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Movie Club Mysteries #2
The Postman Always Dies Twice
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here
Breathing hard, I gave a yelp and let the now-empty canister drop to the ground.
“That wasn’t pepper spray.” I stared into the sparkly, green face of the corpse I’d discovered mere hours before. “And you’re not dead.”
When former San Francisco cop Maggie Doyle extends her stay in Ireland, dealing with more murder and mayhem isn’t on her to-do list. Too bad because the instant Maggie and her UFO-enthusiast friend Lenny discover the dead body of Whisper Island’s postman, Maggie’s plans to chill for the next two months are put on ice.
Then Police Sergeant Reynolds, Maggie’s handsome neighbor, arrests Lenny’s brother for the murder, and her friend begs her to find the real killer. Meanwhile, Maggie is hired to investigate ghostly goings on at the Whisper Island Hotel. Can she solve two crimes before St. Patrick’s Day? Or will the island’s annual celebrations end in a glittery flame of green, white, and orange?
Breathing hard, I gave a yelp and let the now-empty canister drop to the ground.
“That wasn’t pepper spray.” I stared into the sparkly, green face of the corpse I’d discovered mere hours before. “And you’re not dead.”
When former San Francisco cop Maggie Doyle extends her stay in Ireland, dealing with more murder and mayhem isn’t on her to-do list. Too bad because the instant Maggie and her UFO-enthusiast friend Lenny discover the dead body of Whisper Island’s postman, Maggie’s plans to chill for the next two months are put on ice.
Then Police Sergeant Reynolds, Maggie’s handsome neighbor, arrests Lenny’s brother for the murder, and her friend begs her to find the real killer. Meanwhile, Maggie is hired to investigate ghostly goings on at the Whisper Island Hotel. Can she solve two crimes before St. Patrick’s Day? Or will the island’s annual celebrations end in a glittery flame of green, white, and orange?
318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 17, 2017
545 people are currently reading
631 people want to read
About the author
Zara Keane
42 books987 followersZara Keane is a USA Today bestselling author of Irish cozy mysteries and romantic comedies.
Zara grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg and Smuggler's Cove.
She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing, Zara loves knitting, running, unplugged gaming, and adding to her insanely large lipstick collection.
Don't miss a new story! For news, giveaways, and TWO free stories, sign up for Zara's Mailing List at https://zarakeane.com/newsletter/
Zara can also be found in her Facebook Reader Group, the Mystery Mavens.
Zara grew up in Dublin, Ireland, but spent her summers in a small town very similar to the fictitious Ballybeg and Smuggler's Cove.
She currently lives in Switzerland with her family. When she’s not writing, Zara loves knitting, running, unplugged gaming, and adding to her insanely large lipstick collection.
Don't miss a new story! For news, giveaways, and TWO free stories, sign up for Zara's Mailing List at https://zarakeane.com/newsletter/
Zara can also be found in her Facebook Reader Group, the Mystery Mavens.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
July 5, 2019
Maggie Doyle, formerly a cop from San Francisco and now living on Whisper Island, Ireland, was with her friend Lenny when they discovered a dead body at the bottom of the cliffs. The postman wouldn’t be delivering any more mail…
Maggie had helped solved a previous murder and when Sergeant Reynolds arrested Lenny’s brother and grandfather for murder, she decided she would do some investigations of her own, in the hope of finding the real killer. In the meantime, Maggie was hired by the local hotel to get to the bottom of the “ghosts” which were sending the guests as well as staff running. The business would go broke if they didn’t find the answers by St Patrick’s Day when the hotel was supposed to be filled with tourists.
The Postman Always Dies Twice is the 2nd in the Movie Club Mystery series by Zara Keane and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A highly entertaining and fun read with plenty of activity, red herrings and tricky clues to keep the reader guessing; I’m now up to #4 which I hope to get to soon. Highly recommended.
Maggie had helped solved a previous murder and when Sergeant Reynolds arrested Lenny’s brother and grandfather for murder, she decided she would do some investigations of her own, in the hope of finding the real killer. In the meantime, Maggie was hired by the local hotel to get to the bottom of the “ghosts” which were sending the guests as well as staff running. The business would go broke if they didn’t find the answers by St Patrick’s Day when the hotel was supposed to be filled with tourists.
The Postman Always Dies Twice is the 2nd in the Movie Club Mystery series by Zara Keane and once again, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A highly entertaining and fun read with plenty of activity, red herrings and tricky clues to keep the reader guessing; I’m now up to #4 which I hope to get to soon. Highly recommended.
September 29, 2020
This is second in a mystery series. Some character developments and other plot-like elements are established in that first book so I definitely recommend reading from the beginning. Keane gives enough background that you don't have to but I don't see why you wouldn't want to start at the start.
With a cast/setting limited by the small island community Maggie is settling into, I was interested to see how Keane would handle more mystery shenanigans. And I think she did well. The island is preparing for their tourist season kick off (St. Patrick's day) so it's natural that there be some turmoil, including a murder and something weird happening at the inn. Naturally, Maggie gets pulled in. I really liked how this includes her becoming more explicitly invested in the island and its community. And that Maggie begins exploring plans that might lead her to staying longer on the island. And I particularly liked working out a functional-but-careful relationship with Melanie Greer (erstwhile nemesis).
Some of the plot is a bit convenient (without breaking the plot or engagement with Maggie). Like having Maggie be the one who stumbles on the victim and a bit of coincidence in a key connection while in nearby Galway. And I don't like the risqué bit of the maid uniforms. That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen and very out of place in a supposed five-star hotel. Not that I know much about five-star hotels, but still.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars, like the first, though it's slightly better as Keane seems to be settling into the series very well.
A note about Chaste: There are some developments with Sergeant Hottie that could some day amount to a romance, though not entirely smoothly. No romance, yet, though, so still extremely chaste.
