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Patricia Fisher Cruise Ship Mysteries #1
The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar
Patricia Fisher is about to find out that fifty-two is the perfect age for an adventure!
When her life is unexpectedly turned upside down, ginaholic housewife, Patricia, doesn’t react as most would. Instead, she empties the bank accounts and jumps on the first cruise ship available – it just happens to be the world’s largest and finest, the Aurelia.
Less than twenty-four hours later, the world throws her the next curveball and so begins a race against time to prove she’s not a killer.
She has help though:
Her butler – his perfect Downton Abbey accent and penchant for folding napkins correctly should be enormously helpful!
A pretty gym instructor – can balanced nutrition and perfect abs keep Patricia out of jail?
Her chances don’t look great, but in our most testing times, we truly find our inner strength. Join Patricia Fisher as she learns that you are never beyond discovering a new version of yourself. The world will always look a little different once you have seen it through Patricia’s eyes.
Praise for the author:
‘Higgs makes everyone and everything come alive!’ – Amazon customer
‘Truly delightful tales of mystery and misadventure.’ – Amazon customer
The Patricia Fisher cozy mysteries are a series of fun, but enthralling tales which you can read without fear of graphic sex, unnecessary cussing or descriptive violence.
When her life is unexpectedly turned upside down, ginaholic housewife, Patricia, doesn’t react as most would. Instead, she empties the bank accounts and jumps on the first cruise ship available – it just happens to be the world’s largest and finest, the Aurelia.
Less than twenty-four hours later, the world throws her the next curveball and so begins a race against time to prove she’s not a killer.
She has help though:
Her butler – his perfect Downton Abbey accent and penchant for folding napkins correctly should be enormously helpful!
A pretty gym instructor – can balanced nutrition and perfect abs keep Patricia out of jail?
Her chances don’t look great, but in our most testing times, we truly find our inner strength. Join Patricia Fisher as she learns that you are never beyond discovering a new version of yourself. The world will always look a little different once you have seen it through Patricia’s eyes.
Praise for the author:
‘Higgs makes everyone and everything come alive!’ – Amazon customer
‘Truly delightful tales of mystery and misadventure.’ – Amazon customer
The Patricia Fisher cozy mysteries are a series of fun, but enthralling tales which you can read without fear of graphic sex, unnecessary cussing or descriptive violence.
222 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2019
2653 people are currently reading
2265 people want to read
About the author
Steve Higgs
541 books794 followersLet's start this off with an invitation to get some FREE books. No, you didn't read that wrong, we are talking about multiple free books. I love giving away free books because once people delve into the fast-paced mystery thrills I write, they go on to buy lots more.
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
All I need from you is an email address to send them to. Here's the link you need - https://mailchi.mp/fd47a6eb4ae5/patri...
When I wrote my first novel, Paranormal Nonsense, I was a Captain in the British Army. I would love to pretend that I had one of those careers that has to be redacted and in general denied by the government and that I have had to change my name and continually move about because I am still on the watch list in several countries. In truth though, I started out as a mechanic. Not like Jason Statham, sneaking about as a contract killer, more like one of those greasy gits that charge you a fortune and keep your car for a week when all you went in for was a squeaky door hinge.
At school, I was mostly disinterested in every subject except creative writing, for which, at age ten, I won my first award. However, calling it my first award suggests that there have been more, which there have not. Accolades may come but, in the meantime, I am having a ball writing mystery stories and crime thrillers and will claim to have more than a hundred books forming an unruly queue in my head as they clamor to get out.
Now retired from the military, I live in the south-east corner of England with a pair of lazy sausage dogs. Surrounded by rolling hills, brooding castles, and vineyards, I doubt I will ever leave, the beer is just too good.
Links:
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Steve-Higgs/...
Website: https://stevehiggsbooks.wordpress.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/stevehiggsau...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 363 reviews
March 3, 2020
I very much enjoyed this mystery....especially how Patricia ends up on the cruise ship in the best suite on the ship. Easy, relaxing and a lot of fun
September 2, 2024
The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar is a different genre than I usually read, but I found it entertaining and hard to put down. It is an English Cozy Mystery, while I usually prefer Mystery Thrillers with hard-boiled detectives.
