Claddagh in Secrecy
Having recently moved from California to the Emerald Isle, former matchmaker Penny Cavanagh is happily settling in to her adopted hometown of Blarney Green, a pastoral gem in the Irish countryside. Although the January doldrums dull the lingering shine of the holidays, locals perk up when renowned claddagh ring designer Shauna McGrath comes to town—but that excitement turns to fright when Penny discovers Shauna’s blustery, domineering mother, Una, murdered behind The Merry Teapot and Shauna’s valuable inventory goes missing.
Considering cantankerous Una had more enemies than friends, the woman’s death comes as little surprise. However, the true motive behind her murder remains cloudy. Was she killed because she berated the wrong person, or because she’d been clutching a treasure trove of gold-and-gemstone jewelry at the time of her demise? Much to the annoyance of her new boyfriend, Detective Inspector Finn Campbell, Penny dives into the investigation, determined to prove that none of her new friends in Blarney Green would have strangled Una for any reason.
Unfortunately, everybody in Shauna’s entourage has an airtight alibi for the time of Una’s murder, leaving Penny wondering who around her has a heart of gold and who could be a cold-hearted killer. Faced with so-called clues that ring false at every turn, Penny grows frustrated with the convoluted case, but she remains determined to bring an unseen villain to justice. If Penny’s not careful, however, all that glitters could be another murder . . . her own.
The Characters
PENNY CAVANAGH
When professional matchmaker Penny Cavanagh gets caught up in the scandal of a high-profile breakup, she decides it’s time for a vacation. She travels to Blarney Green, Ireland, to visit her grandmother, Nan Murphy, and her favorite cousin Nora. She plans to stay only for a few weeks. Unbeknownst to Penny, they intend for her to stay in Ireland indefinitely to take over Nan’s tearoom, The Merry Teapot. But none of them could know how much trouble is about to fall on Blarney Green.
NAN MURPHY
Nan has barely missed a day of work at The Merry Teapot in 70 years, but she won’t be able to keep up that pace forever. It’s time to ensure the future of her family’s tearoom is safe in the hands of the next generation, and if she can kill two birds with one stone by convincing her granddaughter Penny to move to Ireland and take it over, all the better. Unfortunately, the suspicious death of a tearoom guest is not making for a warm welcome.
NORA MURPHY
Professional artist Nora Murphy is delighted when her favorite cousin arrives in Ireland. Maybe it’s because she grew up with six brothers, but she and Penny have always been close, even when they were far apart. She knows they’ll have all kinds of fun together, especially if Nora can convince Penny to stay in Ireland and move into the tower house she calls home. But when English master gardener Colin Bexley, whom Nora knows from her time in London, is dead within hours of leaving the tearoom and kissing the Blarney Stone, things aren’t looking so good.
DETECTIVE INSPECTOR FINN CAMPBELL
Finn Campbell has spent years working his way up through the ranks of Ireland’s police force, Garda Síochána. Now he’s heading the station in his hometown of Blarney Green. He’s near his widowed mother, Linda, who insists that she doesn’t need his help, but he likes being on hand just in case. He’s dated casually, but he’s never found the right woman—until Penny Cavanaugh arrives in town. As the 1384th heir in line for the royal throne, he might just turn out to be her very own Prince Charming. He’d love to ask her out. If he can just keep her out of danger long enough. . .
EARL AND GREY
Irresistibly cute, Earl and Grey come and go as they please between Nan’s cottage and the nearby tearoom. Earl is spunky and sweet but a little on the clumsy side and not quite as good at sneaking around as the typical cat. Grey on the other hand is wise, stealthy, and clever. They have both been known to help their humans uncover clues and solve mysteries.
