C.S. Challinor, author of the Rex Graves Mystery series, will be on a Malice Domestic panel on Saturday, May 1 at 10.20 AM at the Crystal Gateway Marriott discussing vacation settings in mystery novels. Murder in the Raw, second in the Rex Graves series, is set at an exclusive nudist resort in the paradise island of St. Martin in the French West Indies, where Scottish barrister Rex Graves has been summoned to investigate the disappearance of a beautiful French actress. Mary Higgins Clark, Rhys Bowen, and many other mystery writers of note will be attending the Malice Domestic 22 Convention in Arlington, VA.

REVIEW from MYSTERY SCENE MAGAZINE
"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."

REVIEW from BOOKLIST
"...the plot twists are worthy of Erle Stanley Gardner."

REVIEW from THE MYSTERY READER
"In slightly risqué Agatha Christie style, Scottish barrister Rex Graves travels to the Caribbean island of St. Martin to investigate the disappearance, and presumed death, of the young and beautiful French actress Sabine Durand. Rex is distressed to learn the airline has lost his luggage, but is even more distressed when he learns that the place where he will be staying is a naturist (nudist) resort and that he will be interviewing witnesses who will not be able to hide anything, literally...

Cozy fans will enjoy this twist on a village cozy and will eagerly follow along in Rex’s investigation, which not only solves Sabine’s case, but also solves the case of a murderer with a fondness for jewels. Rex is an enjoyable character, who soldiers on, though a bit uncomfortable with his current surroundings.

A solid choice for traditional mystery fans, MURDER IN THE RAW provides some new twists on something old and familiar."

REVIEW from "N" Magazine of Naturist Living
"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.'"

Please see Click here for other reviews.