Murder at Sea of Passenger X

Georgie Shaw #5

by Anna Celeste Burke

Georgie Shaw and her handsome new husband, Detective Jack Wheeler, are living it up on Marvelous Marley World's luxurious cruise ship when trouble strikes. A passenger, dubbed Passenger X because his identity is unknown, falls overboard. Is this related to the rash of jewelry thefts or the murder of another passenger? Georgie and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of things before the ship reaches Tahiti where Max Marley is waiting and demanding answers.

USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, Anna Celeste Burke, brings you murder, mayhem, and a second chance at love!

Grab Your Copy Today!Free to read with Kindle UnlimitedRecipes Included

5*****”Ms Burke keeps the story moving with witty dialogue or descriptive action. A real mystery with a surprise ending. Be sure to get this book for a good read.”

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Amazon, Mystery Thriller

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 31, 2017

About the author

Anna Celeste Burke is an awarding-winning, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author!
Welcome! Join me, snooping into life's mysteries with fun, fiction, and food--California style!

Life is an extravaganza and so unpredictable! Figuring out how to hang tough and make the most of the wild ride is the challenge.

On my way to Oahu to join the rock musician and high school drop-out I married in Tijuana, I was nabbed by the police as a runaway. When the police let me go and the rock band broke up, my husband and I had to find another way to survive. Our next stop: Disney World where we trained to be chefs, courtesy of the Walt Disney World University.

A GED for my husband, and many more years of education eventually landed us in academia—with Ph.D.s from the University of Michigan we took professor jobs with U of M’s longstanding football rival, The Ohio State University.

Retired now from my role as a professor in social work and behavioral science, I have picked up a long-time interest in writing fiction. In my professional career I wrote and published widely as a scholar, with more than forty manuscripts of varying lengths on my vita. I also carried out hundreds of training, consulting and speaking engagements on a number of gloriously nerdy topics.

So what on earth does a research scientist have in common with a mystery writer? As avid fans of the mystery genre will tell you at the core of any good mystery is a passionate search for the truth. Discovering the truth involves finding and assembling pieces of complex puzzles in order to solve seemingly intractable problems—scientist and sleuth are cut from the same cloth!

Still married to the same sweet guy, I live with my husband in one of the seven desert resort cities in the Palm Springs area. In addition to reading and writing mysteries I enjoy painting, hiking, hanging out with my handsome husband and tending to my Siamese cats.

The Sonoran Desert is a beautiful setting to ponder life’s mysteries, by the surrounding mountains and the bountiful delights of the desert resort communities. I hope you enjoy reading the books in my three cozy mystery series: The Jessica Huntington Desert Cities Mystery Series, The Corsario Cove Cozy Mystery Series, and the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery Series. Cheers! Anna

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Newlyweds Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler have set sail on the high seas thanks to Georgie’s boss, “Mad” Max Marley. Time to relax and enjoy themselves until they hear someone scream “Man Overboard”. When they arrive on the deck they are told someone was now lost under the water but also find a dead body and learn of some jewelry that has been stolen from some passengers. Within minutes Jack is asked to assist the ship’s security and of course Jack and Georgie are a package deal. Hopefully they can solve the case in time to enjoy a little bit of their honeymoon.

What an entertaining read!

Anne Celeste Burke writes with such detail I felt like I was right aboard the cruise ship. I have never been on a cruise but it is on my bucket list. This virtual cruise was a lot of fun. Jack, Georgie and their two cats have a plush suite with some incredible features. We follow them around the ship to the bars and restaurants and even to the infirmary and the brig. One night the chefs hosted a huge dessert party. I want to climb right into the pages myself. Even murders wouldn’t keep me away from that much chocolate 🙂

The story is very clever as the suspects are limited to those aboard who had access to certain parts of the ship. There is a twist that takes the suspect list to another level too so while there are about a 1000 passengers certain information is obtained to cut that number down drastically. I enjoyed how Georgie and Jack work together. Smart, insightful, trusting each other thoughts and theories. They also have their funny sides too. They are two people who are very comfortable together and like me share a love for old movies.

This is the first book I read in this series. I have wanted to read this author for a long time and I needed a book with an “X” in the title for my Alphabet Soup Reading Challenge so I hopped on this ship headed for Tahiti. I had no trouble at all jumping in at book #5 but now want to go back and get to know Georgie and Jack from the beginning. I also want to learn more about “Mad” Max Marley and his Marvelous Marley World.

This was an absolutely perfect escape!

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Georgie Shaw is on a honey moon cruise when there is a fight on board. A passenger goes overboard. Another is stabbed to death. Jewels are being stolen all over. Nobody can find the suspects or the passenger that went overboard.

The investigation seems to be going nowhere until the boss of the cruise line (and Georgie Shaw) shows up.

Pretty good.

[Anna Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie Shaw and the handsome detective, Jack Wheeler, are up to their necks in more murder and mayhem! A man overboard, another dead on Deck 6, and his killer loose on the ship! It's their honeymoon, but Georgie and Jack don't get a break. Mad Max Marley, Georgie's often wacky boss, wants answers. Who is passenger X? Why does the dead man, Jake Nugent, have a bad copy of an expensive necklace on him when he's murdered? You'll have to read it to find out. Mystery, romance, and humor. Cats and chocolate, too! I hope you have half as much fun reading this book as I had writing it--the 5th cozy mystery in the Georgie Shaw series. Cheers!

[Doward Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie Shaw and her husband of one week, Detective Jack Wheeler are one week into their ten day honeymoon cruise aboard the MMW Fantasy of the Sea. The South Sea Island cruise was a gift from Georgie's boss the crazy but lovable, Max Marley, creator and owner of the entertainment conglomerate that includes amusement parks, resorts and cruise lines. Their relaxation comes to a screeching halt when they hear screams of "Man Overboard" and discover that there is also a dead body at the scene. The head of security asks for Jack's expertise in securing the crime scene, which means that Georgie is also involved. After checking the list of passengers and crew, they make the startling discovery that no one is missing! So who went overboard? Further investigation turns up two mysterious female passengers, possible crew involvement in a jewelry theft ring operating on board, a too nosy sous chef and an accomplice who is nabbed by security but turns out to be dumber than a box of rocks. Another exciting adventure in the wacky Marvelous Marley World with funny and endearing characters and well executed murder plots that will keep you guessing right to the conclusion.

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at Sea of Passenger X by Anna Celeste Burke is the best one yet in the series. Georgie and Jack are on their honeymoon, a 10 day luxury cruise given to them by Max Marley, when tragedy strikes. The plot raced along with mystery passengers, jewelry thefts, wonderful food and so many twists that I never got close to figuring out who was behind it all until the reveal. I'm already waiting impatiently for the next book in the series.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seemed like I was waiting forever for this book to come out--It was well worth the wait!! At the end of the last book in this series--Mad Max--Georgie Shaw's boss at Marvelous Marley's World gave Georgie and her brand new husband one heck of a wedding present. A 10-day South Sea Island honeymoon aboard the Marvelous Marley Fantasy of the Sea LUXURY cruise ship. Better yet they could bring their two cats along!

Well, nothing ever seems to go smoothly for this couple--and this dream trip was no exception to the rule. A passenger was seen being thrown overboard-but no one could figure out who he was--As a matter of fact there are quite a few people aboard that are unknowns. Of course Detective Jack Wheeler (Georgie's new husband) got involved as did Georgie herself. Even the cats got into the act at one point! There were also thefts of expensive jewelry--including a necklace Jack had just bought for Georgie. Then more people went missing.
Murder at Sea of Passenger X Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #5Murder at Sea of Passenger X Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #5

Keeping all the other travelers aboard relatively clueless and happy was no small feat. Of course the meals being served and the DESERTS did help a lot (some of the best recipes are in the back of the book). The chef really outdid himself under very trying conditions-------

Will they figure out who Passenger X is before Mad Max helicopters in with the FBI? Read the book to find out!!
Murder at Sea of Passenger X Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #5

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these characters!!

