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A Cruise to Die For: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 7 Apr 26A Cruise to Die For has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 7, 2026
1 person is currently reading
100 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
593 books6,947 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was not at all what I was expecting... it had a great premise and a fun, atmospheric cruise ship setting, but the execution was a bit uneven for me. I found myself disconnected from the characters, not really caring about them.
The mystery starts strong, yet the pacing slows in places and the twists were predictable. The dialog felt robotic and didn't hold my attention well, I found myself skimming through pieces of the story.
I enjoyed the setting and suspense elements, but I wanted more tension and tighter plotting. A solid, quick read... just not one that fully swept me away.
The mystery starts strong, yet the pacing slows in places and the twists were predictable. The dialog felt robotic and didn't hold my attention well, I found myself skimming through pieces of the story.
I enjoyed the setting and suspense elements, but I wanted more tension and tighter plotting. A solid, quick read... just not one that fully swept me away.
December 5, 2025
2.7 ⭐️
While I am a huge fan of thrillers, this one sadly fell flat for me.
The title and cover really drew me into this one. I liked the concept of the cruise ship for sure, but I was wanting more with the plot.
I will definitely be giving Heather Graham another shot, this book just wasn’t my favorite. Looking forward to reading more of her!
While I am a huge fan of thrillers, this one sadly fell flat for me.
The title and cover really drew me into this one. I liked the concept of the cruise ship for sure, but I was wanting more with the plot.
I will definitely be giving Heather Graham another shot, this book just wasn’t my favorite. Looking forward to reading more of her!
November 19, 2025
I picked this up because I love cruises and the idea of a thriller set at sea had so much potential. Confined space, limited suspects, nowhere to run — all the ingredients for tension and intrigue were there. Unfortunately, this one didn’t deliver.
The writing leaned heavily on telling rather than showing. The dialogue often felt stiff and unnatural, like watching actors read lines in a rehearsal instead of real people having real conversations. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
The central mystery had promise, but the cast didn’t help. The suspects and side characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and the dynamic between the two agents at the heart of the story had zero chemistry. I usually love ensemble casts in mysteries, but this group didn’t leave much of an impression.
I really wanted to enjoy this, but the execution just didn’t match the concept. If you’re looking for a gripping cruise thriller, I’d keep sailing.
The writing leaned heavily on telling rather than showing. The dialogue often felt stiff and unnatural, like watching actors read lines in a rehearsal instead of real people having real conversations. It pulled me out of the story more than once.
The central mystery had promise, but the cast didn’t help. The suspects and side characters felt flat and one-dimensional, and the dynamic between the two agents at the heart of the story had zero chemistry. I usually love ensemble casts in mysteries, but this group didn’t leave much of an impression.
I really wanted to enjoy this, but the execution just didn’t match the concept. If you’re looking for a gripping cruise thriller, I’d keep sailing.
January 25, 2026
Heather Graham A Cruise to Die For made me wonder if the real danger on a luxury cruise isn’t falling overboard, but being trapped with dialogue that refuses to loosen its grip.
Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, thank you for the gifted ARC, and thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this early.
Let me be clear: I desperately wanted to love this book. A murder mystery set on a cruise ship is one of those premises that feels almost unfairly good. You’ve got a confined setting, a rotating cast of suspicious passengers, glamorous distractions, and nowhere for a killer to run. Add in undercover agents posing as a married couple and you’ve basically written the blurb that guarantees my attention. I boarded this ship fully ready for intrigue, tension, and a deliciously twisty ride.
The story follows Chloe, a Florida law enforcement officer with deep cruise knowledge, and Wes, an FBI agent, as they investigate a series of suspicious deaths connected to the tech world. Their mission takes them undercover on a high-profile tech cruise where it becomes increasingly clear that what looks like accidents and suicides may actually be something far more sinister. On paper, it’s a great setup, and there are moments where that promise shines through.
The cruise ship setting is easily the strongest element here. Graham knows how to describe life at sea, from the constant movement of people to the strange mix of luxury and isolation that comes with being stuck on a floating city. At times, I really did feel that closed-door tension creeping in, that sense that anyone around you could be hiding something. Those moments reminded me why I picked this up in the first place.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t always support the concept. The pacing felt uneven, especially early on, with scenes that repeated the same information instead of building momentum. The dialogue was my biggest hurdle. It often felt stiff and overly explanatory, as if the characters were speaking for the reader’s benefit rather than having natural conversations. I found myself skimming more than once, which is never what you want to admit in a thriller.
Character connection was another issue for me. Chloe and Wes are perfectly serviceable leads, but I never fully bought into their chemistry or felt deeply invested in them as individuals. The supporting cast, while plentiful, blurred together rather than standing out as distinct suspects. In a mystery like this, I want to constantly second-guess everyone. Here, the sense of suspicion never quite reached that level.
That said, this book isn’t without its charm. It leans into a slightly campy, old-school romantic suspense vibe, and when you meet it where it is, it can be fun. The plot moves quickly, the danger is constant, and it’s an easy read that doesn’t demand much from the reader. I can absolutely see this working as a “vacation book” for someone who wants something light, familiar, and entertaining without needing to be emotionally wrecked or intellectually challenged.
“A luxury cruise promises escape, but secrets don’t stay buried for long when there’s nowhere to hide.”
For me, A Cruise to Die For lands squarely in the middle. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I finished it feeling mildly entertained and slightly disappointed, aware of how good it could have been with sharper dialogue and tighter character work. If you’re a longtime Heather Graham fan or someone who enjoys cozy-leaning thrillers with a glossy setting, this may still be worth your time. Just temper your expectations and enjoy the ride for what it is, not what it could have been.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 out of 5 stars
#ACruiseToDieFor #HeatherGraham #BookReview #MysteryThriller #CruiseShipMystery #RomanticSuspense #NetGalleyARC #MIRABooks #HarlequinTrade #SEOBookReview #2026Reads
Harlequin Trade Publishing | MIRA, thank you for the gifted ARC, and thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this early.
Let me be clear: I desperately wanted to love this book. A murder mystery set on a cruise ship is one of those premises that feels almost unfairly good. You’ve got a confined setting, a rotating cast of suspicious passengers, glamorous distractions, and nowhere for a killer to run. Add in undercover agents posing as a married couple and you’ve basically written the blurb that guarantees my attention. I boarded this ship fully ready for intrigue, tension, and a deliciously twisty ride.
The story follows Chloe, a Florida law enforcement officer with deep cruise knowledge, and Wes, an FBI agent, as they investigate a series of suspicious deaths connected to the tech world. Their mission takes them undercover on a high-profile tech cruise where it becomes increasingly clear that what looks like accidents and suicides may actually be something far more sinister. On paper, it’s a great setup, and there are moments where that promise shines through.
The cruise ship setting is easily the strongest element here. Graham knows how to describe life at sea, from the constant movement of people to the strange mix of luxury and isolation that comes with being stuck on a floating city. At times, I really did feel that closed-door tension creeping in, that sense that anyone around you could be hiding something. Those moments reminded me why I picked this up in the first place.
Unfortunately, the execution didn’t always support the concept. The pacing felt uneven, especially early on, with scenes that repeated the same information instead of building momentum. The dialogue was my biggest hurdle. It often felt stiff and overly explanatory, as if the characters were speaking for the reader’s benefit rather than having natural conversations. I found myself skimming more than once, which is never what you want to admit in a thriller.
Character connection was another issue for me. Chloe and Wes are perfectly serviceable leads, but I never fully bought into their chemistry or felt deeply invested in them as individuals. The supporting cast, while plentiful, blurred together rather than standing out as distinct suspects. In a mystery like this, I want to constantly second-guess everyone. Here, the sense of suspicion never quite reached that level.
That said, this book isn’t without its charm. It leans into a slightly campy, old-school romantic suspense vibe, and when you meet it where it is, it can be fun. The plot moves quickly, the danger is constant, and it’s an easy read that doesn’t demand much from the reader. I can absolutely see this working as a “vacation book” for someone who wants something light, familiar, and entertaining without needing to be emotionally wrecked or intellectually challenged.
“A luxury cruise promises escape, but secrets don’t stay buried for long when there’s nowhere to hide.”
For me, A Cruise to Die For lands squarely in the middle. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. I finished it feeling mildly entertained and slightly disappointed, aware of how good it could have been with sharper dialogue and tighter character work. If you’re a longtime Heather Graham fan or someone who enjoys cozy-leaning thrillers with a glossy setting, this may still be worth your time. Just temper your expectations and enjoy the ride for what it is, not what it could have been.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 out of 5 stars
#ACruiseToDieFor #HeatherGraham #BookReview #MysteryThriller #CruiseShipMystery #RomanticSuspense #NetGalleyARC #MIRABooks #HarlequinTrade #SEOBookReview #2026Reads
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A CRUISE TO DIE FOR - Thinking I had read Heather in the past, I requested this ARC. I forgot that I already had The Witching Hours in my queue, which I now read and didn't like. Thinking I may have another stinker on my hands, I read this book now instead of waiting until April, its publishing date. Well, I'm two for two, in the big mistake category. Not well written. Poor dialog. Could careless about the story or characters. I guess the Heather Graham I thought I liked is an actress, not an "author". Learned my lesson. Source: Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. 2*
THE WITCHING HOURS - I thought I had read books by Heather before, but after trying to read this book, I was wrong. This is not a well written story. The dialog left me cringing and shaking my head.. The story lines sounded interesting, but no. The characters left me uncaring. Source: Netgalley and Kensington Books. 2*
A CRUISE TO DIE FOR - Thinking I had read Heather in the past, I requested this ARC. I forgot that I already had The Witching Hours in my queue, which I now read and didn't like. Thinking I may have another stinker on my hands, I read this book now instead of waiting until April, its publishing date. Well, I'm two for two, in the big mistake category. Not well written. Poor dialog. Could careless about the story or characters. I guess the Heather Graham I thought I liked is an actress, not an "author". Learned my lesson. Source: Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. 2*
THE WITCHING HOURS - I thought I had read books by Heather before, but after trying to read this book, I was wrong. This is not a well written story. The dialog left me cringing and shaking my head.. The story lines sounded interesting, but no. The characters left me uncaring. Source: Netgalley and Kensington Books. 2*
A CRUISE TO DIE FOR - Thinking I had read Heather in the past, I requested this ARC. I forgot that I already had The Witching Hours in my queue, which I now read and didn't like. Thinking I may have another stinker on my hands, I read this book now instead of waiting until April, its publishing date. Well, I'm two for two, in the big mistake category. Not well written. Poor dialog. Could careless about the story or characters. I guess the Heather Graham I thought I liked is an actress, not an "author". Learned my lesson. Source: Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing. 2*
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Special thanks to Harlequin Trade for the advanced copy.
I really wanted to enjoy this one more than I did. While the premise had potential, the execution fell flat for me. The biggest issue was the dialogue—it felt repetitive and often failed to move the story forward. Conversations circled the same points without adding tension, depth, or new information, which made it hard to stay engaged.
Another challenge was the length. This felt much more like a short story than a full novel, and as a result, the plot never fully developed. Just as things started to get interesting, the story wrapped up, leaving little room for character growth or meaningful suspense. That abruptness made it difficult to stay invested.
That said, I did appreciate the cruise setting. The details about life on board, the ship itself, and the overall atmosphere were well done and easily the strongest part of the book. Unfortunately, strong setting alone wasn’t enough to carry the story.
Overall, this was a quick read with some nice descriptive moments, but the repetitive dialogue and underdeveloped plot kept it from being satisfying.
I really wanted to enjoy this one more than I did. While the premise had potential, the execution fell flat for me. The biggest issue was the dialogue—it felt repetitive and often failed to move the story forward. Conversations circled the same points without adding tension, depth, or new information, which made it hard to stay engaged.
Another challenge was the length. This felt much more like a short story than a full novel, and as a result, the plot never fully developed. Just as things started to get interesting, the story wrapped up, leaving little room for character growth or meaningful suspense. That abruptness made it difficult to stay invested.
That said, I did appreciate the cruise setting. The details about life on board, the ship itself, and the overall atmosphere were well done and easily the strongest part of the book. Unfortunately, strong setting alone wasn’t enough to carry the story.
Overall, this was a quick read with some nice descriptive moments, but the repetitive dialogue and underdeveloped plot kept it from being satisfying.
November 9, 2025
– Another great read by Graham. I always enjoy her romantic suspense novels and can’t wait for the next one to come out. Her characters are always well developed, and you can’t wait to find out what is going to happen in the story. Her plots are well-developed as her mysteries. Our setting in this book is a cruise ship cruising in the Caribbean in which Milestones, a huge corporation, is running computer courses. FBI has been given some information that seems to show that somehow people in this corporation have committed either murder/suicide or suicide. Special Agent in Charge Adler would like to send Chloe McMurray an officer from the Florida State Enforcement Unit and Wesley Law from the FBI to go undercover as a married couple to investigate what might happen on this cruise. A well written book with plenty of action and suspense with a touch of romance between Chloe and Wesley. I highly recommend this book. I would like to thank Netgalley and Mira Publishing for providing me with an ARC for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As people are turning up dead, they all have one thing in common - the tech field. While many have not connected the crimes together, there is a growing suspicion that they might not be isolated incidents.
Working undercover, Wes and Chloe are aboard the cruise ship, with the next set of tech giants, and the talks they are going to give. The two are determined to uncover who might be behind the deaths, and keep anyone from the cruise to becoming the next victim. Their case is going to be far from straightforward, and they might become victims themselves if they are not careful.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a super fun read, and the mystery was top-notch. I was hooked from the beginning, and read the book in one sitting.
Working undercover, Wes and Chloe are aboard the cruise ship, with the next set of tech giants, and the talks they are going to give. The two are determined to uncover who might be behind the deaths, and keep anyone from the cruise to becoming the next victim. Their case is going to be far from straightforward, and they might become victims themselves if they are not careful.
I really enjoyed this book! It was a super fun read, and the mystery was top-notch. I was hooked from the beginning, and read the book in one sitting.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a fun enough read, but it didn’t totally wow me.
I really liked the cruise ship setting. A murder mystery on a vacation at sea is always a good hook, and the whole “stuck on a ship with a killer” vibe worked well. If you’ve read Heather Graham before, this definitely feels like her style with a mix of suspense and a bit of romance.
The story was pretty predictable. I figured out a few things early on, and the twists didn’t surprise me much. The characters were okay, but I never fully connected with them, and some parts dragged when not much was happening.
This was fine and easy to get through, just not super memorable. If you want a light mystery with a fun setting and don’t mind something a little familiar, this one’s worth a try. Solid three stars for me.
I really liked the cruise ship setting. A murder mystery on a vacation at sea is always a good hook, and the whole “stuck on a ship with a killer” vibe worked well. If you’ve read Heather Graham before, this definitely feels like her style with a mix of suspense and a bit of romance.
The story was pretty predictable. I figured out a few things early on, and the twists didn’t surprise me much. The characters were okay, but I never fully connected with them, and some parts dragged when not much was happening.
This was fine and easy to get through, just not super memorable. If you want a light mystery with a fun setting and don’t mind something a little familiar, this one’s worth a try. Solid three stars for me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was super excited about this book because the concept just sounds like so much fun.
The concept of a thriller taking place on a cruise ship sounds like such a fun and unique take on a locked door mystery.
I did want this to be a little faster and for the characters to be a bit more interesting. I think the dialogue is what made those characters feel a bit weird and flat. The dialogue didn't quite feel natural.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
The concept of a thriller taking place on a cruise ship sounds like such a fun and unique take on a locked door mystery.
I did want this to be a little faster and for the characters to be a bit more interesting. I think the dialogue is what made those characters feel a bit weird and flat. The dialogue didn't quite feel natural.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As a fan of mystery/thrillers and one who has been on numerous cruises, the title of the book appealed to me. Having never read a novel by Ms. Graham, I didn’t know what to expect. I found the book very disappointing and poorly written. A good portion of the book was very repetitive and the constant “as you wish “ became very annoying! The characters were not believable nor was there anything compelling or thrilling about the novel.
December 18, 2025
“A Cruise To Die For” by Heather Graham is a suspenseful, fast-paced whodunit. Two agents go undercover as husband and wife aboard a cruise ship to hunt down a killer, and the tension never lets up. The closed-setting atmosphere adds an extra layer of suspense as secrets unfold and suspects multiply. A fun, engaging read for fans of classic whodunits with a high-stakes edge.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not up to the author’s high standards. She sets a really high bar in her excellent library of bestsellers, but the characters, other than the leading ones fall flat and the cruise ship setting isn’t put to its best use. I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily provided an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What a wonderful cozy mystery. At times it was fun and jovial. The characters were interesting. I had fun following the clue trying to figure out who the killer was. I was delightfully surprised. The cruise was a great backdrop for the mystery. I highly recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved reading the exciting and engaging story. Chloe, an officer, and Wes, an FBI Agent, are on a cruise posing as a married couple to solve the mystery and stop the killer(s). Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written full of twists and turns, and a must read riveting story.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews