An Irish Bookshop Murder is the first in a new cozy mystery from Lucy Connelly. Mercy McCarthy and twin sister Lizzie are starting a new chapter in their lives by moving to Ireland where a grandfather has left them a home and bookstore when he passed. The description of the inheritance and the town along with the people was simply marvelous. It was like being in Ireland.

The death was a bit of a shock in this lovely town but then all must not be so very lovely there. Mystery writer Mercy begins to investigate on her own as she has been accused of murder. From there more deaths, more clues and more investigating until it is solved. A fun read with wonderful characters. Can’t wait for the next book to see what Mercy and Lizzie get up to in Ireland.

Thank you to Bookouture for an ARC copy of this novel that comes out August 22, 2024.

I have alwaysss wanted to try a cozy mystery story. This was my first one! The "cozy" part in this novel meant it took place in a quaint Irish village, Shamrock Cove. I loved the setting and the premise of this book. Firstly, the setting is beautiful green Ireland, on the sea. Their new home is in a small little village where everyone knows each other. Also, THEY NOW OWN A BOOK STORE (more on that below)! As for the premise, two American sisters get the opportunity to move to Ireland when their grandfather passes away and leaves his cottage in their name (YES PLZ!). Along with inheriting his home, they also inherit his business: a two-story book shop! When they arrive to their new home, a surly old man in the village dies unexpectedly. One of the sisters is a mystery writer and sees this as the perfect opportunity to play detective, while the other sister is hoping for a drama-free fresh start in Ireland. Everyone is a suspect.

I really did like this book, but the ending killed it for me. There was a ton of buildup and a rushed ending that I felt was anti-climactic and didn't make a ton of sense. It says this is the first in the series, so I would give the second book a try, whenever that comes out. I hope it explores the ending of the first book and the romance I was hoping to get in the first.

A truly fascinating mystery read. I really enjoyed this one!
 
I will say it was kind of slow, but I’d say it was worth it. I adore the characters a whole lot, especially Lizzie and Mercy. There was a great aspect of sisterhood in this story, and I loved that!
 
Sadly, the plot twist was kind of meh in my personal opinion. It did keep me guessing a lot though, which is always a plus in a good mystery read. But overall, this was worth the read, and I will be waiting patiently for the next book in the series!
 
I really hope we get to see more of Mercy and Kieran together!
 
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy!

Things are not going very well for Mercy and Lizzie. When they get the unexpected Inheritance of a bookshop in Ireland from a grandfather they never knew about…..they decide to move to Ireland. They need a change and this may just be what they need.
They hope this is a start over they need. Will things go well for them? Or, will it be a complete disaster?
Once they arrive, the neighbors seem very nice. The little town seems lovely. Their new home has many secrets….including a hidden entrance.
Then one of the neighbors is found dead.
This is when the mystery draws Mercy and Lizzie in.
Perfect cozy mystery to enjoy with a nice cuppa.
Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is first book in a new series.

Mercy McCarthy and her twin sister Lizzie inherit a bookshop in Ireland from a grandfather they have never met. They are enjoying the house, the shop and the community until Mercy finds a neighbour dying in the garden and becomes the chief suspect. As an author of mystery novels she feels that she is well equipped to begin her own investigation.

The story is very well written with great characters, especially Mercy and Lizzie. I liked the Detective too. The mystery is excellent with a surprising culprit. Very enjoyable altogether and I look forward to reading book two.

The last line of the book description says that this book will sweep you away to Ireland, and it couldn’t be more true! I was immediately transported to a quaint seaside village in picturesque Ireland as soon as the book opened, and I really didn’t want to leave. Sometimes you just need a good cozy book to curl up with, and this book will certainly do the trick!

Mercy and Lizzie, the sisters at the center of the book were extremely likable and I am so excited to see more of them in the future and learn more about their family (you’ll see what I mean when you read the book). They were both sweet and sensible, but not overly sugar-coated, if you know what I mean. There’s definitely a bit of a sassy bite underneath the exterior.

The mystery itself was good as well! There’s plenty of suspects as you’ll see. Basically the whole town, since the first victim (!) was basically hated by everyone. That makes the book pretty exciting. It wasn’t until the end, when the author starts heavily dropping hints, really wanting you to uncover the truth, that I had my suspicions, and then when it’s time, the confession comes along with the motive. I really enjoyed that. It didn’t spoil things for me and kept me really turning pages yo see how it was going to end.

Overall, I’m going to be all over this series in the future. It’s the perfect cozy for a night in!

I enjoyed reading An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly which is the debut of A Mercy McCarthy Mystery series. I liked Mercy McCarthy who is a mystery writer. Mercy is protective of her twin sister, Lizzie. Lizzie is delighted with the bookshop (I do not blame her!) that the ladies inherited and that she will be running. I enjoyed the banter between the sisters and their close relationship. Shamrock Cove, Ireland sounded delightful with its colorful buildings. I especially loved the color of the bookshop. I thought it was unique that there was a hidden entrance to Hidden Way Court where Mercy and Lizzy McCarthy were residing in the home they inherited from their grandfather. The twins’ grandfather had a penchant for puzzles, and I have a feeling there are more surprises awaiting the ladies. The residents of the court welcomed the twins with open arms except for the judge who does not have a kind word for anyone. The move to Ireland is a fresh start for the twins. Unfortunately, the murder of the disagreeable judge puts a crimp in their plans. Mercy does not like that the sisters are under a cloud of suspicion. She dives into the whodunit to clear their names. The suspect list is lengthy since the judge was not well liked. Mercy manages to butt heads with Kiernan, the local detective, along the way. I had fun solving the puzzle. There is a good cast of secondary characters with my favorites being Lolly and Kiernan. I am looking forward to the next A Mercy McCarthy Mystery. An Irish Bookshop Murder is a craic cozy mystery with a gan choinne inheritance, a gnóthach bookstore, cairdiúil neighbors, a dúnmharaíodh judge, and a fresh start for Cúpla sisters.

An Bookshop in a quaint small town on the seashore in Ireland, count me in! Lucy Connelly brings us a new story about twin Lizzie and Mercy McCarthy who inherit a bookshop and a home in Shamrock Cove Ireland from a grandfather they never knew.
Lizzie has a good business sense and will run the bookshop. Mercy is a mystery author and plans to use their new home as her base of operations for writing her next book.
Soon after their arrival, a retired judge dies, and it's murder. The police detective on the case looks closely at Mercy and Lizzie.
This is a delightful series opener. I listened to the audiobook and love the narrator. I also had access to an early copy of the ebook. I really enjoyed An Irish Bookshop Murder and look forward to visiting Ireland again soon.
Thanks to Negalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to enjoy this book.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

its always nice to find an author that grabs you from the first page and keeps you reading right to the end captivated by all the characters and wondering who the murderer is.. and thats what this author did

i fell in love with the two sisters who came from texas to try and calm their lives down after what they had been through and to be left their new house by someone they hadnt known but were related to is indeed a mystery i hope can be unravelled in later books

but its the murder of the judge in their little cove that has everyone being investigated and none more so than the two sisters... because as he was dying he accused mercy of killing him....

as mercy gets use to being taken down to the station to answer questions its a fun time for all as they begin to realise that the killer is somone a lot closer than they think and seems to be targeting people who live in the cove

a brilliant first book and i cant wait for the second one to come out...will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works... shes a keeper

Another cozy mystery for me, shocking :). This cozy mystery is set in a small Irish village, and I absolutely loved the setting of Shamrock Cove. The tight-knit community really added to the story, making it feel warm and inviting, despite the murder mystery at its core and the backstabbing neighbors.

One of the things that stood out to me was the characters, especially the neighbors. They quickly became my favorites, with their quirks and close connections adding a lot of personality to the story. It’s the kind of place where you’d want to live!

