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County Cork Mystery #6
Many a Twist
Pub owner Maura Donovan hasn’t seen her mother for over twenty years, so when she suddenly shows up in Maura’s pub, Maura’s not sure what to expect. Her mother is trying to find a life for herself back home and has taken up a position working with the new owners of the Crann Mor hotel just outside Skibbereen. Until her new boss is found dead in the gardens, dumped down the hillside behind the hotel.
Now, trying to rekindle the relationship they’ve lost, Maura must investigate in order to clear her mother’s name. It’s not so easy though, as long-time residents of County Cork, including the families of her employee Mick, and the family of the deceased hotel owner, have bottled deep dark family secrets not meant to be uncorked. And someone will kill to keep them that way.
How far would you go to protect your family? Maura tests the age-old question in Many a Twist, the charming and atmospheric sixth County Cork mystery from New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly.
Now, trying to rekindle the relationship they’ve lost, Maura must investigate in order to clear her mother’s name. It’s not so easy though, as long-time residents of County Cork, including the families of her employee Mick, and the family of the deceased hotel owner, have bottled deep dark family secrets not meant to be uncorked. And someone will kill to keep them that way.
How far would you go to protect your family? Maura tests the age-old question in Many a Twist, the charming and atmospheric sixth County Cork mystery from New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly.
330 pages, Hardcover
First published January 9, 2018
208 people are currently reading
1574 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Connolly
65 books1,388 followersSheila Connolly taught art history, structured and marketed municipal bonds for major cities, worked as a staff member on two statewide political campaigns, and served as a fundraiser for several non-profit organizations. She also managed her own consulting company providing genealogical research services.
She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.
She was a member of Sisters in Crime-New England (president 2011), the national Sisters in Crime, and the fabulous on-line SinC chapter, the Guppies. She also belonged to Romance Writers of America and Mystery Writers of America.
Sheila was Regent of her local DAR chapter, and a member of the Society of Mayflower Descendants. She was also the grandchild of Irish immigrants. In addition to genealogy, Sheila loved restoring old houses, visiting cemeteries, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
December 21, 2017
I give this book 4 out of 5 Stars! I really enjoyed this book and its charming setting. I love how they portrayed Ireland in this story with the nice Irish Countryside setting. I thought the plot was well structured and the characters were charming like the setting. I loved the writing style of this story and the mystery. I wish I would have read this series in order because I felt I missed out just a tad but it still makes a good standalone. I will definitely be checking out the previous books in this series.
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For more of this review and others please visit touchmyspinebookreviews.com
February 23, 2018
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Many A Twist is the sixth installment in The County Cork Mystery Series and my first read of author Sheila Connolly. The author has written other series such as The Orchard Mysteries, The Museum Mysteries, The Relatively Dead Mysteries, and The Glassblowing Mysteries. This book was hard to rate because there were things that I really liked about it but then there were things that I didn’t like so much.
Things that I liked about the book: 1. The author’s description of the setting: West Cork, Ireland sounds like my kind of place. It is more of a rural country setting just like where I am from. Some of my ancestors are from Ireland and I’ve always wanted to visit. 2. The characters, Maura Donovan and Old Billy Sheahan. Maura has had a rough past. She grew up barely scraping by while being raised by her grandma. Upon her grandma’s death she inherits a pub in Ireland named Sullivan’s. I admire Maura for being a fighter and doing all she can to make Sullivan’s a successful business. Old Billy Sheahan is in his eighties and lives in a room within the pub. Billy knows everything about the area and its people. He seems like an interesting guy that you would enjoy talking to and learning from.
Things that I didn’t like so much: 1. The pacing. The book starts out pretty slow…it was page 67 before the dead body was mentioned. Afterwards the story seems to slowly move along without much happening really until you reach the conclusion. Once you reach the end it felt rushed with lots of information crammed in to explain the ending. 2. The Blurb: When I choose books to read the first thing I do is read the blurb. When I read this one I assumed the main storyline was the mystery. But the book itself seemed to have the mystery in the background and focus more on the personal relationships between the characters. This may have been intentional and some readers probably like that but me not so much.
I would recommend this book to those who like cozies with more focus on personal relationships mixed with a mystery. I would be willing to try other books written by the author for a comparison. I give Many A Twist 3 out of 5 stars!
Thank you Sheila Connolly, Crooked Lane Books and Cozy Mystery Review Crew for providing me with a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
What a story! Maura Donovan’s mother left her with her grandmother when she was just 2 years old. Now after all these years she shows up in Ireland working on the acquisition of a local hotel. When the head of the company ends up dead Maura’s mother has to tell her who she is before she reveals it to the police. The death has yet to be labeled as a murder but after Maura’s previous relationship with the local garda, she is looped right into the investigation. She also has her hands full helping her best friend get ready for the birth of her baby, and Mick reveals something about his past that Maura never expected. Family secrets play a major part in this book and as they are revealed things could get dangerous.
Many A Twist is the perfect title for this story. There were twists on top of twists and a few turns thrown in as well. The main plot and the subplots twist up to create a very entertaining story. One that is very hard to put down.
