Follow the aroma of shamrock sugar cookies to the Beacon Bakeshop, a lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan where amateur sleuth Lindsey Bakewell is busy preparing for Beacon Harbor’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities – with a little help from her adorable Newfoundland, Wellington, of course!

Lindsey is baking up a storm—shamrock sugar cookies, Guinness chocolate cupcakes, Irish soda bread—for the well-timed grand opening of the Irish import gift shop, the Blarney Stone, owned by her boyfriend’s uncle, Finnigan O’Connor, recently relocated from the Emerald Isle.

But it’s Uncle Finn himself who seems full of blarney when he gleefully reveals a pot of real gold he claims he stole from an actual leprechaun. And Finn’s fortune takes a turn for the worse when he’s arrested for the bludgeoning of a small unidentified man dressed as a leprechaun—the murder weapon alleged to be his now-missing shillelagh.

Eccentric Uncle Finn may enjoy believing he’s outwitted a leprechaun, but he would never be so deluded as to clobber one with his walking stick. Now Lindsey will need more than the luck of the Irish to seize a golden opportunity to catch the real killer…

The fifth installment of this cozy mystery series was incredibly enjoyable! I read it around St. Patrick’s Day, making it the perfect holiday read. I listened to the audiobook and absolutely love the narrator. She does an amazing job with all the different voices, and in this story, we’re introduced to two new characters with delightful Irish accents. I loved it!

Per usual with these books, the murder mystery takes a while to unfold, around 25-30% into the story. I don’t mind the slow pacing because it allows for great character interactions and sets up what’s to come. I love this small, cozy seaside town and all its residents. Many familiar faces return, and we meet new ones, too. The food descriptions and recipes are another highlight—they always make my mouth water.

The murder mystery was engaging, and as usual, I didn’t figure out the killer until the characters in the book did. There was enough action and investigation to keep me interested throughout. This is another fun mystery filled with twists, turns, and surprises.

However, I didn’t care for Kennedy, Lindsey’s best friend, in this book. She returns with a new boyfriend, leading to awkward encounters with her ex-boyfriend, who remains friends with Lindsey and Rory. I found Kennedy’s behavior rude and annoying at times. She acted selfishly and became obnoxious, bringing more drama into the story. This strained her friendship with Lindsey, making some parts feel uncomfortable. Although things eventually worked out, it often felt a bit off-putting.

Overall, I loved returning to this cozy seaside town with all its quirky characters. The murder mystery was fun to solve, and the story had plenty of heartfelt and humorous moments.

While you can read this book as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the series in order for a more enjoyable experience. I hope Darci Hannah continues this cozy mystery series—it’s my favorite one so far. I definitely look forward to another book if there is one coming. Definitely recommended!