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Casey Jones #1
Second Sitting
What could go wrong on a cruise in the sun?
Countess Georgina was a beautiful cruise ship, and Casey Jones, the Entertainment Director was looking forward to enjoying the Caribbean cruise on this luxury liner.
Casey’s days and nights are an endless stream of introducing guest speakers, placating prima donna singers and organizing feather-clad chorus girls. This is what she expected and what she was ready for.
As the first big party on board the ship looms, Casey, dressed in her finest, prepares to ensure the passengers stuck to their allocated sittings. It was common for people to want to attend both the first and second sitting. But there was no getting past Casey!
When Mr Foster collapses and dies at table two at the second sitting, his death is attributed to natural causes, a heart attack. Dr Samuel Mallory, the Cruise Doctor attends, and is instantly drawn to the new Entertainment Director.
Up to her eyes with entertainment issues, Casey has little time for Dr. Mallory’s advances. Smooth and silk, he captures the attention of many women on board, much to Casey’s relief. Her career depends on her level of professionalism, she cannot afford to let anything slip.
Merlin the Magician, aka Reg Hawkins cannot perform without his box of props and tricks. Casey goes on the hunt, only to find Reg missing on her return, without his box. Panic sets in … she must find Reg and the box or the show won’t go on … but what she is left to deal with is far more serious than she anticipated …
As a stream of sinister events start to unfold, Casey is left troubled. She is the Entertainment Director, not a private investigator, but she finds herself drawn into investigating the series of deaths and other mishaps.
On board the cruise ship is a killer, one who is determined to eliminate anyone who gets in their way. But is this person working alone? Casey isn’t sure. The turn of events sets her nerves on edge … her life is in danger, of that she is certain … but why?
Countess Georgina was a beautiful cruise ship, and Casey Jones, the Entertainment Director was looking forward to enjoying the Caribbean cruise on this luxury liner.
Casey’s days and nights are an endless stream of introducing guest speakers, placating prima donna singers and organizing feather-clad chorus girls. This is what she expected and what she was ready for.
As the first big party on board the ship looms, Casey, dressed in her finest, prepares to ensure the passengers stuck to their allocated sittings. It was common for people to want to attend both the first and second sitting. But there was no getting past Casey!
When Mr Foster collapses and dies at table two at the second sitting, his death is attributed to natural causes, a heart attack. Dr Samuel Mallory, the Cruise Doctor attends, and is instantly drawn to the new Entertainment Director.
Up to her eyes with entertainment issues, Casey has little time for Dr. Mallory’s advances. Smooth and silk, he captures the attention of many women on board, much to Casey’s relief. Her career depends on her level of professionalism, she cannot afford to let anything slip.
Merlin the Magician, aka Reg Hawkins cannot perform without his box of props and tricks. Casey goes on the hunt, only to find Reg missing on her return, without his box. Panic sets in … she must find Reg and the box or the show won’t go on … but what she is left to deal with is far more serious than she anticipated …
As a stream of sinister events start to unfold, Casey is left troubled. She is the Entertainment Director, not a private investigator, but she finds herself drawn into investigating the series of deaths and other mishaps.
On board the cruise ship is a killer, one who is determined to eliminate anyone who gets in their way. But is this person working alone? Casey isn’t sure. The turn of events sets her nerves on edge … her life is in danger, of that she is certain … but why?
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 19, 2008
43 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Stella Whitelaw
82 books21 followersStella Whitelaw is a professional writer and journalist, with over 30 novels published as well as nearly 250 short stories in national women's magazines. She is Secretary of the Parliamentary Press Gallery at the House of Commons and lives in Surrey with six beautiful cats who have provided the inspiration for her many cat books. Pollution-induced asthma has sent her walking the Sussex coast and South Downs for fresh air for healing views.
Series:
* Jordan Lacey
* Casey Jones Cruise Ship Mystery
Series:
* Jordan Lacey
* Casey Jones Cruise Ship Mystery
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 31, 2011
I was looking forward to starting a new mystery series set on a cruise ship. What a disappointment! The grammar is so bad, starting at the first sentence and continuing through the first 10 pages, that I cannot stand to read the book. The author clearly did not have the advantage of a skilled editor to improve her book before publishing.
