is a place I would love to visit and all of the supporting characters are delightful. In book one of this series we have Mercy and twin sister Lizzie inheriting a house and bookstore. In this entry to the series, Lizzie is helping run the annual Book Festival while mystery author Mercy is a featured guest, helping where she can. When the sisters find another featured guest murdered, Mercy inserts herself into the investigation. The main suspects include the meddlesome mayor, a reclusive botanist and a temperamental chef. Mercy and Detective Liam must identify the killer before there are more deaths and the suspects disperse when the festival ends. I thoroughly enjoy all the characters in this series, both main and supporting. The girls neighbors are a fun mix of nosy and helpful. The plot moved right along with enough twists to keep me guessing until near the end. I did find the multiple references to how the sisters would do anything for each other a bit respective and annoying, but it's easy to skim over. This series, much like the author's Scottish series have become must reads for me.
November 16, 2024
4 stelle e mezza
Altra piacevole e veloce lettura. Mi piace come la protagonista e il detective collaborino in questa indagine, per non parlare dell'ambientazione in un grazioso villaggio irlandese. Devo dire che il colpevole, nella mia triade di colpevoli stava in basso e non avevo proprio considerato il suo movente.
Poi una domanda: chi redige le trame dei libri li legge prima? Perché in questa, come è capitato anche altre volte, ci sono degli evidenti errori...
Altra piacevole e veloce lettura. Mi piace come la protagonista e il detective collaborino in questa indagine, per non parlare dell'ambientazione in un grazioso villaggio irlandese. Devo dire che il colpevole, nella mia triade di colpevoli stava in basso e non avevo proprio considerato il suo movente.
Poi una domanda: chi redige le trame dei libri li legge prima? Perché in questa, come è capitato anche altre volte, ci sono degli evidenti errori...
January 5, 2025
I am enjoying this series. I love the setting of Ireland and all the characters in the village. At a literary festival one of the guest authors is murdered and fellow author Mercy gets involved in finding the killer.
March 9, 2025
Excellent cozy mystery!
The characters are wonderful!! The mysteries kept me guessing! And, omgoodness, I want to go visit that charming town soon!
The characters are wonderful!! The mysteries kept me guessing! And, omgoodness, I want to go visit that charming town soon!
April 22, 2025
Nice read (listen). I will be honest, I might have zoned out a couple of times but it was still a good time.
August 6, 2025
I enjoy the light cozy mysteries! Love the sisters and the neighbors of the court. This book felt shorter than the first one or I just couldn’t put it down. I liked this mystery better bc you really didn’t know who did it until the end!
August 31, 2025
Good story but needs editing!
December 14, 2025
Great cozy mystery. Both the author and the narrator kept me invested from the first chapter. With a number of twists and turns and a result I didn’t see coming, I was hooked. Cannot wait to read and or listen to more from this author.
November 15, 2024
✅Death by the Book brings us back to Shamrock Cove, Ireland with the McCarthy twins, Mercy and Lizzie. We first met them in An Irish Bookshop Murder. Once again they become involved in a murder(s). Why do they always seem to come across dead bodies? The people in town are wondering this very thought.
Lizzie wants Mercy to stay away from investigating. But, as usual, Mercy just can’t stop asking questions.
Overall, a fun, cozy mystery suspense read with engaging characters.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Lizzie wants Mercy to stay away from investigating. But, as usual, Mercy just can’t stop asking questions.
Overall, a fun, cozy mystery suspense read with engaging characters.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 7, 2025
I love Mercy and Lizzie and their adventures in Shamrock Cove! This cozy mystery was very enjoyable and kept you guessing. All the characters are so lovely and you really feel like you’re in the beautiful Irish countryside.
4/5 stars because the author wrote “I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding about 3 or 4 times and I always cringe at those cheesy sentences.
4/5 stars because the author wrote “I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding about 3 or 4 times and I always cringe at those cheesy sentences.
November 17, 2024
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Death By The Book' by Lucy Connelly
OMG Lucy, Where On Earth have you been hiding all of my life?!?! How have I never read any of your books so far when you are this blooming amazing?!! Well, I am just so glad I have resolved that problem, and that now while I am waiting for your next book, which is guaranteed to be amazing even if it is just a quarter as good as this book, I can read your previous books while I am waiting especially the first book in this series which is called 'An Irish Bookshop Murder'! I mean SERIOUSLY!?!? A murder mystery where our protagonist is an AUTHOR, her sister owns a BOOK SHOP, there is a DOG involved AND it is set in IRELAND and if that isn't enough there is also a LITERARY FESTIVAL going on!! I mean HELLO if you haven't just grabbed your copy after just reading those then why not??? What more could a book lover ask for than a book surrounded by books, authors and more books!! This book is the second book in Lucy's 'Mercy McCarthy Mysteries' series but can be read as a standalone.
OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Lucy Connelly you lady are an absolute crime writing legend!!!
Wow!!! Well fair play the first thing I must say is congratulations to Lucy on an absolutely HUGE success!! Absolutely blooming fantastic!! I never did work out who was behind what and that is quite a feat considering it is quite hard to shock me now that I have read so many suspense, mystery and thrillers yet I never did see any of those mind blowing twists coming!! Anyway on with my review....
This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all smelling the new and old books, feeling the fresh Irish air and falling in love with Shamrock Cove. The cover is absolutely stunning and if that doesn't make you want to get absorbed into this page turner the synopsis definitely will!!!
I am not usually a fan of reading books out of order but once I seen this I could not help but read it!! There is a positive side to reading books out of order though and that is I can now go back and read the first book in this series and get to know Mercy and, Lizzie, Mr Poe and the rest of the characters from the start!! I will also be getting stuck in to Lucy's other mystery series which is called 'A Scottish Isle Mystery' series. An absolutely fantastic page turner by this brilliant new author to me and I am so glad I have discovered her so I can get stuck into her previous books!! This book has got to be one of the most epic books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliff-hanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this one afternoon and finished it a few hours later after I read it in one sitting!!! In this incredible novel we meet Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie as well as their dog Mr Poe!!! Mercy is a famous author and her sister runs a bookshop called 'Leobhair agus seaniarsmai'. They both live in the court in a bailey of a castle where there are 6 thatched cottages and whose residences are either given the property by the previous owner or they are picked from a lottery of selected people. This Court is in Shamrock Cove and Mercy and Lizzie live together with Mr Poe the puppy. Lizzie is organising 'the Shamrock Cove Literary Festival' which Mercy is attending as an author as well as helping her sister where she can. They have problems immediately when Mercy is on a panel of authors including James Brandt when James and his agent Sebrena Walker are both down right rude and obnoxious!! If that wasnt bad enough when James is late turning up to his signing and Sebrena demands Mercy and Lizzie go get him they find him but in no state to sign anything as he is no longer living!! At first it looks like an accident but Mercy suspects it may be more than that and explains her concerns to Detective Kieran and his second in command Sheila. Mercy is determined to find out what happened to clear her own name and her sisters when rumours start going around that Mercy may have killed him. Can Mercy clear her name before the killer strikes again? When she starts digging around will she put her own life at risk? Grab your copy of this absolutely fantastic cosy crime mystery to find out for yourself and I promise that you will not regret it!! With an addictive storyline ram packed with books, authors, a literary festival, a cute dog, stunning settings, mystery, murder, community, family, friendship and so, so, SO MUCH MORE What on Earth are you waiting for?!?!? A true page turner, this book is absolutely compelling with an addictive storyline that kept me guessing throughout. I was continuously questioning who was doing what!! Lucy's vivid and evocative writing talents ensures the reader is sucked deep into the storyline and seeing everything and everyone coming to life in front of their eyes! I just could not put my kindle down!! Filled with mystery, twists, amazing characters and beautiful settings this book is one must read cosy crime!! Congratulations Lucy on an absolutely brilliant and unique storyline that I just could not put down!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to your previous and future books!!
Clear your schedules and get ready to get sucked into an intriguing, page turning cosy crim mystery by an extremely talented author!!!
Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without reading the first book 'An Irish Bookshop Murder'. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
The characters were very realistic, multi layered and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. I absolutely LOVE the fact that our protagonist is an AUTHOR and that her sister owns a BOOKSHOP!! i LOVE the fact that they own the gorgeous Mr Poe and that they live in an amazing community in Ireland!! I LOVED the community and their neighbours and I really just cannot wait to get stuck into the previous and all future books by this incredible author!!! Lucy's exceptional descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how the characters were feeling and what they were thinking. Several of the characters were complex and each seemed to be hiding their own secrets which leaves you questioning who is telling the truth and who can be trusted. Every character had their own unique personalities with individual flaws, quirks, secrets, strengths and weaknesses!! They were all very well developed, unique and thanks to Lucy's fantastic evocative writing skills they all came to life before my eyes. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly.
An absolutely HUGE SUCCESS by this extremely talented author. This is EXACTLY why I would like to welcome you to my top 3 favourite cosy crime authors club Lucy Connelly and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall a page turning addictive cosy crime mystery filled with books, Ireland, community, a literacy festival, authors, a cute pup!! Just what more could you EVER ask for??
#DeathByTheBook #AMercyMcCarthyMystery #LucyConnelly #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous
@LucyConnelly @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous
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Review for 'Death By The Book' by Lucy Connelly
OMG Lucy, Where On Earth have you been hiding all of my life?!?! How have I never read any of your books so far when you are this blooming amazing?!! Well, I am just so glad I have resolved that problem, and that now while I am waiting for your next book, which is guaranteed to be amazing even if it is just a quarter as good as this book, I can read your previous books while I am waiting especially the first book in this series which is called 'An Irish Bookshop Murder'! I mean SERIOUSLY!?!? A murder mystery where our protagonist is an AUTHOR, her sister owns a BOOK SHOP, there is a DOG involved AND it is set in IRELAND and if that isn't enough there is also a LITERARY FESTIVAL going on!! I mean HELLO if you haven't just grabbed your copy after just reading those then why not??? What more could a book lover ask for than a book surrounded by books, authors and more books!! This book is the second book in Lucy's 'Mercy McCarthy Mysteries' series but can be read as a standalone.
OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?!? Lucy Connelly you lady are an absolute crime writing legend!!!
Wow!!! Well fair play the first thing I must say is congratulations to Lucy on an absolutely HUGE success!! Absolutely blooming fantastic!! I never did work out who was behind what and that is quite a feat considering it is quite hard to shock me now that I have read so many suspense, mystery and thrillers yet I never did see any of those mind blowing twists coming!! Anyway on with my review....
This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions that absolutely grip the readers attention and puts them right in the middle of it all smelling the new and old books, feeling the fresh Irish air and falling in love with Shamrock Cove. The cover is absolutely stunning and if that doesn't make you want to get absorbed into this page turner the synopsis definitely will!!!
I am not usually a fan of reading books out of order but once I seen this I could not help but read it!! There is a positive side to reading books out of order though and that is I can now go back and read the first book in this series and get to know Mercy and, Lizzie, Mr Poe and the rest of the characters from the start!! I will also be getting stuck in to Lucy's other mystery series which is called 'A Scottish Isle Mystery' series. An absolutely fantastic page turner by this brilliant new author to me and I am so glad I have discovered her so I can get stuck into her previous books!! This book has got to be one of the most epic books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended on a cliff-hanger and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this one afternoon and finished it a few hours later after I read it in one sitting!!! In this incredible novel we meet Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie as well as their dog Mr Poe!!! Mercy is a famous author and her sister runs a bookshop called 'Leobhair agus seaniarsmai'. They both live in the court in a bailey of a castle where there are 6 thatched cottages and whose residences are either given the property by the previous owner or they are picked from a lottery of selected people. This Court is in Shamrock Cove and Mercy and Lizzie live together with Mr Poe the puppy. Lizzie is organising 'the Shamrock Cove Literary Festival' which Mercy is attending as an author as well as helping her sister where she can. They have problems immediately when Mercy is on a panel of authors including James Brandt when James