Unfortunately, we have lost another in the Cozy author community recently. Sheila Connolly passed away toward the end of April at the age of 70.
Sheila Connolly was the author of multiple very popular Cozy Mystery series, including the Orchard Mystery Series, the Museum Mysteries Series, the Relatively Dead Mystery Series, the Victorian Village Mystery Series, and the County Cork Mystery Series, the last of which I wrote a blog entry about. Under the pen name Sarah Atwell, she was also the author of the Glassblowing Mystery Series.
Rest in Peace, Sheila. You will be missed by many, and our sympathies go out to her family and friends.
Mary Glavin says
Ah so sad. I really enjoyed her work.
Sammie Van Winkle says
I truly loved her books. I am so sorry to hear of her passing. She will be missed. Blessings to her family.
thetarotman says
Thank you, Danna. So sorry to hear that Sheila Connolly died.
I recall your post about the County Cork Mystery Series. If I ever read that particular Cozy Mystery Series, I shall certainly have a cup of Twinings Irish Breakfast tea when I do so.
Karen Bauer says
So sorry to hear that, I enjoyed many of her novels. Condolences to her family and friends!
Kathy V says
I’m in the middle of reading The Lost Traveller and feeling so sad that these series won’t continue.
Michael says
Sad to see you go, Sheila, you were so young. May your family take comfort in the legacy you have left behind.
Linda Miga says
I’m so sad to hear this. Her Orchard Mysteries are my very favorite.
Zarayna Pradyer says
I am so sorry to hear of this sad news.
We are living in uncertain times and can’t take any day for granted.
It’s particularly poignant when those who have given so much pleasure are taken from us.
My deepest sympathies to Sheila’s family. RIP.
Carol K says
Yes we will really miss her. I read most of her series and thoroughly enjoyed them.
Larry E. says
I have read and totally enjoyed Sheila’s novels. I have read almost all of them. I found her style engaging, her characters fully fleshed out and her settings enjoyably well drawn.
I will truly miss this quality writer. I felt as though i knew her.
Rest In Peace. You were one of my most favorite cozy authors.
Robynn Peterson says
I’m so sad at her passing!! I was very into several of her series!! But as I age (64) I realize that their struggle is now over, and that is a good thing! I can still re-read those books of hers that I loved and I will be ever grateful for her talent and her sharing it with us!! Blessing to her family.
Tianne Roy says
I am so sorry to hear this, I loved all her books!
Prayers for her family.
TR
Jennifer Chapman says
I’m devastated. Read all her series.
Robin says
When an author is really, really accomplished, they create a world that you can believe in, find yourself a part of. That is what Sheila did. I can’t believe there will be no more County Cork mysteries – I loved that village, knew all the people; they were a part of me. And so her other series. When a beloved author passes, we not only lose them, but the worlds they created. Immersing yourself in one of the worlds she created was finding out who Sheila was. I will miss Sheila C. very much, as I am sure all her family, friends and fans will.
robin in oregon says
I’m very sorry to hear this. I read and enjoyed all her Orchard and Museum series and really liked the sarah atwell books which are among my keepers. My sympathy to her family and friends. She will be missed.
Margo O'Donnell says
I read about this the day after she passed. She will be missed so very much. I have read 3 of her series and will miss seeing what happened in the next books. Such a great writer.
S T S says
Ms Connolly will be missed. Deepest sympathy to her family ? Her Orchard Mystery series were a delight to read and looked forward to each book in the series.
R I P
Ginger (Bronx) says
One of my all-time favorite authors! I personally will miss her books very much. I first read the glassblowing series (under Sarah Atwell) and some in the orchard series (under Sheila Connolly) before realizing they were the same author. I particularly have loved the museum series and more recently the Victorian village ones, a new series of hers that I’ve been holding my breath waiting for each new one! Such a loss —
Jeanna says
So sorry! I really enjoyed, & have, all of her Orchard Mystery series.
Shannon Roe says
I really liked her books and I will miss them. I was looking forward to more from her. Poor Sheila.
KAM says
I am so sorry to hear this. I recently discovered the Cork County mysteries and have been enjoying them very much.
Diana says
When I needed and easy read go to, Sheila was on the top of my list. So sorry to hear this!
Deneise Schneider says
She will be greatly missed. Always looked forward to her books. My sympathies to her family and friends.
Marie Lawlor says
So sorry to hear this. Way too young.
Kim Donovan says
How very sad not only for us but for her family. My heart goes out to you.
Bek says
Fair winds and following seas, Sheila, fair winds and following seas. You will be most sorely missed by so many.
Carol Robinson says
So sorry to hear of Sheila Connolly’s death. I’m current reading her Victorian Village Mystery series and the County Cork Mystery series. I’ve read the Orchard series and the Museum series. Will miss looking forward to her new books. RIP Sheila.
Janice G says
I was so very sorry to learn of Sheila Connolly’s death. I had the good fortune of meeting her on multiple occasions at an annual author’s festival at a local mystery book store. She was always very gracious. I have signed copies of many of her books in various series. When the first book in her Irish series came out, I couldn’t wait until the festival to buy and read the book. I told her how much I had enjoyed it and she ended up giving me a gift packet that she had made up for people buying the book that night. I still have the bookmarks, recipe cards, and a cookie cutter. She will be missed.
Susan says
Sad to hear…I really enjoyed the County Cork books.
Pamela Wellborn ? says
I enjoy her books. I’m sorry to hear this. Condolences to the family.
Lois says
So sorry to hear Sheila Connolly is gone. I have enjoyed her County Cork mysteries and others. She will be missed. Condolences to her family.
Rosemary E says
So sorry to read of her passing, Loved all of her books.
Prayers for her & her family.
May she rest in peace.
linda stewart says
So sorry to hear of her passing. I have read all of her books. She was a DAR member and I was also. She will be greatly missed. Condolences to her family and friends.
Rita Johnson says
So very sad, I am so very sorry for the loss of Sheila, I don’t think I have any of her works but i have so many books I’d have to go through them to see. She will greatly missed among the cozy family and many more. R.I.P Sheila
Kim says
I had not heard this sad news until today. This is such a loss for her family, friends, and readers whom enjoyed her work!
LINDA MOILAN says
So sad that we will not have the benefit of more of her books. Truly enjoyed the orchard series and the cork mysteries. Her settings and descriptions added much to the enjoyment of these books.
It’s nice to see the comments from so many people.
thetarotman says
Linda, I completely agree with you, I have enjoyed seeing so many comments from so many people about the late and great Sheila Connolly.
Ihad never herad of her prior to this blog, but it is crystal clear to me she was beloved by a large number of people.
Marilyn Sliva says
I am shocked. I found Sheila in 2015. I was finally going to Ireland and wanted to find a book set there – and found her County Cork Series – and fell in love with her writing. I then continued to read ALL of her books. I am in between regular author’s publishing dates & even though I try to keep track of when my favorites have a new book coming out, I decided to google Sheila to see if I had missed a date – only to find this sad news. She gave me so many hours of wonderful reading and I will miss that, but I’m so glad I found her. RIP, Sheila.
Terry Geiger says
I was just researching when the next installment of the County Cork Mystery series would be released when I came across the phrase “she was…” in the search. So very, very sad to hear about this. I so loved this series and looked forward to every release. I lived vicariously through with Maura Donovan and the gang at Sullivan’s Pub every January and had aspired to share a pint with Billy at the Pub and be there for the opening of Rose’s kitchen. Thank Sheila for these characters.
Carolyn M Lean says
I want to know what happens to Maura..
Someone needs to finish the series
Connie E. says
I have only recently learned of Sheila Connolly’s passing. Such a loss. She had such a gift for creating a world and making the reader feel comfortable there.
I read the Ireland series and turned to the Victorian village books, which led me to the Museum series. I have just started those, so I have quite a few books to look forward to, if I can get a hold of them.
I’m sorry she didn’t have more time to enjoy her cottage.