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Inishowen Mysteries #4
Murder at Greysbridge
'Haunting, atmospheric and gripping' John Connolly, New York Times best-selling author'A beguiling heroine - clever, sympathetic and bearing a weight of guilt' The TimesAccident or murder A perfect day hides the perfect crime . . . Summer has arrived in Inishowen and solicitor Ben O'Keeffe is greatly tempted by a job offer she's received from a law firm in America. Yet before making any life-changing decisions there is her friend Leah's wedding to attend at the newly restored Greysbridge Hotel, with its private beach and beautiful pier. It's the perfect location, everyone agrees, but the festivities are brutally cut short when a young American, a visitor also staying at the hotel, drowns in full view of the wedding guests. And when a second death is discovered the same evening, Ben finds herself embroiled in a real country house murder mystery, where all the guests are suspects . . .Praise for Andrea Carter'I adored this traditional crime novel; it's modern day Agatha Christie with Ben as Miss Marple' Irish Examiner'Atmospheric and vivid' Irish Times'An engaging read' Irish Independent'The colourful cast of characters may be fictional, but the landscapes, towns and villages are instantly recognisable' Irish Daily Mail'. . . filled with well-drawn and engaging characters, lyrical descriptions of the stunning scenery, and intriguing mysteries to be unravelled . . . hugely enjoyable . . .' Irish Independent'A modern day Agatha Christie . . . it builds to a crescendo in a dramatic and highly satisfying close' Books Ireland Magazine'A proper old-fashioned crime novel in the best sense of the word' Jane Casey
336 pages, Paperback
First published October 4, 2018
85 people are currently reading
893 people want to read
About the author
Andrea Carter
7 books240 followersAndrea Carter graduated in law from Trinity College, Dublin. She qualified as a solicitor and moved to the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal where she lived and worked for a number of years. In 2005 she transferred to the Bar and moved to Dublin to practise as a barrister. She grew up in Ballyfin, Co. Laois.
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October 31, 2023
Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter
This is the forth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series and now I have to wait for the next book to be published in the US. Ben and company always leave me wanting more because I've come to love Glendara, the area around it, and the people we've come to know through the first three books. Benedicta (Ben) O'Keeffe's solicitor office will be closed for most of a week, as her assistant is getting married. Ben will be attending the wedding, held at the newly renovated Greysbridge Hotel. New hotel owner, Ian Grey, is trying to make a go of the business after buying the hotel back, long after a relative lost it to gambling debts. The man who had it build, his long ago ancestor, Linus Grey, a powerful man with a seat in the House of Lords, was the subject of disturbing rumors and the hotel is also rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Louisa Grey, Linus's daughter, who died as a young woman.
But we know nothing is simple in the life of Ben. The wedding festivities are shattered by the drowning of a young guest of the hotel and then, another death of the only other non wedding related guest of the hotel. Ben was already very interested in the ugly rumors regarding shady Linus Grey and his daughter's mysterious death. Then there are the odd acting residents of the nearby island, attending the wedding on the side of the groom. Rumors follow this group too and they don't improve on the rumors by acting secretive and unfriendly. Oh, and Ben is pretty sure someone was in her room the first night she was at the hotel. And what about that blocked off passage that leads to an eyesore of a later addition to the hotel, an addition that is accessed by a horribly ugly bridge?
Ben and Sergeant Tom Molloy's shaky relationship continues to get a workout. These two are so bad at communicating with each other that they just need to get married and make their misery permanent...ha ha We have Ben sticking her nose where she's not wanted, as usual, Tom nagging her to stay out of official business, and other's asking for Ben's help in regards to what is going on. It's not her fault she seems to be in the thick of things! As usual, these stories are slow burn, lots of thinking and pondering and trying to figure out the mystery of the tangled web of clues and non clues. Each story leaves me hankering for the next one, as if the lives of the community continue on even after each book ends. I can't wait for book number five.
Pub: Nov 2, 2021
Thank you Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is the forth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series and now I have to wait for the next book to be published in the US. Ben and company always leave me wanting more because I've come to love Glendara, the area around it, and the people we've come to know through the first three books. Benedicta (Ben) O'Keeffe's solicitor office will be closed for most of a week, as her assistant is getting married. Ben will be attending the wedding, held at the newly renovated Greysbridge Hotel. New hotel owner, Ian Grey, is trying to make a go of the business after buying the hotel back, long after a relative lost it to gambling debts. The man who had it build, his long ago ancestor, Linus Grey, a powerful man with a seat in the House of Lords, was the subject of disturbing rumors and the hotel is also rumored to be haunted by the ghost of Louisa Grey, Linus's daughter, who died as a young woman.
But we know nothing is simple in the life of Ben. The wedding festivities are shattered by the drowning of a young guest of the hotel and then, another death of the only other non wedding related guest of the hotel. Ben was already very interested in the ugly rumors regarding shady Linus Grey and his daughter's mysterious death. Then there are the odd acting residents of the nearby island, attending the wedding on the side of the groom. Rumors follow this group too and they don't improve on the rumors by acting secretive and unfriendly. Oh, and Ben is pretty sure someone was in her room the first night she was at the hotel. And what about that blocked off passage that leads to an eyesore of a later addition to the hotel, an addition that is accessed by a horribly ugly bridge?
Ben and Sergeant Tom Molloy's shaky relationship continues to get a workout. These two are so bad at communicating with each other that they just need to get married and make their misery permanent...ha ha We have Ben sticking her nose where she's not wanted, as usual, Tom nagging her to stay out of official business, and other's asking for Ben's help in regards to what is going on. It's not her fault she seems to be in the thick of things! As usual, these stories are slow burn, lots of thinking and pondering and trying to figure out the mystery of the tangled web of clues and non clues. Each story leaves me hankering for the next one, as if the lives of the community continue on even after each book ends. I can't wait for book number five.
Pub: Nov 2, 2021
Thank you Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC.
October 18, 2021
In
Murder at Greysbridge
, Andrea Carter brings a gripping and atmospheric mystery with solid characters to a remote locale in Ireland. It’s the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series featuring Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keefe.
Ben is preparing to leave with her friend Maeve to a wedding in a recently renovated hotel near the coast. Her assistant Leah is getting married there. Besides the wedding, Ben is struggling with several issues in her personal life and balancing her legal obligations at the same time. But when a young visitor staying at the hotel drowns in front of several wedding guests and another death occurs later that evening, Ben can’t help but put on her sleuthing hat.
Ben is a likeable character and one that is curious and good at getting people to talk to her. However, also has insecurities and she tends to keep information to herself at times when she should communicate it to others. While this flaw made her seem more realistic, it could also be slightly irritating at times. There are numerous characters in this story that add conflict and support. While some are wonderfully nuanced and complicated, others fill lesser roles and have less depth. However, they are introduced gradually, making it easy to keep them straight.
The author did a great job of world-building. There was a strong sense of place that transported this reader to Ireland. I was captivated by the setting. Carter’s experience as a solicitor and a barrister gives additional credence to the legal activities in the book. Themes include family history, romance, grief, complicated feelings, teenage rebellion against controlling parents, secrets, genealogy, guilt, and much more. The novel is well-plotted and readers should pay attention to small details as some play a role in the solving of the cases. There are several twists and turns to the plot. I enjoyed piecing all of the puzzle pieces together. It’s more complicated than one might originally think. While the mysteries are solved satisfactorily, Ben’s personal life is still up in the air with several loose threads to be woven into the next book in the series.
Overall, this was a well-written and entertaining mystery that kept me fully engaged. The story was compelling. Although the series is best read in order, this worked as a standalone novel for me. If you enjoy cozy mysteries set in Ireland, then this is a series to consider as your next read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher and author in a Goodreads Giveaway This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. The publication date is currently scheduled for November 2, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
Ben is preparing to leave with her friend Maeve to a wedding in a recently renovated hotel near the coast. Her assistant Leah is getting married there. Besides the wedding, Ben is struggling with several issues in her personal life and balancing her legal obligations at the same time. But when a young visitor staying at the hotel drowns in front of several wedding guests and another death occurs later that evening, Ben can’t help but put on her sleuthing hat.
Ben is a likeable character and one that is curious and good at getting people to talk to her. However, also has insecurities and she tends to keep information to herself at times when she should communicate it to others. While this flaw made her seem more realistic, it could also be slightly irritating at times. There are numerous characters in this story that add conflict and support. While some are wonderfully nuanced and complicated, others fill lesser roles and have less depth. However, they are introduced gradually, making it easy to keep them straight.
The author did a great job of world-building. There was a strong sense of place that transported this reader to Ireland. I was captivated by the setting. Carter’s experience as a solicitor and a barrister gives additional credence to the legal activities in the book. Themes include family history, romance, grief, complicated feelings, teenage rebellion against controlling parents, secrets, genealogy, guilt, and much more. The novel is well-plotted and readers should pay attention to small details as some play a role in the solving of the cases. There are several twists and turns to the plot. I enjoyed piecing all of the puzzle pieces together. It’s more complicated than one might originally think. While the mysteries are solved satisfactorily, Ben’s personal life is still up in the air with several loose threads to be woven into the next book in the series.
Overall, this was a well-written and entertaining mystery that kept me fully engaged. The story was compelling. Although the series is best read in order, this worked as a standalone novel for me. If you enjoy cozy mysteries set in Ireland, then this is a series to consider as your next read.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher and author in a Goodreads Giveaway This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. The publication date is currently scheduled for November 2, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
August 31, 2021
This is the latest in Andrea Carter's Irish Inishowen Mysteries series, set in County Donegal, featuring Benedicta 'Ben' O'Keeffe, a solicitor with a law practice in Glendara. It's a surprisingly sweltering summer, and Ben is mulling over taking up a post in Florida, she's involved with new local doctor, Harry Dubois from Canada, after Sergeant Tom Molloy left and contacted her less and less. However, before she makes decisions, she has a wedding to attend, her assistant Leah is marrying Kevin, whose family are from the small reclusive island community of Inishathair. The wedding is at Greysbridge Hotel, their first wedding, the owners, Ian and Abby were Ben's clients, it has a reputation for being haunted, by the ghost of Louisa Grey, the daughter of Linus, a powerful man with a seat in the House of Lords.
We see the return of a cast of supporting characters, Ben travels to the wedding with local vet, and bookstore owner, Phyllis Kettle, is the celebrant in colourful African dress presiding over her first wedding. Kevin's side of the family include his Aunt Belva, and his best man is Fridge, the islanders choosing to stay on their boats. The hotel has strange noises at night, and Ben, who is in Louisa's old room, can feel a strong presence that makes her feel distinctly uneasy. The wedding celebrations are marred by two deaths, the first in front of many wedding guests, a drowning, and another guest discovered dead in his room in suspicious circumstances. These deaths sees the return of Tom Molloy investigating, giving a cryptic explanation to Ben as to why he had not been in touch as he had been working a case covertly that he is not at liberty to talk about.
With Leah's younger sister going missing with her boyfriend, Finn, and the wife of one of the victims asking Ben to look at the papers of her husband, a man obsessed with and researching the Greybridge Hotel and the Grey family, Ben finds herself pitched into what might be two murders, suspecting that Tom is being less than forthcoming about what he knows. This is another engaging and entertaining addition to this wonderful Irish mystery series, Carter provides a terrific sense of location, and there is a possibility that Ben's relationship with Tom might be revived. I understand the series is being turned into a TV series, I can't wait to see it. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
We see the return of a cast of supporting characters, Ben travels to the wedding with local vet, and bookstore owner, Phyllis Kettle, is the celebrant in colourful African dress presiding over her first wedding. Kevin's side of the family include his Aunt Belva, and his best man is Fridge, the islanders choosing to stay on their boats. The hotel has strange noises at night, and Ben, who is in Louisa's old room, can feel a strong presence that makes her feel distinctly uneasy. The wedding celebrations are marred by two deaths, the first in front of many wedding guests, a drowning, and another guest discovered dead in his room in suspicious circumstances. These deaths sees the return of Tom Molloy investigating, giving a cryptic explanation to Ben as to why he had not been in touch as he had been working a case covertly that he is not at liberty to talk about.
With Leah's younger sister going missing with her boyfriend, Finn, and the wife of one of the victims asking Ben to look at the papers of her husband, a man obsessed with and researching the Greybridge Hotel and the Grey family, Ben finds herself pitched into what might be two murders, suspecting that Tom is being less than forthcoming about what he knows. This is another engaging and entertaining addition to this wonderful Irish mystery series, Carter provides a terrific sense of location, and there is a possibility that Ben's relationship with Tom might be revived. I understand the series is being turned into a TV series, I can't wait to see it. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
December 6, 2023
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Fourth in the series is a dangerous passage for a writer. The temptation is to let things get samey, or to overcomplicate things; seldom does one find the writer whose abilities include knowing what makes a series work for the long haul. I think we might have a winner in Author Andrea Carter.
Ben O'Keeffe is glad that Leah, her assistant, will have the very first wedding at Greysbridge. It's a fine old landed-gentry house that Abby and Ian Grey have brought back into their family after a profligate ancestor lost in a card game! What they needed was an event, and a locally beloved soul's wedding is perfect. Until, of course, it isn't...there are disasters piling up on the day, and the deaths of two seemingly unconnected men from different countries occur in such close time and physical proximity that the Garda gets involved.
Which means Ben's ex, Tom Molloy, returns to Inishowen. Which means her casual thing developing with new-to-Glendara Harry Dubois, the new G.P., is suddenly complicated. Which means that Ben's nosy neighbors will quickly be weighing in on which path she should choose...Phyllis the bookstore owner (who's also now a Reverend of some sect or another) and Iain the estate agent aren't likely not to share their ideas with her. Not to mention bestie/vet Maeve. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Guinness the cat doesn't weigh in soon.
What happens next is a bolt from the blue regarding her clients, the Greys...there are more secrets than just the ones we were made privy to in the last installment! And they get...intense. Add to the ordinary parent/child tensions within the Grey family the unusual way their son came to them, then top that off with a revelation or two about their business lives...that's enough for a book, but not for this book.
While the Greys are stewing, and their adopted son running, the issues surrounding the deaths of two people who are apparent strangers to each other are coming together with the odd little island community off Malin Head and directly across the North Atlantic from Greysbridge. There are so many things swirling in the waters between the locales that it becomes a bit wearing to keep track of them. And there are threads that get dropped...Harry Dubois vanishes early and reappears in Ben's thoughts and the investigation barely often enough to keep the name from requiring a bit of flipping to recall...but in the end, his presence and involvement are such worthwhile additions to the story that I'm inclined to be forgiving.
The problems I had with this read were mostly around the pace of the story. When Author Carter put all these pieces together, I think she underestimated how complex machinery needs time to spool up and find equilibrium. In this case, that meant a lot of scene-setting that wouldn't obviously pay off until later. The time we spend following Ben and Maeve around, then Ben and Tom around, is not badly spent. You won't necessarily think that as it happens, but I encourage you to sit with the situations you're seeing and let the slow accretion of facts do their work. Remember the way you learned to solve puzzles as a kid? One piece fits with another, then another after that, and finally there's a whole new pattern at the end. This story's about the best illustration of that truth as any I've read this year.
I don't know much about the Irish relationship to the UK's corner of it, or of Ireland's interest in Scottish independence, but they're clearly coming to a head as Brexit squashes the livelihoods of people too poor to matter to the Tories. And it's not really a surprise that the primary beneficiaries of the situation will be organized criminals, is it.
The actual solutions to all the crimes are plausible, and are just going to keep the local criminal classes thoroughly on the hop, so they're working to our advantage. While these books really can be read as stand-alones, since we're given more than enough information to follow along with who's who and what's what, I don't recommend it. I skipped (inadvertently) book two, Treacherous Strand, and after the spoilers for it in book three felt there was no need to or profit in my urge to go back. We have another year to wait for book five, The Body Falls, to come out.
Why does a year sound like such a long time....
My Review: Fourth in the series is a dangerous passage for a writer. The temptation is to let things get samey, or to overcomplicate things; seldom does one find the writer whose abilities include knowing what makes a series work for the long haul. I think we might have a winner in Author Andrea Carter.
Ben O'Keeffe is glad that Leah, her assistant, will have the very first wedding at Greysbridge. It's a fine old landed-gentry house that Abby and Ian Grey have brought back into their family after a profligate ancestor lost in a card game! What they needed was an event, and a locally beloved soul's wedding is perfect. Until, of course, it isn't...there are disasters piling up on the day, and the deaths of two seemingly unconnected men from different countries occur in such close time and physical proximity that the Garda gets involved.
Which means Ben's ex, Tom Molloy, returns to Inishowen. Which means her casual thing developing with new-to-Glendara Harry Dubois, the new G.P., is suddenly complicated. Which means that Ben's nosy neighbors will quickly be weighing in on which path she should choose...Phyllis the bookstore owner (who's also now a Reverend of some sect or another) and Iain the estate agent aren't likely not to share their ideas with her. Not to mention bestie/vet Maeve. Wouldn't be at all surprised if Guinness the cat doesn't weigh in soon.
What happens next is a bolt from the blue regarding her clients, the Greys...there are more secrets than just the ones we were made privy to in the last installment! And they get...intense. Add to the ordinary parent/child tensions within the Grey family the unusual way their son came to them, then top that off with a revelation or two about their business lives...that's enough for a book, but not for this book.
While the Greys are stewing, and their adopted son running, the issues surrounding the deaths of two people who are apparent strangers to each other are coming together with the odd little island community off Malin Head and directly across the North Atlantic from Greysbridge. There are so many things swirling in the waters between the locales that it becomes a bit wearing to keep track of them. And there are threads that get dropped...Harry Dubois vanishes early and reappears in Ben's thoughts and the investigation barely often enough to keep the name from requiring a bit of flipping to recall...but in the end, his presence and involvement are such worthwhile additions to the story that I'm inclined to be forgiving.
The problems I had with this read were mostly around the pace of the story. When Author Carter put all these pieces together, I think she underestimated how complex machinery needs time to spool up and find equilibrium. In this case, that meant a lot of scene-setting that wouldn't obviously pay off until later. The time we spend following Ben and Maeve around, then Ben and Tom around, is not badly spent. You won't necessarily think that as it happens, but I encourage you to sit with the situations you're seeing and let the slow accretion of facts do their work. Remember the way you learned to solve puzzles as a kid? One piece fits with another, then another after that, and finally there's a whole new pattern at the end. This story's about the best illustration of that truth as any I've read this year.
