Title: Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver
Publisher: Lyrical Underground
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 200 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
Bed, breakfast…and a body!
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…
Review:
Murder at Redwood Cove by Janet Finsilver is a perplexing whodunit set in the fictional town of Redwood Cove, CA. A warmly inviting bed and breakfast is the perfect backdrop for this cozy mystery and the novel features a delightful cast of well-drawn and likable characters.
An administrative executive for Resorts International, Kelly Jackson has the sad task of filling in temporarily at the Redwood Cove B&B following the tragic death of previous manager, Bob Phillips. Tasked with ensuring the property is safe for guests, Kelly is immediately welcomed by the B&B’s handyman Daniel Stevens and housekeeper/cook Helen Rogers. She is also quite charmed by the “Silver Sentinels”, a group of elderly men and women who keep themselves busy with a little sleuthing. They were also good friends with Bob and they are convinced his death was no accident. Keeping their suspicions in mind, Kelly decides to dig a little deeper into Bob’s death and after a series of strange occurrences, she is almost certain the Sentinels might be right.
Kelly does not waste any time poking around in Bob’s death in between her duties at the B&B. Helen is instrumental in introducing her to many of the inn’s vendors and fellow B&B managers. When it appears someone ransacked Bob’s office, Kelly becomes convinced there is more to his death than just an accident. She narrows her suspect pool to a handful of possibilities and she soon sets off on her investigation to track their movements on the day in question. Unable to completely rule anyone in or out, she, along with the Sentinels, try to figure out a possible motive for Bob’s death. With the Sentinels hard at work trying to decipher Bob’s cryptic notes, Kelly continues her investigation into her list of suspects.
Murder at Redwood Cove is a cleverly written mystery and Janet Finsilver does an excellent job obscuring the perpetrator’s identity right up until the novel’s dramatic and action-packed conclusion. With an all star cast of brilliantly developed characters, engaging storyline and idyllic setting, this riveting whodunit will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries.
