I usually awaken early each morning to the gentle sound of rain prancing on my rooftop, assuring me that my cistern will be replenished with water. Life on an island makes you think about survival and survival is pretty much what my life has been about.
But I’m getting ahead of myself and forgetting my manners. My name is Sabrina Salter. Welcome to my island home: St. John, the smallest of the American Virgin Islands. When people ask me to describe St. John, I tell them, if someone picked up the gorgeous green mountainous state of Vermont and plunked it down in the Caribbean, you’d have St. John.
Lots of people come to St. John for a vacation and never leave, or leave only after their dreams of living in Paradise have faded in the searing tropical sun. Others come to escape, which is how my partner, Henry Whitman, and I came to St. John. Henry, a former flight attendant, was betrayed by the pilot he loved and then dishonored by the airline he had served so faithfully. I had been acquitted of murdering my husband by a jury of twelve, but convicted by the national media, toppling my career as a television meteorologist in Boston harder than a fallen meteor. I hadn’t known it was my husband climbing the dark stairs in our Nantucket home when I pressed the trigger, yet some nights, long before the morning shower arrives, I awaken and see Ben’s face anguished in surprise when I shot him.
Henry and I decided to start a villa rental management business on St. John, which would provide us with income and allow us to escape the demons from our pasts. I know what you’re thinking, quite a comedown for a woman who was a television celebrity. But my beginnings were humble, having been raised in a motel cabin in Allerton, a small peninsula south of Boston, by a drunken father who never recovered from my mother abandoning us when I was only two. The owner of the motel became my rock. I had helped her clean the motel toilets in my youth. I figured cleaning villa toilets was a step up.
Okay, so it wasn’t the life I had scrambled to build, but I did live on an island with the same puffy clouds that had inspired me to study meteorology. I had bought a tiny house. Henry had even given me a dog. “Girlfriend’s her name,” he told me because I had shared I really hadn’t had girlfriends in my childhood. Each evening, Girlfriend and I got to go to the beach and swim in the silky turquoise water from Hawksnest Beach over to Gibney and back. Sometimes, my new friend, Neil Perry, owner of Bar None joined us. Neil left L.A. and the practice of law around the same time Henry and I defected from our respective debacles. He’s got a story all of his own, but I’ll let him be the one to tell it.
So life has been pretty good here for us. Henry and I get along swimmingly and often cover for one another. Last night, Henry had a hot date and asked me if I’d take the villa he was scheduled to clean this morning and swap. “Of course,” I’d said. Why not?
I got up once the rain shower abated and let Girlfriend out. I did a little yoga on my mat on my porch while I waited to let her back in. I had a mug of black French roast. I mean, how can you be a tough island woman if you put cream and sugar in your coffee? Girlfriend nibbled at her kibble. I packed up my cleaning caddy, making sure I had the right supplies to make Villa Mascarpone shiny for the new people arriving this afternoon. I hoped the lone male guest who was departing hadn’t made too much of a mess. From what I knew about him, which was a lot more than I should have, he would be on the neat side.
I toyed with having a second cup of coffee and just chilling on my porch a little longer. I wasn’t feeling quite in gear, but jumped in my jeep anyway.
The blazing sun scorched the hairs on my left arm, which I had propped out the jeep window as I drove. No wonder it was so much tanner than my right. The cliff below me to the left was steep, unpaved and had no guardrail. Hundreds of feet below, the waves splashed onto jagged rocks just waiting to carve a distracted driver a different future.
Arriving at the villa, I was surprised to see the jeep of the departing guest. What the heck? I got out, hoping I could move Mr. Slowpoke along. I approached the gate to the pool area, calling out the traditional greeting, “Inside,” but no answer.
Opening the periwinkle blue gate, I saw that my guest, who was lying on the hammock, blood oozing from his belly, had indeed already checked out.
You can read more about Sabrina in No Virgin Island, the first book in the NEW “Sabrina Salter” mystery series, published by Crooked Lane Books.
About No Virgin Island
Sabrina Salter traded a high-pressure job as a Boston meteorologist for life as an innkeeper on sun-soaked St. John. But storm clouds roll in when Sabrina finds Carter Johnson, her most attractive guest, tucked up in a hammock way past check-out time…and he’s not just dead to the world, he’s just plain dead, with a bullet hole in his chest.
This isn’t the first time Sabrina has seen a dead body, and the island police are well aware of that. Thanks to her checkered history, not to mention the fact that she was the last person who saw Carter alive and far from entirely clothed, she finds herself marked as the prime suspect.
The U.S. Virgin Islands may be the sort of place where even defense attorneys wear flip-flops, but the laid-back life is over for Sabrina unless she can clear her name. So, she sets out to solve the crime, only to find herself caught in a tidal wave of adultery, kidnapping, identity fraud and murder in No Virgin Island, C. Michele Dorsey’s outstanding mystery debut.
