Final Resting Lace
From singing birds and wildflowers in bloom to sunshine on her shoulders after a blustery winter, everything about spring in Blarney Green, Ireland, enchants Penny Cavanagh. She’s particularly pleased to be serving treats and drinks from The Merry Teapot on a beautiful May day at the elegant Darcy Manor, a family estate-turned-inn hosting the prestigious Irish Lace League’s latest conference. However, misfortune rains on Penny’s parade when the league’s leading expert gets electrocuted in a recently renovated bathroom and the authorities suspect foul play.
Penny’s sympathies immediately fall to Darcy Manor’s enterprising young owner, Teagan Harrigan, who not only stands to suffer professionally if the inn’s reputation is ruined but personally when local law enforcement arrests her husband, Jamie, for the crime. Determined to prove Jamie innocent, Penny springs into action to help solve Coreen Bagwell’s murder as well as a handful of older mysteries connected to the historic manor.
As Penny’s investigation progresses, everything from the intended murder victim to Darcy Manor’s true heir is called into question. Unfortunately, she winds up unraveling the threads of the case faster than she can tie them off, and she soon lands in the killer’s crosshairs. Can Penny find a ray of hope for Jamie and Teagan, or will the case’s silver linings be tarnished by more tragedy—perhaps even her own demise?
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.
