In the first Irish Castle Mystery, we met Rayne McGrath, a Hollywood bridal wear designer, and her Irish country cousin, Ciara Smith. The two young ladies inherited McGrath Castle. They are trying to turn the run-down premises into a wedding venue to pay for renovations. The first foray is not that lucky, as we meet DEATH AT AN IRISH WEDDING. 

Glamour girl Tori Montgomery has her heart set on a special venue, and her fiancé, actor Jake Anderson, is happy to oblige. Tori wants her big day to be both discreet and splendid, a tall order, but Rayne is sewing her dress. The party has travelled from America and expects five-star wining and dining. They include Jake’s brother Josh, Jake’s assistant, Ethan, Tori’s best pal Amy, and Tori’s assistant, Tiffany. Strangely, not all the wedding party seem to like one another. Tori’s doting parents also arrive, adding steadiness and good manners.

We spend a lot of time with these self-absorbed folks, who need the lifeblood of publicity, but not just yet. Rayne has last-minute fittings for the bride’s dress and Ciara is managing the rooms and food. The castle staff knuckle down to make the weekend memorable. You don’t need me to tell you that something goes badly wrong. To save the castle’s reputation – and bring income to Grathton Village – the winter wedding must go ahead. Rayne and Ciara are still trying to forge a partnership, and learning how to host events with this relatively small number of guests. Now they have to add crime-solving to their list of skills. 

Once more I love the Irish setter, Blarney, which follows Rayne around and sniffs out a few clues for her. The pace of the book is steady and takes us minute by minute through the activities; I was getting quite tired of the socialites until they started to reveal unexpectedly human sides and secrets. Rayne is getting well settled into her manor and shows us around the renovated tower of the castle, but it seems not everyone locally is supportive of the enterprise. The attitude is a real shame and I hope it will get resolved, but I think this is a good touch by the author Ellie Brannigan, showing that no side of the story is perfect.

DEATH AT AN IRISH WEDDING takes up where Murder At An Irish Castle left off, and it seems the next book will bring Rayne’s soap actress mom to Ireland. I’ll look forward to meeting her and catching up with the work at McGrath Castle.