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Cyd Redondo #2
Drowned Under
Eggnog notwithstanding, travel agent Cyd Redondo is not looking forward to the holidays. The borough of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn - along with most of her family - holds her responsible for her landing Uncle Ray in a minimum security prison.
So, when Cyd's ex-husband, Barry Manzoni, announces his parents have disappeared from an Australian cruise, she rushes Down Under to enlist the help of travel liaison and friend Harriet Archer, who offers a free cabin on the Tasmanian Dream and insider assistance with the search.
Cyd's flights are delayed, so she hitches a helicopter ride to the ship - which lacks a heli-pad. She and her Balenciaga bag barely survive the harrowing drop, landing on a gorgeous man in a Speedo. When she finally makes it to her cabin, she finds Harriet dead, lying in a pool of blood.
The ship's doctor/coroner - now wearing a tux instead of his Speedo - declares the death an accident. While Darling Cruises hurries to cover up the "unfortunate event" and sanitize the crime scene. Cyd scrambles to preserve evidence, terrified the murder is connected to the Manzonis' disappearance, and to prevent the heist of the world's last Tasmanian tiger.
Her search for Barry's parents and Harriet's killer unearths more comic and deadly surprises on ship and on land - where a Tasmanian asylum awaits - as Cyd, red purse in hand, finds enemies, allies, crimes, and romance in the most inconvenient places.
So, when Cyd's ex-husband, Barry Manzoni, announces his parents have disappeared from an Australian cruise, she rushes Down Under to enlist the help of travel liaison and friend Harriet Archer, who offers a free cabin on the Tasmanian Dream and insider assistance with the search.
Cyd's flights are delayed, so she hitches a helicopter ride to the ship - which lacks a heli-pad. She and her Balenciaga bag barely survive the harrowing drop, landing on a gorgeous man in a Speedo. When she finally makes it to her cabin, she finds Harriet dead, lying in a pool of blood.
The ship's doctor/coroner - now wearing a tux instead of his Speedo - declares the death an accident. While Darling Cruises hurries to cover up the "unfortunate event" and sanitize the crime scene. Cyd scrambles to preserve evidence, terrified the murder is connected to the Manzonis' disappearance, and to prevent the heist of the world's last Tasmanian tiger.
Her search for Barry's parents and Harriet's killer unearths more comic and deadly surprises on ship and on land - where a Tasmanian asylum awaits - as Cyd, red purse in hand, finds enemies, allies, crimes, and romance in the most inconvenient places.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2019
24 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Wendall Thomas
6 books45 followersWendall Thomas has worked as a film and television writer—including stints on PBS’s Wishbone and A&E Biography— teaches in the Graduate Film School at UCLA, and lectures internationally on screenwriting. Her most recent Cyd Redondo novel, Cheap Trills, just won the Lefty Award for Best Humorous Mystery of 2023. Lost Luggage, was nominated for the Lefty and Macavity Awards for Best Debut Mystery, her second, Drowned Under was nominated for an Anthony and Lefty award for Best Paperback Original and Best Humorous Mystery of 2019, and the third, Fogged Off was nominated for the Best Humorous Lefty for 2021. Her short fiction appears in Ladies Night, Last Resort, Murder-A-Go-Go’s, Crime Under the Sun, and the upcoming Hollywood Kills. She also contributes to the international mystery blog Murder is Everywhere.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 17, 2019
Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an advanced copy of Drowned Under in exchange for an honest review. I recently read Lost Luggage, the first book in the Cyd Redondo series, and it did not appeal to me. I did not like its frenzied slapstick humour, its over-the-top, frantic action scenes, and found Cyd to be ditsy, unfocused, and an incompetent travel agent. I am happy to say that this second novel was more enjoyable and a positive improvement over the first, which was set in Africa and involved the cruelty of animal trafficking.
This book started out in the same over-the-top manner, but I was glad I stuck to it. Cyd seemed smarter and more resourceful. She managed to get herself into bad situations, but this time was rarely the cause of them. I became engaged in the plot to save the last Tasmanian tiger. Having watched a tragic documentary about their extinction, I wished this storyline was true. Along with Cyd’s determination to prove her friend and her future roommate on the Australian cruise ship had been murdered, and her part in exposing a conspiracy to defraud senior travellers, the plot held my interest.
I was annoyed with all the unnecessary focus on designer clothing, brand name shoes and accessories. I was wanting to focus on a travel adventure, not feel I was reading a fashion magazine. After several dozen mentions of her expensive, Balenciaga bag, we get it. It was a useful accessory to Cyd in situations in both books, but it was tiresome relying on the brand name repeatedly. I found all the high-end clothing and shoe references interrupted the storyline, and made her sound conceited despite her mention of travel agent discounts and sales.
I have always enjoyed stories of travel adventures and misadventures, but Cyd made me grateful that my travels in Africa and Australia very rarely involved any use of a travel agent. I would read another book in the series, but hopefully the tendency for slapstick humour continues to be more restrained and also the focus on brand name fashion will be reduced. The plot was well imagined and held my attention.
This book started out in the same over-the-top manner, but I was glad I stuck to it. Cyd seemed smarter and more resourceful. She managed to get herself into bad situations, but this time was rarely the cause of them. I became engaged in the plot to save the last Tasmanian tiger. Having watched a tragic documentary about their extinction, I wished this storyline was true. Along with Cyd’s determination to prove her friend and her future roommate on the Australian cruise ship had been murdered, and her part in exposing a conspiracy to defraud senior travellers, the plot held my interest.
