Publisher's Weekly Review
Rodeo Drive bridal dress designer Rayne McGrath, the heroine of this delightful series launch from Brannigan (the Scottish Shire mysteries as Traci Hall), learns on her 30th birthday that her boyfriend and business partner, whom she was expecting to propose to her that day, has ditched her and emptied their joint bank account. Rayne's sitcom actor mom insists she leave L.A. and her woes behind and fly to Ireland for the funeral of Rayne's paternal uncle, Nevin, the lord of McGrath Castle in the village of Grathton. On arrival, Rayne is astounded to learn that Nevin's will requires her to stay in Ireland as lady of the castle, much to the fury of Nevin's illegitimate daughter, whom Rayne didn't know existed. The will also requires her to bring the castle into the black and inject new life into Grathton. Rumors that Nevin's death was not an accident put Rayne on the trail of a killer. An appealing protagonist and colorful supporting characters match the imaginative plot. Cozy fans will look forward to the next phase of Rayne's Irish adventure. Agent: Evan Marshall, Evan Marshall Agency. (Feb.)
Kirkus Review
Brannigan debuts a new series coupling the beauties of Ireland with murder. When Rayne McGrath, Rodeo Drive bridal designer, awakens on her 30th birthday, she expects a perfect day. Instead, she arrives at her store to find both it and her bank account cleaned out and her partner/boyfriend nowhere to be found. On top of that, her Uncle Nevin dies in a tractor accident at McGrath Castle, the family home in Ireland, and his lawyer requests her presence at the reading of the will. She's greeted at the airport by Ciara Smith, who sports a chip on her shoulder, perhaps because she's Nevin's illegitimate daughter. The cousins' relationship doesn't improve when the lawyer tells them that Nevin's left McGrath to Rayne with a whole lot of strings attached. Rayne doesn't want to stay for a year working to improve the estate, but if she doesn't, Ciara will get nothing and the village the castle supports won't survive. Rayne makes an effort to get on better with Ciara, who knows how things work, while she tries to get her bridal business going using the castle as a studio to make the dresses she's already promised customers. Ciara's conviction that Nevin was murdered turns out to be correct. As she makes more friends and enemies, Rayne hides the fact that she's broke and dependent on a loan from her actress mother to keep the place afloat while she dabbles in sleuthing. The strong characters and clever efforts to save the castle will leave you eagerly awaiting the next installment. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Library Journal Review
DEBUT Rayne McGrath, owner of a bridal boutique on Rodeo Drive, hoped to celebrate her 30th birthday with a lunch with investors, then dinner and an engagement ring from her business partner, Landon. Instead, she's locked out of the business because Landon stole wedding dresses and the money in their account. She also receives a message to contact her Uncle Nevin's lawyer in Ireland. Nevin died, and the lawyer insists Rayne must fly to Ireland. With her world already in turmoil, she learns she's inherited McGrath Castle, along with the responsibility for Grathton, a village of 400, and she must work for a year with a cousin she didn't know she had. Ciara is the estate's new business manager. She had expected to inherit, so she's angry. She's also angry because she thinks Nevin was murdered, and she has to work with Rayne, who, although she owns a boutique in California, knows nothing about running an estate with tenants and sheep. If the two women can work together, they may also find out who killed Nevin. VERDICT There's a strong sense of place in Brannigan's debut, a well-written cozy mystery series launch. Will appeal to fans of Sheila Connolly and Carlene O'Connor.--Lesa Holstine
