Carolyn Hart Murder Walks the Plank Review

Overall Rating

Murder Walks the Plank
Carolyn Hart
Morrow, Feb 2004, $23.95, 304 pp.
ISBN 0060004746

On the barrier island of Broward's Rock off the coast of South Carolina is the Death on Demand Mystery Bookstore owned and operated by Annie Darling. She is sponsoring a mystery cruise with the proceeds donated to the Island Literacy Fund. On the night of the cruise, things are going smoothly until Pamela Potts falls into the water. Annie's husband Max jumps into the water to rescue her but later the next morning it is announced she died.

The sheriff feels that the tragedy was either an accident or suicide but Annie is positive it was murder for a number of reasons. Famous island mystery writer Emma Clyde believes that Pamela was hit on the head because of something she knew and when Annie looks into her activities, she learns that Pamela was visiting Meg Heath, a wealthy widow who didn't have long to live. Both Emma and Annie believe these deaths are linked as is the murder of a tourist found on a deserted part of the island. They intend to prove their theory or die trying.

Every book featuring Max and Annie Darling is a pleasure to read but in MURDER WALKS THE PLANK Carolyn Hart even outdoes her usual great work. The mystery is so twisted with some many possible suspects and motives that readers will have a difficult time trying to figure out who the killer is leaving the audience with a big cerebral puzzle to solve...

Harriet Klausner