Biblio 411: A Turn for the Bad (County Cork #4)

Author: Shelia Connolly
Release Date: February 2nd, 2016
Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime
Read: February 15, 2016
The Hook: Ireland, Cork County, Maura + Sean possibilities, Maura + Mick possibilities, just everything in this world.

I can’t tell you how much I enjoy this series. I really can’t. I can’t think of a good enough sentence or the best adjectives to use to describe how much I love Maura and her world. For those of you who need a recap, here are my other reviews on this series:

Biblio 411: Buried in a Bog (County Cork #1)
Biblio 411: A Scandal in Skibbereen (County Cork #2)
Biblio 411: An Early Wake (County Cork #3)

Summary: Maura has been in Ireland for a while now and she’s getting used to life there. As she’s getting comfortable with Cork County, Cork County is getting comfortable with her. She has regulars, a routine, and she’s starting form attachments. Not just with her pub, but with the town and … suitors! We met Sean Murphy in the first book and we see them go on a date in the second book and in the third … well. Let’s just say things get interesting as Mick is now a potential candidate. Yep, Mick. The whole crew is back as well, with Jimmy and Rose. Gillian, from book two returns as well and actually ends up staying with Maura for a bit (and I hope for a bit longer).

As for the conflict in this one, it’s another good one. There’s some suspicious activity and a missing persons. Since Cork County is getting used to Maura, and that she’s a pub owner, most people gather at her pub for news. And since they are becoming more familiar with her, family of the missing person confides in her to help with what they think may have happened–with encouragement from permanent customer and beloved bar patron, Billy. And things get interesting. With the help of a local alcohol sales rep, the new whiskey brewers for help, Mick, Gillian, and others Maura helps the gardi figure things out and Cork County is, again, filled with mystery and adventure.

It totally rocks.

In general, I’m ambivalent about book series but I really love this one (and a few others). As much as I can’t wait to see how the story ends, I really don’t want it to end! County Cork mysteries is one of two Shelia Connolly series I follow, the other being Relatively Dead, and I really enjoy her writing. I’m not sure how to put it. Some people will think it’s rather dry and maybe a bit boring or slow-moving, but I like it. I like that Maura still hasn’t made an official decision to stay in Ireland (I hope she does! I know I would). I like that it’s taking forever for a love interest to develop on Maura’s part (I mean, she’s had to deal with a lot since her grandmother past). I like that mystery is wrapped around history with the touch of genealogy. I love the package deal I get with this series. It’s similar in Relatively Dead (which I still have to read the recent release, which was back in October!). The story may be moving along slowly compared with others, but I love how it’s written. There’s no big drama or suspense or on-the-seat-biting-your-nails moments, but it suits me. And I love it.

And let’s not forget that it is set in Ireland. I love that.

So, thank you for another great read, Ms. Connolly! Can’t wait for next year’s release.