*NO RATING*

I want to like/love this series [as I love the author's other series, set in Scotland], but they just don't work for me [perhaps with MUCH less repetition {example: there is a whole conversation between Mercy and two of the suspects and two chapters later, in a diferent location, the SAME conversation, almost word for word, with the same people, happens again. WHAT???}, less mention of being a twin {25+ times in this book}, the losing of the "stalker from NY" angle, the use of a thesarus, and MUCH better editing, I'd be willing to go back to this series], and unfortunately, after this disappointing read [that I waited MONTHS for an audiobook for, only to have to BUY it. UGH!], I have to be done with this series.
What a huge disappointment.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 2 iin the Mercy McCarthy series and I did not read book 1. I think I should have. This is a nice cozy that bookshop fans will enjoy. Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy are settling in to the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on the west coast of Ireland. Lizzie throws herself into organizing a book festival and mystery writer Mercy even agrees to come out of her bookish hidey-hole to do get involved. But then the star author for the event is found dead. James Brandt was killed by a falling bookshelf in his own cottage…
The local detective is not convinced by Mercy’s suspicion of murder but when someone else turns up dead, the police cannot ignore it. There’s just one Mercy and Lizzie’s beloved dog Mr. Poe sniffs out the second body in the storeroom of their own bookstore. And now all of the gossips seem determined to pin the murder on Mercy!
Convinced the police are focusing on a red herring in this real-life case, Mercy needs to act fast to clear her name. A meddling mayor, a cheerful chef and a bashful botanist make her suspect list, but it’s not until Mercy discovers a tatty old photograph in the local library archive that she is onto the killer’s trail.
With the police keen to shut her out of the murder investigation, can Mercy play this case by the book, or will she be the next to fall off the shelf…?

I have really enjoyed this cozy mystery series that takes place in Ireland. Fun characters in a small town setting.

Very nice story! I love murder mysteries and cozy vibes, this book definitely had that. I liked characters, the story line and the vibes!

This is the 2nd installment of the Mercy McCarthy mystery series. Mercy and her twin sister Lizzie recently moved to Shamrock Cove Ireland after inheriting a cottage and bookstore from their Grandfather whom they had never met. They are settling in and throw themselves into Shamrock Cove’s literary festival. Mercy who is a best-selling mystery writer agrees to be on several panels and events at the book shop. The main guest of honor is local author James Brandt who is not nice to anyone and Mercy is grateful she only had to do one panel discussion with the author. The next day when he equally rude agent is at the store for his book signing and he is late she sends Mercy and Lizzie to go get him. Once they arrive at the cottage, they find him dead under a knocked over bookcase. Mercy’s author mind is high alert and is convinced it is foul play when everyone else is saying it was a tragic accident. This is another delightful mystery with Mercy, Lizzie, Kiernan and the entire group of friends on the Court (group of homes that they live in). I love the relationship between Mercy and Lizzie along with all of their friends. Mercy and Lizzie have adapted well to Ireland and although Mercy is a little pushy with her questions, she works well with Detective Inspector Kiernan and looking forward to their relationship growing closer. This is a quick and enjoyable read. Highly recommend and looking forward to the next installment in this series.

I'm utterly obsessed with this cozy series, it's like the perfect excuse to procrastinate on adulting! I devoured this over the weekend when it was cold and rainy, because what's better than a cozy mystery on a gross day? Mercy is literally the best, she's a writer, hilarious, and uses her sneaky sleuthing skills to help Kieran solve the murders, all while pretending to research for her next book. The whole gang is back from the first book, and I'm even more in love with them, it's like they're my new book BFFs! The mystery was expertly woven, with just the right amount of background info on the suspects, keeping me guessing until the very end. And don't even get me started on Mr. Poe, the dog, he's like the ultimate sidekick, I just want to give him all the belly rubs! I'm dying for the next installment in Shamrock Cove, because who wouldn't want to hang out with Mercy and the gang again, and solve another whodunnit?

Fun, addictive, delightful, wonderful and so easy to read. I really enjoyed this one and found it to be one of my favourite cosy mystery books from all the ones I have read lately. It is well written and the characters are wonderful. Easy to read, entertaining and I had it finished before I knew it. Bring on the next one!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ooh, there were a lot of twists and intersecting stories in this installment of the A Mercy McCarthy mystery series. Not going to lie, I was not sad when the victim was killed, they were not a very nice person, so it was hard to feel empathy for them.

Looking forward to reading the next book in this series (when is has been written and published).

Book Review: Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently dove into Death by the Book by Lucy Connelly, and it was quite the cozy mystery adventure! Set in the charming seaside village of Shamrock Cove on Ireland’s picturesque west coast, the story follows Mercy McCarthy, a mystery writer who finds herself reluctantly pulled into a local literary festival organized by her sister, Lizzie. Things take a dark turn when the festival's featured author, James Brandt, is discovered dead after a rather unfortunate incident involving a falling bookshelf.

Now, you might think that an accident like that would be just that—an accident—but Mercy has a hunch that something more sinister is at play. The local detective isn't convinced, but when a second body shows up in their own bookstore (thanks to their adorable dog, Mr. Poe), the stakes get higher, and all eyes are on Mercy. With a quirky cast of characters—including a meddling mayor and a timid botanist—Mercy races against time to unravel the mystery before she becomes the prime suspect herself.

First off, I have to mention the cover—it's absolutely delightful! It really captures the cozy vibe of the book. Initially, I found myself taking a bit of time to get into the story, but once it hit its stride, I was fully hooked. There were moments when it felt slightly repetitive, but overall, the pacing picked up nicely. The plot was well-crafted, keeping me guessing until the end while still allowing me to enjoy the little details of Shamrock Cove life.

The characters were another highlight for me. They were all incredibly likable and added depth to the story. Mercy is relatable as she navigates her unexpected role in solving a murder mystery while also dealing with the challenges of her new life in this picturesque village.

In short, Death by the Book is a delightful read that stands well on its own, even if it is part of a series. If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries or just love a good whodunit with a touch of charm, I highly recommend giving it a try. I’m definitely looking forward to the next installment in this series!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

I LOVE this new series from Lucy Connelly. I mean, what's not to love? Sisters inheriting an Irish bookshop, cozy and nosy neighbors, a cute detective - it has all the trappings for a great cozy series. I can't wait to read more.

The second book in the Mercy McCarthy series was great. I've become fond of this series, it's setting and characters.
The characters are lovable and engaging. The plot and mystery are well-crafted. One of the biggest draws for this series is the setting. Not just being in Ireland, but the Village of Shamrock Cove. It has the perfect blend of small cozy village, without being stagnant. I absolutely want to live there!
Thanks so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

I enjoyed the second book in this series. It is entertaining and I find that I like the characters which is what will keep me coming back to read a series.

This is the second book in the "Mercy McCarthy series. Mercy and Lizzie are organizing a book festival. The star author for the event doesn't show up. When Lizzie and Mercy go to get him, they find him dead. After a second murder occurs in their bookstore Mercy investigates despite the local police telling her to stay out of it. But Mercy doesn't like that the town gossip has her committing the crime. She starts investigating to put the rumors to rest. I am really enjoying this series. The characters are well written and the mystery holds my attention. I love the little family that Lizzie and Mercy and finding in their small town. I recieved this book from Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts: it was nice to be back in Shamrock Cove with Lizzie and Mercy, but I do think the girls are cursed, either that or trouble just follows them! – they always seem to stumble upon something.. this time an author (coincidentally one that sees Mercy as less than him) turns up dead when they are sent to pick him up!

There’s just something about a cosy mystery that I adore, I don’t know if it’s because it’s never too gruesome so acts as a good palette cleaner between the thrillers that I love to read or wether it’s the feel of community within them that pulls you in and makes you feel like part of the family, but whatever it is Lucy had done a fantastic job!

The story is so easy to get lost in, it’s easy reading whilst also being gripping with enough twists & red herrings to keep you hooked & unable to stop turning the pages!

Mercy can be a force to be reckoned with, she tries her best to stay between the lines and behave, but her curiosity and need for information always seems to get the better of her, much to the dismay of her sister 🤣

This one had me laughing and shaking my head at some of the situations she seemed to get herself into & I absolutely cannot wait for the next instalment!

“Death by the Book” is the nicely done second book in Lucy Connelly’s Mercy McCarthy cozy mystery series. I was hooked on this series from the first book – I love the main characters – twin sisters Mercy and Lizzie McCarthy who are building a new life after the death of their mother and Lizzie’s fiancé and daughter and move to Ireland to run a bookstore they inherited from the grandfather they never knew. Their background is interesting and it is fun to read as they slowly find out things about the grandfather and father they never knew. Mercy is a writer and the little bits and pieces that Connelly throws in about the life of a writer are fascinating. The Irish setting is a good one as are the people that Mercy and Lizzie have become friends with. The mystery is well done – an author is murdered during a literary festival Mercy and Lizzie are hosting – with just the right number of suspects, tension, and feeling of danger. My one complaint about this book is the way that Mercy goes after suspects – recklessly and relentlessly questioning them – constantly putting herself in danger. A little of this goes a long way.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I am loving these cozy mysteries Lucy Connelly that take place in Ireland! This is book two of the Mercy McCarthy series and it picks up where book 1, An Irish Bookshop Murder left off. I love the whole small town vibe (it makes me think of the Cliffs of Moher) and it's characters. This little mystery revolves around a local author's death that takes place during a writer's festival in their town of Shamrock Cove. Apparently several students from years ago were part of a cover-up but no one knows anything about it or who killed the famous author, James Brandt. So who did it? You'll have to read it to find out! Can't wait for book 3, Death at Inishmore Castle!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 12 November 2024

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book!

I’m always a fan of a good cozy mystery, and this one had all the hallmark characteristics that define the genre. The small town vibes, specific theme (books and publishing) as well as a few mysteries to solve outside of the main murder mystery itself. I liked the main cast of characters and how they interacted to bring tidbits forward until Mercy could solve everything.

It takes a special cozy to get five stars these days. The game of give and take needs to be spot on and the story different yet memorable. If you’re looking to add a new cozy to your TBR then look no further!

Five stars.

I am enjoying this series. I love the setting of Ireland and all the characters in the village. At a literary festival one of the guest authors is murdered and fellow author Mercy gets involved in finding the killer.

Another visit to Shamrock Cove, and this time there is a big literary festival reuniting former members of the community James Brandt has made it big, so his homecoming is something folks are waiting for. Author Mercy and her sister Lizzie play pivotal roles at the festival and in the eventual investigation that ensues after someone is poisoned. It's a great community and the sense of place is really well written.

If murder mysteries can be fun, this one is.
Mercy and Lizzie are settling into their idyllic Irish lives but when they organise the book festival its main event is found dead. As another murder ensues Mercy has to find the culprit before she is blamed.
As usual the bad guys die and the good ones aren’t guilty but this makes for a great, feel good story.