Never arrested, never tried, but everybody around simply assumed I’d done it. I lived in England then—as I do now—but I’d inherited my grandparent’s cottage in West Cork and I used it as a holiday home, sometimes with my husband, sometimes alone. The night my neighbor Sharon died, I was there on my own.
I finally came back to sell the house, since I hadn’t even seen it since the police let me leave after the murder, and I hadn’t had the heart to rent it out. I came over from England to sign the legal papers, and I was on my way back to the airport when it started snowing. It snowed so hard and fast that I couldn’t make it past Leap. The lights were on at Sullivan’s, so I pulled over and went in.
![]() |
The "real" Sullivan's. You'll have to imagine the snow (a rare event in Ireland). |
And that’s how we spent the night at the pub, with an interesting if random collection of people—like any jury. And the outcome? I think it surprised us all.
I may come back again. And I’ll never be able to thank Maura Donovan enough for what she did for me.
To find out what happened that snowy night, you’ll have to read Cruel Winter, the fifth in the County Cork Mysteries, to be released on March 14th. I’ll be giving away a copy of the book to one of the readers who answers the question: do you think Diane did it? Did the police get it wrong?
By the way, the story is loosely based on a real murder—that still remains unsolved after twenty years.
I love this series, I wonder what old Billy says!
ReplyDeleteI love Old Billy. I want to adopt him as a grandfather. He's got an amazing memory, in spite of his age.
DeleteI would guess that Duane Caldwell did not kill her neighbor....on purpose that is. Accidents happen and circumstances that lead up to that accident can be very twisted by others to have the outcome they want to be what they believe to be the truth. But there can always be alternate situations that could seem incriminating but have nothing that contributed to her neighbors death. I can hardly wait to read this book so would love to win it. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteCynthia Blain
ceblain (At) tmlponline (Dot) net
Now you have done it. You have sucked me into another series.
ReplyDeleteShame!
I think she is innocent. lkleback@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteI'm absolutely certain she didn't do it! Can't wait to find out who really did. bobwiesmann(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI think I'd have to hear the outcome of the "trial" at Sullivan's to decide ~ bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net
ReplyDeleteI can't answer that without knowing the full story.
ReplyDeletelibbydodd at comcast dot net
New series to me so I can't answer for sure, but I hope she didn't do it because I'm already sympathetic toward her from the little bit I just read. Another one added to my "to read" list! =)
ReplyDeletekonecny7(at)gmail(dot)com
I don't believe she did, but I intend to read the book and find out 😁 kathambre@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteThis is a new series to me and I definitely want to read it after reading the excerpt. From the excerpt, I don't Diane killed Maura.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds interesting! I bet there were some twists and turns that no one bothered to look into. dalubbert (at) hotmail (dot) com.
ReplyDeleteI have to believe she is innocent. No way did she do it. Cant wait to read this one. Love the series. kayt18 (at) comcast (dot) net
ReplyDeleteI don't think she did it, but now I am curious? thanks for the giveaway I hope I am the lucky one to win this book. Georgia
ReplyDeletequeenvictoria50 (@) aol(dot) com
Wow...this sounds really interesting..I love that it is based loosely on a real murder...No she didn't do it...please enter me. I would love to read this. Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteI haven't read any of the previous books but this has really grabbed my attention. I really don't know if she killed her neighbor but her comment "And I’ll never be able to thank Maura Donovan enough for what she did for me" makes me wonder if Maura knew and convinced the others of 1. Her innocence or 2. Helped divert the evidence!
ReplyDeleteConnie Saunders
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com