Murder at the Mansion

Janet Finsilver

Jun 2016 · A Kelly Jackson Mystery Book 2 · Lyrical Press

About this ebook

As whale-watchers gather in the Pacific Northwest, a B&B manager gets a glimpse of a killer in this mystery novel by the USA Today bestselling author.
 
It’s whale-watching season in the California town of Redwood Cove, and Kelly Jackson is preparing for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. With a string of recent jewelry thefts in the area, she’s also busy keeping tabs on the many dust-covered artifacts displayed throughout the property. But when Kelly finds a visitor’s dead body on the grounds, the police start keeping tabs on her—as a murder suspect.
 
Clearing her own name will be a whale of a chore, even with the help of the Silver Sentinels, a group of local retirees who are always ready for an investigation. Now Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade. But if she doesn’t find the killer soon, she may wind up history herself.

Ratings and reviews

Murder at the Mansion by Janet Finsilver is the second book in A Kelly Jackson Mystery series. Kelly Jackson has just arrived in Red Cove, California at the Redwood Cove Bed-and-Breakfast where she is the new manager. The B and B has been undergoing renovations and is not quite ready to open yet. Kelly’s boss, Michael Carrigan, has tasked her with doing an inventory of Redwood Heights (a property that he is selling and has been experiencing thefts). Kelly is at Redwood Heights when a scream is heard. Kelly rushes into the lobby to find guest, Sylvia Porter at the bottom of the stairs. Sylvia is upset and states someone pushes her. Margaret Hensley, temporary manager of Redwood Heights, is courteous, but it is obvious she believes the guest fell (and was not pushed). Evidently, Sylvia has been a demanding guest since her arrival. The Whale Frolic Festival is happening that weekend in Redwood Cove. Margaret asks for Kelly’s help on an outing for the guests. Sylvia asks to return to the inn early to rest but wants to be awakened in time for the tour (they offer tours of the historic Redwood Heights with a costumed docent). Kelly goes to awaken Sylvia and receives no answer. Kelly gets the master key and enters the room to find Sylvia dead at the dressing table. Kelly immediately locks the room (after taking in some key details) and contacts the police. Is Sylvia’s death related to the thefts? Something odd is going on at Redwood Heights, and Kelly sets out to investigate. She enlists the help of her friends, the Silver Sentinels (Ivan, Rudy, Gertie, Mary, and the Professor). Will they be able to solve the riddles before there is another victim? Murder at the Mansion was a cute cozy mystery novel. It has engaging characters, it is easy to read, has a beautiful setting, and an interesting mystery. It is the second book in the series, but can easily be read alone. I give Murder at the Mansion 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it). I just wish the mystery had been more difficult to solve (though the author did a good job as misdirection). I was able to pick out the guilty party early in the book (thanks to one clue). I liked the authors handling of the thefts. It was very unique and clever. I will definitely read the next novel in A Kelly Jackson Mystery series. I received a complimentary copy of Murder at the Mansion from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.

Great book. Can't wait for the next one. Love ms finsilvers story telling abilities?

Suspenceful with unexpected twists and turns.

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.