Once again Penberthy (Martha's Vineyard) and the perspicacious local sleuth, Elisha Maber, have a murder victim and then a second to liven the scene at the end of the season. Elisha is tipped off on the imminent arrival of a mysterious French woman, but does not expect her to turn up at a party given for a local hero, nor to be called in to determine the cause of her death two days later. The death of the hero follows, leaving his wife- and her gent- as seeming suspects. A better story than mystery, with good island background.