With a cast/setting limited by the small island community Maggie is settling into, I was interested to see how Keane would handle more mystery shenanigans. And I think she did well. The island is preparing for their tourist season kick off (St. Patrick's day) so it's natural that there be some turmoil, including a murder and something weird happening at the inn. Naturally, Maggie gets pulled in. I really liked how this includes her becoming more explicitly invested in the island and its community. And that Maggie begins exploring plans that might lead her to staying longer on the island. And I particularly liked working out a functional-but-careful relationship with Melanie Greer (erstwhile nemesis).
Some of the plot is a bit convenient (without breaking the plot or engagement with Maggie). Like having Maggie be the one who stumbles on the victim and a bit of coincidence in a key connection while in nearby Galway. And I don't like the risqué bit of the maid uniforms. That seems like a lawsuit waiting to happen and very out of place in a supposed five-star hotel. Not that I know much about five-star hotels, but still.
Anyway, this is a solid four stars, like the first, though it's slightly better as Keane seems to be settling into the series very well.
A note about Chaste: There are some developments with Sergeant Hottie that could some day amount to a romance, though not entirely smoothly. No romance, yet, though, so still extremely chaste.
July 11, 2017
Another winner
I'm hooked on this series! The characters are believable and relatable, and add to both solving the mystery and the humor. Take advantage of the fun!
I'm hooked on this series! The characters are believable and relatable, and add to both solving the mystery and the humor. Take advantage of the fun!
November 28, 2023
A great series.
September 19, 2020
This time, Maggie "sort-of" handling two cases at once. She (and her good friend, Lenny) discovers the (presumed) dead body of Eddie Ward, the postman of the island (). Then Lenny's brother, Carl, is charged as the suspect, and Lenny asks Maggie to help clear his brother's name by finding out the real murderer.
The other case is Maggie helping Melanie (her NEMESIS!) and Paul Greer, to find the culprit behind poltergeist non-sense at the Greer hotel.
Yes! Another fun adventure of Maggie Doyle and her friends at Whisper Island! I'm definitely settling in with this series!! I can't say it enough, the people at Whisper Island charmed the hell out of me. I LOVE Lenny and his friend, Mack. The scene where Lenny's grandfather got drunk over Lenny's brownies was HILARIOUS.
I found that "the connecting-the-dots" process was better in this book. Even if a couple of IMPORTANT clues came to Maggie by sheer luck. For example,
Bottom line, this is just the right combination of mystery and the "cozy-ness" of small island community that I like ... so I'm going to stick for the next one after this.
The other case is Maggie helping Melanie (her NEMESIS!) and Paul Greer, to find the culprit behind poltergeist non-sense at the Greer hotel.
Yes! Another fun adventure of Maggie Doyle and her friends at Whisper Island! I'm definitely settling in with this series!! I can't say it enough, the people at Whisper Island charmed the hell out of me. I LOVE Lenny and his friend, Mack. The scene where Lenny's grandfather got drunk over Lenny's brownies was HILARIOUS.
I found that "the connecting-the-dots" process was better in this book. Even if a couple of IMPORTANT clues came to Maggie by sheer luck. For example,
Bottom line, this is just the right combination of mystery and the "cozy-ness" of small island community that I like ... so I'm going to stick for the next one after this.
August 7, 2022
Clever mystery series from the book titles to the stories. Love the movie theatre cafe theme and the collection of colourful locals who make it a happening place. Maggie's a likeable, if brash, heroine with a charming sarcastic wit and a keen investigative mind. There's hints of romance with the local police detective and, of course, murder. In an Irish setting. What more could a cozy mystery lover like me ask for?
August 10, 2025
Another fun cozy mystery from Zara Keane. If you love quirky characters set in Ireland, this is a great book.
March 23, 2021
A great mystery! I loved all the ins and outs of figuring out who killed the postman and why.
Maggie is hired to discover who is behind the ghostly happenings at the hotel. It is an opportunity to make some money fast to extend her stay in Ireland while she figures out her life. Then she and her friend Lenny come across the body of the postman. All of this happens as the island prepares for St. Patrick Day celebrations.
I fell in like with the characters in this series in the first book and I still like them a lot. The mysteries are complex and interesting. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
Maggie is hired to discover who is behind the ghostly happenings at the hotel. It is an opportunity to make some money fast to extend her stay in Ireland while she figures out her life. Then she and her friend Lenny come across the body of the postman. All of this happens as the island prepares for St. Patrick Day celebrations.
I fell in like with the characters in this series in the first book and I still like them a lot. The mysteries are complex and interesting. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.
May 22, 2025
I enjoyed reading this book. It is the 2nd book in Movie Club Mysteries Serie and it has already become one of my favourite serie which I will continue to read soon. I like Maggie who is a main character in this serie. I like the setting on a small island in Ireland. The book is well written and cleverly plotted. Looking forward to read next book in this serie.
November 27, 2018
I love Zara Keane's titles-twists on old movies that I watched after 10 p.m. on black and white TV's. Oh, dear that shows my age--however, I didn't see it at the theater in black and white when it was brand new-Whew! I'm young again! Anyway no one was very unhappy to see the Whisper Island (Ireland) postman end up dead. But is it really him? Maggie Doyle has her hands full with her Guarda boyfriend Liam, his lazy boss who hates her, her family and other quirky island folk. If you want a fun mystery, a bit racy at times but all good fun--THIS COZY is for you!
April 19, 2017
ARC received for an honest review
This is the second book in this new series from Ms Keane, and I have to say, I think I liked this one better than the first.
Maggie Doyle's arrival on Whisper Island seems to have really stirred up all kinds of trouble. It is becoming like the towns on Midsomer Murders, where they look lovely, but you don't want to go there as everyone ends up dead!
The Postman Always Dies Twice is full of fun, laughter, mystery and intrigue. The rag tag bunch characters of this island ensure that there is never a dull moment!
I am loving that we are getting to know the characters better, they are building relationships and causing havoc all over the island!
