I downloaded this audiobook from NetGalley and listened to it while doing some admin.

It's very clearly written for the American market, and the portrayal of Ireland by the author and the accents attempted by the narrator were quite interesting from the perspective of a British person with colleagues and friends in Eire.

I wasn't quite sure why the bookshop had to be situated in the made-up Shamrock Cove, or why the author didn't set her cosy crime in smalltown USA. Her website says she loves travelling, and I can see that she's been very successful with previous writing projects, so I expect that her established readers will love this book too.

The actual crime fiction element is really good, and if it were not for the faux Irish setting, I would have really loved this novel. I still liked it, in the same way that at Christmas time I have a special place in my heart for Hallmark movies set in my native Scotland written by and starring people who have never lived there.

Three Word Review: American-style Irish mystery

Full disclaimer; I could not finish this audiobook. I found it incredibly clichéd and overdone and as an Irish person myself, I found it genuinely offensive at times. It could not have been more obvious that this book was written by an US American. The entire "idyllic Irish countryside village where nothing ever happens" was laughable and the caricatures were stereotypical and incredibly under-developed. The twins irritated me from the very first page as their entire "personalities" and roles in the story were explicitly stated. There was an appalling lack of research done on Ireland and the police system here especially (FYI, they're not called the "police" here, they're called "gardaí") and the town name "Shamrock Cove" made me want to die from cringiness. The narrator's voice was very happy and enthusiastic which wouldn't be an issue in any other genre, but for a murder mystery, it was a little off-putting at times. And although I cannot speak for the authenticity of their Texan accent, the Irish accent was definitely unrealistic and even turned stereotypically-Scottish at times.

A mesmerizing start to a new series that I’ll be keeping my eyes out for. I can’t wait for a sequel.

The setting of the story in the idyllic village of Shamrock Cove creates the perfect atmosphere and makes for - together with the lovable and quirky characters - a perfect whodunnit cozy mystery that leaves you craving more.

A special shoutout to the handsome police officer for not being a walking red flag as in so many other cozy mysteries (seriously why are they always written like that?)

Kimberly Wetherell did a wonderful job narrating the story. I had so much fun listening to the audiobook and was hooked right away.

3.5/5 stars. Audiobook performance 4.5/5 stars.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BookoutureAudio for this advanced reader copy. Happy publishing day to Lucy Connelly

Mercy is a celebrated and successful mystery/crime writer looking to escape the big city and the shadows of a stalker and her twin sister, Lizzie, is a successful business woman needing a change after multiple tragedies when they receive an unexpected inheritance from a grandfather they hadn't known.

Mercy and Lizzie are now the owners of a small antique bookshop in a close knit Irish village. Upon arrival they meet the cast of characters (soon to be suspects) at a welcoming party. On the way home, one of the community members, Judge, is outside their house, gasping for air and with his dying breath, accuses Mercy of murdering him.

The whole book feels cozy, zany and like something I would read on vacation. I loved how Mercy wanted to insert herself in the investigation but was also appalled that the detective would want to question her. The ending left me wishing for a little more. The crime felt out of proportion with the motive. Reading this book felt like watching an episode of Father Brown. The perfect read to cuddle up in a blanket next to the fire with a cup of tea and relax.

For the audiobook I give the narrator 4.5/5. The vocal performance, accents and pace were very immersive and engaging.

Although cosy crime is not usually my go-to genre, I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. The narration was flawless at bringing the storyline and characters to life. The plot kept me invested in finding out who and why, and the twists were well executed. Another book to fuel my desire to visit Ireland! The setting sounded beautiful, and the community spirit was divine!

I didn't give this book a five-star rating because the pacing didn't quite match my preferences, but I understand that it might be typical for this genre. I haven't read enough to make a fair judgement. However, I am excited to read or listen to the next book in this series and explore more of this author's work.

If, like me, you are considering trying out a new genre, this would make the perfect introduction in any format.

I really enjoyed this story for the most part, and will definitely be recommending this as a cosy, winter read.

Lucy Connelly’s first entry into the Mercy McArthur Mystery Series is cozy in the way that a Hallmark movie warms your soul after a long day.. While the story was a tad predictable, it managed to be so in a charming way that was perfect for a quick, easy read on a fall day. At points the plot dragged a bit due to repetitive turns of phrase or rehashed minor plot points, but this did not greatly detract from my enjoyment of the book. Listening to this on audio, I did find it at times difficult to keep track of all the characters but overall due to the familiar but interesting plot it was manageable. Readers who need a brain break from heavier materials/thrillers might appreciate delving deeper into Shamrock Cove’s quirky community. I’m grateful I had the chance to listen to this book and think that fall readers will appreciate curling up by the fire with a nice “cuppa” and this book.

Perfect cozy mystery. I enjoyed getting to know the sisters along with their trials and tribulations. The story was easy to follow and I hope there will be a book two. I wish the twins accents would have been more prominent in the book.

I love a good cozy mystery and this one is the start of what’s going to be a great series.

Twin sisters who have dealt with their fair share of tragedy; inherit a house and bookshop in Ireland from their grandfather they didn’t know existed. Embracing this as the fresh start they needed, things don’t go exactly according to plan when they discover a dead body soon after their move. When eyes turn towards the newcomers it’s up to the sisters to prove their innocence.

I absolutely loved this mystery. The sisters are highly entertaining and so so so funny, the Irish accents were *chefs kiss* and the mystery itself was well thought out and wrapped up nicely,

Overall I really enjoyed this and will definitely continue the series

An Irish Bookshop Murder by Lucy Connelly follows twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy as they move to Ireland where their late, and unknown, grandfather left them his cottage and bookstore. On their first day in the village a murder occurs. Mercy, a writer of murder mystery, decides she will work to figure out who killed this man while ruling out her neighbors. There is intrigue, family, and new friends.

I listened to this as an audiobook read by Kimberly Wetherell. She brought life to the book and produced a convincing Irish accent that varied with each character. She brought emotion to characters as well as personality. Kimberly helped you fall in love with the twins friends. As an audiobook, each chapter was announced to help you know where in the book you were.

This book was amazing and caught my attention right away. I love a good cozy murder mystery story and this one is at the top of my list. Lucy brings the story alive with her writing and characters. She kept me guessing throughout the book. Just when I thought I'd figured it out, she added a twist making me question who the killer was. I love where she left the story and cannot wait for the next book. Anyone who enjoys cozy murder mystery should check this story out.

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.

I don't listen or read cosy crime often but this cover and title caught my eye. This was a quick listen but I wasn't too sure of the narrator, I enjoyed the storyline and it grew on me over time. I don't have much cozy crimes to compare this too but I would definitely listen to more and I liked the main characters. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for this audio arc. I gave this 3.5 on storygraph.

I ADORED this book! The bond between the sisters was endearing! Mercy was living a real life version of one of her books after her and her sister move to Ireland after their grandfather leaves them a bookstore. Funny, interesting - cant wait for the next one in the series!

4 stars!

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!

Publish date: 08/22/2024

An Irish Bookshop Murder is the start of the new Mercy McCarthy Mystery series. Mercy and her twin sister, Lizzie, have just moved to Shamrock Cove village in Ireland following the inheritance of their grandfather’s bookshop. Everything is going well as the sisters get ready to reopen the bookshop until one of their neighbors drops dead. When suspicions starts pointing to Mercy, the mystery writer puts on her sleuthing hat to get unravel the case until she is staring the killer in the face.

I am a huge cozy mystery fan and am always looking for a new series to add to my TBR. The description and book cover pulled me in and I’m glad it did. This was a great cozy to start this new series. I loved the small Irish village setting and Mercy and Lizzie are a great duo. I enjoyed this book from the beginning and found myself guessing at the killer the whole time and was still shocked at the reveal. The storyline had some good twists and turns and I didn’t want to put the book down until I figured things out. This is a series that I look forward to seeing more from. If you are looking for a solid start to what’s bound to be a good cozy mystery series set in a sleepy village in Ireland this book is for you! I can’t wait to visit Shamrock Cove again!

