Poisoned Aboard

Loretta Lafayette Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery #1

by Avery Kent

A larger than life TV star, a quirky historian and a murder on a cruise ship…

When Loretta Lafayette boarded a Mediterranean cruise to film her next hit series, drama was the last thing on her mind. But when her assistant turns up dead, the spotlight shifts to a real-life murder mystery.

Alistair Unwin, was set to finally enjoy a well deserved dream cruise vacation, viewing historical sites with his niece Amy, but instead, they find themselves entangled in a mysterious case.

Loretta, Alistair and Amy, along with a diva’s tiny chihuahua, become unlikely partners in a high-stakes investigation.

Between an aging starlet in disguise, suspicious crew and glamorous, yet shady passengers with hidden pasts, it seems everyone is harboring secrets.

With a killer on the loose, can this trio unmask the culprit before they strike again, or could this cruise turn into their final voyage?

*Author
Avery Kent books can be read in any order and are free from graphic descriptions of violence, bad language or sex scenes.

267 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 28, 2024

Reviews

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

We definitely got to see a very different side of Alistair, the drama society director and museum guy from the Bishop’s Landing series. Who knew he was such a fan boy of a singer and had a niece who worked on a cruise ship? It was all fun and games until someone disappeared and someone else was murdered. But I think Alistair got a nice dose of what Annie and Casey did a lot of back home when they were sleuthing a case. And he didn’t seem to complain much about it since he got to sleuth alongside a famous singer and his sweet niece.

I can’t wait to see what the next book brings! I like Loretta and Amy’s characters a lot and figure they’ll probably be sleuthing together in this series.

[Sharmani Jayaram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alistair Unwin and his niece Amy go on a Mediterranean cruise.  They meet Loretta Lafayette who befriends them. Then things go horribly wrong as Marina Del Mar falls overboard and Travis the TV assistant is murdered.  There is a lot going on than it seems. Alistair, Amy with Loretta  pair up to be amateur sleuths.  A captivating read from the start with intriguing characters.  I received this ARC copy via Booksprouts and leave a honest review. I recommend this book to other readers.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alistair Unwin leaves Bishopgate for a cruise with niece, Amy. As excited as he is to see the historical sights in the Mediterranean, he’s equally thrilled to meet performer Loretta Lafayette. Loretta’s onboard filming a travel series along with her producer, cameraman, and troublesome assistant, Travis. Loretta thinks she sees famous aging actress, Marina Del Mar and sends Travis to find her. Travis, however, is more interested in cozying up to his wealthy ex, Amara, who wants nothing to do with him. Things get heated onboard when Marina’s traveling companion announces that she fell overboard. When Travis doesn’t show up for a meeting, Amy, Alistair, & Loretta go to his cabin. Amy uses her keycard to get in & they find Travis dead. Is it possible that there’s a connection between his death and the missing woman? With the detective on board dismissing their information, the trio decided to investigate on their own. Along the way, they discover Marina’s chihuahua, Chester, which was smuggled on board. With stormy seas and suspicious characters at all turns, can they get to the bottom of these mysteries?

This new series by Avery Kent combines characters familiar to her readers from her Bishopgate series with a sassy new heroine. Loretta Lafayette is engaging and entertaining. Her connection with Alistair felt very natural and they made a great sleuthing team. The dual mysteries were equally well done with plenty of clues and red herrings to keep you reading. Chester was delightful and I hope we see him in future books. I’m looking forward to more of Loretta’s adventures.

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

[Jane litherland · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you board a Mediterranean Cruise you don’t expect to be in the cruise news! Loretta Lafayette is aboard to film her new series, not get involved in mysteries! But , well you see , her assistant Travis has wound up dead , you know— history a Travis-Ty you might say ( I know I couldn’t resist my little pun) , no more alive . Met his demise… ok I’m done. Alistair Unwin is planning to unwind on this vacation , he’s onboard with his niece Amy on this occasion. … but what do they find themselves embroiled in ? That’s right . A murder case! It’s a real humdinger ooh er ….a murder mystery along with an unlikely ally , a guest’s chihuahua. Marina Del Mar falls overboard .She was once famous you know. Now I have it on good authority..shhh come closer. That Amy actually works for the cruise company Oceana and she won this non-working cruise on the sweepstake for her plus one guest. How did she know , it was going to be like this ? It’s more a mystery cruise than an history cruise …This book was good , of course enjoy I knew I would. With Avery Kent your money is well spent . The mystery reads are superior . This one is steeped in history too and not just the excellent cruise ship’s interior that amazes. The scenes inside and out and scenery too would be serene if not for a surprise or two. They must solve this case before reaching shore. Let’s hope they’re not next they don’t need more. Ms Kent though ? Of course give her an encore! I must implore as there’s more to this cruise ship business to explore . Bravo ! Loved every minute.

[Dwayne Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Avery Kent is a master storyteller. Poison Aboard is the first of a new series and a fantastic start. Alistair Unwin is invited on a cruise by his niece Amy. They meet Loretta Lafayette and become fast friends. Once at sea, a man rushes into the dining area crying for help. A once famous actress has fallen overboard. Not long after, Loretta’s assistant is found murdered. Loretta, Alistair, and Amy determine to solve the mysteries. Are they related? Did one see something they shouldn’t and die because of it? And why do the stories seem off? A great mystery with multiple theories coming from each main character. They play well off of each and work together well. Can they discover the link between the two or will they be next on the list? Great mystery. Looking forward to the next in the series.

[JOAN SALLEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accompanying his niece Amy on a cruise she won from the cruise line she is employed by, Alistair is surprised to see Loretta, a celebrity he has admired aboard the cruise ship. It appears as a famous actress, Marina Del Mar has also boarded the ship under an alias. When it is assumed that Marina has fell overboard, Alaistair, Loretta, and Amy, find it difficult to believe someone could fall overboard with the safety precautions on the ship. They start sleuthing and while they are trying to piece together how it could happen; a murder occurs on board. Will these two seniors along with help from Amy find out what happened before the ship docks?

I loved how the characters interacted with each other. Definitely a quick must-read cozy.

I received an ARC of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Anne Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. Amy who works with the cruise company Oceana won the sweepstake & got to have a non working cruise + 1. She chose her uncle Alistair, an historian. They flew into Rome where they joined a Mediterranean cruise for a week. Also on board is Loretta who had made her name on a TV show & they are making a travel film with her in it. Whilst taking a walk she spots someone who she knew from filming. First thing to go wrong is that someone is said to have fallen overboard. Then, the assistant on the filming doesn’t answer calls & is found dead. Are they connected. Amy, Alistair & Loretta decide to investigate as the man the Captain puts in charge, a policeman on holiday, is hopeless! Read it in one sitting.

[Robin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Alistair Unwin’s niece Amy wins a cruise for two to historical sites in the Mediterranean, he readily agrees to accompany her on a well-deserved vacation. He soon becomes friends with TV star Loretta Lafayette, who is on board to film part of her hit series. But when a fellow passenger goes overboard, and Loretta’s assistant is poisoned, can the trio unravel the mystery before one of them becomes the next victim? This mystery is fun and entertaining, with characters you would want as friends. Includes some description of the historical travel destinations and the cute chihuahua is a nice touch. Looking forward to the next adventure!
I received an ARC via Booksprout, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun read! A great mix of characters and relationships. Also nothing better than including a dog with the main characters. Though this dog doesn't talk, he is a great addition to the cruise adventures. There is a woman who appears to have gone overboard which leads the gang to try to determine if it was an accident, a suicide or a murder. Before that is solved Travis, one of Loretta Lafayette's assistants, does get murdered and now they try to help solve that murder. As usual, the detectives aren't exactly happy to have their help!!
Pick up a copy and see how everything gets solved. I highly recommend.

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

[Giannina Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amy, who works for a cruise line, wins a trip and invites her uncle Alistair to accompany her. Alistair who is a history and drama buff is excited to join her. On their first day they meet Loretta, a television star and strike up a friendship. Amy is asked if she can cover a few shifts because they are short staffed. They are drawn into two mysteries that may or may not be related. All the characters are very intriguing. Avery Kent writes stories that are so interesting that you can not wait for the next book in the series. I received a copy from book funnel for an honest review. I found the story interesting and intriguing, I highly recommend this story.

[Sabrina Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 1 of Loretta Lafayette Cruise Ship Cozy Murder series. This book starts off with energy and excitement. The storyline of a cruise ship, drama and murder, brings a whole new life to a cozy mystery. The characters are easily to like and dislike. The storyline is very detailed not enough to get you bored with everything but enough to get you to stay in the story and understand what the storyline is about. I look forward to reading more to see what other mysteries and murders are happening on the cruise ship.

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

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun story about a minor celebrity that is taking a cruise to do a travel piece for her studio. She has a crew with her that includes the nephew of the owner of the company that would rather chase women than work. Amy, is an employee of the cruise line that wins a free cruise and bring her Uncle Alistair with her. Then the fun starts when an old movie star is suddenly missing in the middle of the ocean and things get really interesting from there. Doing some amateur sleuthing they make some interesting discoveries. Fun, quick read that if you like cozies you will love this one.

[Chere Gruver · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great start to a new cozy mystery series!

