When competing card sharps stir up Siobhan O'Sullivan's quiet Irish village, a poker tournament turns into a game of Hangman as Eamon Foley is found dead at the end of a rope in the local pub.

This was a light police procedural with lots of suspects and lots of clues that don’t add up. Siobhan and fellow detective and boyfriend Macdara are likeable characters that do a good job. The other characters are often a bit wound up and this moves things along at a good pace. An enjoyable and easy to read story. ( )

A poker tournament has come to the village, and it seems like Eamon is destined to be the big winner. There is much gambling with side bets, a lot of drinking, and then a charge of cheating. The game is halted until morning, so camera tapes can be reviewed. But in the morning, Siobhan finds Eamon swinging from a rafter in a room that is bolted from the inside in the tavern. Most say it’s suicide, but Siobhan just doesn’t agree. It’s quite a puzzling mystery. To complicate matters, it seems like a jewel thief is also working the area, an undercover detective is in town to watch the thief, and the widow of the murder/suicide victim is about to give birth. Siobhan is really going to have to dig into the case, to determine who is telling the truth and who is deliberately deceiving them. It’s a lovely mystery, filled with Irish flavor and delightful characters. The audio version, which is well performed by Caroline Lennon, adds much to the enjoyment of the novel. ( )

This fourth in series book is an interesting closed room cozy mystery with all the frustration such stories entail. The story centers around a poker tournament being held in a small Irish village. Our clever and most intuitive protagonist, Siobhán O'Sullivan, a member of the Garda Síochána (Irish Police), is assigned to keep an eye on the crowd at the village of Kilbane's first poker tournament. The three leading players in the country are in competition and drinking in the crowd's admiration and accolades. That is until one of the three is accused of potential cheating. The organizer will announce his decision the next morning on whether the tournament can continue. Before the next morning rolls around, word on the street is that one of the players has committed suicide. Siobhán is eager to get to the bottom of this and is at odds with her boss and main squeeze, Detective Sergeant McDara Flannery. Can Siobhán prove to everyone, including herself, that her hunches ought not to be ignored? Unfolding the story through her eyes, ears and mind is the joy of this story and the entire series.

Even though the books can stand on their own, the personal stories which unfold around the mysteries is well worth reading in their order. As cozy mysteries go, this is one of the most enjoyable series for its charm, wit and warmth. ( )

A dead body, a festival, a poker tournament and a pub in an Irish village, what's not to like? The crime is actually quite inventive, but the many characters and dialogue slow down the resolution of the case. Layla, the Racing pigeon, was a nice touch in keeping the story unique.
An enjoyable read. ( )

Siobhán O’Sullivan is now a formal member of the garda in Kilbane. Her siblings are managing Naomi’s Bistro, the family business.

The International Poker Tournament and the Annual Arts and Music Festival are both being held in Kilbane on the same weekend. The village is excited and the businesses are taking part in a street festival, showcasing their goods to take advantage of the influx of visitors and possible sales.

The first night is kicked off with a poker game between the top three players; Eamon Foley, Shane Ross and Clementine Hart. Everyone has turned out to watch. When the game is disqualified for possible cheating, tempers get hot. Was it a set up and if so who set who up and why?

After the game, everyone adjourns to Sharkey’s Pub for more drinking, talking and possible a few more poker hands.

The next morning, one of the poker players is found dead. Suicide or murder?

Siobhán thinks murder, but others lean towards suicide. Among them are Siobhán’s boss (and love interest) Macdara Flannery. Time is short for Siobhán to find the clues, convince Macdara it is murder and determine who the killer is and why.

This is a nice cozy read with enough extra story lines to keep it interesting. This is the third book in the series I’ve read and enjoyed. ( )