I loved this audio book. The narrator brought the characters to life. It was very easy to differentiate between the characters. I listened to this in one shot. The narrator had me invested in the story and the characters.

An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly is book one in the Mercy McArthur mystery series. I enjoyed this audiobook so much and more so that the ladies were from Texas!!

Mercy and Lizzie are twins and they have been some hard times. They soon learn that their long-lost grandfather they never met left them not only a house but a bookshop in Ireland. Thinking this would be a fresh start and exactly what they need, they make the decision to pack up their lives and move across the ocean to Shamrock Cove, Ireland.

The story and plot were so well written and I felt like I watching it play like a movie in my head. I not only loved the mc’s but I also loved the side characters as well. There were many twists and turns. Did I think I had the ending figured out yes, was I wrong, also yes. I liked that Mercy always found herself in the middle of everything and Lizzie could not lie. I also loved that they invited their friends for a Texas bbq. The banter between the characters was great. I can’t wait for the next book. I also thought Kimberly Wetherell did a fantastic job at narrating the book and all of the characters. Thanks you BookOuture and Net Galley for letting me listen to this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts and opinions.

I received a copy of this audiobook from netGalley for a honest review.

I didn't realize that this author writes pone of my favorite Scottish mystery series and was pleasantly surprised to find her American in Ireland to be just as great a character. The 2 sisters have inherited a cottage and bookstore in Scotland and due to their lives being kind of shitty back home they decide to move. Of course a murder happens and they find themselves involved. I laughed and then held my breath in suspense. I look forward to the next in this series.

Enjoyed this one so much, like a flowery thriller, a bit like Richard Osmands stuff or maybe Everyone on This Train is a Suspect, that kind of vibe. Great writing style and character development, even better it’s set in a book shop!! Great listen

Grab a blanket, a warm drink and cozy up! This is the perfect fall book! This is a really cute, cozy, mystery that will have you considering moving to a small Irish town.

Lizzie & Mercy live my dream - inheriting a cozy book shop & cottage while also getting to investigate and solve a murder!

I’m not a big fan of romance in my mystery/thrillers, so I love this story for not having a crazy side-story of love. I’m a big lover of colorful townies - this book is full of them! The ending is shocking and unpredictable. I loved the ending and how it all came together.

I listened to this as an audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator! Can’t wait to read the rest of this series!

Most new books in a cozy mystery series play it safe, not this one! From the start the book hits the ground running as we keep pace with Mercy, and her twin sister Lizzie, whose heartbreaking backstory alone could fill several novels by themselves. The Author does manage to handle Lizzie and her trauma with care in a way that fills us in on her history without either info dumping nor trauma dumping.

So I feel it important to put my own warning here for mentions of PTSD, Suicide, and Self Harm, it is not a major main plot point and is handled gracefully. Which I appreciated, as such things are sometimes used a flavor of the month to spice up a character rather than fully flesh them out. Lizzie is depicted with care and by the end of the book we are already seeing positive growth in her recovery. I appreciate that she is depicted as her own person with several big successes and is not belittled as the weaker twin who must be treated with kid gloves forever.

Although there are several tropes used throughout the book, like one successful twin caring for the weak sickly twin, they all play off with unexpected twists that make for an incredibly fun read! I read cozy mysteries because they play with these ideas in fun new ways, so if anything this book wins bonus points for making sense of a situation where the twins inherit property from a relative they didn't know existed.

I genuinely enjoyed the pace at which the book moved as it hit the perfect balance between plot and the fun cozy slice of life and comedy bits that keep me reaching for cozy mysteries instead of straight thrillers. I love getting to know the locals in the small town and seeing how relationships are being set up for future novels.

I am also very glad that I listened to the audiobook version as the accents which range from Texas twang, to a thick New York style, and finally to a variety of Irish accents are honestly well done and not cringey at all. The voice actress does an amazing job with individual character voices and expressing emotion without sacrificing the ability to understand her or sound quality. She has mastered the art of making it sound like characters are yelling or whispering without there being a noticeable change in the noise level. So big shout out to Kimberly Wetherell for doing a great job at switching between American and Irish accents without making it weird!

Overall very impressed by this first book and I can't wait for the next release in the series!

A lovely thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for allowing me to listen to the ARC version.

An Irish bookshop murder is the first in a new series set in Ireland. This book has so much to make me love it. Twin sisters relocate to Ireland after inheriting a bookshop and a house on Shamrock Cove, love all of it. The narrator of the book is Kimberly Wetherell and she is amazing, you will think it is more than one person narrating she is so good. The characters are an interesting bunch and I can see them developing as the series continues. An added plus comes at the end of the book with the addition of a dog to the cast of characters, just one more reason to love this series.
I was gifted this book from Netgalley but this is my honest review. Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for the introduction to this new series.

Absolutely loved #AnIrishBookshopMurder by Lucy Connelly.
Unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. However, they don't get the quiet peaceful new start they were hoping for!
Love the characters in the story and can't wait to read future books in the series! @NetGalley_UK @@bookouture #bestbookthissummer!

Round up to 3⭐

While I usually enjoy a good cozy murder mystery, this one fell short for me. Despite all the things happening to Mercy and Lizzy, the story still felt dull. The pacing was off, and it wasn’t until I was 95% through the book that the murderer was suddenly revealed, making the ending feel rushed and abrupt. As for the motive—it just didn’t add up. I found myself questioning if that was really enough to justify the murder. Overall, it left me disappointed.
I appreciate getting an ARC from NetGalley but I'm gonna have to pass on future books from this series.

Book: An Irish Bookshop Murder
Author: Lucy Connelly
Format: Audiobook
Genre: Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Crime/Mystery
Places Featured: Shamrock Cove, Ireland (a fictional town)
Review Score: ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2 (rounded down)
Review: Mercy, a writer, and her twin sister Lizzie have inherited a bookshop in Shamrock Cove, Ireland, so the two make the big decision to move there and settle in. Their transition doesn't start off well, though, when one of their neighbors (with whom they just fought) is found murdered and it looks like one of their nice new neighbors might be responsible. To clear their names, the sisters do what they can to help find the real killer. Although the narrator was fine, the characters were a little bit hard to keep track of, the story was qutie hard to believe (or care about), and there was a bit of a darker tone to the story then some other cozy mysteries. I will never say no to a book shop in Ireland, though!

Set in an idyllic town in Ireland, this murder mystery was engaging and kept me listening. The narrator did a wonderful job with the voices for all of the characters. I loved trying to solve the mystery and was even a little surprised at the end of it. It’s a great read and I think audio only enhances the enjoyment of the book.

I love Ireland: the myths, the lore, the timeless panorama, and the contrast between the high-tech industry and the countryside. A complex and intriguing country that has captured a piece of my heart.
I think that almost everyone dreams of inheriting a shop in a lovely postcard picture village.
So suspend your disbelief and be ready to travel to rural Ireland, meet the residents, and see how Mercy and Lizzie, true New Yorkers, are adapting to the idea of a previously unknown grandfather and a different way of living. They also have to find the culprit of a murder, as Mercy is the main suspect.
I had fun and enjoyed this immersive experience as I read and listened to the audiobook. The voices added layers and made the characters three-dimensional and relatable.
It’s the first in a series, and I’m curious about the next instalment.
The mystery is well done and never takes a backseat: there are no plot holes, and there are enough surprising twists to keep your attention alive. The solution was unexpected and satisfying.
Entertaining and compelling, recommended.
Many thanks to Bookouture for this digital copy and audiobook, all opinions are mine.

This was a lovely cosy murder mystery

Set in Shamrock Cove, Ireland. We meet Mercy and Liz twin sisters, from America, who have recently discovered they inherited a cottage and bookshop in the small Irish town of Shamrock Cove. Following the death of their mother and Lizzie’s fiancé and young daughter, they decide to relocate to their new home.

They know nothing about their Grandfather and are keen to explore, find out more about him and settle in to their new life. However things don’t run smoothly. On the night of their arrival one of their new neighbours, The Judge collapses and dies, his final words as he points to Mercy were “You Killed Me”

The sisters soon find themselves caught up in the hunt for the killer and more things happening, which make them look suspicious and also suspicious of their own new neighbours.
Can Mercy find the killer and prove herself innocent?

I actually enjoyed this book, it was a fun story, with several twists. I feel the ending has been left for future books as lots of unanswered threads. So looking forward to reading more.

I listened to the audio book and the terrible Irish accents aside it was easy to listen to.

I admire Ms. Connelly's conceit in having one of the main characters in this novel be a highly successful writer of murder mysteries, selling millions of copies! It is possible that Lucy Connelly is a pen name and the writer has indeed such a following. It just struck me as humorous with this being the first in this series and the earliest book listed for her in GR was published in April 2023.
Anyway, this is a mystery about two sisters who inherit a cottage in a walled community in idyllic Shamrock Cove. Mercey is the writer. Her twin sister, Lizzie, is still recovering from a traumatic event. If anything, Mercey's concern is a bit over-the-top, as are the protestations of their neighbors that the community is very, very safe. After all, they just arrived in town and now one of their neighbors is dead. It's a cozy, silly, and melodramatic mystery novel with secret doorways and only a hint of Irishness. My favorite part was how the sisters connected with a young boy who didn't want to read (but whose mother insisted) and managed to turn him into a voracious reader by matching their book recommendations with what they could glean about him. The novel otherwise masquerades as an advertisement for an espresso machine. Cute, but too much repetition. It may have been written by AI.
My thanks to the author-bot, publisher, producer, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook for review purposes.

"Irish Bookshop Murder" by Lucy Connelly is a delightful cozy mystery that gradually unfolds into a captivating read. While the story starts off at a more leisurely pace, it quickly draws the reader in with its charming setting and engaging characters. Connelly's depiction of the quaint Irish bookshop adds a unique and endearing backdrop to the mystery. As the plot thickens, the narrative becomes increasingly engrossing, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The blend of suspense and warmth makes it a perfect choice for fans of cozy mysteries. Overall, this book proves to be a satisfying and enjoyable read that is well worth sticking with until the end.

