Peaceful Irish island. Tiny wild goats. Castle cellars and tunnels. Is there buried treasure? Only the ghosts know for sure.
As a psychotherapist, Maggie McGill often had dealt with the ghosts of past deeds and past influencers on her clients, such as a domineering mother or an abusive father. She’d seen the actions of these long gone people haunt her clients and their issues.
Now in Ireland, she wonders if there are other types of ghosts, as well. Maggie and daughter, Allie, explore their family history and find so much more.
The monastery island, peaceful and green, waits for the pure of heart to discover its secrets. Maggie and Allie discover beauty, peace and, of all things, goats! It is idyllic until . . . Maggie must face a deep fear. She and Allie confront a mystery that deepens into even greater dangers.
Excerpt
They lingered over dessert and tea, basking in a vicarious enjoyment of the camaraderie of the pub, enjoying hearing and seeing each newcomer welcomed with open arms, smiles and laughter.
Eamon and the old lady finished their ales and left together. Soon after, Maggie and Allie followed them out to a chilly street and a fading twilight.
“Brrr. Glad we picked up these jackets. Mine feels good.”
“Me, too.”
They started up the hill slowly. As they came to the church a shadow detached from a gravestone and a figure approached.
Allie grabbed Maggie’s hand in warning. They stopped in their tracks. Who was it? What did they want?
Maggie squeezed Allie’s hand and moved forward slowly, “Hello?”
From the shadow, “Hello, O’Neills. Ye’ve come back, I see.” The voice was soft and raspy.
“O’Neills? I’m sorry but you’ve made a mistake. I am Maggie McGill and this is my daughter, Allie.”
“Sure and that may be so, but there’s O’Neill blood in ye. There be no mistake ‘bout that. It shines through so plainly na’one could miss it. Me son, Eamon, he told me. He told me ‘bout your green eyes. Can’t mistake them green eyes. But I had t’see for meself. Tonight I saw it.”
Allie said, “Now see here. My mother’s eyes are green. But many people have green eyes. It doesn’t prove a thing. Besides, if we did have O’Neill blood would that be such a bad thing?”
The clouds moved across the sky and the moon appeared. The shadow stepped into the moonlight and revealed a tiny bent body and watery eyes in a wrinkle-creased face, “Nae, no bad. But the castle is occupied and they are good people. Ballybeoc does no need more troubles.” The watery eyes closed and then opened, “I ‘member what it was like when the O’Neills was here. I was a child but I ‘member.”
“You know our names. What is yours?”
“Ye want me name? Sure and you can call me whatever ye want. Some say I’m a cailleach. Some call me Aíne. But most call me Máthair.”
Maggie drew closer to the old woman, “Which of those would you like us to call you?”
A cackle erupted from the tiny old woman, “Aye and you’re O’Neill for sure. Maggie O’Neill, I’ll call ye.”
Maggie waited patiently.
Finally, “As for me, ye may call me as ye like. Maybe Máthair is best.”
Allie repeated, “ Máthair.”
“Yes, child. That will do.”
Tentatively, Maggie reached across to take the old hand. It rested in hers, all rough skin and bones, lightly, “Máthair, we are happy to know you. Would you honor us by coming for tea? We are at the lodge at the castle.”
“Aye, and I know where you be. And it’s kind of you to ask me. I will come one day but you will not know when. I will choose the time.”
“We will look forward to that time, Máthair. It will be an honor, indeed. Maybe you can tell us about the O’Neills and the old days.”
Another soft cackle. The hand withdrew and the woman became a shadow again. A raspy voice faded with, “The old days . . .” The clouds again covered the moon.
Allie and Maggie both exhaled long sighs. Allie sought her mother’s hand and whispered, “Wow.”
As they continued up the hill a soft misty rain began to fall and they pulled the anorak hoods over their heads.
Professional Reviews
Shelf Unbound
"One of 100 Notable Books of 2015."
Library of Clean Reads
I had the honor to review yet another of Sharon Burch Toner's very worthy mysteries in the Maggie McGill series. And as in her previous books of which there are 7, the reader is treated to a satisfying tale well told. The author has an elegance of writing that I enjoy. Her stories are clean, interesting and fast-paced. There is enough excitement and danger to keep readers engaged.
In their latest adventure the mother-daughter team of Maggie and Allie McGill travel to Ireland in search of their roots to see if a family legend about an Irish ancestor with a castle are true. But they find so much more. Along the way they make new friends, meet up with old ones, encounter foes, and visit a mysterious island that is at the heart of the story. "There's this castle, Ballybeoc in the west of Ireland, and just across a wee bit of sea is an island, they call it Inish Beoc, where there once was a grand monastery, where ancient monks had collected a great treasure."
Pervading this book as in all the others is the warm, close relationship between Maggie and Allie. "Allie gave her mother a loving smile. Even in the tough times…..Allie never doubted Maggie's love or her own for her mother. It was as if on a subliminal level, they had negotiated an unspoken contract to eliminate any power struggle and be together with equal power."
The charming soft Irish lilt was ever present as one would expect of a book set in Ireland as the locals talk about the "wee folk" and such. Phrases like " sure and there's no great hurry" or "sure and I should have known it" or any sentence prefaced with "sure" adds to the authentic voice. And what better Irish names than Mathair, Eamon, Liam, Darragh, Neala. Not to be dismissed are those tiny Irish goats who save the day when danger threatens.
This is an ambitious work as it chronicles events that took place in the 800 's, a love story in the 1800's, another one during the First World War, tying them convincingly to the present, with a satisfying conclusion to the story.
This is a novel that deals not only with mysteries but also with family dynamics, sadness, joy, plus poignant love stories. I wholeheartedly recommend it. -- Sandra Olshaski, Library of Clean Reads
Giveaway Winner
I want to thank you very much for the book. This is the first time I have tried out this author and definitely better than I expected. Sharon is a very good writer and is able to keep the flow of the different characters in this book. I love that it is also based in Ireland. I also like it that her chapters are short and it was easy to jump from one character to the next. I am also glad I did not know till near the end of the mystery instead of knowing what is going to happen in the middle. I am definitely looking forward to her new book in 2016. It was my pleasure to read this book. -- Sherrie, Giveaway Winner
