EXCERPT
Murder at the Marina
(A Kelly Jackson Mystery Book 5)
(A Kelly Jackson Mystery Book 5)
by Janet Finsilver
Murder at the Marina is the fifth book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series by Janet Finsilver. Also available: Murder at Redwood Cove, Murder at the Mansion, Murder at the Fortune Teller’s Table, and Murder at the Mushroom Festival.
Murder at the Marina is currently on tour with Great Escapes Virtual Book Tours. The tour stops here today for an excerpt. Please be sure to visit the other tour stops as well.
Description
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 staying at Kelly’s inn, in town for a 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 ...
Excerpt from Chapter 1
I looked at my watch and saw I was early but decided to see if the brothers had already arrived. They had given me directions, but what was crystal clear to them had me a little confused. I walked in the general direction of where I thought I was supposed to go, aware of the slight smell of fish.
I spied a man in baggy denim bib overalls wearing a dusty black Giants baseball cap, his gray hair curled up over its sides. He basked in the sun outside a small bait shop in a rocking chair. Fishing nets and tackle equipment hung on the building’s gray boards. Handwritten signs advertising live sardines and bait shrimp were tacked on the wall. An old, personalized fluorescent clock declared it to be Tim’s Place.
I approached him. “Hi, I’m Kelly Jackson.” I smiled. “Are you Tim?”
“Nope. He ain’t here no more. Done moved on. I’m Joe.” The missing front tooth didn’t mar the congeniality in his voice.
“I’m here to meet the Doblinsky brothers at their boat, Nadia. I’m wondering if you could help me with directions.”
“Sure. Glad to.” He pointed an arthritic finger in the direction of a gate. “Walk on through there. It ain’t locked right now. The boat’s down apiece on the left.”
A few minutes later, I stood in front of a large white vessel with black trim. Nadia in large bold black letters on the bow assured me I’d found what I’d been seeking.
“Rudy…Ivan…are you here?” I called out.
I didn’t get a response and decided to knock on the cabin door. I grabbed the metal rails next to an opening and boarded the boat. My knock brought no response. I could clearly see into the galley below. A tidy compact kitchen, a boothed dining area, and a small table filled the area. A living room with built-in couches along both sides of the wall occupied the right side. The dining table was in clear view, with a shaft of sunlight illuminating it. I caught a glimpse of a multicolored object sparkling in the sun’s bright light at the table’s edge. I stepped a little to the side and craned my neck to see better.
What I saw was the hilt of a dagger.
The handle glinted in the sun, but the curved blade didn’t shine like the rest of it.
A dull, rust-colored material covered the metal…the color of dried blood.
The cold hand of fear squeezed my heart.
[Want more? Click below to read a longer excerpt.]
Praise for the Book
“It pulls you in and has you gripping until the story is over. The group works fabulous and they get things done in their own way!” ~ Community Bookstop
“The eclectic mix of characters provides a nice balance topped with what sounds like delicious food that will the reader entertained. Perfect for fans of cozies.” ~ Booksa Plenty Book Reviews
“I like books that get me at the cover. This one drew me in. It latched onto me and I was intrigued.” ~ My Reading Journeys
“The well-plotted storyline flows at a steady pace, and the complex mystery and multiple murders keep the reader engaged and guessing. As with the other books in this series, there are multiple mysteries woven throughout the book, and in the end, everything comes together nicely.” ~ RO G’ma
“I enjoyed this book as I have the prior novels in the Kelly Jackson series. I look forward to the next novel. The characters are engaging, and there is always something interesting going on at Redwood Cove during the investigations. I would recommend this to fans of cozy mystery series.” ~ Bobbie
About the Author
Janet Finsilver is the USA Today bestselling author of the Kelly Jackson mystery series. She worked in education for many years as a teacher, a program administrator, and a workshop presenter. Janet majored in English and earned a Master’s Degree in Education. She loves animals and has two dogs – Kylie and Ellie. Janet has ridden western style since she was a child and was a member of the National Ski Patrol. One of the highlights of her life was touching whales in the San Ignacio Lagoon.
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