Family Life — Paul Charles

As the Sweeney clan gathers at Liam Sweeney's farm in County Donegal to celebrate his birthday, the banter and storytelling are abundant. But with the arrival of Inspector Starrett it becomes clear that all is not well with the Sweeneys as the body of one family member has just been discovered in suspicious circumstances. Starrett's investigation leads him into the weird and wonderful politics of family life as he discovers that many of his suspects are relatives. On top of which, it appears to Starrett's team that every Sweeney has a secret or two they'd like to keep hidden. ""Starrett and his team investigate the drowning death of farmer Joe Sweeney, whose corpse turned up in a waterfront warehouse courtyard with his hair dry and combed. Despite the victim's reputation as a decent man, the Donegal police find no shortage of suspects and motives.""--Publishers Weekly. ""Small-town stories featuring crimes of a more personal nature and starring an unassuming, methodical protagonist.... Charles is a fine storyteller, and this shapes up to be a fine series, different in tone from the Kennedy novels but equally involving.""--Booklist.