There is so much going on in this story, however it is not OTT. It is well paced and well written, and I just had to keep turning the pages as I needed to know what happened next.
I am usually good at picking the bad guy, but once again I had no idea and was surprised when the culprit was revealed
I am still holding out for a little romance between our Maggie and the hot cop Liam, and things do seem to be progressing between them!
This is quickly becoming my favourite series by Ms Keane and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.
This is the second book in this new series from Ms Keane, and I have to say, I think I liked this one better than the first.
Maggie Doyle's arrival on Whisper Island seems to have really stirred up all kinds of trouble. It is becoming like the towns on Midsomer Murders, where they look lovely, but you don't want to go there as everyone ends up dead!
The Postman Always Dies Twice is full of fun, laughter, mystery and intrigue. The rag tag bunch characters of this island ensure that there is never a dull moment!
I am loving that we are getting to know the characters better, they are building relationships and causing havoc all over the island!
There is so much going on in this story, however it is not OTT. It is well paced and well written, and I just had to keep turning the pages as I needed to know what happened next.
I am usually good at picking the bad guy, but once again I had no idea and was surprised when the culprit was revealed
I am still holding out for a little romance between our Maggie and the hot cop Liam, and things do seem to be progressing between them!
This is quickly becoming my favourite series by Ms Keane and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.
June 26, 2022
Maggie Doyle thinks that extending her holiday on Whisper Island in Ireland will give her some breathing room before having to deal with the disastrous mess of her San Franciscan life. Little does she know that her best friend's brother will be accused of murder and there will be ghosts to rout at the local resort. Her working vacation just became a lot less peaceful.
I loved my second stay on Whisper Island. Though the murders and ghosts are inconvenient, the people are just ace. With this being the second book, the characters and their relationships with one another are further established and the reader is allowed a closer glimpse at the island life.
Another reviewer described some of the scenes as "slapstick". This type of comedy tends to be divisive. I'm not crazy about it, but that's my taste. While it does detract from the story for me, there are not so many pratfalls that the whole plot descends into buffoonery.
The mystery was perhaps more tangled than I would have liked. Some of the discoveries came about by coincidence rather than solid work. However, the one thing that puts Maggie ahead of most sleuths is her law enforcement background and this is a great advantage as far as story-building goes. Maggie's professional approach to finding the villains feels both practised and real.
I am looking forward to more with Maggie in the future. Whisper Island is a great escape!
I loved my second stay on Whisper Island. Though the murders and ghosts are inconvenient, the people are just ace. With this being the second book, the characters and their relationships with one another are further established and the reader is allowed a closer glimpse at the island life.
Another reviewer described some of the scenes as "slapstick". This type of comedy tends to be divisive. I'm not crazy about it, but that's my taste. While it does detract from the story for me, there are not so many pratfalls that the whole plot descends into buffoonery.
The mystery was perhaps more tangled than I would have liked. Some of the discoveries came about by coincidence rather than solid work. However, the one thing that puts Maggie ahead of most sleuths is her law enforcement background and this is a great advantage as far as story-building goes. Maggie's professional approach to finding the villains feels both practised and real.
I am looking forward to more with Maggie in the future. Whisper Island is a great escape!
May 9, 2023
Maggie Doyle is settling in for her three month stay and finding work as an unofficial PI. This time after she and her friend find the body of the postman (or is it) Maggie is sure it’s a murder, but when several events happen later that indicate suicide, Maggie is just not convinced, especially when the alleged victim shows up alive and well. Then her ex boyfriend and his wife hires her to investigate hauntings at their hotel that’s driving guests and business away. Maggie and Lenny are so great as an oddball investigative team. Maggie is used to rushing into things and needs to step back because things are done differently. The book is well paced, funny, promise of romance with Liam, and more Lenny and UFO’s ahead.
August 13, 2017
The Postman Always Dies Twice is another funny, fast-moving entry in the Movie Club Mysteries series. This time Maggie and her friend Lenny discover the body of the local postal carrier, and Maggie goes undercover at the island hotel in an attempt to find the poltergeist scaring the guests away. Meanwhile Sergeant Reynolds has moved into the cottage nest to Maggie's, but he may not be there long if the postman's murder gets any more complicated. Between wardrobe disasters, bootleg whiskey, and pot-laced brownies, Maggie's stay on Whisper Island is far from the uneventful r&r she was looking for--but maybe just what she needs.
January 5, 2023
If you like cozy Murder mystery books then this is the best book! Maggie Doyle is still staying in whisper island in Ireland. She thought she was coming here on vacation from San Francisco but things have a funny way of working out. When her and her friend Lenny are on their way home from work, they come across the dead postman at the bottom of the cliff. Maggie becomes involved in helping Sargent Reynolds find the murderer but she’s under a time crunch. I love these books there fast paced and I can’t stop reading them. Definitely recommend!
January 10, 2022
4.5 stars. Terrific book. Terrific characters. Great narrator. I’m loving this series.
January 10, 2022
Retreating to Whisper Island, Ireland, to rethink her life, ex-San Francisco Cop Maggie Doyle keeps using her detective skills to solve crimes in this most enjoyable and engaging series.
March 20, 2023
Another fun, light murder mystery set in the Movie Club Mysteries universe (which is a bit of a misnomer, as they don't really have much to do with the movie club beyond the first book).
September 29, 2023
Almost as good as book 1! The characters are fun and love that the pets are involved too.
The love interest is on the incline, and the job situation is improving. LOL
The love interest is on the incline, and the job situation is improving. LOL
April 20, 2018
Another good read in this fun series. Lots of zany characters and good sleuthing by Maggie.
July 8, 2019
Maggie needs a second job and going undercover at the Whisper Island Hotel as cleaning staff to find the culprits behind hauntings that are scaring away guests and staff will pay the bills. Working for Melanie & Paul opens Maggie's eyes to some preconceived opinions she's held onto for years.
The Postman may be a slimy womanizer but when Maggie & Lenny find a dead body at the bottom or a cliff everyone assumes it is the postman by the uniform. Figuring out who killed him and why has Maggie 'interfering' with the local constabulary.
A plot full of twists and fulled with humorous scenes and revealing relationship ups and downs made this a quick, enjoyable read.
Excellent travelogue of Galway , Ireland.
The Postman may be a slimy womanizer but when Maggie & Lenny find a dead body at the bottom or a cliff everyone assumes it is the postman by the uniform. Figuring out who killed him and why has Maggie 'interfering' with the local constabulary.
A plot full of twists and fulled with humorous scenes and revealing relationship ups and downs made this a quick, enjoyable read.
Excellent travelogue of Galway , Ireland.
August 12, 2021
Maggie Doyle has decided to stay on Whisper Island for a few more months while she waits for her divorce to go through and figures out what her next move is. It will give her the opportunity to enjoy a magical Irish summer just as she did as a kid. Maggie does not expect to stumble over any more bodies, but when she and Lenny discover the mail van parked oddly in the middle of the road, Maggie has a bad feeling. Sure enough, she spies the body of the postman, Eddie Ward, lying at the bottom of the cliff. Maggie is certain it was murder although Sgt. Reynolds suspects suicide. The coroner agrees with Maggie, however, and she finds herself in the midst of another murder investigation. Meanwhile, needing some extra cash, she seeks a second job at the hotel owned by her childhood nemesis's husband and his family. Melanie Greer agrees to hire Maggie on the condition that Maggie must investigate the mysterious hauntings plaguing the hotel and causing guests to cancel or leave early. If Maggie can't get to the bottom of the mystery quickly, the hotel will be forced to close and many people will be unemployed. Maggie agrees and promises not to reveal Paul Greer's secrets in exchange for a hefty fee. It almost makes up for the humiliating maid costume she's forced to wear. Can Maggie solve the mystery before the hotel closes? Can she help Reynolds figure out who killed Eddie? A surprise twist in the murder case leaves Reynolds thrown for a loop and fearing for his job. Maggie is left questioning everything she's learned so far. Will they figure it out and save his job?
This is a really entertaining, enjoyable mystery. It's light and fun, just what I wanted. The setting of Whisper Island, Ireland is very vivid and I can feel the cold wind off the sea, smell the air and am drooling over Noreen's scones. The quirky characters are so much fun to read about, even the unpleasant ones. The mystery got a little complicated and the way Maggie solves the hotel mystery is probably not entirely legal but that's cozy mysteries for you.
Maggie is a good sleuth being a former San Francisco PD. She has the legendary Irish-American temper and is easily roused to anger by injustice. She's not as mellow as her Irish neighbors. However, she is kind and accepting of the Irish way of life. She enjoys the slower pace and even her aunts matchmaking and food pushing. I LOVE Maggie's sidekick, Lenny. He's a hoot with his alien/UFO conspiracy theories and his enjoyment of illegal substances. I thought there was a little TOO much made of that. It seemed kind of weird because it's been awhile since pot was illegal here and even when it was, the police didn't care. It seems like Reynolds doesn't care TOO much. He knows Lenny is who he is and Lenny is a good guy. He hasn't hurt anyone-yet and he's a good friend to Maggie. Reynolds is becoming a bit less mysterious. He drops a MAJOR bombshell on Maggie in casual conversation that left me reeling. What? What does that mean for their budding relationship? I like him and appreciate his sense of humor but wonder if he has too much Irish charm? He seems to be working his charm on Maggie but she's worried, and rightfully so, she's not a good judge of character because of her ex. I think she should just relax and go with the flow because Reynolds is nothing like her ex, but I do think they should take things slow because she doesn't plan to stay in Ireland permanently.
Eddie Ward, the postman, is the island's resident wannabe Lothario and sooo gross. He thinks he's clever and witty charming the pants off the ladies. Perhaps that is the case because the population on the island is limited but his charm doesn't work on Maggie. Even though he's disgusting, he didn't deserve to die. He needs to live because he has massive debts. He needs to survive long enough for Maggie to teach him a lesson. A good kick in the groin should do it.
The chief suspects are related to Lenny. Eddie did a great wrong by Lenny's sister Katie and her subsequent actions caused a riff in the family. Did someone kill Eddie in revenge? Reynolds thinks so because the evidence points to Lenny's family members. Could it have been Katie herself wanting revenge on the man who wronged her? She would have to be very strong to push a body off a cliff and very angry to mutilate the body but she could have had help. Even though evidence shows Lenny's granddad was involved, he can not be the murderer for the same reasons. Just because his tool was used doesn't make him an accessory. Lenny's cousin Carl is the chief murder suspect. He's a chef at the hotel and a really good one too. His beef with Eddie should be water under the bridge by now but he could be extra motivated because of what happened with Katie. I'm not sure I buy that excuse and Reynolds shouldn't jump to conclusions. Kitchens are busy and knives go missing all the time. Reynolds is a better detective than that. I can see Sgt. O'Shea being that lazy but not Reynolds. Plus it's a novel so it's never who the police suspect.
What about Jack Logan, Lenny's cousin? He is the resident sleazy used car salesman. He is a hustler for sure and will do anything to avoid paying taxes. Even so, how can he afford a Porsche? He's certainly up to illegal activities. Maybe Eddie was involved?
At the hotel we have another mystery and more characters. Melanie Greer is still a mean girl but she's under a lot of stress trying to keep the hotel going amidst the chaos. This mystery shows the different attitude towards the paranormal in Ireland than in the U.S. Here in the U.S. certain people will GLADLY flock to a haunted location and be eager to tell you all about the crazy thing that happened to them. In Ireland, apparently, the paranormal is scary and people are leaving the hotel. As Melanie is only married to Paul Greer, the hotel is not in her name. That is too bad because she's the only one with business sense. Personally, I'd leave Paul and let the Greers sink on their own but there are children involved so it's complicated. I'd let the hotel close, buy it and then reopen it under Melanie's management. She may be rude and snippy to Maggie but she's an excellent manager.
Sven and Marcus are two new massage therapists in the recently built spa section of the hotel. Sven is nice and into Julie but Marcus is a little slick and mysterious. Could one of them be involved in either the murder or the hauntings? Since Julie has bad taste in men, watch it be Sven! Zuzanna, the Polish maid, is Maggie's friend and ally against Mrs. Dennehy, the dragon of a housekeeper. This hotel sounds like Downton Abbey and Zuzanna is Anna to Maggie's Gwen. She's a nice person and a big help with her gossip. Lisa, the hotel receptionist, is very snippy with Maggie and not very pleasant. She's formal and not easy to get to know but Maggie wants to give her the benefit of the doubt. There's no way someone so stuffy could be behind the ghostly pranks.
All the twists and turns and humor in this story made me want to read the next one right now! So on to the next. I highly recommend this series to cozy mystery fans and old movie buffs who appreciate comedy.
So- who is behind the hauntings and why? There are several options as to why. 1)Mischievous pranks 2)Wanting the Greers to fail 3)the location. The hotel sits on top of an ancient site and archeologists and environmentalists are NOT happy with the idea of a planned hotel expansion. Could the prankster be Bernadette, a chef in charge of vegetarian and vegan options? I wouldn't stereotype if I were Maggie but investigate her movements further. More likely, Sheila Dunphy, president of the Folklore and Heritage Society is trying to stop the hotel expansion. I don't blame her but there are better ways of doing that than staging hauntings. Has she even been in the hotel recently?
The secondary characters, residents of Whisper Island, are crazy, but fun. Aunt Noreen is the grandmotherly type, pushing food and animals on Maggie. She means well and she's sweet but clueless. Aunt Philomena is pushy too, working with Noreen to match the girls up with ANY eligible bachelor and that tends to mean elderly farmers. Maggie's cousin Julie is nice but has bad taste in men. She has a weird relationship with the German dude, Günter, claiming to hate him but I sense chemistry there. She's trying to hard with Oisin and he's clearly not into her. I like her in spite of her man problems. Paddy Driscoll is the cranky farmer next door. At least this time he has every right to be cranky as animal rights activists are pulling pranks at the local farms and he is NOT pleased. He wants them caught and in jail. Jail sounds a little harsh but if they're young, their parents need to be notified and fined. It's one thing to support animal rights and another thing to vandalize people's property. Maggie and I support Paddy in this one. Hands-down, my favorite human characters are The Gerrys. I seriously laughed out loud at one scene they were in and I don't see Lenny's granddad as a murderer or accessory to murder. He loves his grandkids but not THAT much.
The one big thing I don't like about this series is the stereotyping and shaming of unmarried women. Referring to two elderly, unmarried ladies as "The Spinsters" is demeaning. What are Maggie and Julie then? They're unmarried too. There's no shame in being unmarried in spite of what the aunts seem to think. It would be nice if Maggie figured out their personalities and individual identities and called them by their names.
The animal companions are adorable. Bran, the collie, is fast and loves to run. He's sweet and loving. I like him most of all. I could do without Poly and the kittens though.
This is a really entertaining, enjoyable mystery. It's light and fun, just what I wanted. The setting of Whisper Island, Ireland is very vivid and I can feel the cold wind off the sea, smell the air and am drooling over Noreen's scones. The quirky characters are so much fun to read about, even the unpleasant ones. The mystery got a little complicated and the way Maggie solves the hotel mystery is probably not entirely legal but that's cozy mysteries for you.
Maggie is a good sleuth being a former San Francisco PD. She has the legendary Irish-American temper and is easily roused to anger by injustice. She's not as mellow as her Irish neighbors. However, she is kind and accepting of the Irish way of life. She enjoys the slower pace and even her aunts matchmaking and food pushing. I LOVE Maggie's sidekick, Lenny. He's a hoot with his alien/UFO conspiracy theories and his enjoyment of illegal substances. I thought there was a little TOO much made of that. It seemed kind of weird because it's been awhile since pot was illegal here and even when it was, the police didn't care. It seems like Reynolds doesn't care TOO much. He knows Lenny is who he is and Lenny is a good guy. He hasn't hurt anyone-yet and he's a good friend to Maggie. Reynolds is becoming a bit less mysterious. He drops a MAJOR bombshell on Maggie in casual conversation that left me reeling. What? What does that mean for their budding relationship? I like him and appreciate his sense of humor but wonder if he has too much Irish charm? He seems to be working his charm on Maggie but she's worried, and rightfully so, she's not a good judge of character because of her ex. I think she should just relax and go with the flow because Reynolds is nothing like her ex, but I do think they should take things slow because she doesn't plan to stay in Ireland permanently.
Eddie Ward, the postman, is the island's resident wannabe Lothario and sooo gross. He thinks he's clever and witty charming the pants off the ladies. Perhaps that is the case because the population on the island is limited but his charm doesn't work on Maggie. Even though he's disgusting, he didn't deserve to die. He needs to live because he has massive debts. He needs to survive long enough for Maggie to teach him a lesson. A good kick in the groin should do it.
The chief suspects are related to Lenny. Eddie did a great wrong by Lenny's sister Katie and her subsequent actions caused a riff in the family. Did someone kill Eddie in revenge? Reynolds thinks so because the evidence points to Lenny's family members. Could it have been Katie herself wanting revenge on the man who wronged her? She would have to be very strong to push a body off a cliff and very angry to mutilate the body but she could have had help. Even though evidence shows Lenny's granddad was involved, he can not be the murderer for the same reasons. Just because his tool was used doesn't make him an accessory. Lenny's cousin Carl is the chief murder suspect. He's a chef at the hotel and a really good one too. His beef with Eddie should be water under the bridge by now but he could be extra motivated because of what happened with Katie. I'm not sure I buy that excuse and Reynolds shouldn't jump to conclusions. Kitchens are busy and knives go missing all the time. Reynolds is a better detective than that. I can see Sgt. O'Shea being that lazy but not Reynolds. Plus it's a novel so it's never who the police suspect.
What about Jack Logan, Lenny's cousin? He is the resident sleazy used car salesman. He is a hustler for sure and will do anything to avoid paying taxes. Even so, how can he afford a Porsche? He's certainly up to illegal activities. Maybe Eddie was involved?
At the hotel we have another mystery and more characters. Melanie Greer is still a mean girl but she's under a lot of stress trying to keep the hotel going amidst the chaos. This mystery shows the different attitude towards the paranormal in Ireland than in the U.S. Here in the U.S. certain people will GLADLY flock to a haunted location and be eager to tell you all about the crazy thing that happened to them. In Ireland, apparently, the paranormal is scary and people are leaving the hotel. As Melanie is only married to Paul Greer, the hotel is not in her name. That is too bad because she's the only one with business sense. Personally, I'd leave Paul and let the Greers sink on their own but there are children involved so it's complicated. I'd let the hotel close, buy it and then reopen it under Melanie's management. She may be rude and snippy to Maggie but she's an excellent manager.
Sven and Marcus are two new massage therapists in the recently built spa section of the hotel. Sven is nice and into Julie but Marcus is a little slick and mysterious. Could one of them be involved in either the murder or the hauntings? Since Julie has bad taste in men, watch it be Sven! Zuzanna, the Polish maid, is Maggie's friend and ally against Mrs. Dennehy, the dragon of a housekeeper. This hotel sounds like Downton Abbey and Zuzanna is Anna to Maggie's Gwen. She's a nice person and a big help with her gossip. Lisa, the hotel receptionist, is very snippy with Maggie and not very pleasant. She's formal and not easy to get to know but Maggie wants to give her the benefit of the doubt. There's no way someone so stuffy could be behind the ghostly pranks.
All the twists and turns and humor in this story made me want to read the next one right now! So on to the next. I highly recommend this series to cozy mystery fans and old movie buffs who appreciate comedy.
So- who is behind the hauntings and why? There are several options as to why. 1)Mischievous pranks 2)Wanting the Greers to fail 3)the location. The hotel sits on top of an ancient site and archeologists and environmentalists are NOT happy with the idea of a planned hotel expansion. Could the prankster be Bernadette, a chef in charge of vegetarian and vegan options? I wouldn't stereotype if I were Maggie but investigate her movements further. More likely, Sheila Dunphy, president of the Folklore and Heritage Society is trying to stop the hotel expansion. I don't blame her but there are better ways of doing that than staging hauntings. Has she even been in the hotel recently?
The secondary characters, residents of Whisper Island, are crazy, but fun. Aunt Noreen is the grandmotherly type, pushing food and animals on Maggie. She means well and she's sweet but clueless. Aunt Philomena is pushy too, working with Noreen to match the girls up with ANY eligible bachelor and that tends to mean elderly farmers. Maggie's cousin Julie is nice but has bad taste in men. She has a weird relationship with the German dude, Günter, claiming to hate him but I sense chemistry there. She's trying to hard with Oisin and he's clearly not into her. I like her in spite of her man problems. Paddy Driscoll is the cranky farmer next door. At least this time he has every right to be cranky as animal rights activists are pulling pranks at the local farms and he is NOT pleased. He wants them caught and in jail. Jail sounds a little harsh but if they're young, their parents need to be notified and fined. It's one thing to support animal rights and another thing to vandalize people's property. Maggie and I support Paddy in this one. Hands-down, my favorite human characters are The Gerrys. I seriously laughed out loud at one scene they were in and I don't see Lenny's granddad as a murderer or accessory to murder. He loves his grandkids but not THAT much.
The one big thing I don't like about this series is the stereotyping and shaming of unmarried women. Referring to two elderly, unmarried ladies as "The Spinsters" is demeaning. What are Maggie and Julie then? They're unmarried too. There's no shame in being unmarried in spite of what the aunts seem to think. It would be nice if Maggie figured out their personalities and individual identities and called them by their names.
The animal companions are adorable. Bran, the collie, is fast and loves to run. He's sweet and loving. I like him most of all. I could do without Poly and the kittens though.
April 14, 2017
Disclosure: I was sent an ARC to read and write an honest review. I also read the first book that way and I have to say I am really enjoying this new series! The characters are a lot of fun, the story moves along at a good pace. The author tosses in some fun twists and turns and like before I didn't figure out the killer. I really like the direction Maggie is taking as far as her stay on the island and finding what she really wants to do as well as her developing friendship/relationship with Sgt. Reynolds. I am super anxious to read the third book. Just as a fun side note: For some reason I can totally picture the character of Lenny as Shaggy from the Scooby Doo series! He's funny but a loyal friend who is handy to have around when computer issues need a solution.
NOTE to Zara Keane: I can't leave the review yet on Amazon since the book isn't released and there's no paperback version to go under and leave it. But I will just as soon as I can! Thanks for an enjoyable beginning to what I hope is a long running series!
NOTE to Zara Keane: I can't leave the review yet on Amazon since the book isn't released and there's no paperback version to go under and leave it. But I will just as soon as I can! Thanks for an enjoyable beginning to what I hope is a long running series!
May 8, 2018
A fun follow up to the first in the series. While you don’t necessarily need to have read the first to enjoy the second, familiarity with the characters and their past experiences and interactions makes the book more enjoyable. Two solid mysteries in this book make it even more entertaining while Maggie races the clock to solve both. I really like Maggie’s personality and attitude and look forward to more in this series.
June 25, 2018
As good as the first
Ghosts in the hotel and a dead mailman (who turns out not to be dead at all) are just some of the ingredients in this book. A treat to read and a great follow up to the first book. Cannot wait for the third book.
