A Body at the Bakery

Mercy McCarthy Mystery #6

by Lucy Connelly

St. Patrick’s Day in Shamrock Cove has brought out countless Irish flags, streams of green bunting, lots of good-natured cheer… and the body of the local baker.

One of Mercy McCarthy’s daily haunts is the patisserie at the heart of Shamrock Cove’s main street, run by her good friend Paisley. The enticing aroma of rich chocolate and perfectly baked sweets is a treat she can rarely resist. She never expected that her pastry run would turn deadly.

Following the breadcrumbs with her trusty canine pal, Mr. Poe, Mercy freezes in terror when she stumbles across the lifeless body of Paisley’s ex-husband, John. All fingers point to Paisley, but Mercy is determined to prove her dear friend’s innocence.

John’s cousins refuse to help Mercy’s investigation just as a suspicious stranger starts lurking around the bakery. Mercy is worried that Paisley could be next, so she enlists the help of her neighbours to catch the killer before another body turns up at the bakery. With her friends at her side, Mercy is sure the case will be a piece of cake.

Then another devastating murder happens in front of Mercy’s own eyes. With the St. Patrick’s Day parade just around the corner, can Mercy catch her killer before another innocent bystander at the bakery becomes toast?

An utterly compelling and totally Irish cozy mystery. Fans of Agatha Christie, Carlene O’Connor and Faith Martin will absolutely love the Mercy McCarthy series!

See what readers are saying about the Mercy McCarthy

“Outstanding! I am absolutely loving the main characters!… I ended up staying up until the wee hours of the morning to finish as I just couldn’t put it down… this series is sure to fill your cozy mystery loving needs!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I absolutely love this series… a delight… I couldn’t put it down, I really really loved it.” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Excellent!!!… one of the best mystery novels I've read… Definitely looking forward to the next book!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Wonderful… I really LOVED THIS!… I couldn’t put it down… I absolutely loved it.” Broadbeansbooks, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“I had an amazing time!… OMG did I love that bookstore!!!… had me laughing out loud… I can’t wait to see what’s going to come next for Lizzie and Mercy!” Daniereads87, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Perfect cozy mystery… I was in a horrible reading slump, and this novel helped me to turn that around… 5 out of 5!!!” Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Magical… The setting swooped me up and dropped me right into the middle of the story… makes me imagine a gray day with light rain, a stoked fire, a blanket, a cup of coffee (!!), and curling up to read.

Genres: Mystery

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication November 4, 2026

Reviews

[Basil ☆]

First time reading an advanced copy from Netgalley:)

Mercy goes over to Paisey’s bakery for a treat, only to find her friend’s ex-husband dead. People start thinking it was Paisey who killed him, but Mercy isn’t so sure of that, so against her sister and boyfriend/? Kieran’s wishes, she gets to investigating.
(world’s shortest summary)

I must add, before anything else, that this is my first “proper” review that was made partially while I was “studying” pathophysiology, so sorry if it is weird or if I miss something.

Now, I really liked this book! The only reason why I didn’t give it all five stars is because I felt like, at times, nothing happened, just Mercy and dog walking places… And suddenly, everything happened in one or two chapters.

I don’t think I found it in me to hate any of the characters, they are all very likeable. Paisley is such a sweet lady as well, yet absolutely everything that could possibly happen to her ends up happening.
A gay character, even if he’s only a background character, is always a good addition, in my opinion, and so is a cute dog (even if all the dog did throughout the book was bark at strangers).

Can’t say anything about the Irish part, for I am not Irish, but there’s a lot of it lol

The cover is cute, though I must admit, without any shame, that it caught my eye at first because of Mr, Poe.

I INHALED this book, it was such an easy read, and I was hooked on it from the very start. I felt like some things were overexplained, but I didn’t really mind.
I really like how this author writes, maybe I’ll pick up another of her books at one point.


Okay I’m done thanks
-Basil ☆

[S.K. O'Connor]

As a Lucy Connelly fan who has read every book in the Mercy McCarthy series, I was excited to receive an ARC of this latest installment. True to form, I was completely drawn in with the cozy, wonderful atmosphere of Shamrock Cove—a town and cast of characters that I adore. The relationships being formed are a joy to follow, and the slow-burn romance between Mercy and Kieran is warm, sweet, and leaves me eagerly awaiting the next chapter in their story.

