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Tess and Tilly #6

The Saint Paddy's Promise

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If you love small towns, endearing relationships, food, animals, and a touch of murder, you will love this cozy mystery series. Sixty years ago a man made a promise to the woman he loved to meet her on Saint Patrick's Day. They were to meet in the park on the bench where they liked to sit and watch the world go by. The couple were deeply in love and planned to marry but he never showed up at the rendezvous point. Every Saint Patrick's Day since then the woman has made a pilgrimage to the bench to wait for her one true love. Tess and Tilly see the woman sitting with her granddaughter on the bench and decide to stop and chat. During their conversation the granddaughter tells Tess the story of her grandmother and the man who professed his love and promised to return but never did. Tess is drawn in by her story and agrees to try to find the answers, the elderly woman has sought all her life. She enlists the help of Tony as well as the woman's granddaughter. Meanwhile, Bree is knee deep in wedding planning, there is a new murder in town, and Tony gets a lead on Tess's father,

223 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 3, 2019

1022 people are currently reading
221 people want to read

About the author

Kathi Daley

357 books1,787 followers
Kathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.

Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).



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5 stars
918 (62%)
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393 (26%)
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129 (8%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
Profile Image for Mystereity Reviews.
778 reviews50 followers
September 18, 2021
This was good, I loved the central mystery of who shot Brick, it was a real rollercoaster with lots of theories, missing/hidden evidence and not many clues. I'd say this is the first book where relationship stuff largely took a back seat to the plot and was mostly Bree being a bridezilla. The side mysteries, the elderly lady looking for her loss love was wrapped up pretty quickly, both bittersweet and a bit heartbreaking. The continuing saga of Tess's father limped along in this book, but I enjoyed the ending.

Overall, a good read and I'm looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,209 reviews61 followers
March 12, 2019
“The Saint Paddy’s Promise” earns 5/5 Happy Endings & Justice…Clever!

Congratulations on the release of your 100th book! Exciting accomplishment…

Mystery and murder seems to have been delivered with first class postage! The mystery of true love has torn at Tess’s heart. Sixty years ago two people met, fell in love, promised to marry, and agreed to meet up on on St. Patrick’s Day to run away and start a new life together. However, the young man never returned, and for the last sixty years, now Nana, has made her annual St. Paddy pilgrimage hoping against hope he’d finally return. The murder has shocked residents of White Eagle. Brick Brannigan, owner the local bar, has been found…victim of a violent crime. Rumors fly about criminal activity and bad employees, but the curious clues of packages, letters, and and his interest in DNA results stump both the authorities and amateur sleuths.

Tess and Tilly Mystery, a favorite Kathi Daley series, and this sixth book is very engaging and hard to put down with more than one mystery, entertaining characters, close relationships, and several “fur” friends. Kathi’s writing style uses a first-person narrative from Tess’s perspective sharing her inner thought, laying out the clues, suggesting scenarios, and devising strategies to uncover the mystery. The realistic banter illustrates well the tone, emotion, and character personalities. And since no one investigates 24/7, Kathi always shares the lives and community connections with additional side stories: Tess and Tony grow in their relationship, dog training and adoptions continue, and BFF Bree and brother Mike find out it's not easy to have the wedding of everyone’s dreams. Although newbies can easily join the series here, it has been compelling to follow the evolution of relationships and especially the mystery surrounding Tess’s father as they slowly unfolding throughout the books. However, I always want more about the mysteries and murder that Kathi creates. She often summarizes important phone calls or conversations or computer searches after the fact instead of real time, and when a mystery started in the past, she does not employ flashbacks that I'd find engaging. But it's realism she captures! I still am totally entertained.
Profile Image for Taryn.
1,107 reviews34 followers
March 21, 2019
During her route Tess comes across an elderly woman and her granddaughter sitting on a bench in town. She comes to learn that sixty years ago the woman and her young man promised to meet each other at that bench and then they would begin their lives together. She comes every year to sit in that spot in hopes that one day they will meet again and she can learn why he has been gone for so long. Tess loves the story and hopes with the information given that she can help the woman find some much needed answers. Tess tells Tony about the woman and he agrees to help her look into the story. With Bree's upcoming wedding Tess hopes that she will be able to spend time on this new mystery. Bree has turned into a bridezilla and has Tess hoping that she can get her to see that what is important is that she will be marrying the man she loves. Meanwhile a local bar owner has been killed and has everyone upset. He was a great guy who didn't seem to have any real enemies, so who killed him and why? Tony thinks Tess should stay out of it and let her brother do his job and find the killer. Tess tries but she can't help herself when it comes to wanting to find out the truth. Will Tess be of help in this new investigation or will she hinder her brother along the way. Follow along and see what comes of a sixty year old mystery, a new murder, and what new information has come to light about Tess's dad. This was a great whodunit that had me jumping from suspect to suspect in hopes of landing on the truth. I look forward to diving into Tess's next mystery.
3,922 reviews1,763 followers
July 19, 2022
3.5

I bought two box sets on Audible so I've read the first six books in pretty quick succession and, since there's a carry-over secondary mystery plot, I think that's the best way to read them. Definitely start with book one and read them in order.

