Murder at an Irish Castle

⭐⭐

Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan is a cozy mystery novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey to Ireland. The book follows the story of Rayne McGrath, a bridal wear designer who unexpectedly inherits a run-down family castle in Ireland from her uncle. However, there's a catch - if she doesn't renovate and revive the castle within a year, the town will be financially destroyed. As Rayne delves deeper into her uncle's death, she realizes that it might not have been an accident after all.

Although the setting of the book is charming and picturesque, I personally found every character to be unlikable apart from the dog. The mystery aspect of the book was weak as well and didn't keep me hooked throughout. Overall, I love cozy mysteries set in Ireland, but this one didn't meet my expectations. I wouldn't recommend continuing with this series if you're looking for a strong mystery plot and relatable characters.

ARC Via NetGalley

I loved all of this!!
The family relationships aren't easy, but they don't give up on them. There are cultural differences that they work through as well. I loved the development that happens throughout the book.
It was a unique to see Rayne's life fall apart in the first chapters and then see how that played out in the rest of the novel. That was a good under current while she was also trying to rescue the castle and town.
The mystery is woven in with Rayne's management of the castle and learning the people and the town. All parts of the story are woven together really well. So there aren't separate parts to evaluate. It is all one flowing story. Even the solution to the mystery flows with other parts.
There are also hints as to where the story is going. I can't wait for book 2!