Book Review: Rum & Razors (Murder, She Wrote #3) by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain

 Rum & Razors (Murder, She Wrote #3). Author:  Donald Bain. 293 pages. Genre: Cozy Mystery

First Lines:  "GLOTCOYB. Not another one.  It was the fifth envelope I'd received in the past two weeks in which a piece of paper with the letters G-L-O-T-C-O-Y-B was enclosed."

Summary:  Jessica Fletcher is in the process of finishing the manuscript of her latest book.  Once the manuscript is on its way to the publisher, she will be on her way to a lovely resort on the island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean.  

Her friends Laurie and Walter Marschalk, owners of Lover's Lagoon Inn, have been asking her to visit ever since they took over the inn three years ago.  She is looking forward to relaxing after finishing her manuscript.

The first evening of her arrival she is disappointed to find that Laurie has been called to another island on business.  However, she has dinner with Walter at the Inn's lovely dining room.  It seems the Marshalk's are having some financial trouble and rumors are circulating that the Inn was purchased under questionable circumstances.  While Jessica wants to believe the best about her friends, she has to admit that circumstances surrounding the purchase of the Inn are a bit underhanded.  There is animosity between Walter and the owner of a nearby resort and Walter believes that the owner sends spies to his Inn.  

Walter also indicates that some of his staff are not working hard enough and in fact he plans to fire an employee the next day.  Unfortunately, the firing is done early the next morning right outside Jessica's window.  When Jessica has trouble sleeping, she decides to visit the neighboring resort and see what she can learn.  While there she meets the owner and a travel writer who is attending a conference at the resort.  She is quickly learning that Walter is not well liked.  This is such a surprise to her as she has always known him to be a very likable guy.  

Later that evening, she decides to walk along the Lagoon which has a reputation for being the most beautiful in the world.  It certainly is beautiful, but the beauty is marred when Jessica discovers Walter's dead body along the shore of the Lagoon.  He was supposed to have gone on a business trip with his wife.  He seems to have made plenty of enemies, but who is angry enough with him to kill him?

My thoughts:  I always enjoy spending time with Jessica Fletcher.  This time she is on a beautiful Caribbean island hoping to relax, enjoy some warm weather and read some books.  But, alas, it was not meant to be.  The descriptions of island life were great and made me feel like I was there. 

There are so many suspects in this story.  I didn't particularly care for any of them.  Even Laurie, Walter's wife and Jessica's friend, who doesn't seem to be grieving much for her husband, is a suspect.  The mystery kept me guessing with many twists and turns.  

As usual, Jessica must discover who the murderer is and puts herself in some dangerous situations.  However, in the end the mystery is solved.  

I enjoyed this installment in the Murder, She Wrote series.