The character development over the span of this series is excellent. Just a year ago Maura arrived in Leap unsure of herself and unsure if she was going to stay in Ireland. Since that time she has made many friends, has expanded her business, and helped out with several police investigations. She has made herself at home in her little cottage too and learns more about the area every day.
The supporting cast has also grown and changed since the beginning. Their relationships with Maura are stronger but they are also dealing with their own issues. A marriage pending, a young woman looking toward her future, a couple learning all about raising their son, and a man coming to terms with his past. Several more characters round out the cast too.
I have never been to Ireland but the way this author describes the setting of the stories in this series, I can picture it very clearly. The pub, Maura’s cottage, the countryside, a bog or two, and added in this story the Crann Mor hotel and its garden paths.
I have enjoyed this series from the start. I am excited when a new story comes out and sad when it ends much too soon. These literary trips to Ireland remind me of my own little bit of Irish heritage and I can’t wait for my next visit.
You can’t go wrong with a story penned by Sheila Connolly. She is an awesome storyteller
What a story! Maura Donovan’s mother left her with her grandmother when she was just 2 years old. Now after all these years she shows up in Ireland working on the acquisition of a local hotel. When the head of the company ends up dead Maura’s mother has to tell her who she is before she reveals it to the police. The death has yet to be labeled as a murder but after Maura’s previous relationship with the local garda, she is looped right into the investigation. She also has her hands full helping her best friend get ready for the birth of her baby, and Mick reveals something about his past that Maura never expected. Family secrets play a major part in this book and as they are revealed things could get dangerous.
Many A Twist is the perfect title for this story. There were twists on top of twists and a few turns thrown in as well. The main plot and the subplots twist up to create a very entertaining story. One that is very hard to put down.
The character development over the span of this series is excellent. Just a year ago Maura arrived in Leap unsure of herself and unsure if she was going to stay in Ireland. Since that time she has made many friends, has expanded her business, and helped out with several police investigations. She has made herself at home in her little cottage too and learns more about the area every day.
The supporting cast has also grown and changed since the beginning. Their relationships with Maura are stronger but they are also dealing with their own issues. A marriage pending, a young woman looking toward her future, a couple learning all about raising their son, and a man coming to terms with his past. Several more characters round out the cast too.
I have never been to Ireland but the way this author describes the setting of the stories in this series, I can picture it very clearly. The pub, Maura’s cottage, the countryside, a bog or two, and added in this story the Crann Mor hotel and its garden paths.
I have enjoyed this series from the start. I am excited when a new story comes out and sad when it ends much too soon. These literary trips to Ireland remind me of my own little bit of Irish heritage and I can’t wait for my next visit.
You can’t go wrong with a story penned by Sheila Connolly. She is an awesome storyteller
February 23, 2018
Many a Twist is the sixth County Cork mystery. When this series first began, I really loved it. And I love the author's Orchard mystery series. However, the County Cork mystery series has gotten a bit stale. Six books in, the main character, Maura, has not changed all that much (no matter what the characters in the book say). She's very two-dimensional. And she's boring. It seems like all she does is work in the pub. Even when she's doing something else, she either thinks or says that she needs to hurry and get back to the pub. I mean, I get that she's trying to run a business, but she needs at least one day off a week. I found myself skipping sections, and even pages, because this story just wasn't engaging. And the solution was the biggest letdown. The only good part of this book was the fact that Maura and Mick finally face their feelings for each other. It only took SIX books, but it finally happened. I also take issue with the way Maura and her mother were handled. It just wasn't realistic. Even the nicest person would find it difficult, if not impossible, to immediately be around a parent who abandoned them as a young child and never even tried to get in touch with them for two decades. It would be a major process that they'd have to work through before they'd likely be able to have a conversation with them, much less let them into their home and their life. It felt a little too "Full House"-type sitcom the way it was resolved in the end. I probably won't read the next book in the series. It hasn't been good since the 3rd book, so it's just time for me to move on from this series.
Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
January 4, 2018
3.5 stars
Maura has inherited a pub in Leap, County of Cork, that she now runs. An American from Boston has been in Ireland about a year now. She has settled in and made friends. Her business is a moderate success and life is cooking along until a nearby hotel owner is found dead. And his associate, visiting from America, turns out to be her long lost mother who she hasn't seen since she was 2.
If that is not enough, her best friend has a baby and is woefully unprepared. She starts a relationship and there is the pesky death. Is it murder or an unfortunate accident?
Many cozy mysteries require a bit of suspension of belief. This particular edition required more than most. When the garda are still trying to determine if it's a murder or accident, Maura runs around telling people she's hip deep in a murder investigation. What murder investigation? And the police rely on her help because she's an American and we do things differently. Really? And the garda depends on her for information. That's the first place I go to for reliable information is a bar full of drunks.
Still the evolving relationships especially mother and daughter make this an enjoyable read especially on a long, cold evening. Just don't read it for the mystery. It's the relationships that save the book.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
Maura has inherited a pub in Leap, County of Cork, that she now runs. An American from Boston has been in Ireland about a year now. She has settled in and made friends. Her business is a moderate success and life is cooking along until a nearby hotel owner is found dead. And his associate, visiting from America, turns out to be her long lost mother who she hasn't seen since she was 2.
If that is not enough, her best friend has a baby and is woefully unprepared. She starts a relationship and there is the pesky death. Is it murder or an unfortunate accident?
Many cozy mysteries require a bit of suspension of belief. This particular edition required more than most. When the garda are still trying to determine if it's a murder or accident, Maura runs around telling people she's hip deep in a murder investigation. What murder investigation? And the police rely on her help because she's an American and we do things differently. Really? And the garda depends on her for information. That's the first place I go to for reliable information is a bar full of drunks.
Still the evolving relationships especially mother and daughter make this an enjoyable read especially on a long, cold evening. Just don't read it for the mystery. It's the relationships that save the book.
Thanks to Net Galley for the book in exchange for a fair review.
January 11, 2018
What a delight and refreshing treat it was to have Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly on my table this week. A few years back I learned of my own Irish heritage and shortly after, I found this series. I quickly fell in love with the series and found connections to main character Maura right from book one. The title Many A Twist does this book justice in so many ways. I loved the many twists, all of them in the most simplest of ways satisfied and added special elements to this story. This is an incredibly revealing cozy mystery, balanced with just the right amount of suspicion, deception and a tiny sprinkling of romance and enough hope to leave you with the coziest of feelings. It was beautifully written and a pleasure to read. Out now Many A Twist is out now from Crooked Lane Books and it is the sixth book in the series.
January 9, 2018
Maura Donavan stare at the woman in shock. Did she hear correctly? The woman said, "I'm your Mother." She hadn't seen her Mother since she was 2 years old. Maura feelings were mixed. They were sitting in the Gardai station as her Helen Jenkins, her Mother is waiting to be interviewed about the unexplained death of her Mother's employer. Maura was having problems getting her emotions under control. Maura works with the Gardai to find answers to the death. Will Maura be able to clear her Mother's name? Is there romance in Maura's future? I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions expressed are my own.
July 18, 2018
I really enjoy this unique cozy series set I Ireland. The characters seem authentic and well developed and with each book I look forward to seeing the progression of relationships between the characters. This book had a major twist in the beginning as well as the end which kept me guessing. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.
July 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this one! There were so many twists going on in this book and not just the case! I think my jaw might have dropped a couple of times and I had to read one more chapter to see what was going on. I really like the characters in this series and I’m looking forward to reading more of their adventures.
February 5, 2018
I enjoy reading this series, County Cork. This is book 6 set in the lovely Irish village of Skibbereen and Maura's pub. When a rundown hotel is bought and plans to refinish and make it a tourist destination the town is talking. The owner is soon found dead and the main suspect is Maura's mother who is the dead owner's assistant. They haven't seen each other since Maura was dropped off at her grandmother's when she was two years old. All the regulars of the pub have opinions and Maura and Mick need to help out the new local police sergeant. A good tale with a glimpse of a very different way of life.
January 16, 2020
Liking the several relational steps forward along with inherent mysteries solved. I'll definitely keep my eye on this series for new releases and plot developments.
April 14, 2018
Now I am caught up on all the doings in Leap with Maura and her motley assortment of friends, family, neighbors and customers. The problem with terrific series books is that I always am ahead of the author! This one has so many wonderful elements and they all work.
February 21, 2018
I really enjoy the visits to Cork County and Sullivan's Pub! This is the Ireland that I want to visit someday. I really like the small town, everyone knows your name, feel to it.
It was very interesting how Maura's mother shows up after all these years. And then there is a death. Was it accidental, or was it murder?
The story line about Gillian and learning to deal with a brand new baby is fun. And it is a reason we learn a little bit more about Mick.
This is definitely a good addition to the County Cork mysteries.
It was very interesting how Maura's mother shows up after all these years. And then there is a death. Was it accidental, or was it murder?
The story line about Gillian and learning to deal with a brand new baby is fun. And it is a reason we learn a little bit more about Mick.
This is definitely a good addition to the County Cork mysteries.
March 31, 2018
“Many a Twist” earns 5/5 Pints of Green Ale…Delightfully Entertaining!
I am a newbie turned fan of Sheila Connolly’s County Cork series. First, we have my favorite setting…Ireland and a pub! Just perfect for my St. Patrick’s Day weekend entertainment. I started with the most recent book number six, “Many a Twist,” and yes, there has to have been the natural evolvement of situations (some resolved, some ongoing) and characters (some that come and some that go), so I'm eager to go back and read how these characters got from there to here, but there was enough references to background and character connections to keep me engaged. Maura Donovan is the owner of an Irish pub and her newest dilemma and subsequent murder investigations relates to her estranged mother. She hasn't had contact with her for over twenty years, and when she reveals her identity in the wake of a body’s discovery, Maura is confronted by secrets, secrets, and more secrets from various directions. The title warns readers of “many” and “twists,” and in that Connolly doesn't disappoint. She has made an intriguing page-turner that is sprinkled with delightful dialogue that illustrates well the various personalities and motives along with descriptions of the Irish community that bring the land and the people to life. The suspects have their interesting connections to the victim which makes the murder investigation intriguing, but Maura has a full plate with her best friend preparing to give birth and the continued exploration of her relationship with Mick...he, too, has things to share. All in all…the mystery, the characters, the look at Ireland add up to a marvelous book!
“Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. This voluntary review is my honest opinion and insights.
