Sixth in the County
Cork mystery series features Maura Donovan from Boston,
chatting with her friend Gillian Callanan in west Cork as
they await the arrival of Gillian's baby. Gillian's husband
has relocated from Dublin, and their house in harbourside
Ballinlough is still being renovated. MANY A TWIST is on the
way.
Maura runs a pub called Sullivans and is debating about
serving food or going to social media for promotion, but
otherwise, her life is nicely quiet. She doesn't even have
an internet connection, though most local folks do. That all
changes when a deputation from a hospitality firm JBCo
arrives. They have bought a local house for conversion to a
hotel, and want the pub to provide an authentic music
experience for their patrons. Maura isn't sure she wants to
get involved, but on the other hand, she's open to
improvements. Her place isn't a novelty any more, and she
has competition in Skibbereen. Maybe the shakeup would be
good for trade. Even after a light lunch at the hotel she
can't decide.
Next day one of the business managers is found dead at the
hotel. He might have slipped and fallen, but he was in good
health and out on a hill at night. The Guards come to ask
Maura if she noticed anything out of the ordinary. A female
manager from JBCo would also like to speak with her... and
Helen Jenkins turns out to have a personal revelation to make.
Much of the story is told through conversation, with some up
to the minute references such as the uncertainty over
Brexit. The emigration experience of past generations
features, while close family ties in town, and willingness
to aid neighbours, are demonstrated. As always with Sheila
Connolly's works, the history and character of the
community are strongly featured. Maura and her friends talk
through their life experiences more than usual due to the
stresses of the new baby and the police investigation,
giving them depth and showing us why they react in certain
ways.
Sheila Connolly, who was born in New York, has a few more
mystery series on the go, including the Museum
and Orchard
series, so it must be fun for the author to jump between
settings with her different amateur sleuths. If you have not
read any of her books don't worry, you could appreciate
MANY A TWIST without having read the earlier books. This is
not the usual formula cozy so enjoy it for the setting and
characterisation.
Pub owner Maura Donovan hasn’t seen her mother for over
twenty years, so when she suddenly shows up in Maura’s
pub, Maura’s not sure what to expect. Her mother is
trying to find a life for herself back home and has taken
up a position working with the new owners of the Crann
Mor hotel just outside Skibbereen. Until her new boss is
found dead in the gardens, dumped down the hillside
behind the hotel.
Now, trying to rekindle the relationship they’ve lost,
Maura must investigate in order to clear her mother’s
name. It’s not so easy though, as long-time residents of
County Cork, including the families of her employee Mick,
and the family of the deceased hotel owner, have bottled
deep dark family secrets not meant to be uncorked. And
someone will kill to keep them that way.
How far would you go to protect your family? Maura tests
the age-old question in Many a Twist, the charming and
atmospheric sixth County Cork mystery from New York Times
bestselling author Sheila Connolly.
© 2003-2024 off-the-edge.net
all rights reserved Privacy Policy