The Missing Sapphire features Patricia Fisher, a bored English housewife who cleans homes for a living. She catches her husband cheating with her long-time best friend. Not knowing how to cope with this situation, she withdraws all the money from her and her husband’s joint accounts—a considerable sum. Wanting to get away and think things over, she heads towards the nearby port of Southampton. She uses most of the money she withdrew to purchase a ticket on a round-the-world tour in the royal suite of the most opulent cruise ship in the world, the Aurelia, the only cruise ship sailing that day.
The royal suite comprises six rooms and is staffed by a full-time butler. Ms. Fisher is overwhelmed by the events of the day and the money she has spent on this cruise, so she drinks heavily that evening. She is joined in the bar by a charming man, Jack Langley. She drinks until she passes out and awakens the following day in her cabin and finds her rings are missing. She learns where Langley’s stateroom is located and goes to confront him. Security personnel are already in Langley’s cabin, and he has been stabbed to death. The security people had already discovered her purse in Langley’s room and now accused her of murder and confined her to her suite with a guard at her door. When the ship docks at Madeira, she slips past the guard through the butler’s entrance and disembarks the ship to look for a witness to confirm her story. When she returns, she finds the guard has been murdered in her suite, and she is accused of the second murder.
She is assisted by two crew members who risk their jobs to help prove her innocence before she is arrested at the next port-of-call, St. Kitts, in three days.
I give this book five stars. The author creates interesting characters and brings the various situations to life. I’m not sure I’ll read any more books in the series, but this one was enjoyable, and I recommend it to my Goodreads Friends.
The Missing Sapphire features Patricia Fisher, a bored English housewife who cleans homes for a living. She catches her husband cheating with her long-time best friend. Not knowing how to cope with this situation, she withdraws all the money from her and her husband’s joint accounts—a considerable sum. Wanting to get away and think things over, she heads towards the nearby port of Southampton. She uses most of the money she withdrew to purchase a ticket on a round-the-world tour in the royal suite of the most opulent cruise ship in the world, the Aurelia, the only cruise ship sailing that day.
The royal suite comprises six rooms and is staffed by a full-time butler. Ms. Fisher is overwhelmed by the events of the day and the money she has spent on this cruise, so she drinks heavily that evening. She is joined in the bar by a charming man, Jack Langley. She drinks until she passes out and awakens the following day in her cabin and finds her rings are missing. She learns where Langley’s stateroom is located and goes to confront him. Security personnel are already in Langley’s cabin, and he has been stabbed to death. The security people had already discovered her purse in Langley’s room and now accused her of murder and confined her to her suite with a guard at her door. When the ship docks at Madeira, she slips past the guard through the butler’s entrance and disembarks the ship to look for a witness to confirm her story. When she returns, she finds the guard has been murdered in her suite, and she is accused of the second murder.
She is assisted by two crew members who risk their jobs to help prove her innocence before she is arrested at the next port-of-call, St. Kitts, in three days.
I give this book five stars. The author creates interesting characters and brings the various situations to life. I’m not sure I’ll read any more books in the series, but this one was enjoyable, and I recommend it to my Goodreads Friends.
September 21, 2020
This was a cute and fun cozy mystery that kept me turning the pages. I liked Patricia and enjoyed watching her growth as she determined to solve the murder after she had been set up to take the fall. Barbie and Jermaine were great support characters with distinct personalities that fit right in with Patricia. On to the next one in this series.
June 8, 2021
Maybe 2 1/2 stars? I was looking for something light to read on vacation, and .... it was that. It was also predictable (I guessed the killer early on), a bit ridiculous in places, and actually farcical in others.
I did purchase the kindle "boxed set" of the first four books in the series, so I may give Patricia Fisher another chance ... I do hope it gets better.
I did purchase the kindle "boxed set" of the first four books in the series, so I may give Patricia Fisher another chance ... I do hope it gets better.
May 16, 2021
This was a spur of the moment read, unfortunately although I liked the idea, by the fifth chapter I was so fed up with Patricia I couldn’t face anymore.
August 2, 2019
I had taken a break from Cozy mysteries, as they began to run together. Female's life implodes, is left some structure (house, bed and breakfast, bakery, etc.) in some tiny town, with the Male interest some type of law enforcement. Like any other voracious reader, I still check out books that look interesting. I was introduced to Patricia Fisher through Steve Higgs' newsletter. What a way to come back to the genre!
Mr. Higgs managed to create an older female protagonist who acted her age and was still interesting. Her anger, confusion, and grief to catching her husband cheating with her friend was believable and relatable. Wiping out the bank account and going on a cruise was inspired and hilarious.
