Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Kensington
Publication Date: June 29th, 2021
Pages: 288, paperback
Source: NetGalley
Squiring a self-proclaimed heiress around Dublin has got limo driver Megan Malone’s Irish up—until she finds the woman dead . . .
American-born Cherise Williams believes herself to be heir to an old Irish earldom, and she’s come to Dublin to claim her heritage. Under the circumstances, Megan’s boss Olga at Leprechaun Limos has no qualms about overcharging the brash Texas transplant for their services. Megan chauffeurs Cherise to the ancient St. Michan’s Church, where the woman intends to get a wee little DNA sample from the mummified earls—much to the horror of the priest.
But before she can desecrate the dead, Cherise Williams is murdered—just as her three daughters arrive to also claim their birthright. With rumors of famine-era treasure on the lands owned by the old Williams family and the promise of riches for the heirs, greed seems a likely motive. But when Olga surprisingly becomes the Garda’s prime suspect, Megan attempts to steer the investigation away from her boss and solve the murder with the help of the dashing Detective Bourke. With a killer who’s not wrapped too tight, she’ll need to proceed with caution—or she could go from driving a limo to riding in a hearse . . .
American Cherise Williams has come to Ireland to find her long-lost ancestors and prove that her family are heirs of the local earl. Driver Megan Malone drops Cherise back at her hotel after Cherise fails to persuade the local priest to give her a bone from one of the earls in the crypt at the church, and goes to pick up one of Cherise’s daughters from the airport. Upon returning, they find Cherise dead, and Megan is plunged into her third murder mystery.
Megan’s superstitious boss thinks Megan is cursed, fires her, and evicts her from her apartment. Megan must juggle getting her job and home back with the search for Cherise’s killer.
This is a great series. The characters are all well-developed, and the plots are solid. The relationships between Megan and the other characters are strong and make them fun to spend time with, except for perhaps Megan’s boss. Although, in fairness, even the local garda are eying Megan a bit askance, as she’s come across no fewer than three murders in less than a year.
Long-suffering detective Paul, who is dating Megan’s best friend, reluctantly assists Megan with her investigation, while trying, unsuccessfully, to keep her out of his.
Cherise’s other two daughters come to Ireland to handle the funeral arrangements, and they join Megan on the hunt for their mother’s killer. One of them is hiding a secret from the others that may cause them to doubt what they know about their family. Does someone in Ireland not want the Americans to inherit the earldom, or was the motive revenge or money?
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