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Kelly Jackson Mystery #2
Murder at the Mansion
Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!
It’s whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson’s battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter’s lifeless body, menial tasks don’t seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly’s on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion’s glamorous façade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2016
141 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Janet Finsilver
7 books228 followersJanet Finsilver and her husband reside in the San Francisco Bay Area. She worked in education for many years as a teacher, a program administrator, and a workshop presenter. Janet loves animals and has two dogs—Kylie and Ellie. She 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. Her debut mystery, MURDER AT REDWOOD COVE, released in October 2015. MURDER AT THE MANSION and MURDER AT THE FORTUNE TELLER'S TABLE followed. MURDER AT THE MUSHROOM FESTIVAL is scheduled for April 17, 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
April 16, 2017
This review isn't about this book. It is a big thank you to the author, Janet Finsilver, for writing a book that took my mind away from the absolute gut wrenching sadness of the last two days. My younger brother was out at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He had been in failing health. They determined Thursday that he was in the late stages of ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. After returning to the hotel room, one of my nephews, who had driven my brother and sister in law to MN, got my brother seated in a recliner to watch TV. My sister in law went into another room to call family about the diagnosis.
My brother stopped breathing; 911 was called after nearly 20 minutes they got a pulse and transfered him to the CCU. He was placed on life support. My other two nephews flew in yesterday. Life support was disconnected and my brother passed away at 7:15 PM eastern US time. This book got me through the emotional roller coaster. My brother is no longer suffering and is in a better place.
I will be reading the next book in this series sometime soon. I really like this series.
My brother stopped breathing; 911 was called after nearly 20 minutes they got a pulse and transfered him to the CCU. He was placed on life support. My other two nephews flew in yesterday. Life support was disconnected and my brother passed away at 7:15 PM eastern US time. This book got me through the emotional roller coaster. My brother is no longer suffering and is in a better place.
I will be reading the next book in this series sometime soon. I really like this series.
October 15, 2022
A fast, enjoyable and interesting read for me. I read the original e-book at Scrib and translated the text for Portuguese at Deepl.
SYNOPSIS: "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."
SYNOPSIS: "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."
November 15, 2019
Kelly Jackson has returned to Redwood Cove, California, ready to take on her new job as manager of one of the B&B’s in town. While it finishes up some renovations, she is helping out at a sister property, Redwood Heights. Redwood Heights has been having issue with jewelry being stolen from guest’s rooms, but things escalate when Kelly finds one of the guests murdered in that guest’s room. With the aid of the local senior citizen community watch, the Silver Sentinels, Kelly starts digging around. Can she figure out what happened?
Having grown up visiting the redwoods, I love this setting. I would love to visit in real life, between murders, of course. This book starts off strongly and never lets up, always giving us some complication or clue until Kelly pieces everything together. I didn’t have any problem remembering the characters, which is good since there are quite a few of them, but I do feel the cast could be a little better developed. I’m hoping that will come as the series continues. I also stumbled over a few editing errors. They were minor overall, fortunately. While there aren’t any recipes, there is more than enough talk about food to make your mouth water as you read the book. Overall, this is a good second in the series, and I hope to visit Kelly again soon.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
December 2, 2016
Kelly Jackson has completed her move to Redwood Cove Bed & Breakfast where she's the new manager. The folks she works with there are friendly, and there are animals and a couple of children to make life interesting. She's also become friends with a group of elderly sleuths who call themselves the Silver Sentinels. When her boss, Michael Corrigan, decides to sell a sister resort, Redwood Heights, Kelly meets the manager, Margaret Hensley, and begins to take an inventory of the resorts antiques and furnishings. Unfortunately, the resort has recently had a problem with jewelry thefts from several guests. After one of the current guests falls down the stairs and declares she was pushed; Kelly goes to her room to check on her and is appalled to find her so recently deceased she's still warm to the touch. When deputies try to contact her next of kin, she doesn't even appear to exist! Why would she have an alias? In the midst of delving into the murder and searching for clues and leads to suspects, Kelly and Stephen (one of the Silver Sleuths sons), make a surprise discovery--a hidden door and more! The ante's upped when someone attempts to kill Kelly.
I enjoyed the first book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series, and this second story is just as appealing. Readers will be able to engage with all the marvelous characters and enjoy a great whodunit plot!
I enjoyed the first book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series, and this second story is just as appealing. Readers will be able to engage with all the marvelous characters and enjoy a great whodunit plot!
May 14, 2018
This is the second book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. You can read this as a stand alone story, but I would suggest you read the first book to get to know the characters. Kelly has completed her move to Redwood Cove Bed & Breakfast where she's the new manager. At this time they are having renovations completed so are not open to the public at the time of this book. Kelly has been asked to help out at a sister resort, Redwood Heights doing an inventory. Kelly's boss, Michael Corrigan, is selling the resort and wants to be sure of its contents. Margaret Hensley, the acting manager of Redwood Heights is a friend of Michaels and a bit difficult to work with. The resort has a couple of issues during the book, one is that jewellery is being stolen, the second is a murder of a Resorts International "secret shopper", Sylvia Porter, staying at the resort to assess service. Because a couple of people that Kelly knows and likes are suspects, she once again begins to investigate while doing her inventory. With some of the papers Kelly is cataloguing getting stolen and one of the Silver Sentinels being attacked, the danger rachets up as the story develops.
I like the people she works with at the Inn. They are friendly, and there are some dogs and a couple of kids to keep life fun and interesting. And then there are the Silver Sentinels, a group of elderly sleuths who help out with whatever they think needs to be done in the investigation. Kelly is caring, smart, helpful, thoughtful, and loyal. She takes a few risks but she's not usually careless. She's not afraid to ask for help or accept it, which is a nice change from many sleuths who plunge headlong into scary situations alone. All of the characters, whether minor or major, were real, interesting, and believably quirky. This makes the story interesting and more real to me. I would like to meet the characters in Redwood Cove.
"Murder at the Mansion" was enjoyable and the identity of the culprit kept me guessing right to the end. The clues were there but they were carefully sprinkled throughout the book and mixed in with enough red herrings to keep me guessing. "Murder at the Mansion" is a well-written mystery that wasn't too easy to solve with just enough quirkiness to make it an enjoyable cozy mystery.
