Tied Up With a Bow: A County Cork Mystery

Tied Up with a Bow by Sheila Connolly is A County Cork Mystery Novella (#6.5). Maura Donovan has been Leap for over a year (maybe two) now since she inherited Sullivan’s. Christmas is approaching and a mysterious holiday project is going on across the street from the pub. A raffle is started so people can guess on the secretive holiday undertaking. Considering the amount of time Maura has been in this village, she should know more about the running of the pub. The first thing Maura should have done was learn all there is to know about running the pub. Maura seems to have other priorities (does anyone know what they are). She also does not seem to know where anything is in the village (the school for instance). Maura makes contradictory statements as well (in the same book and information from previous books). I have tried to like Maura, but it seems to be a lost cause. I wonder if she has any common sense at all. I am tired of hearing that she cannot cook (or make a sandwich) plus seems oblivious on where the local market is located. There is a lack of consistency in the series which is unusual for this author. Tied Up with a Bow is not a standalone story. It is a series that is best read in order. I wish the pacing had been livelier and repetitive information had been eliminated. I also would have liked more holiday spirit. I did like young Danny. The poor kid and his mother are having a rough time. I do like that Maura is trying to help them (in her way). Tied Up with a Bow was just not the right book for me. I suggest you obtain a sample of Buried in the Bog (first book in series) to see if this story suits you. Tied Up with a Bow transports readers to Ireland for wacky wagers, a puzzling project, a dangerous due, a concerned child and Celtic Christmas customs.