and his agent Sebrena Walker are both down right rude and obnoxious!! If that wasnt bad enough when James is late turning up to his signing and Sebrena demands Mercy and Lizzie go get him they find him but in no state to sign anything as he is no longer living!! At first it looks like an accident but Mercy suspects it may be more than that and explains her concerns to Detective Kieran and his second in command Sheila. Mercy is determined to find out what happened to clear her own name and her sisters when rumours start going around that Mercy may have killed him. Can Mercy clear her name before the killer strikes again? When she starts digging around will she put her own life at risk? Grab your copy of this absolutely fantastic cosy crime mystery to find out for yourself and I promise that you will not regret it!! With an addictive storyline ram packed with books, authors, a literary festival, a cute dog, stunning settings, mystery, murder, community, family, friendship and so, so, SO MUCH MORE What on Earth are you waiting for?!?!? A true page turner, this book is absolutely compelling with an addictive storyline that kept me guessing throughout. I was continuously questioning who was doing what!! Lucy's vivid and evocative writing talents ensures the reader is sucked deep into the storyline and seeing everything and everyone coming to life in front of their eyes! I just could not put my kindle down!! Filled with mystery, twists, amazing characters and beautiful settings this book is one must read cosy crime!! Congratulations Lucy on an absolutely brilliant and unique storyline that I just could not put down!! I cannot wait to get stuck in to your previous and future books!!
Clear your schedules and get ready to get sucked into an intriguing, page turning cosy crim mystery by an extremely talented author!!!
Although this is the second book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without reading the first book 'An Irish Bookshop Murder'. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
The characters were very realistic, multi layered and well rounded and again their personalities reflected the storyline and how they would act, etc perfectly. I absolutely LOVE the fact that our protagonist is an AUTHOR and that her sister owns a BOOKSHOP!! i LOVE the fact that they own the gorgeous Mr Poe and that they live in an amazing community in Ireland!! I LOVED the community and their neighbours and I really just cannot wait to get stuck into the previous and all future books by this incredible author!!! Lucy's exceptional descriptions gave a really good in depth view of how the characters were feeling and what they were thinking. Several of the characters were complex and each seemed to be hiding their own secrets which leaves you questioning who is telling the truth and who can be trusted. Every character had their own unique personalities with individual flaws, quirks, secrets, strengths and weaknesses!! They were all very well developed, unique and thanks to Lucy's fantastic evocative writing skills they all came to life before my eyes. That is all I will say as I don't want to run the risk of dropping any hints or spoilers. However, whether you love or hate these characters, they all have their own strong unique personalities and they all bring the story to life playing their roles perfectly.
An absolutely HUGE SUCCESS by this extremely talented author. This is EXACTLY why I would like to welcome you to my top 3 favourite cosy crime authors club Lucy Connelly and here is to your next guaranteed success 🥂!!
Overall a page turning addictive cosy crime mystery filled with books, Ireland, community, a literacy festival, authors, a cute pup!! Just what more could you EVER ask for??
#DeathByTheBook #AMercyMcCarthyMystery #LucyConnelly #Bookouture #BookoutureAnonymous
@LucyConnelly @Bookouture @BookoutureAnonymous
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December 10, 2024
Enjoyable, not stunning
I read the first book and liked it enough to give this one a try. I have to say that the main character started to get on my nerves fairly quickly. She acknowledges that her sister is in a fragile state state due to some serious losses she has experienced, but she continually puts herself, and her supposedly beloved twin, in danger with her snooping. She constantly claims she will keep out of things both to her sister and the police detective and never speaks a word of truth about that.
We also have the very unrealistic issue of them inheriting a house in a charming Irish town, in a very exclusive area, that is furs I shed completely to their taste by a grandfather they never met or spoke with. He also has left the, his bookstore, which they of course take over and run as well. It all seems a bit far fetched.
This author has a Scottish series set along similar lines (an American doctor who leaves to get away to a small Scottish town after DNA testing) and again is given a grand house and everything she needs and never seems to need to have money, etc.. she doesn’t seem to have a lot of medical terms right. I feel like she has a “formula” she uses for her books and she puts the parts into it. It certainly isn’t an awful book, but don’t expect it to be anything like Paige Shelton or Carleen O’Conner or Jane Austen as the blurbs claim. It’s a very simplistic cozy mystery, enjoyable, but not extremely well written, thought out or plotted.
