Recently, someone asked if I had any suggestions for any “Irish” themed mystery series, and I was a bit surprised that I didn’t already have a theme on Irish Cozies since they’re such a charming part of the genre! So, are there any Irish Cozies anyone can recommend?
MYSTERIES WITH AN IRISH THEME:
Sheila Connolly (aka Sarah Atwell): County Cork Mystery Series – Maura Donovan, a Bostonian, lives in a village in Ireland.
Dicey Deere: Torrey Tunnet Mystery Series – Torrey Tunnet, a Bostonian living in Ireland.
Carlene O’Connor: Irish Village Mystery Series – Siobhán O’Sullivan, owner of Naomi’s Bistro, with her five siblings, in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland.
Clare O’Donohue: World of Spies Mystery Series – Hollis and Finn Larsson are married college professors who assist Interpol in Ireland.
Alexia Gordon: Gethsemane Brown Mystery Series – Gethsemane is an African-American classical musician in Ireland.
Ian Sansom: Mobile Library Mystery Series – Israel Armstrong is a vegetarian mobile librarian in Northern Ireland.
Peter Tremayne: Sister Fidelma Mystery Series – A long-running series starring a nun in 7th century Ireland.
Nancy Means Wright: Mary Wollstonecraft Mystery Series – Mary is an 18th century English governess working in Ireland.
P.S. I haven’t read all the series so I’m not sure just how Cozy they are…
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Good grief, I can’t believe I forgot to add Alexia Gordon to this Irish mysteries list! I’m actually reading (and enjoying!) the first book in her Gethsemane Brown Mystery Series right now! (I just added her…)
Gloria L. says
Danna, I just finished reading “Murder in G Major” by Alexia Gordon — it was terrific! The ghost was a blast. I do like paranormal cozy mysteries the best, although I read regular cozies, too. I highly recommend this author.
Debby Toth says
I have read all of Sheila Connolly’s County Cork books. I really likes them. Sad that the series will not be continued due to Sheila’s passing.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Debby, it’s certainly a great series, and as always a tragedy when an author like Sheila Connolly passes.
Sue Busada says
There’s an author, Martha Geaney, that writes the Star O’Brien Mystery series. They are based in Mayo, specifically on Clare Island. I’m not quite sure they would be described as “cozy” but there’s no graphic content.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Sue, I’ll have to take a look at that one!
Sue Busada says
Thanks so much Danna!
GiGi says
The Dublin Driver Mystery series by Catie Murphy would be a fine addition to your Irish Themed Mysteries list. Megan Malone is an American military veteran living in Dublin and working as a driver for the Leprechaun Limo Service.
Her job is the perfect set-up for meeting a variety of interesting folks and getting into and out of potentially dangerous situations.
GiGi
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Gigi, I’ll have to take a look at that one – there are a number of suggestions for it so it’s probably appropriate!
Suzanne says
It’s a great series – all the more notable by the protagonist is an very fit 40+ woman who is really well written. So few of those characters out there.
It’s a newer series (2 books so far), but Catie is very experienced writer in other genres under other pen names.
Highly recommend her Walker Papers series (under C.E. Murphy) which is Urban Fantasy, but still has detective/mystery aspects, a law enforcement supporting cast, and takes place primarily in Seattle.
Ian Jopson says
Currently half way through Carlene O’Connor’s ‘Death in an Irish Pub’. Really enjoying the series so far.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Ian, it’s definitely a good one!
Linda says
Dublin Driver Mystery
A series by Catie Murphy
1. Dead in Dublin (2019)
2. Death on the Green (2020)
3. Death of an Irish Mummy (2021)
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Linda, I’ll check that one out!
Jan Heminger says
Catie Murphy writes the Dublin Driver Mysteries. Book 2 just came out about a month ago.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Jan, that’s a good suggestion – lots of people putting this one forward!
Dolores Blohm says
Dublin Driver Mysteries by C E Murphy are an interesting read.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Dolores, this one sure seems popular! There are a number of suggestions for it.
Michelle Busby says
Hi! My Holmes & Watson Culinary Whodunit series is not set in Ireland, but one of the two sleuths is a former Irish food inspector turned chef who moved from Dublin to Florida. The first book is The Tainted Teacup and is available now. Egg Hide Homicide will be available next month!
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Michelle, I’ll have to take a look at that one… not sure how strict I’m going to be on the “Irish” part and whether or not an Irish sleuth is enough!
Annie says
Zara Keane’s movie club mysteries! They have it all. Beautiful location, mystery, murder, romance and humor. They take place on an island (fictional) and the main character is an ex-police woman who after losing her job and marriage returns to her aunt’s home where she had spent her childhood summers. The aunt owns an old movie theater converted to a restaurant. I love this series.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Annie, thanks for the suggestion! I’ll take a look at this one!
Gisela says
I was going to suggest that series. I have loved the first 6 books. There were moments that had me laughing out loud.
Joanne says
My favourite Irish themed cozy mystery series is by Dicey Deere (nom-de-plume of Harriett La Barre [1916-2015]) featuring Torrey Tunet. She wrote 4 books from 1999 to 2004 starting with The Irish Cottage Murder, followed by The Irish Manor House Murder, The Irish Cairn Murder and The Irish Village Murder.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Joanne, that’s a good one! I’ve added it to the list.
PERKE says
From your listing of “D” authors–Dicey Deere.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Perke, that’s a good one – already on the stie too, which cuts down on me checking them out!
PERKE says
How about these historicals?
Peter Tremayne-Sr. Fidelma series
Cora Harrison- Burren and Reverend Mother series
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Perke, thanks! I’ve added Peter Trmayne as it is already on the site – I’ll have to look at the other, but it looks good as well!
Susy S says
I have most of the Sheila Connolly series, but have not started it yet. Maybe that will be up next.
Marilyn Sliva says
I found the Sheila Connolly books when I was planning a trip to Ireland. I just recently started reading Murder at an Irish Christmas & the main character reminded me of another that had a female who joins the garda & runs a small breakfast place with her siblings (remember James & I think 2 sisters & another brother) and her boyfriend becomes her boss in the garda. I can’t for the life of me find out what the name of it was. Any ideas?
Marilyn Sliva says
After I wrote the above comment, I remembered that the one I read was a murder in a churchyard and saw a link to Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O’Connor and read the description & realized that is the one that I was remembrering. I didn’t recognize the author’s name (because when I usually like something I read the whole series) so it didn’t click. If you want to delete these posts, that would be fine.
Danna - cozy mystery list says
Marilyn, I’m glad you found the book you were looking for!
Melissa Bourbon says
The Book Magic Mysteries is based around a 2000 year old Irish Curse so might fit well in this category.
Carlin K says
The Mags and Biddy mystery series by Eliza Watson is my latest Irish cozy treat. Mags inherited her grandmother’s house in Ireland and Biddy is her best friend. Mags has developed a career as a genealogist so the mysteries always have a genealogical connection. The author always adds genealogy tips at the ends of her books.
Mrs. Ainee C. Beland says
I have only just discovered Zara Keane and I have enjoyed getting to know her characters like Lenny Logan the tech/guru with a flickering porch light mantra per se. I like the new sheriff who has a heart out for Maggie Doyle and perhaps one day soon the two will unite as other stories are weaved or perhaps not. But in all, one can only read so much of the same author and her Whisper Cove Island.
I am saying thanks, is all.
Camille Guice says
I recently found RV Raman who sets his mysteries in modern day India. Alas, the series is only 2 so far and my library only had one (A Dire Isle), but I also read A Will to Kill, and he has a number of stand alone novels, but since none are available in any library I have access to I can’t vouch for them.
Camille Guice says
Colin Cotterill has set on of his series in Laos, of all places! The author spent time there, so his books contain interesting insights about Laos and Cambodia. His other books are set in Thailand.
I wasn’t sure if you want a separate comment for every author, but in case you don’t, another series set in India is about Tarquin Hall. It’s been awhile since I’ve read him so I forget when it’s set, but it’s before cell phones at least.
Rhonda R says
I love Conor Brady’s mystery series with Detective Joe Swallow. Takes place in Dublin, 1880’s.
Siobhán O says
A Dragon, A Gargoyle and a Faery series is set in Ireland – it’s paranormal cozy mystery
valerie Zalewski says
Geraldine Byrne, writing as Nina Hayes, has a really good series set in Dublin. It’s called the Old Bat Chronicles and is very amusing. There are 2 books out so far and a third dueout later this year.
Under her own name, she has another Dublin series, The Music Shop Mysteries. The first book in the series, On The Fiddle, is out now.