Kilmoon, a County Clare Mystery

Californian Merrit Chase doesn't know what she's in for when she travels to an Irish village famous for its matchmaking festival. She simply wants to meet her father, a celebrated matchmaker, in hopes that she can mend her troubled past. Instead, her arrival triggers a rising tide of violence, and Merrit finds herself both suspect and victim, accomplice and pawn, in a manipulative game that began thirty years previously.


When Merrit discovers that the matchmaker's treacherous past is at the heart of the chaos, she must decide how far she will go to save him from himself and to get what she wants, a family.


Lisa Alber evokes a world in which ancient tradition collides with modern village life, and ageless motivators such as greed and love still wield their power. Kilmoon captures the moodiness of the Irish landscape in a brooding mystery that explores family secrets, betrayal, vengeance, and murder.


Praise:


"In her moody debut, Alber skillfully uses many shades of gray to draw complex characters who discover how cruel love can be."
—*Kirkus Reviews*


"Brooding, gothic overtones haunt Lisa Alber's polished, atmospheric debut. Romance, mysticism, and the verdant Irish countryside all contribute to making Kilmoon a marvelous, suspenseful read."
—Julia Spencer-Fleming,
New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of Through the Evil Days


"This first in Alber's new County Clare Mystery series is utterly poetic ... The author's prose and lush descriptions of the Irish countryside nicely complement this dark, broody and very intricate mystery."
—*RT Book Reviews* (four stars)


"Newcomer Lisa Alber's stirring debut Kilmoon ... exudes Irish countryside atmosphere. The murder plot is solved neatly and the door is open for Merrit's further adventures."
—*Library Journal*


"Amid mysteries and mayhem ... Lisa Alber's assured debut captures the heartfelt ache in all of us, the deep need for connection, and a true sense of purpose."
—Erin Hart, Anthony and Agatha-nominated author of The Book of Killowen


Bio:


LISA ALBER is the author of the County Clare mystery series, which has been described as atmospheric, complex, and with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. The first novel, Kilmoon, was a Rosebud Award finalist for best debut novel. The second novel, Whispers in the Mist, is now available, and the third, Path Into Darkness, will be available August 2017.


Lisa worked with New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth George in several workshops, which culminated in receiving an Elizabeth George Foundation writing grant. Ms. George also invited Lisa to write a short story for the Two of the Deadliest (HarperCollins) anthology, including her in a special section for up-and-coming newcomers.


Before devoting herself to the fiction life, Lisa worked in Ecuador, Brazil, and New York City. Her various career choices included international finance, journalism, book publishing, and technical writing, with a minor stint as cocktail waitress.


Ever distractible, you may find Lisa puttering around the yard, fooling around online, or drinking red wine with her friends. Lisa lives in the Pacific Northwest with a tiny dog and a chubby cat. She's a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.


You can find Lisa online by Googling her name.