The Irish Cottage Murder: A Torrey Tunet Mystery

WOW! THE IRISH COTTAGE MURDER is hard to put down. At last! A really promising new series. I enjoyed it so much I couldn't wait to get to the next one (THE IRISH MANOR HOUSE MURDER), so I read that one next. Dicey Deere's characters are not all well developed, but they're fun and easy enough to distinguish. The story is totally satisfying. Well, almost. The romance takes place "offstage." Bummer! I did not like her clipped style at first, but don't let that stop you! The book becomes a real page turner. I LOVED the trip to Ireland and the bits of Irish history/culture. I only hope future books in the Torrey Tunet series will have even more local color.

This is a book that will capture the reader's attention from the beginning. The plot is interesting and the characters are enjoyable. The many twists and turns keep the story moving and the reader involved. The heroine has a unique occupation which keeps the story fresh. All of the elements that make a good mystery are here, but they are used in new and refreshing ways. This is hopefully the start to a long series.

THIS NEW SERIES IS ABOUT TORREY TUNET. SHE IS PART ROMANIAN, EXCEPTIONALLY GOOD AT MANY LANGUAGES, AND IS A HIGH-POWERED TRANSLATOR. HER WORK TAKES HER ALL OVER THE WORLD, THIS BOOK BEING SET IN DUBLIN. TORREY HAS A PAST THAT HAS FOLLOWED HER. THAT ALONG WITH TWO MURDERS MAKES THIS BOOK ONE I AM SURE MOST MYSTERY LOVERS WOULD REALLY ENJOY. THERE ARE MANY TWISTS AND TURNS IN THIS BOOK THAT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO PUT DOWN. THE ENDING LEAVES YOU IN THE AIR AND DEFINITELY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT BOOK OF THE SERIES.

In this first novel, the author draws us into a complex story full of many secrets. The main character, American Torrey Tunet, is an international translator who becomes involved in two murders in Ireland that may- or may not- be connected. Deere makes the setting, an Irish castle and its surrounding hills and forests, and the characters, an interesting mix of people whose lives touch the castle and its owner, come alive for the reader with descriptive word pictures. All the secrets, especially Torrey's, are not revealed immediately, but are told a nugget of information at a time over many chapters, which serves to keep the reader's interest and sustain the suspense. This is a book not to be missed, and I wouldn't be surprised if it were nominated for some awards. I was glad to read that it's the beginning of a series. Torrey's a winner!

Massachusetts resident Torrey Tunet travels to Dublin to work as a language translator at a conference. She will stay at the castle of wealthy Desmond Moore. However, her joy at staying at Castle Moore turns ugly when she learns landscape designer Luke Willinger will also stay there. Luke hates Torrey for destroying his family. Torrey agrees with his assessment as the guilt from a theft she did fourteen years ago still haunts her, especially when she sees what it did to her best friend. However, murder intercedes and the police suspect Torrey. When Moore dies too, the police strongly feel Torrey did the crime because she possesses a Moore heirloom that she insists Desmond gave to her. She was going to sell the necklace to pay for an operation for her best friend and perhaps alleviate some of her own guilt. Now in deep trouble, Torrey turns to her fellow American, who still holds a grudge because her teenage theft directly led to his father's suicide. THE IRISH COTTAGE MURDER is a well-done debut novel due to the finely tuned motives and flaws of the characters. The guilt-laden Torrey and her nemesis, the still grieving Luke, make for an interesting, dysfunctional couple. The story line is entertaining though too many subplots fail to tie back to the main tale and at times overwhelms it. Still, no one will believe that this is Dicey Deere's debut as amateur sleuth fans have much to celebrate with a new heroine.Harriet Klausner