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.
My condolences to her family. She was one of my favorites. Rest In Peace Sheila.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. She was an amazing writer. She will be greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteThis is a beautiful tribute to Sheila.
ReplyDeleteI'm in shock! Loved her County Cork mystery series...she will be missed.
ReplyDeleteI’m heartbroken. What a lovely person she was!
ReplyDeleteRest in Peace Sheila!!! Thank you for your writings!! I enjoyed your settings and characters very much!!!
ReplyDeleteVery sad news BK
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to her many friends an family members. I loved her orchard and museum mysteries
ReplyDeleteSo sad. Thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. May God welcome her into His arms.
ReplyDeleteA lovely tribute. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry to hear about her passing I really enjoyed her work I never had the honor of meeting her
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful tribute. And, that photo of her cottage is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI'm sad and shocked to hear about Sheila's death. We started out together in Guppies and Poe's Deadly Daughters, and I was always amazed at how effortlessly she kept so many series going. A lovely person who will be sorely missed!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with her family. I have read and loved all her books her orchard series was one of her books that got me hooked on cozy mystery. As an avid reader I will miss her wonderful characters that have become friends. RIP and thank you for the safe excape from this world of trouble.
ReplyDeleteVery sad news! She spoke at our TIARA (The Irish Ancestral Research Association) banquet at the historic Wayside Inn in Sudbury, Massachusetts in November of 2015. It was a lovely day and we enjoyed having her with us so much. She will be missed greatly.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear this and my condolences to her family. I loved her posts from Ireland and her excitement over her cottage. I'm glad she had that time there, but far too short.
ReplyDeleteI was a big fan and was shocked with the news despite knowing something was not right when we didn’t hear from Sheila for so very long! Messages were never responded to and I hated to face what prevented this. I’m so sorry that her family and friend have all lost such a brilliant mind and wonderful person and writer who entertained us for years. Wish there were many more. My condolences to her Husband, daughter and other family. Sincerely
ReplyDeleteCynthia Blain
I'm so very sorry to hear of her death. She's a wonderful author who reminded me of my trip to Ireland to see the places my grandmother's people came from. Such a terrible loss of creativity, everything she will write will hopefully live a thousand years and more. She will not be forgotten. Doyle and O'Neal.
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful tribute to her, so sad to hear this lovely lady is gone. She will be missed by many. Love her cottage!
ReplyDeleteShe was a hard worker, creative, reliable, and a LOT of fun to hang out with at conferences and signings. I can hardly believe this news.
ReplyDeleteRest In Peace
ReplyDeleteMarion,Marilyn and Joan
I feel as though I’ve lost a dear friend. I’m currently reading through one of her series.....I should say, another one of her series. I am very sad.
ReplyDeleteThis saddens me so much. I have just recently discovered her Cork County mysteries and thoroughly enjoyed them. I am reading the last of them now and morning her loss as well as the loss of all the characters and stories that she shared. I will read her other series but feel that I have lost a friend.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I am so sad. I am very shocked that she passed away. Love love love her books. Sheila, u will truly be missed. Prayers to family and friends. 😞
ReplyDeleteI've just finished Buried in a Bog, and went searching for more about the author, and was so saddened to hear she had died just this year. I read some of what she wrote about her cottage in Ireland. How very sad she couldn't spend more time there.
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of her passing. Read all of her Orchard Mystery's
ReplyDeleteShe will be missed by many.
No more Maura tales, and I will miss them. I also loved all her early Orchards and Museum mysteries. The characters were rich and alive, and she NAILED the Irish settings!
ReplyDeleteA legacy that means she cannot die. Not Shakespeare, but a touch of Agatha c.