I was a bit disappointed that Saint Patrick's Day as a holiday didn't really feature in this holiday themed cozy. Plus there were three mysteries going on in this novel and I feel like all of them were rushed. This is definitely a cozy mystery series with the emphasis on cozy. The mysteries rely on a bit of snooping and mostly guess work on Tess's part and her police chief brother keeps her in the loop and even seeks out her help -- on scene even -- which is definitely a twist from the usual 'don't interfere in my investigation' police approach.

I really like these characters though and Tess's personal mystery has me intrigued. Also love the way the romance developed and her friend group and the whole small town vibe. And Tilly of course -- along with all the other critters we meet along the way.
Profile Image for Robin Leslie Coxon.
171 reviews51 followers
March 19, 2019
The sixth book in the Tess and Tilly cozy mystery series continues with a touch of romance past, romance future and of the growth of a romance...but also a murder thrown in. Although Tess says she will not get involved, she still finds she is drawn into helping her big brother Mike, who is the sheriff. Mike and Bree's wedding is coming soon and Tess being the maid of honor and best friend of Bree is trying her best to put out any fires that erupt during Bree's attempt to make arrangements. As if this isn't enough plots to fill a book we find Tess and Tony attempting to help a woman find answers to a romance from long ago. As always Tess has Tony to help her in her adventures and we see their relationship continue to grow. Kathi has once again taken all these avenues and blended them into one fun read.
Profile Image for Trish.
2,820 reviews40 followers
May 28, 2022
Not bad, but the ending was rushed and unconvincing.
Profile Image for Marissa.
3,574 reviews47 followers
March 12, 2019
Kindle Copy for Review

A sixty year promise comes to light with the help of Tess befriends a woman sitting in a park. She learns that the woman’s grandmother would visit this same bench in the park every year on March 17th taking the woman with her. A pilgrim to a long lost love where she would meet her love but things got in the way and he never showed up.

Tony might have another clue about her father’s disappearance as well as Bree’s wedding plans plus a murder to keep Tess on her toes. It is just another day in her life as a postal worker in Alaska.

A charming storyline by cozy writer Kathi Daley.
Profile Image for Lynne Moody.
452 reviews152 followers
March 19, 2019
Totally love this ! The characters are great and they meshed well together. Love how there's a couple of different Mysteries at the same time. The storyline definitely keep it interested with all the quirkiness that's going on in this book.
Profile Image for JoAn.
2,458 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2020
The Saint Paddy's Promise by Kathi Daley is another enticing cozy mystery set in White Eagle, Mt. A cold case missing person mystery and a murder kept me turning the pages. The characters are so well developed that I just feel like I'm with friends with each new book.
418 reviews7 followers
March 16, 2019
This was an enjoyable story. It has fast moving suspense, and had a climatic ending.
Profile Image for Kelly.
304 reviews6 followers
April 7, 2019
I am enjoying the way this series is written with an overarching mystery throughout and smaller mysteries in each book.
Profile Image for Cozybooklady .
2,177 reviews119 followers
August 15, 2019
Exciting stuff

Can't get enough of this series. Each book is packed with murder, secrets, family tragedy and so much more.
The ending had me shouting at the book.
Profile Image for Arow.
633 reviews2 followers
January 9, 2020
Another entertaining installment, an old mystery, a new murder and planning a wedding. What more could I ask for? Not much lol
Profile Image for RO G'ma.
1,061 reviews43 followers
August 18, 2019
The Saint Paddy’s Promise is the sixth book in Kathi Daley’s Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery series. The smooth writing style flows at a steady pace, the characters are well rounded and affable, and the storyline well plotted and interesting. As with all her books, Ms. Daley has provided readers with a clean, fun read, with caring and compassionate characters, an intriguing mystery to try to solve, and adorable dogs and cats. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted cozy mysteries.

