Review: Murder on an Irish Farm

Murder on an Irish Farm by Carlene O'Connor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Siobhan and Macdara are finally at the Church ready to be married. James, her brother, who was to give her away is late but the Bride decides the ceremony must go on, especially since the Priest informed them they had to be timely -- a Baptism is scheduled next. Just as she is ready to march down the aisle James appears covered in muck to announce the discovery of a human skeleton in the slurry pit of their dairy barn on their new farm. ( A property, complete with a large stone farmhouse, purchased as a wedding surprise by MacDara! So good-bye surprise along with the long awaited nuptials.)

Off the almost newly weds go--leaving their guests to enjoy the reception without them and with promises that the wedding will be rescheduled soon. In short order it is found that the skeleton belongs to a local who disappeared on his wedding day, exactly 50 years ago to the day. His jilted bride is the neighbor to their farm. She is married to another now and lives with him, her sister and her brother on the O'Leary family farm. The husband, Benji, also has an ex-wife whom he left when Gladys was jilted. This woman,Rose, lives nearby with their adopted son, Joseph, now an adult, who is the local potter. All of these people would have a strong motive for killing, Tommy and none of them have a very strong alibi for where they may have been 50 years ago when it appears, dressed in his tuxedo, the groom was pushed or fell into the pit. One other neighbor also has a motive--seems not only did Tommy pull a runner on Gladys but he stole a great deal of money from his business partner, Howard Dunn.

Looks like the loving Guardi have their hands full with this case. Before it even gets off the ground, one of the suspects, Gladys' brother Alun is found face down in the same slurry pit! The case finds the investigators running circles as big as those formed by Charlie, the harrier hawk, that Rose is fond of using in her falconry.

I received this book from Goodreads to read and review. View all my reviews