Ghosts in the hotel and a dead mailman (who turns out not to be dead at all) are just some of the ingredients in this book. A treat to read and a great follow up to the first book. Cannot wait for the third book.
March 17, 2023
I read this Irish Cozy mystery and took enjoyment with the characters as before when I read of them in other books by this author Zara Keane---Maggie Doyle is a rare talent who likes to solve puzzles and that was just what she did; she even helped chased down the murderer while running a marathon; she was able to go off the Marathon trail and go after the murderer while her too tight jogging outfit tore up in the rear exposing her backside…nothing would stop our Maggie in nabbing this killer. This was the most fun reading for me in a very long time coming. My favorite character is Lenny and the two Gerrys’; Gerry one and Gerry two and their ‘poitin’, the Gaelic pronunciation is poteen, that they make and consume and sell to others on Whisper Island; it is moonshine explicitly maxed that renders them brainless and able to do all sorts of blunders…like ending up naked...remember me saying I wanted to see the two Gerries drunk and gaming”? Uh-huh. You didn’t tell me they’d be naked. I didn’t know, Mack whispered. They’ve never stripped off before. Gerry swayed in the doorway. Don’t just stand there, come on in and have a swig of my poitin. It’s a new batch. The two Gerries did not get naked on poteen alone; it seemed that they’d eaten Lenny’s brownies as well. …Lenny’s grandfather led us into the kitchen, where we were greeted by an equally naked and equally stoned Geroid O’Sullivan, the second of the two Gerries. Sure enough, a half-empty tray of brownies lay on the table. Lenny, having grasped the gravitas of the situation, strode to the coffee maker. We need to get you lads sober before the police arrive.
And so, Maggie extended her stay in Ireland, dealing with this postal courier’s death seeming both from poison and stabbing and to being beaten to disfigure the person’s face and then tossed over the side of the cliff and hitting the bottom nearby the water…as the waves were crashing in and fearing that the body would be swept out to sea; Maggie enlisted her UFO’s enthusiast friend Lenny to help her retrieve the body and carry it away from the water’s edge which they managed to do and waited for the ambulance and for the police to arrive. Who would want to murder the postman and why go to such trouble as to poison, stab, and disfigure him and leave a suicide note on the dashboard which Maggie had not seen when they’d first arrived and found the postal van in the middle of the road with headlights on? As the story progresses we come to find that it was not the postman Eddie Ward who was murdered but a stranger in the town…not known to anyone there in particular…but he was known to two individuals and a member of one of the town’s most humble, reputable and disreputable family who now will disown him since he tried to frame his family members to have richness. There was also the murderer's accomplice who tried to kill Maggie in her home but was tamed and tied up by Lenny…saving the day and Maggie’s life.
Maggie has decided to remain on Whisper Island and to set up business as a private investigator and her dashing police detective neighbor Liam faced contorted like that of the Scream mask, as Maggie’s laughter floated on through the cottage. All is well that began ongoing as before when in a series!
And so, Maggie extended her stay in Ireland, dealing with this postal courier’s death seeming both from poison and stabbing and to being beaten to disfigure the person’s face and then tossed over the side of the cliff and hitting the bottom nearby the water…as the waves were crashing in and fearing that the body would be swept out to sea; Maggie enlisted her UFO’s enthusiast friend Lenny to help her retrieve the body and carry it away from the water’s edge which they managed to do and waited for the ambulance and for the police to arrive. Who would want to murder the postman and why go to such trouble as to poison, stab, and disfigure him and leave a suicide note on the dashboard which Maggie had not seen when they’d first arrived and found the postal van in the middle of the road with headlights on? As the story progresses we come to find that it was not the postman Eddie Ward who was murdered but a stranger in the town…not known to anyone there in particular…but he was known to two individuals and a member of one of the town’s most humble, reputable and disreputable family who now will disown him since he tried to frame his family members to have richness. There was also the murderer's accomplice who tried to kill Maggie in her home but was tamed and tied up by Lenny…saving the day and Maggie’s life.
Maggie has decided to remain on Whisper Island and to set up business as a private investigator and her dashing police detective neighbor Liam faced contorted like that of the Scream mask, as Maggie’s laughter floated on through the cottage. All is well that began ongoing as before when in a series!
October 12, 2022
I love this book. What should be a complicated and twisted mystery with everything that is going on but author has created an easy to follow and very entertaining mystery, that kept me hooked. This is the second book in the series and I am just loving the small island feel. This does mean that a number of characters are recurring, so I would recommend that you read or listen to the rest of the books because the more you learn about them the more they jump off the pages and come alive and it is written so well that they do feel like old friends. Maggie is a great main character but to be honest there are so many great characters that it is hard to pick a favourite. I really got into the mystery especially because nothing was what it seemed and add in the humour and you have a story you can listen to again and again. Off to start the next book.
During a storm Maggie is surprised to find the post van abandon in the middle of the road. Her training as a former police officer has her looking over the edge of the cliff to discover the body before it is washed out to sea. A number of things don't add up for it to have been a suicide but she never thought her best friends brother or grandfather would become the only suspects. Especially as the postman was a ladies man and a number of people hated him. Can she find the real killer and prove them innocent? At the same time her high school nemesis turns to Maggie for help in proving that there is no Poltergeist haunting her hotel before she loses all her guests and before the St Patrick's day race. It's a race not only to the finish line but also to find a killer and a pretend ghost.
I really like the narrator, especially as she uses an Irish accent to bring the small island feel to live and bring a charm to the characters.
During a storm Maggie is surprised to find the post van abandon in the middle of the road. Her training as a former police officer has her looking over the edge of the cliff to discover the body before it is washed out to sea. A number of things don't add up for it to have been a suicide but she never thought her best friends brother or grandfather would become the only suspects. Especially as the postman was a ladies man and a number of people hated him. Can she find the real killer and prove them innocent? At the same time her high school nemesis turns to Maggie for help in proving that there is no Poltergeist haunting her hotel before she loses all her guests and before the St Patrick's day race. It's a race not only to the finish line but also to find a killer and a pretend ghost.
I really like the narrator, especially as she uses an Irish accent to bring the small island feel to live and bring a charm to the characters.
March 14, 2022
This is the 2nd adventure for Maggie Doyle on Whisper Island in Ireland.
Another fun murder mystery set before and during St Patricks day. When the local Postman is found murdered at the bottom of a cliff, with his face bashed in, all the evidence points to the family of Lenny Logan, one of Maggies closest friends. Lenny's brother Carl, and his grandfather Gerry, are both hauled in for questioning and Carl is arrested.
At the same time the Hotel is losing customers who end up leaving the hotel because of the ghist and the hauntings. The hotel owners also ask Maggie to go undercover with the hotel staff to investigate.
Despite the hotels poor camera and security system, Maggie and her friend Lenny are able to solve both crimes, and Maggie eventually decides to stay on Whisper Island and become a Private Investigator. She has a police background, she knows how to talk to people and she knows how to keep secrets.
The funniest part of this story is Maggie during a runathon with her butt cheeks bared to everyone after her running pants split. That part was hilarious!!!
The coolest part is right at the end when Sgt Reynolds apologises to Maggie for saving his job - because he had arrested the wrong fellow. He also asks Maggie out on a date - right before Maggie tells him her plans, to become a PI.
I love this series. I gave this 4 stars, just like the first book. On to book 3!!
Another fun murder mystery set before and during St Patricks day. When the local Postman is found murdered at the bottom of a cliff, with his face bashed in, all the evidence points to the family of Lenny Logan, one of Maggies closest friends. Lenny's brother Carl, and his grandfather Gerry, are both hauled in for questioning and Carl is arrested.
At the same time the Hotel is losing customers who end up leaving the hotel because of the ghist and the hauntings. The hotel owners also ask Maggie to go undercover with the hotel staff to investigate.
Despite the hotels poor camera and security system, Maggie and her friend Lenny are able to solve both crimes, and Maggie eventually decides to stay on Whisper Island and become a Private Investigator. She has a police background, she knows how to talk to people and she knows how to keep secrets.
The funniest part of this story is Maggie during a runathon with her butt cheeks bared to everyone after her running pants split. That part was hilarious!!!
The coolest part is right at the end when Sgt Reynolds apologises to Maggie for saving his job - because he had arrested the wrong fellow. He also asks Maggie out on a date - right before Maggie tells him her plans, to become a PI.
I love this series. I gave this 4 stars, just like the first book. On to book 3!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2022
After solving a murder and a jewelry heist, Maggie Doyle just wants to relax for the rest of her time on Whisper Island. But when she finds another body, something doesn’t add up. It seems that whoever murdered the postman wanted revenge for something, and unfortunately, fingers point at Maggie’s friend Lenny and his family. Now she has to race to figure out who killed the postman before her friend’s family gets locked up for murder.
But things aren’t as they seem, and one surprise after another comes up. There are animal rights activists bombarding the island’s farmers and to top it off, Maggie is hired by her teenage rival to investigate a haunting at the hotel by St. Patrick’s Day. With time ticking down for both investigations, things become even stickier when somebody turns up that really shouldn’t be able to. What is going on? Who is behind these events? And is anything really as it seems, or is there something else going on?
This mystery was a great addition to the Movie Club Mysteries Series. Maggie’s sassy attitude is fun to read, and her relationships to the other characters on the island make this a hilariously good time. We get to know more of the island’s residents and learn more about the characters we already know. The ending was perfectly hysterical, and I’m eager to read the next book in the series. If you liked the first book, this one is even better now that the main cast and setting have been established.
But things aren’t as they seem, and one surprise after another comes up. There are animal rights activists bombarding the island’s farmers and to top it off, Maggie is hired by her teenage rival to investigate a haunting at the hotel by St. Patrick’s Day. With time ticking down for both investigations, things become even stickier when somebody turns up that really shouldn’t be able to. What is going on? Who is behind these events? And is anything really as it seems, or is there something else going on?
This mystery was a great addition to the Movie Club Mysteries Series. Maggie’s sassy attitude is fun to read, and her relationships to the other characters on the island make this a hilariously good time. We get to know more of the island’s residents and learn more about the characters we already know. The ending was perfectly hysterical, and I’m eager to read the next book in the series. If you liked the first book, this one is even better now that the main cast and setting have been established.
January 30, 2019
Even better than book one!
Thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series! Our intrepid heroine discovers another body and, being a cozy mystery, hijinks ensue. When she’s also hired to investigate ghostly happenings at the hotel run by her former flame and his snotty wife she’s busy tracking down multiple villains.
The secondary characters from book one continue to enliven the story and things start to heat up with the new police Sergeant introduced in book one.
The plot is clever and once again several red herrings are introduced to make things more interesting. Maggie’s police background and her naturally suspicious nature come in handy and make for a smooth flow to the story arc.
The climatic scene is once again amusing and the closing paragraphs are a great ending leaving the reader wanting more. Of course I immediately bought book three! This has been a great binge read and I know I’m going to be bummed tomorrow night when I finish all five books that thus far exist in the series.
Thoroughly enjoyed this second book in the series! Our intrepid heroine discovers another body and, being a cozy mystery, hijinks ensue. When she’s also hired to investigate ghostly happenings at the hotel run by her former flame and his snotty wife she’s busy tracking down multiple villains.
The secondary characters from book one continue to enliven the story and things start to heat up with the new police Sergeant introduced in book one.
The plot is clever and once again several red herrings are introduced to make things more interesting. Maggie’s police background and her naturally suspicious nature come in handy and make for a smooth flow to the story arc.
The climatic scene is once again amusing and the closing paragraphs are a great ending leaving the reader wanting more. Of course I immediately bought book three! This has been a great binge read and I know I’m going to be bummed tomorrow night when I finish all five books that thus far exist in the series.
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