I was annoyed with all the unnecessary focus on designer clothing, brand name shoes and accessories. I was wanting to focus on a travel adventure, not feel I was reading a fashion magazine. After several dozen mentions of her expensive, Balenciaga bag, we get it. It was a useful accessory to Cyd in situations in both books, but it was tiresome relying on the brand name repeatedly. I found all the high-end clothing and shoe references interrupted the storyline, and made her sound conceited despite her mention of travel agent discounts and sales.
I have always enjoyed stories of travel adventures and misadventures, but Cyd made me grateful that my travels in Africa and Australia very rarely involved any use of a travel agent. I would read another book in the series, but hopefully the tendency for slapstick humour continues to be more restrained and also the focus on brand name fashion will be reduced. The plot was well imagined and held my attention.
February 20, 2019
Review: I am wondering how anyone can find this novel (tripe) entertaining. In the author’s attempt at being glib and funny, the pages are peckered with this constant stream of internal dialogue that is supposed to encompass every scene with commentary in the form of witticisms. Add in how hot she thinks she is and how every guy wants a piece of her middle aged flesh and you have pure literary drivel. What really detracted from the overall story line was the focus on all of Cyd’s accessories. From designer bags, dresses and shoes, this barrage of nonsensical bullshjt was never ending.
Cyd’s characterization is at once vapid, scattered and vaguely offensive to females. The supporting characters are one dimensional and drive the scenes to awkward resolutions that favor dimwits flouncing act. The scene development is right on the verge of fantastical. I think the author hoped this would add vibrant movement, only it comes off as thinly sheathed in reality and lacking in clarity.
Author James W. Ziskin is not only in the preface, hailing accolades of this work like a Perseid meteor shower, but rates this novel a 5 star work in Goodreads. Coincidentally the author lists James Ziskin in the acknowledgments. We also have Kirkus Reviews spinning their paid-for shtick as well. I would skip all of Ziskin’s novels as anyone who had really read this is busy self-defenestrating.
Cyd’s characterization is at once vapid, scattered and vaguely offensive to females. The supporting characters are one dimensional and drive the scenes to awkward resolutions that favor dimwits flouncing act. The scene development is right on the verge of fantastical. I think the author hoped this would add vibrant movement, only it comes off as thinly sheathed in reality and lacking in clarity.
Author James W. Ziskin is not only in the preface, hailing accolades of this work like a Perseid meteor shower, but rates this novel a 5 star work in Goodreads. Coincidentally the author lists James Ziskin in the acknowledgments. We also have Kirkus Reviews spinning their paid-for shtick as well. I would skip all of Ziskin’s novels as anyone who had really read this is busy self-defenestrating.
March 20, 2019
It’s the week before Christmas, and Cyd is dreading the upcoming holiday filled with rumors, whispers, and awkward family moments. Then Barry Manzoni comes to her for help. Barry is a childhood friend and Cyd’s ex-husband. His parents are on an Australian cruise, and they vanished part way through. Even though they didn’t book with Redondo Travel, Cyd still begins to use her contacts to see what she can learn. In fact, she uses one of those contacts to get herself booked on the next cruise their ship is taking, which is following the same route. Okay, so she might be using the trip to avoid Christmas with her family, but she does want to help Barry.
After a whirlwind trip half way around the world, she arrives on the ship only to find a dead body. The crew want to say it is a tragic accident, but Cyd suspects foul play. Does this tie into the disappearance of the Manzonis? Can Cyd trust anyone on board?
If you haven’t read the first book in the series, a warning – this book does by necessity spoil some of the events of the first book in the series. If you have read the first book, you know exactly what to expect here, and you won’t be disappointed. We’ve got a fast-paced story with twists that keep Cyd hopping as she tries to uncover what exactly is happening. There is a strong screwball comedy element that keeps us laughing, although some events and Cyd herself keeps us grounded. I did feel the book got a bit frantic at times, but it never lasted too long. The characters are a little caricature as well, but that just makes them fit perfectly into this world. There is a smattering of foul language here. We also have a very strong sub-plot with another endangered animal, but there is no animal cruelty involved this time around. I enjoyed the different take on the Christmas setting – since the book is set mostly off the coast of Australia, we don’t have cold and snow, after all. This is a fun ride, so pick up this book and hold on tight.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
After a whirlwind trip half way around the world, she arrives on the ship only to find a dead body. The crew want to say it is a tragic accident, but Cyd suspects foul play. Does this tie into the disappearance of the Manzonis? Can Cyd trust anyone on board?
If you haven’t read the first book in the series, a warning – this book does by necessity spoil some of the events of the first book in the series. If you have read the first book, you know exactly what to expect here, and you won’t be disappointed. We’ve got a fast-paced story with twists that keep Cyd hopping as she tries to uncover what exactly is happening. There is a strong screwball comedy element that keeps us laughing, although some events and Cyd herself keeps us grounded. I did feel the book got a bit frantic at times, but it never lasted too long. The characters are a little caricature as well, but that just makes them fit perfectly into this world. There is a smattering of foul language here. We also have a very strong sub-plot with another endangered animal, but there is no animal cruelty involved this time around. I enjoyed the different take on the Christmas setting – since the book is set mostly off the coast of Australia, we don’t have cold and snow, after all. This is a fun ride, so pick up this book and hold on tight.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
March 17, 2019
I have been eagerly awaiting and anticipating Wendall Thomas' second Cyd Redondo mystery, Drowned Under. The phrase good things come to those who wait is perfect to describe my reward for waiting for this thrilling new tale of the travel agent who is willing to go the extra 10,000 miles for her clients, from Brooklyn to Tasmania. It's hard to believe that murder can be as much fun as this series is, but with the witty dialogue and the mishaps that Cyd experiences, laughter is a large part of enjoying this read. With the addition of an adorable endangered/extinct animal that captures Cyd's heart, Drowned Under is my favorite excursion on the high seas of reading.
