A Cruise to Die For

by Heather Graham

Special agents face deadly, uncharted waters in this tense romantic thriller

Special Agent Chloe McMurray has been asked to do many things in the name of her job. Going undercover on a cruise ship leaving from her home port of Miami, however, is a new one. Not only that, but she’s tasked with posing as the wife of her federal counterpart, Special Agent Wesley Law.

Their investigation? A string of murders and suicides across three states that seem unrelated, until they uncover a deadly technological connection. Every victim was an expert in technology and had some connection to Milestones, a megacorporation with ties to many industries...including the cruise industry.

Chloe and Wesley must successfully go undercover as tech employees on the ship hosting the ten-year anniversary of the Milestones cruise company. A tough ask when the two have never met before. They’ll infiltrate the technology events, investigate their fellow passengers and try to uncover what’s really going on.

However, danger is never far behind. Their killer can use tech to do the job without lifting a finger, and at sea, there’s no escape if their covers are blown

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller, Harlequin, Suspense, Romance

330 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 7, 2026

About the author

Also 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.

Reviews

[Skyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Makayla :) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[Monica UpstateBookB*tch · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who has been on over 30 cruises ( everything from intimate small vessels to massive mega-ships) I always go into a cruise themed book with high hopes and a skeptical eye. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me.

One of my biggest pet peeves in cruise-set fiction is when it feels like an author hasn't spent much time on an actual ship. Whether it’s getting the terminology wrong or misunderstanding how things actually work on board, it breaks the immersion immediately. While the setting here had potential, it lacked the "ship-life" feel that a frequent cruiser expects.

The other big miss for me was that I found the conversations in this book to be quite stiff and forced. The dialogue didn't flow naturally, which made it difficult to really connect with the characters or feel the tension of the plot. The characters were very flat.

The story sounded promising on paper, but between the lack of realistic detail and the fake dialogue, it just didn't hold water for me. If you’re a HG reader, you might enjoy the mystery… but I’d probably skip it.

[Jen Ryland (jenrylandreviews & yaallday)]

I love a book with a Miss Congeniality kind of premise of an FBI agent going undercover. And I love a good thriller set on a ship. I have a whole list of Thrillers Set on Boats, Trains, and Planes


But writing style of A Cruise to Die For just didn't jibe with my brain. The first chapter sounded to me like the stream of consciousness thoughts of one character, a female FBI agent. But it was also in the third person. It came out sounding like the speech to text dictation I use on my phone. The writing did improve a little after that but for me, this book never really came together and I think the low Goodreads rating is fair.

So sorry to the publisher :( It just wasn't for me.

[Myriam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham releases on April 7th.

I want to start off by saying that I was super excited for this book because I love cruises and the premise sounded really good. I did like the concept of the plot overall and the fact that there was a sprinkle of romance.

However, I unfortunately did not enjoy this read. I think my main issue was with the dialogue. It felt robotic, and sometimes it didn’t even make sense. The exclamation marks, ellipses, and em dashes were really overused (almost in every line of dialogue), which made the reading experience less enjoyable.

I do think the whodunit plot and the twist were well thought out, but I just couldn’t get into the story because of the writing style.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham was an engaging police procedural featuring Chloe Murray, who is with a state law enforcement agency and Wesley Law, who was a federal agent. They were to be partnered as a married couple and were searching for a murderer and trying to stop another. The plus was the assignment was on a luxury cruise, the down side was that there were over six hundred people on the yacht. It was about tech people who had been dying. Some appeared to be suicides, others murder-suicides. All high level teach folks. This cruise was important because the hook was the tech classes that were to be offered as they were sailing. It became an interesting investigation as the duo drew clearer to the murderer.

Good characters, interesting setting, and an intriguing plot, however unlikely. It was a very readable book filled with interesting characters and near misses. Lots of misdirection and situations that were not expected. Good read.

I was invited to read A Cruise to Die For by Harlequin Trade Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #HarlequinTradePublishing #HeatherGraham #ACruiseToDieFor

[K.]

