What do you think?
Rate this book
Eleanor Roosevelt #9
A First Class Murder
The indomitable Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt is on her way back to the U.S. aboard the great liner Normandie, pride of the French Line. At a cocktail party the first night of the voyage, in the presence of Mrs. Roosevelt and many others, a Russian Ambassador collapses and dies, the victim of strychnine poisoning. Mrs. Roosevelt once again dons her sleuth cap to lead the reader to the tantalizing solution.
207 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 1991
2 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
About the author
Elliott Roosevelt
60 books47 followersElliott Roosevelt (September 23, 1910 – October 27, 1990) was an United States Army Air Forces officer and an author. Roosevelt was a son of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
May 3, 2011
I love "cozy" mysteries, but this one was a little dated for me I guess. I found this one in with a lot of mystery novels. I decided to read it quickly since it was only 200 pages. But, I just couldn't get into it. My mind kept wandering off, and it took me several days to finish it. I just couldn't wrap my mind around this absurd cast of characters. I mean JFK walking around a luxary cruise ship solving murders. It did have a clever method of poisoning someone and ended up catching my interest in the last 20 pages or so. I didn't love it or hate it. It was just alright.
September 11, 2022
I love this peek into a slice of life with Eleanor Roosevelt. In this one, she is returning to New York by ship in 1938. Hitler invades Czechoslovakia with the permission of Chamberlain for the English government and Daladier for the French. Mrs. Roosevelt has bought a ticket on another ship, but the French government convinces her to switch to their Normandie. She does so, and only discovers upon arrival that they have upgraded her to First Class where she meets up with Jack Benny and his wife, Mary Livingstone, Charles Lindbergh, a twenty-one-year-old John F. Kennedy returning to Harvard, Josephine Baker, and others whose names I did not recognize, so don't know if they are real people or fictional. The descriptions of life in First Class are amazing and make the reader feel as if they are along for the trip. Of course, there is a murder the first night, and Eleanor goes into unlikely action, yet the juxtaposition of history and fiction still fascinate.
August 15, 2018
#9: Eleanor and her secretary, Tommy Thompson, are returning from Paris to USA on Normandie, the pride of the French cruise line, at request of French government in late Sept. 1938. Also aboard are Charles Lindbergh, Jack Benny and his wife, Mary Livingston, Harvard student John F. Kennedy, Josephine Baker, journalist Henry Luce, Moira Lasky a “professional lady” escorted by German wine and Brandy broker, Ernest Richter Renee, Soviet Ambassador Troyanoskii and his mistress/protégée, a young ballerina, Nina Rozanov. Almost all are present at the after dinner gathering in the Ambassador’s deluxe suite adjoining Eleanor’s when the Ambassador dies of Strychnine poisoning. Jack Benny and JFK are sampling Vodka from the same bottle from the Ambassador’s private stock and are not effected. When Nina is accused of the murder, Eleanor and Jack join Mssr Edouard Ouzoulias, the onboard police de sûrétè detective, in his investigation of the murder and other disturbing happenings on the luxury ship.
February 7, 2019
Read this without reading any of the others in the series and was able to find it an enjoyable read. This was a 'cozy' mystery, but a little grittier than Christie, Sayers etc. This combined with the strong political theme and the threat of a World War on the horizon, made the story feel that much more real. I liked Roosevelt as the detective and thought she was warm and likable. The author also did a good job mixing in the real characters (which included Kennedy and Lindbergh) with fictional characters such as the amusing on board French detective, to create a good cast for this mystery. Personally I usually don't like political mysteries, but I mostly enjoyed this, especially the clever poisoning method . The mystery is fast paced, but I don't think it is easy to work out the murderer. Whilst I wouldn't rush to read another in the series, I still found this an enjoyable read and would recommend to mystery fans who also have an interest in history or politics.
March 14, 2020
Eleanor Roosevelt has been in Europe on the eve of WWII. She books and pays for her own passage home, but is moved to the Normandie, the luxury liner, and a luxurious suite at that by the French government. Her fellow passengers include Jack Benny and his wife, Josephine Baker, John Kennedy among others, and a Russian ambassador who ends up dead.
This is a potential international incident. There are only a few days to solve this murder before the ship docks and everyone scatters. Eleanor teams up with the French security officer on board to work through a maze of clues and happenings as the clock ticks down.
Again the history and the people add much to the book. Elliott Roosevelt had inside knowledge of these people and his parents' opinions about them.
The mystery is fun and fast to read. The culprit isn't that difficult to identify, yet, like in Columbo, the mystery is in finding how the crime was committed and why.
This is a potential international incident. There are only a few days to solve this murder before the ship docks and everyone scatters. Eleanor teams up with the French security officer on board to work through a maze of clues and happenings as the clock ticks down.
Again the history and the people add much to the book. Elliott Roosevelt had inside knowledge of these people and his parents' opinions about them.
The mystery is fun and fast to read. The culprit isn't that difficult to identify, yet, like in Columbo, the mystery is in finding how the crime was committed and why.
December 11, 2022
Fun mix of cozy and historical.
With the shadow of war hanging over them, the passengers of a luxurious cruise ship are shocked by the murder of a Russian diplomat.
Luckily, Eleanor Roosevelt is there to solve the case!
As an idea, the premise of this series sounds absurd, but it works. The first lady, is an interesting historical figure, her playing PI hits just the right balance that you believe it, and fitting her cases into points in history works.
Gives you a nice, stealth history lesson, as well.
It is a weird read, as including actual historical people narrows the suspect list.
I'm pretty sure Jack Benny isn't the killer.
The actual who and how you can piece together by the 3/4s mark, but the why is a bit convoluted.
With the shadow of war hanging over them, the passengers of a luxurious cruise ship are shocked by the murder of a Russian diplomat.
Luckily, Eleanor Roosevelt is there to solve the case!
As an idea, the premise of this series sounds absurd, but it works. The first lady, is an interesting historical figure, her playing PI hits just the right balance that you believe it, and fitting her cases into points in history works.
Gives you a nice, stealth history lesson, as well.
It is a weird read, as including actual historical people narrows the suspect list.
I'm pretty sure Jack Benny isn't the killer.
The actual who and how you can piece together by the 3/4s mark, but the why is a bit convoluted.
August 21, 2022
This was the first book I have read in this murder mystery series. I couldn't find the first book in order to start at the beginning. My Aunt Lynn had loved this books. The author did a great job about including the history of what was happening in the world in September 1938 as Hitler went into Czechoslovakia. I liked the cable messages back and forth between Eleanor and her husband, President FDR. It was a good mystery.
June 22, 2019
I would take off 1/4 star for the numerous characters and long last names, but the mysteries (several of them) are worth the bother.
My feedback on this book is, “They don’t write them like that anymore.” A young John (Jack) Kennedy has a prominent role in this book featuring Eleanor Roosevelt. I highly recommend the series.
My feedback on this book is, “They don’t write them like that anymore.” A young John (Jack) Kennedy has a prominent role in this book featuring Eleanor Roosevelt. I highly recommend the series.
June 28, 2025
It was interesting learning more about the cast of characters, Josephine Baker, Charles Lindbergh, Jack Benny, Eleanor Roosevelt, JFK even though it was a fictional story. I did a google “deep dive” into learning about the Normandie ship too (pun intended). The story was perfect to read a few pages before bed.
August 14, 2018
On to the next book in the series. It was interesting to read viewpoints of people famous and otherwise during this time period.
September 7, 2020
An enjoyable trip on the Normandie with a bit of mystery and intrigue.
December 16, 2020
Another interesting book with an unusual cast of characters. I am enjoying the series.
March 2, 2021
Ok for an airplane. Lots of famous people in it in 1939 on the Normandie
July 16, 2021
I really enjoy this series, however this one seemed as if it was more focused on the surrounding characters and not Eleanor.
April 10, 2024
I love reading mysteries that have real life people in them.
March 3, 2017
Its a really interesting thriller novel. If you like murder mysteries you should pick this one .This novel is very well written in english and you will find some french words as well. The best part is that this novel is just for 216 pages.
May 17, 2012
It's 1938 and Europe stands on the brink of war--Hitler is preparing to take over the Sudentland and will do so while our action takes place. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt has traveled to France to receive the Médaille de Grande Honneur from the Société Humaniste de France. She plans to return the US on an American ship in a comfortable, but non-ostentatious stateroom. But the French government insists on sending her home on their flagship the Normandie in one of four palatial suites. Joining Mrs. Roosevelt aboard ship is a veritable Who's Who of the 1930s--from Jack Benny and Mary Livingstone to Josephine Baker and Henry Luce to Charles Lindbergh and a young John F. Kennedy. Also on board are the Russian Ambassador Troyanoskii and his companion, a tiny ballerina by the name of Nina Rozanov....and a czar's ransom in jewels.
Before the voyage is over, the ambassador will be poisoned and a member of the crew will be stabbed, a murderous attempt will be made on Nina and another crew member, and the jewels will do a vanishing act from the ship's safe. Mrs. Roosevelt, aided by Kennedy, is determined to help the ship's detective solve the mystery before the Normandie reaches New York, but just discovering how the strychnine got into Troyanoskii's glass is going to be difficult enough.
A First Class Murder is the ninth in the series of mysteries starring the First Lady and the first one that I've sampled. I saw it sitting on the shelf in the Friends of the Library Bookstore and decided, after seeing the line-up of characters, that I ought to give the Roosevelt books a try. I can't say that this is a first class mystery. A nice little cozy--yes. An interesting murder method--yes. Stellar story--not really. It's a decent crime, but the characters fall a little flat. They almost all sound the same to me--except the French crew and the Russian entourage all speak English (broken and not-so-broken) with odd little inflections...that's how you tell difference. Nobody's personality, not even that of the formidable First Lady, really stands out--although hers, the French detective and Kennedy's does the best. And one irritating bit....apparently Elliot Roosevelt doesn't think his average reader will have ever had the experience of hearing a French-speaking person's accent in English. He constantly puts the phonetic version of various words spoken by M. Ouzoulias in parentheses. Thanks, Elliot, but I watch David Suchet's Poirot quite regularly (yes, he's Belgian, I know--but a French-speaker) and I've got the accent in my head. If you're doing it right, you don't have to pound the fact that your ship's detective is French into your reader's head.
