No Comfort for the Dead

Praise for No Comfort for the Dead:
“O’Donnell debuts with a complex and accomplished whodunit . . . Brings to mind the regional mysteries of Charles Todd, and he matches his gift for atmosphere with intricate plotting and nuanced characterizations.”
—Publishers Weekly

“Set in 1988 and told from multiple points of view, the dark story moves swiftly, unveiling long-held family secrets as the case unfolds.”
—Booklist

“O’Donnell’s debut is so atmospheric in its background and poetic in its language . . . As coolly bracing as an Irish spring.”
—Kirkus

“Original, cleverly crafted, and a cozy mystery lover’s delight.”
—Midwest Book Review

“O’Donnell writes with a loveliness that’s both sturdy and delicate . . . a spectacular debut.”
—Deadly Pleasures

“Smartly crafter . . . uniquely compelling…first rate, original crime fiction.”
—David Rothenberg, WBAI Radio

“A good debut novel from author O’Donnell, that keeps you engaged throughout.”
—Red Carpet Crash

“In this enthralling debut full of lyr­ical prose and humour – time, memory, and fam­ily secrets inter­sect and come crash­ing together.”
—Irish Mail on Sunday, ‘Best New Fiction’

“An accomplished rural noir that skilfully captures the nuances of village life and the multi-generational strings that bind it. With well-rounded characters and a plethora of life lessons, it’s an engrossing whodunit.”
—Irish Independent

“This is a gripping yarn.”
—Irish Examiner

‘A good hook. […] That’s not the only smart move with this story, it’s full of ‘em. You have the local Big House, the owner of which is murdered, you have an ex-priest who hasn’t been seen in 30 years accused of the murder, you have a dodgy village solicitor and an even dodgier village cop. There’s a host of other characters too in this enjoyable murder mystery.’
—Westmeath Independent

“R. P. O’Donnell must have kissed the Blarney Stone twice. Absolutely charming.”
—Connie Berry, USA Today bestselling author of the Kate Hamilton Mysteries

“Castlefreke is a small town with a big dose of corruption – and now murder – and a librarian, Emma Daly, who will get to the truth whatever it takes. Cosy crime with a sharp bite, No Comfort for the Dead has all the charm of an Irish thriller, wrapped in a soft cardigan and wearing wellies.”
—Kitty Murphy, author of the Dublin Drag Mysteries

“The village and its inhabitants are completely alive in this novel – it’s so beautifully written, and the voice feels really original . . . O’Donnell was able to create an entire personality and backstory for each of these wee characters with just a few sentences. I feel like I’ve been there and met them! This was a thoroughly entertaining, witty, clever read.”
—Hannah King, author of She and I