No Strangers Here

Irish Vet Mysteries, Book 1

By: Carlene O'Connor

Narrated by: Emily O'Mahony

Length: 12 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Set in Ireland’s striking, rugged countryside, USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor’s dark, atmospheric new crime fiction series combines the eerie atmosphere of Tana French and Louise Penny with the compulsively taut plotting of Dervla McTiernan and Lucy Foley, as an Irish veterinarian grapples with life, death, family dynamics, and the secrets at the heart of her small community…

On a rocky beach in the southwest of Ireland, the body of Jimmy O’Reilly, sixty-nine years old and dressed in a suit and his dancing shoes, is propped on a boulder, staring sightlessly out to sea. A cryptic message is spelled out next to the body with sixty-nine polished black stones and a discarded vial of deadly veterinarian medication lies nearby. Jimmy was a wealthy racehorse owner, known far and wide as The Dancing Man. In a town like Dingle, everyone knows a little something about everyone else. But dig a bit deeper, and there’s always much more to find. And when Detective Inspector Cormac O'Brien is dispatched out of Killarney to lead the murder inquiry, he's determined to unearth every last buried secret.

Dimpna Wilde hasn’t been home in years. As picturesque as Dingle may be for tourists in search of their roots and the perfect jumper, to her it means family drama and personal complications. In fairness, Dublin hasn’t worked out quite as she hoped either. Faced with a triple bombshell—her mother rumored to be in a relationship with Jimmy, her father’s dementia is escalating, and her brother is avoiding her calls—Dimpna moves back to clear her family of suspicion.

Despite plenty of other suspects, the guards are crawling over the Wildes. But the horse business can be a brutal one, and as Dimpna becomes more involved with her old acquaintances and haunts, the depth of lingering grudges becomes clear. Theft, extortion, jealousy and greed. As Dimpna takes over the family practice, she's in a race with the detective inspector to uncover the dark, twisting truth, no matter how close to home it strikes…

©2022 Mary Carter (P)2022 Recorded Books

New mystery author who’s worth it

Perfect narration for this book. Great, concise prose for most of the book. It could be better in relation to the love interests in the story. Mercifully, there’s no serious syrupy trash. A little weak on plausibility in some places, but, both the writing and the strong narration carry the listener through. A great first book from a young author, who I think will just do better with age.

Fabulous story!

I met the author at Irish Fest in Milwaukee in August of 2023. She was friendly and kind, I looked books up on kindle and audible and chose to listen to this book! Narrator was very good! I will continue to watch this author, to read and or listen to her other books!

New Series

I enjoyed the story but not the reader. I almost stopped listening but was hooked on the story, new reader necessary!

So many people to keep up with.

I enjoyed the book but sometimes it was difficult to keep up with the many changes.

Great story!

I loved everything about this new story by Carlene O'Connor--from the characters, to the setting, to the mystery.

Good Story! Great Narration!

I’m truly a fan of Carlene O’Connor, and although her Murder in an Irish Village series is my favorite, I think this was a great start for a new series. Although it this book is a little darker, it wasn’t too dark or gory. While reviews are certainly helpful, I’m always amazed by the mix of good and bad. I’m going to have to join those who really liked the narrator. I love a beautiful Irish accent, and hers is indeed beautiful and personally, I didn’t find her to be monotone or lacking in voices. As with any book ever written, some love it, and some really don’t and those differences of opinion are what make the world go round.

Couldn't get past the narrator.

Love Carlene O'Connor's books but this narrator didn't work for me. Monotonous tone and didn't give life to the characters. Stopped listening after only a few chapters. I tried, but not worth the credit. Perhaps will try this one on Kindle instead and imagine Caroline Lennon narrating it.

Great story, monotonous narrator

The story was gripping, atmospheric and well written. The narrator did not put any personality into the characters or the reading, which made it hard to give it my attention.

Worth to wait..did not disappoint!

I am a big fan of O’Connor’s Murder in an Irish Village Series so I was very much waiting for this new cast. This is a bit less “cozy” but every bit as good. The characters are well developed and interesting. The sense of place was fantastic. I could not wait to listen to the next chapter but now am sad it is finished! Narrator was perfect. MORE PLEASE!!!

Terrific Story

Unfortunately, this narrator needs to listen to O’Connor’s other narrators. The performance was lackluster at best. The story, however, was fantastic.