This book is the sixth book in the Kelly Jackson mystery series. This book had an interesting spin on the traditional cozy mystery, as it included missing people and poachers. I enjoyed the story quite a bit and had no problem getting to the know the characters despite this being the first novel in the series I've read. Kelly Jackson utilizes the help of the Silver Sentinels, a group of seniors who are interested in solving crimes. I really liked that these seniors seemed to have distinct personalities and were not the typical quirky seniors complaining of aches and pains and getting away with acting strange because of their age.

I thought this was an interesting premise for the book with the multiple layers and I would be interested to read the other books in this series.

A copy of this book was provided to me by #NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for my honest opinion.

This follows the Silver Sentinels and Kelly Jackson find themselves introducing new people to things offered at the Redwood Cove B and B along the way Michael whose idea it was for the bed and breakfast among other things and a chef visiting end up kidnapped and another chef disappears Kelly finds herself deep in a search and rescue situation.

They also learn about poachers in the area stealing plants that are worth quite a penny on the market. While avoiding the poachers Kelly uses her witt and a dog to get to the bottom of what is going. They also help Phil get out from under a murder wrap of his friend.

Will Kelly and the Sentinels figure out in time or will she be checking out next? This book is such fun I love the Sentinels and what they bring to the story and I love how Kelly is like a dog with a bone and won't give up until she figures it out! Definitely a series I will continue if you haven't read it your missing out a fabulous mystery!

I really loved this book in a new to my series. Tha characters and location really and to the story. I can't wait to read the next one. This book keeps you guessing until the end

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I've enjoyed the previous books in this series, so when I was in the mood for a familiar cozy mystery series I decided to pick this one up. Returning to this series always feels like spending time with familiar characters and it's always fun to pick up another book in this series. This was again a great read and I liked seeing all the plot lines develop.

Murder in the Wine Country has a lot going on, at times I thought it might be too much for one book, but it sure made for an engaging read. There is this big event that the main character's boss is putting together which forms the backdrop for a lot of the story. Then there are poachers who are active and a dead body. Kelly and the Silver Sentinels have to band together again to help solve this mystery. And then there are plenty of smaller side plot lines regarding the characters that are progressing as well.

So this book actually had multiple mysteries sort of running alongside each other, at first it was unclear what was related and what not, but that worked to keep the mystery up. I enjoyed seeing how everything developed, but looking back it did feel like a certain mystery was put on the back burner for most of the middle of the book and then got resolved rather quickly toward the end. There wasn't as much figuring out suspects and finding clues, both mysteries were rather straightforward and most of the tension was in seeing how it all played out. With everything going on it definitely held my attention even with the mystery being not as strong as in some of the other books.

As this is book 6 in the series I really enjoy spending time with the by now familiar characters. Seeing the silver sentinels and Kelly try and solve the mysteries and seeing the intricacies of each of the characters. Then there is Helen and her son Tommy, the local law enforcement officer, Scott, as well as Phill, Daniel and other characters Kelly knows through her work. It has a rich cast of characters and it's a joy spending time with all of them. Through the previous books I've gotten to know all of them, so even tough it's a large amount of characters it's never confusion. Then there is a whole new group of characters related to the event and some side plot lines regarding them that progress throughout the story.

To summarize: I enjoyed returning to this series for another great cozy mystery read and spending time with the by now familiar characters. This book has a lot going on with some main mysteries as well as various side plot lines, but it all works out and made for an engaging read. Looking back I did feel like one of the mysteries was put on hold for a large section of the book. The murder mystery was resolved rather easily by the end and lacked the longer looking for clues parts other books have due to the other mystery going taking place as well. It still made for a great read and I liked the unique twist to have two mysteries going on in the same book. One of my favorite parts of this series is spending time with all the characters again and seeing what's going on. There are some character related side plot lines as well and I liked reading it and seeing how everything developed.

Murder in the Wine Country

by Janet Finsilver

Redwood Cove is an isolated community in northern California. The wealthy Michael Corrigan, owner of Resorts International, is not the stereotypical rich businessman with cutthroat motives and actions. He is boss to Scott, manager of Redwood Cove Community Center, and to Kelly, manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. Always looking for ways to help others, especially veterans, Michael is hosting an exclusive event for other wealthy philanthropists with the goal of providing a model of community support that he hopes will inspire them to implement similar programs in their own communities.

Problems have arisen in the little town with the presence of plant poachers who are digging up a certain plant that is popular in China and smuggling them out of the country. In the midst of this event, wardens warn visiting chefs, who are encouraged to forage for edible plants in the area to showcase in their culinary creations, of potential danger from these smugglers. When there is a death, a robbery, and three missing people, Kelly and the Silver Sentinels, a group of seniors who use their skills to help solve crimes, gather at Kelly’s B&B and get to work.

Other mainstay characters are involved in Janet Finsilver’s Murder in the Wine Country. My favorites are Tommy, a sweet boy with Asperger’s, and his Basset hound Fred. Deputy Stanton enjoys spending time with Tommy working on projects and with Tommy’s mom Helen, a widow who works at the inn. There is certainly potential for romance between them in future books. Scott and Kelly also have romantic inclinations, but the author doesn’t rush the characters into relationships. Another interesting character is Julie, a visiting chef who has a service dog Rex, who is not only a faithful companion, but can warn her of an impending epileptic seizure. He plays an important role in the story.

The plot moves along at a nice pace. Kelly’s investigations are successful to the point of putting her in danger of losing her life. The Silver Sentinels are ready to help at a moment’s notice as are other community members who aren’t even involved. The setting is great, but it’s the people who make Redwood Cove the kind of place you might want to live.

I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Lyrical Underground (Kensington Press) for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #6 in the Kelly Jackson Mystery Series, but as the author provides good support for readers who are just beginning the series, I have no hesitation in recommending it as a standalone.

Publication: April 28, 2020— Lyrical Underground (Kensington Press)

Memorable Lines:

I had my own rescue bag of sorts. Years ago, I had vowed I would always stop to help a loose animal that was in danger, even if it meant missing an important appointment or an airplane flight. This was after watching car after car whiz by a shaking dog stranded on an island of a busy street, no one stopping to help.

Mary handed me a plate with a chocolate brownie studded with chunks of chocolate. Coffee and chocolate, my two favorites. I might recover after all.

For a split second, I considered not saying anything regarding the incident but immediately rejected the thought. He’d asked about the rest of the afternoon. Omitting was a form of lying, and I wouldn’t go there.

Murder in the Wine Country by Janet Finsilver takes us back to Red Cove, California. Kelly Jackson, manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is participating in an event to raise awareness on the plight of veterans. Kelly is looking forward the foraging expedition to look for edible greens. She is surprised when the game warden advises them to go in pairs because of poachers making off with a rare succulent, Dudleya farinose. The Silver Sentinels need a new project, so they begin looking into the poaching problem. Before the events can begin, a friend of Phil’s, Eric Stapleton is killed. Eric was acting as a consultant on the sale of the Sagatini Winery. Everyone is shocked when Phil ends up at the top of the suspect list. Kelly and the Silver Sentinels set out prove his innocence. Murder in the Wine Country is the 6th A Kelly Jackson Mystery. Each book in this charming series can be read on its own. I like the variety of characters in this series especially the Silver Sentinels. Tommy, Helen’s son, is a cutie who is full of energy. The setting of Redwood Cove is just lovely. The author’s vivid word imagery brings the setting to life. I found Murder in the Wine Country to be well-written and engaging with the story moving along at a steady pace. It was interesting learning about edible greens. The chefs make some tasty dishes with their foraged ingredients. I appreciate that the romance between Scott and Kelly moves along slowly. The spend time together when they can, and they are taking their time getting to know each other. The mystery had a couple of different components to it (which I loved). I liked that Kelly took a more active sleuthing role in this book. It is always entertaining following Kelly and the Silver Sentinels as they dig up clues and uncover the guilty party. Murder in the Wine Country has a great conclusion that nicely wraps up the mysteries. Murder in the Wine Country is a diverting cozy mystery with foraging for flora, wonderful wines, succulent stealers, valiant veterans, and a perplexing puzzle.

Sorry I did not get to read this book before it was archived. I will keep an eye out for it.

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Local wineries in Redwood Cove are sponsoring tastings, in preparation for a cooking competition where professional chefs will cook with wild edible greens that they found in the local forest. Kelly Jackson, the manager at the B&B wants to join in even though she has been warned about poachers, who have been stealing a locally growing wild rare succulent, Dudleya farinosa. The Silver Sentinels, who normally only investigate mysterious events decide to join forces with environmental activists known as the Succulent Saviors to catch the poachers. When a wine merchant is found murdered in the forest and others begin to disappear, Kelly and the Silver Sentinels are back investigating as normal, but the circumstances aren't normal.

This mystery had me on the edge of my chair waiting for the rescues or tragedies - wasn't sure what was going to happen.

Love the locale and characters - read it with a glass of wine!

This was an enjoyable cozy mystery With a wonderful setting. I would love to visit the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast. The writing style is atmospheric and rich in detail. I look forward to more of this series.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Plant poaching? Who knew?”

Murder in the Wine Country is the first book I’ve read by Janet Finsilver – and, therefore, the first book I’ve read in the Kelly Jackson mysteries. While there was a little bit of a learning curve as far as learning who everyone was & how they were connected, overall I think it works perfectly well as a standalone.

Kelly is a very likable heroine, the kind of amateur sleuth who wisely calls the police when needed… though she certainly also has moments where she jumps in to save the day at risk of her own life. She’s also the kind of character who genuinely seems to care about other people, and even as a fairly recent transplant to the area she has a wide circle of friends. These friends – from romantic interest Scott (any mystery purists needn’t worry – it’s a very very light romance thread) to local law enforcement, wine people (makers & tasters), Helen & Tommy (and of course doggy Fred), and the Silver Sentinels. The latter – a group of senior citizen amateur sleuths – is a delight to follow. Their dedication to crime solving and their intuitive natures, as well as their unique personalities, keep a smile on your face anytime they are on the page.

The mystery in Murder in the Wine Country is actually multi-layered. There’s a murder (as the title suggests) but also plant poaching in the area, wine theft, and a couple of missing people. Kelly & the Sentinels certainly have their jobs cut out for them as they race to clear a friend & solve the crimes before anyone else gets hurt! I enjoyed the progression of the clues & the reveal of the culprit(s) – it all was presented with a steady pace and clever plotting that easily holds your attention & keeps you engaged in the outcome.

Bottom Line: Murder in the Wine Country by Janet Finsilver is a smooth, easy read with charming characters and a picturesque setting. From exotic plant poaching to murder and everything in between, the mysteries in this cozy keep Kelly & the Sentinels busy and readers on their toes too. A delightful installment for fans of this genre and of the series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book

I love this series set in Wine Country. The characters continue to grow as the series does. The story is well crafted and comes to a logical conclusion without taking a leap of faith at the end.

Princess Fuzzypants here: I have enjoyed the previous books in the series. Kelly is a very capable, strong lady who runs the B & B owned by a very rich philanthropist businessman. She is a transplanted cowgirl whose skills on the range come in very handy when dealing with the bad guys in this book. And there are two sets of bad guys she must deal with.
One set are poachers who steal a rare but treasured plant for the Chinese market and manage to veer into kidnapping in the process to avoid being caught. Since the kidnapped people are close to Kelly, she feels compelled to help find them. She enlists the help of her extremely capable seniors and between them, Kelly is able to hunt down the villains and free the captives. It’s a pretty exciting story line but it is resolved fairly early in the book.
The tougher one to solve is the theft of wine for which her friend is being framed. There is also an “accident’ that kills another friend and Kelly believes the two events are related. She is absolutely correct but when she realizes who is responsible, she is put in another dicey situation. Again, Kelly must have been a Boy Scout because she is always prepared. It’s nice to see a heroine who doesn’t go foolishly into dangerous situations but when they occur, is able to think her way out. Kudos for finding the fine line.
Five purrs and two paws up.

Murder Mars Festivities.....
A Kelly Jackson Mystery, book six, finds the manager of Redwood Cove Bed & Breakfast busy preparing for a veterans event. Murder soon mars the festivities however and Kelly, along with the Silver Sentinels, decides to help justice along. Enjoyable cosy and a worthy addition to the series.

“Murder in the Wine Country” includes two mysteries to be solved. Innkeeper Kelly works with members of her community to devise a special weekend, designed for philanthropists who might be interested in creating a community like Redwood Cove. When one of the presenters is killed, Kelly joins with the Silver Sentinels to look into the situation. Poachers, a possible kidnapping, forgery, and theft combine to make two differently dangerous mysteries in which Kelly involves herself. The book wraps up with an overview of what the Redwood Cove community is all about. This information would have made more sense to me if it came at the beginning of the novel.

The characters are quirky and interesting, although the plot seems to drag at times. While I enjoyed the book, the two plots running parallel to each other seemed confusing at times. They could just as likely have been written as two novellas, which may have been more enjoyable to readers. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The author provides enough information at the end to lead into the next book in the series. This is a cozy mystery with no overt or descriptive violence, adult situations, or “colorful” language.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

The sixth book in the Kelly Jackson Mystery series by Janet Finsilver had another interesting story. I am always amazed that each of these books highlights a new activity and I always learn something from the story. Kelly Jackson, the manager of Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is participating in an event to help struggling veterans. This is a cause near and dear to her boss, Michael, who plays a large role in this story. One of the activities has guest chefs foraging for edible greens for the culinary competition and local wineries are sponsoring tastings. There is also a storyline about plant poaching. I had never heard of this before, so that was quite interesting. Along with the poaching there is also a murder and kidnapping. Lots to keep me interesting in this story.

I really enjoy the characters in this series, especially The Silver Sentinels. They are amazing and I hope I can be like them when I read their age. The other secondary characters all play a role in the story and in Kelly's life. They make the book very interesting and Redwood Cove is a place I would love to visit. Kelly manages to get herself involved in all the mysteries going on, yet she doesn't do anything reckless. I did not figure out who the murderer was until just before the reveal and the final showdown was excellent. I really enjoy Janet Finsilver's writing style. She is descriptive, has good dialogue and well developed characters. I definitely recommend this story and series to cozy mystery lovers.

I enjoyed all of the previous books in this series, about a manager at an inn in N. California, along with a group of senior citizens (the Silver Sentinels) who help her solve crimes. A previous complaint was that it seemed as though she never actually is shown doing her job (always seems to be away from the inn, sleuthing). That complaint is somewhat resoled in this episode of the series, as she does seem to do a little work by delivering food to the guests. The mystery is complex and the characters (including several new ones) are unique. The thing I love most about this series is the concept behind the center that the rich man (Michael) has developed. I wish there were someone who would start doing this--helping veterans rebuild their lives, providing courses for senior citizens, and in general, helping a community. It truly is a good model.

I feel like this series is one of those extremely well kept secrets and we need to get the secret out!!

I love everything about the Kelly Jackson Mysteries... the plot, the setting, the characters, and the mysteries. This series has something for everyone. The setting of Redwood Cove is to die for, no pun intended. The characters are all very well developed, likable, and they all play their part in the stories. From Tommy, the child with Asperger Syndrome, and his dog Fred to all the Silver Sentinels, there is definitely a character for you. There is always a new hobby or event to explore in town and Janet Finsilver has a way of making you feel like you are experiencing it with the cast.

In this installment, its a wine tasting event. When an accident and burglary turn out to be more sinister than originally suspected, Kelly and Silver Sentinels are on the case.