Tess Thomas works for the United States Postal Service and enjoys delivering the mail and visiting with the town’s residents and business owners on her route in the small community of White Eagle, Montana. In addition to being a mail carrier, Tess is an animal shelter volunteer and works closely with Brady Baker, the local veterinarian and shelter owner, to train and place animals with people who are a perfect match for them. Tess's brother, Mike, is a member of the White Eagle Police Department and is engaged to her best friend, Bree Price, the owner of the local bookstore, Book Boutique. Her mom and aunt co-own Sisters’ Diner. Her boyfriend, Tony Marconi, who is extremely skilled at locating information and has contacts around the world, is trying to help Tess solve the mystery surrounding her father who reportedly died in an accident when she was a teenager, but who they believe may still be alive.

Bree swore she wouldn’t turn into a Bridezilla, but as her June wedding day approaches and things aren’t going as she hoped, she’s driving Tess a little crazy. Tess is determined to be the best maid of honor and offers workable alternatives each time a problem arises. After working with Brady and the shelter dogs, Tess and her dog, Tilly, meet Jennifer Anne Claremont and her grandmother who are sitting on a park bench. After introducing themselves and chatting for a few minutes, Jennifer explained that her grandmother has made the trip to White Eagle on March 17 for the past sixty years. Intrigued, Tess asks why and Jennifer shares her grandmother’s love story: Elizabeth Bradford met Patrick O’Malley, and they fell in love but knew their families wouldn’t approve of their relationship. Patrick went back east to take care of some business and personal matters, promising to return on St. Patrick’s Day, and they agreed to meet at the bench in the park, but he never returned. When Jennifer is done, Tess is so moved that she volunteered Tony to try to find Patrick or at least figure out why he never returned. Tony, who has a facial recognition program that alerts him of possible sightings of Tess’s father, receives an image of a man he believes to be her dad at a truck stop in Billings, Montana. The news is exciting because this is the second time a real-time hit has been received and the first time it’s been in the US, but when two men claiming to be CIA agents arrive at Tony’s home looking for her dad, they become concerned. Tess not only struggles to try to decide if she should share the sighting with Mike but also if they should continue their search and possibly confront him or let it go. When Brick Brannigan, a local bar owner, is found murdered in his bar, Tess knows Mike wants her to stay away from the investigation, but Brick was a friend, and she just can’t stand back and do nothing even though she tells Tony she’d mind her own business this time.
Profile Image for Laura.
3,205 reviews348 followers
March 13, 2019
Old love, new love, different sorts of love and relationships, all play a role in this, Kathi Daley's 100th novel. It would not be a Kathi Daley story without great characters and interesting relationships, including some adorable animals.
From all the stress involved with wedding planning, to an arranged rendezvous sixty years in the past that did not materialize, yet annually hope remains, to mysterious family ties, this book will keep you guessing. How will it tie together? Who else has secrets and answers?
Of course it is not a cozy mystery without murder and intrigue. Life and death play their roles and make us all worry.
You will not be disappointed. Even when some answers that have kept us curious since the first book are revealed, we are not finished with the secrets and consequences.
Profile Image for Darla Taylor.
1,850 reviews
March 19, 2019
Tess and Tilly are walking through the park on Saint Patrick's Day when they meet an elderly woman and her granddaughter. The granddaughter tells Tess her grandmother's story ~ sixty years ago she had met her one true love and they were going to elope. He had to return to his family to settle some things but promised her that he'd meet her at that bench on Saint Patrick's Day. When he never showed she continued to go to the bench every year. Tess is touched and tells the pair that she and her boyfriend, Tony, can look for the man and give the woman the answers she needs.