I am a newbie turned fan of Sheila Connolly’s County Cork series. First, we have my favorite setting…Ireland and a pub! Just perfect for my St. Patrick’s Day weekend entertainment. I started with the most recent book number six, “Many a Twist,” and yes, there has to have been the natural evolvement of situations (some resolved, some ongoing) and characters (some that come and some that go), so I'm eager to go back and read how these characters got from there to here, but there was enough references to background and character connections to keep me engaged. Maura Donovan is the owner of an Irish pub and her newest dilemma and subsequent murder investigations relates to her estranged mother. She hasn't had contact with her for over twenty years, and when she reveals her identity in the wake of a body’s discovery, Maura is confronted by secrets, secrets, and more secrets from various directions. The title warns readers of “many” and “twists,” and in that Connolly doesn't disappoint. She has made an intriguing page-turner that is sprinkled with delightful dialogue that illustrates well the various personalities and motives along with descriptions of the Irish community that bring the land and the people to life. The suspects have their interesting connections to the victim which makes the murder investigation intriguing, but Maura has a full plate with her best friend preparing to give birth and the continued exploration of her relationship with Mick...he, too, has things to share. All in all…the mystery, the characters, the look at Ireland add up to a marvelous book!
“Disclosure: I received an advanced copy from NetGalley. This voluntary review is my honest opinion and insights.
October 18, 2019
This series set in a bar in Country Cork has an endearing cast of characters, a wonderful Irish setting, and a strong sense of small town community. Many a Twist has the added attraction of interesting family complications and welcome character growth.
April 2, 2022
I really enjoyed this particular book ... though the entire series has been good, this one especially dealt with personal relationships, a bit more insight into the Irish people, as well as a mystery.
January 6, 2018
Many A Twist is the sixth book in the A County Cork Mystery series.
This was another wonderful visit with the enjoyable folks that imbibe at Sullivan’s Pun in County Cork.
Maura Donovan is becoming more settled, the pub is doing well and they have been getting better crowds since resuming having music like the old days when Old Mick ran the pub.
One day Maura get a phone call from John Byrne, his company represents a group of investors who have recently purchased the Crann Mor Hotel in nearby Skibbereen and wants to talk with Maura about a business arrangement between the hotel and pub. The hotel will be looking to provide their affluent clientele with a “taste of the real Ireland”, but Maura hesitates as she doesn’t feel that her pub would be appealing to them and she does not want change what is working for her, her staff and the pub. But before talks can really go past a meeting with Byrne, his infrastructure manager, Helen Jenkins and their assistants, Byrne is found dead on a path in the hotel’s garden.
As the police begin to investigate the death, Maura needs to be interviewed as she has had the meeting with the victim and his staff. As the interview is wrapping up and what with Maura helping out in the past, DI Patrick Hurley ask her if she will be the police’s eyes and ears at the pub for any talk that might have a bearing on the investigation. Searches into Byrne’s background doesn’t provide much information and Maura enlists the help of Helen Jenkins for information on him and obtains from her a list of staff to see if there might be any connection.
What I found to be an interesting sub-plot to the story concerns Maura and Helen Jenkins. When Helen is called in for police interview she asks that she first talk with Maura. When Maura enters the interview room, Helen calmly announces that she is Maura’s mother. Helen had left Maura with her grandmother when she was just two years old and has had no contact since then. Both are walking on eggshells. Maura doesn’t know whether to yell at her or hug her. They both agree that they need to take baby steps if either hopes that they will be able to put the past behind them,
Also on Maura’s plate, her friend Gillian is about to deliver her first baby and her and her partner needs to move into a house that needs a lot of repairs and clean-up. Always in the back of her mind is how she can organize the necessary help to make the new house habitable.
As always with this series, the reader will learn about the Ireland countryside and its people. Most all of the characters from previous books are back to help Maura either at the pub or with her investigation. I always enjoy Billy Sheehan who is the unofficial historian for the village. He may doze off from time to time but his ears are always working and always has some words of wisdom to offer.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.
This was another wonderful visit with the enjoyable folks that imbibe at Sullivan’s Pun in County Cork.
Maura Donovan is becoming more settled, the pub is doing well and they have been getting better crowds since resuming having music like the old days when Old Mick ran the pub.
One day Maura get a phone call from John Byrne, his company represents a group of investors who have recently purchased the Crann Mor Hotel in nearby Skibbereen and wants to talk with Maura about a business arrangement between the hotel and pub. The hotel will be looking to provide their affluent clientele with a “taste of the real Ireland”, but Maura hesitates as she doesn’t feel that her pub would be appealing to them and she does not want change what is working for her, her staff and the pub. But before talks can really go past a meeting with Byrne, his infrastructure manager, Helen Jenkins and their assistants, Byrne is found dead on a path in the hotel’s garden.
As the police begin to investigate the death, Maura needs to be interviewed as she has had the meeting with the victim and his staff. As the interview is wrapping up and what with Maura helping out in the past, DI Patrick Hurley ask her if she will be the police’s eyes and ears at the pub for any talk that might have a bearing on the investigation. Searches into Byrne’s background doesn’t provide much information and Maura enlists the help of Helen Jenkins for information on him and obtains from her a list of staff to see if there might be any connection.
