No Comfort for the Dead - by R P O'Donnell (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

After witnessing a murder, a small-town librarian is forced to act when the local police arrest the wrong man, perfect for fans of Dervla McTiernan and Carlene O'Connor.

1988, West Cork, Ireland. Emma Daly has returned to her home in Castlefreke, a small and peaceful village where everybody knows everybody. She has taken over the local library and is trying not to think about the scandal she left behind in the city. But when the richest man in the village is murdered and the main suspect is the mysterious son of a local family, her charming small-town life is turned upside down.

Emma knows for a fact that there is more to the story, and when the family asks her to investigate, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

Teaming up with a stubborn widow, an elderly hypochondriac, and her high school sweetheart, it is up to Emma to solve the mystery before either the police or the murderer can stop her.

Review Quotes

Praise for No Comfort for the Dead
"O'Donnell debuts with a complex and accomplished whodunit . . . Brings to mind the regional mysteries of Charles Todd, and he matches his gift for atmosphere with intricate plotting and nuanced characterizations."
--Publishers Weekly

"Set in 1988 and told from multiple points of view, the dark story moves swiftly, unveiling long-held family secrets as the case unfolds."
--Booklist

"O'Donnell's debut is so atmospheric in its background and poetic in its language . . . As coolly bracing as an Irish spring."
--Kirkus

"Original, cleverly crafted, and a cozy mystery lover's delight."
--Midwest Book Review

"O'Donnell writes with a loveliness that's both sturdy and delicate . . . a spectacular debut."
--Deadly Pleasures

"Smartly crafter . . . uniquely compelling...first rate, original crime fiction."
--David Rothenberg, WBAI Radio

"A good debut novel from author O'Donnell, that keeps you engaged throughout."
--Red Carpet Crash

"Returning home from a disastrous stint at Garda academy, young Emma Daly aims to save the library in the tiny Irish village of Castlefreke, but when a wealthy old man is found shot through the heart and the long-lost brother of her ex-boyfriend is suspected of the crime, Emma turns from documents to detection. With an original narrative style, a setting as enchanting as an IrishThree Pines, and story that unfolds as cleverly as a puzzle box, R. P. O'Donnell must have kissed the Blarney Stone twice. Absolutely charming."
--Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries

"Castlefreke is a small town with a big dose of corruption - and now murder - and a librarian, Emma Daly, who will get to the truth whatever it takes. Cosy crime with a sharp bite, No Comfort for the Dead has all the charm of an Irish thriller, wrapped in a soft cardigan and wearing wellies."
--Kitty Murphy, author of the Dublin Drag Mysteries

"The village and its inhabitants are completely alive in this novel - it's so beautifully written, and the voice feels really original. I think O'Donnell handles the sentimental and the sombre just perfectly, balancing it with the wit and charm of the characters that is so important to this book. What I loved most was actually the rich tapestry of minor characters, each of them so funny and interesting. O'Donnell was able to create an entire personality and backstory for each of these wee characters with just a few sentences. I feel like I've been there and met them! This was a thoroughly entertaining, witty, clever read."
--Hannah King, author of She and I

About the Author

R.P. O'Donnell was born to an Irish American family on the South Shore of Boston, Massachusetts. He was short and wore a back brace for two years, so he really had no choice but to love reading and writing from a young age. After graduating with a degree in English, he moved to a tiny fishing village in West Cork, where he lives with his family. He works as a marketing content writer and has published articles in the Irish Examiner and Irish Times. In 2020, he was chosen by Paul McVeigh as the winner of the J.G. Farrell Award at the West Cork Literary Festival. He is now planning the second and third novels in the Castlefreke series.