Patricia is an authentic, engaging, and sympathetic character, an honest voice, even pointing out to herself, and the reader, she had no idea what she was doing, her thoughts pingponging back and forth on her decisions. The strength of her personality drags Jermaine, her butler from her suite, and Barbie, her fitness instructor, along with her as she searches for clues to prove her innocence. The burgeoning friendships between them is as entertaining as it is heartwarming.
Aside from the murder, Mr. Higgs weaves the themes of doing things for yourself and being comfortable with who you are through the story. Patricia changes throughout the book, subtly, and thoughtfully recognizes the shifting of her viewpoint in regards to her situation, and towards the world, as well as how she feels about the changes in herself. She started out changing for Charlie, believing he would want her then. As Jermaine eases her pain, showing her what it's like to have someone do things for her, asking what she wants, Patricia's work with Barbie reminds her of the power of her body. She begins to pay attention to her own wants, and becomes more assertive.
It's going to be fun watching how Patricia, Jermaine, and Barbie grow in the coming books. I look forward to meeting the characters Mr. Higgs introduces next.
Mr. Higgs managed to create an older female protagonist who acted her age and was still interesting. Her anger, confusion, and grief to catching her husband cheating with her friend was believable and relatable. Wiping out the bank account and going on a cruise was inspired and hilarious.
Patricia is an authentic, engaging, and sympathetic character, an honest voice, even pointing out to herself, and the reader, she had no idea what she was doing, her thoughts pingponging back and forth on her decisions. The strength of her personality drags Jermaine, her butler from her suite, and Barbie, her fitness instructor, along with her as she searches for clues to prove her innocence. The burgeoning friendships between them is as entertaining as it is heartwarming.
Aside from the murder, Mr. Higgs weaves the themes of doing things for yourself and being comfortable with who you are through the story. Patricia changes throughout the book, subtly, and thoughtfully recognizes the shifting of her viewpoint in regards to her situation, and towards the world, as well as how she feels about the changes in herself. She started out changing for Charlie, believing he would want her then. As Jermaine eases her pain, showing her what it's like to have someone do things for her, asking what she wants, Patricia's work with Barbie reminds her of the power of her body. She begins to pay attention to her own wants, and becomes more assertive.
It's going to be fun watching how Patricia, Jermaine, and Barbie grow in the coming books. I look forward to meeting the characters Mr. Higgs introduces next.
May 12, 2021
This was a fun, easy book to read, the characters were enjoyable! I look forward to reading more of the Patricia Fisher mysteries.
March 12, 2023
Great read
First time reading a book by this Author. A friend told me about this series. Really enjoyed it. Light funny reading. Looming forward to book 2.
First time reading a book by this Author. A friend told me about this series. Really enjoyed it. Light funny reading. Looming forward to book 2.
October 28, 2019
On catching her husband having sex with her best friend, overweight 52-yr-old Patricia takes off on a cruise. With new found friends, she finds reawakening in trying to solve a crime.
The heroine is just your average housewife who has too long led an unexciting existence. Her partners are a Barbie Doll personal trainer who plays her coquettish role to the hilt and an overly unctuous gay butler with hidden talents. They both torture Patricia in their own funny ways and they become a great amateur trio.
There is so much British wit. So it's half Agatha Christie and half *A Comedy of Errors.* Very funny throughout, yet still there's the tension of the chase.
The author stays focused. No distractions, no bogus suspects. All leads to a satisfying conclusion.
Reading level: easy. Rating: PG-13.
The heroine is just your average housewife who has too long led an unexciting existence. Her partners are a Barbie Doll personal trainer who plays her coquettish role to the hilt and an overly unctuous gay butler with hidden talents. They both torture Patricia in their own funny ways and they become a great amateur trio.
There is so much British wit. So it's half Agatha Christie and half *A Comedy of Errors.* Very funny throughout, yet still there's the tension of the chase.
The author stays focused. No distractions, no bogus suspects. All leads to a satisfying conclusion.
Reading level: easy. Rating: PG-13.
March 24, 2025
Fifty-something Patricia Fisher catches her husband canoodling with her best friend, takes all of the money out of their bank accounts, and goes on a cruise.
Of course, she has to clear her name from a murder on board.
A good debut, if predictable.
Of course, she has to clear her name from a murder on board.
A good debut, if predictable.
