#BookReview of #WhispersOnMainstreet by Marie O’ Connor | @PoolbegBooks

‘A small town’s gossip turns deadly, unravelling a web of secrets in 1961 Ballantur‘
– Whispers on Main Street

[ About Whispers on Main Street ]

Nate Wheatley runs a mobile grocery shop for the countryside around the town of Ballantur. He isn’t a mere purveyor of goods – his service is the lifeblood of communication between the isolated farms and villages. Nate loves to gossip and relishes his role as the town’s unofficial newsman, weaving tales from one doorstep to the next.

One night Nate’s wife, Babs, is publically caught in a passionate embrace with the local postman, Sammy Joyce. This is also witnessed by an enraged Nate, who assaults and threatens Sammy.

As morning light breaks over Ballantur, Sammy’s lifeless body is discovered by the roadside – the victim of a seemingly random hit and run – or is it? Suddenly, Nate becomes the story he would love to tell about anyone else.

As the locals struggle with grief and suspicion, the town is torn asunder by harmful whispers that are making too much noise.

This makes life for the local gardaí impossible, especially for new bangharda, Caitlín Kennedy, as she and her colleagues strive to get to the truth.

[ My Review ]

Whispers on Main Street by Marie O’Connor published with Poolbeg Books January 25th and is described as ‘a vintage roller-coaster of humour, adventure and intrigue.’ Set in the 1960s, in a small town in Mayo, Whispers on Main Street introduces the reader to Garda Caitlyn Kennedy. Caitlyn is one of the first female guards in Ireland so she is determined to impress her superiors but, after a disastrous first day, Caitlyn is embarrassed and frustrated. She knows she is capable of far better and is very conscious of her position within the male-dominated environment that she now inhabits. Her boss, Sergeant Lamb, has little time for Caitlyn and is very dismissive of her abilities, so she knows she has to be more confident and authoritative in her daily activities.

Ballantur is a small rural village in Co. Mayo where the sense of community is very strong and the gossip mill is constantly churning out the minutiae of everyday life. At the centre of Ballantur’s social hub is Nate Wheatley, the owner of the mobile grocery service. Nate thrives on gossip. Embellishing a certain bit of news here and there is expected when Nate stops by, delivering the groceries to the locals. Nate is married to Babs and he is content, to a point. His days are fairly routine. The all important injection of gossip, with a few pints in the local, sustains him through his days. But Nate has his own personal history, one that he has kept a secret for years

When a raid on the local pub takes place one evening, all are shocked when Nate’s wife, Babs, is discovered in the arms of Sammy Joyce, the local postman and a friend of Nate’s. Angered and ashamed by his wife’s behaviour, Nate’s reaction is evident by many so when Sammy’s body is discovered near the roadside early the following morning, all fingers point toward Nate. But did he do it? Did he kill Sammy? Was Nate, the lovable gossipmonger, capable of such a heinous act?

The rumour mill takes off as everyone has an opinion, with stories and false truths circulating every corner of Ballantur. With so many divided viewpoints, and much speculation, the investigation into Sammy Joyce’s murder becomes a challenge. Caitlyn has arrived into the village as a new member of the force, so with fresh eyes, and perhaps an alternative way of analysing things, she begins to slowly unravel the events that lead up to this shocking murder. But is the village of Ballantur ready for the truth?

The atmospheric descriptions are quite vivid throughout, making it easy to decipher the different personalities and characteristics of this close-knit community. In writing this novel Marie O’Connor ‘wanted to write a story that brought out the best in Irish society, a vivid colourful story full of adventure, taking the reader on a journey around Ireland, the UK, to the Continent and to the US’. The mobile grocery was very much a feature of rural Ireland, connecting communities and neighbours, while also providing a very valuable service. They were a predecessor to the supermarket delivery trucks of today and were a great source of news, especially when telecommunications and technology were virtually non-existent in most rural communities.

The tittle tattle surrounding the demise of Sammy Joyce is intertwined with the background story of some of the main characters, providing the reader with insights into the environs and into the homes of Ballantur. Garda Caitlyn Kennedy is a very steadfast individual with her head screwed on. She is aware that her every move is being monitored but she is also aware that she has a role to fulfil as one of the first female members of An Garda Síochána.

Whispers on Main Street is a gentle crime novel that has a very old-fashioned feel to it. An entertaining read, it is an enjoyable, cosy mystery that will appeal to all who like their crime fiction a bit on the lighter side.

** I would like to thank Poolbeg Press for an advance copy of Whispers on Main Street, in exchange for my, as always, honest review

[ Bio ]

Having worked as a digital editor in television and as a window dresser for a leading high-street retailer, being creative on a daily basis was literally part of Marie O’Connor’s job. Marie possesses a natural joie de vivre and sense of adventure which she has always reflected in her writing.

Having grown up in the countryside in the west of Ireland, she spent several years living in Dublin, but is presently living and working in Galway city.