I grew up spending my allowance on Nancy Drew books, graduated to Agatha Christie books in junior high, and read through the entire cozy-mystery section of the bookstore from high school on. I knew I wanted to write something capturing those experiences, and after a while, I started thinking mystery would be the way to do it. They have lots of words like “yaffle,” which is an armload of dried fish, in case you were wondering. Newfoundland is hard to get to, and I didn’t feel I had a grasp of the dialect. I was hoping to capture some of that wonderful feeling and experience on the page, but I didn’t know how to do it at first. I have fond childhood memories of climbing the island’s granite boulders, picking wild blueberries, making steamed puddings in my grandmother’s kitchen, and going out to fish on the cold, cold water at six in the morning with my grandfather. It’s set in Cranberry Island, Maine, and is in many ways an homage to Pool’s Island, Newfoundland, where I visited my grandparents every summer (many of the names in the book are surnames from that part of the world).

My first series, the Gray Whale Inn mysteries, starts with Murder on the Rocks, which also happens to be the first book I ever wrote. I love creating a cozy, warm world for my readers to escape to when everyday life just seems too glum for words. 'MacInerney is at her whimsical best in her fourth visit to the charming Gray Whale Inn on Cranberry Island, Maine.Hi! I’m Karen MacInerney, and I’m the author of several mystery series, including the Agatha-nominated Gray Whale Inn mysteries and the Dewberry Farm mysteries. 'The satisfying conclusion will whet the reader's appetite for Natalie's next adventure.'- Publishers Weekly 'The fourth in this pleasant cozy series highlights the glories of Maine, which this time include several recipes chock-full of cranberries.'- Kirkus Reviews Will she solve the mystery and find the killer in time? Or will Natalie be the next to join the lost ship's crew, down in Davy Jones' locker? Natalie finds herself immersed in the world of pirates and sunken treasure, both past and present.

It's good news for Natalie-and for the Gray Whale Inn-until a body turns up floating near the wreck.

Soon the island is swarming with marine archaeologists and treasure hunters. Is the wreck the remains of the Myra Barton, the missing ship of island sea captain Jonah Selfridge? Or the elusive Black Marguerite, which belonged to one of the most notorious pirates of the 17th century and vanished without a trace-except for the ghost ship that old-timers say roams the water on fog-shrouded nights? When a lobsterman discovers a sunken ship, Cranberry Island is abuzz with excitement.

Murder on the rocks by karen macinerney