Murder at the Marina

Janet Finsilver

Apr 2019 · A Kelly Jackson Mystery Book 5 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

She’s got to solve this—or her friends are sunk . . .

Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is fond of the Doblinsky brothers, Ivan and Rudy, members of the Silver Sentinels, a crew of crime-solving senior citizens in their Northern California seaside hamlet. After she discovers a jewel-encrusted dagger—with what appears to be dried blood on the blade—on their fishing boat, they share their family history with Kelly, and she learns that the knife may be part of a set from their long-ago childhood in Russia. Its sudden reappearance is eerie, but the mystery grows much more serious when a body is found on the boat. The victim was a member of the community and part of the Russian Heritage Festival, and some of the organizers were clearly harboring some bitterness. But the story behind this murder seems as layered as a nesting doll—and Kelly’s feeling completely at sea . . .

Ratings and reviews

Murder at the Marina may be the fifth A Kelly Jackson Mystery, but it can be read as a standalone. The author provides the necessary background information for new readers. Kelly Jackson loves her job as the manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. She has made some good friends and has a budding romance with Scott Thompson who manages the Redwood Cove Community Center. Kelly is a friendly character who continues to develop in each story. She is trying to get over her trust issues with men and she is learning how to cook. Scott decides to give her a baking lesson which gave me the giggles. After an incident with flour, she tells Scott that he “would make a very distinguished Silver Sentinel”. The Silver Sentinels are a diverse group of older men and women who each bring a different talent to the group. I hope we get to learn more about each member as the series progresses. I thought Murder at the Marina was well-written with steady pacing which made for an easy to read story. I enjoyed getting to know more about Rudy and Ivan Doblinsky. I believe readers will be surprised at their heritage. I found the Russian aspects of the story very interesting. I delighted in the descriptions of the Cossack riders and their demonstration. I thought the mystery in this edition was more complex. The conclusion of the whodunit was just fabulous and had me quickly flipping the pages of my e-reader. It is an action packed reveal which I just loved. Helen, Tommy, Allie and the dogs add to this charming cozy mystery. Gus and Fred, the two dogs, are adorable and clever. I could have done without the case details being repeated (seems like Kelly would get information, share with Deputy Bill Stanton, then with Silver Sentinels). Murder at the Marina combines murder, a Russian dagger, senior sleuths, a nosy B&B manager, Cossack riders and a helpful hound into one diverting cozy mystery.

About the author

Janet Finsilver and her husband live in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie, a Rhodesian ridgeback, and Ellie, a boxer/coonhound mix. Janet enjoys horseback riding, snow skiing, and cooking. She is currently working on her next Redwood Cove mystery. Readers can visit her website at www.JanetFinsilver.com.