Time Under Tension (A Kelsey James Fitness Mystery)

As the daughter of the local police chief, mysteries and murders are not new to Kelsey James, who loves her work as a personal trainer and enjoys time with her best friend, Justin. Tina is a newish client at the gym, who turns to Kelsey for solace and aid when Tina’s mother is brutally murdered. Of course all attention is placed on her dad, an obvious suspect, which is exacerbated when Tina is forcefully kidnapped from the gym by a masked man. Though Kelsey learns that Tina’s family took Tina in an effort to keep her safe, it just raises more questions. When Justin and Kelsey return to her apartment to find Tina’s dad ready to help, offering up an alibi that puts him in the clear, Kelsey has to look back at her list of potential murderers. Concern for Tina’s safety increases, so she is placed in protective custody, but there is a leak in the police department. With help from Kelsey’s father, the Chief of Police and one of the few people she trusts, Kelsey hopes this mystery is solved before another body is found.

Kelsey’s emphasis on family, friends and forgiveness makes this a cozy mystery along the lines of Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone series and Charlaine Harris’s Lily Bard series. While Kelsey sometimes resorts to a “strong male” to help her out of a sticky situation, she gains in confidence and determination as she gains knowledge about the case. The fact that Kelsey is a gym trainer is a refreshing take on the contemporary mystery novel, though not uncommon but definitely a nice change and something the author knows well. This debut novel also includes another refreshing take – the mixed gender friendship that truly is between good friends. Justin and Kelsey cheer each other on, both at the gym and in their romantic relationships. There are several red herrings to keep the reader guessing right up until the end, and while some police procedures may not follow realistic expectations, the quick-moving plot makes it a fast read. A strong first effort, readers will look forward to Kelsey James’s next adventure.