It's almost Christmas in the borough of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Cyd Redondo is not feeling the warm and cozy of the season. Her Uncle Ray's incarceration is a result of Cyd's last adventure in which she uncovered a thriving, illegal exotic animal business operating within her close community. The community and Cyd's extensive expanded family are not happy with her, and there is a freeze-out blowing her way in the holiday cheer. When Cyd's ex-husband Barry Manzoni asks her for help in locating his missing parents who took a cruise to Australia, Cyd is only too happy to absent herself from a Brooklyn Christmas disaster. After phoning her friend and Australian cruise contact Harriet Archer, Cyd is set up to join the current cruise of the Tasmanian Dream and share a cabin with Harriet.
With a tight window of meeting Harriet and the cruise ship in Melbourne, Cyd arrives too late. But, the good and bad news is that Harriet had a plan B, a helicopter waiting to fly Cyd to the Tasmanian Dream. That's the good news. The bad news is that there is no place for the helicopter to land on the ship's deck, so Cyd must be lowered via a rope ladder to her destination. Balancing a carry-on bag and her beloved Balenciaga bag, Cyd makes it mostly down the ladder with a last minute detour into the arms of a lifeguard with a "significant torso" and a final landing with him on a lounge chair. Making her apologies, she is met by the cruise director and taken to her cabin. A grim sight greets Cyd in her cabin, as her friend Harriet is lying dead on the floor, with blood pooling around her head. The ship's doctor is called for, and the man who caught a falling Cyd on deck is now changed from Speedo to a tux. He and others call Harriet 's death an accident, but Cyd and her unerring tuition, plus some clues, convince her that her friend has been murdered.
Cyd is distraught that Harriet is dead, and Cyd's especially worried that Harriet might have been targeted because of asking about the missing Mazonis. Now, the trip to find Barry's parents also becomes a race against the clock to find Harriet's murderer. Of course, two impossible tasks aren't enough, and before long, a complication named Howard, whose very species will depend on Cyd's help, is thrown into the mix and her Balenciaga.
There is so much to love about Drowned Under, as Wendall Thomas is an extraordinary storyteller and writer. The characters are all fascinating, both the good eggs and the bad ones. Cyd's tasks may seem to be impossible, but the characters who become her partners in crime solving work with her in one crazy scenario after another to accomplish that impossible. From eighty-one-year-old Sister Ellery Magdalene Malcomb, former nun and Cyd's former teacher, to Koozer, the young steward who is fond of large tips, to the doctor, who makes Cyd's stomach feel bubbly in a god way. All these characters and more make the journey of the Tasmanian Dream a great adventure. The pace of the story is always moving at just the right speed to create suspense and danger and release to more suspense and danger, ending in typical Cyd Redondo style, a few messy loose ends, such as Cyd's heart.
I received a copy of this book from the author, and I have given an honest review of Drowned Under, a smashing good read that shouldn't be missed.
It's almost Christmas in the borough of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, and Cyd Redondo is not feeling the warm and cozy of the season. Her Uncle Ray's incarceration is a result of Cyd's last adventure in which she uncovered a thriving, illegal exotic animal business operating within her close community. The community and Cyd's extensive expanded family are not happy with her, and there is a freeze-out blowing her way in the holiday cheer. When Cyd's ex-husband Barry Manzoni asks her for help in locating his missing parents who took a cruise to Australia, Cyd is only too happy to absent herself from a Brooklyn Christmas disaster. After phoning her friend and Australian cruise contact Harriet Archer, Cyd is set up to join the current cruise of the Tasmanian Dream and share a cabin with Harriet.
With a tight window of meeting Harriet and the cruise ship in Melbourne, Cyd arrives too late. But, the good and bad news is that Harriet had a plan B, a helicopter waiting to fly Cyd to the Tasmanian Dream. That's the good news. The bad news is that there is no place for the helicopter to land on the ship's deck, so Cyd must be lowered via a rope ladder to her destination. Balancing a carry-on bag and her beloved Balenciaga bag, Cyd makes it mostly down the ladder with a last minute detour into the arms of a lifeguard with a "significant torso" and a final landing with him on a lounge chair. Making her apologies, she is met by the cruise director and taken to her cabin. A grim sight greets Cyd in her cabin, as her friend Harriet is lying dead on the floor, with blood pooling around her head. The ship's doctor is called for, and the man who caught a falling Cyd on deck is now changed from Speedo to a tux. He and others call Harriet 's death an accident, but Cyd and her unerring tuition, plus some clues, convince her that her friend has been murdered.
Cyd is distraught that Harriet is dead, and Cyd's especially worried that Harriet might have been targeted because of asking about the missing Mazonis. Now, the trip to find Barry's parents also becomes a race against the clock to find Harriet's murderer. Of course, two impossible tasks aren't enough, and before long, a complication named Howard, whose very species will depend on Cyd's help, is thrown into the mix and her Balenciaga.