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GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 12 a.m. eastern on August 20 for the chance to win a print copy of No Virgin Island. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. Winner will be notified within 48 hours after giveaway closes and you will have three days to respond after being contacted or another winner will be selected.
Meet the author
C. Michele Dorsey, three-time finalist in St. Martin’s Minotaur Books/Malice Domestic Competition, is a lawyer, mediator and adjunct law professor. When she’s not visiting St. John, her favorite island in the Caribbean, she lives in Massachusetts with her family. No Virgin Island is her first novel. Visit C. Michele at cmicheledorsey.com, on Twitter and on Facebook.
Since I grew up on St. Croix I am always enjoy Caribbean Mysteries. This one has gone on TBR pile. Congrats on the new series.
Kari, I would love to hear your reaction to the book since you have personally experienced the Virgin Islands.
Yes please Dru, I’d love to win this book. The characters look like a fun group of crazies.
Noraadrienne, I laughed out loud when I read “a fun group of crazies” because that’s exactly what it feels the inhabitants of a tropical island are.
This sounds like it will be an interesting series. This was a great post and thanks for the chance to win.
Thanks, Doward. Good luck!
Pick me! I’ve always wanted to go to St. John. Fictionally will work. This book sounds good.
Barb, That’s one of the reasons I wrote No Virgin Island. So people who have never gone will get to experience it and those who have, get to go back!
Thank you for the introduction to this series & this author. I’d love to have Michele Dorsey’s No Virgin Island. Thanks for the chance in the giveaway.
Good luck.
Love the title, thanks for the chance to win, this is an author I have note red yet 🙂
I’m glad you like the title, Lisa. It’s one of the most difficult parts about writing a book because it’s so important. Good luck in the drawing!
I like a dog named Girlfriend. Thanks for the chance to win the book.
Me too, Donna. Sabrina felt like too much of a loner until Henry gave her Girlfriend. Good luck in the drawing.
I’m intrigued! Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
Barbara, Intrigued is what I was aiming for, so good! Good luck in the drawing!
I like the character’s name and the location of the story. Sounds like a book I would really enjoy.
There’s a story behind why the protagonist is named Sabrina. And how could I go wrong with a location like St. John? Good luck.
Sounds fascinating! Thanks Dru for bringing this to my attention! 🙂
Thanks, Barbara. Good luck!
Nice flow to the reads and grabs your attention immediately. Would love a copy.
Brenda, Thank you! And good luck in the drawing.
As a visitor to St. John, I cannot wait to read this book!
Monica, I am so glad to hear this because I wrote the book in part, for those of us who visit this gorgeous island and long to return. The book will bring you back and there’s a pretty book trailer on http://www.cmicheledorsey.com
If I can’t be on an island, I’ll just read about one. This sounds heavenly.
Mary Jane, I hear you! That’s what so wonderful about books. The places we can travel to while sitting in a chair.
Sounds like a wonderful book… And I love St. John…
Susan, There seems to be a bond between those of us who love St. John. Good luck!
This sounds great. My old stomping grows St John. Will put this on my TRL, but would be over joyed to win it
Debbie, Hope No Virgin Island will take you back to St. John, at least through the pages. Would love to hear if it does. You may enjoy the book trailer, too. It’s on my website. http://www.cmicheledorsey.com
Would love to win a copy of this book… I love to read… especially about St. John… My Happy Place!
Elizabeth, There seems to be a little St. John fan club on Dru’s blog today! Maybe we shall all meet in Cruz Bay! Good luck with the drawing.
The island sounds wonderful and the story breath taking. Would love a copy and thanks for the offer.
Nancy, Thank you for “breath taking.” Music to the ears of a debut author. Good luck1
What?! You leave me hanging like that! ahhhh…I would love to win this book!
Karen, Happy you are hooked. Good luck in the drawing!
Another great book to add to my tbr list. Thanks for the contest!
Good luck in the drawing!
Michelle, this sounds great. Can’t wait to read it.
Thanks so much, Liz!
I would love to enjoy this book, can’t wait to see what Sabrina gets herself into.
Karen, that’s what I keep saying about Sabrina when I was writing the book. Good luck in the drawing!
Looking forward to reading your book and then add it to my collection of island novels to revisit during cold winter days.
Carolee, What a great idea! I wish I had thought to pull out books about islands last winter. I hope No Virgin Island is one you’ll be warmed by. Good luck.
Looks like a good read for my September visit to USVI!
You are so lucky! Yes, No Virgin Island would certainly get you in the mood. If you are on St. John, you will recognize many spots from the book. Good luck.
