Second, in the Irish Village Mystery series of tales comes a mix of romance and tragedy. Kilbane, with its castle, cosy walls, and cobbled streets, is the setting for a lively wedding party. Someone has imbibed too much however and made an idiot of himself. Kevin Gallagher's supposed to be best man, but before the big day, he's managed to insult various people.

MURDER AT AN IRISH WEDDING seems drastic, but it's one those big society weddings where many guests and staff and hangers-on congregate. A fashion model, a photo-journalist, security guard, computer app millionaire... you name it. Preparations begin on Wednesday for the wedding on Saturday. Paul Donnelly and Alice Cahill are getting married, and Siobhán O'Sullivan is not quite on the guest list but has worked her way into the company. With previous experience of investigating a crime scene, Siobhan is alerted to a man found dead in the nearby woods. She runs off to check and finds Kevin has been killed. Now she starts piecing together who would have wanted to harm him and why.

The hired French chef makes a good counterfoil for Garda Macdara Flannery, while many other personalities of all ages fill the busy pages. I think anyone who has read the earlier book, 'Murder in An Irish Village' will have an advantage as they will already have been introduced to some of the cast. We meet them and hear the gossip in the Kilbane Inn, a bistro, around the town gift shop and other places. Various issues complicate the tale, so be ready to unravel the tangles.

Fans of lively cosy mysteries in an interesting modern setting will enjoy Carlene O'Connor's latest, which is written with some Americanisms but some Irish phrases and sayings as well. MURDER AT AN IRISH WEDDING will certainly keep you chuckling and guessing. I had a good time and would read more in the series.