Wedding Bel Blues by Maggie McConnon is the first book in the NEW “Belfast McGrath” mystery series. Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks, May 2016

Are they tying the knot?
Belfast McGrath has spent the last fifteen years avoiding her big, bustling, brash Irish family. But when her five-star culinary career goes up in flames, she retreats to Foster’s Landing—where she’s immediately tapped as her cousin Caleigh’s maid-of-honor. It’s a perfect recipe for disaster. . .especially when Bel learns that the wedding preparations included Caleigh having one last one-night stand.

Or the noose?
When Caleigh’s lover plunges from the second-floor balcony during the reception, Bel can’t help but think his death was no accident. Soon Detective Kevin Hanson, who just happens to be Bel’s long-ago love, arrives on the scene—looking hotter than ever. Heartbreak and homicide hardly help Bel to feel more at home, but if she is going to make a new beginning for herself, including putting the past behind her, she must first steer clear of a cold-hearted killer.

This well-written drama features the dysfunctional McGrath family, who as Bel states is “her insane family.” A witness to murder on her cousin’s wedding bears some unexpected events that take this story on a tour de force of suspense and intrigue with an urgency on Bel’s part to understand what is everyone hiding. And boy when that can of worms is opened, it’s the journey in this story that unfolds with some surprising twists and turns that had me devouring everything. I love how the author set-up this story with enough panache to keep you powering on as one by one we are introduced to the characters that will play pivotal roles throughout this narrative. Everyone is a suspect and the clues dished kept me following the leads until there were only person who could have done the deed. I did like the many subplots that enhanced the telling of this tale, beckoning between the past and the present and that final scene at the end, I so want to read the next book. Boasting an eclectically eccentric cast of characters, engaging dialogue and a feel-good atmosphere, this was a very enjoyable and terrific read and I look forward to explore more with the McGrath family.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) book from the author