I don't know much about the Irish relationship to the UK's corner of it, or of Ireland's interest in Scottish independence, but they're clearly coming to a head as Brexit squashes the livelihoods of people too poor to matter to the Tories. And it's not really a surprise that the primary beneficiaries of the situation will be organized criminals, is it.
The actual solutions to all the crimes are plausible, and are just going to keep the local criminal classes thoroughly on the hop, so they're working to our advantage. While these books really can be read as stand-alones, since we're given more than enough information to follow along with who's who and what's what, I don't recommend it. I skipped (inadvertently) book two, Treacherous Strand, and after the spoilers for it in book three felt there was no need to or profit in my urge to go back. We have another year to wait for book five, The Body Falls, to come out.
Why does a year sound like such a long time....
September 11, 2021
If you're looking for a well-written, enjoyable series with a bit out-of-the-ordinary setting and characters, may I suggest this one? This is the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series, and I previously read the third ("The Well of Ice"). Both are very entertaining and can stand well alone, though as is my custom, I advise starting any new series at the beginning.
It seems to me I actually like this one a titch better than the third, although it's easy to chalk a big part of that up to being familiar with at least the two main characters. The primary focus is on Benedicta "Ben" O'Keeffe, a solicitor (lawyer) in Glendara, Inishowen, Ireland. As this begins, her romance with police officer Tom Molloy seems to have ended - he left without much explanation, much to her disappointment. She and local veterinarian Harry Dubois are an item, although Ben doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about him. Besides, she's been offered a job in Florida, so maybe now isn't the time to get too serious.
Ben runs O'Keefe & Co. Solicitors in Glendara, and she's off to attend the wedding of her friend and office colleague, Leah. The ceremony and reception is being held at Greysbridge, a storied manor that was purchased and renovated by a member of the original family (and the owners are Ben's clients). It's a beautiful place, but rumor has it that at least one ghost is a frequent unregistered guest - as Ben suspects may be true when she beds down for her first night there. She and Leah also come across some odd features that apparently were added to the house but now are totally sealed off.
The ceremony goes along swimmingly until a young American who has an interest in the property's history appears to have done likewise; problem is, he never learned how. Despite attempts to revive him by Dr. Harry and others, he's a goner. But he's not the last to bite the dust; a second man - another history lover who wants to bring the story to the world, also turns up dead in his room. This time, it's clear that foul play was involved, leading to the suspicion that the young man's death wasn't an accident. And what to Ben's wandering eye should appear but - you guessed it - her ex-lover Molloy, who's come to investigate.
Thrown in the mix are a suspicious gardener, a couple of errant teenage lovers who go missing (with, of course, Ben trying to track them down) and assorted family members, some of whom are reclusives from a nearby island who don't play well with others. Solving the murders is the real focus, though, and that takes Ben and Molloy to the strange island of Inishathair with the hope of returning intact. Like its predecessor, this book has a cast of thousands - yes, I exaggerate - making it a bit of a chore to keep everyone straight. Things work out in the end as well they should, but a couple of ends remain loose (such as the status of Ben's relationships with Molloy and the good doctor). Now I'm ready for the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. An-mhaith!
It seems to me I actually like this one a titch better than the third, although it's easy to chalk a big part of that up to being familiar with at least the two main characters. The primary focus is on Benedicta "Ben" O'Keeffe, a solicitor (lawyer) in Glendara, Inishowen, Ireland. As this begins, her romance with police officer Tom Molloy seems to have ended - he left without much explanation, much to her disappointment. She and local veterinarian Harry Dubois are an item, although Ben doesn't seem all that enthusiastic about him. Besides, she's been offered a job in Florida, so maybe now isn't the time to get too serious.
Ben runs O'Keefe & Co. Solicitors in Glendara, and she's off to attend the wedding of her friend and office colleague, Leah. The ceremony and reception is being held at Greysbridge, a storied manor that was purchased and renovated by a member of the original family (and the owners are Ben's clients). It's a beautiful place, but rumor has it that at least one ghost is a frequent unregistered guest - as Ben suspects may be true when she beds down for her first night there. She and Leah also come across some odd features that apparently were added to the house but now are totally sealed off.
The ceremony goes along swimmingly until a young American who has an interest in the property's history appears to have done likewise; problem is, he never learned how. Despite attempts to revive him by Dr. Harry and others, he's a goner. But he's not the last to bite the dust; a second man - another history lover who wants to bring the story to the world, also turns up dead in his room. This time, it's clear that foul play was involved, leading to the suspicion that the young man's death wasn't an accident. And what to Ben's wandering eye should appear but - you guessed it - her ex-lover Molloy, who's come to investigate.
Thrown in the mix are a suspicious gardener, a couple of errant teenage lovers who go missing (with, of course, Ben trying to track them down) and assorted family members, some of whom are reclusives from a nearby island who don't play well with others. Solving the murders is the real focus, though, and that takes Ben and Molloy to the strange island of Inishathair with the hope of returning intact. Like its predecessor, this book has a cast of thousands - yes, I exaggerate - making it a bit of a chore to keep everyone straight. Things work out in the end as well they should, but a couple of ends remain loose (such as the status of Ben's relationships with Molloy and the good doctor). Now I'm ready for the next one, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. An-mhaith!
December 9, 2021
Classic complications in a modern manor house
“Murder at Greysbridge” is part of the “Inishowen Mystery” series, but as a new reader, I was immediately pulled into the story, and all I needed to know about the characters was part of the narrative. Readers quickly get to know the community through the first-person narrative of solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe. The previous year she assisted Ian and Abby Grey with their purchase of the Greysbridge Estate, now a small hotel. Ben is attending a wedding there, and it is a typical wedding, well, until it is not. Readers meet the bride and groom, wedding guests, relatives, house employees, and a couple of paying guests.
The story unfolds like an Agatha Christie “country manor tale” but with a modern twist. The Greysbridge estate is the star of the story, and the masterpiece-like atmosphere is detailed and complete. It is a classic setting complete with strange grounds and sculptures, but the grand staircase makes it a perfect venue for a wedding. There is something secretive about the mansion, of course, something dark and hidden from the world. Some houses are like that; bad things happened there, so bad things continue to happen there. And of course, there is an old library, a family burial plot, a rumor of a ghost, and that strange yet inaccessible bridge.
“Murder at Greysbridge” is filled with modern problems that evolve like classic complications. Readers wonder what else could possibly go wrong during this wedding, and then they find out. I was given a review copy of “Murder at Greysbridge” from Andrea Carter and Oceanview Publishing. It combines the atmosphere of a classic mystery with the tension of a modern thriller; it “bridges” the gap.
“Murder at Greysbridge” is part of the “Inishowen Mystery” series, but as a new reader, I was immediately pulled into the story, and all I needed to know about the characters was part of the narrative. Readers quickly get to know the community through the first-person narrative of solicitor Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe. The previous year she assisted Ian and Abby Grey with their purchase of the Greysbridge Estate, now a small hotel. Ben is attending a wedding there, and it is a typical wedding, well, until it is not. Readers meet the bride and groom, wedding guests, relatives, house employees, and a couple of paying guests.
The story unfolds like an Agatha Christie “country manor tale” but with a modern twist. The Greysbridge estate is the star of the story, and the masterpiece-like atmosphere is detailed and complete. It is a classic setting complete with strange grounds and sculptures, but the grand staircase makes it a perfect venue for a wedding. There is something secretive about the mansion, of course, something dark and hidden from the world. Some houses are like that; bad things happened there, so bad things continue to happen there. And of course, there is an old library, a family burial plot, a rumor of a ghost, and that strange yet inaccessible bridge.
“Murder at Greysbridge” is filled with modern problems that evolve like classic complications. Readers wonder what else could possibly go wrong during this wedding, and then they find out. I was given a review copy of “Murder at Greysbridge” from Andrea Carter and Oceanview Publishing. It combines the atmosphere of a classic mystery with the tension of a modern thriller; it “bridges” the gap.
January 26, 2022
Murder at Greysbridge is the fourth book in the Inishowen Mysteries series. Benedicta (Ben) O’Keeffe is a local attorney in Glendara, a small town in northern Ireland. She has been involved with solving a few murder mysteries, and is drawn into a new one.
Ben’s assistant is getting married. The wedding is to be held at a renovated hotel that is rumored to be haunted. Ben’s investigative skills come in handy when not one, but two, hotel guests die. Along with the mystery, Ben has a lot happening in her personal and professional lives.
I recommend reading this series in order. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.
Murder at Greysbridge is an atmospheric mystery with an isolated setting. This series has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Murder at Greysbridge is a gripping mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
Ben’s assistant is getting married. The wedding is to be held at a renovated hotel that is rumored to be haunted. Ben’s investigative skills come in handy when not one, but two, hotel guests die. Along with the mystery, Ben has a lot happening in her personal and professional lives.
I recommend reading this series in order. While the mystery and some of the characters are new, the recurring characters have a history that progresses between books.
Murder at Greysbridge is an atmospheric mystery with an isolated setting. This series has similarities with cozy mysteries – small town setting, quirky characters, and an amateur sleuth, but it is darker than most cozies. Murder at Greysbridge is a gripping mystery. I can’t wait to read the next book.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
November 13, 2021
Ben O'Keeffe attends to a wedding at Greybridge House which is said to be haunted. When two bodies are discovered she is trying the detectives to solve the case. Unfortunately, I could not connect to the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc.
Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc.
November 13, 2021
Murder at Greysbridge is the fourth book in the Inishowen Murders series set in Donegal, Ireland. This is my first time reading a book by Andrea Carter. The series stars Solicitor Benedicta “Ben” O’Keefe of Glendara, who, in this installment is preparing to go to her legal assistant’s wedding over the weekend at a local country home turned hotel. None of the attendees have any idea of what is ahead.
Greysbridge itself, the site of the wedding, has a reputation for being haunted and there is a guest present, separate from the wedding party, who is researching the house and Grey family history. There are also some guests from the “other” side of the family who live remote lives on a nearby island. The ground is somewhat set and what could possibly go wrong. Well…murder goes wrong. I’m not going to go deeply into plot; there are many places to get that.
What I liked—the mix of characters, the setting, the basic plot which kept me reading until the end.
What I didn’t like as much—the story seemed overwritten at times. I wanted it edited down a bit. I liked the story but there was too much of it. And sometimes Ben simply doesn’t behave like a real person (maybe I’m being curmudgeonly here).
Rating is 3.5* rounded down.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Greysbridge itself, the site of the wedding, has a reputation for being haunted and there is a guest present, separate from the wedding party, who is researching the house and Grey family history. There are also some guests from the “other” side of the family who live remote lives on a nearby island. The ground is somewhat set and what could possibly go wrong. Well…murder goes wrong. I’m not going to go deeply into plot; there are many places to get that.
What I liked—the mix of characters, the setting, the basic plot which kept me reading until the end.
What I didn’t like as much—the story seemed overwritten at times. I wanted it edited down a bit. I liked the story but there was too much of it. And sometimes Ben simply doesn’t behave like a real person (maybe I’m being curmudgeonly here).
Rating is 3.5* rounded down.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
November 6, 2021
This is the fourth of Inishowen series featuring Solicitor Benedicta O’Keeffe of
County Donegal. It is the first one I have read and I am glad I discovered this little gem. The comparison to Miss Marple and description as a “cozy”mystery I read in some reviews almost put me off. While there was not a lot of overt action and certainly there was tea, I thought it a step up from cozy mysteries and Ben is certainly no elderly spinster doddering around.
The murders do not occur until one quarter through the book. What occurs instead is good character development and wonderful atmospheric descriptions of Greysbridge Hotel, the Irish seaside, and the nearby island. As the plot develops, what may initially seem like a very simple case has much more to it.
While this is part of a series, it worked fine as a standalone although I would have liked to know more about the death of Ben’s sister. There are references to that case and the perpetrator, but it is never explained or summarized. At the conclusion, some life decisions for Ben are left hanging and now I can’t wait until the next book to find out the resolutions.
County Donegal. It is the first one I have read and I am glad I discovered this little gem. The comparison to Miss Marple and description as a “cozy”mystery I read in some reviews almost put me off. While there was not a lot of overt action and certainly there was tea, I thought it a step up from cozy mysteries and Ben is certainly no elderly spinster doddering around.