What I found to be an interesting sub-plot to the story concerns Maura and Helen Jenkins. When Helen is called in for police interview she asks that she first talk with Maura. When Maura enters the interview room, Helen calmly announces that she is Maura’s mother. Helen had left Maura with her grandmother when she was just two years old and has had no contact since then. Both are walking on eggshells. Maura doesn’t know whether to yell at her or hug her. They both agree that they need to take baby steps if either hopes that they will be able to put the past behind them,
Also on Maura’s plate, her friend Gillian is about to deliver her first baby and her and her partner needs to move into a house that needs a lot of repairs and clean-up. Always in the back of her mind is how she can organize the necessary help to make the new house habitable.
As always with this series, the reader will learn about the Ireland countryside and its people. Most all of the characters from previous books are back to help Maura either at the pub or with her investigation. I always enjoy Billy Sheehan who is the unofficial historian for the village. He may doze off from time to time but his ears are always working and always has some words of wisdom to offer.
I am anxiously awaiting the next book in this wonderful series.
September 17, 2018
Why do I keep reading this series? Pretty much told in dialogue, the author always omits describing this beautiful area of Ireland, which I've come to know. It's told entirely through the mind of Maura, the American who's inherited a pub, who is boooorrrrrring. She has no life, just runs the pub, pours the pints, noses around mysterious deaths, and talks, talks talks. The woman has no interests. I want to know what her little 100 year old bungalow looks like. After 6 books, I haven't a clue. Maura never remarks about how beautiful this area is, and she's from Boston. She's in her 20s, come on. Watch TV, play trivia, learn to knit, go for long walks, get a cat. At least her love life is picking up. The mystery was better than some others, but still. I keep hoping for William Trevor, but, ah no.
March 4, 2018
Many a Twist by Sheila Connolly is the sixth book in the County Cork Mystery series from this very prolific author. I first started reading these books as a way to put myself somewhere I would like to visit, a place from which my ancestors hailed. I quickly became enthralled by the characters, the pub, and the small town atmosphere, not so different from our own.
Maura Donovan inherited a pub and a cottage. Her grandmother had died and she had come to Ireland to dispose of ghost and because her grandmother wanted her to. There she discovered that she was the proud own of a small pub, building and all, and a cottage outside of the village. He father had died when she was tow and her mother was long gone. She had no ties to Boston, Her home, so she decided to give it a try. Thongs were working out ok for her in Cork. She had her pub, her cottage, her employees, a small circle of friends, and her ability to hear things in the pub and share them with her friend, Sean Murphy, a member of the local guardai. (police). Sometimes that information helped solve a crime. Sometimes she helped solved the crime. There were her friends: Billy, who sat in the pub all day just to be around people, and Bridget, a little old lady whose cottage was near hers. Both of them had known her grandparents and her father before they had gone to America.
A committee of people from the hotel (owners from the company in America) in a nearby town wanted to come visit her pub. Why, she wasn't sure and she still wasn't sure after they had left. The next thing she knew was that the American leader of the team, John Byrne, was dead. Accident or murder? There didn't seem to be any clear answer to that question. There was plenty of information popping up, though, and Maura's brain got to putting it together. One of the oddest bits was that another member of the team, Helen, confessed to Maura that she was her long lost mother. Maura wasn't exactly sure what to do with that information and the getting-to-know-you process lasts for the entire book.
There are also Gillian and Harry, and their newborn, who have a bevy of life changers they are dealing with and Mick Nolan, one of her employees who continues to be an enigma. There are plenty of subplots to keep a reader's interest.
This is a fun cast of characters. The setting is enticing. The mysteries are good, in an area of the world where mysteries are solved by talking to people, not by throwing your weight around. Maura is coming to cherish her life in Cork and finally is realizing how much.
Good book. I recommend it.
I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review
Maura Donovan inherited a pub and a cottage. Her grandmother had died and she had come to Ireland to dispose of ghost and because her grandmother wanted her to. There she discovered that she was the proud own of a small pub, building and all, and a cottage outside of the village. He father had died when she was tow and her mother was long gone. She had no ties to Boston, Her home, so she decided to give it a try. Thongs were working out ok for her in Cork. She had her pub, her cottage, her employees, a small circle of friends, and her ability to hear things in the pub and share them with her friend, Sean Murphy, a member of the local guardai. (police). Sometimes that information helped solve a crime. Sometimes she helped solved the crime. There were her friends: Billy, who sat in the pub all day just to be around people, and Bridget, a little old lady whose cottage was near hers. Both of them had known her grandparents and her father before they had gone to America.
A committee of people from the hotel (owners from the company in America) in a nearby town wanted to come visit her pub. Why, she wasn't sure and she still wasn't sure after they had left. The next thing she knew was that the American leader of the team, John Byrne, was dead. Accident or murder? There didn't seem to be any clear answer to that question. There was plenty of information popping up, though, and Maura's brain got to putting it together. One of the oddest bits was that another member of the team, Helen, confessed to Maura that she was her long lost mother. Maura wasn't exactly sure what to do with that information and the getting-to-know-you process lasts for the entire book.
