No Strangers Here: A County Kerry Mystery

This solid series launch from O’Connor takes a more somber approach to crime solving than her Irish Village mysteries, most recently Murder on an Irish Farm. When the body of wealthy 69-year-old racehorse owner Johnny O’Reilly is found on the shores of Dingle, Ireland, Det. Insp. Cormac O’Brien investigates. When it’s determined that the victim was poisoned by a veterinary medication, O’Brien has two prime suspects: Eamon Wilde, a local vet who has been in conflict with the O’Reillys for years, and his eccentric wife, Maeve, who may have had an affair with the married Johnny. Upon hearing the news, their daughter, Dimpna Wilde, leaves her financially burdened veterinary clinic in Dublin and returns to Dingle to clear her family’s name. Through her sleuthing, Dimpna unearths decades-old secrets among the two families, including the accidental death of a prized racehorse and a person’s unsolved disappearance. Though the perpetrator’s identity will surprise few, O’Connor adds plot twists that many won’t anticipate. Judicious use of Irishisms (“I swear to ye”) adds color. Readers will eagerly await what happens next in County Kerry. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Nov.)