Dead in Dublin
Series: A Dublin Driver Mystery Book #1
Author: Catie Murphy
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 280
My Rating:
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Book Summary
In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty, murder occurs at the feet of sweet Molly Malone . . .
Ferrying tourists around Dublin for the Leprechaun Limo Service makes quite a change after years in the military. Still, Megan Malone is enjoying her life in Ireland. She likes the scenery, the easy pace, the quirky, quick-witted locals. Everything–except having one of her clients drop dead at the statue of fabled fishmonger, Molly Malone.
Most restaurant critics notch up their share of enemies. Elizabeth Darr, however, was a well-loved international star. She and her husband, Simon, had just had dinner when Elizabeth collapsed, and spoiled seafood is the first suspect. The restaurant’s owner, worried her business is doomed, begs Megan to look into it. Between her irate boss and a handsome Garda who’s both amused and annoyed by her persistence, Megan has her hands full even before she’s cajoled into taking care of two adorable Jack Russell puppies (which she is almost definitely not keeping). But if cockles and mussels aren’t to blame, can Megan find the real culprit . . .before another fishy death occurs?
More Facts for Readers about our Sleuth:
Main Sleuth: Megan Malone (age 40)
Physical Description: White female, fit and muscular, active
Business: Limo Driver for Leprechaun Limo Service, formerly in the military (20 years)
Country: Currently lives in Ireland, from Texas, USA
Pet: Mama Dog and her two puppies, shorty Jack Russell Terriers
Love Interest: None specified or established in this book
Family: Uncle Rabbie (technically an older male cousin who is Irish born)
Diversity? Yes! Our sleuth is friends with a well balanced cast of characters from multiple nationalities with many different physical descriptions, genders, and languages.
My Review
The first book in the Dublin Driver Mysteries, “Dead in Dublin” by Catie Murphy opens immediately onto the scene of a murder on a street in Dublin, Ireland, and we are introduced to our main sleuth Megan Malone as she struggles to try and save the life of the victim. A celebrated American food critic has been poisoned in Dublin, and limo driver Megan (also an American) is anxious to help solve the mystery – especially since her dear Irish friend and restaurant owner Fionn is the prime suspect.
Sleuth Megan reads very young. It wasn’t until about half way through the novel that I realized she is actually 40 years old and had been in the military for 20 years. I had assumed early on that she was maybe mid-twenties and had served a smaller 4 year stint in the military out of high school, after which she was doing soul searching in Ireland. Megan spends time in her apartment, working, going to the local cafe, and hanging with friends, things that I (a 30 year-old) have been doing for the past couple of years. It’s great that the Megan Malone character is youthful and active, and although she references her limitations sometimes, she grits her teeth and marches on. Megan Malone does what needs to be done – and is badass while doing it.
Since the story is set in Ireland but Megan is from Texas, we get a lot of local Irish vernacular and examples of what the American equivalent would be. It’s brilliant and the local colloquialisms are AWESOME – you definitely learn some fun slang while sleuthing in this novel. And the murderer? Well, you’ll be guessing right up until the end. <3 Happy Reading!