Murder on the Ocean Odyssey

Ruth Morgan Cosy Mysteries #1

by Peter Jay Black

One cruise ship, six passengers, no escape . . .

As a freelance food consultant, Ruth Morgan travels Britain, advising restaurants, cafes, and hotels on their menus and recipes. So when she’s hired to work on board the Ocean Odyssey, she looks forward to gaining her sea legs.

However, when someone throws the captain overboard on the first night, Ruth and five other mysterious passengers discover they’ve sailed into a death trap, and it’s clear the killer won’t stop.

On a ship now adrift in the middle of the ocean, with no way to call for help, the dire situation forces Ruth to dust off her amateur sleuthing skills. She wants to help her fellow guests survive through the next three days, but can she unmask the killer before she becomes their next victim?

The first in a series of absorbing whodunnits with a fun amateur sleuth. A perfect escape for fans of British Cozy Mysteries and female detectives, plus authors like M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, and Richard Osman.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Contemporary

254 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2023

About the author

Keep updated with future releases at peterjayblack.com

Peter Jay Black enjoys spending his time between the UK and US, loves everything technology, science and movie related, along with an interest in ancient Egypt and history.

Urban Outlaws: Peter wrote the first book in the series from a Hollywood apartment - middle grade action & adventure novels about a team of super-skilled kids, who use gadgets and hacking to take from bad guys and give to the needy. Packed full of high-octane fun.

Reviews

[Yora Canter Visscher · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING

The murder mystery was very well written. The many plottwists kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. And the whole plot connected at the end. Amazing job!
The characters were also very likable. I especially liked the main character and her cat.
Because the language is very accessible and because there are short chapters, the book is suitable for everyone.
Definitely will recommend it to others!

I got to read this ARC book for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you netgalley and Peter Jay black!

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey . . .

I loved the storyline on this one. The plot was laid out well with enough suspense, drama, and danger to draw the reader in and keep things interesting. The characters were also interesting as we learn about them during the crisis on board the Ocean Odyssey. With the Captain thrown overboard and no way to call for help or escape the ship, will Ruth Morgan be able to figure out who the killer is before the next victim is murdered?

[Ale · Rating 5 out of 5]

ENG
Ruth Morgan, mid-sixties, is invited to join the Ocean Odyssey as a food consultant. She will be going on the cruise with five other people and they will be the only guests for the following days.
Once there, there is one issue related to the network: there is no possibility of an internet connection, so Ruth can't contact her nephew, Greg. The second day, instead, all the cruise staff disappeared, and later, they witnessed a murder.
Personally, I really enjoyed this book. Ruth is a nice character; she is a cat owner, and her inclination to investigate is totally stirred up by the situation and clues she finds. The story is interesting, and without realizing it, I found myself totally caught up in it.
I have seen that this book should be the first of three and that they will arrive this year. Looking forward to it!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

ITA
Ruth Morgan, sessantenne, viene invitata a una crociera sulla Ocean Odyssey in veste di consulente alimentare. Parteciperà alla crociera con altre cinque persone e saranno gli unici ospiti per i giorni successivi.
Una volta arrivati, c'è un problema legato alla rete: non c'è connessione Internet, quindi Ruth non può contattare suo nipote, Greg. Il secondo giorno, invece, tutto il personale della crociera è scomparso e successivamente assistono a un omicidio.
Personalmente, ho apprezzato molto questo libro. Ruth è un personaggio simpatico; è una “gattara” e la sua inclinazione a indagare è totalmente stimolata dalla situazione e dagli indizi che trova. La storia è interessante e, senza rendermene conto, mi sono trovata completamente coinvolta.
Questo libro dovrebbe essere il primo di tre, gli altri due dovrebbero uscire quest'anno. Non vedo l'ora!
Ho ricevuto una copia gratuita. Questa recensione contiene la mia opinione ed è pubblicata liberamente

[Kathy Koester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey" by Peter Jay Black is the first book in the Ruth Morgan Cozy Mysteries series and a great introduction to the series. It is written as a typical Locked Room Mystery only located on a Cruise Ship.

This first in the series book has ex-cop turned freelance Food Consultant, Ruth Morgan (a grandmotherly type) traveling the countryside in a Motor home with her grandson and beloved cat. She was invited to evaluate the food on the Ocean Odyssey, a luxury cruise ship. Unfortunately her grandson could not join her on the cruise, so he hung out in the motorhome. A plus for Ruth, she did smuggle her cat on board. The cat gave us some comic relief to the mystery story.

All the guests on the cruise were prohibited in discussing their past, occupation or their invitation to the cruise. We realize later why that matters. In quick order, the Captain is thrown off the ship, the crew takes off in the lifeboats and without wifi or cell service, the guests are left on their own to unravel the murders that occur in quick succession. Ruth has to track down the killer before she becomes the next victim de jour.

This book was fun to read, with steady suspense and a satisfying ending. I look forward to reading more about Ruth Morgan and her travels.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovers of Agatha Christie or Arthur Conan Doyle, look alive! Murder on the Ocean Odyssey will keep you guessing, doubting and questioning everything you think you know right to the very end.

What happens when six strangers are led aboard a luxury cruise ship, laden with secrets, and they find themselves without a crew? Murder.

This was a power read right through for me as it quickly gave me an impression of a cozy who-dun-it. Our primary character Ruth was quirky and endearing from the first page and acting as our third person narrator made the telling all the more engaging. The sense of intrigue captured me from the beginning and had me curious to have the answers to my questions of "but why????" or "who!?"

There were a few fairly translucent elements that I won't call out specifically to avoid spoiling, but they were the easiest of the puzzles for me to root out.

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey is a great light read for anyone looking for a mystery without too much violence and many red herrings to fall for along the way. Perfect for a vacation, journey or day off!

[Kara Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really clever English cozy mystery and it looks like it’s the first in a new series with Ruth, a food consultant, as the featured “mature” amateur sleuth. Ruth and 5 other types of experts/consultants board a fancy cruise ship and the first night at sea things seem relatively normal, if overly secretive. Until the captain is thrown overboard, all the crew exits during the night (taking the lifeboats), and the radio is sabotaged! Of course, communication via internet and mobile isn’t working either. Ruth knows that her grandson will be expecting to see her in 3 days at the end of the cruise, so until then, they’re on their own—and there’s still a murderer on the loose. It’s rather exciting to read what all the 6 go through as they (and we) try to figure out what’s going on and how to survive some of the continued sabotages. I can definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading the next book in this series. I was provided an arc, which I appreciate, but these opinions are my own.

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murderous shenanigans on the High Seas as a small group of disparate people becomes easy prey for a ruthless killer who enjoys bumping off each single one of them and never forgets to leave malicious clues on or next to the dead bodies...

A delicious and often humorous romp set on an abandoned luxury yacht off the coast of Southwestern England full of twists and turns and blessed with a delightful cast of exquisitely drawn characters that kept me guessing all the way to the end! A perfect whodunit that greatly deserves to be discovered and enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Oakbridge and Netgalley for this terrific ARC!

[Mary Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a read this was. If you love Agatha Christie, then this is the book for you. It's a locked room mystery set on board the ship the Ocean Odyssey and there is a killer on board killing people one by one. On board is Ruth Morgan who is determined to stay alive and as the remaining numbers dwindle, determined to umnask the killer.

I was riveted right from the start. I love this type of story and this was so full of twists, that I really didn't know which end was up. It was a genuine whodunnit. Ruth is a great character and I can't wait to read the next books which are out later in the year.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Karin Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a freelance food consultant, Ruth Morgan travels Britain, advising restaurants, cafes, and hotels on their menus and recipes. So when she’s hired to work on board the Ocean Odyssey, she looks forward to gaining her sea legs.
However, when someone throws the captain overboard on the first night, Ruth and five other mysterious passengers discover they’ve sailed into a death trap, and it’s clear the killer won’t stop.
On a ship now adrift in the middle of the ocean, with no way to call for help, the dire situation forces Ruth to dust off her amateur sleuthing skills. She wants to help her fellow guests survive through the next three days, but can she unmask the killer before she becomes their next victim? This was a fun read and kept me reading until the wee hours. I hope there will be more in this series. Ruth is fun, interesting and I’d like to read more of her adventures. ThNk you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

[Kailey Vick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I might switch this to 5 stars…I really enjoyed this book! It’s a nice clean mystery with murder but no gore. The characters are intriguing and I couldn’t quite figure out how it would be solved but was satisfied in the end. I look forward to reading more from this series!

*thank you to NetGalley for this ARC*

[Gali · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Murder on the Ocean Odyssey" by Peter Jay Black is the first book in the Ruth Morgan Cosy Mysteries series and a great introduction to the series. There is nothing I like more than a good locked-room mystery, especially one that takes place on a cruise ship, and this one fit the bill perfectly with a deadly game, a string of murders, and a cat to keep the page turning.

The book follows Ruth Morgan, an ex-police officer turned into freelance food consultant, who was invited to evaluate the food abroad the luxury cruise ship 'Ocean Odyssey'. Ruth is a quick-witted 60+ grandmother and travels with her grandson and cat around Britain for her job. Unfortunately, her grandson isn't allowed to join this three-day trip, but she managed to sneak her cat into the ship (yay). There are only five other guests besides her and they are not allowed to share any details about their identity, past, or occupation. Ruth tags her fellow guests as an ex-army man, a lawyer, a model, an influencer, and a computer geek.

The plot thickens when someone throws the captain overboard, the crew vanishes from the ship, and there is no way to leave the ship. There is no Wi-Fi, cell connection, or lifeboats. Moreover, there is a murderer on board who is determined to kill them one by one. When murders seem to pop like dandelions during the summer, Ruth must use her rusty detective skills and track down a murderer before she is next on the list.

I loved the book! It correspondent to Agatha Christie's "And then there were none" and is just as tricky. The heroine reminded me of Miss Marple, elder and likeable, but she was too reckless at times, checking clues without regard to her personal safety. Many the times I wanted to shout at her to be more careful and not to be hasty. And her cat added the comic relief so necessary for stress relief.

The characters were caught up in a series of murders, both victims and suspects, adding to the suspense. The pace is steady, and the tension builds steadily, leading to a final showdown and a satisfying ending. With a great plot, quirky characters, and an interesting premise, "Murder on the Ocean Odyssey" (and what an Odyssey!) is one great book! This is but the first in the series, and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next books in the series. This winning combination of murder mystery and a cruise should appeal to a wide variety of readers. After all, who doesn't love curling up with a great whodunnits mystery?? Highly recommended!

* I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Afloat in the middle of the ocean, a crew abandons ship, a captain is thrown overboard and six strangers differing in age and personalities must forge a fragile trust to outwit a killer all the while being silenced by a contract to not reveal their vocation/reason for being aboard the ship lest forfeit their very amicable fee. Surrounded by luxury, Ruth (entrepreneur, cat lover and sassy grandma) along with her five new bunk mates find themselves searching for answers to “what happened to the crew”, scrambling for a way off the ship, and watching each other’s backs while desperately staying ahead of the killer. What’s worse than someone outside hunting you down……someone on the inside with killer intentions.

Is the book in a series - yes, book 1
Can the book be read as a standalone - yes
Did the book end on a satisfying note - yes.
Would I read more books in the series - yes, yes I would.

Pros
- because of the “no sharing information” there wasn’t a lot of expositions
- the writing isnt “fluffy”. Clear and well written, the book kept a good pace. Short chapters also keep the story moving.
- the characters are likeable, even the jerk. They are ordinary people. No heroes here.
- realistic (enough) skill use. The skills used to deduce clues and such don’t come from watching crime shows, but actual past work/life experience. They know what they are doing because they have done it before.

Cons
- although included as a pro, “Little exposition” also created a small problem for me in that it made the ending and the reveal a little out left field.

Neither here not there - the kitty companion. Although cute, not too sure if he added to the story other than as a distraction. In saying that, I do look forward to seeing him again in the next book.

Overview - I had fun. This was a cleverly written, well paced, easy to read story that made me genuinely intrigued by the characters as well as the mystery. Honestly, Give it go if you enjoy the cozier side of mysteries. Bring on book two

[J. Michael Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A murder mystery. Ruth and (only) five other passengers are lured aboard a luxury cruise, supposedly paid a huge sum in order to consult with the ship owner to improve the product. But they are instructed to NOT share their personal stories with the other passengers--or they won't get paid the second half of their huge fees. Ruth is there to critique the food, as she is a well known food critic.

But the first night out, the captain of the ship is murdered, and the crew mysteriously disappears. All that remain on the ship are the six "consultants." And they are not supposed to say who they are. By the first day, the 6 consultants start getting murdered, one by one. Can they be stopped?

And who is doing the killing? One of them? Or is someone else stowing away on board.

It is a good plot, not a good story (none of the characters changes inwardly, or does anything other than react stereotypically.) The dialogue is forced by the author. There are cliches throughout the book, of both phrases and reactions of the characters. The author needed a good writing group to critique this work. At times the plot is not credible. And the protagonist is more lucky than clever.

All that said, I enjoyed the book more as I got into it, making my peace with the shallow characters, and growing in my curiosity about who was doing the killings, and why, and who would survive, if anyone.

But in the end, I will not put it on my "reread" list. It was a nice escape book, but not a particularly well written one.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- This cover is perfection.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Murder on the Ocean Odyssey by Peter Jay Black and I must say, it was a delightful read from start to finish. The story revolves around Ruth Morgan, a food consultant who finds herself onboard the Ocean Odyssey working on their menu. However, things take a sinister turn when the captain is thrown overboard on the first night and Ruth and her fellow passengers find themselves stranded in the middle of the ocean with a killer on board.

What follows is an absorbing whodunnit with plenty of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. As someone who loves locked room mysteries, this book was right up my alley - and the setting of being trapped on a cruise ship only added to the suspense.

But what really stood out for me was the writing itself. It was perfection - descriptive without being overwhelming, engaging without being too heavy-handed. And Ruth Morgan herself was such a likable main character - I found myself rooting for her throughout.

Overall, Murder on the Ocean Odyssey is an excellent novel that mystery fans will thoroughly enjoy. I can’t wait to see where Black takes Ruth next. Highly recommended for fans of Cozy Mysteries and female detectives alike!

**ARC Via NetGalley**

[Big Otter Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Ruth is on the worst cruise ever! She is a freelance food consultant and goes on a pre-launch yacht cruise where everything goes wrong. This is pretty much a "locked room" "stranded at sea" book but that's not a bad thing-the author (Peter Jay Black) does some nifty things that really hooked me into the book. It did take a while to get through the character introductions and scene setting but the story moved right along after that. The middle got a bit bogged down and there were some confusing things that kind of/sort of made sense at the end. The characters were a mishmash-some well done and a couple that were over the top and easy to figure out why they were there and doing what they did. But, overall, I enjoyed the book and did not see the ending coming-as usual I was the last to figure it out. Ruth is an awesome character and I look forward to more of her adventures as the series continues. I received a copy and this is my own opinion. #NetGalley

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess the main reason I give this 3 vs 4 stars, is that it seemed to me very unlikely as a scenario. Also, the main investigator did a lot of stuff that struck me as foolish. Still, I enjoyed it well enough and everything was pretty well tied up at the end with one or two surprises.

The set up is that Ruth Morgan is invited as part of a small select group in the maiden voyage of the cruise ship Ocean Odyssey. This is, apparently, a pretty large ship. The first 'unlikely' is that they'd have a voyage fully crewed with only 6 guests. That just felt silly to me. I immediately assumed it was an 'And Then There Were None' type situation where everyone is somehow connected so the rest of my reading was me trying to figure out how.

Ultimately, a few of those connections seemed tenuous, but it's also possible I'd missed clues that would have made things make more sense. So I'll probably try at least one more in the series.

[Jane Verco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted “cozy” mystery, I found rather delightful and an easy, enjoyable read. The storyline was fun (perhaps a little far-fetched at times), full of engaging characters and twists in the plot which sometimes seemed never-ending. We enjoy following Ruth Morgan’s escapades as she finds herself renewing her desire to investigate, stirring distant memories of her time as a policewoman, as she finds herself in the centre of bizarre happenings and unexplained murders in the group she has become a part of sailing on the “Odyssey”. This book definitely kept me engaged right to the end, just when you thought you knew what was going on, another red herring appeared! I will definitely be looking out for further books in this series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey is book #1 in the Ruth Morgan Cozy Mystery series by Peter Jay Black.

6 passengers are invited on a cruise ship. Rush Morgan travels around Britain advising food establishments on their food which is what she will be doing on the cruise ship. Almost immediately strange things start happening.

This was an interesting “locked-room” mystery. The start was a bit slow, but I expect that in the first book of a series. The pace picked up and I couldn’t put it down! Every time I thought I knew what was going on, there was another twist taking the characters (and me) down a different path. I look forward to Ruth’s next adventure.

I received a free copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Shelly Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey is the first Book of Ruth Morgan Cozy Mystery Series by Peter Jay Black. This cozy murder mystery was very well written. There were many plot twists that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book, and the entire plot connected at the end. This book is the starting out of the first in the series, but I am definitely looking forward to reading the next books in the series. This winning combination of murder mystery and a cruise should appeal to a wide variety of readers. After all, who doesn't love curling up with a great whodunnits mystery?? Highly recommended! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jackie Welcel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little surprised when I started reading this book. Based on the cover I thought it was probably set in the early-mid 1900s, it just looked old-fashioned to me and in the description of the book, there was nothing to make me think otherwise. When it starts out with Ruth driving her big ol' motorhome I quickly realized I was wrong and it's taking place now. It was very interesting, where did everyone go and why? Lots of twists and just an interesting storyline without a lot of romance that some Cozy Mysteries are full of. I did find Ruth's grandson Greg interesting and hope he has a bigger role in her future adventures.

[Jg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun variant of Then There Were None, six people are invited on a new cruise ship because of their occupations yet told to keep what they do a secret. The first night goes well but when they awake the entire crew is missing and it’s just the six of them. One of the people, Ruth Morgan, food consultant, ex policewoman is the main character, and she’s a wonderfully interesting and quirky woman. She makes the whole mystery. When the killer is revealed it’s a disappointment because the answer is so far fetched, but Ruth more than makes up for any deficiency, and I look forward to the next installment.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder on the Ocean Odyssey is a quick, engaging locked-room mystery. Six passengers are invited by an unknown owner on a three day excursion aboard the Ocean Odyssey. These six are soon on their own when the captain is thrown overboard, the crew disappears and a string of murders occurs. Ruth dusts off her investigating skills to track down a killer before she becomes a victim herself. The most interesting aspect in this story is the slow reveal of the 6 strangers and who and why is "picking them off one by one. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I enjoyed Ruth's character and look forward to reading more of her and her Grandson's adventures. Highly recommend for fans of page-turning mysteries .

[Melissa Borsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruth Morgan has been hired as a freelance food consultant for a cruise liner and she is very excited upon boarding. The next morning she discovers that all of the crew and staff have disappeared and only six passengers are left, stranded with no way to access help. Then the deaths begin. I found this to be a very fun, fast paced, and engaging mystery that kept me entertained this weekend. I look forward to more books by this Author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story. It reminded me of a classic Agatha Christie novel. I really loved the characters. I think that they were crafted with care. I did not have one character that I disliked at all. Ruth and Merlin and Colonel Tom were my favorite characters. I liked how Ruth and Tom interacted.
The storyline was very intriguing. All these people on a boat and people start dying. I was kept guessing at who the murderer was until the very end. All in all, it was a very entertaining story.
I received a complimentary copy of this story and I freely left this review.

[Tom Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first read from this author and wow, what a story, it is a twist from beginning to end. The characters are very well put together as the different backgrounds make them a perfect match for this story.
The descriptions of the people and various areas of the cruise ship are exceptional and help to bring this book to life.
You will love this book and will want to keep reading it in a single sitting as it is edge of the seat excitement.
I received this arc for free and I wanted to leave an honest review.

[Tnjram · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good flow..It's definitely a cozy trope (prioritizing puzzle and suspense over ultra-realistic logistics), but a gaping hole in the setup that weakens the whole foundation..who financed such a huge cruise ship where the murders took place? Such an elaborate setup from a person who is financially ruined? Will some one with a big rap sheet hold so much vengeance against a police officer for such a long time and finance chartering a cruise liner... unbelievable..we touch the height of unbelievability

[Shirley Ann Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic start to a new British Cozy series. I could not put this down and read this in one sitting! Six strangers left adrift in the middle of the ocean on a luxury cruise ship. Someone is picking them off one by one. The main character, Ruth Morgan, is a mature woman who I found very likeable, smart, and savvy. This book had lots of twists and turns and plenty of suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Alison Vicary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a well written book that kept me reading when I should have been doing other things. I loved the main character and how her life has not been easy but still she has made a success of it and how she managed to solve the puzzles presented to her. This was a crime story that covers all ages, as not quite from the golden age of crime and yet modern enough with modern technology interweaved to bring it up to date, I am eagerly awaiting the next in the series,

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy mystery story following mid-60-year-old Ruth's perspective, so readers can view the mystery alongside the character. Ruth is a resilient character, able to do whatever it takes mentally and physically to solve a case where everyone seemingly know each other and the case becomes personal.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.

[Angelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was entertaining with a really fun take on a locked room mystery and enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. My only problem was that some of the characters came off as very two dimensional. And, honestly I found Ruth to be very irritating. Her constant tech malapropisms got very grating after a while (seriously, "whiffy," "tokticking," "whiffy?")

I received a free copy of this book , and I am leaving an honest review.