Too many exclamation points! I've read many Heather Graham books. I'm not sure this is her writing.

Have waaayyyy to many TBR books to waste any more time here.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cruise ship murder mystery with undercover agents fake married to catch a killer? I was emotionally packed, sunscreen applied, ready to sip a margarita and accuse strangers of homicide. A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham has all the ingredients. Closed setting. Tech bros dropping like it is a Silicon Valley curse. FBI energy. Romantic tension in tight quarters. This should have been chaos in the best way.

The setup is genuinely juicy. A string of suspicious deaths connected to the tech world, some labeled suicides, some murder suicides, all smelling extremely off. Enter Chloe McMurray, Florida State Enforcement with deep cruise knowledge because she basically grew up around them, and Wesley Law, FBI agent with serious “I follow protocol but also have feelings” vibes. They go undercover as a married couple on a tech themed cruise hosted by the Milestones corporation, because nothing says romance like pretending to be in love while hunting a potential serial killer in khakis.

The cruise setting? Honestly the MVP. There is something inherently unhinged about being trapped on a floating city with a murderer and unlimited buffet access. The ship atmosphere works. The isolation works. The idea that your suspect list is just… everyone at the cocktail mixer? Delicious. At times I really did feel that classic whodunit tension of “if someone goes overboard, we are all just stuck here with the vibes.”

But here is where I gently grab this book by the shoulders and say, we could have punched harder. The pacing starts strong, then kind of circles the same waters. Conversations repeat information in a way that made me feel like I was stuck in a corporate team building seminar where everyone keeps reintroducing themselves. The dialogue sometimes reads like people explaining the plot to each other instead of, you know, talking like humans who exist.

Chloe and Wes as a fake married undercover duo should have been electric. Forced proximity. Shared secrets. The constant risk of being found out. And while they are perfectly fine as leads, I never quite felt that spark. I wanted tension. I wanted longing glances across the buffet line. I wanted at least one moment where pretending gets a little too real. Instead it felt more procedural than passionate, more FBI memo than simmering slow burn.

The supporting cast also kind of blended together into a sea of “tech person who may or may not be evil.” In a locked room mystery, I want to suspect the bartender, the keynote speaker, the guy who won the door prize. I want paranoia. Here, the danger is present, but the emotional investment in who lives or dies never fully grabbed me by the throat.

That said, this is not a total disaster voyage. It is a breezy, fast read. There is constant movement, clear stakes, and a slightly campy romantic suspense energy that feels very old school in a comforting way. If you want a popcorn thriller you can read on an actual cruise without spiraling into existential dread, this absolutely fits the bill. It just never fully levels up into something unforgettable.

I finished it entertained, mildly frustrated, and still deeply convinced that cruise ships are both glamorous and cursed. Two stars. A middle of the ocean, sunburned and slightly dehydrated experience.

Whodunity Award: For Making Me Side Eye Every Tech Conference Icebreaker Forever

And a big thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC, because nothing says trust like handing me a murder cruise and letting me roam free with opinions.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Solid Cruise Mystery In Vein Of Doctor Odyssey. When Doctor Odyssey was cancelled around this time last year after barely one singular season, I was bummed. Yes, as an experienced cruiser with 25 cruises and approaching 200 days at sea, I can tell you without hesitation at all that that tale was *not* "realistic". IT WAS NEVER SUPPOSED TO BE! It is FICTION, and it tells an excellent tale in an exotic and exciting setting!

So very many of the 1* and 2* complaints about this book decry its "lack of realism", and I'm here to tell you: OF COURSE IT ISN'T FUCKING REAL, IT IS FUCKING FICTION! But enjoyed in the vein of Doctor Odyssey (which, I supposed, not enough people enjoyed to begin with), this is really a fun mystery tale set on a cruise ship. Come for the mystery and action and you won't be disappointed at all. There is a lot here, and it actually works quite well in some remarkably plausible ways that those "it wasn't real enough" morons completely missed out on, including some explorations of extreme high tech in a few different areas. Indeed, while certain elements weren't real *AT ALL*, others were very nearly *spot fucking on*, almost getting into "Tom Clancy spends a dozen pages on the first nanoseconds of a nuclear explosion" level actual technical precision.