I like the people she works with at the Inn. They are friendly, and there are some dogs and a couple of kids to keep life fun and interesting. And then there are the Silver Sentinels, a group of elderly sleuths who help out with whatever they think needs to be done in the investigation. Kelly is caring, smart, helpful, thoughtful, and loyal. She takes a few risks but she's not usually careless. She's not afraid to ask for help or accept it, which is a nice change from many sleuths who plunge headlong into scary situations alone. All of the characters, whether minor or major, were real, interesting, and believably quirky. This makes the story interesting and more real to me. I would like to meet the characters in Redwood Cove.
"Murder at the Mansion" was enjoyable and the identity of the culprit kept me guessing right to the end. The clues were there but they were carefully sprinkled throughout the book and mixed in with enough red herrings to keep me guessing. "Murder at the Mansion" is a well-written mystery that wasn't too easy to solve with just enough quirkiness to make it an enjoyable cozy mystery.
June 23, 2016
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Kelly Jackson is the new manager at the Redwood Cove B&B and while some renovations are being made she is helping out another Resorts International estate, Redwood Heights. The manager there is a little prickly about Kelly taking an inventory of the place but Kelly is making the best of the situation. When she finds one of the guests Sylvia Porter, dead the inventory goes on hold. She knows she will need the Silver Sentinels help to find the killer.
I reviewed the first book in the series, Murder at Redwood Cove, last Friday. It was such a joy to read these stories back to back.
The staff at the Redwood Cove B&B were all helping out at Redwood Heights for the Whale Frolic event. The Silver Sentinels, Ivan, Rudy, Gertie, Mary, and the Professor used the conference room at Redwood Cove as their meeting place. Scott Thompson, another employee of Resort International also makes a return. So all the characters I liked in the first book were back. New characters were introduced and unfortunately most of them became suspects. I was happy to see Scott return and enjoyed the romantic tingles between him and Kelly. I almost forgot the mention 2 more dogs, beagles, Jack and Jill, join the cast. They have a very interesting talent.
There are 2 mysteries in the story. Along with the murder guests at Redwood Heights have reported pieces of jewelry missing. Both take several twists. One is filled with a little espionage, a bit of intriguing history, family secrets and a deep hatred is revealed. The senior citizens are like dogs with bones trying to figure who would want Sylvia Porter dead and why. Kelly makes some interesting discoveries that again put her in harm’s way. It was a lot of fun following right along with all the clues. The other mystery has a very clever conclusion.
Again, these characters just shined. The author has really fleshed them out and made them real and vital.
I am really excited about this series. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment!
Kelly Jackson is the new manager at the Redwood Cove B&B and while some renovations are being made she is helping out another Resorts International estate, Redwood Heights. The manager there is a little prickly about Kelly taking an inventory of the place but Kelly is making the best of the situation. When she finds one of the guests Sylvia Porter, dead the inventory goes on hold. She knows she will need the Silver Sentinels help to find the killer.
I reviewed the first book in the series, Murder at Redwood Cove, last Friday. It was such a joy to read these stories back to back.
The staff at the Redwood Cove B&B were all helping out at Redwood Heights for the Whale Frolic event. The Silver Sentinels, Ivan, Rudy, Gertie, Mary, and the Professor used the conference room at Redwood Cove as their meeting place. Scott Thompson, another employee of Resort International also makes a return. So all the characters I liked in the first book were back. New characters were introduced and unfortunately most of them became suspects. I was happy to see Scott return and enjoyed the romantic tingles between him and Kelly. I almost forgot the mention 2 more dogs, beagles, Jack and Jill, join the cast. They have a very interesting talent.
There are 2 mysteries in the story. Along with the murder guests at Redwood Heights have reported pieces of jewelry missing. Both take several twists. One is filled with a little espionage, a bit of intriguing history, family secrets and a deep hatred is revealed. The senior citizens are like dogs with bones trying to figure who would want Sylvia Porter dead and why. Kelly makes some interesting discoveries that again put her in harm’s way. It was a lot of fun following right along with all the clues. The other mystery has a very clever conclusion.
Again, these characters just shined. The author has really fleshed them out and made them real and vital.
I am really excited about this series. I will be anxiously awaiting the next installment!
August 15, 2016
3.5 stars
I love cozies and part of what I love is that they are more than just the mystery or the action or suspense. I love that they are in fact cozy, like hanging out with friends in an intimate setting. "Murder at the Mansion" gave me that in spades. It's as much about family and coming home as it is the murders and mysteries.
Kelly Jackson has returned to Redwood Cove to take over management of the B&B, Redwood Cove. After searching for a home, she's finally found it here at the B&B and in Redwood Cove. The B&B isn't open for business yet so she lends a hand at another local property owned by her boss. Soon, she's busy inventorying antiques and other items, tracking down the person responsible for a jewel thefts at the property, and the sudden death of a guest. She's also settling into her new home and reconnecting with friends she made in book one, "Murder at Redwood Cove".
Kelly solves the mysteries with help from her friends the Silver Sentinels as well as some of her co-workers. Her relationships are a large part of the story and provided much of the color and depth. There's also a hint of a romance. Kelly was enjoyable, smart, sweet, helpful, thoughtful, and loyal. She takes a few risks but she's not careless except for one incident and I can overlook that. She's not afraid to ask for help or accept it, which is a nice change from many mysteries, cozy or otherwise.
I had one gripe; it's a small detail but for me, the small details can make or break a book. Kelly calls 911 on her cell phone and in just a few minutes the local police are there. When she calls, she talks to the dispatcher of her local police station. That's not realistic. Cell phones do not call your local 911; calls are routed to the nearest cell tower which means you could get a police station 20 miles away from where you are. And no, your location doesn't show up on their computer screen. Since the police's swift response time was important to the events of the story, that whole scene came across as fake, unlikely, and deux ex machina.
Other than that little impossibility, I enjoyed the story and Kelly's sleuthing as well as the relationships. "Murder at the Mansion" was enjoyable and the identity of the villain kept me guessing right to the end. The clues were there but Finsilver carefully sprinkled them in with red herrings, keeping you unsure. All of the characters, whether minor or major, were real, interesting, and believably quirky. They're all memorable, and make the story; characterization is Finsilver's strength. "Murder at the Mansion" was sweet yet twisty with the small town quirkiness of most cozies and a well-written mystery that wasn't too easy to solve.
I love cozies and part of what I love is that they are more than just the mystery or the action or suspense. I love that they are in fact cozy, like hanging out with friends in an intimate setting. "Murder at the Mansion" gave me that in spades. It's as much about family and coming home as it is the murders and mysteries.
Kelly Jackson has returned to Redwood Cove to take over management of the B&B, Redwood Cove. After searching for a home, she's finally found it here at the B&B and in Redwood Cove. The B&B isn't open for business yet so she lends a hand at another local property owned by her boss. Soon, she's busy inventorying antiques and other items, tracking down the person responsible for a jewel thefts at the property, and the sudden death of a guest. She's also settling into her new home and reconnecting with friends she made in book one, "Murder at Redwood Cove".
Kelly solves the mysteries with help from her friends the Silver Sentinels as well as some of her co-workers. Her relationships are a large part of the story and provided much of the color and depth. There's also a hint of a romance. Kelly was enjoyable, smart, sweet, helpful, thoughtful, and loyal. She takes a few risks but she's not careless except for one incident and I can overlook that. She's not afraid to ask for help or accept it, which is a nice change from many mysteries, cozy or otherwise.
I had one gripe; it's a small detail but for me, the small details can make or break a book. Kelly calls 911 on her cell phone and in just a few minutes the local police are there. When she calls, she talks to the dispatcher of her local police station. That's not realistic. Cell phones do not call your local 911; calls are routed to the nearest cell tower which means you could get a police station 20 miles away from where you are. And no, your location doesn't show up on their computer screen. Since the police's swift response time was important to the events of the story, that whole scene came across as fake, unlikely, and deux ex machina.
Other than that little impossibility, I enjoyed the story and Kelly's sleuthing as well as the relationships. "Murder at the Mansion" was enjoyable and the identity of the villain kept me guessing right to the end. The clues were there but Finsilver carefully sprinkled them in with red herrings, keeping you unsure. All of the characters, whether minor or major, were real, interesting, and believably quirky. They're all memorable, and make the story; characterization is Finsilver's strength. "Murder at the Mansion" was sweet yet twisty with the small town quirkiness of most cozies and a well-written mystery that wasn't too easy to solve.
February 6, 2017
This second book in the series was even better than the first! It grabbed me from the get go and didn't let go.
A fast paced story with well written characters and a whodunit that kept me guessing until the end.
I loved the multi generational aspect of the characters and cannot wait to read the next in the series!
A fast paced story with well written characters and a whodunit that kept me guessing until the end.
I loved the multi generational aspect of the characters and cannot wait to read the next in the series!
June 7, 2016
It is Whale watching time off the Pacific coast, Kelly Jackson is set to take over the management of Redwood Cove. Her employer is getting ready to sale one of his other properties and Kelly has been asked to do an inventory of the artifacts of Redwood Heights where several pieces of jewelry have gone missing. A customer is found dead in her room. There are smoke, a locked room, a hidden staircase and a hidden historical room, that will keep Kelly busy as she searches for answers. The senior sleuths are active again as they search for a mysterious guest who stays one night at Redwood Heights. There are a few surprises as the answer to the events found. I recommend this book.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
Disclosure: I received a free copy from Kensington Books through NetGalley for an honest review. I would like to thank them for this opportunity to read and review the book. The opinions are my own.
May 30, 2021
Good but there were a lot of convenient coincidences falling in their laps in this one.
February 1, 2023
Good second book. Easy and took me a while to figure out whodunnit. Love a quick read after a few duds.
October 5, 2016
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Overall this was a fun sequel and I enjoyed returning to this series. But at the same time some things I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped to. I struggled getting into this book, there were a lot of characters and I didn't fully remember at first who was who, so it took me some time before I remembered who everyone was. And then we get a bunch of new characters as well and it was hard to keep them all separate for a bit. I also was a bit sad that this book doesn't take place more at the B&B, I was looking forward to see Kelley start her new life there, but instead there is a mansion close by where a lot of the mystery took place and Kelley is helping do inventory there instead of working at the B&B as that was getting renovated. I did end up enjoying it eventually, but at the beginning I was a bit disappointed.
It's one of those books that does get better as it progresses, after the bit of a slow start for me, the pace picked up and I enjoyed the mystery. There was something that bothered me at first as it felt a bit unrealistic, but it later ties into the mystery. It still felt like that part was added in just so the main character could find something later, but maybe that's just me.
The mystery was nice enough, even though it didn't fully hook me. It starts with the victim still alive and it was obvious who was going to be the victim. Then at first it seemed there were too many possible culprits and not enough clues, but after that things start coming together. I wasn't too surprised by who the murderer was and the whole reason surrounding it just felt a bit off, although I did like the link to the past and how that tied into the mystery. But even though I wasn't surprised by who the murderer was I also felt that looking back there weren't a lot of clues specifically in this persons direction, more some general clues about the length of the person etc.
But for all the things that felt a bit off or I didn't enjoy as much as book 1, there were also some things that I really enjoyed about this book. The characters and their friendship and interactions are definitely one of the highlights. Kelly make some good friends in the first book and we get to see most of them again and I really liked the cozy and close feel of this town. And the Silver Sentinels help again with the mystery. There are some scenes were she is enjoying the company of her friends that felt very happy and it was nice to have those scenes as well. I also liked the new character we met in this book Stevie with his two Beagles. I like how the most of the side characters and even the animals feel real. Too bad the new characters we met at the mansion stayed a bit flat. I don't really care for the romance, but luckily it's only a few small scenes and not much happens between them.
To summarize: I enjoyed returning to this town and the tight group of friends. It was a fun read, but I felt it wasn't as good as the first book. The setting changes slightly and now takes place at a mansion and while I understood why, I would've liked to see more of the B&B. The mystery had some nice ties with some historical events and it was interesting enough. Who the murderer was didn't surprise me, but at the same time there weren't as many good clues in this person's direction. I don't really care for the romance. I do like most of the characters and I like seeing them interact. There are some great side characters and I enjoyed reading about them and this small cozy town.
Overall this was a fun sequel and I enjoyed returning to this series. But at the same time some things I didn't enjoy as much as I hoped to. I struggled getting into this book, there were a lot of characters and I didn't fully remember at first who was who, so it took me some time before I remembered who everyone was. And then we get a bunch of new characters as well and it was hard to keep them all separate for a bit. I also was a bit sad that this book doesn't take place more at the B&B, I was looking forward to see Kelley start her new life there, but instead there is a mansion close by where a lot of the mystery took place and Kelley is helping do inventory there instead of working at the B&B as that was getting renovated. I did end up enjoying it eventually, but at the beginning I was a bit disappointed.
It's one of those books that does get better as it progresses, after the bit of a slow start for me, the pace picked up and I enjoyed the mystery. There was something that bothered me at first as it felt a bit unrealistic, but it later ties into the mystery. It still felt like that part was added in just so the main character could find something later, but maybe that's just me.
The mystery was nice enough, even though it didn't fully hook me. It starts with the victim still alive and it was obvious who was going to be the victim. Then at first it seemed there were too many possible culprits and not enough clues, but after that things start coming together. I wasn't too surprised by who the murderer was and the whole reason surrounding it just felt a bit off, although I did like the link to the past and how that tied into the mystery. But even though I wasn't surprised by who the murderer was I also felt that looking back there weren't a lot of clues specifically in this persons direction, more some general clues about the length of the person etc.
But for all the things that felt a bit off or I didn't enjoy as much as book 1, there were also some things that I really enjoyed about this book. The characters and their friendship and interactions are definitely one of the highlights. Kelly make some good friends in the first book and we get to see most of them again and I really liked the cozy and close feel of this town. And the Silver Sentinels help again with the mystery. There are some scenes were she is enjoying the company of her friends that felt very happy and it was nice to have those scenes as well. I also liked the new character we met in this book Stevie with his two Beagles. I like how the most of the side characters and even the animals feel real. Too bad the new characters we met at the mansion stayed a bit flat. I don't really care for the romance, but luckily it's only a few small scenes and not much happens between them.
To summarize: I enjoyed returning to this town and the tight group of friends. It was a fun read, but I felt it wasn't as good as the first book. The setting changes slightly and now takes place at a mansion and while I understood why, I would've liked to see more of the B&B. The mystery had some nice ties with some historical events and it was interesting enough. Who the murderer was didn't surprise me, but at the same time there weren't as many good clues in this person's direction. I don't really care for the romance. I do like most of the characters and I like seeing them interact. There are some great side characters and I enjoyed reading about them and this small cozy town.
December 18, 2020
Kelly Jackson is finally moving to Redwood Cove, California to take over as manager of Redwood Cove B&B. But since the renovations aren't yet complete, she's promised her boss Michael Corrigan that she'll help inventory items at his newest acquisition, Redwood Heights, which is an old Victorian that's been converted to an upscale B&B for the wealthier.
While there, she hears one of the guests scream, and finding Sylvia Porter at the bottom of the stairs, insisting she was pushed. The manager of Redwood Heights states as how Sylvia's been a problem guest and that she probably tripped, and Kelly wonders who's telling the truth. But the next day Sylvia asks Kelly if she will wake her for a tour, Kelly goes to do so and finds Sylvia dead at her dressing table, stabbed with a long hat pin. When the police arrive, they find no pin.
Later on, Kelly locates the pin while doing inventory, and it somehow makes her a suspect in the murder, according to something she overhears the detectives saying. Then another accident befalls one of her friends who is a member of the Silver Sentinels, and Kelly knows that something sinister is going on, and she decides to investigate. But will her investigation lead to finding a killer, or will the killer follow her every move until they get a chance to silence her permanently?
This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. I do like the fact that Kelly is kind to those around her, and the Silver Sentinels are almost the best part of the book - their combined actions being both worthwhile and informative to Kelly. She's also finding her way around a possible relationship with Scott, who also works for the same corporation as she; even though he prefers his traveling position and she likes being where she is, Kelly is working through things.
The mystery is a delightful one, with a mystery within another mystery - the possible disappearance of one of the original owners of Redwood Heights, whose being missing was never solved. I do so love old mysteries within current ones, as it gives me an extra one to solve along with the protagonist, who, I might say, is doing a wonderful job in this book.
Discovering the reasons why Kelly was attacked is definitely worth looking at, and finding the jewel thief was hoot, to say the least. I would say more on this, but in doing so, I would give away the answer, and I prefer not to do that. At any rate, when the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it all comes together nicely and the puzzle is completed, giving us a satisfactory ending. Recommended.
While there, she hears one of the guests scream, and finding Sylvia Porter at the bottom of the stairs, insisting she was pushed. The manager of Redwood Heights states as how Sylvia's been a problem guest and that she probably tripped, and Kelly wonders who's telling the truth. But the next day Sylvia asks Kelly if she will wake her for a tour, Kelly goes to do so and finds Sylvia dead at her dressing table, stabbed with a long hat pin. When the police arrive, they find no pin.
Later on, Kelly locates the pin while doing inventory, and it somehow makes her a suspect in the murder, according to something she overhears the detectives saying. Then another accident befalls one of her friends who is a member of the Silver Sentinels, and Kelly knows that something sinister is going on, and she decides to investigate. But will her investigation lead to finding a killer, or will the killer follow her every move until they get a chance to silence her permanently?
This is the second book in the series, and I enjoyed it quite as much as the first. I do like the fact that Kelly is kind to those around her, and the Silver Sentinels are almost the best part of the book - their combined actions being both worthwhile and informative to Kelly. She's also finding her way around a possible relationship with Scott, who also works for the same corporation as she; even though he prefers his traveling position and she likes being where she is, Kelly is working through things.
The mystery is a delightful one, with a mystery within another mystery - the possible disappearance of one of the original owners of Redwood Heights, whose being missing was never solved. I do so love old mysteries within current ones, as it gives me an extra one to solve along with the protagonist, who, I might say, is doing a wonderful job in this book.
Discovering the reasons why Kelly was attacked is definitely worth looking at, and finding the jewel thief was hoot, to say the least. I would say more on this, but in doing so, I would give away the answer, and I prefer not to do that. At any rate, when the ending comes and the killer is revealed, it all comes together nicely and the puzzle is completed, giving us a satisfactory ending. Recommended.
July 13, 2016
Reviewed on Musings and Ramblings.
The first book in this series, Murder at Redwood Cove, was a fabulous four star read from a debut author. The combination of a scenic setting, colorful characters, and a unique plot-line served to capture my attention and brought me back for more.
At the end of book one, Kelly Jackson, temporary manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast became the permanent manager with her decision to settle down in the area. She has just barely returned from her parents home in Wyoming, loaded down with a horse trailer full of her things when she heads over to Resort Internationals other local property, Redwood Heights to assist with doing an inventory in preparation of it's sale.
While she is there, a guest falls down some stairs and swears that she was pushed. When the same guest ends up murdered the very next day, suspicion falls on everyone who was in the mansion at the time. And with a recent spate of jewelry thefts at the mansion, everyone is suspect and on edge wondering if the two crimes are connected. Kelly has to call on the Silver Sentinels to help her sort through historical paperwork, find missing suspects and work to find the guilty party or parties.
I really don't want to spoiler anything too badly, but I just have to say that I was completely fooled by the thief. There were plenty of hints dropped, but I didn't put it together until after Kelly explained. The murderer was a bit of a surprise; I was almost all the way there when they exposed themselves as the killer. Wooboy, what a moment that was! The reveal was so clever and unexpected that I had to go back and reread it a couple times to make sure that I had it all correct.
Though this book gives us a bit more background on Kelly, as well as the Silver Sentinel individuals, it still defers much of their history to be discovered in coming books. I had a marvelous time in the town of Redwood Cove and can't wait to see what happens next. A great read, I gave it 4 stars.
Netgalley and Kensington Books provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
The first book in this series, Murder at Redwood Cove, was a fabulous four star read from a debut author. The combination of a scenic setting, colorful characters, and a unique plot-line served to capture my attention and brought me back for more.
At the end of book one, Kelly Jackson, temporary manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast became the permanent manager with her decision to settle down in the area. She has just barely returned from her parents home in Wyoming, loaded down with a horse trailer full of her things when she heads over to Resort Internationals other local property, Redwood Heights to assist with doing an inventory in preparation of it's sale.
While she is there, a guest falls down some stairs and swears that she was pushed. When the same guest ends up murdered the very next day, suspicion falls on everyone who was in the mansion at the time. And with a recent spate of jewelry thefts at the mansion, everyone is suspect and on edge wondering if the two crimes are connected. Kelly has to call on the Silver Sentinels to help her sort through historical paperwork, find missing suspects and work to find the guilty party or parties.
I really don't want to spoiler anything too badly, but I just have to say that I was completely fooled by the thief. There were plenty of hints dropped, but I didn't put it together until after Kelly explained. The murderer was a bit of a surprise; I was almost all the way there when they exposed themselves as the killer. Wooboy, what a moment that was! The reveal was so clever and unexpected that I had to go back and reread it a couple times to make sure that I had it all correct.
Though this book gives us a bit more background on Kelly, as well as the Silver Sentinel individuals, it still defers much of their history to be discovered in coming books. I had a marvelous time in the town of Redwood Cove and can't wait to see what happens next. A great read, I gave it 4 stars.
Netgalley and Kensington Books provided me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 24, 2016
Murder at the Mansion book two in A Kelly Jackson Mystery is a great read. Don't worry if you haven't read book one yet because the author does a great job so you don't feel behind. All of the characters are well developed and feel like they could be your neighbor. The plot is also very enjoyable and easy to follow. Love Kelly the manager at Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. She is a strong character with a big heart.
Kelly is settling into her new position when she runs into a bit of trouble. She is told that she needs to catalog things at Ridley House which is a sister property. She ends up finding more than she bargained while cataloging. YIKES! She is also introduced to Margaret Hensley the manager of Redwood Heights who takes a bit to get used too. She is kinda like a cactus, full of thorns. Kelly meanwhile meets a guest at the facility named Sylvia who ends up being pushed down the stairs. Thank goodness she wasn't injured. Margaret doesn't buy it and thinks she is crazy. Next thing you know Kelly ends up finding Sylvia dead in her room stabbed with a hat pin. Who would want to kill Sylvia??? How did no one see the murderer when there is only one way out??? Things just aren't as they seem and Kelly finds out that everyone is not who they appear to be!
This is a fast paced book with tons of twists and turns that will shock you. Love the excitement and intrigue on every page.
I recieved this book from the NetGalley for an honest review.
Kelly is settling into her new position when she runs into a bit of trouble. She is told that she needs to catalog things at Ridley House which is a sister property. She ends up finding more than she bargained while cataloging. YIKES! She is also introduced to Margaret Hensley the manager of Redwood Heights who takes a bit to get used too. She is kinda like a cactus, full of thorns. Kelly meanwhile meets a guest at the facility named Sylvia who ends up being pushed down the stairs. Thank goodness she wasn't injured. Margaret doesn't buy it and thinks she is crazy. Next thing you know Kelly ends up finding Sylvia dead in her room stabbed with a hat pin. Who would want to kill Sylvia??? How did no one see the murderer when there is only one way out??? Things just aren't as they seem and Kelly finds out that everyone is not who they appear to be!
This is a fast paced book with tons of twists and turns that will shock you. Love the excitement and intrigue on every page.
I recieved this book from the NetGalley for an honest review.
April 27, 2019
Murder, fire and smoke, mystery, jewelry thefts, hidden
staircase, Whale Watching, dusting artifacts, a hidden
carriage, a historical murder, Silver Sentinels , a engaging
plot, wine, cheese, a chowder contest, cooking with raw
ingredients, lots of baked items, twists and turns make for
a story you will definitely want to read. Plus three dogs…
Jack and Jill which are bug sniffing dogs and Fred, a young
lad’s pet.
Kelly Jackson is taking over as the manager of the Redwood
Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California.
While the restorations are being finished at the B&B, Kelly’s
boss, Michael Corrigan has asked her to catalog the historic
inventory items located at Redwood Heights. This is an
Victorian-style estate which is a short walk from the B&B.
Michael owns both properties.
Vivid, well defined and each character has an interesting
role in this murder mystery.
A very enjoyable read!!!!
Murder at the Mansion is the second book in A Kelly Jackson
Mystery Series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to Lyrical Underground via NetGalley for the eBook.
My opinion is my own.
staircase, Whale Watching, dusting artifacts, a hidden
carriage, a historical murder, Silver Sentinels , a engaging
plot, wine, cheese, a chowder contest, cooking with raw
ingredients, lots of baked items, twists and turns make for
a story you will definitely want to read. Plus three dogs…
Jack and Jill which are bug sniffing dogs and Fred, a young
lad’s pet.
Kelly Jackson is taking over as the manager of the Redwood
Cove Bed and Breakfast on the coast of Northern California.
While the restorations are being finished at the B&B, Kelly’s
boss, Michael Corrigan has asked her to catalog the historic
inventory items located at Redwood Heights. This is an
Victorian-style estate which is a short walk from the B&B.
Michael owns both properties.
Vivid, well defined and each character has an interesting
role in this murder mystery.
A very enjoyable read!!!!
Murder at the Mansion is the second book in A Kelly Jackson
Mystery Series. It can be read as a stand alone.
Thanks to Lyrical Underground via NetGalley for the eBook.
My opinion is my own.
May 6, 2017
This is the 2nd book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series and it's well paced and entertaining. Not having read the 1st book in the series, I easily became immersed in the story and well described setting and got to know the characters quickly with some anecdotes and backstory from the author. The mystery was intriguing and I culprit was expertly concealed in plain sight until the very end! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to more in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed this book via NetGalley.
I voluntarily reviewed this book via NetGalley.
August 1, 2022
3.5
The 'Silver Sentinels', a group of retirees who are old pros at crime solving have me fingerling. Love their camaraderie and matter-of-fact approach to murder. :-) And they have embraced Kelly (who is decidedly decades too young for the Silver Sentinels) into their fold which gives her plenty of sleuthing backup.
There's a couple of mysteries vying for Kelly's attention which keeps her hopping and the reader guessing. I'll admit to getting a bit confused by the number of b&bs / inns involved in such close proximity and they all have Redwood in the name so I had to backtrack and figure out which one we were at. There's also a ton of characters to keep track of. The larger cast of regulars and the visitors/suspects. I was fine with the regulars since I've read the first book, but if you jump into the series here, I imagine it might take some mental gymnastics to keep the full cast of characters straight. About ten regulars (11 if you count Fred, the basset hound) and just as many (plus Jack and Jill, the visiting beagles) in the visitors/suspects category.
And, shudder, there might be the possibility of a love triangle? There are two guys but I'm not sure if one is only going to be in the friend category so....time will tell.
m the start. Fred, the inn's mascot and service dog 'flunky,' is a howling success with me as well. :-)
The well-developed mystery kept me guessing with a few gobsmacking twists to make things even more interesting. Excited to see what's in store next for Kelly and her Silver Sentinels.
The 'Silver Sentinels', a group of retirees who are old pros at crime solving have me fingerling. Love their camaraderie and matter-of-fact approach to murder. :-) And they have embraced Kelly (who is decidedly decades too young for the Silver Sentinels) into their fold which gives her plenty of sleuthing backup.
There's a couple of mysteries vying for Kelly's attention which keeps her hopping and the reader guessing. I'll admit to getting a bit confused by the number of b&bs / inns involved in such close proximity and they all have Redwood in the name so I had to backtrack and figure out which one we were at. There's also a ton of characters to keep track of. The larger cast of regulars and the visitors/suspects. I was fine with the regulars since I've read the first book, but if you jump into the series here, I imagine it might take some mental gymnastics to keep the full cast of characters straight. About ten regulars (11 if you count Fred, the basset hound) and just as many (plus Jack and Jill, the visiting beagles) in the visitors/suspects category.
And, shudder, there might be the possibility of a love triangle? There are two guys but I'm not sure if one is only going to be in the friend category so....time will tell.
m the start. Fred, the inn's mascot and service dog 'flunky,' is a howling success with me as well. :-)
The well-developed mystery kept me guessing with a few gobsmacking twists to make things even more interesting. Excited to see what's in store next for Kelly and her Silver Sentinels.
November 7, 2017
Renovations are going on over at the Redwood Cove B&B, so Kelly's boss has her putting up guest in a Victorian mansion he has since it's whale watching season. Kelly's in control of keeping track of the antique items but then she discovers a body and things take a different turn.
Kelly is not real interested in looking for a killer but she hates that they think that Stevie could be blamed since they already think he might have been the one stealing things from the mansion, as well as one other person. So she does a little snooping and that leads her to finding some interesting things along the way. Someone doesn't want her snooping and tries to get rid of her so now the cops are trying to keep her safe as they try and catch the killer.
Second book in the Kelly Jackson mysteries and I really enjoyed it. Kelly just wants to run her B&B but right now that is not happening so she tries to make the most of it. She doesn't really want to get involved in a murder investigation but at the same time she can't help but be a little curious about things going on. It has a great bunch of secondary characters and one of my favorites is the little boy Tommy, he is adorable.
Overall, I think this is a fun series and if you are a fan of cozies you should check out this series!!
Kelly is not real interested in looking for a killer but she hates that they think that Stevie could be blamed since they already think he might have been the one stealing things from the mansion, as well as one other person. So she does a little snooping and that leads her to finding some interesting things along the way. Someone doesn't want her snooping and tries to get rid of her so now the cops are trying to keep her safe as they try and catch the killer.
Second book in the Kelly Jackson mysteries and I really enjoyed it. Kelly just wants to run her B&B but right now that is not happening so she tries to make the most of it. She doesn't really want to get involved in a murder investigation but at the same time she can't help but be a little curious about things going on. It has a great bunch of secondary characters and one of my favorites is the little boy Tommy, he is adorable.
Overall, I think this is a fun series and if you are a fan of cozies you should check out this series!!
June 11, 2016
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.
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.
April 23, 2016
This is definitely not the first book in this series but it can stand alone.
I enjoyed the plot development and how both crimes were solved.
Kelly Jackson arrives at Redwood Cove B&B in a truck hauling a horse trailer loaded with her worldly possessions to begin her new job with Resorts International. The renovations aren't quite complete so owner Michael Corrigan sends her to a sister property, Redwood Heights, to do an inventory before he sells the hotel.
Staff at the 3 local properties include Helen and her young son Tommy whose dog is trained to sniff cancer, Ridley House manager Daniel and his daughter Allie who seems to have been featured in the first novel, Scott Thompson who is Michael's executive director and a potential romantic interest for Kelly. Stephen Plumber and his bed bug sniffing dogs Jack and Jill provide good humor and crime solving seniors known as The Silver Sentinels provide a good age range of characters.
Guests at Redwood Heights mansion report missing jewelry causing staff to become suspects. When Kelly finds a very demanding guest murdered at the mansion, she is questioned as a suspect.
Digging through dusty boxes, Kelly gets help from the Silver Sentinels in unraveling the original owners history and solving the disappearance of the first Mrs. Brandon.
I received a copy of this ebook through Net Galley and Kensington Press in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the plot development and how both crimes were solved.
