Murder on the Maiden Voyage: A Cruise Ship Travel Cozy Mystery Series

by Maisy Marple

Retirement was supposed to be peaceful for Erin Bellamy, former Boston homicide detective. A luxurious Caribbean cruise aboard the gleaming new Sapphire Sunset promised nothing more strenuous than poolside reading and gourmet meals. But when the charismatic cruise director is found dead in the ship's freezer, the captain recruits Erin's expertise for a discreet investigation. With the nearest port days away and a ship full of potential suspects, Erin reluctantly dusts off her detective skills for one last case.

Joined by Arthur Palmer, a witty retired English professor who becomes her unexpected sidekick, Erin navigates the complex world of cruise ship politics and personalities. From the temperamental head chef to the elegant entertainment coordinator, from the mysterious VIP passenger to the nervous bartender who sees too much—everyone has secrets and motives that don't quite add up. As tropical storms gather on the horizon and tensions rise among passengers and crew, Erin must solve the case before the ship reaches port—or before the killer strikes again.

Join Erin Bellamy as she discovers that retirement might be a new beginning rather than an end, and that her detective skills may take her places she never expected to go.

147 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 13, 2025

Reviews

[Lazymum · Rating 4 out of 5]

‎Finished this short novel in one sitting! At first, the plot felt pretty familiar, the main character sees the ‘victim’ arguing with the ‘potential suspects,’ and then suddenly everyone’s acting suspicious, hiding secrets, and giving us that unreliable narrator vibe.
‎
‎Around 70–80% in, the story finally thickens, the cat-and-mouse chase between the retirees and the murderer kicks off, and that’s when the suspense and excitement really hit.
‎
‎Overall, it’s a good pick for anyone just starting out with cozy mysteries. It’s quick, light, easy to follow, and fun. I’m hooked and definitely curious to read more of the series!

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first in the series. The main characters Erin and Arthur. They are both retired and meet on a cruise. Erin is a retired homicide detective and Arthur is a retired professor. A day or so after the cruise starts there is a murder of a crew member. While the captain want to pass it off as an accident, Erin thinks it's murder. They talk to the captain and offer their services. Arthur thinks of Erin as Homes and himself as Watson. They ask questions and know they are getting close but they also know they are missing something. They only have a few hours left before they dock. Can they figure it out before they dock and the killer gets away ?

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good read. It was written well, and the story was just different enough to be engrossing. It kept my attention throughout the book. I enjoyed Erin and Arthur's characters and hope to read about them again. Definitely recommend this book.