ALL INFORMATION IN THIS POST IS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR.
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Launch of A Deathly Irish Secret, fourth in the Blanche
Murninghan mystery series, was July 11.
Blanche inherits part of an Irish
castle--and a whole lot of trouble when she visits the auld sod and is
promptly accused of murder.
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Jul 11, 2023
Light Messages
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PRAISE FOR A DEATHLY IRISH SECRET:
“a fun mystery that takes you to an Irish castle where a cast of likeable characters weave you through the twists and turns of a captivating whodunit” Christina Romeril, Author, The Killer Chocolate
Mysteries
“Sullivan masters the cozy feel with a murder that doesn't linger on the gruesome… a fun trip to the Irish countryside.” J.J. Hanna, Author, Editor, Reviewer
“a cleverly crafted mystery that had me on edge….Fans of travel mysteries will adore A Deathly Irish Secret” Tara Lush, Author, The Coffee Lover’s Mysteries
“a delightful cozy filled with colorful characters and a captivating mystery” Michelle Hillen Klump, Author, Cocktails and Catering Mysteries
“Haasi’s cool head makes her a fun foil for Blanche and her hot temper....As a journalist, Blanche may have a nose for finding trouble, but getting out of it is another matter.” Foreword Reviews
“A murder disrupts the perfect vacation in the Irish countryside. Cozily delightful.’ Marilyn Levinson aka Allison Brook, author of the Haunted Library Mystery Series.
“The Irish accents and phrases, and especially the bog scene, are fun, and the descriptions add delight to this rollicking mystery.” Sandra Young, Author, Divine Vintage
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A journalist uncovers a bloody murder during a trip to Ireland in Nancy Nau Sullivan’s novel A Deathly Irish Secret.
Five years after her grandmother Maeve’s death, Blanche is still discovering items that Maeve left behind, including cryptic notes in her home.
Following the trail of clues to Ireland, Blanche is caught up in a different kind of mystery: a murder in which Blanche herself is the prime suspect. With just two weeks to spend on the Emerald Isle, she has towork fast—and watch her back—to clear her name and catch a killer.
Blanche makes the trip to Ireland with her cousin Haasi, whose cool head makes her a fun foil for Blanche and her hot temper.
Together, they comb a quaint village full of suspects and secrets to solve the recent murder and a case long gone cold.
They stay in Dunfaedan, a centuries-old castle that Blanche inherited a small share of and from where they explore the beautiful scenery and partake of hearty Irish cuisine.
Dunfaedan is also the site of the smarmy castle agent’s demise.
He was disliked by almost everyone, so his death, though mysterious, is not a surprise.
With her own neck on the line, Blanche delves deeper into his unsavory history, unearthing information that someone would prefer stay buried.
Along the way, she faces various dangers, including quicksand-evocative bogs, desperate suspects, and her own insatiable curiosity.
As a journalist, she may have a nose for finding trouble, but getting out of it is another matter: Blanche and Haasi have to rely on each other’s loyalty and wits to solve both crimes.
Part of a series, A Deathly Irish Secret is a cozy mystery novel set in an idyllic yet treacherous Irish village.
EILEEN GONZALEZ (July / August 2023)
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer.
No fee was paid by the publisher for this review.
Foreword Reviews only recommends
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ABOUT A DEATHLY IRISH SECRET:
Part-time journalist and full-time beach bum Blanche Murninghan sits on her beach-front porch at Santa Maria Island, Florida.
The year: 2004. Her deceased grandmother's lawyer, Sam Gustaitis, calls Blanche and tells her to look under the floorboards in the back of the cabin.
Blanche finds a loving letter from her gran, Maeve Murninghan, with instructions to look in another secret location.
Blanche finds a box of money and a paper with one word written: “Ireland!”
Blanche is confused at the antics of her eccentric grandmother. What does “Ireland” mean?
Malcolm Sagus, of the Gustaitis law firm, visits Blanche.
He says Maeve hired him to research the Murninghan roots in Ireland.
He's found the Murninghan-McLoughin family tree.
Blanche has inherited one-sixteenth of Dunfaedan, an Irish castle in Southwest Ireland, from the deceased William McLoughlin, a distant cousin.
Blanche learns that William drowned under mysterious circumstances.
Blanche plans a trip to Ireland and talks Haasi Hakla, her sister-cousin, into accompanying her.
Haasi is reluctant, as Blanche often manages to get them into hot water.
Blanche promises a great trip through rolling green hills to pubs and treats, which is the way to Haasi's heart (food).
They fly off to Shannon Airport, rent a car, and drive to Dunfaedan, a Georgian fortress at Ballycill.
Declan O'Brian, the handsome castle agent, greets them, along with house manager, Una Mullins, and stafff members, Nancy Culpepper, and Mae Findley.
Una, a large-fisted, straight-backed, dour woman has a kind streak and an evident dislike of the castle agent.
Declan is a self-centered, rude roue.
Blanche overhears an argument between Declan and Una.
Declan, Blanche, and Haasi dine and tour the castle with its lovely rooms.
The estate is secured in a “company” that supports the castle and gives back to the townland.
In the kitchen, Blanche has heated words with Declan over his argument with Una.
Tony Costello delivers produce during the angry exchange.
In the middle of the night, Blanche hears dragging and crunching outside her window.
Next morning, Declan is found dead in the kitchen with a knife in his torso.
