I am posting this as a part of Bookouture's blog tour program, my review is my honest opinion of the book.
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?
Then Mercy’s chief suspect turns up dead and she receives a threatening note, typed on paper from her own bookstore… Ireland was supposed to be a fresh start for Mercy and Lizzie, but dead bodies keep turning up.
Does Mercy have what it takes to nail the culprit or will the killer close the book on her time in this charming Irish village?
The first book in a new series is always sort of a set up no matter what genre you are reading an that is true of cozies. You are getting to know all the characters and getting a feel for the setting.
Mercy and Lizzie are twin sisters who have had misfortunes and are in need a new beginning. They are American's and didn't know about their Irish side until they find out that a grandfather they didn't know has left them his cottage and bookshop in Ireland. So they decide to move there. The place is call Shamrock Cove and it's kind of like a gated community but called The Court. It has a different sort of way of handing down the property.
They hadn't been there long when they are invited to a party to welcome them when they meet a grumpy judge who not long after ends up dead and they are the ones that find him. He even calls out and points at Mercy saying she murdered him. They don't even know him so that was a strange thing and nobody really thinks they did it but they are new to the court.
Mercy is a fairly famous mystery writer and she is suppose to be working on her new book while her sister Lizzie takes care of the bookstore, but the fact that this old man accused her of murder makes her curious about things so she wants to try and figure out the mystery. She drags her sister along at times.
What I liked about this story:
I liked the close bond between the twin sisters. Even though they are twins they are very different, but those differences makes them a great team. I love that it's set in Ireland as that is a place I would like to travel to one day. I liked most of the characters on the court, Lolly probably being my favorite. I found the mystery to be decently hard to solve, the author gives you plenty of suspects. I did figure it out though and at times wondered why the mystery writer was getting dupped. Still it was a decent mystery.
What I didn't like:
The things I didn't like are my personal preference when it comes to reading stories. I don't need social commentaries or buzz words or phrases or things like that in my stories. I read to be entertained and I am not a critical thinker when it comes to reading. I often felt like the author was ticking off some boxes with things that were said. This would make me roll my eyes and take me out of the story. So while I enjoyed certain parts of this story I wasn't as big of a fan of it as I wanted to be. Which is a bummer as I really like her Scottish Isle series which so far doesn't throw in all the things I didn't like in this one. So that being said it was my personal preference that caused me not to enjoy this as much as I wanted too and I think others will be just fine with it and probably enjoy those things I didn't like. I may try book two to see how I get on with it.
So I would recommend this to those who enjoy cozy mysteries.
3.5 stars
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Glad you found some things you enjoyed about this one. I think the twin aspect would be pretty interesting.
ReplyDeleteThey were interesting characters.
DeleteMy first thought reading about this book is "where is MY Irish cottage?"" Lol. It sounds pretty good😁
ReplyDeleteRight? I am still waiting for that relative I don't know to hand me over a cottage or millions...lol.
DeleteI like the premise and the sound of the characters. I think the social commentary and whatnot would also annoy me but this sounds like one I would overall enjoy.
ReplyDeleteIt was good and the things that bothered me might not bother you.
ReplyDelete