Murder in the Pines

The Nora Finnegan Mysteries #1

by Kathryn Gualtieri

The year is 1921 in Carmel-By-The-Sea, California. Fresh out of Mills College, Nora Finnegan aims for a journalist's career at a time when her peers are marrying and bearing children. Hired by the publisher of the Carmel Pine Cone, the fledgling reporter is eager to tackle meaningful topics, not the mundane stories that he assigns her. When he grudgingly gives her more significant subjects to cover, Nora finds herself reporting on a heated conflict over an East Coast developer's proposal to build a hotel on Carmel's unspoiled white sand beach. Although she attempts to maintain objectivity, Nora's sympathies lie with the townspeople -- the Bohemian artists and writesr who are determined to protect their habitat. First one prominent person and then another are murdered. Nora's tenacious inquiry into their deaths make her a target by someone intent on silencing her. (Book jacket)

Genres: Mystery

252 pages, Perfect Paperback

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[vidula]

a charming, fun cozy mystery! aka the perfect way to start the 2026 reading year :)

RTC

[Jeff Scroggin]

This book is a fun read for those who are familiar with the little town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. The author does a nice job recreating the Carmel of old times and has clearly done quite a bit of research to provide an entertaining window into the past. The text is quite readable yet perhaps a bit lackluster.

[Vallery Feldman]

I started reading this book while at Asilomar, the conference center originally designed by Julia Morgan. Julia is a character in the story along with other historical people. The writing is a bit pedestrian but the sense of place is terrific. Also the historical fact, which are very well woven into the story. even though I wanted to slap Nora the protagonist a few times, I recommend the book. Epecailly if you are staying anywhere near Monterey, Carmel or Asilomar, California.

[Susan]

It was a fun read. I liked how the author weaved in real places and real people into the story.

[Jmb Barrett]

Enjoyed it.

[Margaret Leonard]

I truly wanted to like this book….just impossible to finish. Sorry.

[Karen Hough]

Very very enjoyable. A nice light read. Full of local Carmel color and underpinned with Carmel history. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

[Sep]

Ms. Guiltier takes the reader on a great trip back in time to Carmel, California in the 1920's. Nora Finnegan, a fictional character, is a girl reporter on the real newspaper "Carmel Pine Cone" which is still published today. Her boss thinks lady reporters should write about womanly things like what the local hotels are serving for Thanksgiving. Her parents think she should be back in San Francisco meeting eligible young men. Nora is concerned about the two dead bodies that show up and the fact that some big businessman wants to build a hotel on the unspoiled beach. The book includes photographs of several building that are mentioned in the book and are still around today.

[Camilla]

This was a fun - quick-read - murder mystery set in Carmel-by-the-Sea during the 1920s. Nora is an aspiring journalist who finds herself investigating the murder of a real estate developer. Being local to the setting, I wasn't sure if any of the story was rooted in reality as there were historical figures in the novel. As I mentioned, fun read and one that doesn't take too long to get through.

[Alaina Sloo]

A cozy mystery, set in 1920s Carmel-by-the-Sea, California with a great sense of the place and time, especially the Bohemian culture of coastal California after the San Francisco earthquake and the life of women.

[Jenn]

Fun murder mystery incorporating the history of 1920's Carmel. Includes a woman reporter for the Carmel Pine Cone and her experiences investigating and reporting on a series of murders...

[Moya]

I enjoyed all the local Carmel references and the main character is engaging. The mystery was OK enough. The cover art is unfortunate.