Death Runs Adrift

Gray Whale Inn Mystery #6

by Karen MacInerney

With her own wedding fast approaching and her mother-in-law dating an unexpected beau, the last thing Natalie Barnes needs is to find a young man shot dead in a dinghy. A note she finds with the body suggests the dearly departed had a secret rendezvous planned with somebody on the island. But when suspicion is cast on a fisherman Natalie believes to be innocent, she begins to wonder if the murder was the result of a lover's quarrel . . . or a lobsterman's disagreement gone horribly wrong. Includes recipes!

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Cooking, Mystery Thriller

272 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

About the author

I'm the author of the Agatha-nominated Gray Whale Inn mystery series, Tales of an Urban Werewolf. the Margie Peterson mysteries and the Dewberry Farm mysteries (plus a new fantasy in the works). My reading is like my writing: eclectic!

I grew up in the Northeast, but I currently live in Austin with my husband, two kids, and a houserabbit named Bunny. Feel free to visit me online at www.karenmacinerney.com; I love connecting with readers.

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cozy set on a Maine sea island. A boy is found dead in a lobster boat, and as usual, the wrong person is the primary suspect.

Not bad, but especially memorable.

[Nancy Butts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 6 in the series, and I think I may be about to give up on it. I found myself skimming the last quarter of the book because I felt I’d already read it—it was basically the same as so much of what is there in the first five books.

As I wrote in my review of Book 5, Brushed With Death, the readers of cozy mysteries welcome the formula: that familiarity and predictability are precisely what they look for in a favorite series from a favorite author. And cozy fans are also willing to suspend a whole lot of disbelief in order to keep reading about their favorite amateur sleuths in their favorite settings with the favorite twist–in this case, a plump innkeeper on a Maine island who loves to cook and who has snagged herself a strong, craggily handsome, talented, and devoted fiance. [SPOILER ALERT: Natalie and John finally get married at the end of the book.]

But the notion that the tiny population of Cranberry Island could harbor so many miscreants and ne-er-do-wells and criminals and murderers—not just now but in the historical mysteries that the author also includes as a subplot—strains credulity to the breaking point. And Natalie is SO nosy that I can’t believe her famously reticent Maine neighbors wouldn’t shun her, no matter how good her brownies are. :D Plus, she is galactically stupid; how does her sheriff’s deputy fiance/husband let her get away with this? The fact that she hasn’t been hauled in on obstruction of justice charges at least five times by now is a miracle. And why hasn’t she been drowned or shot several times by now with her stubborn insistence on plunging in here angels fear to tread?

I love the Maine island setting; I’ve been to many of the places the author mentions in this book many times. I think Natalie would be a lovely hostess at an inn, and her food would be divine. And I think in terms of prose style, this is the best so far: the author did a great job with the writing.

So I can only conclude that maybe I’m not a cozy fan after all; that I’m expecting something from the book that it never pretended to deliver, and that’s my fault, not the author’s. I think I should stick with my beloved Ngaio Marsh books instead.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Runs Adrift is the 6th book in the A Gray Whale Inn Mystery by Karen MacInerney. I am glad to report that this book gets back to what I like. Quaint locale. Great characters. The "preaching" was left out of the book so we could enjoy the story. 4 stars

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series really irritates me. The author obviously doesn't think that police are very smart. Natalie Barnes, the "heroine" finds a body in a skiff on the shore. She takes a note that was in his hand. Then after the police search his home, she goes into the house and finds two very obvious clues sitting in plain sight. I like mysteries with a challenge and the basic story is a good one but don't "dumb" it down to fit the story. She is one of those nosy people who think they have the right to interrogate suspects any time and to snoop or trespass on private property and no one should disagree with her. No more for me.

[Anastasia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death Runs Adrift by Karen MacInerney is the 6th book in the Gray Whale Inn Mystery series. Gray Whale Inn owner, Natalie Barnes, finds a man shot dead drifting in a skiff. A nice typical cozy mystery with Natalie taking it upon herself to investigate with her friends assisting. Lots of mouth watering baking takes place in the process and delicious sounding recipes are included.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing better than a happy ending and this story had a great one! The mystery was good and kept me guessing as always. I enjoyed the subplot with Natalie’s guests too. While I wouldn’t want to live on Cranberry Island I do like visiting.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun mystery within a mystery by author Karen MacInerney! I really enjoy the Gray Whale Inn series, and think I might have to find my own Cranberry Island (sans murders, preferably!). :-)

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Recipes look good.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Natalie has a craving for some berries and heads out to her favorite spot to pick them. Little did she know that on her way back to the inn she would find a dead body is a dinghy adrift in the water. Several suspects come to mind including someone that she knows is innocent. Could it have been a lover’s quarrel or a disagreement over lobster territory? Natalie thought she would be putting the finished touches on her wedding plans and instead she is trying to catch a killer.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
As I read this sixth installment I felt like I was visiting old friends. Natalie and John are planning a destination wedding. Gwen is away at college. John’s mother is staying in the guest house and helping out at the inn. She also has a boyfriend that really adds to the fun. There are two guests currently at the inn, a mystery writer and a woman investigating a long last relative that may have had ties to Cranberry Island.

The deceased seemed to have worked for a lot of different people on the island and may have been stepping another man’s toes with the lady he was dating. The plot started out slow but it wasn’t long and those pages were quickly flying. As more clues emerged the real culprit floated right up to the surface. This turned into a very complex mystery that had police stumped until Natalie with a bit of help pulled everything together.

Karen MacInerney has written quite a tale. We see things are not always idyllic living on an island. In addition to the main murder storyline we learn that the island school may close and that would be devastating to those families that live year round on the island. Natalie and John also receive some bad news and then we can see the way their island friends rally together.

Each getaway to Gray Whale Inn is entertaining and intriguing. The worst thing is waiting for the next visit to Cranberry Island. Until next year…

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few storylines going on here so if one is not to your liking you have a couple more to choose from.

Natalie Barnes runs the Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island. When she is not taking care of her guests and friends, she is planning her wedding to local artist and Sheriff John Quinton. Recently, there has been a hiccup in their wedding plans but that pales when Derek Morton’s dead body is found. There is some strange goings on and it all seems to be tied to marijuana that has recently been found around the island.

Add to that, Natalie has two guests that are on the island investigating the dead of a minister whose bones have recently been discovered. One of the guests is a distant relation to this priest and it turns out that he himself seems to have been tangled in some interesting activities.

Cranberry Island is a unique place where the locals look out for each other, but each seems to have a unique piece of the newest mystery puzzle and it is up to innkeeper Natalie to sort it all out. The stories are simple and from time to time farfetched, but that is what they are designed to be, a little whimsy and a little mindless diversion from your day. The writing is a slightly frustrating with repetition within the same paragraph and a couple continuity issues, but this series is designed for fun and if you do not let the flaws distract you, you will enjoy visiting with Natalie and her friends.

[Larraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the latest Gray Whale Inn mystery is a bit like taking a vacation to a favorite spot. In this case, it's a mythical island off the coast of Maine. This is the 6th book in the series. In the first we meet Natalie who has sunk everything she has in an old house on a small Maine island. The main industry has been lobster fishing for many years. Natalie is an inspired cook - especially when it comes to baking. (Recipes at the end are an added bonus!) This latest book finds Natalie looking forward to her wedding in a Florida resort. The love of her life, John, is an assistant deputy and part time wood carving artist. He had been renting the carriage house when she bought the property. Now his mother who has lost just about all of her money is living with them and helping with the inn. Natalie is berry picking when she stumbles upon a small boat with a dead body. It turns out to be the nephew of a local couple who has been getting into trouble for a while. Natalie's best friend on the island, Charlene, postmistress and store owner, has had her niece, Tania, with her for a while. Tania had a big crush on Derek. Soon, she is suspected of his murder. This was a fun book. If you're looking to take an armchair vacation, this is a lovely place to start.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have really been enjoying the Gray Whale Inn series by Karen MacInerney. In Death Runs Adrift, Natalie's wedding is quickly approaching. Not only is her future mother-in-law still in residence, the island's wealthiest, most influential citizen has become smitten with her...hmmm, that could perhaps be helpful! There are two guests at the inn - a mystery novelist and a woman searching her family's history on the island. All these factors are quickly overshadowed by a murder..which Natalie discovers.

It soon becomes apparent that there are more drugs infiltrating the island than ever before. The murder victim was caught up in the so-called easy money that producing and selling drugs can bring. Others are obviously involved as well...some of them right under Natalie's nose. Being a Vancouver resident who is very aware of "grow-ops" one of the aspects of the story popped out to me right away.

Karen Macinerney is a great writer who tells a great story! I enjoyed how the story wrapped up. Always a pleasure to return to Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island in Maine. I'm already looking forward to the next adventure.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried hard to like this book, but after figuring out the whole marijuana "mystery" about a 1/3 of the way in...it made this book drag. I felt like this was an episode of Scooby Doo with how dumb the characters were to put the pieces of the puzzle together to figure what was going on, on the island. And having all the other "mysteries" wrapped up in 2 lame chapters, kind of did this book in for me. The "twist" of Derek having an affair with his aunt was borderline disgusting and lame at best. Oh, and I still haven't figured out how the editor hasn't caught on to the mistakes that are littered throughout this book. Twice we were introduced to "Turtle" and twice it was explained to Natalie how Turtle got her nickname (pg. 79 and one of the last chapters when we learn Turtle is pregnant). I feel bad for Natalie because this book makes her seem kind of dumb, even though miraculously she is the only one able to ever solve the mysteries that just keep happening on this small, populated island. I really just don't know if I can bring myself to continue reading this series, if there is another book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best cozy mystery series that is currently out and is fast becoming a favorite. Okay, I admit it, it is already a favorite! When reading this series not only does the reader feel like they are right there on Cranberry Island in Maine, but the recipes that Natalie makes in each book are in the back of the book. I'm dying to try several of them!

Natalie Barnes, proprietress of the Gray Whale Inn, is busy with her own wedding plans. The last thing she expects when she goes out to pick wild blueberries is the body of a young man adrift in a skiff. He was shot. Chief suspects are her niece Gwen's beau Adam, and the boyfriend of her best friend Charlotte's niece. When the niece is arrested Natalie goes into high gear to find the murderer. Of course, she puts herself in danger once again.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have conflicting feelings for this series. On one hand, I really enjoy the mysteries, setting, and characters. It is one of my favorite cozy mystery series in those aspects. On the other, the author uses her books as a platform for her personal opinions in both political and social categories. I do support her right to do this but it is a turn off for me as a reader, regardless of whether or not I agree with her opinions. When I read, I like things to flow naturally. Not have events occur or the characters to make statements that are so clearly put around the author's voice rather than the character's own development.

(3.5/5)

[Ann · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love this series, bu was very disappointed by this book. There were many, many just plain sloppy mistakes. The book starts with Natalie discussing her guests not being expected back from the mainland for dinner, but then several pages later, they are there for dinner and she's not surprised at all. Times were off. Days were mingled together. Mistakes like that make a book tough for me to read. And the story was not anywhere near as well developed as the previous books in this series. This one needs a good edit, and less time spent on food and clothing and more time spent on mystery. Very, very disappointed!

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Whale of a Good Mystery!

This mystery keeps the reader's attention with it's various twists and turns 8n both the main story and the subplots. The characters are varied and interesting. A fun read, whether you've read the whole series or just this book. I do recommend reading the whole series to learn more about the central characters.

[Kirsten Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't even finish this one. If the author and editor can't be bothered to take the time to fix the glaring continuity and editing issues, then I can't be bothered to spend time reading it. The setting is no longer enough to hold my interest.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Death Runs Adrift by Karen MacInerney is book 6 of the Gray Whale Inn cozy mystery series set in contemporary Maine. Natalie Barnes is a likable heroine. She left a high-stress job in Texas and invested her savings on a dream: being an innkeeper in a quaint Victorian on a small island in Maine. She loves to cook and bake for her guests, loves the views out her windows, loves to take walks and enjoy natural beauty outdoors, loves her fiance John. He's deputy sheriff; they met on Cranberry Island when she discovered her first victim. They quickly became friends, shared danger, gained mutual respect. She even gets along with his mother.

No surprise that Natalie finds a dead body early on in the story. Based on circumstantial evidence, the police suspect her niece Gwen's boyfriend Derek. As always, the police would like to close the case; Natalie would like to find the truth, to clear Derek's name. Of course Natalie heads straight for the island gossip center, the store run by her best friend Charlene, who happens to be postmistress. After the police let up on Derek, they suspect Charlene's niece Tania. Loyal Natalie will not rest until all her friends are cleared of suspicion.

Finding the real killer is a welcome distraction from unexpected money trouble. Natalie learns she might lose the inn, through no fault of her own. Then honeymoon plans fall apart; another sudden financial loss. She certainly appreciates the comfort of John's love and emotional support.

However, she does not let up on her sleuthing. She helps Gray Whale Inn guests with their own investigations, too; mystery subplots that provide interesting red herrings. She takes crazy risks in John's absence (she means well). How does she coax people to divulge secrets? She brings delicious goodies when she visits to snoop. Works for Natalie - almost always.

All is eventually solved, and Cranberry Island residents join together to celebrate Natalie and John's union, island-style. A reliable comfort read.

Recipes for Natalie's goodies are included: Zesty Lemon Squares, Steamed Blueberry Pudding with Foamy Sauce, Texas Ranger Cookies, John's Shrimp and Pasta Alfredo, Chocolate Express Muffins, Turtle Bars, Kat's Stuffed French Toast.

[dnsyl57 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Death Runs Adrift" is book #6 in the "Gray Whale Inn Mystery" series by Karen MacInerney.

"With her own wedding fast approaching and her mother-in-law dating an unexpected beau, the last thing Natalie Barnes needs is to find a young man shot dead in a dinghy. A note she finds with the body suggests the dearly departed had a secret rendezvous planned with somebody on the island. But when suspicion is cast on a fisherman Natalie believes to be innocent, she begins to wonder if the murder was the result of a lover's quarrel . . . or a lobsterman's disagreement gone horribly wrong. Includes recipes!"

My thoughts:
The story in itself was good, however as several of the core characters lamented that they "couldn't figure out what was going on", left me shaking my head and thinking - duh! For me it was clear early on what was going on around Smugglers Cove and a couple other locations on the island. Granted, the "who killed the young man" wasn't quite as obvious till later on. Naturally, at least one or two of Natalie's friends had to be suspects which led her to take some dangerous chances that could have gone so wrong...

Catherine's beau was a bit of a surprise but hey - to each their own! And she does seem to have a positive influence on him to a degree.

The guests at the inn - Agnes, the author and Beryl, whose grandfather had been a minister on the island in the 1920's and died under suspicious circumstances - added a bit more interest to the story. Again though, I had guessed what had led to the death long before the reveal.

Wedding plans for Natalie and John took an unexpected turn so it took some creativity to get things on track.

All in all an entertaining read with some yummy recipes included at the end.

[Lynn Hayward-Bisbee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another mystery solved on Cranberry Island. Yes, the characters are predictable, the crimes are outrageous (that so many would occur on such a small island.......crime is not as rampant in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont), the sleuthing is risky and Natalie should have been a treated for obstruction of justice many times over.......but, that’s what a cozy mystery is. It’s a book I can pick up and be familiar with the characters and the settings, usually figure out where the plot is going early on, but still enjoy the read and can do it quickly. It’s a great book for reading in the hammock in the afternoon sun or in the winter curled up in front of the fire with a cat on my lap. If I wanted a long, edge-of-seat mystery with several plot twists, I’d pick up Agatha Christie or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, to name a couple. I know when I pick up a cozy mystery, it’s going to be like watching “Murder She Wrote.” But, there was a reason that show stayed on television for so long and there’s a reason I like cozy mysteries. As long as the author puts out Gray Whale mysteries, I’ll continue to read about people dying on Cranberry Island and rethink any plans I may have ever had of visiting a small island off the coast of Maine! 😉

[Christina Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s probably just me, but I’m getting very tired of reading the same storylines over and over by different new authors in their cozy mysteries. Are they stealing the ideas from other authors? I don’t know, but the originality has really fallen off in the last year or so. Of course, I will admit I’ve been confined to home and so I am reading a lot of cozies. I’m also getting tired of having everything repeated over and over again. I know they have to give some backstory in each new book to make it stand out individually, but I don’t think I need to know exactly what she did, and making blueberry muffins, nor do I need to know that somebody was wearing a TwinSet and pearls every time she walks down the stairs. There’s just way too much extraneous detail that doesn’t move the story along. I’m giving fewer and fewer stars as I go along. The book I just finished was especially egregious in this and so I would head and gave it three stars because if you take out all the other stuff it wasn’t too bad of a story. However, if the next volume is the same, then I’m going to quit reading this author.

[Brianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't think I will be finishing this one. Like most other people have mentioned, I too have been noticing the multiple editing issues and that the last few books do not seem consistent. Gwen went back to school, she didn't, she did...which is it? But what really bothered me this time was that the main character only mentioned the one time she was trapped in smugglers cove...so what book number 4 never happened, the one where the archaeologist lady trapped her there? Maybe she mentions it later in the book but I doubt it.

I'm so disappointed because I really like the setting and the characters in this series but apparently the author doesn't cause she can't even remember what happens in each book.

[Melissa Hartfiel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my second book in the Gray Whale Inn series (I have also read book 5) and in my previous review I gave the book a 2.5 out of 5 because while the story was great, the editing was terrible. I decided to try a second book and I give Death Runs Adrift a 3.5/5.

Again, great story - better than the last one - but bad editing. Not as bad as the previous book but still not great. At least this time it didn't detract from the story as much. I am going to read book 7 because I've become really attached to the characters and the setting. I just really hope the editing improves - it would be such a great series if that one piece was fixed.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, rounded up

When I started reading this series several years ago, I wasn’t sure about it. The MC didn’t seem especially likeable, although I admired her determination to make her business succeed. Now, six books in, I look forward to each trip to Cranberry Island and catching up with Nat, John and the rest.

There were quite a few potential suspects to consider in this book, and while I had an idea that seemed to firm up as the book progressed, I wasn’t sure I had the right person at the top of my list until just before it was revealed in the book. Give that person’s identity, the motive made sense, but I would never have figured it out on my own.

[Royaleagle0408 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this serious. But…it just feels like no one edits this series. There are issues where characters are introduced multiple times and timing that doesn’t make sense. Where Natalie says “the call came just before midnight” and then two paragraphs later says it was after eleven. Yes, that would make sense if it was just before midnight.

Also, the story on this one was kind of boring and a little…pearl clutching…for my tastes. Oh no! Marijuana! The ending felt rushed and a bit…unnecessary. I’ll probably still keep reading the story because I did enjoy the first 4 but it has definitely fallen off.

[Cheryl A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. This one was best one as there was murder, mayhem, arrests, checking out old history of buildings, courting, and special events! A lot of things going on, yet, the author gave enough information to keep the reader up on what was going on! I love the way the author describes characters and their interactions with others. While reading, I felt as if I were actually in Cranberry Island and staying at the Gray Whale Inn. I can hardly wait for the next book in this series!

[Kathleen Rodriques · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each of the Gray Whale Inn Mysteries gets better and better. I'm really enjoying this series-they are an escape for me out of this hurried world. In Death Runs Adrift, I found myself unable to put it down at night. I can see Karen's writing style improving with each volume. I appreciate her not promoting the usual sex and violence in her stories of Cranberry Island.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cozy read. I love Cranberry Island and Natalie’s cozy little inn. This one was filled with delicious mysteries, from present and past, and equally delicious recipes. Next best thing to a vacation in Maine.

It wasn’t incredibly hard to figure out what was happening in the island, but the “who” kept me guessing until the end.

[Lee Rozinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

More good reading

I love this series. They never disappoint. The characters are developing as we go along. After a body is found in a skiff, the twists and turns and red herrings are many.. Another mystery of bones found in the old rectory is solved. Drug running, another murder before the first murder is solved. And a wedding! can't wait to read the next one.