Under the Pink Moon (Cordelia Corbett Mysteries Book 3)

Murder and Secrets Beneath the Coastal Moonlight

Cordelia Corbett planned a tranquil escape with her sisters and friends—sunset views, seaside stops, and time away from the bustle of Point Pleasant Beach. But when a woman's desperate cry pierces the night at an Ocean City marina, their vacation turns sharply into a high-stakes investigation.

Under the Pink Moon draws Cordelia and her loyal circle into a complex web of secrets aboard a luxury yacht, where a staged death leads to a real murder. As they navigate entangled relationships, a drug smuggling ring, and the shadow of false accusations, the stakes rise with every revelation. With local tourism hanging in the balance and danger creeping closer to home, Cordelia must work with—and sometimes against—the authorities to find the truth.

Join Cordelia and her crew as they follow a trail of betrayal, justice, and resilience in this compelling third installment of the Cordelia Corbett Mysteries by J.T. Kunkel.

Start reading Under the Pink Moon today and uncover what lurks beneath calm waters.

Excerpt from the book

After throwing in the last bag, I slammed the back hatch on my Jeep Wrangler. I hoped it and the other bags didn’t fall out as we headed down the road. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had forgotten something, but I always felt that way before embarking on a long trip.

My sisters, Katie and Lily, my friend and boss, Sally Kohr McIntosh, and my surrogate daughter, Shelby Irons, came running out of the kitchen door as I considered going back upstairs to check what I’d forgotten one last time.

Sally commented, “Well, you look lost in thought. I hope you’re not thinking about work. I’ve already forgotten about ice cream completely.”

I chuckled. “Nope. That’s the last thing I’m thinking of. That new girl, Thea, pretty much makes us unnecessary.”

She gave me her crooked grin. “You’re right about that. I rarely come out front anymore. She’ll make a good supervisor one of these days.” She thought about it, then decided to continue. “You know, Cordelia, it’s all right if you decide to start investigating full-time. I know it’s your first love.”

I hugged her. “You know me so well. But I’d never leave you in the lurch.”

She motioned at the sky. “Well, honey, it’s fall, so I’m probably not going to need you around for much longer. I’m just letting you down easy.”

I mock-pushed her away. “Oh, I see how it is. This is how you get rid of your best friend.”

She laughed. “Well, we struggle to stay open until Thanksgiving, but that’s with a skeleton crew. So, if Thea stays, I probably won’t need you, and you can do what you love to do.”

I thought about her offer. “I don’t know, Sally. I love being an amateur sleuth. I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a professional. First of all, I have no training. I’d probably have to go back to school, and while that wouldn’t be all bad, I just don’t know. I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. I’m glad we’re taking this vacation. Getting away might clear my head.”

Katie interrupted. “Hey, are we going to stand around here all day jabbering, or are we going to hit the road?”

Shelby mock-whined. “I can’t believe you guys are going without me.”

I hugged her. “Oh, I bet you can’t wait for us to leave so you can have the house to yourself. Who was that guy you said you liked in your poli sci class? You’d better not have him over here.”

She reddened a little. “Oh, he doesn’t know I exist. He’s always flirting with that Susie Fragale, the one with the big—oh, you know, she’s well-endowed, kind of like you.” She rolled her eyes.

I pulled her close again. “Well, you’ve got many of your own irresistible qualities.” I ran back into the house, doing one last check, yelling behind me, “He’d be lucky to have you, and I’m sure he’ll figure out soon enough that you’ve got a lot more to offer than some pom-pom shaker.”

I ran upstairs, looking around my bedroom to ensure I didn’t forget anything critical. It wasn’t like I couldn’t buy most things if I forgot them, like a toothbrush or suntan lotion. I just wanted to ease that unexplainable, uneasy feeling I had.