In this story, we not only have old movie star who ends up going overboard, but also a reality show star’s assistant who ends up poisoned and this all happens on a Mediterranean cruise that Amy wins and brings her uncle as her plus one. Once again, Avery Kent proves her talent at writing cozy mysteries as the story just flows beautifully, building up suspense as our intrepid sleuths follow the clues to figure out whodunit. Plus, there’s even a dog who was snuck on the ship. I can’t wait to see where Loretta Lafayette ends up next.

[Dave Measner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cruise ship catastrophe
When Amy wins a free cruise and takes her Uncle Alistair along she expects fine food, wonderful weather and mediteranean sites. She didn't expect to be hanging out with a celebrity filming a show. Nor did they think they would be investigating not one but two suspicious deaths. A well crafted story with bits of historic sites woven in and some wonderful cruise ship insites. With likeable characters and a fine storyline this is a very enjoyable read.
Disclaimer
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lizz Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loretta takes her uncle on a cruise she won. When they board the cruise is short staffed and she agrees to help out since she works for the cruise line. From there the page turning cozy takes off at a fast pace. Someone went overboard. Someone was found dead in their room and the two don't seem connected. Loretta and friends investigate before the ship reaches its final destination. This was a good start to a new series. This can be read as a standalone.

[Antonia Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this gem. I was captivated by the story. I loved the characters. This was a dubious mystery that piqued my interest and had me wanting more.I would love to read more stories about Alistair, Amy, Loretta and of course, Chester the dog. This was a most excelent reading experience!!!!!

[Dianne Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever cozy mystery!

A very clever and entertaining cozy mystery that is well worth reading. I love the investigative team of Amy, her Uncle Alistair and the singing sensation, Loretta, as they follow clues to solve the mysterious deaths. All things are not as they seem!

I read this book as part of an advance reader team and am voluntarily writing this review.

[Martine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alistair and his cousin Amy co on a Mediterranean cruise and get involved in a murder mystery. They team up with Loretta Lafayette to find the killer. A new series by Avery Kent and it's good. Quite entertaining and it just keeps you reading. I'm already looking forward to the next book.
I received an advance review copy and I'm leaving a voluntary and honest review.

[G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great start to a new cozy mystery series. As always wonderful characters and an interesting storyline that keeps you guessing. Just a fantastic book to relax with. I am already looking forward to the next one in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cat B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fun little read. So much information in a cozy mystery. Very plain writing, which I appreciate. No going off on tangents, which I also appreciate and an interesting group of characters. I enjoyed it.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my opinion of the tale.

[Sue Rae Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poisoned Aboard is the first in the Loretta Lafayette Cruise Ship Cozy Murder by Avery Kent where we meet Loretta Lafayette on a Mediterranean cruise. With a person falls overboard and a TV assitant is murdered. Loretta befriends Allistair and his niece, Amy to solve the mystery. Such a great book with wonderful intreguing characters. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Margie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminded me of one of my favorite board games and musicals, Clue. We had to solve who, where and how, and this mystery requires the same. We’re running round the ship and Italy trying to solve those 3 things. A hint, it wasn’t the butler with the candlestick in the library. It is fun to figure out those three items. Good luck. I wonder what Avery Kent will have for us next.

[ReadaBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Nice Mystery

I still am not sure how this group became a team, other than they all were on the same cruise ship, and two characters are related.
A passenger goes overboard, another is murdered. The group works together to investigate. A chihuahua is snuck on board, but once discovered, that doesn’t seem to be a big deal.
A light cozy mystery.

[Jodi Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fun cruise mystery. Loretta is definitely a character and the people she meets are as well. Alistair Unwin was a delightful sidekick in this book. There are a lot of twists and turns so you will have to keep up. This was a fun cozy read.

[Raven Devine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining mystery that kept me guessing until the end. Great writing, good dialogue and likeable characters made this an all around fun read.

I hope to see Loretta and company on many more adventures. Great series start.

[SueAnn Schoonmaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's What Happened

It was very convoluted, which is good for a mystery. The cast of characters was well presented & fit perfectly with how the story unfolded. You can't figure out, until near the end, who did what to whom. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved Chester the dog. A fun romp on a cruise ship

[Sherry Kilmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet little mystery

Another sweet mystery set on a cruise ship with a new cute dog.. good way to escape with the cruise setting at the start of a new year. Really enjoyed it!

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Poisoned Aboard

An interesting puzzle. It certainly had me confused right up until the end. A nice cliffhanger too. A fair number of mistakes and misspelled words.

[Delores Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book in this series that I've read and it was enjoyable. No heavy duty complicated story and the main characters were not annoying.