Anna Celeste Burke has me hooked on these characters! Love them! I tried taking my time reading Murder at Sea of Passenger X: Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #5 because I wanted it to last as long as I could (I hate when a great book comes to an end!). Unfortunately, once I started reading, putting it down was not an option. It was so good! I am 100% certain you will love this book (and the entire series)! Even before I started reading, I was wishing that I was on the cruise and solving this case with them...yes, I know it was their honeymoon. I would have stayed in my own room. :-) Anna Celeste Burke's writing is fantastic. She brings the characters and events to life, and has you thinking about them long after you finish. I felt like I was there, in fact, because her writing is that good! Shoot...I even love the cats! Anyone who loves amimals so much to bring them on their honeymoon cruise is AWESOME in my eyes! I loved everything about this book, and I highly recommend it! There are also yummy recipes at the end...I'm not even a good cook, but I loved this book so much that I want to give a couple of the recipes a try, now! Hehee! I am very much looking forward to reading more, actually all, of Anna Celeste Burke's books. I see that the Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery books are one of the three series available for readers. Silly me...right when I thought my adventure was ending, right when I thought my friendship with these quirky characters was going to be put on hold, right when tears were starting to fall, I found some new worlds to explore! Yay! Do yourself a favor and check out this wonderful series...you will not be disappointed!!

Thank you for reading my review! :-)

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the fifth book in Anna Celeste Burke’s Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery series and is a wonderful read. Ms. Burke is a very talented author and her descriptive writing made me feel like I was there, feeling the ocean breezes, tasting the wonderful food, enjoying the antics of her fur babies, and participating in the action as the mystery unfolded. The mystery is well plotted, the characters well rounded and relatable, and the book has enough suspects, twists, and turns to make it hard to put the book down and difficult to figure out whom the killer is. Murder at Sea of Passenger X is a perfect combination of mystery, sweet romance, humor, and action. This is a clean cozy mystery featuring no gratuitous sex, violence, or foul language. Ms. Burke provides enough background information that this book can be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading a well-crafted cozy mystery.

Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler are enjoying the first portion of their honeymoon sailing for ten days on Marvelous Marley World’s Fantasy of the Sea. Georgie’s boss, Max Marley’s, wedding gift to the couple, along with ten days on Maui after the cruise, and he even arranged for Miles and Ella, Georgie’s Siamese cats, to go with them. Sadly, the honeymoon is placed on the back burner when Max offers their assistance to head of security, Bill Tate, because a man overboard alert is announced, a man is murdered, another passenger is missing, a murder loose on the ship, and multiple jewelry thefts onboard may be related to the murder. Georgie and Jack are upset about the disruption but neither of them complains as they work together to solve the mysteries. Their investigation reveals multiple suspects, lies, and conspiracy. Passengers are upset with the change in plans and not being able to disembark in Bora Bora, the last port of the cruise but the ship’s staff and crew work hard to make the remainder of the cruise enjoyable. And, as if all of this isn’t enough, Max Marley will be joining them shortly and expects a full accounting of what’s been going on when he arrives.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[John Presler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie Shaw and Det. Jack Wheeler are enjoying their honeymoon cruise when the ship's security officer requests Jack's help. One passenger has been thrown overboard and another passenger, Jake Nugent, has been stabbed to death. Fortunately, Wendy Cutler was a witness to the incidents and quickly reported them to security.

To complicate matters, there have also been a series of jewelry thefts aboard the cruise ship and it appears that there is at least one person aboard that cannot be accounted for. Do they perhaps have a stow-away aboard?

Who was the passenger thrown overboard? Who stabbed Jake Nugent? Why was Jake killed? Who is responsible for the jewelry thefts? Can Jack, Georgie, and the ship's Security team unravel the mysteries before they reach their next port?

Another excellent mystery from Anna Celeste Burke. This story has a lot going on and a short time to put all of the pieces together. The story is very engaging with a lot of twists and surprises at the end.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Anna Celeste Burke has written another great book. I love the Georgie Shaw Mysteries. They are full of humor, drama, interesting and quirky characters as well as interesting, and often unique, settings. Oh, and love. Georgie and Jack are mature and I love romances involving mature characters.

I had some of the crooks figured out before it was revealed. However, the revelation of one of the crooks took me by surprise. It made perfect sense and added a lot to the story.