The gardia arrive, including the slightly shy, tall, red-haired Garda Ian Handley. Blanche reports the noise she heard.
Blanche and Haasi ride their bikes to meet cousin Frances McLoughlin at her cottage.
The elderly, quirky relative serves them tea and shares background about Colonel William McLoughlin, deceased in 1954, and his nephew, William McLoughlin, the latest, dashing owner of Dunfaedan.
They celebrate this family reunion.
Frances tells them about William's drowning. I
t was rumored Declan and others witnessed it.
The investigation was inconclusive.
Blanche and Haasi see a photo of the younger William on his horse, wearing a Celtic cross.
Blanche and Haasi bike to the castle and stop at Barrett's pub. John Barrett pours Guinness and gossip.
The town is buzzing about the murder. Tony Costello eyes Blanche up at the bar.
At the castle, the gardai are waiting for Blanche and Haasi.
They have found smudged fingerprints on the weapon—Blanche's are most prominent.
(During the tour, O'Brian urged Blanche to handle implements.)
Blanche is questioned. Una suggests Blanche see Peter Flynn, a local lawyer.
Next morning, Blanche and Haasi meet Flynn, a tweedy, no-nonsense type in his office. He tells them how O'Brian got the job as castle agent:
He romanced the daughter of a local banker involved in the McLoughlin estate.
The daughter, Mary Fogarty, became pregnant by O'Brian.
She disappeared to Dublin and returned to work at St. Colomba's as a secretary, bitter, and loathing Declan O'Brian.
By then, he was fully ensconced as agent. Flynn reassures Blanche he will handle details with the gardai should she be questioned further.
Blanche wants to meet Mary Fogarty.
(Haasi does not, but she relents.)
They buy sweets and head to Mary's cottage.
She's reticent, but her cat takes a liking to Blanche.
They chat by the fireplace.
Blanche wants insight into Declan.
Mary says Declan kept journals.
Blanche hatches the idea to visit Declan's digs to look for diaries.
Haasi says this is a bad idea but William's drowning still rankles Blanche and the murder hangs over her head.
They go to the castle. Una tells them about the colonel, an officer in the British army who gave back to Ballycill.
Una once cared for the nephew William and was suspicious of Declan. Blanche mentions the argument with Declan.
Una says she feared him. She reveals where Declan lived.
Blanche wakes to pounding on the castle door.
The garda takes her in for questioning. Una is irate.
Tony Costello has told the gardai Blanche argued with Declan in the kitchen. Attorney Flynn is out of town but on the way.
Blanche cools off in the cell. Frances comes to visit.
Flynn, Handley, and Inspector Bryce Flannigan from Dublin question Blanche.
They tentatively clear her as the time of death now corroborates she was most likely in her room.
Back at the castle, Blanche talks Haasi into driving out to Declan's.
They drive down to Declan's near Barleycove and break in.
Blanche finds ledgers with payments for castle upkeep and other odd payments.
In a luxurious red-damask bedroom they find diaries with salacious entries and an entry that links Declan to the drowning.
They find a Celtic cross and speculate it belongs to William.
They drive from Declan's.
A truck forces them off the road.
Blanche gets out and is stuck in a bog.
A herder, Kevin O'Riley, pulls her out. He knew of Declan, says he had “visitors,” and to ask around at Talligan's pub.
They stop at the pub. Proprietor verifies “Tony” visited Declan.
Next morning, Mary shows up at the castle.
She tells Blanche and Haasi Declan was sending her money, mostly out of guilt, and that he had it in for Una.
Blanche and Haasi visit Frances, revealing the trip to Declan's. Frances says it could be William's cross.
Blanche and Haasi sneak around Tony Costello's butcher shop and find his bike. Pebbles from the castle drive are stuck in the tires. Tony catches them.
Blanche presses him, he demurs.
Blanche chats with Ian Handley.
Tells him about Mary, Frances, the pebbles, and that, according to Mary, the gardai should comb Declan's effects.
Tony creeps back to the castle. Warns the women to drop it, Declan's gone. Blanche asks if he killed Declan. He says he has reason for wanting Declan alive.
Inspector Flannigan reveals an audit of the castle company has irregularities.
Declan's father, the banker on the board, had been paying his son, and also lining his pockets out of proceeds from his own bank and those of the McLoughlin estate.
Thanks to Blanche's tip off, they track the “extra curricular” payments—but, as yet, not all the recipients.
Handley and Flannigan bring Tony in.
He breaks down: He went to the castle the night of the murder to confront Declan who quit paying him to keep quiet about the drowning.
(Tony saw Declan fight with William on the river bank, he ripped the necklace from William as he slipped away into the river.
Declan let him drown. He wanted control of the estate.)
Tony meets Declan in the kitchen.
Declan is wearing gloves and holding a knife.
He intends to kill Una, set the blame on Blanche.
Tony struggles with Declan, knife clatters to the floor, Una appears in kitchen.
Una picks up knife, Tony grabs it and thrusts it at Declan as he breaks away and lunges at Una.
Tony killed Declan with Una an accessory.
Tony is charged with manslaughter and blackmail.
Una pleads self defense (and cowardice).
She apologizes to Blanche.
She donates her share of the castle to the company and Ballycill.
Frances is now a member of the board.
Haasi and Blanche fly back to Florida, and home to Santa Maria Island.
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