"Murder at an Irish Chipper" by Carlene O'Connor, is another enjoyable read in the "An Irish Village Mystery" series by Carlene O'Connor. The O'Sullivan-Flannery family are involved in yet another murder mystery. The setting for this mystery takes place in the quaint seaside resort of Lahinch, Ireland. As with the previous nine books in the series, the plot is interesting and keeps the reader guessing until the end. The characters are colorful, interesting, believable, and clever. The detailed description of the setting makes me want to book a trip to Ireland! We all know that there are a variety of different types of novels out there. I'm always grateful for the authors that choose to write entertaining storylines without the need for excessive violence, profanity, and inappropriate details that add zero credence to the plot. If you are looking for an Agatha Christie(ish) type of novel, search no further, this is it! ( )

I did not see that ending coming!

It was a bittersweet ending, on the one hand, happy for James and Graine, on the other hand, sad about the circumstances that created their happy ending.
The O'Sullivan six are growing up quickly; I don't know what Siobhan will do when they all follow their own paths and leave the nest. Guess we will have to wait and see.

As always, looking forward to reading the next installment in this series. ( )

Couldn’t put this one down. What a fun read! Macdara suggests a holiday and belated honeymoon to Siobhan and they head to the seashore with the entire O’Sullivan clan. When they arrive, they're hungry and want fish and chips but (surprise) Mrs. Chips has been murdered in a very unusual way. Of course Siobhan can’t stop herself from investigating (she doesn’t know how to holiday) and discovers there are all sorts of strange goings on in this pretty little Irish village. While each of the siblings are doing their own thing, there is a second murder and more strange occurrences before Siobhan and Macdara figure out how and why Mrs. Chips was murdered. ( )

Vera Cowley – or Mrs. Chips as everyone in town calls her – has not been having an easy time lately. Sadly, that time has passed, and she’s no longer a part of this world. She was found, murdered, in her fish-and-chips shop. Oh! My! Who could have done such an awful thing? Was it her ex-husband? Perhaps it was her ex-best friend. Or, was it the vegetable oil salesman – or the bakery owner – or the slimy banker – or the fisherwoman – or the food critic? Or is it somebody totally different? Mmmmm – so many suspects – so little time.

Garda Siobhan O’Sullivan and her husband, Detective Sargeant Macdara Flannery, delayed their honeymoon – for a very long time. However, with Siobhan’s brother, Eoin’s, tensions running high and dementing everyone, Macdara thinks taking a belated honeymoon by the sea would be an excellent idea to relieve the tensions and relax a bit. So, the seven of them head off on a holiday trip.

Within a short time of arriving in the lovely seaside village of Lahinch, they were staring at a dead body. OOPS! Can the ever-curious Siobhan let it go and allow the local garda to handle the investigation? Of course not! She sees a loose end and she has to pull on it until it unravels. As she freely admits, she does not know how to Holiday.

With more threats and more bodies turning up, Macdara and Siobhan haven’t any choice but to openly step up and help investigate. Will you solve the case before they do?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book – as I have all of the other books in the series. I have become attached to each member of the family and always look forward to seeing what has happened off-page in their lives. Of course, I love the mysteries they solve as well, and this one was one with lots of twists and lots of suspects.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

It's the middle of summer in Kilbane, Ireland, and Siobhán O'Sullivan-Flannery is waiting for her brother Eoin to open his new restaurant. Everyone is at odds and ends, even the younger O'Sullivans. That is, until Siobhán's husband Macdara returns home one evening and informs them that he's booked a vacation for them in a small town on the seaside. He tells Siobhán that this is their long-awaited honeymoon, and even the family can come. Seeing the excitement everyone has, she agrees and they set off.

The first thing Siobhán wants is fresh fish and chips, but when they arrive at the chipper there seems to be a long line outside, and no one knows why it isn't open. Because of her instincts, she finally finds someone to get the door open, and she and Macdara find the proprietor, Mrs. Chips, dead on the floor in what appears at first to be an accident. But Siobhán isn't convinced, especially when she notices clues that others don't see.

But it's not their case, and she's on honeymoon. At least until she convinces herself -- and it doesn't take long -- that she can find the killer. Now she's in a case in another town, but could it cause more than the trouble it's worth? And is the killer ever going to be caught?

This is the tenth book in the series and I must say that this one is the most intriguing so far. While I love the change of scenery, and the descriptions of the town are aplenty, it's Siobhán I am most interested in. She has an analytical mind, and I love that. She's not convinced this was an accident, although even her husband tries to tell her it was. And the more she thinks about it, the more she's sure it was murder. But who would kill the elderly woman? Her ex-husband is a suspect, even if it appears that he's trying to give her a proper memorial. There are also others in the village she finds suspect, and not everyone around her is happy about it.

When she starts to get closer to the answers, she realizes that someone is watching her and doesn't want her to figure things out. Now Macdara doesn't want to let her out of his sight, and her siblings are enjoying themselves but keeping an eye on her. Will she be able to solve the case before they have to go home? And why can't she just enjoy herself?...

I don't want to say anything else about the book as it might give too much away. But it is one of Ms. O'Connor's best, and she draws you in easily from the first chapter. After all, who reads a mystery unless you want to solve the crime yourself?

I will say that I was completely taken by surprise at one point in the book. While I figured out the murderer shortly before our protagonist did, I was hoping that I was wrong, since I really liked almost everyone in this sleepy little seaside town. (Of course, there are those you don't like). But the ending was delightful all the same. While we are transported to Ireland for a short time, we once again find ourselves involved in the lives of the O'Sullivans, and it is once again just as entertaining as the previous books. The family closeness is endearing. The mystery was fascinating. The entire novel was enchanting. I love this series and await the next. Highly recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review. ( )