Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer Rayne McGrath expected her thirtieth birthday to start with a power lunch and end with champagne, lobster, and a diamond engagement ring from her fiancé. Instead, flat-broke and busted, she’s on a plane to Ireland, where she discovers that she’s inherited a run-down family castle. Uncle Nevin’s will contains a few caveats—for example, if Rayne doesn’t turn McGrath Castle around within a year, the entire village will be financially destroyed.

With the fate of the town in her hands, and rumors that Rayne’s uncle’s death wasn’t actually an accident, she can’t possibly go back to her old life in L.A. As the devastating truth about her uncle dawns on Rayne, it’s not just her reputation that’s on the line, it’s her life.

Featuring a sharp and endearing protagonist, a colorful and quirky locale, and replete with twists and turns befitting an old Irish village, the first in Brannigan’s mystery series transports us to a milieu as romantic as it is deadly.

With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, I was in the mood for a lighthearted Irish cozy mystery, and this seemed like the perfect pick. This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I chose to listen to the audiobook version. The narrator did a wonderful job, especially with the Irish accents for the townspeople. Her performance added a lot of charm and helped transport me right into the Irish setting.

I really wanted to love this book more than I did, but unfortunately, it fell a little short for me. Overall, it was still an enjoyable read, but it did not become one of my favorite cozy mysteries.

Starting with the positives, the setting was easily my favorite part of the story. The cozy atmosphere of the Irish small town was delightful, and the cast of side characters added a lot of personality and warmth to the narrative. I also picked up on some strong found family vibes, which I always enjoy in a story. The descriptions of food and the Irish countryside were charming, and the castle that Rayne inherits created a fun and whimsical backdrop. There is also an adorable dog named Blarney who completely steals every scene he appears in.

That said, the mystery element felt surprisingly minimal. The murder investigation seemed to take a backseat to other aspects of the story when it really should have been the central focus. I found myself wishing for more sleuthing, clues, and suspense since that is exactly what I look for when picking up a cozy mystery. Instead, much of the story revolves around Rayne settling into her new life in Ireland, exploring the town and castle, and getting to know the locals.

There is also a lot of attention given to her bridal dress business and how she plans to manage it while fulfilling the requirement of spending a year in Ireland as part of her inheritance. While those details helped establish the premise, the pacing felt slow at times, and not a great deal actually happens. There were moments where I felt a bit bored and wished the story had been more engaging or plot-driven.

Another challenge for me was connecting with the main characters. I found Rayne somewhat frustrating at times, and her cousin Ciara was even more difficult for me to enjoy. When it is hard to connect with the main characters, it can make the overall reading experience less enjoyable.

In the end, this book was just okay for me. While I would not personally go out of my way to recommend it, readers who enjoy slower-paced cozy mysteries that focus heavily on setting and small-town life may find more to love here. I am still curious enough about the series that I might give the second book a chance to see if it improves for me.