Well, I’m back into mysteries again. And I don’t like bloody shoot-er-ups, but more the British cozy mystery, especially if it has a theme I like – funny, great characters, set in a place I like.
Carol Higgins Clark meets all those qualifications with her series starring private investigator Regan O’Reilly and her NYPD detective husband, Jack O’Reilly – and Laced is set in Ireland. I am not going to read all these one-word-titled mysteries – at least not now – but I couldn’t resist this one. Set in western Ireland near Galway, near where my family’s from, it’s also a riotous treat from start to finish. And the title Laced refers to an Irish lace tablecloth and the ghost who never got paid for making it. It also refers to the two kinds of Irish, espcially among those who emigrated: the lace curtain Irish, with money and a bit more manners than is absolutely necessary, and the shanty Irish, with no manners and a lot of hungry mouths to feed.
This plot has so many twists and turns and great characters, large and small. And at least 3, more like 4 or 5, major story lines. Carol keeps them all straight in our minds, without making us aware of it. Excellent work, a good Irish story, and lots of laughing. Absolutely Perfect!
p s and I love the Christmas mysteries she and her mother, Mary Higgins Clark, write together every year! I’ll read and review that in due time.