RESORT TO MURDER

Back for the first time since Death in Paradise (1998), Hart's aging, widowed, former journalist sleuth Henrie O accompanies her grandchildren Diana and Neal Drake to Bermuda for their dad and her ex-son-in-law Lloyd's wedding to wealthy Connor Bailey. Also ensconced in the Tower Ridge House, where the couple fell in love at first sight a year ago, are Connor's two daughters, ten-year-old hoyden Jasmine and plain-looking Marlow, together with Marlow's fiancé, handsome, money-disdaining Aaron Reed, and Bailey family lawyer Steve Jennings. But the wedding plans do not run smoothly. The couple's kids are less than thrilled with their parents' choice, Steve is longing for Connor's affection, and Mrs. Worrell, the hotel manager, is still blaming Connor for flirting with her husband the year before, and perhaps pushing him off the tower to his death. Then the luminescent ghost of Mr. Worrell appears, and George, a young waiter, dies. Inspector Foster comes to investigate, but pays scant attention to Henrie O's suggestions. There'll be more ghost sightings, a touch of arson, and a message in fake blood before Connor is strangled with a hotel bathrobe belt belonging to Lloyd. Is Connor's death related to Mr. Worrell's? Foster has little luck in tying things up, mainly because Henrie O does not share clues, preferring to wrap matters up herself—with an assist from clever young Neal.

A very pretty Bermuda travelogue, but the wedding tourists are nowhere near as intoxicating as the frangipani and the tulip trees.