I almost couldn't finish the audiobook. The narrator was poorly chosen and made a book that already has very basic writing sound annoying. The characters felt superficial and the dialog felt fake. There was no real suspense and I could not feel the tension desired in a mystery book, as it was narrated in an "all is fun, and fine and dandy" way. Furthermore, the sentences felt choppy and the writing didn't flow.


The writing, as I've mentioned, felt basic and choppy. The sentences were short and it gave everything a fake vibe. Perhaps if I'd read the book instead of listening to it, I would feel less put off by the writing style. The writer also over-explains everything. By the end of the first chapter, it was already clear how the relationship between the twins was, what their personalities were, the reason for the move... Not because the reader finds it out as they read, but because it is blatantly told. For a mystery book, there was little mystery in everything not murder-wise.

The story was not bad. The mystery was decent and the plot twist, though not surprising to someone used to reading mystery books, was fun. The writing ruined the story, though. If the writing improves, I would be interested in reading future sequels, as the characters are fun.

After a series of tragedies Lizzie and Mercy find themselves new owners of a popular little bookstore in Shamrock Cove. Everyone is extremely welcoming and excited for them to keep the bookstore operating, well everyone except one person. And the night after arriving in town that person ends up dead and because he wasn't the most liked there are a line of suspects. This is a great start to a cozy mystery series and I can't wait to see what's in store for everyone in this cozy little Irish village.

I didn't love the narrator for the audio but also didn't hate it, I found it be a little meh. I also found that I enjoyed it a bit more when I was speeding up the audio a bit. Not sure if it is just me but I also felt like the accent changed here and there through the book as well. Because of that I did take it down in rating a bit.

Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed listening to this charming mystery! I liked the storyline and characters and enjoyed the narrator as well. Looking forward to the next book to see what the people of the square are up to.

I voluntarily listened to the audiobook provided by NetGalley.

I loved listening to this cozy mystery.

I've never had to describe a book in this way but truly felt like such a cozy listen. I became invested in the characters as well as the plot and i loved the way that you were hooked into solving the murders but there wasn't that feeling in your stomach when the risks became too high. This book transported me into a small town seaside village where everyone is close to each other and just how shocking the murders can be. The little sprinkles of romance were so cute but also so small that they didn't take away from the story one bit.

I loved this from the start till the end!

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ALC.

3.5 ⭐️
This cosy mystery is the first in a new series and stars a set of twins, Mercy and Lizzie, who move to a small coastal village in Ireland after a grandfather they knew nothing about let them his house and book store.

After moving, someone in the town is murdered and some suspicion is thrown their way as it happens their very first day in town.

I would say Mercy is the main main-character, and Lizzie and the village detective being the secondary main-characters.

While I wasn’t sure how well I was liking this book during the first 1/4 of it, it got better and I would happily read the next book in the series.

This is classic cosy mystery so it has all the typical cosy mystery tropes. If you don’t like those, you wouldn’t like this, but if cosy mysteries are your jam, this might be right up your alley.

"An Irish Bookshop Murder" is a thrilling debut in a new cozy mystery series, and the audiobook experience is exceptional. The story follows twin sisters, Mercy, an author, and Lizzy, a businesswoman, who inherit a property in Ireland after enduring personal tragedies. Their distinct personalities are vividly brought to life by the narrator, making the characters truly unforgettable.

As the twins dive into their new Irish adventure, they find themselves at the heart of a gripping mystery filled with local secrets and intrigue. The narrator’s performance adds a dynamic layer to the storytelling, enhancing the suspense and drama. Their skillful portrayal of the characters’ unique voices and emotions kept me hooked, often making it difficult to put the audiobook down.

For cozy mystery enthusiasts, this audiobook is a must-listen. With its engaging plot and stellar narration, it’s a perfect addition to your audio library. I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment to unravel more of the twins’ mysterious heritage.