A County Kerry Novel Book 2
Rosepoint Rating: Five Stars
Book Blurb:
In the powerful tradition of Ann Cleeves and Louise Penny, USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor’s new Ireland-set series continues, bringing together complex characters with a focus on a female vet who returns home to the village where she grew up and must reckon with her past while untangling mysteries in the present.
In Dimpna Wilde’s veterinary practice, an imminent meteor shower has elevated the usual gossip to include talk of shooting stars and the watch parties that are planned all over Dingle. But there are also matters nearer at hand to discuss—including the ragtag caravan of young people selling wares by the roadside, and the shocking death of Chris Henderson, an elderly local, in a hit-and-run.
Just hours before his death, Henderson had stormed into the Garda Station, complaining loudly about the caravan’s occupants causing noise and disruption. One of their members is a beautiful young woman named Brigid Sweeney, and Dimpna is shocked when Brigid later turns up at her practice, her clothing splattered in blood and an injured hare tucked into her shirt.
Brigid claims that a mysterious stranger has been trying to obtain a lucky rabbit’s foot. Dimpna is incensed at the thought of anyone mutilating animals, but there is far worse in store. On the night of the meteor shower, Dimpna finds Brigid’s body tied to a tree, her left hand severed. She has bled to death. Wrapped around her wrist is a rabbit’s foot.
Brigid had amassed plenty of admirers, and there were tangled relationships within the group. But perhaps there is something more complex than jealousy at play. The rabbit’s foot, the severed hand, the coinciding meteor shower—the deeper Dimpna and Detective Sargeant Cormac O’Brien investigate, the more ominous the signs seem to be, laced with a warning that Dimpna fears it will prove fatal to overlook.
My Review:
I admit it.
I gave Book 1 of Ms O’Connor’s new County Kerry series, No Strangers Here, to the CE to read. Of course he loved it! I was introducing him to one of my favorite series authors. This time, I grabbed it for myself. So glad I did.
First, I tripped over the main character’s name every time I saw it—pronounced it just as it looked–a little awkward and the first time I’ve seen that name in an Ireland novel. Dimpna is a veterinarian but somehow she manages to get into the middle of some high local drama, the first of which is the hit-and-run of a beloved elderly local.
Dimpna was told about a caravan’s shenanigans, loud and irreverent, shortly before his death. Then here comes Brigid, a beauty and part of the caravan’s occupants, clutching an injured hare livid with wild stories of someone obtaining rabbit’s feet while they are still alive. Just the visual gave me the willies!
“Brigid was nothing like his mam. His mam was a storm; Brigid was the rainbow after.”
Then events turned even darker upon the discovery of the woman, herself the victim of someone who would mutilate a bunny. Normally, this time of year, the Dingle peninsula is full of tourists and with a major impending meteor shower set to provide a wild display, the area fever is worse than during a full moon.
The storyline gets complex quickly as Dimpna and Detective Sargeant Cormac O’Brien follow the clues. There are twists and red herrings. There are great characters as well as peripheral characters associated with the caravan that keep the narrative lively and atmospheric. I love the peek into old Ireland and have no problem engaging. The prose is spirited.
“I’ve always been the thorn in the family rose.”
I’ve enjoyed the author’s cozy mysteries for some time, but really liking this new series; graphic bordering on noir, thrilling and suspenseful. Love the lore and mystery.
Recommended for those who enjoy stories written by and about Ireland or any mysteries set in an exotic locale.
I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author and publisher through @NetGalley which in no way influenced this review. These are my honest thoughts.
Book Details:
Genre: International Mystery & Crime, Murder
Publisher: Kensington Books
ASIN: B0BT8N86YY
Print Length: 362 pages
Publication Date: October 24, 2023
Source: Publisher and NetGalley
Title Link(s):
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
The Author: USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor comes from a long line of Irish storytellers. Her great-grandmother emigrated from Ireland to America and the stories have been flowing ever since. Of all the places across the pond she’s wandered, she fell most in love with a walled town in County Limerick and was inspired to create the town of Kilbane, County Cork. She writes the bestselling IRISH VILLAGE MYSTERIES, the HOME TO IRELAND series, and the new COUNTY KERRY MYSTERIES. Her books have been translated into numerous languages, and optioned for television. Readers can find her at Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086525205106 or through her website: http://www.carleneoconnor.net
©2023 V Williams