There are also Gillian and Harry, and their newborn, who have a bevy of life changers they are dealing with and Mick Nolan, one of her employees who continues to be an enigma. There are plenty of subplots to keep a reader's interest.
This is a fun cast of characters. The setting is enticing. The mysteries are good, in an area of the world where mysteries are solved by talking to people, not by throwing your weight around. Maura is coming to cherish her life in Cork and finally is realizing how much.
Good book. I recommend it.
I was given an ARC of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review
January 9, 2018
When Maura's mom pops up out of the blue after twenty years she isn't sure how she should react. Is this a good thing or is it going to end up being a bad experience? Maura decides she wants to make a go of having a relationship with her mom but when her moms boss is found murdered things take a huge turn. Will she be able to build something with her mom and at the same time figure out who the killer is? Connolly leads you on a merry chase with so many twists and turns that you won't know if you've figured it all out until the end. Follow along and uncover all the secrets that are being kept and you just may figure it out. The telling of the mystery is wonderful and the scenery that fills the book is breath taking. I can't wait to see what happens next with Maura and the lovely village that she has made her home.
January 17, 2020
2020 bk 22. Maura has a mother. This is a tricky one. Maura has a mother, one who abandoned her when she was two years of age. Now suddenly, Mum is back - not looking for a handout, a bed for the night, or even forgiveness. Maura has very mixed emotions. There is a dead body, but as in the previous novel, it takes a backseat to the question of 'who really is my family?' If you like high tension and screaming fits - this isn't the book for you.
February 7, 2020
Another great book by Ms. Connolly
October 31, 2022
4 stelle e mezza
Di questo libro mi sono piaciuti i grossi cambiamenti nella vita della protagonista e sono curiosa di vedere come le cose procederanno da questo punto di vista.
Di questo libro mi sono piaciuti i grossi cambiamenti nella vita della protagonista e sono curiosa di vedere come le cose procederanno da questo punto di vista.
January 4, 2018
Series: County Cork #6
Publication Date: 1/9/2018
WOW! I think I want to move to County Cork. This author’s descriptions just immerse you in the countryside and lifestyle. What a wonderful place to live – a slower pace of life, a totally involved populace and scenic beauty beyond compare. Sullivan’s pub is like the Cheer’s TV show – where everybody knows your name and they’re all glad you came. The books are well written, the plots are well thought out, the book stays on-point and the character development is superb. You’ll come to love the recurring characters – they are quirky, down-to-earth, funny, relatable and very believable.
What a difference a year makes in the life of Maura Donovan. A year ago Maura arrived in Leap, County Cork, Ireland without a cent to her name, no job, no prospects and she had just lost her much-beloved grandmother. Since Maura’s father was deceased and her mother abandoned her at the age of two, her grandmother was all she had in the world. Her grandmother’s dying wish was for Maura to travel from Boston to Leap and personally let all of her Irish relatives know of her passing. When Maura arrived, she found that she had inherited a pub and a house – neither in great shape, but functional. What was she going to do – sell them or stay and manage the pub? She stayed and the year has certainly brought excitement, contentment and maybe, just maybe, love. She’s helped the Gardaí five times already and they have developed a good relationship – now – this sixth time might put that trust to the test.
Maura gets a call from the new owners of the Crann Mor luxury hotel in Skibbereen and has no clue what they might want with her, but she agrees to meet with them. When they arrive, the leader of the group John Byrne comes across as arrogant. The party also includes John’s male assistant, Helen Jenkins (an executive with the group) and Helen’s female assistant. Maura is not particularly impressed and is pretty negative about collaborating with them in any way.
Then, John’s dead body is discovered by the groundskeeper at Crann Mor. Is the death a murder or an accident? Things get even more intense when you add a new Garda member who is neither polished nor friendly. He’s bent on proving that it was murder and he’ll brow-beat everyone involved until he can find a murderer.
A call comes in for Maura, asking her to immediately come to the Garda station in Skibbereen. She doesn’t know what to expect, but what she hears when she gets there stuns her. The woman, Helen Jenkins is her mother. The reason Maura is there is that Helen wanted to tell Maura before she told the Gardaí.
While Maura isn’t sure what she wants to do with/about her mother, she can’t let her be accused of murder – unless, of course, she did it. So, Maura sets off to discover what she can and solve the death. Murder? Accident? Maura will ask questions until she finds the answer. Along the way, Maura comes to believe that she wants to learn more about her mother and maybe have a bit of a relationship with her. Her relationship with Mick also deepens and she learns some of his secrets.
This is a wonderfully written series and this book just adds to that. I hope you’ll give all the books a read. While you don’t just have to read the series in order, I would suggest doing so. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the great character and relationship growth. Great read!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 1/9/2018
WOW! I think I want to move to County Cork. This author’s descriptions just immerse you in the countryside and lifestyle. What a wonderful place to live – a slower pace of life, a totally involved populace and scenic beauty beyond compare. Sullivan’s pub is like the Cheer’s TV show – where everybody knows your name and they’re all glad you came. The books are well written, the plots are well thought out, the book stays on-point and the character development is superb. You’ll come to love the recurring characters – they are quirky, down-to-earth, funny, relatable and very believable.
