Cruise Secrets

Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries #18

by A.R. Winters

Addi, Sam, and Cece are back—and this time, the Cygnus of the Seas is hosting a floating animation convention, complete with costumes, cartoon chaos… and a killer on board."Winters will have you giggling into your book!"When the author of a scandalous tell-all exposé ends up dead, Addi dives headfirst into the mystery—only to find that the killer might be hiding behind more than just a mascot head.

Secrets from a decades-old cold case bubble to the surface, and Addi’s sleuthing stirs up more than just trouble. Someone’s desperate to keep the past buried—and they’ll stop at nothing to silence anyone who digs too deep.

Murder, mischief, and more than a few laughs—because on this cruise, the danger is anything but animated.

Praise for A.R.

"The perfect balance of being lighthearted, but still a serious page-turning mystery." - Jaycie D, Amazon.com

"A fun cozy mystery with engaging and entertaining characters" - lq, Amazon.com

"For fans of Janet Evanovich, Rhys Bowen and Jana DeLeon, this is a funny, clean mystery." - Clara B, Amazon.com

Cruise Secrets is the eighteenth book in the Cruise Ship Mystery Series. Though it can be read as a standalone, it's best read in series order.

This is a humorous cozy mystery featuring a strong female protagonist, some unusual friends and co-workers, and a mystery that needs solving! It has no graphic gore, bad language or sex.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 16, 2025

About the author

A.R. Winters is a cozy mystery writer who loves writing about crazy characters and vibrant locations. And food, lots of delicious food!

When not writing, A.R. Winters is usually busy eating too much cake...

You can also find her on Facebook

Reviews

[Alisa]

Fun book!!

This is the 18th book in the series, but it's just not getting old at all!

Addi, Sam & Cece are back on the Cygnus of the Sea, with Ethan as captain and much of the crew they usually work with aboard...with a few exceptions.

An animation convention has taken over the ship, and one of the authors literally drops dead....

Of course, our team is on the ball to help solve the murder, despite the security chief (not their normal one) who insists they stay out of it or suffer the consequences. And Addi's being driven crazy by the crazy demands of the 2 convention cruise directors, Dina and Dotty.

The book, as with all of the series., has a great story and mystery (well, several, actually), wonderful characters, and a good dose of humor. It's just plain, well written fun, and will leave you...as it did me....wanting more.

Ready for another one!!

This is the 18th book in the series, but it's just not getting old at all!

Addi, Sam & Cece are back on the Cygnus of the Sea, with Ethan as captain and much of the crew they usually work with aboard...with a few exceptions.

An animation convention has taken over the ship, and one of the authors literally drops dead....

Of course, our team is on the ball to help solve the murder, despite the security chief (not their normal one) who insists they stay out of it or suffer the consequences. And Addi's being driven crazy by the crazy demands of the 2 convention cruise directors, Dina and Dotty.

The book, as with all of the series., has a great story and mystery (well, several, actually), wonderful characters, and a good dose of humor. It's just plain, well written fun, and will leave you...as it did me....wanting more.

Ready for another one!!.

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

[Kathy]

Addi along with Sam and Cece hop aboard another cruise on the Cygnus with Captain Ethan Lee. This time, the ship is hosting a cartoon convention with Sobby the Cow as the centerpiece. From the get go, it’s a major headache for Addi. For one thing, she keeps getting flack about her social media postings from the entertainment company’s social activities directors. Then there’s the garish colors and cartoon theming of every area on the ship. When an author about to expose a major scandal about Sobby’s creators is murdered, Ethan asks Addi to investigate. Unfortunately, the head of ship security is having none of that and is not beyond threatening Addi or anyone who helps her. Cornstalks, as Addi would say. With the killer hiding in plain sight among the cosplayers onboard, can Addi put the clues together to solve the case?

The cartoon con themed cruise came to garish life with Ms. Winters descriptive prose. Having been to anime/cartoon cons, I could easily envision the colors and the crowds, as well as the multiple cosplays of popular characters. I liked the balance between real cartoons and the author’s invented concepts with Sobby being particularly interesting. The shortened cruise length heightened the tension as Addi and friends raced to find answers and the animosity of Hans also made things fraught. These characters have become like friends through the course of the series, and having someone threatening their jobs hits hard. The combination of the cold case mystery and the current murder gave lots of opportunities for red herrings and plot twists. Overall, another fun excursion with Swan International.

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

[Rebel]

Okay, let me just say—every time I think Addi’s cruise adventures can’t get any crazier, A.R. Winters throws in mouse ears, cosplay drama, and a dead author with secrets hotter than a Caribbean summer. And I live for it.

Cruise Secrets is book 18, and somehow it still feels fresh, funny, and delightfully twisty. The animation convention on board? Such a fun backdrop! Between the cosplay chaos and cartoon-obsessed guests, it felt like Comic-Con collided with a murder mystery—and Addi, Sam, and Cece were right in the thick of it, of course.

The moment that author dropped dead, I was hooked. Because this wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill cruise murder. Oh no—there’s a cold case bubbling beneath the surface, and the secrets that start unraveling had me flipping pages like my Kindle was on fire. Addi’s snarky observations, Sam’s ever-steady presence (swoon), and Cece’s chaotic energy made the investigation just as fun as the mystery itself.

What I really love about this series—and especially this book—is how it balances laugh-out-loud moments with legit clues, red herrings, and plot twists I don’t always see coming. The humor never overshadows the whodunit, but it definitely makes it a joy to ride along.

If you’re already a fan of this series, you’ll be grinning the whole way through. If you’re new to it—honestly, what are you waiting for? This book has all the cozy cruise vibes, clever mystery layers, and Addi’s irresistible charm. Cruise Secrets is another winner, and I’ll gladly keep sailing with this crew for as many books as A.R. Winters wants to write.

[Susan]

Murder, Mayhem, and Mouse Ears?

Addi, Sam, and Cece are back aboard the Cygnus of the Seas for a floating animation convention—cosplay, cartoons, and con drama included. But when a notorious author drops dead after revealing secrets too hot for print, the vacation turns deadly.

Now Addi’s diving headfirst into a sea of suspects, and what she uncovers could rock the boat in more ways than one.

Is a decades-old cold case finally resurfacing?

Are long-buried secrets about to spark a brand-new wave of murder?

This contemporary humorous cruise ship cozy mystery is page-turning with exceptional world-building on the Cygnus of the Seas, and characters that are sleuths who are humorous, witty, captivating, and realistic. Their journey is enthralling with cruise secrets that are long-buried and that are too hot for print, cows, vacation turns deadly, a sea of suspects, mouse ears, suspense that will leave readers on the edge of their seats, drama, a race against time to solve the murder mystery at sea, heartfelt emotions, action, adventure, and more. I recommend reading this book by an extraordinary author who knows how to captivate her readers' hearts and attention with cruise secrets and a cruise ship cozy mystery that is sure to transport readers into a world that is wildly humorous, mysterious, and unforgettable.

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

[Emily Pennington]

Who Killed Karl MacKey ? . . .

Addi, Sam, and Cece are aboard the ship captained by Addi’s boyfriend, Ethan Lee, as they prepare for a 3-day animation convention. But hearing a terrifying scream and the body of controversial author, Karl MacKey, whose scandalous tell-all expose was apparently unappreciated, as he plummeted to his death on the deck below, is not the best way to start out on this adventure! As Addi looked up, she saw a man in a mask spin away from the railing, his cape swirling outward with the motion. Then he disappeared. It won’t be easy to track down the potential suspect because there were at least 10 people dressed as the Major Thunder superhero… and everyone is wearing a costume representing various characters. Identifying a killer or even witnesses will not be an easy chore! Is the murder related to a very old cold case mystery that could unearth some unwanted secrets best left undisturbed? If so, it wasn’t obvious right away. But will it put our sleuths in danger if they start looking too closely and finally figure it out?

[Lizz Taylor]

Another fabulous mystery centering around a specialty cruise. Animation is the main focus and there are a number of cosplay activities. Sadly, one of the players is a killer in disguise. Ada and the gang have to solve the mystery before others are harmed or Ada herself sinks to the bottom of the ocean. This is an enjoyable series and this book can be read as a standalone. It would have been even cooler if it had been made into a graphic novel.

Am I the only one who wants Rosie (from the Tiffany series) and Cece to have their own adventure in a novella spin-off?

[Joyce]

When Addi, Sam, and Cece return aboard another ship that Ethan is captaining for a 3-day animation convention, they thought it would be all fun and games. However, when an author literally drops dead from an upper deck to a lower one, it reopens up a cold case and an attack on their security guy. Is there one, two, or multiple killers involved.

However, with everyone in costumes, it is going to take a lot of teamwork to unmask the killer(s).

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

[Margery]

An comic con cruise for 3 days is scheduled on the Cygnus. Someone dressed as the main character, Major Thunder has tossed him over a railing and killing him. With guests dressed in their favorite character, it will not be easy to find the murderer. Uncovering secrets will be the only way to the truth. Some evidence they uncover is from way back in the 1930's. Will the girls be able to find the Major Thunder and uncover the murderer? Many interesting characters and a definite surprise.

[Aimee Worth]

Addi and friends are out on another cruise. I love how there are different boats in these books but they bring people they know and trust on these cruises from the Swan. This helps with the dynamics of the story. Solving two crimes at once takes time but that isn’t an option for a 3 day cruise. I enjoyed reading this book and learning how cartoons are made. These characters are fun and entertaining.

[Trina Gomez]

This cozy mystery is a delightful! Addi, Sam, and Cece return for another adventure, this time at a quirky animation convention on a cruise ship. With behind the scenes drama, and a shocking murder, the story keeps you guessing without losing its lighthearted charm. A perfect pick for fans of mysteries with humor, fun, and a splash of nautical flair!.

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

[Jane litherland]

The Cygnus of the Seas plays host to a floating animation convention ,but amid the fun and costumes galore those cartoons what’s more. Someone has been given what for, yes an author of scandalous expose as alas been doused ,snuffed out . So what was it all about? Why did it happen ,who did the deed? Addi, Sam and Cece are determined to find out then there’s her beau Captain Ethan Lee as they all dive into the mystery at sea. There’s a shadow lurking and secrets quirking

[Terri]

Once again we are cruising on the Cygnus of the Seas with Addi and her friends. This cruise is hosting an animation convention so you know things just might get twisted! When an author is killed shortly after setting sail, Addi doesn't hesitate to jump into the investigation. This one isn't going to be easy with everyone in costume! The twists and turns combined with plenty of laughs will keep you turning page after page! Very enjoyable read!

[Big Fat Hairy Man]

The gang is back again, this time they're working on a cartoon-based cruise. Things take a deadly turn when a tell-all author is found dead on board. It's up to them to get to the truth despite the wishes of others. This cruise-ship-based, cozy mystery has plenty of suspects, red herrings and humor to keep the reader interested.

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

[Michelle Webb]

Another great AR Winters book. I love this author and everything she writes so definitely read this series and all of the other ones. Addie, Sam and Cece are back on board the Cyngus of the Seas for another cruise. This is a specialty cruise which is for an animation convention which proves to be fun. With the perfect mix of laughter, mystery and murder this book does not disappoint.

[LizJ.]

Cruise Secrets Book 18 of Cruise Ship Cozy Mysteries by A.R. Winters is another entertaining cozy mystery set on a cruise ship. These stories keep getting better and better, more twists and turns, fun quirky characters and great storylines!.

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

[Deborah Ortega]

This was a fun animation cruise on board ship until the murder of a tell all book Author. Owners of a beloved cartoon cow are hoping to revitalize their brand. After the attempt to kill the security chief Addi and her friends try to figure out the case. This was a fast paced story and I recommend it.

[Genesia]

Another murder for Addie and her friends to solve. Entertaining, and you learn quite a bit about cartoons. Although I'm not a big fan of cartoons I did enjoy reading the book.

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

[Molly]

the ship with it's town like elements tangles wind around mysteries, long periods are wrapped up together with conflicting magical elements and actors


intense and suspense filled action and drama whodunnit

[AMBER CLARK]

The combination of the cold case mystery and the current murder gave lots of opportunities for red herrings and plot twists. Overall, another fun excursion with Swan International. I recommend reading this book/series.

[Deborah K DeLaVina]

Cruise Secrets

Another amazing mystery solved! Absolutely love these cruise ship mysteries! The whole crew has interesting parts to play and it's interesting watching it all play out.

[DEBRA KAASTRA]

Grab your cape and jump right in!

When the Cygnus gets chartered for an animation convention it's hard to tell the heroes from the villains. Addi and her friends need the IT nerds to help figure out the ending

[Gerry]

Cruise Secrets

I really enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend that you read it as much as the previous books in this series. Looking forward to reading more in this series.