Is this the *best* cruise tale I've ever read? No. Does it work for what it is without pretense or claims of being the best? Absolutely. With its release timed well in mid-spring, this is one of those tales that will really work the "vacation" / "beach" read scene quite well, particularly for those who enjoy mysteries with a touch of romance. Even though I personally define a "vacation" or "beach" read as anything you happen to be reading while on a vacation and/ or at a beach. ;)

Spice level wise, *maybe* jalapeno level? There is "more than kissing" happening, and more than once, but it isn't anywhere near erotica level. More clothes flying and then fade to black level. Cussing, I'm pretty sure I've dropped more fucks in this review than exist in the book, and I honestly don't even remember any shits or damns. Not that I'm an expert in remembering this, as I use these words like chefs use salt - because I'm a programmer by day and we cuss *more* than sailors - but truly, nothing stood out as particularly gratuitous at bare minimum.

Overall a fun book that did exactly what it set out to do and nothing more, and one that will work perfectly for those looking for an engaging read, particularly in the summer/ on vacation/ at a beach... or on a cruise. ;)

Very much recommended.

[Amanda Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up

My favorite genre set on my favorite mode of vacation, with one of my favorite tropes? Say less.

Special Agent Chloe Murray and Special Agent Wesley Law are put on the case to solve a string of murders and suicides of technology experts that have been linked back to Milestones, a megacorporation with ties to various tech industries. When law enforcement concludes that the Milestone tenth anniversary cruise is the probable location of the next strike, it is decided that Chloe and Wes will go undercover as a married couple to both investigate and protect their fellow passengers.

I thought this book had a really interesting premise. I love a locked-room mystery, and while the cruise ship isn't quite a locked room- they do dock at multiple ports- it still had that same feeling. But if there's anything that I love more than a locked-room mystery, it just might be fake dating, so I also really enjoyed the romance between the two special agents. There were a few twists in the story that I did not see coming, and I wasn't able to guess who was behind everything before the big reveal, which I always appreciate in a thriller.

Some elements of the writing felt a little repetitive, like certain lines being repeated, or characters going back and forth one too many times, but for the most part, I liked the author's writing style. I thought she did a good job of creating tension between the characters and keeping the story suspenseful.

I listened to the audiobook, and it's a single narration done by Moniqua Plante. I thought this suited the book well, as the story is told in the third person and the narrator did a good job of giving a distinct voice to each character. I do think listening to the audiobook helped me avoid the same issue many other reviewers had with the dialogue feeling stilted. So I would recommend listening to this one over reading the physical copy.

Overall, I would recommend this book if you are a fan of crime fiction, cruises, or eccentric wealthy characters!

Thank you to NetGalley and The Hive for the advanced listening copy of this title for review purposes.

[Emerald Maple · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the Krewe books by Heather Graham but prefer mystery/thrillers in general so I thought that this one would be right up my alley. I think I like the idea of the plot a lot more than the actual book. It is still a decent read but it feels like the author is pushing an AI is dangerous (which it is) plot into recent books without ever getting into the AI portion of it.

A Cruise To Die For involves two agents pretending to be married to go undercover on a cruise where a bunch of tech companies are giving out free courses on the boat. Tech business owners have been murdered over the past few months and their bosses think that the people on the boat could be next. It is pretty obvious the agents will hook up right from the beginning but harder to pin down which of the tech people are targets and suspects.

You get a lot of the agents running around the boat to classes and meals with similar discussion each time. It gets a little repetitive and slows down the pacing of the book. There are some moments where you just think that wouldn't happen. After a heroic rescue of one of the guests, no one, not even the influencers on board share photos of the agents. There is a mention from their boss that no one got a good photo of the actual rescue but 100% someone would sneak a photo of them at breakfast and say these are the local heroes.

Also these people are tech geniuses but have no questions/suspicions about the agents history. Sure they had false identities through the FBI or whatever but it was a super short notice undercover operation and all they did is dye their hair and they both found news stories on each other.

Just the little things that made it less believeable and not a 5 star read. Still enjoyable I just wish we had more of the ending and less of the running around.

Thanks to MIRA/Harlequin for the advance copy through Netgalley for review.

[Darla Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Agent Chloe McMurray who works for the state of Florida has done many things in her job, but she's been tasked with something new. She's being teamed up with federal counterpart, Special Agent Wesley Law, and they're going undercover as a married couple on a luxury cruise. They're investigating a string of murders and suicides that turned out to have a technological connection. Every victim was an expert in the field of technology and was connected to Milestones, a large corporation with ties to several industries including the cruise industry. Chloe and Wes must pose as a couple needing more and safer technology in their jobs. This is an anniversary cruise for Milestones and everyone that they need to investigate will be on board. But there's nowhere to go if their covers are blown. So, can they successfully play a devoted married couple having never met before? And will they find their killers before someone else dies?

Heather Graham is one of my favorite authors and I was definitely looking forward to this book. I did enjoy it once I got into it, but I found the beginning to be a bit slow. I did love the connection between Chloe and Wes. And once past the slow part, I was hooked on what became a captivating story. There was action, intrigue, mystery, and suspense as well as some light and sweet romance. I received an ARC of this book from Harper Collins and NetGalley and this is my honest, unbiased review. Overall, the premise of this book was a really good one while the setting being on a cruise ship kept things interesting. I'll admit I was a bit disappointed with the slow start but for the most part, I enjoyed the book. I'll definitely read more from Heather Graham whose books are a can't-miss for me.

[Michele Dam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just finished A Cruise to Die For and I’m not gonna lie… this book tested me.

This was the definition of a slow burn. Like I’m talking “why are we still having this conversation??” slow. There is SO much small talk and repetition that I genuinely felt like I was stuck in a loop.

“Sally that’s so fun!”
“That is very fun!”

…okay cool but can someone get murdered already??

The chapters are also long as hell, so every time I checked my progress I felt personally attacked.

And the dialogue??? I’m sorry but some of it felt like middle school level writing. Like nobody is talking like this in real life. The overuse of exclamation points??? WHY ARE WE YELLING EVERYTHING!!!

Also the romance… I knew it was coming but some of the lines had me cringing so hard. Like I had to physically pause.

BUT THEN…

At like 80–85% the book finally woke up and chose violence.

The mystery actually ended up being really solid. I had no idea who the killer was and it could’ve been literally anyone, which I loved. Once it got going, I flew through the last part because I NEEDED answers.

So now I’m sitting here like… this could’ve been really good if it didn’t take 300 years to get there.

I did like that it wrapped up nicely and gave us a HEA for Chloe and Wes though.

Good idea, dragged execution, strong ending.

And thank you to NetGalley, the author, HTP Books, and HarperCollins for the ARC… even though you put me through that 😅

**Now that I’m sitting here really reflecting on this. I wonder who socked Celia. Was it Amelia or Broderick?🙈

[Texas · Rating 2 out of 5]

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*

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Murder on the High Seas

Heather Graham’s A Cruise to Die For sweeps you onto a luxury cruise ship where the champagne flows, the tech elite mingle, and murder is just a step behind. Special Agent Chloe McMurray, undercover and posing as half of a fake married couple with fellow agent Wesley Law, finds herself tangled in a web of mysterious deaths linked to a glitzy tech company’s anniversary celebration. The ship feels less like a vacation and more like a pressure cooker; nowhere to run, suspects all around, and a ticking clock as Chloe and Wesley sift through secrets, danger, and plenty of awkward “newlywed” moments.

What makes this one pop isn’t just the locked-room tension or the clever twists (though there are plenty). It’s Chloe and Wesley themselves: sharp, funny, and so believable you root for them from page one. Their relationship simmers with chemistry and banter, but never overshadows the thrill of the chase. Graham knows exactly how to blend romance and suspense, pulling you in with quick dialogue, vivid details, and just enough heart to keep things grounded, even as the body count rises.

