Hello there! I’m Maeve O’Reilly Kensington, a modern-day nurse midwife currently vacationing in Ireland! I arrived yesterday and still can’t believe I’m here. Wait, let me back up and formally introduce myself. I reside in the quintessential New England seaside town of Langford with my husband, Will, owner of A Thyme for all Seasons Catering, our two baby girls, Rowan and Sloane, and our beloved rescue dachshund, Fenway. My days consist of helping to bring babies into the world, caring for my family, and rowing my trusty scull on Langford Bay. At six feet tall, I was a competitive rower in college. Now, early mornings on the water are my quiet place.
Although I have no formal experience as a detective, the past few years have found me involved in solving crimes in Langford with the help of my sister, Meg, a high-end real estate agent, as well as my Boston Irish mother, Mary Margaret Callahan O’Reilly, a virtual force of nature. My older brother, Patrick, a Langford police officer, resisted our intervention initially but then sought our assistance in the latest case. As you can imagine, it’s a complicated family dynamic.
My mother is an inveterate lottery player. Now, courtesy of a Massachusetts scratcher, she has brought the entire O’Reilly entourage, including spouses, children, and a few friends, to Ireland, my deceased father’s birthplace. That is after Meg finally gave up trying to convince Mom that a large suitcase full of sequined scarves, her constant fashion statement, was overkill for the trip.
The O’Reilly’s in Ireland? What could go wrong? Surely, murder couldn’t follow us across the pond. We so needed a peaceful vacation.
Meg, Mom, Mom’s three besties, and I are spending a few weeks with Mom’s extended family in Ballymoor. In a few days, the rest of the clan will join us.
So far, Ireland has lived up to all the hype in spectacular fashion. Who knew there were so many shades of green? Magnificent ruins, soft rain, rainbows, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate, and a welcoming citizenry are all around us. Amazingly, I was invited to visit with a group of local midwives, and I can’t wait to hear about their practice.
This morning, Meg and I woke early and decided to go for a pre-breakfast snack and scout the town.
Sitting on lovely Ballymoor Green, we feasted on Barry’s tea, an Irish staple, and delectable raisin scones. We reminisced about our phenomenal welcome dinner with Cousin Catherine and her family last night. Meeting our Irish relatives was as wonderful as we had imagined. Mom joyfully presented the entire family with Red Sox and Patriots gear, lobster lollipops, and Swan Boat jewelry. Boston was well represented.
As we nibbled, I surveyed the river while judging its suitability for rowing, as always. My eye suddenly caught something glittering near the shore. Trash? Lost jewelry? Inching closer, I saw it was—a carving knife! To be exact, it was a large knife firmly attached to the body of an older woman.
Yet again, Meg and I find ourselves in the eye of a storm. Will a long-awaited trip to the Emerald Isle come to a halt before it begins? More importantly, will the authorities believe we had nothing to do with the victim’s harrowing death? Will Patrick ever understand? Will the US embassy need to get involved? Or will the luck of the Irish be with us?
Read about long-buried secrets, Irish lore, and my adventure in Murder on the Green.
Murder on the Green – A Modern Midwife Mystery, Book 5
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: June 2025
Format: Digital, Print
Purchase Link
Shamrocks, scones, secrets, and murder…
By virtue of a lottery windfall, modern nurse midwife Maeve O’Reilly Kensington is taking her sister, Meg, her mom, and some of her mother’s friends from the Hanville Grove senior center, affectionately dubbed the “Ladies of the Lobby,” on a dream holiday to the Emerald Isle. They are welcomed with open arms in Ireland and are instantly captivated by the warmth of the reception and the natural beauty of the landscape.
However, the luck of the Irish is not with Maeve when, soon after arrival, she discovers the body of a woman in Ballymoor Green—murdered! Maeve quickly learns that the victim was a relatively recent transplant, somewhat of a recluse, and a thorn in the side of many.
Initially reluctant to get involved, Maeve and Meg soon realize if justice is to be served, it’s up to them to figure out the truth. Spurred on by their lionhearted mother, the pair go to great lengths to whittle down an eclectic list of suspects. Long-buried secrets bubble to the surface, and the M&Ms struggle to bring the guilty party to light.
Will the visit be ruined before it even starts? Will the discovery spark an international incident? Will Ireland ever be the same?
About the author
Christine Knapp practiced as a nurse-midwife for many years. A writer of texts and journal articles, she is now thrilled to combine her love of midwifery and mysteries as the author of the Modern Midwife Mysteries. Christine currently narrates books for the visually and print impaired. A dog lover, she lives near Boston. To learn more, please visit her at www.thoughtfulmidwife.com.