There is so much to love about Drowned Under, as Wendall Thomas is an extraordinary storyteller and writer. The characters are all fascinating, both the good eggs and the bad ones. Cyd's tasks may seem to be impossible, but the characters who become her partners in crime solving work with her in one crazy scenario after another to accomplish that impossible. From eighty-one-year-old Sister Ellery Magdalene Malcomb, former nun and Cyd's former teacher, to Koozer, the young steward who is fond of large tips, to the doctor, who makes Cyd's stomach feel bubbly in a god way. All these characters and more make the journey of the Tasmanian Dream a great adventure. The pace of the story is always moving at just the right speed to create suspense and danger and release to more suspense and danger, ending in typical Cyd Redondo style, a few messy loose ends, such as Cyd's heart.
I received a copy of this book from the author, and I have given an honest review of Drowned Under, a smashing good read that shouldn't be missed.
February 22, 2019
“Drowned Under” by Wendall Thomas is the second in the “Cyd Redondo Mystery” series. New readers will find that Cyd shares all the needed background information right as she goes along. Things always begin with her introduction “Hello. Cyd Redondo, Redondo Travel.”
Cyd’s first person narrative begins in December when ex-husband, Barry Manzoni asks her to find his parents. Her former in-laws took a cruise to Australia and are missing. On a happier note, they did win the shipboard a dance competition the night before docking in Tasmania. Thus begins an adventure that will make readers laugh and never ever want to set foot aboard a ship.
The story unfolds in Cyd’s first person narrative, and the situation driven plot is guided by her conversations with those she meets. She reflects on her decisions. (“This was crazy. Why was I doing this?”) She tells readers her plans. (“I’d ask her about that later.”) She recounts her experiences. (“I’d been forced to arrange a few speedboats for tardy clients.”) She shares evaluations. (“They sailed to bucket list locations and hadn’t had a norovirus /fire in the engine room/ sinking disaster in the past few years, so I felt better putting my clients there.”) Readers trust her instincts and her strategies for maximizing travel rewards. (“I was able to combine my credit card frequent flier points, travel agent discounts, and three coupons to upgrade Harriet’s coach seat into Premium Economy for both legs, round trip.”) However, even Cyd has her limits, (“Look, as far as accessories go, I’m strictly a purse and shoes girl. No murders.”)
Descriptions put readers right into the drama, even while laughing, (“A pack of life-jacketed tourists surrounded us, like aggressive Cheetos.”), or while cringing, (“I grabbed a green apple out of my bag, ate a few bites, then promptly threw up over the railing.”)
“Drowned Under” is definitely not a travelogue. Nothing is even close to reality, (I hope) but Wendall Thomas fills each page with absurdity as Cyd navigates drug smuggling, missing persons, romance, endangered animal smuggling, seasickness, and murder, all on board a cruise ship. I was given a copy of “Drowned Under” from Wendall Thomas and Poison Pen Press. It was hilarious, outrageous, and funny. I learned that even a $4000 handbag should have Tupperware and Band-Aids.
Cyd’s first person narrative begins in December when ex-husband, Barry Manzoni asks her to find his parents. Her former in-laws took a cruise to Australia and are missing. On a happier note, they did win the shipboard a dance competition the night before docking in Tasmania. Thus begins an adventure that will make readers laugh and never ever want to set foot aboard a ship.
The story unfolds in Cyd’s first person narrative, and the situation driven plot is guided by her conversations with those she meets. She reflects on her decisions. (“This was crazy. Why was I doing this?”) She tells readers her plans. (“I’d ask her about that later.”) She recounts her experiences. (“I’d been forced to arrange a few speedboats for tardy clients.”) She shares evaluations. (“They sailed to bucket list locations and hadn’t had a norovirus /fire in the engine room/ sinking disaster in the past few years, so I felt better putting my clients there.”) Readers trust her instincts and her strategies for maximizing travel rewards. (“I was able to combine my credit card frequent flier points, travel agent discounts, and three coupons to upgrade Harriet’s coach seat into Premium Economy for both legs, round trip.”) However, even Cyd has her limits, (“Look, as far as accessories go, I’m strictly a purse and shoes girl. No murders.”)
Descriptions put readers right into the drama, even while laughing, (“A pack of life-jacketed tourists surrounded us, like aggressive Cheetos.”), or while cringing, (“I grabbed a green apple out of my bag, ate a few bites, then promptly threw up over the railing.”)
“Drowned Under” is definitely not a travelogue. Nothing is even close to reality, (I hope) but Wendall Thomas fills each page with absurdity as Cyd navigates drug smuggling, missing persons, romance, endangered animal smuggling, seasickness, and murder, all on board a cruise ship. I was given a copy of “Drowned Under” from Wendall Thomas and Poison Pen Press. It was hilarious, outrageous, and funny. I learned that even a $4000 handbag should have Tupperware and Band-Aids.
April 5, 2019
This was a quirky mystery that takes place on an Australian cruise ship at Christmas time. I thought the cover was cute when I saw it on netgalley, and I'm glad I got a chance to read it. The main character Cyd is a travel agent. At first I wasn't sure about her - she spends a LOT of time talking about her designer stuff - especially her purse and shoes. But she was light-hearted and fit the story. I liked the glimpses of Tasmania, and I thought the mystery, as well as the mysterious circumstances, were enjoyable. There are some funny characters and cruise insights too.
