SHEILA CONNOLLY: R.I.P.

This is such sad news. Mystery author Sheila Connolly passed away on April 20 in her beloved Ireland. I knew her for many years, meeting at Bouchercon and Malice, reading her books, and I always looked forward to her posts about her Irish cottage ... the physical changes she made to the cottage (septic tank, gutters, foundation, etc), the sheep she watched, her neighbors who were of great assistance and sometimes quirky, her garden (a rose arbor), and the furniture and appliances (and installation) that she made to make her cottage comfortable. I appreciated that she took all of us along on that journey. Moving to Ireland was her dream.

Sheila Connolly was the author of numerous novels and short stories: The County Cork Mysteries (8 novels and a novella), The Orchard Mysteries (12 novels), The Victorian Village Mysteries (1), The Relatively Dead Series (6), The Museum Mysteries (7) and two stand alones: Reunion with Death and Once She Knew. Her latest book, Fatal Roots, was published by Crooked Lane Books in January.

Sheila wrote numerous short stories that appeared in her own collections, as well as other anthologies. Her Irish mysteries were so entertaining, and I was looking forward to her essay for Mystery Readers Journal's Irish mysteries issue this year. I was a big fan of the Museum Mysteries, of course, and her easy and engaging style in all her books, plus how much I learned about different places and trades and ideas was so satisfying. She was a blog member of Mystery Lovers' Kitchen where she contributed recipes and posts. Shealso  contributed to several issues of Mystery Readers Journal. Sheila was always charming and friendly, a very special writer, person, and friend. She will be missed.

My prayers and sympathy go out to her family, friends, and fans. So sad.