This is the fourth book in the Irish Country series. This one takes a break from the usual cast of characters and setting to look at the early life of Maureen “Kinky” Kincaid who is the housekeeper to the two doctors who have been the focus of the series so far. I understand the reason to use a female narrator for this one so I knew before I started it that John Keating wasn’t narrating this one.

The story begins in the current timeline of the series when Kinky is watching several village children while the adults are at a Christmas party. She tells them a story from her childhood full of fairies, spirits, and even a Banshee. This story went on far longer than any child would sit through but it was a way to tell Kinky’s introduction to having the “sight” that her mother was known to have. Later the story shifts to Kinky remembering meeting her future husband and what led her to her longtime role as Dr. O'Reilly’s housekeeper.

This was OK. I knew it would be a departure from the usual setting and characters and with a different narrator. I’m glad to have more background on Kinky but I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other books in the series. The narration began to annoy me by the time I was nearing the end with too many whiny voices. You could probably skip this one in the series and not miss too much. ( )

Self-actualization

Digital audiobook performed by Terry Donnelly

On Christmas Eve, Mrs Kinky Kincaid, Dr O’Reilly’s unflappable housekeeper, welcomes a group of young carolers into the doctor’s house to warm up. While they enjoy a hot drink and mince pies, Mrs Kincaid tells them a tale of her girlhood. Thus, this book is a bit of a departure from the series. Rather than deal with the residents of Ballybucklebo in Northern Ireland, during the mid-1960s, this book is set in County Cork in 1920, when Maureen O’Hanlon sees the St Stephen’s day ghost not once but twice.

Kinky (nee Maureen O’Hanlon) is a marvelous character and her “sight” has been noted in previous books. This story shines the spotlight on Kinky and how she came to find her gift. It’s full of Irish mythology, the warmth of family and the dreams of young love. Taylor has written a very atmospheric book. I could practically feel the cold of a snowy day, smell the smoke of a welcoming fire, and hear the banshee’s wails or the eerie sounds of bagpipes.

Terry Donnelly does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I was glad to hear the Irish words properly pronounced, for even with the glossary at the back of the book, I would NOT have been hearing them correctly in my head were I reading the text. ( )

This book wasn't at all what I thought it would be -- I assumed we'd be hearing about Kinky's doomed romance and marriage -- and it was there, but that was by far not the focus. Brilliantly framed in an extended storytelling session that leads to memories on memories from Kinky's youth in County Cork -- I thought it was dreamy and well told. Love the accents, as per usual, though these are a little different. ( )

Another winner in the Irish Doctor series. Honestly there is not a bad book in the group. ( )