Elderly Miss Jane Marple has been gifted with a leisurely vacation on a tropical Caribbean island. Raymond, her indulgent nephew, has sent his Aunt Jane on holiday to a tropical isle to relax and regain her strength which had been compromised by a recent illness. However, murder always seems to be stalking Miss Marple wherever she may be ... on a white sand beach in the Caribbean or in the sleepy English village of St. Mary Mead.
Sitting on the beach of a deluxe Caribbean resort and shaded by swaying palm trees, Miss Marple finds herself pinned down by an elderly retired military man, Colonel Palgrave. The Colonel has an annoying habit of boring all of his fellow guests with his long winded tales of his adventures in days gone by. Puffing out his chest, he boasts of lion hunts, escapades in his many travels, and his personal experiences with provincial governors and law enforcement agencies. On and on the Colonel prattles and his stories are clearly interrupting Miss Marple's afternoon. She had settled down to do some knitting on a terrace overlooking the azure sea. Now she is miffed to find herself dropping stitches as she absentmindedly half listens to Colonel Palgrave's latest tale. As he drones on, the Colonel shuffles old photographs under her nose as proof that he has a secret knowledge of a person who got away with murder many years ago. Suddenly, the old military man shoves the faded photographs back into his wallet. Visibly upset, he hastily excuses himself. Miss Marple notes his decidedly odd behavior but is relieved to return to her knitting and purling.
Soon, however, Miss Marple wonders just what indeed had upset the Colonel? Was it something he was saying to her? Was it some image in the well worn photographs he shared with her? Was it the sudden appearance of other guests who were strolling by the beach while they were talking? Whatever was said must have been a clue because now the Colonel is dead! Soon there will be other murders to follow and Miss Marple and the eccentric millionaire guest, Mr. Rafiel, will team up to solve this very intriguing mystery.
A Caribbean Mystery is one of Christie's finest books. Readers will have to carefully follow the path of insignificant clues to discover who is behind the Colonel's death and a string of murders that break the tranquility and beauty of an island paradise.
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