Customer Reviews

Murder in the Raw (A Rex Graves Mystery)

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

When Scottish advocate Rex Graves arrives in St Martin at an all-expense paid invitation to investigate the disappearance of actress Sabine Durand, he receives two bits of disturbing news. First, his luggage has not arrived. Second, though, this shouldn't be a problem since the resort is "clothing optional." Not only does Rex have to interrogate the guests of the hotel - the men who all mourn Susanne's loss and the women who seem indifferent - he has to do so while avoiding looking down at the many bits and pieces.
The island police are content to write off Sabine's disappearance to sharks at the behest of the wealthy developer, a man who owns both the police and much of the island and who also has suspicious ties to Amsterdam sex clubs and their prostitutes who had a habit of getting murdered. Rex himself has his own distractions, namely the disappearance of his girlfriend in Iraq and whose humanitarian aid takes priority in her life.
At less than 200 pages, Murder in the Raw moves swiftly along and speeds to an ending with Challinor tossing in a few surprises. What is so enjoyable about this mystery are the diverse characters, from the Texas oilman and his inflated wife who hides an Ivy League education to Rex's roommate, a rich, dashing, adventurous millionaire. The one disappointment is that we aren't able to learn more about the guests who are all entertaining and likable but many in their number. Rex Graves himself is a stellar lead character who in the style of the traditional mystery questions each suspect yet unexpectedly has a daring confrontation with the killer. This is a highly entertaining, humorous, completely engaging mystery

This mystery novel dares to be a little off the beaten track. An intriguing and entertaining mystery in a colorful Caribbean (French West Indies) nude setting. I enjoyed Rex's interraction with his straitlaced mother back in Scotland and his wayward son, and the international jetsetting cast. Good twists and clever British humor.

"In MURDER IN THE RAW, Scottish barrister Rex Graves must expose--and I do mean expose--the killer of Sabine Durand, a French actress who goes missing one evening from a nudist resort in the Caribbean...Set on an island, MURDER IN THE RAW is a clever variant on the locked room mystery, and Rex discovers that everyone in this self-contained locale has a secret when it comes to the intriguing Sabine. Who, though, would benefit from her disappearance or murder...? With a host of colorful characters, a dose of humor and a balmy locale, you will want to devour this well-plotted mystery. I won't spoil your pleasure by divulging the solution, but suffice it to say that Challinor provides a most compelling answer."--Lynne F. Maxwell, Mystery Scene Magazine

"It's a charming novel, especially since the violence occurs offstage. CHRISTMAS IS MURDER is full of people with interesting characters and clues...Ms. Challinor was educated in Scotland and England, which explains how she writes so convincingly of both her setting and her characters."
--Prudy Taylor Board, Florida Weekly

Review of MURDER IN THE RAW from KAW VALLEY SENIOR MONTHLY (KANSAS)
"Rex Graves, proper Scottish barrister, is called to the Caribbean island of St. Martin to investigate the disappearance of French actress Sabine Durand. He'd solved another case and a couple staying at the posh sun-and-sand resort hope he can resolve this one. Who wouldn't take a case in the land of sun, blue water, and delightful breeze, especially if your costs are being covered? There are lots of suspects, red herrings, and plot twists in this traditional mystery in a unique setting."

"It was a delight to introduce brilliant but prudish Rex to a new group of readers! The characters were so well portrayed (including the beach towel to which he became so attached), and the plot had so many twists and turns the startling ending sneaks up on one."--Margaret Baker, Glencoe Wordsmithing

"Challinor's depiction of Plage d'Azur as a public nude beach and private naturist resort will resonate authentically with anyone who has had the pleasure of soaking up some rays at Club O's Orient Beach. MURDER IN THE RAW is one of the more recent contributions to a growing library of mystery novels of interest to naturists, and naked readers will especially enjoy how Challinor 'gets it right.'"--"N" Magazine of Naturist Living

Easy to read with a great plot that all comes together. Altogether entertaining and Rex is extremely likeable, as in someone you would want to sit down and have coffee with.

No good deed goes unpunished and Rex, having solved the murders in the first book, earns himself an invitation for a working vacation to investigate another mysterious event. Less traditional in setting and form than the first installment, this adventure finds Rex in a strange place, at a linguistic disadvantage at times, and having to deal with a larger cast of characters. In most respects, Rex, and the reader trying to match wits with him, have a tougher challenge this time around. Even so, Rex manages to mix a bit of fun in the sun and romance into his working vacation, although you won't confuse him with another sun-drenched, romancing sleuth, Thomas Magnum. Getting the story out of the "locked room" allows the setting to be much more action-filled, diverse, and complex than, for instance, an English manor. Lacking Magnum's red Ferarri, gun, and combat skills, Rex instead brandishes an intellect honed by his legal career back in Scotland. I enjoyed the book, and confess that Rex outsmarted me again.

Well-constructed plot in a highly unusual setting on a tropical island--a variation of the Agatha Christie-style "locked room mystery." Scottish barrister Rex Graves is a likeable, well-rounded character, prepared to take risks when necessary, and he's pretty funny with it. He discovers that everyone has a different take on the multi-faceted Sabine and uncovers a bizarre international string of murders as well. Wonderful escapism.

Murder in the Raw is a fun read that winds you through the worlds of posh Caribbean resorts, nudism and murder. This is one book I could not put down. I had to know who dunnit.

Creative writing and a meandering path to the finale makes for a great story. Challinor has a unique writing style that makes you feel your surroundings.

I look forward to Rex Graves next investigation.

Drama, suspense, and international intrigue on the tropical island of St. Martin. The slightly prudish Rex Graves finding himself having to interview the suspects in the nude makes for an entertaining read. The light romance angle is cute too, but glad there was not more of it. Lots of surprise twists...won't say more as could contain spoilers. In any case, I don't understand reviews that just rehash plot summaries??

A nice light read in an exotic location. Surprise twist and a good bit of humor. Would make a fun movie, if you could get round the (tame) nudity!
See also Murder on the Moor (A Rex Graves Mystery)

I read Phi Beta Murder first since I saw a nice review of it in Jacksonville Magazine when I was visiting that city. This author is a skillful plotter. Her stories are well-thought out and not predictable. The setting in Murder in the Raw was enchanting, and there was loads of humor and more action than is typical in "village mysteries". This is actually a classy nudist resort, but all very proper. I was transported to the French West Indies island of St. Martin, a nice cool Hemingway cocktail in hand! -so much so that when I looked up from the book, I was suprised not to find myself on the beach but in my recliner. A modern Agatha Christie with a Scottish sleuth who is more believable and down-to-earth than Poirot. Read Phi Beta Murder if you haven't already.