Kelly Jackson arrives at Redwood Cove B&B in a truck hauling a horse trailer loaded with her worldly possessions to begin her new job with Resorts International. The renovations aren't quite complete so owner Michael Corrigan sends her to a sister property, Redwood Heights, to do an inventory before he sells the hotel.
Staff at the 3 local properties include Helen and her young son Tommy whose dog is trained to sniff cancer, Ridley House manager Daniel and his daughter Allie who seems to have been featured in the first novel, Scott Thompson who is Michael's executive director and a potential romantic interest for Kelly. Stephen Plumber and his bed bug sniffing dogs Jack and Jill provide good humor and crime solving seniors known as The Silver Sentinels provide a good age range of characters.
Guests at Redwood Heights mansion report missing jewelry causing staff to become suspects. When Kelly finds a very demanding guest murdered at the mansion, she is questioned as a suspect.
Digging through dusty boxes, Kelly gets help from the Silver Sentinels in unraveling the original owners history and solving the disappearance of the first Mrs. Brandon.
I received a copy of this ebook through Net Galley and Kensington Press in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2016
This is the second installment in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series and I found it to be a very enjoyable read. The story is well written with a nice pace that keeps the reading moving along trying to piece together clues to solve the murder mystery. Our protagonist, Kelly Jackson, is back at the Redwood Cover B&B as the official new manager. She is smart, careful and determined. At the same time she is very much a likable person with a warm heart toward her new friends. In addition, the Silver Sentinels are back and once again help out Kelly with solving a couple of different mysteries. The are a diverse groups of people and really add to the layers of this story. The mystery was also very good. I guess you could say there are technically three mysteries - a present day murder (the man plot), thefts and a historical mystery. I liked how these mysteries were woven together and that what I consider to be the two sub-plots (the thefts and historical mystery) did not detract from the main mystery at all. I thought the resolution to the thefts was clever and a surprise to me. The identity of the killer was not obvious to me and is revealed in a very climatic ending which ties the historical mystery into the present day murder.
I received an ARC of this book from the publishers through Netgalley. This did not influence my opinion and all the opinions are my own.
I received an ARC of this book from the publishers through Netgalley. This did not influence my opinion and all the opinions are my own.
May 15, 2016
I haven't yet had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series, but I didn't feel like that impeded my enjoyment of this, the second book in the series.
Finsilver did a great job crafting a strong cozy mystery. I found the whole thing to be almost reminiscent of old Agatha Christie mysteries. The setting of the Bed & Breakfast was unique and wonderfully described, without being cliche or overwrought. The cast of characters were strong and memorable. I thought every character was well established and I didn't find myself being overwhelmed by the number of characters because every one of them was a unique person unto themselves. Best of all, our protagonist was a smart and likable woman. I never found myself rolling my eyes or questioning her sanity, like I do with many modern cozy mysteries. I will definitely be keeping up with Kelly Jackson and I think any fan of classic cozy mysteries should to.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
Finsilver did a great job crafting a strong cozy mystery. I found the whole thing to be almost reminiscent of old Agatha Christie mysteries. The setting of the Bed & Breakfast was unique and wonderfully described, without being cliche or overwrought. The cast of characters were strong and memorable. I thought every character was well established and I didn't find myself being overwhelmed by the number of characters because every one of them was a unique person unto themselves. Best of all, our protagonist was a smart and likable woman. I never found myself rolling my eyes or questioning her sanity, like I do with many modern cozy mysteries. I will definitely be keeping up with Kelly Jackson and I think any fan of classic cozy mysteries should to.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
September 10, 2016
And I finished another book. I'm apparently reading cozy mysteries again.
I continue to enjoy this series. Although there are a couple of verbal ticks in this one that seem to stand out (everyone seems to say "shall do" rather than "will do," for example). But what do I know, maybe they're west coast things.
I do enjoy the world in this one. It's simple, quiet, non-paranormal, and non-super animal focused. And cast of characters is fun. Though, I did think a couple of the recurring characters (Daniel for example) could have been better re-introduced. It's been a while since I read the first one, and I couldn't remember who he was until about a third of the way in.
On the whole though, this series is solid, and easy reading.
I continue to enjoy this series. Although there are a couple of verbal ticks in this one that seem to stand out (everyone seems to say "shall do" rather than "will do," for example). But what do I know, maybe they're west coast things.
I do enjoy the world in this one. It's simple, quiet, non-paranormal, and non-super animal focused. And cast of characters is fun. Though, I did think a couple of the recurring characters (Daniel for example) could have been better re-introduced. It's been a while since I read the first one, and I couldn't remember who he was until about a third of the way in.
On the whole though, this series is solid, and easy reading.
May 25, 2016
5 stars
Huge thanks to Janet Finsilver, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have yet to read the first book in this series but you get just enough info from this to know the previous story without detracting from the mystery at hand.
The characters are well written (I seem to put that a lot but I wouldn't say it if it weren't true!), the descriptions of the B and B's and surrounding area are lovely and there's dogs, gotta live a good cosy with dogs in it!
A few mysteries interlink in this story with Kelly and the 'Silver Sentinels' on hand to get them solved and find the killer.
I look forward to the next book in this series.
Huge thanks to Janet Finsilver, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
I have yet to read the first book in this series but you get just enough info from this to know the previous story without detracting from the mystery at hand.
The characters are well written (I seem to put that a lot but I wouldn't say it if it weren't true!), the descriptions of the B and B's and surrounding area are lovely and there's dogs, gotta live a good cosy with dogs in it!
A few mysteries interlink in this story with Kelly and the 'Silver Sentinels' on hand to get them solved and find the killer.
I look forward to the next book in this series.
May 10, 2016
Kelly is back taking over as the manager of the Redwood B&B. While the B&B is closed for renovations, she goes to help with the inventory at Redwood Heights. When she finds a guest dead in her room, she wonders who could've killed her and why. Kelly asks the Silver Sentinels to help with the inventory of some of the older papers and they end up in danger. Kelly has to figure out who killed the guest and ends up uncovering secrets long buried.
This was a nice addition to the series and I love the additional characters in the story.
I received an advanced ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a nice addition to the series and I love the additional characters in the story.
I received an advanced ecopy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2018
Kelly has recently returned to Redwood Cove to manage the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. The company Kelly works for has also asked her to help out at the Redwood Heights, a nearby Victorian estate. While Kelly is at Redwood Heights, one of the guests dies. Kelly turns amateur sleuth to discover who is behind the elderly guest's death.
The 2nd book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. A fun and light cozy mystery.
The 2nd book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series. A fun and light cozy mystery.
January 21, 2017
Title: Murder at the Mansion - Kelly Jackson Mystery Book 2
Author: Janet Finsilver
Published: 6-7-2016
Publisher: Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground
Pages: 190
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Women's Fiction; Cozy Mystery; Private Investigators: Animals
ISBN: 13: 9781616509316
ASIN: B015MA6EDO
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I received a copy of "Murder at the Mansion" from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher's Description:
Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
It's whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson's battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter's lifeless body, menial tasks don't seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly's on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion's glamorous façade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!
My Review:
Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove B & B. While investigating the rash of recent thefts at the B & B she finds a guest murdered in her room. At the request of her boss and the police she helps look for the killer. Kelly is an intelligent, savvy woman who uses her connections and sleuthing abilities to sole the multiple mysteries taking place in "Murder at the Mansion". I adore reading about her and the Silver Sentinals, a quirky group of silver haired regulars that often assist Kelly in her detecting efforts. Janet Finsilver has a way of describing the scenery and events that makes you feel as though you are on the bluff with the salt spray blowing in your face. You can imagine the pod of whale swimming in the ocean. No longer to travel myself I can travel around the world through books that authors share with their readers. Ms. Finsilver is a talented author look forward to seeing more of in the future.
My rating of "Murder at the Mansion" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015MA6EDO/...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murde...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
Author: Janet Finsilver
Published: 6-7-2016
Publisher: Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground
Pages: 190
Genre: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense
Sub Genre: Women's Fiction; Cozy Mystery; Private Investigators: Animals
ISBN: 13: 9781616509316
ASIN: B015MA6EDO
Reviewer: DelAnne
Reviewed For: NetGalley
Rating: 4.5 Stars
I received a copy of "Murder at the Mansion" from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher's Description:
Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .
It's whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson's battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights—a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter's lifeless body, menial tasks don't seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the “Silver Sentinels,” Kelly's on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion's glamorous façade. . .and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!
My Review:
Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove B & B. While investigating the rash of recent thefts at the B & B she finds a guest murdered in her room. At the request of her boss and the police she helps look for the killer. Kelly is an intelligent, savvy woman who uses her connections and sleuthing abilities to sole the multiple mysteries taking place in "Murder at the Mansion". I adore reading about her and the Silver Sentinals, a quirky group of silver haired regulars that often assist Kelly in her detecting efforts. Janet Finsilver has a way of describing the scenery and events that makes you feel as though you are on the bluff with the salt spray blowing in your face. You can imagine the pod of whale swimming in the ocean. No longer to travel myself I can travel around the world through books that authors share with their readers. Ms. Finsilver is a talented author look forward to seeing more of in the future.
My rating of "Murder at the Mansion" is 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015MA6EDO/...
Barnes and Noble link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/murde...
GoodReads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Reading Room link: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.ph...
August 20, 2021
For a series with so much potential, my biggest problem is too many characters populating the books with little or no depth or personality traits for the reader to grasp. Either the author has trouble expressing the qualities of her characters or the editor strips down descriptions to be all but non-existent. This causes the unfortunate effect of everyone blending together into an indistinct mash. A few central characters are fleshed out a bit further in this second book but for the most part characters amount to not much more than a name on the page.
This wouldn’t be an entirely bad thing if the story were a meaty mystery but it’s not. It’s very character driven so the reader is left to flounder trying to figure out who peripheral characters are, how they’re connected to the story and whether they are important to the story or only serving the purpose of redirect or filler.
My final complaints are probably just my issue. In this book we have three different hotel properties each serving as a prominent plot locale. All are in close proximity to each other. Since all property names started with an ‘R’, I had trouble keeping them straight. Redwood Cove B&B, Ridley House and Redwood Heights which are all owned by Resorts International. I’m not sure why the author felt it necessary to have such similar names. There was also a rather convoluted incident between the owner of Resorts International and a former partner. For being a large part of the climactic storyline, it seemed a bit rushed.
That being said, the characters who we have the pleasure to get to know a bit better are enjoyable. I’m hoping in the next installment, when Kelly actually gets to do her job as manager of the B&B, we finally get further background about even more of the “regulars”.
This wouldn’t be an entirely bad thing if the story were a meaty mystery but it’s not. It’s very character driven so the reader is left to flounder trying to figure out who peripheral characters are, how they’re connected to the story and whether they are important to the story or only serving the purpose of redirect or filler.
My final complaints are probably just my issue. In this book we have three different hotel properties each serving as a prominent plot locale. All are in close proximity to each other. Since all property names started with an ‘R’, I had trouble keeping them straight. Redwood Cove B&B, Ridley House and Redwood Heights which are all owned by Resorts International. I’m not sure why the author felt it necessary to have such similar names. There was also a rather convoluted incident between the owner of Resorts International and a former partner. For being a large part of the climactic storyline, it seemed a bit rushed.
That being said, the characters who we have the pleasure to get to know a bit better are enjoyable. I’m hoping in the next installment, when Kelly actually gets to do her job as manager of the B&B, we finally get further background about even more of the “regulars”.
July 16, 2019
This was my second Kelly Jackson mystery. As before Kelly falls into another murder mystery by being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Kelly is now the new manager at the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast and since her B and B is undergoing some upgrades Kelly is assisting with inventorying another Resorts International property called Redwood Heights which is a Victorian-style estate. As Kelly begins her assignment she finds herself assisting in some of the activities at Redwood Heights such as a whale watching tour that takes place on the bluffs above the pacific ocean. While at Redwood Heights Kelly finds that someone has been stealing jewelry from the guests. She also meets a guest named Sylvia Porter who seems to be an especially needy guest. The manager of RH, who is not very hospitable, does not get along with Miss Porter. After the whale tour Sylvia goes to her room to rest and asked Kelly to wake her up so she could attend another activity but when Kelly goes to wake her she finds that she is sitting at the desk and she is dead. She sees a pearl hat pin on the body. She checks for a pulse then leaves to call 9-1-1. When Deputy Sheriff Bill Stanton arrives he does not find the pearl hat pin. As Kelly tries to complete inventory she finds her life at risk. Is she getting to close? Could the murder have something to do with the inventory and what is in the documents she finds in old boxes? There is a lot of anxiety, twists, and turns in the book which makes it a really good mystery.
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