As usual, Kathi Daley has written a great book. The story runs smoothly and the characters are well-rounded. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Profile Image for Debra Jo Reads.
1,009 reviews56 followers
April 8, 2019
Such a great series!! It amazes me how so much mystery and such a detailed story can be packed into a short, quick read. The series has a great and relatable cast that I have easily become invested in. There is an ongoing mystery from the start of "what really happened to Tess and Mike's dad?" No Spoilers, but you get some information in this book finally. In typical cozy fashion, there is a murder; however, the cold case surrounding the murder is so detailed and intriguing. But wait, there is more!! How about a 60 year old missing persons case! I don't see anything on Goodreads, Amazon, or the author's website about a 7th book. I am sure there will be on because we need more answers and we need to see a wedding. I am just ready for more NOW!!
13 reviews
March 23, 2019
I've removed Katie Daley from my "follow" list. The books are poorly written and in desperate need of editing. There are too many "plot" lines, few of which are satisfactorily resolved, the characters are not well defined, and there are so many editing errors which are distracting to this reader (i.e. tense mistakes, plot mistakes, and spelling & grammar errors as well). I couldn't even finish this book. Daley has some promise as a writer, but so far, I'm disappointed and choose to spend my reading time with other more accomplished writers. Invest in a good editor, Ms. Daley, and consider adding the Xray feature, rather than cranking out sub-standard books.
1,221 reviews1 follower
January 17, 2025
I continue to read this quick easy series. The characters are pretty well developed and do change a bit with each book. They are close and protective of each other. Tess is drawn into the investigations but luckily does so usually in step with her brother - the police detective. This means a minimum of dumb moves to prove ideas, etc. I do enjoy her relationship with Tony despite her fears of going to visit his family. Three separate mysteries take place in this book. That means there is a bit of a rush to the overarching murder solution. Overall, pretty well done and I will continue with the series.
Profile Image for Monica.
1,105 reviews
March 14, 2019
Congratulations on your 100th book! Amazing achievement and outstanding book. I was totally absorbed in this, as I have been with all of the Tess & Tilly books. The characters are so wonderful and work so well together. I love how involved and caring Tony is about everyone in Tess' family and about strangers. And what a great cook he is. Everyone needs a Tony in their life. Great levels to multiple mysteries. When I got to the end of the book, I was absolutely ready for the next one. What a fantastic series!!!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
1,189 reviews
March 15, 2019
The Saint Paddy’s Promise: A Cozy Mystery ( A Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery #6 )
By: Kathi Daley
The Saint Paddy’s Promise is book six in A Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery Series. Wow, Ms. Daley just keeps on penning cozy mysteries that will have you reading way in the night. This is a clean, fun cozy mystery. The story is well written and the characters are well developed. There is a sixty year old mystery that is still unsolved, a murder to be solved, and a wedding to be planned. I was grabbed at the start and did not want to put it down. Ms. Daley will keep you guessing till the end.
72 reviews
April 4, 2019
The Saint Paddy’s Promise is the sixth episode in the Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery series. This book is filled with the elements of a cozy mystery including suspense, romance, humor, love, friends and family, and a sense of community. There are several heart-warming/heart-wrenching side stories within the mystery. Along with the suspense, there were moments that made me laugh, and moments that made me teary-eyed. As always, Ms. Daley’s writing flows smoothly, and her setting and relatable characters make for an extremely enjoyable read.

Profile Image for Nikki.
1,417 reviews12 followers
December 29, 2021
These are a great series of cozy mysteries which I'm reading in order at the rate of a couple a day, and I'm enjoying reading them very much.

Easy to read cozy mysteries with romance and every day life thrown in, set in the small town of White Eagle. Underlying each story is the ongoing mystery of Tess's Father's disappearance, will they get closer this time and will she have to come clean to Mike?

These books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.
595 reviews15 followers
January 30, 2022
This was an enjoyable 6th in the series. Tess meets a woman and her granddaughter who wait at a bench every St. Patrick's day in hopes of learning answers to why the man she fell in love with never showed up years ago. Tess and Tony decide to help find answers. Add Tess's best friend having a meltdown over her upcoming wedding, a murder that Tess can't help but get involved in, well, Tess is kept very busy. A fun read with likable characters, plus the added bonus of some yummy sounding recipes in the back.
Profile Image for Lisa Millett.
298 reviews10 followers
March 15, 2019
Best of this series

This series just keeps getting better. There is lots of action in this book between a murder of the local bar owner related to an old cold case and DNA as well as wedding planning for Tess' brother and best friend and finally the continued search for Tess' dad. I loved this book and look forward to more books in this series. Definitely worth the read for all mystery lovers. Great story line and great ending.
Profile Image for JoAnne.
1,827 reviews97 followers
March 19, 2019
Love reading about Tess, her friends and family, and animals. This book in this awesome series is full of hopes, dreams, love, wedding plans, and promises that lead to intriguing mysteries, disappearances, murders, shootings, and a reappearance. Add in the sleuthing, sightings, and a dramatic ending involving caring and compassionate characters and community and you will find a story that you will totally become immersed in and can't put down till finish.
Profile Image for Christine Goodnough.
Author 4 books18 followers
July 16, 2019
Compelling mystery, very well done

I enjoyed the opening mini mystery of the missing Patrick. I think that could have been elaborated on. And the main mystery was well plotted and credible.

So far the books I've read in this series are all very well executed, though I don't really appreciate the "casual" morality. I do hope there might be more to this series, since the issue of her father's disappearance still hasn't really been resolved.
Profile Image for Rose.
189 reviews27 followers
May 22, 2022
True Love With A Side of Murder

The Saint Paddy’s Promise was an exciting cozy with multiple mysteries, some cases closed and some still open. I love all of the quirky and lovable characters. Each mystery has a good dose of sadness wrapped up with happiness. I can’t wait to continue the Tess and Tilly series…Will Bree and Mike ever make it down the aisle? Will we ever learn what’s truly happening with Tess’s father? And will Tess and Tony’s relationship to blossom?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews

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