Although it is book two in a series, it worked just fine as a stand-alone. However, it does spoil a lot of the mystery of book 1, so you may want to read them in order.
Although it is book two in a series, it worked just fine as a stand-alone. However, it does spoil a lot of the mystery of book 1, so you may want to read them in order.
May 5, 2019
Princess Fuzzypants here: Sometimes I like my mysteries to have a patina of reality about them. I either want the characters or the events to resemble life as we know it. Other times, I truly enjoy the ones that go over the top with wild and crazy characters and unbelievable plots. It is seldom I find one that manages to skirt both and to do it effectively. This one did.
Our heroine is asked by her ex to find his parents who have disappeared from a cruise ship in Australia. As a travel agent she has connections and so she flies out and boards the ship in search of her ex-in-laws. The story line certainly mocks some of the cruise line traditions and characters. As someone familiar with that world, some of it is spot on.
Cyd’s adventure really begins when she finds the body of her friend and room-mate in the cabin as the ship embarks. Her friend has been making enquires and when the ship tries to convince her murder was an accident, her suspicions climb. In the midst of her search she discovers several conspiracies from out and out cons to endangered species to jealous hearts.
It’s a wild and entertaining romp. If you are a fan of Laura Levine you will like this one.
Give it four purrs and two paws up.
Our heroine is asked by her ex to find his parents who have disappeared from a cruise ship in Australia. As a travel agent she has connections and so she flies out and boards the ship in search of her ex-in-laws. The story line certainly mocks some of the cruise line traditions and characters. As someone familiar with that world, some of it is spot on.
Cyd’s adventure really begins when she finds the body of her friend and room-mate in the cabin as the ship embarks. Her friend has been making enquires and when the ship tries to convince her murder was an accident, her suspicions climb. In the midst of her search she discovers several conspiracies from out and out cons to endangered species to jealous hearts.
It’s a wild and entertaining romp. If you are a fan of Laura Levine you will like this one.
Give it four purrs and two paws up.
September 30, 2020
2020 bk 328. The first in the series had some plot flaws, this has even more. The idea of keeping a 'Tasmanian Tiger' hidden on a cruise ship? Doubtful. There were other things going on the cruise ship that just didn't seem realisitic. The whole 'reveal' of who murdered Harriet came out of left field with little chance of the reader figuring it out. Just didn't follow Poe's rules of detective fiction. I was disappointed. It could have been so much better with some prior outside editing.
October 8, 2021
Cyd Redondo, Redondo Travel, is an agent that hasn’t traveled. Tracy is reading the first book and I have the second where Cyd takes her first cruise on Darling Cruises in Australia. Quite the character.
I like that she recommends travel protection with every travel plan. Peace of mind and protect you vacation investment. The medical evacuation can be quite high.
I like that she recommends travel protection with every travel plan. Peace of mind and protect you vacation investment. The medical evacuation can be quite high.
March 14, 2019
Drowned Under by Wendall Thomas is the 2nd book in the Cyd Redondo Mystery series, and my first book by this author. I really enjoyed this book, and looking forward to going back and reading the first book in the series, Lost Luggage. Once I started reading this book I couldn't stop, I was thinking how can this all possibly work out? Cyd is a travel agent, with a very colorful family. Cyd agrees to take a complimentary Australian cruise to search for her ex in-laws. When she arrives her friend is dead in their room, and she is determined to find the truth. I found this book funny, found myself chuckling throughout the book. I recommend this book for people who love funny cozy mysteries.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press . Thank you.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press . Thank you.
December 20, 2018
The passenger list in Wendall Thomas’s DROWNED UNDER is a cavalcade of randy former nuns, gigolos, stowaways, and near-extinct marsupials. And one brilliantly sexy disaster of a globetrotting travel agent named Cyd Redondo. Thanks to her wildly creative mind, the fruits of which produce frequent affronts to her dignity, Cyd is easily one of my favorite amateur sleuths in crime fiction today. Thomas’s writing flows effortlessly, and her plotting is complex but perfectly tied together. This is a remarkable novel in what is shaping up to be an exciting and hilarious series. Don’t miss DROWNED UNDER or its predecessor, LOST LUGGAGE. You’ll love Cyd, perhaps the funniest heroine out there. Highest recommendation.
December 27, 2021
Cyd Redondo, travel agent for Redondo Travel, is taking the heat for her Uncle Ray’s involvement in an animal smuggling ring she inadvertently uncovered in her first international trip to Tanzania in the first book of this series LOST LUGGAGE. Cyd’s ex-husband Bobby Manzoni from a very brief marriage turns to her when his parents go missing while on a Christmas cruise in Australia. Unable to locate them using her myriad of contacts, her travel liaison and friend Harriet suggests that Cyd join her on the cruise and they would search for the Manzonis together.
At a moment’s notice with her Balenciaga Weekender bag, Cyd hops a plane only to arrive late for the ship. Harriet has made arrangements for a friend to deliver Cyd to the ocean liner on a helicopter but there is nowhere to land to deliver her. An unceremonious drop off gets Cyd on board and into the arms of a hunky male doctor only to find Harriet quite dead in their room.