I love the Caribbean islands. (My husband was born on Barbados.) I would love to win this book.
Amy, If you can’t be on a Caribbean island, at least you can be reading about one! Good luck.
I would love to visit an island but no such luck for me …but I do love reading about exotic places and wish I were there. 🙂
Jane, Isn’t that the gift of reading? You get to go places just by turning a page. Good luck.
I would love to visit the Caribbean although I haven’t made it yet. Can’t wait to read this book about it, though.
Once you read about St. John, you’ll want to visit it even more. Good luck.
This book will be the closest that I will ever get to “the islands”. Really
Anxious to read and transport myself there.
Verna, Reading is how so many of us travel. Good luck in the drawing.
Having spent a good deal of time in St John and a fan of good writing, I am looking forward to this book.
Jim, I hope you enjoy it and recognize some of St. John’s spots! Good luck.
This sounds like such a FANTASTIC new series!! Add an exotic location to an intriguing story line and you’ve got a winner!!
Please throw my name in the hat for a chance to win your book!!!! I love anything about islands…..connie
Add an exotic location to an intriguing story line and it comes out a winner! This book has moved to #1 in my “Gotta Read” list!
Cheryl, I’m very honored to be #1 and hope you enjoy No Virgin Island. God luck.
I will add this one to my “must read” list. Sounds so good! Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy.
Linda, Happy to be on your “must read” list. Good luck in the drawing.
With the current drought in California I would really like to read about somewhere with water! Thanks for the giveaway.
Sally, St. John is surrounded by water, but sadly having its own drought right now. But water is plentiful in No Virgin Island and hopefully soon again in California and St. John. Good luck.
St. John was my home for almost 20 years. I can hardly wait to read your book!
CeCe, I would love to hear your reaction to the book, given your experience in St. John. Good luck in the drawing.
Love St. John! Would love to read this book. Thanks!
This story sounds so enticing. I would love to win a copy. Also sounds like a good beginning for a series to follow. Thanks for the chance.
Pat, I’m writing book #2 in the Sabrina Salter series even as I write. (Well, I’m on a little break at the moment.) Good luck in the drawing.
Describing St. John as Vermont plopped into the Carribean is great!
Thanks, Libby. Good luck with the drawing!
I just went to St. John for the first time in March. Considering moving there. Can’t wait to read the book!
Thanks!
Yuliya, many of us fall in love with St. John during our first visit to St. John and want to move there. Hope your dream comes true!
Would love to read this!
Hope you do, Sharon. Good luck in the drawing.
This does sound like a perfect paradise, right up until the end. Oh well, nothing’s perfect. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
But St. John is about as close to perfect as it gets. Good luck in the drawing.
Thanks for this captivating giveaway.
You’re quite welcome. Thanks for finding it captivating.
I love St. John!
Gram, you and me both!
I go every year to STJ, love the island and people there life is really about living and surviving. Thanks!
Pam, I think you’d recognize a lot of the spots in the book if you travel to St. John every year. Hint: The fork in the road.
I can’t wait to read this! Don’t enter me in the contest — I’m picking up my copy tomorrow!
Sherry, Thanks so much. I’m honored to have you as a reader.
Michele Dorsey is a new author for me. Thank you for introducing me to her. Thank you for this giveaway.
Good luck in the drawing, Peggy!
This is a new author to me, but the book sounds wonderful! Thank you for the chance to win a copy!
Thanks, Terry. I hope you enjoy it. Good luck in the drawing.
I would love to read this book, and a dog named Girlfriend is perfect
I think Dru could have a drawing to see who gets Girlfriend! Good luck in the drawing for the book.
I am excited to win and read this book!!! We will be on our 15 th trip to St. John in December!!!
Sounds like my kindle of book, looking forward to reading this one!
Love reading about lovely places I yearn to visit.
I would love to read this book.I will be going to st.John in April 2016 for the second time,,my favorite place,I hope to live there one day.
I will buy your book even if I don’t win (but hope I do). Will be back on St. John, next week. The story sounds intriguing and the descriptions of driving on the 12% grade roads are spot on. The first time we drove there, humbled us, even though we are seasoned Rocky Mt. drivers. Look forward to the publication. It will be the perfect interlude between visits.
I’ve spent the last three winters off St John on a sailboat. I love reading about locations I can visualize. It’s an beautiful and amazing place. I look forward to reading more.
Nothing like an island paradise for a setting! Sabrina’s story sounds amazing, thanks for the chance to win!
Island life always sounds so interesting to this land locked midwesterner. Thanks for the contest. I’d love to read the book.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
Have not been to many islands, so look forward to this adventure in paradise. Judy D.
Adding to my WishList!!!
thanx for the giveaway……
Thanks Michele for commenting and interacting with my readers.
Contest is closed.