Miz Scarlet and the Perplexed Passenger: A Scarlet Wilson Mystery #5

by Sara M. Barton

Book five in the popular cozy mystery series laced with humor and romance…”Very entertaining read. It had me chuckling so much I had to pause the reading. She has a very witty humor.”When innkeeper Scarlet Wilson is asked to accompany her wheelchair-bound mother on a five-night cruise to Bermuda, she expects to have a trip to remember. Boy, will she remember this one!Accompanied by Laurel Googins Wilson's new beau and Scarlet's old high school flame, the women set sail for paradise. While Scarlet loses herself in a good book on the balcony of their stateroom, poor Laurel witnesses the deadly plunge of a fellow passenger into the Atlantic Ocean. It's the start of a nightmare that may never end. Who would want to kill George Delaney, the respectable funeral director from Caulkins Cove, Maine, on a cruise to Bermuda? Scarlet doesn’t believe the culprit is the grieving widow.While Kenny, an experienced investigator, joins forces with old school chum Marley Hornsby, now the security chief for the cruise line, and the cruise ship's security team to find the killer hiding in their midst, the amateur sleuth known as Miz Scarlet can’t resist diving into this mystery. But this isn't a killer who wants to be found. He's dangerous...he’s desperate...and he’s plotting to kill again! Suddenly Miz Scarlet finds herself facing the wrath of a devious, dangerous stranger. Can she stay alive long enough to figure out what the killer's end game is?

301 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 10, 2015

About the author

Sara M. Barton is the author of several fast-paced cozy mysteries featuring lively characters: The Scarlet Wilson Mysteries, The Off the Books Mysteries, The International Killer Chefs Competition Mysteries (The first book in the new series is entitled "Frosted!")

She has also written hybrid "cozy thriller" series, offering likeable characters and wild twists: The Gabby Grimm Fairy Tale Mysteries, The Cornwall & Company Mysteries

She also has written dark and dangerous spy thrillers based on historical events dating back to the Cold War. Some of these touch on now-unclassified government-funded research programs examining the feasibility of psychic abilities: The Project Stargazer Thrillers, The Arden Woods Thrillers

Sara M. Barton offers helpful tips, information, and education for families providing care to a loved one on The Practical Caregiver Guides website and her blog. As a passionate advocate for improving the lives of cancer patients and others managing serious health challenges, she has written "The Practical Caregiver's Essential Guide: How to Help Someone You Love" and a short, free guide for caregivers providing end-of-life care called "The Practical Caregiver's Guide to Home Hospice".

She is also a classically trained artist who loves to paint landscapes, seascapes, and portraits.

Reviews

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scarlet does it again!

I just finished reading this story. It's another fine and fun mystery in which Mis Scarlwt and Kenny help kaw enforcement to catch the bad guys. Murder on a cruise ship....exciting. I highly recommend this book and the whole series. You go, Scarlet Wilson,

[Lori Hendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miz Scarlet, Kenny, her mother and Dr. Thad set off on a cruise to Bermuda but their trip takes a deadly turn when Laurel notices a body fall into the sea. Miz Scarlet and Kenny investigate along with the ship security crew and the FBI. A trip to the beautiful Caribbean turns into a series of dangerous encounters for Miz Scarlet and her friends.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It starts right off into the drama, mystery. Lots of suspects like 5,000 on the cruise ship. This is a cozy mystery. Lots of witty banter. Fast paced mystery.

Scarlet Wilson runs a bread & breakfast. She is also the caretaker for her mother Laurel Googins Wilson who is in a wheelchair. She is called Miz Scarlet a nickname taken from Clue.

Laurel as been a widow for decades. She has a new boyfriend. She needs the time because of all the uproar the past year.

Kenny Tolliver a security expert. An old high school flame of Scarlet in high school that just reconnected and moved back.

Dr. Thaddeus Van Zandt a retired Doctor who just got through with cancer treatment.

The two couples have come on a 5 day cruise to Bermuda. Miz Scarlet and Kenny are glad to get away too. The first day on the cruise and Laurel sees someone jump past her room into the ocean.

The cruise security thinks the wife did it. They are not interested in looking for others. Kenny and Miz Scarlet are willing to look fast for more. The head of security is a old friend of Kenny's and tells them to go ahead.

Scarlet is smart, curious and figures out a lot of the clues. Even though she is not trained. I really like her.

I was offered a free copy but could not figure out how to get it to my kindle so I just went ahead and bought it from Amazon because I like Sara M Barton's mysteries.

[Krystyna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A life on the ocean wave should be relaxing?

Terrific. Accompanying her mother and their two beau's on a cruise should have been relaxing. However when a man goes over and ends up dead can she and her fellow travellers find the real culprit before the wife is arrested. Smoke and mirrors abound in this great read. Wonderfully potrayed and with engaging characters this makes it another must read.

[Kay (Brigidsmomma) Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the latest offering in the Miz Scarlet series, and for a change of venue, they are on a cruise ship in Bermuda. What begins as a random happenstance, with Laurel witnessing a body being thrown overboard, quickly becomes a full-fledged mystery that unravels at an alarming pace. This one is action packed for every single nail-biting page (all 240 of them). I could not put it down. Although they make more sense if read in order, this is one series that has individual enough stories that they could each stand alone.

[Mary Lyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It's been a while since a book got me laughing so hard. It is a very entertaining read.