I read the first book and liked it enough to give this one a try. I have to say that the main character started to get on my nerves fairly quickly. She acknowledges that her sister is in a fragile state state due to some serious losses she has experienced, but she continually puts herself, and her supposedly beloved twin, in danger with her snooping. She constantly claims she will keep out of things both to her sister and the police detective and never speaks a word of truth about that.
We also have the very unrealistic issue of them inheriting a house in a charming Irish town, in a very exclusive area, that is furs I shed completely to their taste by a grandfather they never met or spoke with. He also has left the, his bookstore, which they of course take over and run as well. It all seems a bit far fetched.
This author has a Scottish series set along similar lines (an American doctor who leaves to get away to a small Scottish town after DNA testing) and again is given a grand house and everything she needs and never seems to need to have money, etc.. she doesn’t seem to have a lot of medical terms right. I feel like she has a “formula” she uses for her books and she puts the parts into it. It certainly isn’t an awful book, but don’t expect it to be anything like Paige Shelton or Carleen O’Conner or Jane Austen as the blurbs claim. It’s a very simplistic cozy mystery, enjoyable, but not extremely well written, thought out or plotted.
March 7, 2025
I really enjoy these new Mercy McCarthy Mysteries -- interesting characters, interesting location, interesting puzzles (whodunit!). And I absolutely adore her Scottish Isle mysteries. I did have an issue, though, with this particular book. Not the content, per se. The problem was consistency -- poor copy editing? On pages 1 to 2, Mercy states that her sister Lizzie has "piecing blue eyes" whereas her "eyes are green." Great! Until you get to page 207 where she said "But it was my father's eyes that stopped me dead. They were Lizzie's gray eyes." She then proceeds to say "My eyes were blue . . ." OK, so which is it? Lizzie's blue or gray? Mercy's green or blue? Talk about abruptly being pulled out of the story! There also are mistakes on page 82, near the bottom of the page, where twice statements are attributed to Mercy though they clearly belong to Lizzie. I hate to be a nitpicker, but errors like this are very jarring to readers like me.
November 16, 2024
word of the year
I like the characters, the setting, and the plot. What drove the low rating is the overuse and misuse of the word “smirk”. This seems to be a word too many mystery authors have discovered, perhaps reading each other’s work. Its meaning is more specific than it is too often used, and smirking is a facial expression most people don’t use on a regular basis. Please get out your thesaurus!
I like the characters, the setting, and the plot. What drove the low rating is the overuse and misuse of the word “smirk”. This seems to be a word too many mystery authors have discovered, perhaps reading each other’s work. Its meaning is more specific than it is too often used, and smirking is a facial expression most people don’t use on a regular basis. Please get out your thesaurus!
November 12, 2024
I received a complimentary ARC copy of Death by the Book (Mercy McCarthy Mysteries #2) by Lucy Connelly from NetGalley and Bookouture in order to read and give an honest review.
The second entry in the Mercy McCarthy series takes us back to the small town of Shamrock Cove, this time Mercy is helping her sister Lizzie at the Cove’s annual Literary Festival.
After their individual tragedies, Mercy and her sister Lizzie are settling in and thriving in their new home in Ireland, a home and a bookshop they inherited from a grandfather they had never met. As they settle in they slowly learn more about their grandfather and estranged father. Their Grandfather was well respected in the town, and they learn more of their family history from their neighbours in Shamrock Cove.
While Lizzie is swamped with the festival, Mercy, a best-selling mystery writer, is under a deadline with her newest book. When the body of the famous and difficult author who is set to speak at the festival, James Brandt, is found by Lizzie and Mercy, Mercy can’t help but put her sleuthing skills to work and her book on the backburner.
Although made to look like an accident, Mercy notices James’ lips are blue and there were two manuscripts lying open on the table in the room where he was found. After the fiasco she narrowly escaped last time, police detective and romantic interest Kieran asks for her assistance rather than watch her watch her put herself in harm’s way again.
The further Mercy digs the more she learns about an exclusive group of townsfolk who were part of an infamous clique in school and learns that someone might be trying to hide something that goes back to a crime decades before.
This book is a total page-turner! It’s got everything you could want in a cozy mystery: a well-written and perplexing whodunit, filled with quirky characters, and a slow-burn romance that’ll make your heart flutter. The author does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing right to th chilling end.
I loved the bond twin sisters, Mercy and Lizzie have. Both intelligent, resilient, and relatable, but they’re also totally unique. Their bond is undeniable, and it’s heartwarming to see them thrive in their new hometown. The supporting characters are also a lot of fun, and their friendships feel genuine.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what happens next in Shamrock Cove. If you’re looking for a fun and cozy mystery, I highly recommend this one!
The second entry in the Mercy McCarthy series takes us back to the small town of Shamrock Cove, this time Mercy is helping her sister Lizzie at the Cove’s annual Literary Festival.
After their individual tragedies, Mercy and her sister Lizzie are settling in and thriving in their new home in Ireland, a home and a bookshop they inherited from a grandfather they had never met. As they settle in they slowly learn more about their grandfather and estranged father. Their Grandfather was well respected in the town, and they learn more of their family history from their neighbours in Shamrock Cove.
While Lizzie is swamped with the festival, Mercy, a best-selling mystery writer, is under a deadline with her newest book. When the body of the famous and difficult author who is set to speak at the festival, James Brandt, is found by Lizzie and Mercy, Mercy can’t help but put her sleuthing skills to work and her book on the backburner.
Although made to look like an accident, Mercy notices James’ lips are blue and there were two manuscripts lying open on the table in the room where he was found. After the fiasco she narrowly escaped last time, police detective and romantic interest Kieran asks for her assistance rather than watch her watch her put herself in harm’s way again.
The further Mercy digs the more she learns about an exclusive group of townsfolk who were part of an infamous clique in school and learns that someone might be trying to hide something that goes back to a crime decades before.
This book is a total page-turner! It’s got everything you could want in a cozy mystery: a well-written and perplexing whodunit, filled with quirky characters, and a slow-burn romance that’ll make your heart flutter. The author does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing right to th chilling end.
I loved the bond twin sisters, Mercy and Lizzie have. Both intelligent, resilient, and relatable, but they’re also totally unique. Their bond is undeniable, and it’s heartwarming to see them thrive in their new hometown. The supporting characters are also a lot of fun, and their friendships feel genuine.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what happens next in Shamrock Cove. If you’re looking for a fun and cozy mystery, I highly recommend this one!
January 21, 2025
Book Review: Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently dove into Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly, and it was quite the cozy mystery adventure! Set in the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on Ireland’s picturesque west coast, the story follows Mercy McCarthy, a mystery writer who finds herself reluctantly pulled into a local literary festival organized by her sister, Lizzie. Things take a dark turn when the festival's featured author, James Brandt, is discovered dead after a rather unfortunate incident involving a falling bookshelf.
Now, you might think that an accident like that would be just that—an accident—but Mercy has a hunch that something more sinister is at play. The local detective isn't convinced, but when a second body shows up in their own bookstore (thanks to their adorable dog, Mr. Poe), the stakes get higher, and all eyes are on Mercy. With a quirky cast of characters—including a meddling mayor and a timid botanist—Mercy races against time to unravel the mystery before she becomes the prime suspect herself.
First off, I have to mention the cover—it's absolutely delightful! It really captures the cozy vibe of the book. Initially, I found myself taking a bit of time to get into the story, but once it hit its stride, I was fully hooked. There were moments when it felt slightly repetitive, but overall, the pacing picked up nicely. The plot was well-crafted, keeping me guessing until the end while still allowing me to enjoy the little details of Shamrock Cove life.
The characters were another highlight for me. They were all incredibly likable and added depth to the story. Mercy is relatable as she navigates her unexpected role in solving a murder mystery while also dealing with the challenges of her new life in this picturesque village.
In short, Death by the Book is a delightful read that stands well on its own, even if it is part of a series. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries or just love a good whodunit with a touch of charm, I highly recommend giving it a try. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
Rating: 4 Stars
I recently dove into Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly, and it was quite the cozy mystery adventure! Set in the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on Ireland’s picturesque west coast, the story follows Mercy McCarthy, a mystery writer who finds herself reluctantly pulled into a local literary festival organized by her sister, Lizzie. Things take a dark turn when the festival's featured author, James Brandt, is discovered dead after a rather unfortunate incident involving a falling bookshelf.
Now, you might think that an accident like that would be just that—an accident—but Mercy has a hunch that something more sinister is at play. The local detective isn't convinced, but when a second body shows up in their own bookstore (thanks to their adorable dog, Mr. Poe), the stakes get higher, and all eyes are on Mercy. With a quirky cast of characters—including a meddling mayor and a timid botanist—Mercy races against time to unravel the mystery before she becomes the prime suspect herself.
First off, I have to mention the cover—it's absolutely delightful! It really captures the cozy vibe of the book. Initially, I found myself taking a bit of time to get into the story, but once it hit its stride, I was fully hooked. There were moments when it felt slightly repetitive, but overall, the pacing picked up nicely. The plot was well-crafted, keeping me guessing until the end while still allowing me to enjoy the little details of Shamrock Cove life.
The characters were another highlight for me. They were all incredibly likable and added depth to the story. Mercy is relatable as she navigates her unexpected role in solving a murder mystery while also dealing with the challenges of her new life in this picturesque village.
In short, Death by the Book is a delightful read that stands well on its own, even if it is part of a series. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries or just love a good whodunit with a touch of charm, I highly recommend giving it a try. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series!
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️
October 25, 2024
Literary British Cozy Mystery features an American crime writer who helps her twin sister run their Irish antique bookshop turns sleuth after a literary festival's star author's killed.
5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Connelly's Mercy McCarthy Mystery series which is a Literary British Cozy Mystery set in Ireland and features an American crime writer who helps her identical twin sister run their Irish antique bookshop. When the rude star author of the local literary festival is killed and her dog finds another body in the storeroom of their bookstore, she knows she must act fast to clear her and her sister's names. With too many suspects and only a tatty old photograph for a clue can she play this case by the book or will she be the next to die? With plenty of twists and turns, Connelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Connelly's writing and character work are brilliant; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Mercy, her sister Lizzie, the townsfolk of Shamrock Cove and their neighbors on the court. Mercy's a tough lady and I really love how she and her sister Lizzie take care of each other, especially as Lizzie's still dealing with the loss of her fiance and his child and suffers panic attacks. Additionally, it's great to see the growth of Mercy's relationship with Kieran, the local detective inspector. Oh and one mustn't forget Mercy and Lizzie's adorably intuitive dog, Mr Poe. Connelly touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, An Irish Bookshop Murder.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
5/5 stars: This is the second entry in Connelly's Mercy McCarthy Mystery series which is a Literary British Cozy Mystery set in Ireland and features an American crime writer who helps her identical twin sister run their Irish antique bookshop. When the rude star author of the local literary festival is killed and her dog finds another body in the storeroom of their bookstore, she knows she must act fast to clear her and her sister's names. With too many suspects and only a tatty old photograph for a clue can she play this case by the book or will she be the next to die? With plenty of twists and turns, Connelly has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects, clues and red herrings and will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Heartfelt and humorous, Connelly's writing and character work are brilliant; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Mercy, her sister Lizzie, the townsfolk of Shamrock Cove and their neighbors on the court. Mercy's a tough lady and I really love how she and her sister Lizzie take care of each other, especially as Lizzie's still dealing with the loss of her fiance and his child and suffers panic attacks. Additionally, it's great to see the growth of Mercy's relationship with Kieran, the local detective inspector. Oh and one mustn't forget Mercy and Lizzie's adorably intuitive dog, Mr Poe. Connelly touches on some sensitive topics, so take care and the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, An Irish Bookshop Murder.
I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.
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