One other thing that really sticks out in the later novels, the charity developed for the aid and care of Veterans. This is a subject near and dear to my heart and the author does a great job bringing awareness.

This series is one of my favorite Cozy Mystery Series, it is carefree and entertaining. I love a series with senior sleuths. These books are easily one sitting reads and I highly recommending binging this series.

I had an advanced digital copy from NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corporation. I also had this book in audio format. The narrator, Reba Buhr, did a fabulous job.

I am looking forward to a book 7 and more adventures at Redwood Cove.

This was one of the most exciting books in the series with several places where I just couldn't read fast enough to see what happened. Needless to say, reading this book makes a person not want to budge and do anything else. I really enjoyed that Kelly's boss Michael got a much bigger part in this book than I ever remember from before. His work with the veterans especially those with PTSD was so admirable, and being the nice guy that he was, he never tried to talk up his own achievements.

I had the killer pegged fairly early on, but my reason was completely off. It was really cool how three couples may have been brought together by this whole ordeal. And as always, I just love the seniors who make up the Silver Sentinels, the group that welcomed Kelly into their meetings and enjoyed a good investigation. They definitely had their hands full this time with a murder, missing persons, someone being framed and plant poaching.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This has become one of my favorite cozy series and it was a pleasure to escape our real world problems to spend time with Kelly and the Silver Sentinels in Redwood Cove. This time Kelly is front and center regarding the investigating with assistance from the Silver Sentinels. She is the manager of the Redwood Cove B&B and is involved with a charity event to aid veterans. It will involve wine tasting and various chefs will go out into the woods to forage for edible plants. Sounds harmless enough but they are warned that there have been plant poachers in the area and they might be trouble. Do they have something to do with the recent local crime wave and a murder? Kelly sets out to find the killer when the police focus on a friend of hers as their prime suspect. The wonderful group of seniors are ready to give her all the help she needs. I have to say, I wouldn't find hanging out with them myself.
This is a very well crafted mystery series with well developed characters and complex puzzles to unravel. Twists, turns and red herrings abound and each mystery has left me a very satisfied reader. If you are new to this delightful series, don't hesitate to start with this entry. It stands alone very well but you will probably want to get your hands on the previous five mysteries so you can play catchup.
My thanks to the publisher Lyrical Underground and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Murder in the Wine Country is the sixth book in the 'A Kelly Jackson Mystery' series. In this instalment, an event to raise awareness for the plight of struggling veterans is taking place in Redwood Cove, Northern California. Kelly Jackson, manager of the Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast, is excited to be participating. Local wineries are sponsoring tastings, and professional chefs will forage for wild edible greens to prepare for a culinary competition. Michael Corrigan from Resorts International, the organisation responsible for hosting the event, has brought in advisers warning the community to be vigilant as plant poachers have been operating in the area. The succulent Dudleya farinosa, a popular plant and a status symbol of Chinese middle-class families, is very highly priced. In addition to the problem of poaching, a wave of crimes occur in the area, and Kelly and the Silver Sentinels (the name a bunch of senior sleuths and town residents have given themselves) find they have to decide which crime to focus on.

Although this was my first book in the series, I adored this novel and I had no trouble keeping up with the events and the characters! It had a great setting - I love books that have a seaside location, as I live near the coast myself so there is always a connection there. Janet Finsilver made great use of the locale - there was a real sense of community and a general buoyant vibe. This, as well as a town full of misdeed, made it a brilliant backdrop for a murder investigation.

Murder in the Wine Country saw the return of protagonist Kelly, who had the necessary attributes of any great sleuth - intelligence, curiosity and attention to detail. This book had many of the components that make a really good story: from the mood and undercurrents to the very clever writing. The details of the plot were brilliantly executed and every chapter left me with a compelling need to read on. The finale is perfectly satisfactory, with all loose ends neatly tied up. I highly recommend Murder in the Wine Country to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries. This is a novel I really enjoyed, and I very much look forward to my next outing with Kelly and the Silver Sentinels!

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.