Overall, the book is very readable and well-written, but the mystery itself had a few pacing issues. Right before the conclusion, the story dragged a bit, feeling like sections were added just for word count rather than advancing the plot. While the final wrap-up and procedural steps could have used a bit more punch and excitement, I still enjoyed this just as much as the previous books and can't wait for what's next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

[J.]

Mercy and Lizzie are busier than usual with preparing a book shop float for the town’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, running the book shop, and Mercy trying to finish her next book before her deadline. Then Mercy goes to check on their good friend Paisley at her bakery and finds Paisley’s ex-husband dead on the floor. Paisley is a suspect at first, and even after she is cleared by the law, her in-laws still suspect and resent her. Mercy, of course, joins in the investigation, especially when it looks like Paisley is now a target!
Both sisters are settling into their new home in Ireland and each has a developing love interest, in addition to the deep friendships they have made.
The mystery is well-written and I love the characters and the setting.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Suzan]

Another enjoyable mystery with twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy. This is book #6 in the series, but I feel it would read well as a standalone, too. The sisters are settling into their new lives in Shamrock Cove in Ireland. Lizzie is doing great at running her grandfather's bookstore. Mercy is continuing with her writing of mystery stories and helping out the police when she can. In this book, the town is also getting ready for a St. Patrick's Day parade with floats and all. But of course you have to add in a murder for the mystery. This series is a great cozy, easy-on-the-mind read. Can't wait for the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. This review is my opinion.

[Cozybooklady]

#ABodyattheBakery #NetGalley
Sisters Mercy and Lizzie are back again in this latest addition to the series.
While everyone is preparing for the St. Patrick's Day in Shamrock Cove, Mercy and Lizzie are faced with the tragic death of a friend.
When the victim's ex wife becomes a suspect, Mercy is adamant that her good friend is innocent.
In order to find the truth, Mercy digs deep into the backgrounds of family and friends, finding that blood isn't always thicker than water.
I loved this book, the characters are all easy to like, and the author does a wonderful job of creating a place I'd love to live in.

[Mel]

I’ve read all the other Mercy McCarthy books and have enjoyed them (and re-read them!).

So, I was quite pleased that NetGalley approved this ARC for me!

In this instalment in the series, like the name suggests, Mercy comes across a body in the bakery.

Mercy and her sister Lizzie work to find the killer, and to clear a good friend’s name.

It was nice to see Mercy and Kieran in the beginning stages of their new relationship, which just began at the very end of the book prior to this one.

It’s all the same characters we love from Shamrock Cove and I can’t wait for book 7!

This was an ARC provided by NetGalley.

[Jennifer]

Mercy and Kieran are finally in a relationship and figuring out their dynamic when Mercy finds a body. Unfortunately, he is a friend, and all the characters feel the loss, but Mercy's good friend Paisley is suspected of being the killer. Everyone rallies around Paisley to help support her but then it seems like she is also in danger and the killer is after her too. Mercy and her sister Lizzy have more recently experienced loss and are trying to support Paisley, clear her name, and find the killer without putting themselves in danger, all at the same time as planning a big Irish float parade.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for selecting me to read an advance copy.

[Susan Willis]

A charming addition to this series featuring a mystery author, her sister and their friend in this cute Irish town. Ideal for anyone who like cozy mysteries.

[Homerun2]

3.75 stars

Twins Lizzy and Mercy McCarthy have moved to Ireland after their grandfather left Lizzie his bookshop. The timing was perfect as the women are recovering from personal loss and sadness. They soon find a home in the small Irish village and over the course of the series, they have healed and become part of the community.

So when a neighboring businessman is found dead nearby, by Mercy, their world is upended. This affects their whole town and when the man's ex-wife is suspected, her friends Lizzie and Mercy have to jump in to help. In the meantime, St Patrick's Day is happening with all kinds of activities and Mercy is working against a book deadline.

These are quite readable with a nice ensemble cast and lots of Irish flavor. The sisters are coming in to their own and each is even indulging in a bit of slow burn romance. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.