September 26, 2020
2020 bk 320. When Patricia Fisher learns of her husband's infedility, she leaves, after first moving their joint accounts into her own account. This enables her to purchase a ticket for one of the luxury cabins on a 'round the world' cruise. Sounds like a good way to retreat from a horrible situation, doesn't it. But Patricia lands almost immediately in trouble when she is accused of a jewel thief's death and confined to her cabin by the nasty head of security. I picked this up based on the interest by fellow good reader Trish and I am glad I did. The writing isn't as sophisticated as some of the other authors I read, but this is a good beach read or mystery for when you want something shorter to read. It was well-plotted enough that I've purchased the next two in the series.
April 5, 2024
The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar is the first book in the Patricia Fisher Cruise Ship Mysteries series. After walking in on her husband cheating on her with her best friend, Patricia Fisher empties their bank accounts and jumps on the majestic Auralia, only to find herself accused of murder when her first night dining companian, a self-proclaimed jewel thief, is found dead. An entertaining and fun mystery. I enjoyed seeing Patricia transform herself, becoming more determined and forthright in the process as well as becoming healthier and fitter. Her two assistants, Barbie and Jermaine were a lot of fun, both with their own talents. Very entertaining and enjoyable.
October 11, 2021
Enjoyed this cozy mystery - relaxing and fun to read - interesting characters - Book #1 in the Patricia Fisher Cruise Mysteries
March 2, 2022
Fun
A mystery with comedy and watching a not so in her prime neglected wife discover herself. Clean and worth the read!
A mystery with comedy and watching a not so in her prime neglected wife discover herself. Clean and worth the read!
December 13, 2024
genre: cozy mystery, humor
I should have saved this one to read on my next criuse. It was light and cute, but I kinda wanted more from it. The MC is my age and I guess I was hoping to connect with her more. She definitely had a penchant for finding trouble.
Synopsis: Patricia has discovered her husband cheating on her with her best friend (this is sooo my least favorite trope and it was not mentioned in the official blurb). Instead of confronting them, she goes home, packs a bag, cleans out her bank account and signs up for an around the world cruise in the most expensive suite. She's going to meet new people, have fun, forget the trainwreck of her old life and become someone new. Unfortunately, she finds herself accused of murder and theft and she's only managed to be-friend the suite butler and an over-enthusiastic personal trainer.
I should have saved this one to read on my next criuse. It was light and cute, but I kinda wanted more from it. The MC is my age and I guess I was hoping to connect with her more. She definitely had a penchant for finding trouble.
Synopsis: Patricia has discovered her husband cheating on her with her best friend (this is sooo my least favorite trope and it was not mentioned in the official blurb). Instead of confronting them, she goes home, packs a bag, cleans out her bank account and signs up for an around the world cruise in the most expensive suite. She's going to meet new people, have fun, forget the trainwreck of her old life and become someone new. Unfortunately, she finds herself accused of murder and theft and she's only managed to be-friend the suite butler and an over-enthusiastic personal trainer.
August 20, 2019
Some characters you just take to and I liked Patricia right from the start and was willing her onto the cruise ship.
She didn’t let me down throughout the rest of the book despite all the trials and tribulations she faced.
She is not super human or possesses extraordinary skills which is her main attraction. She comes over as ordinary as the woman next door just caught up in something. I enjoyed the everyday relatability of the story (not that I’ve ever been on a cruise).
This would make an entertaining tv series rather like an older Agatha Raisin. No graphic violence or sex scenes so you could safely watch it with your Granny.
I’m looking forward to the second book in the series. Read this and you will too.
She didn’t let me down throughout the rest of the book despite all the trials and tribulations she faced.
She is not super human or possesses extraordinary skills which is her main attraction. She comes over as ordinary as the woman next door just caught up in something. I enjoyed the everyday relatability of the story (not that I’ve ever been on a cruise).
This would make an entertaining tv series rather like an older Agatha Raisin. No graphic violence or sex scenes so you could safely watch it with your Granny.
I’m looking forward to the second book in the series. Read this and you will too.
November 3, 2019
This was an entertaining cozy mystery. I liked Patricia, Jermaine, and Barbie. They made an unlikely trio but somehow it worked. I do find it a bit odd that Jermaine and Barbie were willing to risk their jobs for a woman they just met but oh, well...stranger things have happened. Patricia grew and evolved as a person even though the story only covered 5 days. I liked that she began to see she had worth no matter what she weighed. There were plenty of twists to hold my attention. I had the culprit figured out but it didn't detract from the story. I like the idea of the series taking place on a cruise ship because that lends itself to an ever-changing cast of characters. I look forward to reading more of the series.
June 6, 2021
Patricia just caught her husband cheating with her best friend, leaving her stunned, revolted, and betrayed. What to do? Clean out his bank account and go on a cruise, of course. Yes, a 3-month cruise around the world in the royal suite would be a lot of money, but what choice did she have? She was a 52-year old overweight lady with no children, no career, no home to go back to, and a marriage on the rocks. Sure, take a trip around the world (I wish I could.)
But boat life can be kind of dull. The character was mostly wallowing in misery. The case was also a little too complex for a cozy mystery. Didn’t really get into it.
But boat life can be kind of dull. The character was mostly wallowing in misery. The case was also a little too complex for a cozy mystery. Didn’t really get into it.
June 30, 2020
Really nothing to recommend this book. A female character (always dangerous for a male to write) with virtually no personality, solves a crime against all odds with no skills. Of course she has unlikely allies who, whenever the need arises show exceptional skills. The plot was okay, but the lead was boring and 84.6% of her acts to solve the crime were unlikely. Maybe the series gets better, but I'm not inspired to try and find out
November 25, 2021
It was a fun and easy read of a woman scorned but finding herself while she tries to clear her name from theft and murder. I enjoyed the book and now I'm on my way to read the second one in the series. This can also be a stand alone book.
December 22, 2019
It was a nice quick read, but not nearly as good as the Blue Moon series IMO.
as an aside: Mr. Higgs seems terribly obsessed with healthy eating!
as an aside: Mr. Higgs seems terribly obsessed with healthy eating!
June 24, 2024
Great new series to read. And coming from a fellow cruiser, a great series to pass along to friends.
February 10, 2025
This was a quick read. I loved seeing Patricia find herself and want to see how she continues to change. There seems to be lots of potential here. The story was good with an exciting finish.
December 10, 2025
Cute. "Cozy mystery" .
Fun.
I was somewhat disappointed by the narrator. The character is described as a 50+ overweight woman but the narrator sounded much younger and way too "bubbly".
I just got the second book in the series, and the new narrator sounds much more appropriate .
The series was marketed to fans of Janet Evanich as "if Grandma Mazur had her own book series". It also reminded me of some Dave Barry's books.
This series is not quite as hilarious as the twoni mentioned but still a good escapist entertainment.
Fun.
I was somewhat disappointed by the narrator. The character is described as a 50+ overweight woman but the narrator sounded much younger and way too "bubbly".
I just got the second book in the series, and the new narrator sounds much more appropriate .
The series was marketed to fans of Janet Evanich as "if Grandma Mazur had her own book series". It also reminded me of some Dave Barry's books.
This series is not quite as hilarious as the twoni mentioned but still a good escapist entertainment.
September 4, 2023
I began to read the book, then looked at the online reviews. I was tempted to quit because of some of the low ones but decided to finish it. I should have followed their advice.
Patricia Fisher had married Charlie when she was nineteen years old. He had a good job and she did part-time housework. Because she had suffered several miscarriages, she had no children. She was now fifty two years old, with no real career and overweight. One morning, she went to get her longtime best friend to go to an appointment. When she got to her friend’s house, she found out that she had the wrong day for the appointment and her best friend and Charlie had been having an affair for a long time.
She rushed back home, trying to figure out what to do next. She decided that she would go on a cruise, to get away. She packed a few suitcases, got into her old, beat up car, (Charlie had a nice, newer one), withdrew all the money in their bank accounts, and went to the pier to get on the next ship to anywhere. The first one was a round-the-world tour (with the option of leaving at one of the ports). The ship had twenty levels and a staff of more than 2,000 people. But she was told there were no rooms available. (Hint: They are called cabins, not rooms.) The agent finally said there was only one, an eight-room suite, with a butler, on the upper, royal deck, but she realized they didn’t think she could afford it. It cost almost all of the money, but she said she want to take it.
When the ship personnel realized where she was staying, their attitude quickly changed.
That evening, she was sitting and drinking in a bar when a good looking man came an sat down next to her. He bought her more drinks while telling her that he was a jewel thief. She didn’t believe him. She didn’t remember going back to her room but, when she woke the next morning, she was in her cabin but her purse and their belongings were missing. She went to his cabin only to find his body.
The second-in-command officer quickly accused her of murdering him and told her to stay in her cabin until they made port five days later, when she would be arrested. She told him another man had been following and spying on her. He didn’t care.