There are 2 quotes from the book that are such beautiful sentiments:

❤ The shiny things we love so often become symbols of the more intangible objects of our desire—love, safety, security, esteem, escape from the drudgery and uncertainty of everyday life. How many lose their lives, I wonder, searching for the intangible in the tangible?

❤ Is that what love is—a string of small transcendent moments bound together by the ups and downs of ordinary life? If so, I’ll take it.

If you like well-written, entertaining cozy mysteries, I strongly urge you to read Murder at Sea of Passenger X. In fact, read all the books in the series! I am eagerly looking forward to Book 6 in the Georgie Shaw Mysteries.

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Sea of Passenger X (Georgie Shaw Cozy Mystery #5)
by Anna Celeste Burke

[I voluntarily read the ARC of this book after I was given a copy by the author]

“This marriage has turned out to be one of my brightest ideas ever, don’t you agree?'

Georgie and Jack have tied the proverbial knot and are now on their Honeymoon Cruise. However, how can all be champagne and chocolate with Georgie Shaw around?

Jewelry is missing and bodies are appearing. So much for a vacation as both she and her new husband are enlisted in trying to find out just what's going on with the passengers and the crew. Georgie has reconnected with a former culinary chum and wonders if Chef Gerard has anything to do with the mysterious goings on.

From the help to the guests, no one is exempt as the puzzle keeps getting more and more convoluted.

As usual, this has been a heck of a lot of fun to read. Burke again proves her comedic side while teaching us about some of the behind-the-scenes shenanigans of a luxury cruise. Book 5 continues the traditions of the previous books and gives us a well rounded and filling mystery....although remember to leave some room for dessert! Highly recommended. 5 stars

[Jeanineitsme · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Celeste Burke has done it again! This time Georgie Shaw and her hunky new husband Detective Jack Wheeler go away for a much needed honeymoon on Marvelous Marley World’s luxurious cruise ship, the MMW Fantasy of the Sea. A relaxing cruise in the South Seas, with sun, sand, a little pampering, and a man overboard. Wait, who said anything about a man overboard? Did he fall or was he helped overboard? And who is the man who is lying in a pool of blood right there where the unlucky man fell overboard? How many more bodies will be found before the end of the cruise? And what does the missing man have to do with jewels that were reported missing? Are Georgie and Jack getting too close to the truth? This book is a lot of fun and the author pens a lot of realistic details about being on a cruise ship. Her attention to details make the story believable and that makes it so much more fun to read. And there’s even a special recipe included to add to the enjoyment. I’d surely recommend this book! It’s a great read!

[Uvi Poznansky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie and her new husband are on a honeymoon cruise, venturing from island to island during their ten days at sea, when their romantic adventure takes an unexpected turn at the sound of screams, a splash, and shouts of ‘man overboard.’

Some clues can be obtained from the automated Man Overboard Detection system, other clues from a witness, Wendy Cutler, who claims to have seen three men fighting a few decks down below. Problem is, the ship is not missing any passengers on its list, so besides looking for a killer, there are more questions to be solved. Who is the murdered person?

Written with humor and warmth in Georgie’s voice, this is more than a regular who done it. There is a fascinating bond forming with her new husband. “You’re safe,” he says. “Please don’t kick me. Your one-week-husband is no spring chicken!”

It’s simply a joy to feel her presence and see things from her point of view, because of her delightfully sensual descriptions: “A Cacophony of clinking, clanging, scraping, and chopping sounds issued from every corner of the kitchen. It was music to my ears!”

Highly recommended. Five stars.