What a difference a year makes in the life of Maura Donovan. A year ago Maura arrived in Leap, County Cork, Ireland without a cent to her name, no job, no prospects and she had just lost her much-beloved grandmother. Since Maura’s father was deceased and her mother abandoned her at the age of two, her grandmother was all she had in the world. Her grandmother’s dying wish was for Maura to travel from Boston to Leap and personally let all of her Irish relatives know of her passing. When Maura arrived, she found that she had inherited a pub and a house – neither in great shape, but functional. What was she going to do – sell them or stay and manage the pub? She stayed and the year has certainly brought excitement, contentment and maybe, just maybe, love. She’s helped the Gardaí five times already and they have developed a good relationship – now – this sixth time might put that trust to the test.
Maura gets a call from the new owners of the Crann Mor luxury hotel in Skibbereen and has no clue what they might want with her, but she agrees to meet with them. When they arrive, the leader of the group John Byrne comes across as arrogant. The party also includes John’s male assistant, Helen Jenkins (an executive with the group) and Helen’s female assistant. Maura is not particularly impressed and is pretty negative about collaborating with them in any way.
Then, John’s dead body is discovered by the groundskeeper at Crann Mor. Is the death a murder or an accident? Things get even more intense when you add a new Garda member who is neither polished nor friendly. He’s bent on proving that it was murder and he’ll brow-beat everyone involved until he can find a murderer.
A call comes in for Maura, asking her to immediately come to the Garda station in Skibbereen. She doesn’t know what to expect, but what she hears when she gets there stuns her. The woman, Helen Jenkins is her mother. The reason Maura is there is that Helen wanted to tell Maura before she told the Gardaí.
While Maura isn’t sure what she wants to do with/about her mother, she can’t let her be accused of murder – unless, of course, she did it. So, Maura sets off to discover what she can and solve the death. Murder? Accident? Maura will ask questions until she finds the answer. Along the way, Maura comes to believe that she wants to learn more about her mother and maybe have a bit of a relationship with her. Her relationship with Mick also deepens and she learns some of his secrets.
This is a wonderfully written series and this book just adds to that. I hope you’ll give all the books a read. While you don’t just have to read the series in order, I would suggest doing so. Otherwise, you’ll miss out on the great character and relationship growth. Great read!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
December 30, 2017
This sixth entry in the County Cork mystery series might be the best yet. The author does a good job with supplying the back story, so it works as a stand alone, but I think once you meet Maura Donovan you'll want to start at the beginning.
Maura is an endearingly prickly character. Life hasn't been gentle on her so she's wary, and unusually straightforward. She is the owner of an old pub in a small Irish village, bequeathed in a roundabout way to her upon her Irish grandmother's death. Maura is American, from Boston, but she has found a niche and a place to belong in Ireland and is working at succeeding.
Maura has lots of issues resulting from her past -- her father's death and her mother's leaving when she was just a small child. She doesn't share easily, and is very leery of needing anyone's help. But she finds a home at the pub, and her employees and the villagers there slowly chip away at her defenses.
Without spoilers, let's say that several of Maura's ongoing question marks get addressed in this book. An American company takes over an old local manor house to turn into an upscale boutique hotel. The CEO stops by Maura's pub to check out business opportunities and she is immediately put off by his arrogance. Two days later, the man is found dead. Was it murder or was it an accident?
As usual, old secrets from various people have a part to play. It is just as satisfying to see Maura's character develop as it is to see the plot unroll. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Maura is an endearingly prickly character. Life hasn't been gentle on her so she's wary, and unusually straightforward. She is the owner of an old pub in a small Irish village, bequeathed in a roundabout way to her upon her Irish grandmother's death. Maura is American, from Boston, but she has found a niche and a place to belong in Ireland and is working at succeeding.
Maura has lots of issues resulting from her past -- her father's death and her mother's leaving when she was just a small child. She doesn't share easily, and is very leery of needing anyone's help. But she finds a home at the pub, and her employees and the villagers there slowly chip away at her defenses.
Without spoilers, let's say that several of Maura's ongoing question marks get addressed in this book. An American company takes over an old local manor house to turn into an upscale boutique hotel. The CEO stops by Maura's pub to check out business opportunities and she is immediately put off by his arrogance. Two days later, the man is found dead. Was it murder or was it an accident?
As usual, old secrets from various people have a part to play. It is just as satisfying to see Maura's character develop as it is to see the plot unroll. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
February 3, 2018
This is an okay read but I really think anyone who has read earlier instalments will enjoy it more.
The main character is running a pub in County Cork although she is American. A business proposal to provide a music and entertainment venue for a newly developed hotel gives her more pause than we'd expect. Why not? I really did not get an answer except that she would have to go to all the trouble of smartening up the place and getting reliable performers.
Similarly an unexpected death at the new hotel is maybe suspicious and maybe not for just about all of the book. The main drama is actually a personal and internal struggle as our heroine is faced with a long lost relative. As I say, if you have read earlier books and come to care about her you will be interested; I wasn't that interested. But it's nice to read a crime tale set in modern rural Ireland.
I downloaded a copy through Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
The main character is running a pub in County Cork although she is American. A business proposal to provide a music and entertainment venue for a newly developed hotel gives her more pause than we'd expect. Why not? I really did not get an answer except that she would have to go to all the trouble of smartening up the place and getting reliable performers.