The only people with whom she had personal contact were her full-time butler and an exercise coach whom she was hoping would help her get into shape. The guards outside the door were not there to relate with her.
The remainder of the book is how she went about clearing her name, with the help of the butler and exercise trainer. For some reason, the guards didn’t know the suite had two doors. There is another murder, again she is blamed. The real villain is obvious early on.
The characters are stereotypes. The situation is unrealistic. The best parts are when Patricia is able to learn who she really is and what she is capable of doing on her own.
Patricia Fisher had married Charlie when she was nineteen years old. He had a good job and she did part-time housework. Because she had suffered several miscarriages, she had no children. She was now fifty two years old, with no real career and overweight. One morning, she went to get her longtime best friend to go to an appointment. When she got to her friend’s house, she found out that she had the wrong day for the appointment and her best friend and Charlie had been having an affair for a long time.
She rushed back home, trying to figure out what to do next. She decided that she would go on a cruise, to get away. She packed a few suitcases, got into her old, beat up car, (Charlie had a nice, newer one), withdrew all the money in their bank accounts, and went to the pier to get on the next ship to anywhere. The first one was a round-the-world tour (with the option of leaving at one of the ports). The ship had twenty levels and a staff of more than 2,000 people. But she was told there were no rooms available. (Hint: They are called cabins, not rooms.) The agent finally said there was only one, an eight-room suite, with a butler, on the upper, royal deck, but she realized they didn’t think she could afford it. It cost almost all of the money, but she said she want to take it.
When the ship personnel realized where she was staying, their attitude quickly changed.
That evening, she was sitting and drinking in a bar when a good looking man came an sat down next to her. He bought her more drinks while telling her that he was a jewel thief. She didn’t believe him. She didn’t remember going back to her room but, when she woke the next morning, she was in her cabin but her purse and their belongings were missing. She went to his cabin only to find his body.
The second-in-command officer quickly accused her of murdering him and told her to stay in her cabin until they made port five days later, when she would be arrested. She told him another man had been following and spying on her. He didn’t care.
The only people with whom she had personal contact were her full-time butler and an exercise coach whom she was hoping would help her get into shape. The guards outside the door were not there to relate with her.
The remainder of the book is how she went about clearing her name, with the help of the butler and exercise trainer. For some reason, the guards didn’t know the suite had two doors. There is another murder, again she is blamed. The real villain is obvious early on.
The characters are stereotypes. The situation is unrealistic. The best parts are when Patricia is able to learn who she really is and what she is capable of doing on her own.
March 12, 2020
I bought this book as a set of the first four Patricia Fischer Cozy Mysteries, but I want to review each one after I read it.
A new life begins for Patricia Fisher when she finds out that her husband has been sleeping with her best friend.
Patricia’s husband is an accountant and says he doe enough of that at work, so Patricia is in charge of their banking and saving accounts. So she removes all the money from their joint account and creates an account just in her name. She figures this is the best form of revenge she could do.
She packs up three suitcases and gets in her car and starts driving. She has always wanted to go on a cruise, but he husband hasn’t. So she drive down to the port where ships leave from and come back to. There is one that is loading now and she thinks it would be great to go on it. There is a little office off to the side of the parking lot that has a sign saying they sell cruise tickets, she goes in and they tell her they only have one room available and that it is probably the most expensive one. She asks what it would cost to cruise around the world on it, and it would take almost all the money she has, so she walks out. She then decides she deserves it and goes back in and gets the ticket. She is having trouble getting her suitcases onboard and she meets the captain and shows him her ticket and he gets two guys to get her luggage and he escorts her to her room. Which isn’t just a room but has a kitchen and has a butler who sleeps in the next bedroom and he is only her butler.
She then goes down to the bar to have a drink, gin and tonic. She has more than one then another man offers to buy her a drink and he gets a champagne bottle. Well Patricia has become quite Gypsy so the man she was sitting with Jack, escorts her back to her room, but not before he tells her he is a jewel thief. Once he gets her back to her suite, she assumes he leaves, because she falls asleep immediately. When she wakes up she realizes her purse is gone and it had her wedding rings in it. She gets her butler to go with her to Jack’s room. When they get there Jack is dead in the floor with a knife in his back. Just as they start to leave to go tell the Captain, the deputy captain, Mr. Schoomer shows up declares the room a crime science and that Patricia is the killer. He puts her under “suite” arrest except to go to the gym with Barbie to exercise. I don’t want to give anything away so I am not telling any more about the book, but this new cozy mystery series is fun and shows that us older women can do more than we are given credit for. I LOVED the book and will be reading the next one soon. I am trying to rotate between 4-5 books or series, so I will be jumping back and forth between them, but I will review each book as soon after reading it that I can. Everyone should really enjoy reading this book.
A new life begins for Patricia Fisher when she finds out that her husband has been sleeping with her best friend.
Patricia’s husband is an accountant and says he doe enough of that at work, so Patricia is in charge of their banking and saving accounts. So she removes all the money from their joint account and creates an account just in her name. She figures this is the best form of revenge she could do.
She packs up three suitcases and gets in her car and starts driving. She has always wanted to go on a cruise, but he husband hasn’t. So she drive down to the port where ships leave from and come back to. There is one that is loading now and she thinks it would be great to go on it. There is a little office off to the side of the parking lot that has a sign saying they sell cruise tickets, she goes in and they tell her they only have one room available and that it is probably the most expensive one. She asks what it would cost to cruise around the world on it, and it would take almost all the money she has, so she walks out. She then decides she deserves it and goes back in and gets the ticket. She is having trouble getting her suitcases onboard and she meets the captain and shows him her ticket and he gets two guys to get her luggage and he escorts her to her room. Which isn’t just a room but has a kitchen and has a butler who sleeps in the next bedroom and he is only her butler.
She then goes down to the bar to have a drink, gin and tonic. She has more than one then another man offers to buy her a drink and he gets a champagne bottle. Well Patricia has become quite Gypsy so the man she was sitting with Jack, escorts her back to her room, but not before he tells her he is a jewel thief. Once he gets her back to her suite, she assumes he leaves, because she falls asleep immediately. When she wakes up she realizes her purse is gone and it had her wedding rings in it. She gets her butler to go with her to Jack’s room. When they get there Jack is dead in the floor with a knife in his back. Just as they start to leave to go tell the Captain, the deputy captain, Mr. Schoomer shows up declares the room a crime science and that Patricia is the killer. He puts her under “suite” arrest except to go to the gym with Barbie to exercise. I don’t want to give anything away so I am not telling any more about the book, but this new cozy mystery series is fun and shows that us older women can do more than we are given credit for. I LOVED the book and will be reading the next one soon. I am trying to rotate between 4-5 books or series, so I will be jumping back and forth between them, but I will review each book as soon after reading it that I can. Everyone should really enjoy reading this book.
June 26, 2025
What a surprise!
I have seen Patricia Fisher books, maybe ive read one, but at that time, i had different ideas of what i wanted to read. So, i took the opportunity offered, and read this one. I was gripped by the story, the adventure, but mostly Patricia. I loved every page! I recommend this book. Off i go now forward to book two, etc, etc.
I have seen Patricia Fisher books, maybe ive read one, but at that time, i had different ideas of what i wanted to read. So, i took the opportunity offered, and read this one. I was gripped by the story, the adventure, but mostly Patricia. I loved every page! I recommend this book. Off i go now forward to book two, etc, etc.
May 10, 2020
Spoiler Alert!
Patricia Fisher catches her husband cheating on her with her best friend. She drains their bank account and drives to Southhampton to hop on the first available ship. The only room available is an 8 room suite on the world's biggest and most luxurious ship.
On her very first night on board she gets drunk and meets a man who claims to be a jewel thief. When she awakens the next morning with a severe hangover she realizes her purse is missing and with the help of her gay Jamaican butler Jermaine and his friend Barbie (who helps Patricia get into shape through exercise and diet) she finds the supposed thief's cabin only to find he has been murdered. Patricia ends up under house arrest in her suite but once again with the help of her new friends she escapes to find the murderer.
Once the jewel thief is caught, the handsome captain not only tells Patricia that she will be refunded the entire cost of the 3 month cruise, but that there is a $500,000 reward for the return of the jewel.
She shares the windfall with Jermaine, Barbie (her fitness trainer) and the insurance recovery specialist. As she gives away more than half of her recovery reward, it will be interesting to see how she manages to keep living a life of luxury.
I enjoyed this book mainly because of the cruise ship background. It will be interesting to see what other perks she will receive for being in the Windsor suite, such as the limo that she is given whenever in port.
The one thing that made me laugh was when Patricia was told that as a suite passenger she was entitled to two free meals a day. Only two? LOL
When the ship arrives in St Kitts, where she expects to disembark and return home to try to work things out with Charles or possibly have him join her on the ship if he is willing (he has always refused her wish to cruise and gone to the same place every year), her husband does not recognize the new, improved her and she hops into the limo and heads back to the ship to resume her cruise.
Will Patricia get together with the handsome captain?
Patricia Fisher catches her husband cheating on her with her best friend. She drains their bank account and drives to Southhampton to hop on the first available ship. The only room available is an 8 room suite on the world's biggest and most luxurious ship.
On her very first night on board she gets drunk and meets a man who claims to be a jewel thief. When she awakens the next morning with a severe hangover she realizes her purse is missing and with the help of her gay Jamaican butler Jermaine and his friend Barbie (who helps Patricia get into shape through exercise and diet) she finds the supposed thief's cabin only to find he has been murdered. Patricia ends up under house arrest in her suite but once again with the help of her new friends she escapes to find the murderer.
Once the jewel thief is caught, the handsome captain not only tells Patricia that she will be refunded the entire cost of the 3 month cruise, but that there is a $500,000 reward for the return of the jewel.
She shares the windfall with Jermaine, Barbie (her fitness trainer) and the insurance recovery specialist. As she gives away more than half of her recovery reward, it will be interesting to see how she manages to keep living a life of luxury.
I enjoyed this book mainly because of the cruise ship background. It will be interesting to see what other perks she will receive for being in the Windsor suite, such as the limo that she is given whenever in port.
The one thing that made me laugh was when Patricia was told that as a suite passenger she was entitled to two free meals a day. Only two? LOL
When the ship arrives in St Kitts, where she expects to disembark and return home to try to work things out with Charles or possibly have him join her on the ship if he is willing (he has always refused her wish to cruise and gone to the same place every year), her husband does not recognize the new, improved her and she hops into the limo and heads back to the ship to resume her cruise.
Will Patricia get together with the handsome captain?
June 18, 2025
What a fun and interesting read!! I enjoyed this a whole lot more than I thought I would and am ready to read the other entries in this series!! Love the characters and even though I knew who the bad guy was I still really enjoyed Patricia's relentless pursuit of the truth!! Kudos Steve and thanks for the fun and wild ride!!!!
March 12, 2024
Rounding up some because it was a 2.5/2.75 if I'm honest. It's a very fast read and not overly complicated and definitely fits the motif of "cozy mystery but make it a cruise ship." Middle aged housewife Patricia gets her start in a very rough way in this first book of a series, ending up on the cruise ship after catching her husband of many decades cheating on her with her best friend, also of many decades. So understandably there is a fair bit of angst at the start which quickly converts to anger and frustration and bewilderment as she is next accused of murder (multiple times!) and being a jewel thief. What's a woman to do? Obviously team up with her assigned butler and gym instructor and solve the mystery!
In a lot of ways, this is a cute book. It's fast and Patricia is sometimes a complete doll and her new friends, Barbie and Jermaine, have delightful moments. The premise is unique and a cruise ship is kind of like a really big locked room in some way. But, in other ways, this book just misses the mark. For one thing, you know Who Done It or, at least, Who Is Leading It pretty quickly after you dismiss a red herring or two. Hint - if you want the bad guy to be a surprise, don't go so terribly out of your way to make him the Worst Human Ever. Seriously. I either demanded he be the villian or else end up overboard and chewed up by the propellor. You had to suspend a fair bit of disbelief to allow him his ruse. For another thing, if I had to hear about Patricia's waistline again... I was going to go off and vengefully eat a sleeve of Thin Mints. (You can really kind of tell this is written by a man at points, sheesh.)
In a lot of ways, this is a cute book. It's fast and Patricia is sometimes a complete doll and her new friends, Barbie and Jermaine, have delightful moments. The premise is unique and a cruise ship is kind of like a really big locked room in some way. But, in other ways, this book just misses the mark. For one thing, you know Who Done It or, at least, Who Is Leading It pretty quickly after you dismiss a red herring or two. Hint - if you want the bad guy to be a surprise, don't go so terribly out of your way to make him the Worst Human Ever. Seriously. I either demanded he be the villian or else end up overboard and chewed up by the propellor. You had to suspend a fair bit of disbelief to allow him his ruse. For another thing, if I had to hear about Patricia's waistline again... I was going to go off and vengefully eat a sleeve of Thin Mints. (You can really kind of tell this is written by a man at points, sheesh.)
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