Donovan Smart, aka TuSmArt, was a successful rapper and self-made millionaire who wanted to fit in with the rest of the residents of Coco Beach, a snooty private enclave in the Hamptons. They were of the opinion that they did not want the rapper or his kind living in their town or disrupting their serene existence.

Believing that if the local Black society snobs personally got to know him they would more easily accept him and his family, Donovan threw an impressive party on a three-story multi-million dollar yacht owned by a well-healed local dripping in old money.

Unfortunately, his plans went awry when the body of a young woman was found floating face down in the harbor. Her beautiful gown confirmed she was a guest at TuSmArt’s White and Platinum party.

Detective Theodora (Theo) Pratt soon realized she had her hands full with this investigation. New to the area, she was not familiar with the main players or the pecking order of the eclectic cast of characters. Nor was she totally immune to the attention paid to her by Troy, a local restaurant owner.

What surprised Detective Pratt was how brilliant the rapper was, and that his decision to pursue music came after he had received multiple scholarships offers to attend Ivy League schools. By the time he graduated from high school he was already drawing attention from the music world. It didn’t take very long before he was the new prince of hip-hop. He had wanted the party to be his acceptance into life in the Hamptons.

Now, the body of a member of his extended family threatened to topple everything he had worked so hard to build. The locals were excited that they would finally be rid of this interloper until they realized one of their own was implicated in the murder.

Murder in the Hamptons is the latest offering by Danita Carter who takes a look at people who have come out of two very different worlds. On the one hand, there is an extended family from the Brooklyn projects that have now come into a totally different lifestyle of opulence and money, and the other born of old money from generations ago.

Carter takes a serious look at how the members of each respond to the unfortunate circumstances that brought them together, and whether money can buy social status, or whether having old money automatically determines someone has class.

Murder in the Hamptons provides plenty of thrills and surprising twists while Detective Pratt faces her own challenges as she tracks down the killer.

Danita Carter fans will enjoy this fast-paced police procedural and will also be thrilled to hear that she is currently working on her next novel.

A special thank you goes to Danita Carter and Atria/Strebor Books for providing a complimentary copy of Murder in the Hamptons for review. You can purchase a copy at Amazon.com.