First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt is the unlikely detective in this mystery set in Nassau in 1940. The Duke of Windsor has recently taken up the post of governor of the Bahamas. It is known that the Duke and Duchess have pro-German sympathies, although not pro-Nazi, and that they want to visit the U.S. to promote their views. Mrs. Roosevelt's visit to the Bahamas is intended to preempt the Duke and Duchess's visit, as well as to allow American intelligence officers to assess the situation before the establishment of a U.S. naval base on one of the islands. Shortly after the arrival of the American entourage, a wealthy Swedish industrialist is murdered during a party on his yacht with the First Lady, the Duke and Duchess, and several others in attendance. The First Lady puts her logical mind to work to solve the crime, discovering in the process that even those in her official entourage are suspects.

Roosevelt does a lot of name dropping in the book. In addition to the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the First Lady encounters a number of historical prominent individuals including Alfred P. Sloan, Errol Flynn, and Judy Garland. It's a little challenging to separate fact from fiction. Despite the convoluted plot, I enjoyed the blend of history, travel, amateur detection, and espionage. This book might appeal to readers who enjoy Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series. ( )