Similarly an unexpected death at the new hotel is maybe suspicious and maybe not for just about all of the book. The main drama is actually a personal and internal struggle as our heroine is faced with a long lost relative. As I say, if you have read earlier books and come to care about her you will be interested; I wasn't that interested. But it's nice to read a crime tale set in modern rural Ireland.
I downloaded a copy through Net Galley and Fresh Fiction. This is an unbiased review.
June 12, 2018
I enjoy the setting and plot of this series, but Maura needs to grow up(?) or is it, develop as a character? Just open the door or answer the phone without asking 500 questions. Why would Sean have any interest in her, when all she ever talks about with him is the present case. Why does the "culprit" suddenly tell her everything, when he could have just as easily told the gardi? The only thing that kept me reading was when someone from her past shows up unexpectedly. I missed the book previous to this, have no desire to go back to it, and not sure I will continue with the series.
July 23, 2019
Abandoned this book about half way through. I found the pacing to be very slow and repetitive. To me the characters were cardboard and also not compelling in any way. Likely not fair to enter a review for something I did not finish but wanted to have this on record should I think about picking it or another title in the series up. I never abandon books so the fact that I am.....
January 15, 2019
This is the sixth book in the County Cork Mystery series and Maura is still trying to figure out if she wants to stay in Ireland and run the pub. Is she going to update and serve food, does she need an internet presence and what about Mick? In this story, a large company has bought the local hotel and is trying to get local businesses on board as other experiences for their guests. Maura is not sure about whether she wants to do this as they are trying to change them. She does not really like the man who is representing the company. When he ends up dead at the bottom of a cliff, the local guarda first have to determine if this was a murder, then who did it. When they are getting ready to question a woman who also works for the same company, she requests to talk to Maura first. Why? Who is this person and what does she want with Maura?
Sheila Connolly is a great writer and her books flow very nicely, however, I found this book very slow. It was very descriptive and I love learning about the area and the people, but it seemed the book was more about the characters than the mystery. Maura has also gotten a bit annoying to me. She needs to make up her mind and stop dithering about. She is a nice person for the most part, but some of the things she did and said in this book were a bit harsh. It was also nice getting to know more about Mick and his backstory. I still enjoy Billy and his crew at the pub. I love their betting pool and how they came around to help someone who needed it, even if Maura had to threaten them a bit. There was a new guarda in this story who came from a large city and he was not very likeable, but he also comes around in the end. I recommend this book to those who like cozy mysteries that are more character driven than totally about the mystery.
Sheila Connolly is a great writer and her books flow very nicely, however, I found this book very slow. It was very descriptive and I love learning about the area and the people, but it seemed the book was more about the characters than the mystery. Maura has also gotten a bit annoying to me. She needs to make up her mind and stop dithering about. She is a nice person for the most part, but some of the things she did and said in this book were a bit harsh. It was also nice getting to know more about Mick and his backstory. I still enjoy Billy and his crew at the pub. I love their betting pool and how they came around to help someone who needed it, even if Maura had to threaten them a bit. There was a new guarda in this story who came from a large city and he was not very likeable, but he also comes around in the end. I recommend this book to those who like cozy mysteries that are more character driven than totally about the mystery.
March 5, 2018
This is the second book in the County Cork Mysteries that I have read and I really, really enjoyed this one. I would love to visit Ireland, and Ms. Connolly’s writing gives a very good glimpse of what the real Ireland is like. I also like the characters in this series. They are well developed and I can tell from reading the first in the series till this one, they have developed even more over the course of the series.
In this one, a huge conglomerate from America has bought a local manor house turned hotel. They want Maura to collaborate with them at her pub to offer local talent to their patrons. After the meeting, a lot of twists happen. The head honcho of the conglomerate is killed, and one of the women, who showed a little more interest in Maura’s pub than the others, turns out to be Maura’s long lost mother.
This story was very intriguing and interesting. There was a lot more going on that just the mystery of killed the American hotel owner. I enjoyed how the story flowed and the many twists that turned up. Better yet were the character relationship developments. Maura had not seen her mother for over twenty years, but she was still willing to talk with her and did not just turn her away. There is also the budding relationship between Maura and Mick. Mick reveals some baggage to Maura that she had not known about. Of course, the Gardaí is always willing to listen to Maura and take her advice. This one did not turn out anything like I expected it to. This was a very good read, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
In this one, a huge conglomerate from America has bought a local manor house turned hotel. They want Maura to collaborate with them at her pub to offer local talent to their patrons. After the meeting, a lot of twists happen. The head honcho of the conglomerate is killed, and one of the women, who showed a little more interest in Maura’s pub than the others, turns out to be Maura’s long lost mother.
This story was very intriguing and interesting. There was a lot more going on that just the mystery of killed the American hotel owner. I enjoyed how the story flowed and the many twists that turned up. Better yet were the character relationship developments. Maura had not seen her mother for over twenty years, but she was still willing to talk with her and did not just turn her away. There is also the budding relationship between Maura and Mick. Mick reveals some baggage to Maura that she had not known about. Of course, the Gardaí is always willing to listen to Maura and take her advice. This one did not turn out anything like I expected it to. This was a very good read, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
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