I also found it really unique that the main characters were twins. I don’t think I’ve read any cozy mysteries that feature twins before, so that was a nice first. Mercy, the writer, and her sister, who’s eager to manage the bookstore they inherited from their late grandfather, were a great duo. It was a good grounding point remembering why the duo came over and that Mercy was being her sister's support through hard times.

An Irish Bookshop Murder was a delightful read. If you’re into cozy mysteries with a bit of Irish charm, give it a shot!.

I love starting a new mystery series, so I was quite excited about starting An Irish Bookshop Murder. Although it's book one in the Mercy McCarthy Mystery series, Mercy is actually a twin, and her sister Lizzy plays quite a role in helping solve the murders.
Mercy and her sister have had quite a hard time recently, so when they discover that not only do they have a grandfather in Ireland, but that he's also left them a pretty cottage and bookshop (who wouldn't love that) they make the decision to move from the US and start afresh. Unfortunately, this new life isn't a completely relaxing one and it's not long before things start to happen and Mercy finds herself in the middle of a real-life murder investigation.
This book has all of the elements that you'd expect from a good cozy mystery; dead bodies, secrets to uncover, a cast of locals, a potential love interest and by the end of the book an animal companion to join Mercy and Lizzy. The town of Shamrock Cove (no really) and the 'court' in which the cottages are set is very Disney Ireland, but that somehow fits better with the cozy murder genre than the real country ever would.
This was a very enjoyable read and I am looking forward to joining Mercy, her sister Lizzy and the rest of the locals from Shamrock Cove in the near future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Ok, so .. You know how you get the first book in a new series and you're not sure what expect. But you enjoy the author's other books so you give it a chance, right? That's how I was with this book. I got my snack, my comfy reading chair, my kindle and settled in to read An Irish Bookshop Murder.... And promptly fell into the story. I literally did not want to stop reading. I had to know what happened next. I loved that Mercy and her twin, Lizzie, had the courage to pick up and move to another country (Ireland is on my bucket list of places to visit), then immediately get involved in a murder investigation. And the other characters in the story, including the handsome detective, were equally as wonderful. I did not immediately guess whodunit, so that was fun. Did I think the reasoning behind the crime was a little thin? Yes, but it in no way detracted from my enjoyment of this story.

I'm very ready for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or favor or expectation.

Mercy is a well established mystery writer and her twin, Lizzy has a successful lavender business back in Texas. But when they find out that they inherited a bookshop in Ireland from their long lost grandfather, they hop a plane - both in need of a new challenge.

Enter a litany of quirky neighbours, a couple of deep dark secrets, dealing with the loss of an unknown grandparent, and even the hint of a possibility of a cosy little romance!

I loved the neighbours - they are all quirky, funny in their own way and some are fantastic red herrings! As the story unfolds we learn that the victim wasn't always the nicest of men and there may even be a link between his death and that of the twins' grandfather!

Cosy, twisty and funny with a heartwarming hug of a new group of friends! I'd happily return for more!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lucy Connelly for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for An Irish Bookshop Murder coming out August 22, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read this author’s Scottish series and loved it. So I was definitely excited to receive this book. I think it was a great start to a new series. I loved the Ireland setting and plot. Mercy and Lizzie have a fun and sometimes complicated sister relationship. I enjoyed the backstory. The characters were great. I really loved this book! It was a fun cozy mystery with some heart to it. I’m definitely excited to check out more books in the series!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy Irish mysteries!

"An Irish Bookshop Murder" is a captivating start to a new cozy mystery series. The novel introduces us to twin sisters, Mercy, an author, and Lizzy, a businesswoman, who inherit a property in Ireland after a series of personal tragedies. Despite their similarities, their distinct personalities make them stand out, adding depth to the story.

As the twins settle into their new surroundings, they become entangled in a complex web of local mysteries and suspicious events. The book is expertly crafted, with a gripping plot that kept me reading well into the night. The narrator's performance brings the characters to life, making the audiobook experience particularly engaging.

This series is a delightful treat for fans of cozy mysteries, whether you prefer reading or listening. With unanswered questions about the twins' family background, I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

In Ireland two sisters, Mercy and Lizzie arrive as they’ve inherited property left to them by their grandfather.

After they sorted themselves out, Mercy becomes a suspect in a murder, she writes mysteries, but she never thought she’d be involved in one.

Now, they must apply the same methods when Mercy writes mysteries to uncover who actually killed their neighbour. Will they find the culprit, or will Mercy be the one going to prison?

I can’t wait to read what comes next for them.

An Irish Bookshop Murder
Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 1
by Lucy Connelly

Twins Mercy and Lizzie, recently arrived in Ireland, find themselves as suspects in the murder of a neighbor they’d just met.

Mercy and Lizzie are looking to build a new life in the small Irish village of Shamrock Cove. They’ve inherited a bookshop and a home from a grandfather they never knew they had, making this a great time to leave their home in Texas after several heartbreaks and start over. But they’ve barely had time to meet their new neighbors when one of them dies and the two are prime suspects in his death. Mercy, a bestselling mystery writer, decides she needs to insert herself into the investigation to clear their names. But being a mystery writer doesn’t necessarily make her a good investigator.

I have mixed feelings about this book. Bookstore? Check. Ireland? Check. Cozy mystery? Check. But the motive for the murder raised more questions than answers. The ending also left me with more questions than answers because of several loose ends.
Having said all of that, I would probably give the next book in the series a try, just to see if some of the loose ends from this book are resolved in the next.

3/5 stars

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. 2 sisters inherit a cottage and bookstore in Ireland from the grandfather they never knew. After losing their Mom and 1 of the sisters looses her finance they decide to move to Ireland. After arriving residents of the community they live in start being murdered. Since one of the sisters is a best selling mystery writer she becomes involved in the investigation. This book is filled with quirky characters and I did not figure out who the murderer was until it was revealed in the book. I will definitely read more in this series as they are released .

I really wanted to try “a cosy murder mystery” and I think this fit the criteria. Let me preface my review however by saying I’m probably not its intended audience.

In the first 20%, there were repetitive references to the MC, Mercy, being a writer.

There were a few quirky characters in the Court, where Mercy and her twin have inherited a house and bookshop, and there was a cute sense of whimsy to the setting. It did feel like some of the characters were a box ticking exercise in inclusivity.

I presumed the author was Irish so the use of American English and phrases I would associate more with Scotland were slightly jarring.

I did race through the book in two sittings and found it quite an easy read hence the 3 stars.

Thank you to Bookouture & Netgalley for the ARC.

When twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie move to the seemingly idyllic village of Shamrock Cove in coastal Ireland they are looking forward to making a fresh start. Their grandfather they never knew left them both a charming home and bookstore, and the neighbors are welcoming, except for a grumpy judge. His sudden death soon needs Mercy’s investigative skills she’s learned as a successful mystery writer to clear her name. I enjoyed the characters as Mercy and Lizzie get to know those living in the close knit court, could one of them be a killer? The description of their home, and the bookstore, as well Shamrock Cove are lovely and really brought to live, setting the tone of a picturesque seaside community where everyone knows each other, with a police force rarely needing to be called on. With the detective repeatedly calling on Mercy she’s never quite sure if she’s a suspect or not….(my one quibble with the book was Mercy and Lizzie repeatedly saying that Mercy was arrested again when she was in fact just being questioned……huge difference between the two). As Lizzie reopens the bookstore, much to everyone’s delight (there is a sweet side story of Mercy getting a book hating little boy to become a fan of reading)Mercy is on a deadline to finish her newest book, only crimes keep getting in the way. This was a fun, cozy mystery I enjoyed as a change from my normal police procedurals, I like to mix the two genres. The main characters aren’t afraid to stand up for themselves and are proactive in keeping Mercy from actually being arrrested.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy, I look forward to seeing what’s in store for the sisters next, particularly Mercy and the detective!