And All That Sea

Prrivate Investigator Casey McKie interrupts a jazz cruise to investigate the disappearance of "The Countess."

Casey’s relaxing Caribbean jazz cruise is interrupted when “The Countess” goes missing and the captain asks her to investigate … quietly. All Casey wanted was to sit on the deck reading novels and possibly pursue her attraction to Aaron, an intriguing jazz magazine editor. But she can’t resist a mystery, especially when homicide might be involved. Ship authorities believe the countess simply overstayed an island stop, but Casey suspects something a bit more sinister. Images of the countess flailing in the night sea haunt Casey as she uncovers several passengers with motives for murder. The tenacious PI follows clues stretching from the seedy underbelly of Saigon to the luxurious ports of the Caribbean, the mystery’s final resolution stunning even the seasoned investigator. ________________________________ Casey McKie is a smart, tough, straight-talking (and when necessary straight-shooting) PI and one of the most original characters to come along in years. The dark side of San Francisco is where Casey works. In her free time, she indulges her passion for jazz, frequenting her best friend’s jazz club in North Beach. Both these worlds, the dark and the jazzy, are brought vividly and accurately to life as Casey solves the mysteries that surround her. -- Bruce Crowther, novelist and jazz writer

Joan Merrill is the CEO of the company, Saying It With Jazz. She has produced a video documentary, Saying It With Jazz, fourteen shows for NPR's Jazz Profiles, four shows for the Smithsonian/PRI series Jazz Singers, has written liner notes, produced two CDs ("You Don't Know Me," Rebecca Parris, and "Well, Alright!," Nancy Kelly), and has worked as talent manager, agent, publicist and road manager for various jazz artists. She created a tribute site for Carmen McRae, carmenmcrae.com, and is the author of three non-fiction books. She lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest.