Book Club “Murder in Galway”
For March, we wanted to read a book set in Ireland and selected “Murder in Galway”, the first book in the “A Home to Ireland Mystery” series. We had read a short story about Tara Meehan at a previous meeting (“Halloween Cupcake Murder” book club) and wanted to see how Tara’s adventures began.
Book
Murder in Galway by Carlene O’Connor
Description:
In the first installment of bestselling author Carlene O'Connor's new Home to Ireland Mystery series, New York Tara Meehan's first trip to Galway, Ireland may be her last.
Jump right into the beauty and splendor--and murder--of Tara's Irish adventure! With a gorgeous setting, suspicious characters, and a deadly mystery--Murder in Galway will have you packing your bags...
Tara never imagined her introduction to Ireland like this--carrying her mam's ashes to honor her final request: "Tell Johnny I'm sorry...Take me home." She's never met her mam's estranged brother, Johnny Meehan, who owns an architectural salvage business in Galway. Although Tara is immediately charmed by the medieval city, the locals seem wary of strangers and a gypsy warns her that death is all around.
When Tara arrives at her uncle's stone cottage, the prophesy seems true. A dead man lies sprawled over the threshold in a pool of blood. The victim turns out to be Johnny's wealthiest client, and her missing uncle is the garda's number-one suspect. In trying to find Johnny and solve the crime, Tara uncovers her mam and uncle's troubled past. But with a desperate killer about, she had better mind herself, or they'll be tossing her ashes in Galway Bay...
Club
Snack suggestions:
Last March, we had some issues baking our own Irish soda bread… so we opted to buy on this year. Pairing it with some Irish butter was a fantastic treat!
There are plenty of options for Irish cuisine that you could serve - though be careful if you serve fish like in the story!
Tara would definitely recommend adding a Guinness to festivities!
Enjoy some Irish fare or opt for some treats that remind you of St. Patrick’s Day!
Check out Cozy Crimes’ book club questions that can be used for any mystery.
Here are our questions targeted to Murder in Galway:
1. How did Tara’s backstory and relationships with her family influence her present?
2. What did you suspect was the meaning of the “writing on the wall” throughout the book?
3. How did Tara’s career prepare her for her time in Galway?
4. How important was the setting to the story and to Tara’s personal journey? What did you think of Irish Revivals and Galway in general? Were there any places mentioned you would like to visit?
5. Cozies often feature a creature character. How did Hound compare to these tropes? What were your thoughts on this Irish Wolfhound?
6. How does this book play with the theme of being an outsider? Which characters fit this description?
7. What did you think of Johnny Meehan throughout the story? How did what you hear from others affect your opinion of him? Did you suspect him? What did you think happened to him, or where did you think he was throughout the mystery?
8. How did the items from Irish Revivals effect the plot and the themes of the book?
9. What did you think of Tara’s potential romance? How did you feel about Danny?
10. Were there moments that made you laugh? Were there moments that made you sad? How did the book make you feel?