If you’re after a beach read that’s equal parts adrenaline and swoon, this book delivers. It’s smart, fast-paced, and atmospheric, with a sly sense of humour and a couple you’ll wish you could sit next to at dinner, assuming nobody gets pushed overboard before dessert.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Cruise to Die For by Heather Graham is a so-so romantic thriller set on a cruise ship. State Special Agent Chloe McMurray joins federal Special Agent Wesley Law as they both go undercover as a couple on a cruise ship leaving out of of Miami. There have been a series of murders and suicides which all have a connection to technology and the company that also owns the the cruise company. McMurray and Law are assigned the case and join the Milestones cruise which is also offering technology events.

The explanation for putting a federal agent with a state agent on a cruise to work a federal case was really nonexistent and the whole idea was nonsensical. It required the reader to set aside a huge amount of disbelief, much more than I was willing to do, especially as Chloe's affinity for cruises, the only reason given, doesn't count as a qualifying reason. Further detracting from the story was the dialogue, which felt stilted and oddly awkward. The same could be said for the whole plot, including the romance and technology lecture information. Points are given because I finished reading it. Graham has written better books.

Thanks to MIRA Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...

[OutlawPoet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Is the author okay?

The author has written about 150 books I think. This...should not be added to that total. I am legitimately wondering if something is wrong or if she had someone else write this for her.

This is very poorly written. While I recognize that this an ARC, editing this into a truly readable state would take a miracle. The plot is nonsensical. The prose is weirdly repetitious. Finally, there is no reason on God's green earth that these two people would have been put on this cruise by any law enforcement agency. I mean, the main reason our FMC is even place there is because (ready?) she's gone on many cruises before. That's it. Not any particular skill in catching and investigating murderers. She...likes to go on cruises.

The lecturing on internet safety in all the various conversations and classes reads like a 90 year old warning the youth about the 'interwebs'. It's just so weirdly handled.

The villain reveal moment is jaw dropping in all the wrong ways. The reasons for the murders are stupid. The methodology is stupid. Nothing makes any sense.

I finished it, which is the only reason I didn't give it one star. Guess I was feeling generous.

[Valerie Moody · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

– 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.

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 2 out of 5]

The novel combined investigative procedures and undercover elements with a Florida cruise setting that had strong potential. The location felt fresh and different, especially compared to typical crime backdrops. Unfortunately, the heavy focus on procedures slowed the pacing and made parts of the story feel repetitive.

Undercover operations and technical details dominated much of the narrative, which reduced tension instead of building it. Even with the unique cruise environment, the atmosphere did not fully come alive because the procedural aspects took center stage. The setting could have added more suspense and intensity if it had been explored more deeply.

The concept was interesting, particularly with such a specific and unusual location, but the execution leaned heavily toward technical detail. A better balance between character, tension, and environment might have made the experience more engaging.

[Cc Readsss · Rating 3 out of 5]

Release: April 7, 2026
Author: Heather Graham
Publisher: Harlequin Trade

Rating: 3★ 

In this high-stakes romantic thriller, Special Agents Chloe McMurray and Wesley Law are thrust into an uneasy undercover partnership aboard a Miami-bound cruise ship, posing as newlyweds while investigating a series of suspicious deaths tied to a powerful technology conglomerate. As their inquiry uncovers a chilling digital connection linking the victims to the corporation’s anniversary voyage, the pair must navigate mounting peril in an environment where anonymity is fleeting and escape is impossible. Fast-paced and intricately plotted, the novel delivers a compelling blend of cyber intrigue, escalating suspense, and simmering romantic tension against the claustrophobic backdrop of the open sea.

Favorite Quote:
“A floating paradise… where someone is ready to kill to protect what they’ll do anything to possess.”

[Happily Ever After Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at Happily Ever After Romance

A Cruise to Die For is a standalone mystery/thriller by one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, Chloe and Wesley’s investigation into a tech company simply fell flat for me in several areas, which, frankly, is a huge disappointment given how dedicated I’ve been to this author over the years. This book certainly will not stop my enjoyment of this author’s work, simply because this story was not for me. The fact is that no two people read the same book, so what didn’t work for me might be exactly what you long for, and that’s okay. I’m not going to nitpick the story; it simply wasn’t one I enjoyed. This was a 3.5 read, which I’ll round up.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

[Monica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying my favorite genre mash-up is romantic comedy mysteries (bonus when there is a travel/destination aspect to it too), so I was really looking forward to this. I haven’t read any books by this author before so I was unfamiliar with the writing style. After starting this one I can’t confidently say I’ll be staying away from anything written by this author. I don’t think I’ve ever DNF’d a book so quickly at 7%. I cannot stand the amateur writing style. Exclamation marks are way overused, as well as ellipsis and I just couldn’t get past that. The narrative between the characters was bland, hardly any use of adjectives or adverbs, but plenty of use of ! and …
Even trying to ignore the unnecessary punctuations, I found myself bored and annoyed at the conversation and chemistry between the two MC’s.

[Britney Ireland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

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**Highly disappointed** is an understatement; I was genuinely hoping for a more distinctive and compelling experience from this novel, but unfortunately, it did not live up to expectations. It simply wasn't the narrative I had anticipated.

The fundamental concept had significant potential, but the execution fell flat. The storyline, in particular, suffered from a lack of depth and engaging development. It felt underdeveloped and could have been **much more interesting** with a stronger focus on world-building, character motivation, or a more complex plot structure. While the core premise was intriguing, the narrative failed to capitalize on its strengths, resulting in a reading experience that was ultimately lackluster.

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun thriller story. I really liked how it was set on a cruise ship with undercover agents. They had to play the part of figuring out which of the suspects actually committed the crime. At the same time, the 2 undercover agents had to pretend to be married and on their honeymoon. While mingling with their suspects, they were friendly with the intent to uncover important information. The two undercover agents played their role really well and people commented what a great couple they were. It seemed to make their investigation easier since people had no clue they were undercover. During the cruise, some people in their group had near death experiences. As the cruise carries on, the undercover agents have to act quickly before more accidents occur. They don’t have any time to waste! Will they be able to catch the suspects before the cruise comes to an end?

[Kristin- Kristin's Bookstack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book in a day! I loved that it took place on a cruise ship because it added an element of fun despite the serious reason Chloe and Wes were there in the first place. I really enjoyed how well Chloe and Wes worked together and that they had a HEA ending. There are tons of cheesy quotes from “The Princess Bride” (one of my favorite movies!), which also adds to the fun element. However, I did find the dialogue to be light and basic, which made it feel awkward and unnatural. It seemed like a high schooler had written the conversations throughout the book. I guess I was expecting more intellectual conversations since the MCs were Federal agents. Other than that, I thought it was a good read because I liked the plot.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Cerese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Law enforcement agents are called to investigate a cruise. The cruise has classes being taught by various tech organizations. These organizations are loosely connected to various murders/suicides within the tech community. The agents, undercover as a young married couple on a second honeymoon, have to figure out who the mastermind is and not get caught.

Overall, it's a good story. I enjoyed reading this book as the story was somewhat fast-paced and fairly interesting.

However there were some things editing didn't catch, a character's name changes multiple times throughout the story (Abigail-Amelia-Amanda) and there are some other character names used in the wrong places (Chloe, the main character when it should have been Celia, etc.). This book could have done with another round of editing before being sent to print.

[Alicia Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I loved the concept of this thriller. A cruise with a mysterious twist. Trying to figure out who was murdering people. Did they have the correct person, or was someone setting her up to take the blame?

This started off so interesting. As the book went on I was having my theory and then something would happen, and would make me switch in another direction. As the book went on it seemed to slow down my excitement reading. Then the fina part happened to help us solve this mystery. Some of the parts seemed rushed, or just didn’t make sense to me. It was a quick read, but slow parts. I found myself not wanting to pick up the book when I hit the 60% part. I think with a few changes this would have easily been a 4-4.5 read for me. Right now I will rate this a 3⭐️