Synopsis:
When lottery winner turned sleuth, Alvirah Meehan and her husband invited their good friends Luke and Norah Regan Reilly as well as Regan and Jack Reilly on a after Christmas cruise, they had no idea what was in store for them.
When Commodore Randolph Weed decides to use the opening launch of his restored cruise ship to gain publicity, it seemed like a no brainer. Call it The Santa Cruise and invite those who have done good for the last year on board and you have a major piece of good publicity. What he didn't know was that the cruise was being used for some nefarious activities that may just give his start up business a big coal black eye.
I think this is the fourth book in the series so I am jumping around quite a bit. I mus say though that I don't feel as if I'm missing anything since so far they read like stand alone novels. This book did cement for me the idea that these two writing together can do no wrong. There are no visible seams in their voices and I find that their individual characters mesh so well together that I think by now they could probably write each other's books.
As in Deck the Halls, this is a fun quick mystery set on a cruise ship heading to the Caribbean from Miami. The owner of the ship, Commodore Weed, invited various civic groups and organizations that have given back to their communities to join him on a free cruise. The antique thieves and escape criminals on board however were not invited. The two competing and separate group of criminals, plus those already on board helping them add a little excitement to the story, but not too much for our heroes to sniff out and solve before someone gets seriously hurt.
As a side note, more of an observation really, just like Hercule Poirot, Jane Marple, or even Jessica Fletcher, things just seem to happen around these people. I'm not sure I would ever really want to be friends with any of them. I love to read about them, but think it would be a little dangerous knowing them.
You have to be careful who your friends are sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI've never read any of the Mary Higgins Clark books, but this one sounds interesting, especially at this time of year. And I love the title: SANTA CRUISE. Very clever.
ReplyDeleteActually, I think I read a Carol Higgins Clark book years ago but didn't much like it. Maybe co-writing with her mother is better gig. ;)
I've read quite a few of Mary Higgins Clark's books and enjoyed them, but have never tried these she wrote with her daughter. You've convinced me that I should.
ReplyDeleteI have this one borrowed from the library. I hope to get around to it soon. I do love Christmassy mysteries.
ReplyDeleteI have never read any of her books before. My sister loves reading them though. Maybe this will be the one I cut my teeth on (so to speak). It sounds interesting and I know its sitting on her book shelves.
ReplyDeleteI read Santa Cruise for the challenge as well. I thought it was a clever book. Love Boat meets Murder She Wrote.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoyed your holiday reading!