[Karen]

MURDER AT SEA OF PASSENGER X BOOK 5 OF THE GEORGIE SHAW SERIES
What a way to spend your last day at sea! Georgie, Jack and the kitties are cruising the south seas when guess what?... MURDER HAPPENS!!!! Jack and Georgie, husband and wife day 8 are pulled into the mystery and try to avoid becoming victims themselves. Ms Burke has outdone herself in the 5th installment of the exciting series. Murder, theft and a few unusual suspects make this a page -turner. Prepare not to sleep as you will not be able to put the book down! I give this five olly-ollys for a great story.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Georgie and Jack

Georgie and Jack are the perfect match for each other. While Georgie might not like blood and guts she does love helping her handsome new husband solve the murders, not to mention the thefts. Taking their fur children on their honeymoon thanks to Mad Max was a delight. Now I guess I'm going to have to wait for the next one but I'll reread this one and the others while I wait.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Georgie Shaw mysteries are delightful and intriguing and Anna Celeste Burke has hit another home run with Murder at Sea of Passenger X; in fact, Murder at Sea of Passenger X is my favorite so far. The fast-paced tale presents a complex mystery of missing jewelry, missing people, and murder. The key characters are intelligent and witty and our darlings are delightfully flirty but they don't go overboard. The contrast of violent murder against the amazing backdrop of a dream cruise only adds to the drama for the reader but not so much for the passengers. Ms Burke takes us right onto the ship to feel the excitement, fear, and frustration of the passengers. Enjoy your cruise with Jack and Georgie

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the author. The review is voluntary; I always review books that I love and I love Murder on the Sea of Passenger X.

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

At last a honeymoon cruise for Georgie andJack, and tab is being picked up. by her boss. A scream, that indicates something is wrong, when a knock wanting Jack to come. Three men fighting, one is murder, one overboard, and one is where. During the night, guests jewels are missing. This leads to a honeymoon they won’t forget, but how much time, and that of cruise ports itself. The plot is good, as you follow them for clues.

[Dixie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery? Murder? What?

I loved Georgie and her new husband, and the other characters were well developed, but I kept getting lost in the story. Also loved the cats. I couldn't figure out what was going on or why. I haven't previously read one of these mysteries, but expect this will get easier. I read for entertainment and this filled the bill well. I am going to read again.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who brings a knife to a gunfight? I thought that I could only be safe on a cruise with Marsha & Danny Jones aboard. However, I would also go on a cruise with Georgie Shaw and Detective Jack Wheeler. They worked well together and separately to discover whose whacked out ‘psycho’ logic was driving the train. This book was constantly moving and I read it in one sitting because I didn’t want to forget anything. I recommend this book to those who enjoy fast moving stories.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Celeste Burke's books are great if you love a great cozy mystery with great stories and characters you will love than I would highly recommend these books then you can be like me and can't wait till the next adventure

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie and detective Jack are on their honeymoon, but relaxation is not to be for them. A man overboard and a murder is what's in store instead. They are always ready to pitch in and solve mysteries. Delightful story by a fantastic author. Loved reviewing this ARC

[Zina Losey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining!

This is the first book I have read in this series. There were a lot of characters to keep track of but mini recaps helped. I was hoping there would have been more details about the surrounding places the Cruise went because I like to feel that I’ve been on a mini vacation!

[Marie Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful book

This book kept me guessing until the end. Georgia and Jack are great together. Can't wait for the next mystery.

[Michael C. Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie Shaw book 5

Wow! This series gets better and better. Plenty of action and cozy romance. This is another book that is extremely hard to put down!

[Barbara Boykin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Most enjoyable

I really did enjoy reading this book. I liked the characters and how they interacted with each other and figured out how the murders were done and who did it.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Murder at Sea of Passenger X ia a wonderful book. This is a great cozy mystery. As I read this book, I immediately liked Georgie and her husband,Jack and knew that I wanted to read more of this series. Many surprises, twists and turns.

[Kenneth Kotmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thrilling

This book was an absolute page turner. It was completely read in just two sittings. There was non-stop adventure and intrigue. Just a great read.

[Debra Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Murder at sea

Can't say enough good things about books by Anna Celeste Burke. All good reads so far. The cats are a hoot. Georgie and Jack make a good pair. Entregue abounds.

[Robyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Georgie & Jack are finally married and on their honeymoon at sea paid for by her boss Max who owns the ship. They are stuck in the middle of another murder this time without a body. Georgie knows the Chief Chef on the ship. Lots of twists and turns again to keep you guessing what is going on. Very enjoyable. Love the series.

[1furrball · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast paced story

What could be better than cruising on a great ship, in a magnificent suite with your new husband and the South Pacific? A murder, with lots of colorful characters!