Kilmoon, a County Clare Mystery

KILMOON is gripping mystery set in an Irish village famous for its matchmaking festival. Californian Merrit Chase travels to Ireland 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 she 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 appeals to mystery lovers for its intricate and surprising plot, fans of Ireland for its evocative setting, and women's fiction readers for its portrayal of a troubled woman's journey toward reconciliation. KILMOON captures the moodiness of the Irish landscape in a character-driven mystery that explores family secrets, betrayal, vengeance, and murder.

"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 Books Reviews (four stars)

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

-Kirkus Reviews

"In the captivating KILMOON, Lisa Alber serves up a haunting tale of Merrit Chase, a woman who travels to Ireland to sift through her family's dark past in search of a future seemingly fated to elude her. With exquisite craft and a striking sense of place, Alber serves up a rich cast of unforgettable characters and an intricate, pull-no-punches plot. Raw with grief and painful honesty, KILMOON is a soulful and beautifully told tale that never lets up, and never lets go."

-Bill Cameron, author of the Spotted Owl Award-winning COUNTY LINE

Lisa Alber's assured debut paints Lisfenora, County Clare, at the height of the local matchmaking festival, when the ordinarily sleepy village is crammed with revelers, cadgers, and con men galore. Amid mysteries and mayhem, Alber 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