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!
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
I continue to enjoy Janet Finsilver's Kelly Jackson series that began with Murder at Redwood Cove. In this second installment, Kelly finds herself looking into the owners and the history of that grand old Victorian estate. The old mansion is filled to the rafters with secrets, and I loved watching Kelly discover each one.
There are two more things I continue to enjoy about this series: the fact that Finsilver includes working dogs with unusual occupations in each book, and the group of senior citizens called the Silver Sentinels. Murder at the Mansion introduces readers to two beagles named Jack and Jill whose job most people would prefer to be neither seen nor heard. (No, I'm not spilling the beans!) As far as the Silver Sentinels go, these "old folks" are excellent when it comes to searching all sorts of dusty records and getting in touch with all their contacts to glean even more information. They're also top-notch babysitters and caring, generous friends. Finsilver's series is all the better for their presence.
Kelly Jackson is a strong main character, and I certainly appreciate the fact that she doesn't panic in an emergency-- nor does she wait for someone else to come to her rescue. My kind of gal!
Weighing in at just under two hundred pages, reading Murder at the Mansion was an enjoyable experience. It's certainly nice to read a lean, tight mystery without a lot of filler that still shows progress with character development. I'm looking forward to March 2017 when the third book Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table will be available.
There are two more things I continue to enjoy about this series: the fact that Finsilver includes working dogs with unusual occupations in each book, and the group of senior citizens called the Silver Sentinels. Murder at the Mansion introduces readers to two beagles named Jack and Jill whose job most people would prefer to be neither seen nor heard. (No, I'm not spilling the beans!) As far as the Silver Sentinels go, these "old folks" are excellent when it comes to searching all sorts of dusty records and getting in touch with all their contacts to glean even more information. They're also top-notch babysitters and caring, generous friends. Finsilver's series is all the better for their presence.
Kelly Jackson is a strong main character, and I certainly appreciate the fact that she doesn't panic in an emergency-- nor does she wait for someone else to come to her rescue. My kind of gal!
Weighing in at just under two hundred pages, reading Murder at the Mansion was an enjoyable experience. It's certainly nice to read a lean, tight mystery without a lot of filler that still shows progress with character development. I'm looking forward to March 2017 when the third book Murder at the Fortune Teller's Table will be available.