March 13, 2017
I thought I would enjoy this mystery being that it takes place on a cruise ship and I have never been.
I found it to be very slow going and boring in spots.
I found it to be very slow going and boring in spots.
January 14, 2025
great who done it/heroine
Thrills and twists all on a cruise ship. Insight to the inner workings and lives of the staff and array of interesting customers/travellers with humour.
Loved the lead character becoming a heroine in the end
Thrills and twists all on a cruise ship. Insight to the inner workings and lives of the staff and array of interesting customers/travellers with humour.
Loved the lead character becoming a heroine in the end
June 12, 2020
I just couldn't warm up to any of the characters with the possible exception of the group of old ladies who were dining in the second sitting. It just didn't come together for me.
December 9, 2024
Different background
I have never been on a cruise...almost but for covid...so I really enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of cruising from a staff perspective.
I have never been on a cruise...almost but for covid...so I really enjoyed reading about the ins and outs of cruising from a staff perspective.
June 17, 2025
A good cosy mystery which, although it was easy to solve part of, kept interest throughout the book.
June 13, 2023
Picked this book up from our local library .I had read somewhere if you like Janet Evanovich then you will love this .
Firstly let me give you some facts ..This is not in any way shape or form anything like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plumb books which in my opinion are brilliantly written and extremely funny .
Second of all because of the comparison to the Janet Evanovich saga i thought this would be American characters set with our heroine being from the states ..well spoiler alert shes not shes from West Sussex ..this is another thing that i found highly annoying i dont know why i just did and thats just my opinion ...Anyway .....
The story begins with Casey Jones being introduced to us .The glamourous entertainments manager on board the cruise liner Countess Georgina .
During second sitting (which is a phrase i believe is used for diners who have their dinner later as apposed to earlier 1st sitting?) a guest collapses and here in the tale begins.
Well that is where its suppose to begin ...
Im actually at a complete loss as to what to say about this book .
It lacks in so many different areas its hard what to point out first ,but i will try .
A real lack of character building went on in this book ...
We are introduced to the love interest Dr Samuel Mallory a few pages into the story to say there is a lack of chemistry between the two main characters is a complete understatement.
They meet exchange a few sarcastic comments and then all of a sudden hes her knight in shining armour and they have a hidden attraction ..which is so well hidden it barely feels as though it is there .It was weak dialogue awkward and excruiating to read .
Then as the story moves on (slowly which is apt for a cruise) a few old people are introduced that hold very little relevance but I'm guessing because its based on a cruise liner the author has got to make something out of nothing .
We are treated to huge amount of detail about how the entertainment is organised on board a cruise and how hard Casey Jones works ..so much so she barely eats or sleeps ...Also we are treated to again huge amount of detail on the places the ship stops...all very boring and all very unecessary
Three people are bumped off over the course of the 30 day cruise and i cared so little about it it became difficult to finish i am surprised i did to be honest .
Im sorry for such a disjointed review but its such a lack lustre book im finding it hard to put into words why i found this such a terrible boring read.
Its only redeeming feature was it got mildly more interesting towards the end but then again that could of been just me happpy it was almost over ...
Moreover if i had any aspirations of going on a cruise this has most certainly put me off not because of the murders but because it sounds like this story dull as ditch water .
The author obviously has been on lots of Cruises and loves them .I however will not be getting my sea legs anytime soon ...
A big yawn of a book that had little humour if any and not much of a story ...nil points from me im afraid ...
Firstly let me give you some facts ..This is not in any way shape or form anything like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plumb books which in my opinion are brilliantly written and extremely funny .
Second of all because of the comparison to the Janet Evanovich saga i thought this would be American characters set with our heroine being from the states ..well spoiler alert shes not shes from West Sussex ..this is another thing that i found highly annoying i dont know why i just did and thats just my opinion ...Anyway .....
The story begins with Casey Jones being introduced to us .The glamourous entertainments manager on board the cruise liner Countess Georgina .
During second sitting (which is a phrase i believe is used for diners who have their dinner later as apposed to earlier 1st sitting?) a guest collapses and here in the tale begins.
Well that is where its suppose to begin ...
Im actually at a complete loss as to what to say about this book .
It lacks in so many different areas its hard what to point out first ,but i will try .
A real lack of character building went on in this book ...
We are introduced to the love interest Dr Samuel Mallory a few pages into the story to say there is a lack of chemistry between the two main characters is a complete understatement.
They meet exchange a few sarcastic comments and then all of a sudden hes her knight in shining armour and they have a hidden attraction ..which is so well hidden it barely feels as though it is there .It was weak dialogue awkward and excruiating to read .
Then as the story moves on (slowly which is apt for a cruise) a few old people are introduced that hold very little relevance but I'm guessing because its based on a cruise liner the author has got to make something out of nothing .
We are treated to huge amount of detail about how the entertainment is organised on board a cruise and how hard Casey Jones works ..so much so she barely eats or sleeps ...Also we are treated to again huge amount of detail on the places the ship stops...all very boring and all very unecessary
Three people are bumped off over the course of the 30 day cruise and i cared so little about it it became difficult to finish i am surprised i did to be honest .
Im sorry for such a disjointed review but its such a lack lustre book im finding it hard to put into words why i found this such a terrible boring read.
Its only redeeming feature was it got mildly more interesting towards the end but then again that could of been just me happpy it was almost over ...
Moreover if i had any aspirations of going on a cruise this has most certainly put me off not because of the murders but because it sounds like this story dull as ditch water .
The author obviously has been on lots of Cruises and loves them .I however will not be getting my sea legs anytime soon ...
A big yawn of a book that had little humour if any and not much of a story ...nil points from me im afraid ...
July 9, 2015
I've never been on a cruise, so thought this one would be interesting, and it delivered pretty much what I expected - a mystery from the point-of-view of an employee, rather than a (detective) passenger. Casey makes for a good protagonist, keeping the romantic angle to a minimum, although she does mention Dr. Samuel Mallory's looks at every opportunity; I had more of a "chick lit" issue with her exhaustive description of just about everything she and many (female) passengers wore! Perhaps I wasn't paying enough attention, but I didn't come away with a good idea of her looks, nor really her age either: willowy enough, as a former dancer, and likely 25 - 35 was about as close as I could manage.
The mystery angle was, as some reviewers have noted, a bit weak. However, it works well enough to propel the story overall. I'd be interested in listening to the sequel, as I felt the narrator did a good job with the material (except for mangling a couple of place names).
The mystery angle was, as some reviewers have noted, a bit weak. However, it works well enough to propel the story overall. I'd be interested in listening to the sequel, as I felt the narrator did a good job with the material (except for mangling a couple of place names).
July 4, 2012
This was a pretty good book.. I read it while I was on a cruise so I bet that made it all the more better :) My cruise director's name was even Casey, too! Spooky...
Anyway, this satisfied my hunger after looking forever to find books about cruises. I like mysteries, so this was a perfect match. The plot was good, even though it felt a little bit rushed at the end.
You read, and once you were done, it was like... "oh, I'm done now. That was interesting"
But it was still good. I recommend this to anyone who can get their hands on it.
Anyway, this satisfied my hunger after looking forever to find books about cruises. I like mysteries, so this was a perfect match. The plot was good, even though it felt a little bit rushed at the end.
You read, and once you were done, it was like... "oh, I'm done now. That was interesting"
But it was still good. I recommend this to anyone who can get their hands on it.
May 3, 2011
I liked the "murder set on a cruise" aspect of the story but the plotline itself didn't really do much for me. The main character kind of annoyed me but I did enjoy the good looking doctor (who doesn't?), the cruise security chief, and the various other personnel whether they be the eccentric passengers or the crew. The description of the cruise itself and the various ports of call were wonderful and perfect for those looking for a bit of armchair travel out in the Atlantic and the Caribbean. I will give the second book in this series a try and see if the mystery part of it is any better.
November 21, 2008
First in a new mystery series. A cruise director finds herself embroiled in trying to solve murder. Ok story. Not as fond of the characters as I am with Whitelaw's "Jordan Lacy" series but it was still enjoyable.
March 13, 2010
Like comedy with your crime? Cruise Director Casey Jones must deal with enough personalities and interrelationships on a luxury Caribbean tour—does a guest have to keel over at the second sitting and die? And why? Dead Slow Ahead is #2
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October 14, 2009Read for Mystery Book Club 1/2004
September 7, 2008
good fun read
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews