Under the September Sun (Cordelia Corbett Mysteries Book 8)

Under the September Sun

A murder on the Point Pleasant Beach boardwalk pulls private investigator Cordelia Corbett into a case that refuses to stay local. When a homeless man named Simon Falcone is found shot, Cordelia and the team at Women Investigating the World begin following a trail of uneasy relationships, hidden motives, and evidence that points far beyond the Jersey Shore.

Their investigation leads to France, where world-famous fashion model Francesca Wilder becomes central to a mystery shaped by jealousy, betrayal, and conflicting stories. But even after the courtroom has its say, Cordelia is left with doubts. Too many questions remain unanswered, and the truth may still be waiting on the other side of the Atlantic.

Under the September Sun is a character-driven cozy mystery with international intrigue, courtroom tension, and the close-knit friendships that define the Cordelia Corbett Mysteries series. As Cordelia, Sally, and Shelby balance personal change with the growing demands of their investigative agency, they must decide whether justice has truly been served—or whether the real killer is still out there.

Read Under the September Sun, Book 8 in the Cordelia Corbett Mysteries series by J.T. Kunkel.

Excerpt from the book

September 2023

My best friend, Sally McIntosh Kohr, and my surrogate daughter and business partner, Shelby Irons, and I were at one of the most appealing used car lots in Point Pleasant Beach, Triple M Motors. I had driven by here hundreds of times, and they always seemed to have attractive used cars at reasonable prices. Jimmy and Angelo seemed to be playing it straight with us. They gave us a complete background on every vehicle I showed any interest in and let us browse and test drive to our hearts’ delight.

Before my thirty-plus-year-old Jeep Wrangler was stolen right from under us by a woman who locked us in my basement while attempting to escape and rendezvous with her boyfriend, I wasn’t planning on getting a new vehicle. But, as luck would have it, when a high-speed chase ensued by the Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, she ended up totaling my Jeep, as well as spending several weeks in the hospital before she was transferred to a holding cell.

After my fifth test drive, Sally asked, “Are you sure you’re ready to move on? It seems like whenever you get close to buying something, you come up with a reason not to buy it. It’s like you feel guilty to buy anything other than your precious Jeep.”

I whined. “Well, she and I have been through a lot. It feels like losing a dog that I’ve had for years and years and just bringing home a new one to replace it. They all seem cute and nice, but it’s hard to pull the trigger.”

Shelby nodded. “So, it really is guilt. There was nothing you could do. You know that, right?”

I wasn’t sure I agreed. “I’ve replayed that scene a hundred times in my head. She grabbed the keys just before she locked us in the basement. I could have grabbed them from her and avoided the whole thing. I just wasn’t thinking quickly enough. I don’t even know if she was familiar with the pistol she had in her purse.”

She smiled. “You had no way of knowing that. There was no point in putting our lives in danger for a vehicle. I know you loved that car, but you’re taking this a little far. It’s time to move on. Think of what your car would have wanted. What did you call her again?” She rolled her eyes. “Oh yeah, Wanda the Wrangler. I think she would have wanted you to move on.” She was starting to get impatient. “There must be a vehicle that you’ve always wanted before you had your Jeep.”

I considered it. “Well, this might not be the most practical idea, but I’ve always loved Mini Coopers.”

She groaned. “So, you’re going to try to stuff me in the back of a sardine can now? At least the Jeep had some room in the back.”