The murders do not occur until one quarter through the book. What occurs instead is good character development and wonderful atmospheric descriptions of Greysbridge Hotel, the Irish seaside, and the nearby island. As the plot develops, what may initially seem like a very simple case has much more to it.
While this is part of a series, it worked fine as a standalone although I would have liked to know more about the death of Ben’s sister. There are references to that case and the perpetrator, but it is never explained or summarized. At the conclusion, some life decisions for Ben are left hanging and now I can’t wait until the next book to find out the resolutions.
June 12, 2020
Another excellent installment in this series. And this one really kept me guessing.
March 9, 2022
This is the fourth book in the Inishowen mystery series and by now I have come to know and love all the characters.
This installment in the series had a great mystery at its core. Long-standing family skeletons are unearthed along with the overriding theme of avarice. Ben O'Keeffe plays a pivotal role in solving the case mostly due to her overwhelming nosiness.
Greysbridge, the hotel, was an old house with a lot of sordid history and was a great setting.
The ending of the book was great, and this is probably my favourite book in the Inishowen series so far. Now I'm more eager than ever to read the next book in the series and already have the fifth book loaded on my Kindle.
The author is a solicitor herself, so that part of the narrative is knowledgeable and convincing. Not gritty by any means, yet somehow more serious than a 'cozy', this is a series that I can heartily recommend.
This installment in the series had a great mystery at its core. Long-standing family skeletons are unearthed along with the overriding theme of avarice. Ben O'Keeffe plays a pivotal role in solving the case mostly due to her overwhelming nosiness.
Greysbridge, the hotel, was an old house with a lot of sordid history and was a great setting.
The ending of the book was great, and this is probably my favourite book in the Inishowen series so far. Now I'm more eager than ever to read the next book in the series and already have the fifth book loaded on my Kindle.
The author is a solicitor herself, so that part of the narrative is knowledgeable and convincing. Not gritty by any means, yet somehow more serious than a 'cozy', this is a series that I can heartily recommend.
January 17, 2024
I read this book as a stand alone from the series which was still easy to read and understand I didn’t feel like I was missing any details from the previous books.
I felt it was a bit slow to start but then the story was spread really well throughout the book throwing twists and turns in every chapter making it a really hard book to put down
The only disappointment for me was how lack lustre the ending was, it just seemed it was wrapped up way too quick for the way the book was written. Still a good ending but I just didn’t expect it to end so quickly based on how it had been written
I felt it was a bit slow to start but then the story was spread really well throughout the book throwing twists and turns in every chapter making it a really hard book to put down
The only disappointment for me was how lack lustre the ending was, it just seemed it was wrapped up way too quick for the way the book was written. Still a good ending but I just didn’t expect it to end so quickly based on how it had been written
July 30, 2021
Benedicta O'Keeffe is a solicitor in a small town in Ireland. She is invited to a wedding at Greysbridge Hotel, which is reputed to be haunted, and some of the guests are decidedly odd. Then there are two deaths--were they both murders? Two teenagers disappear, and Ben's friend requests that she help search for them on a strange island near the Greysbridge Hotel. I think any mystery reader would enjoy not only the atmosphere created by the Irish seaside setting and the creepy hotel, but also the appealing characters and the twisty plot. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
October 20, 2023
great series
I just love this series, and with each book I’m becoming more and more attached to both the characters and the setting.
Mysterious, sinister and compelling reading.
I just love this series, and with each book I’m becoming more and more attached to both the characters and the setting.
Mysterious, sinister and compelling reading.
February 24, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Well, the plot was not as tight as some of the other Inishowen mysteries and I really wanted Ben and Tom to get their act together, but still...
I am looking forward to getting my hands on The Body Falls.
Well, the plot was not as tight as some of the other Inishowen mysteries and I really wanted Ben and Tom to get their act together, but still...
I am looking forward to getting my hands on The Body Falls.
August 5, 2024
This is number 4 in the series and I enjoy the strong, main female character as well as the side kicks in this beautiful Irish village.
March 11, 2021
This is the fourth stand alone mystery set in Inishowen, in Ireland, featuring Benedicta [Ben] O'Keeffe. Ben is a solicitor in Glendara, a delightful Irish town in County Donegal. Just the kind of place where you'd like to live.
Juggling a couple of men complicates her love life. The wedding of her "girl Friday" complicates her business. But the complication that comes at the wedding is much more than she bargains for.
Be prepared for strange relatives [too many to keep track of without pen and paper], ghostly noises in the night, a cousin named Fridge, howling storms, two unexplained deaths [yes, two], and a bridge that goes nowhere.
All in all, a mysterious situation that ends with a question mark.
I read this EARC courtesy of Oceanview Publications and Edelweiss. Pub date 11/02/21
Juggling a couple of men complicates her love life. The wedding of her "girl Friday" complicates her business. But the complication that comes at the wedding is much more than she bargains for.
Be prepared for strange relatives [too many to keep track of without pen and paper], ghostly noises in the night, a cousin named Fridge, howling storms, two unexplained deaths [yes, two], and a bridge that goes nowhere.
All in all, a mysterious situation that ends with a question mark.
I read this EARC courtesy of Oceanview Publications and Edelweiss. Pub date 11/02/21
March 5, 2019
Another brilliant book in this great series.
Full of twists and turns and memorable characters whom seem very real and can relate to them.
It's a traditional murder mystery,set in rural Ireland,with descriptions of the landscape which are almost haunting .
Love Phyllis from the bookshop and the main character Ben is brilliant,a modern day Miss Marple,she can get information easily from people as she is the Solicitor in town and has a way about her . She is also full of insecurities and her love life up and down.
Just a great series.
Full of twists and turns and memorable characters whom seem very real and can relate to them.
It's a traditional murder mystery,set in rural Ireland,with descriptions of the landscape which are almost haunting .
Love Phyllis from the bookshop and the main character Ben is brilliant,a modern day Miss Marple,she can get information easily from people as she is the Solicitor in town and has a way about her . She is also full of insecurities and her love life up and down.
Just a great series.
January 22, 2020
A very agreeable mystery set in Donegal. My favourite thing about this series is the description and atmosphere of the setting. There is a real sense of place in Carter's writing.
July 15, 2019
Slight Agatha Christie vibe to this crime novel given the focus on poisons. It's yet another crime for solicitor Ben to solve along with Sergeant Molloy and it's an intriguing double murder this time. The relationship between the two makes for compelling reading again too. I'm really looking forward to seeing this series on TV when it comes out.
Read
October 26, 2018I was waiting patiently for this to be published and I wasn't disappointed. It's a great read that kept me guessing right to the end. So I'm hoping that Andrea is working on the next one 😊
November 21, 2021
This excellent mystery would make Agatha Christie proud. An accident and a murder during a wedding in an isolated mansion. A cast of suspects, every one of them hiding secrets. In the middle of it all is Ben, a female attorney who is best friends with the bride and knows the owners of the titular Greysbridge house. There are many side stories and red herrings, and every one of them kept my interest. I loved the seemingly supernatural incidents, and some very creepy parts. This is part of a series that I hadn’t read before, so there were allusions that I didn’t quite get, but the author does a great job filling in the blanks so that newbies can read it as a stand-alone. There are lots of twists and the novel is so easy to read, that I kept falling into the “one more chapter” trap. I will be reading the rest of the series now, since this is a very solid mystery.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/#Oceanview Publishing!
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/#Oceanview Publishing!
June 16, 2024
4.5 stars
Two suspicious deaths at a summer wedding keep solicitor Ben O'Keeffe on her toes as she tries to figure out what exactly happened and more importantly why. Throw in two potential love interests, and a somewhat gothic setting, and you end up with a fascinating pageturner in which everything is somehow connected. This well-plotted and expertly told mystery kept me intrigued from start to finish.
Two suspicious deaths at a summer wedding keep solicitor Ben O'Keeffe on her toes as she tries to figure out what exactly happened and more importantly why. Throw in two potential love interests, and a somewhat gothic setting, and you end up with a fascinating pageturner in which everything is somehow connected. This well-plotted and expertly told mystery kept me intrigued from start to finish.
November 7, 2021
Murder at Greysbridge by Andrea Carter is the fourth book in the series “Inishowen Mysteries”. I had not read any book in the series prior to this one and had no problem understanding. This can be read as a stand alone though I imagine it would be most enjoyable while reading it in order.
Benedicta O’Keeffe or as she likes to be called, Ben, a solicitor, has shut down her office for a week, since her assistant and friend Leah is getting married at Greysbridge, a property that Ben had helped Abby and Ian Grey buy. This old but grand house used to be in Ian’s family till his grandfather had lost it in a game of gamble. Leah’s wedding would be the first and the couple is hoping that this will drive more customers towards them.
However things take a turn for the worse when not one but two of the guests are found dead, possibly murdered, within hours of each other. Are these murders connected? What are the the haunting secrets of this tragic manor? Do the islanders have something to do with this? These are just some of the questions that fill Ben’s head as she also deals with the possibility of a betrayal from someone close to her.
Add to this is the fact that her ex Seargent Malloy suddenly returned to solve this case just as she was trying to move on. Not to forget the new job offer she has for which she would have to move to US. Ben easily has a lot on her plate.
Overall this story has all the key features of a good murder mystery especially one involving an old manor. Despite that I this book falters in a few ways.
Firstly the beginning is a bit slow, with just lots of references to the previous book and not a lot going on. It does pick up pace and I found it hard to put down the book once that happened.
Secondly I did not like the motive behind everything that happened. (This might be a little bit of spoiler but not that much). For me it sort of seemed detached to the what Ben had spent a huge chunk of the book investigating , the Grey family secrets.
So while I absolutely loved reading about Louissa Grey and her story (it was honestly my favourite part) I am confused as to its direct connection and why we spent so much time on it.
Nevertheless the characters and the overall environment were wonderful and I am going to go on and read the rest of the books in series, Andrea with her writing has drawn me to Ben’s character and now I'm curious about her an her past. I am definitely interested in her and Malloy especially with that cliffhanger. Overall this book is a good read.
My rating is 3.5
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.
Benedicta O’Keeffe or as she likes to be called, Ben, a solicitor, has shut down her office for a week, since her assistant and friend Leah is getting married at Greysbridge, a property that Ben had helped Abby and Ian Grey buy. This old but grand house used to be in Ian’s family till his grandfather had lost it in a game of gamble. Leah’s wedding would be the first and the couple is hoping that this will drive more customers towards them.
However things take a turn for the worse when not one but two of the guests are found dead, possibly murdered, within hours of each other. Are these murders connected? What are the the haunting secrets of this tragic manor? Do the islanders have something to do with this? These are just some of the questions that fill Ben’s head as she also deals with the possibility of a betrayal from someone close to her.
Add to this is the fact that her ex Seargent Malloy suddenly returned to solve this case just as she was trying to move on. Not to forget the new job offer she has for which she would have to move to US. Ben easily has a lot on her plate.
Overall this story has all the key features of a good murder mystery especially one involving an old manor. Despite that I this book falters in a few ways.
Firstly the beginning is a bit slow, with just lots of references to the previous book and not a lot going on. It does pick up pace and I found it hard to put down the book once that happened.
Secondly I did not like the motive behind everything that happened. (This might be a little bit of spoiler but not that much). For me it sort of seemed detached to the what Ben had spent a huge chunk of the book investigating , the Grey family secrets.
So while I absolutely loved reading about Louissa Grey and her story (it was honestly my favourite part) I am confused as to its direct connection and why we spent so much time on it.
Nevertheless the characters and the overall environment were wonderful and I am going to go on and read the rest of the books in series, Andrea with her writing has drawn me to Ben’s character and now I'm curious about her an her past. I am definitely interested in her and Malloy especially with that cliffhanger. Overall this book is a good read.
My rating is 3.5
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy.
April 21, 2022
If you'd like a moody mystery set in Donegal, complete with mysterious old mansion (now a hotel, but still mysterious), a remote island that has its own ways, and a large, often bibulous cast, do yourself a favor: Start with book one of this series. I was enjoying reading about barrister Benedicta O'Keeffe and the wedding of her office receptionist, planning on going back to the earlier books, when--BAM. Carter did one of the things I dislike most. She used the name of the murderer in the preceding book, and the names of two of the victims. While I do re-read mysteries even when I well know who the culprit is, damned if I'll read a new book knowing what the ending will be.
June 11, 2025
I have the inishowen series. #4 was great.
August 7, 2022
An Island mystery with solicitor Benedicta O’Keeffe known as Ben about to attend her assistant’s wedding at Greybridge. A house with history and a possible haunting. When there is not one but two deaths Ben will have to deal with the return of Sergeant Tom Malloy.
A very enclosed community with plenty of standout characters will take your interest. A feel of Agatha Christie with the setting and Ben’s involvement with the police investigation. Part of a series. Well worth checking out for the relationship between the main characters.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
A very enclosed community with plenty of standout characters will take your interest. A feel of Agatha Christie with the setting and Ben’s involvement with the police investigation. Part of a series. Well worth checking out for the relationship between the main characters.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
November 7, 2021
In 2020’s THE WELL OF ICE, Irish solicitor (attorney) Benedicta “Ben” O’Keeffe is about to die at the hands of Luke Kirby, the monster who had murdered her sister a decade before. Tom Molloy, Ben’s beau and top cop, thwarts that attempt: the killer becomes the killed. Responsible for the death, Molloy can’t investigate himself and is assigned to Ireland’s County Cork, about 400 kilometers south. “[W]hatever we had seemed impossible to sustain. He had saved my life and left.” Crashing the cliché, absence makes the heart grow colder. Fortunately for Ben, Glendara newbie “Dr. Harry, as he’d quickly become known…was decidedly easy on the eye.”
Somewhat reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, where houseguests are offed one by one, this fourth novel released in the States by the author who shares Christie’s initials is set at an old manor house converted to a hotel. The imposing Italianate villa was acquired by a descendant --- Ian Grey and his wife, Abby --- of the forebear who had lost the estate in a gambling wager. “Greysbridge was a fine house, but there was something still and secretive about it.” A curious stone footbridge leads to an architecturally abhorrent structure with no means of egress, other than climbing a ladder to the bridge.
"Andrea Carter weaves the colorful threads of this manor house mystery and its complex subplots into a metaphoric fine Irish kilt."
Ben’s assistant, Leah, and her fiancé, Kevin, have booked the quaint hotel for their marriage ceremony, inviting family and friends. As the wedding parties begin, young American Jay Stevenson, who is staying at the hotel, drowns in shallow water. Dr. Harry tries, but fails, to resuscitate him. The marriage merriment is muted but continues.
Another hotel guest, not a wedding invitee, is British architectural historian Michael Burrows, who, after a wee dram of fortitude, boasts that his filmmaker son intends to feature Greysbridge and nearby tiny islands in a documentary. Several of the island residents dock their boats at the hotel’s private pier, but they remain secluded on their vessels. “Fridge” --- so named as he is the size of that appliance and in youth had been locked inside one --- tells Ben that Greysbridge is haunted by Louisa Grey’s ghost.
Wedding parties continue until the early hours, but one hotel guest fails to appear. Two deaths in one day. “Can this weekend get any worse?” Um…strange you should ask. Leah’s teen sister, Niamh, and her beau, Finn, have vanished, as has the Greys’ son, Ronan. Given the mysterious deaths and missing youths, Garda (police) are summoned. Ben is surprised to learn that Molloy leads the investigation.
Andrea Carter weaves the colorful threads of this manor house mystery and its complex subplots into a metaphoric fine Irish kilt. In the Irish national language Gaeilge (not Gaelic, an English corruption), a kilt is known as fèilidh.
Carter’s novels are set in fictional Glendara, Ireland. The Irish attorney-turned-author’s atmospheric mysteries are being adapted as a TV series filmed in Inishowen, County Donegal. She shares life in Dublin with her husband, Geoff Power, a documentary maker.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
Somewhat reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE, where houseguests are offed one by one, this fourth novel released in the States by the author who shares Christie’s initials is set at an old manor house converted to a hotel. The imposing Italianate villa was acquired by a descendant --- Ian Grey and his wife, Abby --- of the forebear who had lost the estate in a gambling wager. “Greysbridge was a fine house, but there was something still and secretive about it.” A curious stone footbridge leads to an architecturally abhorrent structure with no means of egress, other than climbing a ladder to the bridge.
"Andrea Carter weaves the colorful threads of this manor house mystery and its complex subplots into a metaphoric fine Irish kilt."
Ben’s assistant, Leah, and her fiancé, Kevin, have booked the quaint hotel for their marriage ceremony, inviting family and friends. As the wedding parties begin, young American Jay Stevenson, who is staying at the hotel, drowns in shallow water. Dr. Harry tries, but fails, to resuscitate him. The marriage merriment is muted but continues.
Another hotel guest, not a wedding invitee, is British architectural historian Michael Burrows, who, after a wee dram of fortitude, boasts that his filmmaker son intends to feature Greysbridge and nearby tiny islands in a documentary. Several of the island residents dock their boats at the hotel’s private pier, but they remain secluded on their vessels. “Fridge” --- so named as he is the size of that appliance and in youth had been locked inside one --- tells Ben that Greysbridge is haunted by Louisa Grey’s ghost.
Wedding parties continue until the early hours, but one hotel guest fails to appear. Two deaths in one day. “Can this weekend get any worse?” Um…strange you should ask. Leah’s teen sister, Niamh, and her beau, Finn, have vanished, as has the Greys’ son, Ronan. Given the mysterious deaths and missing youths, Garda (police) are summoned. Ben is surprised to learn that Molloy leads the investigation.
Andrea Carter weaves the colorful threads of this manor house mystery and its complex subplots into a metaphoric fine Irish kilt. In the Irish national language Gaeilge (not Gaelic, an English corruption), a kilt is known as fèilidh.
Carter’s novels are set in fictional Glendara, Ireland. The Irish attorney-turned-author’s atmospheric mysteries are being adapted as a TV series filmed in Inishowen, County Donegal. She shares life in Dublin with her husband, Geoff Power, a documentary maker.
Reviewed by L. Dean Murphy
April 12, 2020
Not a bad Inishowen mystery, includes the same bunch of nice characters from previous novels. I felt this one just took longer to get going than previous novels in this enjoyable series. Once it did get going it was as enjoyable as the previous books. 3.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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