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Ellie Tappet Cruise Ship Mystery #3
The Case of the Floating Funeral
Wealthy entrepreneur and famed gambler Morgan Picklewick is dead, and his family and friends are coming aboard the S.V. Adventurous Spirit for the memorial service at sea. As the ship heads to sunny South America, Morgan's heirs will scatter his ashes in the deep blue waters of the Panama Canal. But not everything is as it seems. Morgan's business partner and friend, Roberta Crowley, strongly suspects that he was murdered by one of his children.
Did one of Morgan's children kill their father to avoid being disinherited? As Ellie mingles with the mourners, it seems everyone is hiding a motive or two. Perhaps one of his wealthy business partners saw an opportunity to take a bigger piece of the pie? And what about his ex-wife? Is her diva-like behavior covering a guilty conscience? As Morgan's heirs prepare to seize their father's stake in the cruise line, with devastating consequences for the crew, Roberta gives Ellie her most difficult assignment yet: Identify Morgan's killer before the crew is torn apart and scattered to the four winds, forever.
Did one of Morgan's children kill their father to avoid being disinherited? As Ellie mingles with the mourners, it seems everyone is hiding a motive or two. Perhaps one of his wealthy business partners saw an opportunity to take a bigger piece of the pie? And what about his ex-wife? Is her diva-like behavior covering a guilty conscience? As Morgan's heirs prepare to seize their father's stake in the cruise line, with devastating consequences for the crew, Roberta gives Ellie her most difficult assignment yet: Identify Morgan's killer before the crew is torn apart and scattered to the four winds, forever.
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 1, 2021
60 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Cheri Baker
18 books44 followersHello everyone. I'm Cheri Baker, an author, primarily of mystery and suspense, based out of Seattle, WA.
I'm an avid reader who enjoys coffee, mysteries, science fiction, terrible monster movies, and hanging out with friends and family.
Thanks for visiting my page on Goodreads!
Website: https://www.cheribaker.com
My mailing list: http://www.cheribaker.com/news
My blog: http://www.cheribaker.com/blog
I'm an avid reader who enjoys coffee, mysteries, science fiction, terrible monster movies, and hanging out with friends and family.
Thanks for visiting my page on Goodreads!
Website: https://www.cheribaker.com
My mailing list: http://www.cheribaker.com/news
My blog: http://www.cheribaker.com/blog
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 9, 2020
This cruise ship cozy mystery is an easy and quick story to escape in. You sail with Ellie Tappet, always caring, helpful, wise, and observant. And throw in tenacious for good measure. She has a knack for persisting, while her patience is tested, and persevering to solve "whodunnit."
Author, Cheri Baker, keeps you guessing along the way. This book 3 in the series is her most ambitious. Descriptions have just enough detail to pull you in, and dialogue is fitting. But with the high stakes of the pretzel twist plot, emotions run high. This creates very heated exchanges and monologues! Some of the best in the series.
Some supporting characters, you'll like. Others, not so much. They're fleshed out in believable fashion. Floating Funeral, best read after book 2 (Karaoke Killer), delivers a complex mystery reveal - people and relationships are messy. It satisfies and surprises. The ending wrap-up is also well done.
My only knocks against the story are minor. A few plot points were a little hard to accept. Ellie made some decisions that were difficult; I was surprised she made certain choices. Yet they were believable enough. She was between a rock and a hard place at one point, and I have come to appreciate how the plot point forced me to think harder about what the right choice really was.
I recommend this as a good read. Take a break from Netflix and spend a cozy weekend enjoying it.
For my full review, check out my blog at Jason Journals:
https://jasonjournals.com/2020/07/08/...
Author, Cheri Baker, keeps you guessing along the way. This book 3 in the series is her most ambitious. Descriptions have just enough detail to pull you in, and dialogue is fitting. But with the high stakes of the pretzel twist plot, emotions run high. This creates very heated exchanges and monologues! Some of the best in the series.
Some supporting characters, you'll like. Others, not so much. They're fleshed out in believable fashion. Floating Funeral, best read after book 2 (Karaoke Killer), delivers a complex mystery reveal - people and relationships are messy. It satisfies and surprises. The ending wrap-up is also well done.
