Genre: Mystery
Trade Paperback; Digital Book
ISBN #: 9781616509309
Lyrical Press Publishing
198 Pages
$15.00; $7.19 Amazon
October 13, 2015
⭐⭐⭐⭐
If it weren't for the fact that she's replacing a dead man, Kelly Jackson would love her new job managing the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California. But Bob Phillips did plunge off the cliff to his death...and Kelly's starting to think it may not have been an accident. Bob's retired friends - the "Silver Sentinels" -- are also on the case, especially when Kelly is attacked...and another body turns up. Kelly has her hands full with overseeing the B&B's annual Taste of Chocolate and Wine Festival, but she;s also closing in on the killer...who's ready to send Kelly on her own permanent vacation...
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Kelly Jackson's family runs a ranch in Wyoming that's also open to guests in the summer, but she's decided she wants something else out of life, so she's now working for a corporation that owns the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, among others. She's temporarily working as the manager since the last one accidentally fell to his death off a nearby cliff. But one morning, she comes across a group of senior citizens in the conference room who call themselves the "Silver Sentinels" and they're sure it was murder.
Unfortunately, the deputy sheriff doesn't share their opinion. But still, Kelly begins to wonder...and when she's attacked in Bob's office, she informs the sheriff, yet he doesn't take it seriously, telling her it was probably some kid looking for stuff to sell. It's not before there's a serious incident that the sheriff finally believes her, and now Kelly, with the help of others and the sheriff, who asks her to be careful, is on the search for a killer who doesn't care who gets in their way...
This is the first book in the series and I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised. The protagonist, Kelly, isn't stupid enough to go off searching for clues without telling anyone, and she shares information with the sheriff instead of keeping it to herself. (Even when he doesn't listen, she still tells him of her suspicions). It's a nice change from the usual cozy mystery. (She also actually wears makeup and tries to look her best instead of 'throwing on a little lip gloss' and whatever clothing she can find that hasn't been worn more than two days in a row - they may not seem like big things, but I don't know anyone who just throws on lip gloss, wears 'not too wrinkled' clothing, and 'runs fingers' through their hair before declaring themselves ready - just a personal opinion.)
The mystery itself was done well, with several suspects that Kelly was able to figure out in a short period of time. She wasn't invasive in her questioning, and never accused anyone; actually trying not to let them know she was questioning them.
While many of the characters weren't fleshed out, this is a first book, and we're given time to have that occur over the next in the series. Kelly herself was given enough of a background that we knew about her upbringing, but I would have liked to have known more about what caused her rift with her ex-boyfriend. Perhaps in the next book. We did learn the background of several other characters, so that helps in the pleasure of reading this book.
When the ending comes and the murderer is caught, it wasn't a complete surprise (I read a lot of these) but I would have liked to have known more about the killer themselves; however, it didn't stop me from enjoying it and I found it quite satisfactory. I will certainly continue with this series. Recommended.
https://smile.amazon.com/Murder-Redwood-Kelly-Jackson-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00TNBLYD4/ref
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3210588627
More on Janet Finsilver's Books: https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/janet-finsilver/
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