Murder at an Irish Chipper

December 1, 2023
A much-delayed honeymoon to the seacoast turns into a murder hunt. Garda Siobh�n O'Sullivan and her husband, Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery, have escaped the heat in their hometown by traveling to coastal Lahinch, taking along Siobh�n's five siblings. Upon arrival they check out two chip shops, Mr. Chips and Mrs. Chips, which are across the street from each other, and learn that Mr. Chips' banner and mural have just been vandalized. The dueling owners went through a nasty divorce after Mr. Chips' affair with Mrs. Chips' best friend, so it seems likely that his ex-wife was the vandal. The line of people waiting outside Mrs. Chips, which should have been open by now but isn't, includes a restaurant critic, a fish supplier, a cooking oil supplier, and a man who's come to install a new vent hood. Because they can't get into the shop, Macdara calls local handyman John Healy, who owns the inn where the family is staying. Once inside, they find Mrs. Chips dead. Although she appears to have fallen from a ladder, Siobh�n has a hunch that she was murdered. The local Gardai arrive, headed by Detective Sergeant Liam Healy, the innkeeper's grandson, who wants to believe Mrs. Chips' death is an accident but is willing to consider murder. Macdara just wants to be a man of leisure, but Siobh�n, who can never let a puzzle go unsolved, starts asking questions while her family members enjoy themselves and pursue new romantic attachments. Mrs. Chips had plenty of enemies, but when the next to die is John Healy, Siobh�n and Macdara realize this case will be more complicated than they thought. Irish charm, plenty of suspects, and some strange twists make for a winning combination.

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December 15, 2023

It's hotter than usual in Ireland, but Garda Siobh�n O'Sullivan and her husband, Detective Sergeant Macdara Flannery, decide to take a delayed honeymoon trip to Lahinch, a seaside resort, and Siobh�n brings all five of her siblings along. They have plans to help support a fish and chip shop, but they are too late. There's a line outside the locked door when they arrive, Macdara and Siobh�n insist on a wellness check, and they find the owner, Vera, dead, covered in flour with a vinegar bottle beside her. It looks like murder to Siobh�n, but it's not her case. Macdara teases that she doesn't know how to holiday. Siobh�n is intrigued by the locked doors to the shop, Vera's war with her ex-husband, who is opening a new chipper across the street, and stories of Vera's unusual behavior in the weeks leading up to her murder. When another murder occurs, Siobhan and Macdara are both assigned to investigate in a town where even the local garda is personally involved with the other suspects. VERDICT The sequel to Murder at an Irish Bakery will appeal to cozy series fans who appreciate Irish village settings, the large O'Sullivan family, and eccentric characters.--Lesa Holstine

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