Unable to convince the ship’s captain or crew that Harriet was murdered, Cyd goes to great lengths to gather evidence. The morgue is deep in the ship’s bowels which also hold a shipment of methadone headed for a spa/resort known as The Fountains in Hobart as well as an extensive lost and found which holds the Manzoni’s luggage. Cyd dines at the Captain’s Table, meets with the ship’s photographer, discovers the Manzonis won a dance contest and headed for The Fountains. Cyd also runs into Sister Ellery who taught her in elementary school who has left the order only to go on a perpetual cruise rather than enter a retirement home. Sister Ellery announces her engagement to Ron Brazil, one of the ship’s gigolos who Cyd thinks is quite suspicious. She finds a Tasmanian Tiger in his quarters, a species thought to be extinct.
Cyd manages quite easily to find herself caught up in the zany hijinks onboard the Australian cruise ship bound for exotic ports of call. Author Wendall Thomas keeps the action constantly moving forward, drawing all the subplots into the concluding, action-packed chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy of opportunity and errors. Cyd is a resourceful, steadfast friend who just happens to get into situations where things constantly go awry. Cyd manages to make the most of everything and gets the job done and saves the day. Now I’m off to London to read Cyd’s third adventure in FOGGED OFF.
At a moment’s notice with her Balenciaga Weekender bag, Cyd hops a plane only to arrive late for the ship. Harriet has made arrangements for a friend to deliver Cyd to the ocean liner on a helicopter but there is nowhere to land to deliver her. An unceremonious drop off gets Cyd on board and into the arms of a hunky male doctor only to find Harriet quite dead in their room.
Unable to convince the ship’s captain or crew that Harriet was murdered, Cyd goes to great lengths to gather evidence. The morgue is deep in the ship’s bowels which also hold a shipment of methadone headed for a spa/resort known as The Fountains in Hobart as well as an extensive lost and found which holds the Manzoni’s luggage. Cyd dines at the Captain’s Table, meets with the ship’s photographer, discovers the Manzonis won a dance contest and headed for The Fountains. Cyd also runs into Sister Ellery who taught her in elementary school who has left the order only to go on a perpetual cruise rather than enter a retirement home. Sister Ellery announces her engagement to Ron Brazil, one of the ship’s gigolos who Cyd thinks is quite suspicious. She finds a Tasmanian Tiger in his quarters, a species thought to be extinct.
Cyd manages quite easily to find herself caught up in the zany hijinks onboard the Australian cruise ship bound for exotic ports of call. Author Wendall Thomas keeps the action constantly moving forward, drawing all the subplots into the concluding, action-packed chapters. I thoroughly enjoyed this comedy of opportunity and errors. Cyd is a resourceful, steadfast friend who just happens to get into situations where things constantly go awry. Cyd manages to make the most of everything and gets the job done and saves the day. Now I’m off to London to read Cyd’s third adventure in FOGGED OFF.
March 5, 2019
Cyd Redondo is not looking forward to the Christmas holidays since she is persona non grata with her family and the Bay Ridge, Brooklyn residents for her last adventure that led to her Uncle Ray going to prison. Then Cyd's ex-husband Barry asks for her help. His parents have vanished from an Australian cruise. With the help of her friend Harriet Archer, Cyd gets a free cabin aboard the Tasmanian Dream and makes the long distance trip. After missing the ship, Cyd hitches a helicopter ride and makes a dramatic landing on top of the gorgeous ship's doctor. Cyd's reunion with Harriet goes bad when she finds her dead in their cabin. While the cruise staff hurry to cover up the death, Cyd rushes to collect forensic evidence to prove Harriet was murdered.
The search for Barry's parents leads to the Fiuntain, a former insane asylum turned spa where several elderly cruise members have visited. And Ron Brazil, one of the ship's dancers is up to no good. The fate of the last Male Tasmanian tiger is at stake and it's to Cyd and Ron to save him.
This was a hilarious read and another enjoyable book in the Cyd Redondo mystery series.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
The search for Barry's parents leads to the Fiuntain, a former insane asylum turned spa where several elderly cruise members have visited. And Ron Brazil, one of the ship's dancers is up to no good. The fate of the last Male Tasmanian tiger is at stake and it's to Cyd and Ron to save him.
This was a hilarious read and another enjoyable book in the Cyd Redondo mystery series.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.
March 16, 2019
Once again, Wendall Thomas has crafted a laugh-out-loud funny mystery that will have readers learning things along the way. There always seems to be a wildlife angle for Cyd-- by the way I liked finding out what happened to Barry the chameleon from Lost Luggage-- and this time it involves her former teacher, Sister Ellery Magdalene Malcomb, in addition to an international fugitive with more wigs and costume changes than a Las Vegas showgirl, and a Tasmanian Tiger. Never heard of a Tasmanian Tiger? Neither had I. See what I mean about learning stuff?
That's one of the things I like the most about Thomas' writing. Yes, I have a blast laughing my head off, but I also like to learn. In Drowned Under, I not only learned about those tigers, I learned quite a bit about the cruise ship industry, and although I can't say I want to board one any time soon, at least I understand them and the people who frequent them much better.
If you're in the mood to laugh, pick up Drowned Under, and if you haven't had the pleasure of reading Lost Luggage, get your hands on that one, too. And you're not just reading these books to laugh. In both, Thomas has crafted intriguing mysteries to solve with a main character who has to be related to MacGyver. Now all I have wonder about is what my husband is going to say when I tell him that I want a Balenciaga bag personally packed by Cyd Redondo herself?
