Publishers Weekly
12/12/2022
Rodeo Drive bridal dress designer Rayne McGrath, the heroine of this delightful series launch from Brannigan (the Scottish Shire mysteries as Traci Hall), learns on her 30th birthday that her boyfriend and business partner, whom she was expecting to propose to her that day, has ditched her and emptied their joint bank account. Rayne’s sitcom actor mom insists she leave L.A. and her woes behind and fly to Ireland for the funeral of Rayne’s paternal uncle, Nevin, the lord of McGrath Castle in the village of Grathton. On arrival, Rayne is astounded to learn that Nevin’s will requires her to stay in Ireland as lady of the castle, much to the fury of Nevin’s illegitimate daughter, whom Rayne didn’t know existed. The will also requires her to bring the castle into the black and inject new life into Grathton. Rumors that Nevin’s death was not an accident put Rayne on the trail of a killer. An appealing protagonist and colorful supporting characters match the imaginative plot. Cozy fans will look forward to the next phase of Rayne’s Irish adventure. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
Praise for Murder at an Irish Castle:
“[A] strong sense of place . . . [And] a well-written cozy mystery series launch. Will appeal to fans of Sheila Connolly and Carlene O’Connor.”
—Library Journal, starred review
“An appealing protagonist and colorful supporting characters match the imaginative plot.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Strong characters and clever efforts to save the castle will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Mystery readers will be delighted with Brannigan’s debut. Recommend to fans of Sheila Connolly.”
—Library Journal, audiobook review
“[A] delightful and infectious story loaded with originality.”
—Wonder Women Sixty
“Readers will fall in love immediately . . . Brannigan has opened this series up to amazing possibilities”
—Cozy Mystery Book Reviews
“Unreservedly recommended to the attention of dedicated Cozy Mystery fans . . . A fun read from cover to cover.”
—Midwest Book Review
“[A] cozy mystery series that is as romantic as it is deadly . . . Highly recommended.”
—Midwest Book Review, audiobook review
“A great debut of the series . . . With quirky characters, and a solid story.”
—Red Carpet Crash
“Ellie Brannigan has written a home run with this first book in a new series. Murder at an Irish Castle starts off with a bang, and the characters, Rayne McGrath and her testy cousin, Ciara, are great antagonists right from the beginning. The cast of characters, the fully drawn landscape and small-town feel will make you want to book your ticket to Ireland to experience for yourself!”
—Patrice Wilton, New York Times bestselling author
“Escape to Ireland in this perfect cozy castle mystery.”
—Raquel V. Reyes, award-winning author of the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series
“When her expensive life in LA falls apart, couture bridal designer Rayne McGrath flies to Ireland to attend her uncle Nevin McGrath’s funeral, only to learn she has inherited the crumbling family castle. Nevin’s death was a tragic accident—or maybe not. Determined to save the family estate and the village that depends upon it, Rayne teams up with her prickly cousin, Ciara, to uncover the deadly truth. Add in a charming Irish village setting, a colorful cast of characters, and a tale worthy to be told around a smoldering peat fire, and you have the beginning of a stellar new series. Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan is, in a word, irresistible.”
—Connie Berry, author of the Kate Hamilton series
“A delightful cozy as fresh as the Irish atmosphere—a charming twisty family drama and shocking reveals make for a fun whodunnit. Enjoy!”
—Kate Young, author of the Jane Doe Book Club Mystery series
“A delightful romp of a mystery, with a thoroughly relatable heroine and all the pleasure of the Irish countryside. I finished it in one sitting!”
—Emilia Bernhard, author of the Death in Paris Mystery Series
Library Journal - Audio
06/10/2024
Rayne McGrath, a Hollywood bridal-dress designer, finds on her 30th birthday that her business partner and lover has absconded with all their money and dresses. As the Hollywood police investigate the theft, Rayne must fly to Dublin to attend the reading of her Irish uncle's will; there she learns that she will inherit his castle while her obstreperous cousin will be the manager. The catch is that Rayne must stay in Ireland for one year and make the castle, its occupants, and the nearby village solvent. There is, of course, no money to make this happen. When her uncle's death becomes a murder investigation, Rayne is determined to find his killer and start a business that will make everyone thrive. From Rayne's own privileged life to her mother's New Age ideas to her newly acquired household, the heroine has her work cut out for her. Narrator Traci Odom captures the strong cast of characters with aplomb, providing carefully crafted accents for each. VERDICT Mystery readers will be delighted with Brannigan's debut. Recommend to fans of Sheila Connolly.—Joanna M. Burkhardt
Library Journal
★ 11/01/2022
DEBUT Rayne McGrath, owner of a bridal boutique on Rodeo Drive, hoped to celebrate her 30th birthday with a lunch with investors, then dinner and an engagement ring from her business partner, Landon. Instead, she's locked out of the business because Landon stole wedding dresses and the money in their account. She also receives a message to contact her Uncle Nevin's lawyer in Ireland. Nevin died, and the lawyer insists Rayne must fly to Ireland. With her world already in turmoil, she learns she's inherited McGrath Castle, along with the responsibility for Grathton, a village of 400, and she must work for a year with a cousin she didn't know she had. Ciara is the estate's new business manager. She had expected to inherit, so she's angry. She's also angry because she thinks Nevin was murdered, and she has to work with Rayne, who, although she owns a boutique in California, knows nothing about running an estate with tenants and sheep. If the two women can work together, they may also find out who killed Nevin. VERDICT There's a strong sense of place in Brannigan's debut, a well-written cozy mystery series launch. Will appeal to fans of Sheila Connolly and Carlene O'Connor.—Lesa Holstine
June 2023 - AudioFile
Traci Odom introduces L.A. bridal wear designer Rayne McGrath and her fiancé, Landon Short. The novel opens after a birthday celebration as a hungover Rayne learns her beloved Irish uncle has died. At the same time, Short has disappeared. Rayne must travel to Ireland for the reading of the will while her mother stays behind to find Short. Odom excels at Irish accents. Her best portrayal is cousin Ciara, who resents Rayne. Repetitious dialogue and the mystery--almost an afterthought--are disappointing. But lively village descriptions, luscious meals, and busybody locals add fun. Odom's gutsy Rayne falls in love with the community and questions Short's behavior when he's seen in Mexico. Outstanding narration keeps listeners engaged. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
2022-12-14
Brannigan debuts a new series coupling the beauties of Ireland with murder.
When Rayne McGrath, Rodeo Drive bridal designer, awakens on her 30th birthday, she expects a perfect day. Instead, she arrives at her store to find both it and her bank account cleaned out and her partner/boyfriend nowhere to be found. On top of that, her Uncle Nevin dies in a tractor accident at McGrath Castle, the family home in Ireland, and his lawyer requests her presence at the reading of the will. She’s greeted at the airport by Ciara Smith, who sports a chip on her shoulder, perhaps because she’s Nevin’s illegitimate daughter. The cousins' relationship doesn’t improve when the lawyer tells them that Nevin’s left McGrath to Rayne with a whole lot of strings attached. Rayne doesn’t want to stay for a year working to improve the estate, but if she doesn’t, Ciara will get nothing and the village the castle supports won’t survive. Rayne makes an effort to get on better with Ciara, who knows how things work, while she tries to get her bridal business going using the castle as a studio to make the dresses she’s already promised customers. Ciara’s conviction that Nevin was murdered turns out to be correct. As she makes more friends and enemies, Rayne hides the fact that she’s broke and dependent on a loan from her actress mother to keep the place afloat while she dabbles in sleuthing.
The strong characters and clever efforts to save the castle will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment.
