Under the Wire (Cordelia Corbett Mysteries Book 4)

A Double Death. A Twisted Trial. A Case That Won’t Let Go.

Cordelia Corbett was hoping for a quiet escape in North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But when one woman falls to her death from the iconic Currituck Lighthouse and her twin sister’s body washes ashore days later, peace is the last thing she finds. Drawn into a tangled investigation that spans multiple states, Cordelia and her team unravel a web of jealous exes, suspicious coworkers, and shadowy figures watching from afar.

As the case unfolds, new deaths emerge, legal lines blur, and a shocking confession threatens to derail the search for truth. With each revelation, the question deepens: is justice being served—or cleverly evaded?

Under the Wire is a layered mystery of murder, misdirection, and legal ambiguity—the fourth installment in the Cordelia Corbett Mysteries series by J.T. Kunkel.

Get your copy of Under the Wire and follow Cordelia into the murky depths of a case that refuses to stay closed.

Excerpt from the book

May 2022

Corolla (Outer Banks), North Carolina

“Hallelujah!” I yelled as I pulled into the driveway of the beachfront rental house. My sisters, Katie and Lily, had attempted this long-awaited trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina, but due to my bright idea to make a side trip on the way down, we never made it.

Katie laughed. “I’m not surprised you stayed on 95 instead of attempting another trek down the Delmarva. That set us back big-time last year.”

Lily joked, “Are you kidding? Had she gotten off any exit that would have even led us to suspect a side trip, we would have taken over driving immediately.”

Sally’s Tesla pulled in behind us, and the rest of the crew—Mo, Jackie, and Shelby—poured out.

I admired her new ride. “I can’t believe you finally gave in to the temptation of Elon Musk.”

She laughed. “Well, he is pretty cute. Besides, the idea of not polluting the atmosphere was pretty appealing.”

I reminded her. “Let’s not even talk about the half-life of one of those batteries.”

She scolded me. “Typical nonbeliever. Can’t you just be happy for me while you drive your 1980 Jeep Wrangler, killing generations of people, rainforests, and melting glaciers?”

I rolled my eyes. “Oh please. Can we have a vacation without politics?”

She agreed and we hugged. “Still best friends?”

I kissed her on the lips. “Of course. And you know if I was ever going to switch teams, you’d be the one for me.”

She frowned. “Well, I’d have to switch teams too, which isn’t happening any time in this century.” She then smiled and winked. “Although, you’re a pretty good kisser.”

Shelby rolled her eyes. “When you two are done making out, could you help with the bags? I want to get to the beach.”

Our six-bedroom oceanfront house with a pool, hot tub, and sauna was costing a mint, but there were seven of us to split the $1800 per night, so we figured it was around the cost of a hotel, give or take. We justified it that way anyway. Besides, we were all doing pretty well financially. Sally was running Kohrs. Mo and Jackie owned I’m A Local Beach House Café. Shelby was waiting tables while she went to school, and her tips were astronomical. A college girl in a college town could make out well, especially when she worked the after-bar hours. Of course, my sisters made enough to live in Westchester County, New York, and hire au pairs to take care of the kids. Yes, they both had one now. Lily had gone back to work as an attorney, and their life was pretty much back to normal. And my investigation business was thriving, now with three contracts: Point, Ocean City, Maryland, and Elkton, Maryland, which I got through a referral from the Ocean City contract, even though I didn’t solve their case. It was all about relationships.

Speaking of relationships, as soon as we got settled in the house, Jackie asked, “So how did your first date with Lieutenant Stone go? I can’t believe he waited six months to ask you out after he made sure you were available after Clint and you ended things.”