“Murder Most Maine” by Karen MacInerney

This is book #3 in the Gray Whale Inn mystery series featuring female-sleuth Natalie Barnes. Natalie is the owner of The Gray Whale Inn, a bed and breakfast set on the small Maine locale of Cranberry Island.

Natalie has been in business for about a year now and is trying to drum up new business for her inn. As the book opens, we find that she is hosting a week-long weight loss and exercise retreat. If all goes well as she hopes, she will not only fatten her bank account but trim her waistline by participating in the weight loss and exercise program herself.

The woman who runs the weight loss program is named Vanessa and she is no stranger to Cranberry Island, having spent several summers there as a young woman. Rumor has it Vanessa left a long line of broken hearts and several of the men she dated still reside on Cranberry Island.

Partnering with Vanessa is a hunky trainer named Dirk and he will be taking over the exercise portion of the program. Natalie notices that he is very good at handing out weight loss supplements and vitamins, and she hopes that these are safe for her guests. Natalie also notices how Dirk attracts the attention of several of her female guests.

It’s said that Vanessa and Dirk are more than just business partners - they are romantic partners as well. But Natalie wonders when her own boyfriend, John, is seen getting quite cozy with his former flame Vanessa. And Natalie can’t help but feel a bit jealous of the beautiful, slender Vanessa.

On the second day of the retreat, everyone is to gather for a morning hike up to Cranberry Island’s old lighthouse. Everyone shows up except Dirk. The group starts out and on the way, Vanessa discovers a body. Dirk’s body. He’s dead.

(Stay tuned for more posts about this book).