On Flashback Fridays I will share with you
the books I was not able to review
when they were first released that have been screaming at me
from my To-Be-Read bookshelf.
Murder at the Blarney Bash (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Michigan
Publisher : Kensington Cozies(January 23, 2024)
Paperback : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 1496741749
ISBN-13 : 978-1496741745
Kindle ASIN : B0C3WXQNNN
Audiobook ASIN B0CRJNB9R7
Follow the aroma of shamrock sugar cookies to the Beacon Bakeshop, a lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan where amateur sleuth Lindsey Bakewell is busy preparing for Beacon Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities – with a little help from her adorable Newfoundland, Wellington, of course!
Lindsey is baking up a storm—shamrock sugar cookies, Guinness chocolate cupcakes, Irish soda bread—for the well-timed grand opening of the Irish import gift shop, the Blarney Stone, owned by her boyfriend’s uncle, Finnigan O’Connor, recently relocated from the Emerald Isle.
But it’s Uncle Finn himself who seems full of blarney when he gleefully reveals a pot of real gold he claims he stole from an actual leprechaun. And Finn’s fortune takes a turn for the worse when he’s arrested for the bludgeoning of a small unidentified man dressed as a leprechaun—the murder weapon alleged to be his now-missing shillelagh.
Eccentric Uncle Finn may enjoy believing he’s outwitted a leprechaun, but he would never be so deluded as to clobber one with his walking stick. Now Lindsey will need more than the luck of the Irish to seize a golden opportunity to catch the real killer . . .
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Beacon Harbor is going all out for St. Patrick’s Day. Lindsey Bakewell and her staff are pulling out all the stops filling the shelves at the Beacon Bakeshop but also making Guinness chocolate cupcakes with Bailey’s buttercream frosting, shamrock cupcakes and cookies, creme de menthe brownies, and a Bailey’s cheesecake for the grand opening of the Irish import gift shop and the Blarney Stone micropub. The new businesses are owned by Finnigan O’Connor, uncle of Lindsey’s boyfriend Rory who has moved to town straight from the Emerald Isle.
The celebration starts out with the annual grade school Leprechaun Parade with Uncle Finn, his daughter Colleen, and their gorgeous dog Bailey leading the way. Every student marching in the parade receives a free shamrock good luck charm from the Blarney Stone.
Uncle Finn is quite the storyteller, most get grander with each telling. The latest is that he stole a pot of gold from a real leprechaun on his way home. Not sure what to believe Rory and Lindsey know there is more to the story. Bad luck comes when a small man dressed like a leprechaun is killed, beaten to death with a shillelagh, that appears to belong to Uncle Finn. He is taken into custody and while he may have tricked the leprechaun out of his gold, he never would have killed him. Lindsey will need all the good luck she can get to bring the killer to justice and free Finn.
I am loving this series. In this 5th installment, it’s about St Patrick’s Day and all things Irish. With an Irish grandfather, I have a wee bit of the Irish in me so this story delighted me.
Lindsey and Rory’s relationship is growing so naturally. Tuck is a little broken-hearted because Kennedy left town, but she is back and she didn’t come alone. The staff at the Beacon Bakeshop are working together like a well-oiled machine and Lindsey knows she can count on them. Her parents leave Beacon Harbor for the colder months and are spending two weeks in Maui, but the local gossip mill works fine. They sometimes find out what’s going on before Lindsey. I was happy to see some of Rory’s relatives come to town. The introduction of Finn and Colleen gave the character of Rory more depth. All the core characters continue to develop and are always engaging. I was happy to see Kennedy back but she tested my patience a time or two. I am so excited to see Lindsey’s Newfoundland, Wellington has a new friend in Finn and Colleen’s Great Pyrenees Bailey.
This story is so well-plotted and executed. Finding the right connections between the victims and the suspects. Lindsey went above and beyond to follow the clues and find key pieces of evidence to move the investigation forward. Thinking she had it figured out but no, there was another twist. The pressure to move when time was of the essence. The scene witnessed followed the fabulous team takedown with a fantastic assist which was then followed by a funny situation while waiting for the killer to be taken away. This was all perfectly paced and my eyes were glued to the pages.
I love the detailed descriptions Ms. Hannah gave throughout the story. Truthfully with the lighthouse having a resident ghost, a leprechaun running around town peeking in windows, and hiding pots of gold was a true possibility. We learn in the acknowledgments that the author’s son gave her the inspiration for this story. Like his mother, he must have a keen imagination. It is what makes her stories so much fun to read.
Trust me, you will be craving St. Patrick’s Day treats. There are 5 tempting recipes following the story.
Murder at the Blarney Bash has extraordinary characters taking on a perplexing mystery with a side of leprechaun lore and a bunch of Blarney. I escaped right into the pages and was completely entertained. Next up Murder at the Lemonberry Tea. It has a November 26, 2024 release date.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Kensington Cozies and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.\
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the author
Cozy mystery author, Darci Hannah, is a native of the Midwest and currently lives in a small town in Michigan. Darci is a lifelong lover of the Great Lakes, a natural wonder that inspires many of her stories. When Darci isn’t baking for family and friends, hiking with her furry pals, Ripley and Finn, or concocting her next cozy mystery, she can be found wandering around picturesque lakeside villages with her hubby, sampling baked goods, and breaking for coffee more often than she should.
You can learn more about Darci and her books at www.darcihannah.com
The Rest of the Series
Also written by Darci Hannah
This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Escape With Dollycas.
I am giving away a Print Advance Review Copy of
Murder at the Blarney Bash!
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.
Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you share the giveaway on Threads, X, or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
The Contest Will End November 29, 2024, at 11:59 PM CST
The Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
The Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” “As an Amazon Associate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.”
