Murder In St. Barts by J.R. Ripley

“Newly arrived in St. Barthelemy in the French West Indies, Charles Trenet, from the Gendarmerie Nationale, plans to make the most of his cushy assignment until rich American designer Bobbi Freon is found murdered. The inexperienced Trenet lands the potentially scandalous case because he’s new, and he speaks the most English. Clueless in the techniques of murder investigation, but pressured from above to solve the case quickly and quietly, Trenet fumbles his way to a successful conclusion, growing surer of himself as the case progresses. Attentions from several beautiful women also plague the charming but oblivious gendarme. Trenet is a well-developed, likable character, and the novel offers an absorbing mystery set in the exotic playground of the rich and famous. An entertaining new series by the author of the Tony Kozol novels, set in a very different locale: Austin, Texas.” BOOKLIST