Book Review: Black-Irish Setter

Reviewed By: Webspinner - RAM

Black-Irish Setter     Amazon US PB Amazon Canada PB
Bill Stackhouse
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Amateur Sleuth   Woman Main Character
Series: Caitlin O'Rourke # 1
iUniverse; 2003; 245pp

Caitlin O'Rourke needs a new life. Her volleyball career is gone due to a blown-out knee. She bought a neighborhood Irish Pub [mostly to give her brother and sister-in-law work], but it came with an upstairs apartment for Kate, which is handy. Unfortunately, it doesn't solve the problem of something for Kate to DO with the rest of her life. Coach? Maybe. She's been offered that job. Does she really want to leave her family to take it?

While trying to make a decision, Kate rescues a woman from a mugger and is coerced into being the woman's babysitter while the locks are changed on her home. When they return to Delane Denning's home, however, she is killed by a shotgun blast as she walks in the front door. Haunted by the idea that she should have done something differently, Kate becomes tangled up in the police investigation, much to the chagrin of her Irish-cop brother, Pat.

This is the first in Bill Stackhouse's newest series starring Caitlin O'Rourke [Kate] and it's a keeper. I loved it. I liked that Caitlin was recounting the story TO me [which doesn't always work - trust me!] partly because of her forthright, in-your-face attitude that she is perfectly capable of backing up on her own thankyouverymuch. Caitlin is very well-written as a protagonist, and her brother, Patrick, gives her the "in" she needs with the NASHVILLE [?] police department. Who expects to find an Irish Pub in Nashville?? But it works. And it works very well. It also leaves a world of possibilities available for future books. I'll definitely be waiting for the next one!

Webspinner - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Webspinner - RAM