That's one of the things I like the most about Thomas' writing. Yes, I have a blast laughing my head off, but I also like to learn. In Drowned Under, I not only learned about those tigers, I learned quite a bit about the cruise ship industry, and although I can't say I want to board one any time soon, at least I understand them and the people who frequent them much better.
If you're in the mood to laugh, pick up Drowned Under, and if you haven't had the pleasure of reading Lost Luggage, get your hands on that one, too. And you're not just reading these books to laugh. In both, Thomas has crafted intriguing mysteries to solve with a main character who has to be related to MacGyver. Now all I have wonder about is what my husband is going to say when I tell him that I want a Balenciaga bag personally packed by Cyd Redondo herself?
May 31, 2019
It’s holiday time, and travel agent Cyd Redondo is not looking forward to it at all. Her community of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn believes she helped land her uncle in a minimum-security prison…and that doesn’t exactly help with family relationships either. So, when the opportunity to go on a cruise in Australia to help locate her missing ex in-laws the Mazonis, she jumps at the chance.
Travel complications mean a dramatic arrival on the cruise ship Tasmanian Dream.
Once aboard, she discovers her friend Harriet, who helped coordinate Cyd’s last-minute booking on the cruise ship and who’d started the local legwork on the Mazonis’ last known location, dead in a pool of blood in their cabin. When the ship’s doctor declares it an accident, Cyd isn’t convinced, just as she isn’t convinced Harriet’s death isn’t linked to her ex in-laws’ disappearance.
Along with a murder and a disappearance, Cyd is roped into trying to prevent the theft of the world’s last known male Tasmanian tiger, all without losing her prized Balenciaga tote bag.
Head out on an Aussie adventure with Cyd and discover a quirky, smart, loving heroine who takes on the bad guys in laugh-out-loud scenarios, never giving up on figuring out the answers she needs.
Travel complications mean a dramatic arrival on the cruise ship Tasmanian Dream.
Once aboard, she discovers her friend Harriet, who helped coordinate Cyd’s last-minute booking on the cruise ship and who’d started the local legwork on the Mazonis’ last known location, dead in a pool of blood in their cabin. When the ship’s doctor declares it an accident, Cyd isn’t convinced, just as she isn’t convinced Harriet’s death isn’t linked to her ex in-laws’ disappearance.
Along with a murder and a disappearance, Cyd is roped into trying to prevent the theft of the world’s last known male Tasmanian tiger, all without losing her prized Balenciaga tote bag.
Head out on an Aussie adventure with Cyd and discover a quirky, smart, loving heroine who takes on the bad guys in laugh-out-loud scenarios, never giving up on figuring out the answers she needs.
April 2, 2022
People and "reviewers " on book covers REALLY need to QUIT comparing every half arsed untalented trainwreck to Carl Hiassen. This couldn't kiss his toes in talent or style
(and yes I've read all his books. No I don't like them all ).
As for comparing his dingbat to the Plum character? 1 A few things thats better 1 no imbecile sidekick 2 this character is a little smarter than Plum..but most are .
3 at least the family is kept to a minimum of appearances and actually have Braincells(cant stand plums grandmother)
So yes if I was forced to choose? It's a LITTLE better than the hellicious trainwreck that is the Plum series
BUT I still won't ever read another of these .
Boggles the mind thst every piece of clothing and accessory had to be described in detail. NO ONE care about the brand , or where it was bought, or the price !. (Those asides in paragraphs is most probably a need to make a certain word quota )
Its annoying distracting and throws off the flow of the drunk turtle pace of the weak plot .
Oh and it was not hilarious or even humorous or clever or zany . And her babbling about guys and feminists beyond idiotiNEXT!
(and yes I've read all his books. No I don't like them all ).
As for comparing his dingbat to the Plum character? 1 A few things thats better 1 no imbecile sidekick 2 this character is a little smarter than Plum..but most are .
3 at least the family is kept to a minimum of appearances and actually have Braincells(cant stand plums grandmother)
So yes if I was forced to choose? It's a LITTLE better than the hellicious trainwreck that is the Plum series
BUT I still won't ever read another of these .
Boggles the mind thst every piece of clothing and accessory had to be described in detail. NO ONE care about the brand , or where it was bought, or the price !. (Those asides in paragraphs is most probably a need to make a certain word quota )
Its annoying distracting and throws off the flow of the drunk turtle pace of the weak plot .
Oh and it was not hilarious or even humorous or clever or zany . And her babbling about guys and feminists beyond idiotiNEXT!
dnf
February 10, 2021I hate this woman's writing style. I realized that while reading her first book but I was willing to give it a second chance because I thought my issues were just debut author issues. But my issues remain in this book. I think the author is so in love with her characters in her head that she doesn't really have interest (or maybe the wherewithal) to make sure that her readers can follow along. So many things in this book don't make sense. I'm not interested in cataloguing all of the confusing things but the thing that made me put the book down is when Cyd thinks to herself "thank god I got the new Blackberry Pearl 8100". What? There's been nothing to suggest this book is set in 2006, which is when that phone came out - i know because i looked it up - and I *guess* it could be an inside joke for the author that Cyd is using a 14 year old phone but that's not super clear from the text. I just don't want to work that hard for a book that's supposed to be fun and other reviewers have commented that the mystery is bonkers as well. Pass.
March 20, 2019
What do you do when you dread Christmas - for a whole lot of reasons. Cyd wants to be anyplace for the holiday and, when her ex shows up asking for her help finding his missing parents, the answer drops into Cyd's lap. They have gone missing while on a cruise in Australia and since Cyd is a travel agent, she is ready to go find them. She had no plans to miss the ship, having to board said ship via helicopter and stumble upon a murder. All that follows is pure madcap.
If you are a fan of slap stick humor and travel, give this one a try. Cyd is a bit of a ditz, trouble finds her on a regular basis and you will come away with a whole new way of thinking about going on a cruise. You will want to give it a pass and stay on dry land. I enjoyed it beginning to end. Having said that, this pair (so far) should be read in order because of a spoiler.
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
If you are a fan of slap stick humor and travel, give this one a try. Cyd is a bit of a ditz, trouble finds her on a regular basis and you will come away with a whole new way of thinking about going on a cruise. You will want to give it a pass and stay on dry land. I enjoyed it beginning to end. Having said that, this pair (so far) should be read in order because of a spoiler.
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 12, 2019
Brooklyn travel agent Cyd Redondo and Barry Manzoni were friends forever, until they impulsively got married. That didn't last, but Barry still turns to Cyd when his parents disappear from their Australian cruise. So Cyd finds herself missing her family Christmas and flying to Australia to meet her friend, in charge of customer relations for the cruise line. Unfortunately, Harriet is dead when Cyd gets there. Could the questions she was asking about the Manzonis have caused her death? Is the handsome ship doctor part of a conspiracy? Is that really Sister Ellery, the nun who was Cyd's parochial school teacher, over by the eggnog bar? Just what's going on aboard this ship? Lots of characters, several different plots, a lot of danger for the ever-resourceful Cyd--what's not to like? Perhaps the feeling that this book, like the first in the series, is a little too overloaded with incident.
August 13, 2019
This was fun, just like the first. However, this one left way too many plot threads dangling... and not in a “there will be a sequel” kind of way. The end, with the overly swift wrap up (and the Elliot Ness thread addressed like an afterthought), was disappointing and abrupt. It felt like the author was tired of writing and gathered together the major plot threads and stuffed them in the can. The many questions this resulted in didn’t feel like a cliffhanger, but more like filler along the way to add suspense. (If I was her editor, I would have completely written out the Elliot Ness subplot. It was completely unnecessary.)
November 1, 2021
I really like this author a lot. Very imaginative an interesting stories as well as the characters. Personally I’ve never been outside of the United States and I’m kind of bummed about that. It’s kind of on my bucket list. Anyway hearing some of the stories and references in these books almost makes it feel like I was there. I have to admit that I really didn’t have the culprit pegged until the big reveal. They were a lot of False leads and red herrings and all sorts of things. I was kind of hoping we would see Roger again but no such luck. I’m hoping there’s another installment in the series.
March 10, 2019
I enjoyed the first Cyd Redondo novel but even then I thought it was a bit over the top. Unfortunately, this time out, I found it less amusing and more annoying. Cyd is meant to be a madcap amateur detective/travel agent/advocate for the elderly. She's off to Australia to find her ex's parents but finds her buddy Harriet has been murdered. Once again, an endangered species- this time the Tasmansian tiger- figures in the plot. I wanted so much to like this but it was just exhausting. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
January 31, 2020
A lapsed nun, the last existing male Tanzanian tiger, and a jet-lagged travel agent walk into a cruise ship bar... Not simply the set-up for a good joke, but also for the rip-roaringly fun and funny murder mystery, DROWNED UNDER, second in Wendall Thomas’s Cyd Redondo series. Thomas had me hooked before the end of the first page, and her smart, fast-paced story kept me engaged till the very last one. A big thumbs-up! Bring on number three!
March 18, 2024
Cyd Redondo, Redondo Travel reminds me of The Office when Bob Vance would introduce himself to new people as Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration. The humor here is dry and equal parts Arrested Development and Where'd You Go Bernadette, some will enjoy it and others not at all. Then there's the implausible mystery that is such a bonkers ride as each ridiculous part unfolds. It's a mystery that doesn't take itself too seriously and filled with plenty of characters that are total nutters.
February 16, 2019
What a great discovery, this was the first book I read in this series and very glad I requested it.
It's an entertaining and fun read, full of quirky and likable characters and and enjoyable plot.
The mystery is fast paced and it keeps you guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
It's an entertaining and fun read, full of quirky and likable characters and and enjoyable plot.
The mystery is fast paced and it keeps you guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other installment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC
March 9, 2019
This is a light, humorous, entertaining tale. A wonderful few hours of escapism on a cruise. Obviously not everyone's idea of a good time, but definitely mine. A fun adventure away from reality. Kind of reminds me of Stephanie Plum and her crazy antics. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley.
February 23, 2020
Another romp with Cyd, the most untraveled travel agent in Jersey. This one takes place in Australia, and is another humorous romp of a mystery. If you like light-hearted capers with a layer of real issues, you'll enjoy this one.
May 21, 2024
This book started out great, but then it seemed to get really jumbled up the last two chapters. Lots of action and great characters, so I’m willing to try the next book in the series. Will see if the author redeems herself!
December 3, 2024
I love Cyd Redondo and this series. The action, humor, and abundance of quirky characters, good and bad, is non-stop. Wendall Thomas has created a one of a kind protagonist and delivers another wildly entertaining novel. A pure joy to read.
May 6, 2019
This is an amusing Stephanie Plum-esque little series.
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