When DI Richard Poole – he of the ‘dark woollen suit, polished shoes, a white shirt and a tie’ on the Caribbean island of Saint-Marie – is faced with the suspected suicide of top global supermodel Polly Carter, little does he suspect the tangled web of intrigue that he will face in the coming days. Add to this the prospect of his always-immaculately-turned-out mother arriving on the island within the next couple of hours, and the reader can see that Richard is facing a daunting task.

Polly Carter’s entourage – twin sister Claire with nurse-in-tow Sophie Wessel, agent Max Brandon, film director Phil Adams and Juliette and Alain Moreau who look after the house and grounds – all initially seem to be mortified about Polly’s death(!). DI Poole, however, suspects that one member of the party is a murderer, and he sets out to find out who.

This is a fine, easy-reader and a book that makes one chuckle at times. And yet, it also has a compelling plot and large convincing characters. Poole is seen to be your typical Englishman abroad, maintaining all of the ‘upper lip’ qualities expected of us. His small force of detectives are amused by his Englishness and yet respect him for his meticulous standards.

If you like the ‘Death in Paradise’ TV series, then you will undoubtedly like this book. If you have not seen the series, then start with this and it will hook you on to the TV parallel.

This is a book I am more than happy to recommend.
Sméagol

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review