My only knocks against the story are minor. A few plot points were a little hard to accept. Ellie made some decisions that were difficult; I was surprised she made certain choices. Yet they were believable enough. She was between a rock and a hard place at one point, and I have come to appreciate how the plot point forced me to think harder about what the right choice really was.
I recommend this as a good read. Take a break from Netflix and spend a cozy weekend enjoying it.
For my full review, check out my blog at Jason Journals:
https://jasonjournals.com/2020/07/08/...
June 27, 2021
Fun, but some preposterous situations. If you apply Aristotle's "Willing suspension of disbelief" to incidents in Cheri Baker's books, you have good beach reads. Ellie Tappet, a older widow, finds a new life and new love in this series. Having been on many cruises, I enjoy the series for the memories of crazy cruise activities, port sightseeing, relaxation and pampering. Enjoyable but if you are expecting great writing, you'll be disappointed.
June 28, 2020
The series may never win an award for fine literature, but I love it. Love the ship setting, and in Book 3 I got to revisit a couple of my favourite ports, Cartagena and Panama. Too bad I was unable to visit Santa Marta (home of Carlos Vives!) in my own travels.
I look forward to reading #4 and seeing where the future takes Ellie.
I look forward to reading #4 and seeing where the future takes Ellie.
September 7, 2020
Out of Control
The plot was so devious one would never guess what might happen next. The fact that Ellie was able to detect the murderer was fantastic The bad attitude of
the siblings then waffling of Roberta and the anger of the. Security Chief and the resignation of Ellie all contributed to make a great read
The plot was so devious one would never guess what might happen next. The fact that Ellie was able to detect the murderer was fantastic The bad attitude of
the siblings then waffling of Roberta and the anger of the. Security Chief and the resignation of Ellie all contributed to make a great read
October 26, 2020
Ellie takes on a real challenge this time
Travelling the world as a cruise ship crew member has its perques, but it can also open the door to perplexing mysteries. Ellie has her work cut out for her as she risks friendships as well as other, more serious "things" as she tries to figure everything out. Recommended
Travelling the world as a cruise ship crew member has its perques, but it can also open the door to perplexing mysteries. Ellie has her work cut out for her as she risks friendships as well as other, more serious "things" as she tries to figure everything out. Recommended
August 29, 2022
The 3rd in the series of cozy mysteries set on a cruise ship. A bit far fetched in places but a good read with a great story, snarky humour and good characters. Easily read in a few hours the books are a bit addictive, I can't put them down.
The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.
The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.
July 5, 2021
Loved it
Delightful easy read but unexpected turns and disguises. Each book in this series gets better and better as the main characters developed more and you love most of them, throw in some new faces and interesting developments and you have an awesome book.
Delightful easy read but unexpected turns and disguises. Each book in this series gets better and better as the main characters developed more and you love most of them, throw in some new faces and interesting developments and you have an awesome book.
September 3, 2021
Looking past the disguise
Another enjoyable story. The characters work well together. Unlike some series, you can’t help but like all the characters. Looking forward to the next book.
Another enjoyable story. The characters work well together. Unlike some series, you can’t help but like all the characters. Looking forward to the next book.
September 21, 2021
Good
I like this series. A fiesta widowed woman on a cruise…what could possibly go wrong. Toss in a funeral at sea with a man that is not dead…or is he. Can’t wait for the next one
I like this series. A fiesta widowed woman on a cruise…what could possibly go wrong. Toss in a funeral at sea with a man that is not dead…or is he. Can’t wait for the next one
May 23, 2020
Dream Job❣️ Exactly what I need❣️
Definitely binge-worthy❣️ Oh how I'd love to work on a beautiful cruise ship❣️ Any chance🐿️🙏
Definitely binge-worthy❣️ Oh how I'd love to work on a beautiful cruise ship❣️ Any chance🐿️🙏
September 24, 2020
Absolutely loved it!
I’m so sad that I have to wait for the next book—I read all three of Ellie’s adventures in a row and now I’m going to miss the characters and mysteries!
I’m so sad that I have to wait for the next book—I read all three of Ellie’s adventures in a row and now I’m going to miss the characters and mysteries!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews