Article and Interview by Elise Cooper
Murder at the Blarney Bash by Darci Hannah is filled with St. Patrick’s Day shenanigans. Readers will be delighted with shamrock sugar cookies, green icing, green beer, and Guinness cupcakes.
The plot begins with leprechauns, something that the main character, Lindsey’s boyfriend, Rory’s Uncle Finn is obsessed with. He recently relocated with his daughter Colleen and their dog Bailey from Ireland to open a pub and bar, The Blarney Stone. As the characters are celebrating the Irish holiday, in comes Uncle Finn, gleefully revealing a pot of real gold he claims he took from an actual leprechaun. But things go from good to bad when he is arrested for supposedly bludgeoning a small man dressed as a leprechaun with the murder weapon his missing shillelagh. Now everyone in Lindsey’s circle of friends must put their head together to figure out how to prove Uncle Finn’s innocence.
It is such a fun read that will make readers laugh with the antics of the characters. There is also a murder mystery to solve that readers do along with the clues found out by the amateur sleuths. The story is amusing, with an Irish accent and many twists and turns.
Elise Cooper: Why St. Patrick’s Day?
Darci Hannah: I decided to write a St. Patrick’s Day mystery, but I am not Irish. I do not drink green beer. I love Irish lore, leprechauns, which I see as super funny. LOL: I was inspired for this story by the box of “Lucky Charms.” I would ask my mom if I was Irish. I wanted to explore the background of the main character’s love interest Rory. He has this fun-loving and charming Irish uncle. My son gave me this crazy good idea for the story including a child’s leprechaun parade.
EC: What about the pinching for not wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day. Why did you not put it in?
DH: I did not know about it. I totally forgot about how even if someone was wearing green they would be pinched and say, ‘I was color blind.’
EC: Did you want to kill a leprechaun?
DH: Not actually, but to get around it I looked at Irish lore. 2000 years ago, when a child had a deformity, they would be left out for the fairies. I also looked through medical journals. In my neighborhood when I was growing up there was this banker who was embezzling. I used this as to why there would be a murder with a pot of gold. Rory’s uncle had a faith and belief in the old ways and believed he saw a leprechaun.
EC: Do you believe in leprechauns?
DH: I bought into this. When I was doing the research there is this place in Ireland that claims they have the remains of a real leprechaun. The skeleton has bones of a small person and had worn green clothing. The remains were found with some gold coins.
EC: How would you describe the best friend Kennedy?
DH: She is jealous. She doubted herself, dependable, trustworthy. She is the most polarizing character I write about. She is an influencer, likes to market, and is involved in fashion. In the last book, Pumpkin Pageant, she nearly lost her life and does not know what she wants anymore. She is a loose cannon. Right now, she was with a wealthy English man instead of Tuck, the policeman.
EC: How would you describe her current boyfriend, Niall?
DH: He is a liar, thief, shifty, and calculating. Kennedy was wooed by him and his willingness to supposedly help her business. He would say anything for a business deal. The main character, Lindsey can see through him more than her friend, Kennedy.
EC: What is the relationship like between Rory and Kennedy?
DH: He is like a brother, a sibling who quarrels a lot. She nicknamed him Sir-Hunts-a-Lot and he nicknamed her Princess Ridiculous (PR). Rory is a very Michigan man, hunter and someone who fishes. Kennedy makes fun of him, calling him Paul Bunyan. Both tease each other. She will not allow him to know that he is perfect for Lindsey. The nicknames are terms of endearment but also intended to take each other down a peg or two.
EC: The role of the dogs?
DH: Welly and Bailey are the dogs. Welly is a Newfoundland dog. While at my mom’s house her neighbor rescued this Great Pyrenees, a beautiful dog. I carry dog biscuits into my pocket so I can meet all the dogs. Bailey is that breed and is Uncle Finn and his daughter Collen’s dog. There is a love interest between Welly and Bailey. Maybe someday they will have puppies.
EC: Next book?
DH: It is titled Murder at the Lemonberry Tea. It comes out in November of this year. It is set in Michigan in the summer. A famous British cookbook author films this first TV episode at Lindsey’s bakeshop. Kennedy’s family are huge fans of the author and are staying at the Lighthouse with Lindsey.
EC: THANK YOU!!
