Pippin Lane Hawthorne is descended from a family that has a curse laid upon it: the women die in childbirth, and the men die at sea. Some manage to survive it once or twice -- as her mother Cassie did in giving birth to Pippin and her twin brother Grey, but eventually they succumb, just as Cassie did in her second pregnancy. This knowledge has kept Pippin from forming too much of an attachment to someone, since she knows of the curse.

But, like some of the Lane women before her, Pippin has gained the gift of bibliomancy: seeing a book and having tell her of her past, present, and future. This has kept Pippin away from books until adulthood, and how she is understanding just how powerful this gift is. But Pippin knows she must break the spell that has followed her family or no one will ever be able to live a normal life.

But now Pippin has to go back to the Irish legends of centuries ago to find the truth. Luckily, she has the help of her twin, two cousins, and bookshop owner Jamie McAdams, with whom she knows she is falling for, to help her in her quest. The question is, is Pippin able to use what she's learned to break the curse or will her family be fated to it forever?...

This is the fifth book in the series and I have been entranced with it since the first. It is going to be difficult to write a review without giving away spoilers, but I will do my best. Pippin has settled nicely into the place where she grew up, Devil's Cove, and owns Sea Captain Inn, a B&B that she and her brother have renovated, not an easy task, since the home was left to them by their parents and had been empty for many years. But now successful, and Grey with his own business, Pippin and the rest of the Lanes are eager to see the curse broken.

What they don't realize -- and neither does the reader for quite awhile -- is that the answers have been in the Cove for some time. Grey finds a clue in the boat he's restoring -- the boat that once belonged to his grandfather, lost at sea himself -- and Pippin doesn't know what to make of it. But when Jamie has discovered even more clues, she's on a mission. One that requires a time limit, since an event occurs that gives her even less time than before.

What happens next is the best part of the book. We watch as Pippin uses all her wits and skills to find the truth, to put the clues she discovers together, to use the help offered her that will break the curse. But will she find it in time? That is the question. And the climax is magnificent. It is definitely palpitating in itself, as being riveted to the page while hoping against hope that Pippin will be triumphant.

When we come to the end of the book, it was all worth it. The writing was fluid, the characters animated, the idea of legends and life together intriguing. And then, hoping for another in the series as I am...

I was given a copy of this book from the author and the Cozy Review Crew, but this in no way influenced my review. ( )

Pippin Lane Hawthorne urgently wants to break the 2000 years curse that has been casted on to her family, the Lanes. Hence, she has enlisted the help from her twin brother, cousins and friends.
When Pippin and the gang are getting closer to discover the answer they are looking for, there is a dead body that has further shaken up Pippin!
MURDER AND AN IRISH CURSE is a splendid cozy mystery infused with suspense, magic, mythology and a tinge of romance! It is a satisfying choice for anyone who enjoys a delightful read! ( )