Irish fiction has always been a favorite of mine, and this book fits the bill. Full of irish scenery, small villages, friendly people and romance, The Delaney Woman is a perfect example of irish storytelling. Jeanette Baker manages to mix the aspects of a murder mystery with sweet romance and family tradition perfectly to create a book well worth it's cover price.
Kelly Delaney is a broken woman when she returns to Ireland to search for clues in the death of her brother and nephew. While looking for the killer, she checks into a local inn, run by he mysterious Tom Whelan. A number of clues lead her to wonder if the quiet, gentle Tom Whelan is really who he says he is. Is he her brother's killer? Or is he simply an innocent bystander? Kelly has to fight her romantic feelings toward the handsome irishman, and find out why her enigmatic brother's life was ended so abruptly.
Don't expect your typical romantic storyline with this one. A number of twists, turns and suprises will keep you on your toes and flipping pages. The Irish/English conflict also plays a major role in this one, so those of you who are unfamiliar with the violence of this ongoing battle, read up. It's important to know why these people are fighting for their freedom.
All in all, Jeanette Baker is a fantastic writer with talent to spare. Irish or not, she is a storyteller, plain and simple.