4.5 ⭐Rating

An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly is an utterly charming and engaging cozy mystery that transports listeners to the quaint Irish village of Shamrock Cove. After unexpectedly inheriting a delightful antique bookshop from their grandfather, twins Mercy and Lizzie adjust to their new lives in this picturesque seaside town. However, their peaceful new beginning is quickly disrupted when one of their neighbours suddenly drops dead, setting off a chain of murder and mayhem that the sisters can't resist trying to solve.

I absolutely adored this audiobook! The setting of a small Irish town, combined with a gripping murder mystery, made for a thoroughly enjoyable listen. The characters were delightful, and I found myself thoroughly engaged with Mercy and Lizzie's amateur sleuthing adventures. The story's mix of suspense and charm left me eagerly anticipating the next instalment in this promising series.

Listening to the audiobook, narrated by the talented Kimberly Wetherell, was a real treat. Wetherell's voice was pleasing and perfectly suited to the story, delivering a well-paced and emotionally resonant performance. Her narration added an extra layer of enjoyment, making the characters and the quaint village come to life in a way that kept me wanting more.

Overall, An Irish Bookshop Murder has everything you could possibly want from a cozy mystery—a charming setting, engaging characters, and a mystery that keeps you guessing. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a delightful and satisfying listen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for giving me an audio ARC of An Irish Bookshop Murder in exchange for my honest review.

An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

After receiving unexpected inheritance from her grandfather, Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie are now the proud owners of a charming antique bookshop in the tiny Irish village of Shamrock Cove. But before they can take in the beautiful view of the sea, one of their neighbors drops dead!

Mercy finds the Judge, a well-respected man who lives next door, dying on his own doorstep. She rushes to help, but with his final words, he accuses Mercy of murder! Most of their new neighbors hear his words and, with suspicion pointing at Mercy, she decides to investigate the case to clear her name.

Searching amongst the Judge’s old books, Mercy uncovers letters proving several of the townsfolk had reason to dislike the judge—but was it the local pub landlord, the kindly cook or neighborly knitter who killed him?

My Opinion

Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie have inherited a bookshop from a grandfather they have never met. Mercy is an author of mystery novels so when there are a few crimes in the area she feels able to investigate.

An Irish Bookshop Murder is the first book in a new series, and with some great characters it is definitely a series I will be reading. For me this was a nice, easy read that I was able to read over a day. If you are looking for a nice small town mystery then add this to your want to read list.

Rating 4/5

I have only recently started to crave more murder, mystery, and intrigue in my novel reading. I admit this hit all those and a bit more.

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio for the audioARC! All thoughts are my own.

I am a HUGE lover of all things Irish and have been since I was a wee one. I am also a writer, avid reader, and a librarian. So, when I read the description and these twin sisters were moving to a small quaint Irish village after a grandfather they never knew bequeathed them his cottage and book store, I was already hooked. Then come to find out the MC was also a writer...no brainer, I had to read it. The murder and mystery and growing enemies to lovers relationship between the MC and the investigator of the murder was a happy and masterfully done afterthought.
I will say, I didn't exactly put the who done it together (which I am decent at doing) since the author kept swinging back to a stalker Mercy had in NYC, but I always had a feeling the murderer was who it was (no spoilers). I was confused as to motive, which was revealed at the end, but there was no way to have seen that one coming. I will say, I wish the person who committed the murders was a bit more exciting. Although, I do realize this wasn't the true focus of the novel. Regardless, I really enjoyed the entire book!

No Regrets!!!!
4/5 stars

Run, don't walk, to get this book! Buy it, borrow it, read it, listen to it... whatever your choice is, it will be worth it. I wasn't more than a chapter or two in and I knew this book was one to recommend. The story has everything, an adorable Irish cottage in a close-knit community, a bookshop, hidden doors and rooms, beautiful gardens, family secrets, and of course a mysterious death that weaves a story full of intrigue with a loveable, quirky set of characters you'd want to know in real life. I absolutely enjoyed it and immediately went to find more books by Lucy Connelly.

I did have an issue with the title kicking me out of it at chapter 13. After multiple tries, I gave it a few hours and tried again and everything worked smoothly. I'm not sure what happened or why, but I was very glad it worked itself out!

I really enjoyed this absolutely delightful cozy mystery. It has all my favorite elements, a wonderful Irish small town, filled with quirky villagers. A bookstore in the lovely village, plus an author of mysteries trying to solve the case. Add in a handsome detective and you have hit the jackpot.

Twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie have have received an inheritance from their Irish grandfather they never knew, including his cottage and bookstore. After losing their mother they decide to move to Ireland for a fresh start. Upon arrival, the neighbors throw them a welcome party, when their cranky neighbor drops dead and points to Mercy saying you killed me before he dies. Mystery writer Mercy is on the case, trying to figure out if this was murder, and if so who the culprit was.

Thank you the NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the advanced listener copy. The narrator was Kimberley Wetherell was an outstanding. She could do wonderful Irish accents, and was a pleasure to listen to. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to the next book in this series.