Three stars for a decent read. Will I read another Eleanor Roosevelt mystery? If it comes my way, probably. But I can't say I'm going to be hunting them down.
This review is mine and was first posted at my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
Before the voyage is over, the ambassador will be poisoned and a member of the crew will be stabbed, a murderous attempt will be made on Nina and another crew member, and the jewels will do a vanishing act from the ship's safe. Mrs. Roosevelt, aided by Kennedy, is determined to help the ship's detective solve the mystery before the Normandie reaches New York, but just discovering how the strychnine got into Troyanoskii's glass is going to be difficult enough.
A First Class Murder is the ninth in the series of mysteries starring the First Lady and the first one that I've sampled. I saw it sitting on the shelf in the Friends of the Library Bookstore and decided, after seeing the line-up of characters, that I ought to give the Roosevelt books a try. I can't say that this is a first class mystery. A nice little cozy--yes. An interesting murder method--yes. Stellar story--not really. It's a decent crime, but the characters fall a little flat. They almost all sound the same to me--except the French crew and the Russian entourage all speak English (broken and not-so-broken) with odd little inflections...that's how you tell difference. Nobody's personality, not even that of the formidable First Lady, really stands out--although hers, the French detective and Kennedy's does the best. And one irritating bit....apparently Elliot Roosevelt doesn't think his average reader will have ever had the experience of hearing a French-speaking person's accent in English. He constantly puts the phonetic version of various words spoken by M. Ouzoulias in parentheses. Thanks, Elliot, but I watch David Suchet's Poirot quite regularly (yes, he's Belgian, I know--but a French-speaker) and I've got the accent in my head. If you're doing it right, you don't have to pound the fact that your ship's detective is French into your reader's head.
Three stars for a decent read. Will I read another Eleanor Roosevelt mystery? If it comes my way, probably. But I can't say I'm going to be hunting them down.
This review is mine and was first posted at my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting any portion. Thanks.
March 25, 2011
I'm being nice in my judgement. I'd have given it no more than 1.5 stars if I could be more exact. Most of the characters seemed very poorly drawn. John F Kennedy as an assistant detective rather boggles the imagination but he came across ok. They managed to find one gossipy fact to throw in which didn't interest me enough to check the truth out. A claim that JFK was circumsized as an adult. The mystery was pretty boring and no one really cared all that much about the original girl who was pinned for the murder except JFK (pretty, young lady) and she disappeared for a substantial part of the book. Read one of his earlier books. Presumably he died after getting the proofs for this title. If so, his final illness really affected the quality of his writing!
March 1, 2015
This was a somewhat complicated mystery because several of the characters did not speak English. The setting was different for this book with Eleanor Roosevelt traveling home by ship to the USA from France on the great French liner Normandie. Several murders occurred, and the First Lady volunteered to assist in the investigation. She was very helpful, as was young Jack Kennedy, who was also aboard. Jack Benny and his wife Mary were also in the group as were Henry Luce and Charles Lindbergh. It was an interesting novel with the threat if war affecting actions and opinions of characters.
June 17, 2015
I went between a 2 and 3 on this. My pluses weighed out - I liked the cast of characters: Jack Kennedy, Jack Benny, Charles Lindbergh and of course Eleanor Roosevelt herself. This is the only book in the series I have read. Written by the First Lady's son Elliott.
The plot itself is the weakness here. And as an historical novel, I wish there had been some indication of what if any of the story was based in historical fact?? Lindbergh's pronouncements? Jack Kennedy's passage? Without any indication to the contrary, I must assume it is a total fabrication. :(
The plot itself is the weakness here. And as an historical novel, I wish there had been some indication of what if any of the story was based in historical fact?? Lindbergh's pronouncements? Jack Kennedy's passage? Without any indication to the contrary, I must assume it is a total fabrication. :(
September 28, 2013
Entertaining and light weight. Written by her son, this detective novel describes Eleanor Roosevelt's adventures in solving three murders while traveling across the Atlantic in great luxury aboard the Normandie. I enjoyed the descriptions of all of that over the top extravagance.
May 9, 2016
Another winner in the Eleanor Roosevelt crime solving books. Celebrity appearances by Josephine Baker, JFK (during his college years), and Jack Benny & his wife. Interesting peek into life during this time period, especially since it occurs on an ocean liner voyage.
March 14, 2024
interesting but i should read it again since i may have forgotten the plot... i do know though, that i love eleanor roosevelt and these mystery books
October 17, 2009
Surrounding Eleanor with cameo characters--Charles Lindbergh, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Benny, Henry Luce, Josephine Baker and a young John F. Kennedy---give the novel's 1938 prewar atmosphere a nice touch.
July 18, 2014
Excellent addition to the Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery series.
March 9, 2015
Nicely done murder but didn't I warm to the recreated real life characters like Jack Benny, Josephine Baker etc because they were before my time.
December 4, 2016
I loved this! I have read the whole series and I love how Elenore Fixes it all.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews