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Regan Reilly Mysteries # 9.5
La Croisière de Noël
Mary Higgins Clark et sa fille Carol vous accueillent à bord du Royal Mermaid. Comme Alvirah Meehan et Regan Reilly, leurs héroïnes préférées, vous ne risquez pas d’oublier cette croisière de Noël. Disparitions, menaces, détournements... Le voyage s’annonce mouvementé !
Sens de l’intrigue, rebondissements inattendus, humour : les deux reines du suspense vous souhaitent un Noël plein de frissons...
Sens de l’intrigue, rebondissements inattendus, humour : les deux reines du suspense vous souhaitent un Noël plein de frissons...
309 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 14, 2006
429 people are currently reading
3514 people want to read
About the author
Mary Higgins Clark
630 books13.5k followersThe #1 New York Times bestselling author Mary Higgins Clark has written thirty-eight suspense novels, four collections of short stories, a historical novel, a memoir, and two children’s books. With bestselling author Alafair Burke she wrote the Under Suspicion series. With her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, she has coauthored five more suspense novels. Her sister-in-law is the also author Mary Jane Clark.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
Clark’s books have sold more than 100 million copies in the United States alone. Her books are beloved around the world and made her an international bestseller many times over.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 699 reviews
December 9, 2023
I've read several books in the Regan Reilly Mysteries Series, but they have been all out of order. Even after vowing not to do that here I am, doing just that. In my defense, I wanted a Christmas audio book and this one is on my Christmas Shelf and was available at my library. Win-Win. Except it's out of order for my reading in this series. But a cozy Christmas mystery is good no matter when. This turned out to be quite the maiden voyage for the refurbished cruise ship. I listened to the audio performed by Carol Higgins Clark and the only thing I've got to say is: Don't quit your day job.
When Alvirah Meehan, lottery winner and amateur sleuth, joins forces with Regan Reilly, her husband Jack and Regan's mother and father, you can bet there will be a mystery afloat on the Royal Mermaid. I'm sure if a mystery didn't present itself on board, this group would have gone in search of one. Alvirah won the Santa Cruise at a charity auction and through a mix up is gifted with two other cabins for the cruise. Throw in a bunch of Santas, a mystery book club and escaped felons and you have the makings for a delightful holiday read.
When Alvirah Meehan, lottery winner and amateur sleuth, joins forces with Regan Reilly, her husband Jack and Regan's mother and father, you can bet there will be a mystery afloat on the Royal Mermaid. I'm sure if a mystery didn't present itself on board, this group would have gone in search of one. Alvirah won the Santa Cruise at a charity auction and through a mix up is gifted with two other cabins for the cruise. Throw in a bunch of Santas, a mystery book club and escaped felons and you have the makings for a delightful holiday read.
November 13, 2008
Mary Higgins Clark is my 'go-to' author when I need a read to distract me, not necessarily to make me think. A friend has noted, she does not write good literature, but she spins a good yarn. This book is about a 'do-gooders' cruise given by a cruise ship owner trying to drum of business for his fledgling cruise ship. From the get-go things go wrong. His nephew (an 'officer' on the ship) is stowing away two dangerous fugitives, a member of the waitstaff jumps overboard to avoid being arrested, storms...etc. Nothing can go right. In the middle of everything is a man planning a heist. It certainly had the makings of a good mystery, but this story, in my opinion, falls flat. I checked it out because I am a cruise junkie. This story is predictable and the characters are annoying. This was the first MHC book I have read that she wrote with her daughter. I don't know that I'll be checking out another. I much prefer her older mysteries. In the end, it did keep me distracted and it was a quick read, but it wasn't really all that great.
August 9, 2015
Not a huge fan of Mary Higgins Clark. Doesn't seem to be a lot of research in her books. A woman shows up for a freebie cruise and gets two other couples on uninvited. I don't think so. The whole 'mystery' has too many improbable points to list.
March 12, 2017
Not so great of a book even as a quick holiday read. If this was my first Mary Higgins Clark, I probably would not pick up another. I do like her under suspicion series.
December 8, 2021
2,5 estrellas. No me ha enganchado mucho este libro. Es entretenido, pero para pasar el rato y ya está. En dos meses ya ni me acordaré de lo que trataba.
Es fácil de leer.
Es fácil de leer.
April 30, 2011
As far as mystery books go, it had an interesting twist, especially since they were out at sea while this was all going on. Certain mystery books thrill you though, and make you want to re-read them to see what clues were written and you just skipped over. Unfortunately, that was not the case with "Santa Cruise". It is intersting the first time, but after you know what the solution to the mystery is, you don't really want to read it again. Therefore, if you would like a good mystery, I suggest getting this out of the library, but it is not worth buying because you will probably never read it again.
September 19, 2011
Santa Cruise was not the worst book I read this year, but it comes close. I picked it up at the library for a good trashy mystery read--and it certainly was trashy. Predictable plot, two-dimensional characters, and flat prose--all I have to say is, meh! I guess that whatever Mary Higgins Clark writes, gets published. Oh--and her lucky daughter gets published too. I wish I had that kind of carte blanche. The good thing about this book is that it was a quick read, so it didn't waste too much of my time. In the future, I'll check out the books before I check them out at the library.
July 26, 2009
The story is interesting, but oh... Does it take not ONE but TWO writers to write THIS badly ? (-.-) ...
I'm having fun with it anyway, cuz it takes place during X-Mas & it's one of my X-Mas readings...
By the way : It's written by mother and daughter : Mary AND Carol Higgins Clark.
Good story but doubtful writing, with dialogues that you go "Sure...", and you simply decide to forget it cuz you wanna know how the mystery is gonna be solved...
I'm having fun with it anyway, cuz it takes place during X-Mas & it's one of my X-Mas readings...
By the way : It's written by mother and daughter : Mary AND Carol Higgins Clark.
Good story but doubtful writing, with dialogues that you go "Sure...", and you simply decide to forget it cuz you wanna know how the mystery is gonna be solved...
March 3, 2013
My sister recommended Santa Cruise to me when I complained to her about having nothing else to read. She and my mom are avid fans of Mary Higgins Clark's written works so I tried this one out. Immediately, I was engrossed in the tale. The storyline was well-written; the setting fit the story; the characters in the book were all realistically portrayed and featured as intelligent and sophisticated (and especially nosy) no-nonsense people. Distinguishing the bad guys from the good guys was very easy since the story was narrated from all the characters' perspectives, but, trying to guess what was going to happen next was very hard! It kept me guessing until the very last page. And the plot twist that was brought out in the end -- the heist of the silver chest box that was said to have belonged to Cleopatra? It really wasn't anticipated. Couldn't have seen it coming! It added up to the whole "mystery" concept of the book and made the ending much more enjoyable. A well-deserved rating of five stars! I'll definitely be reading more of this author's books soon.
December 29, 2014
This was a pretty good mystery, and the cruise was of interest since I'm hoping to plan a cruise in the new year. I enjoyed most of the story, and it was a light, easy read.
Wow ... I absolutely do NOT remember ever reading this book before! This time I thoroughly enjoyed the book, reading it practically in one sitting. Having been on the above mentioned cruise earlier this year, it was all fun for me, recognizing some of the things that that were mentioned, and understanding some of the workings of a cruise ship. The mystery was fun, mostly known to the reader from the beginning, but still with a bit of mystery to be unfolded at the end.
Wow ... I absolutely do NOT remember ever reading this book before! This time I thoroughly enjoyed the book, reading it practically in one sitting. Having been on the above mentioned cruise earlier this year, it was all fun for me, recognizing some of the things that that were mentioned, and understanding some of the workings of a cruise ship. The mystery was fun, mostly known to the reader from the beginning, but still with a bit of mystery to be unfolded at the end.
May 10, 2019
Subtitle: A Holiday Mystery at Sea
The mother/daughter writing team gives us a cozy mystery featuring retired maid and lottery winner Alvirah Meehan, her husband, Willy, and their friends on a holiday cruise.
The plot is suitably complicated, if somewhat outlandish. There’s no murder, though there is an attack, some stolen Santa suits, several criminal types, more than one person with a secret identity, and the usual cast of eccentric bystanders and amateur sleuths. All told, it’s a fun, fast, cozy mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
The mother/daughter writing team gives us a cozy mystery featuring retired maid and lottery winner Alvirah Meehan, her husband, Willy, and their friends on a holiday cruise.
The plot is suitably complicated, if somewhat outlandish. There’s no murder, though there is an attack, some stolen Santa suits, several criminal types, more than one person with a secret identity, and the usual cast of eccentric bystanders and amateur sleuths. All told, it’s a fun, fast, cozy mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
December 30, 2017
This story more like young adult mystery novel. Its so different what I
Read last time the same author. “all dressed in white “ is more like normal
Thriller phenomena. But this is like soft mystery novel. But any way this is good
Novel . I also like to read marry Higgins novels. Every one called her writing
More like to romance suspense. I think that’s true…
this story about cruise of different types people. Specialty Commodore
has purpose to given free her mother. Dudley say to given a free trip to rich
people and its is the way get charity for the ship. But every thing get upide-
down because commodore’s nephew Eric has another plan to get more money.
He help to escape bull-eye who called the murdere…Meanwhile Henry Crater has onther plan about CLEOPATRAS CHEST……..own purposes, good people, nice cruise…..BUT finely everything change…..
Read last time the same author. “all dressed in white “ is more like normal
Thriller phenomena. But this is like soft mystery novel. But any way this is good
Novel . I also like to read marry Higgins novels. Every one called her writing
More like to romance suspense. I think that’s true…
this story about cruise of different types people. Specialty Commodore
has purpose to given free her mother. Dudley say to given a free trip to rich
people and its is the way get charity for the ship. But every thing get upide-
down because commodore’s nephew Eric has another plan to get more money.
He help to escape bull-eye who called the murdere…Meanwhile Henry Crater has onther plan about CLEOPATRAS CHEST……..own purposes, good people, nice cruise…..BUT finely everything change…..
December 27, 2016
This f-ing book. Boring, a bit hard to follow, and good lord GET A COPY EDITOR. Multiple words, including names, are spelled inconsistently (examples: Crater/Carter, Reagan/Regan), and various details drift in and out of the book at will. In one particularly memorable example, a character is gagged at the mouth and unable to speak, until another character asks her a question; they chat, then a page later she's gagged again.
I picked this up wandering around the library before Christmas and thought it would be a fun and quick read. It was laborious and terrible. How Mary Higgins Clark has sold a bajillion books, I don't know. Avoid at all costs.
I picked this up wandering around the library before Christmas and thought it would be a fun and quick read. It was laborious and terrible. How Mary Higgins Clark has sold a bajillion books, I don't know. Avoid at all costs.
October 22, 2017
I've read a lot of Mary Higgins Clark's back catalogue & found them to be good gripping thrillers - although not so much the more recent ones but I digress....this however, is what I'd class as a "cosy" murder mystery. It's a much more light hearted read, maybe that's her daughter's influence on the book.
It's a Alvirah Meehan mystery, (the cleaner who won the lottery & turned amateur sleuth) & this time she's been invited on a short cruise with a select group of people who have "helped make the world a better place"...these include the youngsters Fredericka & Gwendolyn, who are particularly obnoxious (but amusing) despite, or probably rather because of, their do-gooding :o)
Also on board are two felons fleeing from prison, 10 Santa Claus & the ghost of a dead prize fighter...just your average cruise then...
There's nothing to tax the brain here but it's entertaining enough that you'll sail easily to the end of it!
It's a Alvirah Meehan mystery, (the cleaner who won the lottery & turned amateur sleuth) & this time she's been invited on a short cruise with a select group of people who have "helped make the world a better place"...these include the youngsters Fredericka & Gwendolyn, who are particularly obnoxious (but amusing) despite, or probably rather because of, their do-gooding :o)
Also on board are two felons fleeing from prison, 10 Santa Claus & the ghost of a dead prize fighter...just your average cruise then...
There's nothing to tax the brain here but it's entertaining enough that you'll sail easily to the end of it!
October 17, 2017
Commodore Weed is making his maiden voyage with his new cruise ship. He has filled the boat with special guests who have accepted a free vacation. A few passengers have boarded with nefarious activities in mind.
This book is apparently one in a series and I was able to follow the story with no trouble, however I still don’t know the main characters very well. The characters that are unique to this story are developed well enough that you know what kind of people they are rather quickly. The pacing is the story was steady.
I enjoyed the sprinkling of humor in the book. I never had a sense of suspense as I read. It seemed more like a story with quirky criminals than a mystery. I did enjoy the book, it just didn’t spark an interest in going back and reading the series.
This book is apparently one in a series and I was able to follow the story with no trouble, however I still don’t know the main characters very well. The characters that are unique to this story are developed well enough that you know what kind of people they are rather quickly. The pacing is the story was steady.
I enjoyed the sprinkling of humor in the book. I never had a sense of suspense as I read. It seemed more like a story with quirky criminals than a mystery. I did enjoy the book, it just didn’t spark an interest in going back and reading the series.
December 11, 2018
Feeling like not using your brain when reading? This book is exactely what you’re looking for.
It is not really bad, but it is a kind of tv movie, in the form of a book. The whole story is rather predictable, the characters have no depth, but it is not too badly written.
Anyway, I don’t mind to read these books occasionaly, especially or before after tackling some real stuff.
It is not really bad, but it is a kind of tv movie, in the form of a book. The whole story is rather predictable, the characters have no depth, but it is not too badly written.
Anyway, I don’t mind to read these books occasionaly, especially or before after tackling some real stuff.
Read
December 26, 2019Really enjoyed this book!! I’m a huge fan of Mary Higgins Clark and am working thru reading her books..
December 15, 2024
This would make a really awful TV movie.
January 16, 2014
Alvirah Meehan, arthritic ex-housecleaner lottery-winner sleuth, PI Regan Reilly, their husbands Willy and NYPD cop Jack, and Reilly parents, sail free on a silly Santa Cruise, refurbished bad-luck Royal Mermaid's 4-day Caribbean maiden voyage. Commodore Randolph Weed chose do-gooders for publicity, but for a fast million, his lazy nephew, Eric stows away two villains, crime boss Bull's-Eye Tony Pinto and swindler Highbridge intend to disembark on extradition-free Fishbowl Island. Eric steals them two Santa costumes for disguises, from ten for Santa guests. A plethora of useless extras do diddly.
Cute annoying little too-helpful pests, Gwendolyn and Frederika, injure Carter, wash off his grey face makeup disguise as elderly invalid. Why do they take his cell phone? Butler Winston snoops everywhere, but is not spy for ambitious newscaster Bianca.
Pinto resembles boxer Left-Hook Louie, honored by Mystery Readers Club aboard. Ivy screams at his ghost in the chapel. Weed, thrice-divorced, likes Ivy, intends to honor late gran by throwing her ashes overboard in silver box. Alvirah goes after fleeing duo alone. Dum dum dum.
Cute annoying little too-helpful pests, Gwendolyn and Frederika, injure Carter, wash off his grey face makeup disguise as elderly invalid. Why do they take his cell phone? Butler Winston snoops everywhere, but is not spy for ambitious newscaster Bianca.
Pinto resembles boxer Left-Hook Louie, honored by Mystery Readers Club aboard. Ivy screams at his ghost in the chapel. Weed, thrice-divorced, likes Ivy, intends to honor late gran by throwing her ashes overboard in silver box. Alvirah goes after fleeing duo alone. Dum dum dum.
December 1, 2013
This was my first dive into the world of the cozy mystery and I LOVED it! I am very much looking forward to reading more cozy mysteries and had a great time reading this one! The only thing I wasn't in love with is the fact that you already know exactly who the bad guy is so there wasn't much "mystery" to that but the story did give out small clues into how the story would end one by one in a way so that was fun. Will be reading more from the Clark ladies in the future!
December 23, 2020
I'll admit I usually don't like comedy in the mystery books I read, but I am getting to like these books by the Mother/daughter team of Mary & Carol Higgins Clark. This one was very good funny at times to be almost a slapstick comedy. Good plots and good characters taking place on a cruise ship. Very enjoyable read.
April 8, 2017
This was a decent mystery. Not as strong as some of Mary Higgins Clark's others, but worth a listen. I liked the idea of a cruise for those who are charitable and helpful throughout the year, It seems like a nice way to say thank you. BUT things aren't always as they seem.
April 10, 2009
Another good book by the mother/daughter team. The storyline was not as interesting as some of their other Christmas capers, but it still held my interest.
November 22, 2023
It gets 3 stars for being so bad it was wildly entertaining.
November 23, 2023
3.5 I didn't feel any of the characters were ridiculously idiotic or inept, but I did end up throwing the book across the room at the absurd ending.
May 3, 2012
Disappointed! I can't believe I made myself finish this book.
The only reason I continued reading it is I do enjoy reading about Reagan and Jack Reilly. Plus I like her parents too. I just wish they had more of her father in some of the books. He's the one character I really do like.
Alvirah was more annoying than usual in this book. Since I wanted to find out what happened I powered through and finished it. Just about threw it down when I got near the last chapters. As a reader you need to allow the writer some leeway in some things, which I'm fine with as long as it moves the story forward and doesn't jar the reader from the storyline. This time I couldn't get past some things.
SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!!
What really frosted me was how Alivirah had the foresight to turn on her tape recorder and get important information recorded right after slipping and smacking her head on the deck and seconds before passing out. Then failing to take doctor's orders to stay in bed after this spill she's running about here and there on the ship. Really?
Then later in the novel she talks about her arthritic joints and how she's worried about keeping up with the bad guys. Then pages later she's jumping into the ocean and somehow swimming towards a moving boat even though her clothes and somehow her sandals (huh???) are dragging her down. But she's unable to slip off her sandals.
At one time a gag is put around Alivrah's mouth (I was thinking thank goodness) but then she's answering a question to the bad guys. When did they take the gag off? After her little dip in the ocean she can't breath because of the gag. When did they have time to put it back on? So did she have a gag on or not?
The other characters that I didn't like in this novel were the two kids. The language that was used wasn't anything a child I know would say. Adult words forced out of a child's point of view. Unbelievable.
The only reason I continued reading it is I do enjoy reading about Reagan and Jack Reilly. Plus I like her parents too. I just wish they had more of her father in some of the books. He's the one character I really do like.
Alvirah was more annoying than usual in this book. Since I wanted to find out what happened I powered through and finished it. Just about threw it down when I got near the last chapters. As a reader you need to allow the writer some leeway in some things, which I'm fine with as long as it moves the story forward and doesn't jar the reader from the storyline. This time I couldn't get past some things.
SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!! SPOILERS!!!!
What really frosted me was how Alivirah had the foresight to turn on her tape recorder and get important information recorded right after slipping and smacking her head on the deck and seconds before passing out. Then failing to take doctor's orders to stay in bed after this spill she's running about here and there on the ship. Really?
Then later in the novel she talks about her arthritic joints and how she's worried about keeping up with the bad guys. Then pages later she's jumping into the ocean and somehow swimming towards a moving boat even though her clothes and somehow her sandals (huh???) are dragging her down. But she's unable to slip off her sandals.
At one time a gag is put around Alivrah's mouth (I was thinking thank goodness) but then she's answering a question to the bad guys. When did they take the gag off? After her little dip in the ocean she can't breath because of the gag. When did they have time to put it back on? So did she have a gag on or not?
The other characters that I didn't like in this novel were the two kids. The language that was used wasn't anything a child I know would say. Adult words forced out of a child's point of view. Unbelievable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
4 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Commodore Weed heeft voor de kerstdagen een Santa Cruise georganiseerd op zijn opgeknapte schip. Alle weldoeners zijn uitgenodigd voor een gratis cruise door het Caribische gebied. Maar zij zijn niet de enige passagiers.
Twee criminelen worden op het schip verborgen gehouden door het neefje van de Commodore om het land uit te vluchten. Er gebeuren rare dingen op het schip en een groepje passagiers, onder wie Alvirah Meehan, een amateur detectiveschrijfster en Jack, hoofd van het eerste onderzoeksteam van de recherche, gaan op onderzoek uit.
Ze krijgen steeds meer aanwijzingen en de twee criminelen krijgen het steeds moeilijker om zich te verbergen. Als de criminelen bijna kunnen ontspannen, blijkt dat er ook nog een speciale schat aan boord is van het schip. Een spannende, onvergetelijke en gevaarlijke cruise is het gevolg.
Het schrijven in dit boek is zo beeldend en boeiend dat ik mezelf als passagier op het schip waande.
De gebeurtenissen in het verhaal volgde elkaar in hoog tempo op, waardoor deze thriller gemakkelijk en vlot weglas.
Vanaf het begin is duidelijk wie de verstekelingen verbergt. De tweede verhaallijn met het tweede complot blijft echter een verrassing tot aan de laatste paar hoofdstukken toe. Deze afwisseling vsn lijnen maakte het duidelijk maar toch ook spannend. Het bleef mij boeien.
Er is duidelijk wisselwerking met ons als lezer vindt ik. Ze vroeg me mee te denken door tijdens het verhaal vragen te stellen die verwijzen naar wat er in de toekomst zou kunnen gebeuren.
Geloofwaardige karakters in het verhaal die ook uitgediept worden versterkte voor mij het verhaal.
Alles speelt zich af op het schip, maar het wel en wee van meerdere hoofdpersonen met allemaal hun eigen belangen, zorgt voor nog meer spanning.
De verloren bel is een heerlijk boek om op een regenachtige dag lekker ontspannen in weg te duiken. Naar mij mening dan.
Commodore Weed heeft voor de kerstdagen een Santa Cruise georganiseerd op zijn opgeknapte schip. Alle weldoeners zijn uitgenodigd voor een gratis cruise door het Caribische gebied. Maar zij zijn niet de enige passagiers.
Twee criminelen worden op het schip verborgen gehouden door het neefje van de Commodore om het land uit te vluchten. Er gebeuren rare dingen op het schip en een groepje passagiers, onder wie Alvirah Meehan, een amateur detectiveschrijfster en Jack, hoofd van het eerste onderzoeksteam van de recherche, gaan op onderzoek uit.
Ze krijgen steeds meer aanwijzingen en de twee criminelen krijgen het steeds moeilijker om zich te verbergen. Als de criminelen bijna kunnen ontspannen, blijkt dat er ook nog een speciale schat aan boord is van het schip. Een spannende, onvergetelijke en gevaarlijke cruise is het gevolg.
Het schrijven in dit boek is zo beeldend en boeiend dat ik mezelf als passagier op het schip waande.
De gebeurtenissen in het verhaal volgde elkaar in hoog tempo op, waardoor deze thriller gemakkelijk en vlot weglas.
Vanaf het begin is duidelijk wie de verstekelingen verbergt. De tweede verhaallijn met het tweede complot blijft echter een verrassing tot aan de laatste paar hoofdstukken toe. Deze afwisseling vsn lijnen maakte het duidelijk maar toch ook spannend. Het bleef mij boeien.
Er is duidelijk wisselwerking met ons als lezer vindt ik. Ze vroeg me mee te denken door tijdens het verhaal vragen te stellen die verwijzen naar wat er in de toekomst zou kunnen gebeuren.
Geloofwaardige karakters in het verhaal die ook uitgediept worden versterkte voor mij het verhaal.
Alles speelt zich af op het schip, maar het wel en wee van meerdere hoofdpersonen met allemaal hun eigen belangen, zorgt voor nog meer spanning.
De verloren bel is een heerlijk boek om op een regenachtige dag lekker ontspannen in weg te duiken. Naar mij mening dan.
August 18, 2018
Review: Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark. 08/11/2018
The story was about a free Holiday cruise for passengers who had done a good deed that year. The book was fast pace and predictable all the way. There’s mystery, suspense, crime, and adventure with many Santa‘s on board. The Royal Mermaid was owned by Randolph Weed the Commodore of the ship who was a complainer throughout the book. However, his nephew Eric Weed is trying to earn millions of dollars by shifting and hiding two crooks wherever he could aboard the ship. These two fugitives are headed for an Island where there is no extradition back to the US.
Alvirah Meehan who was a strange character, won the cruise with her husband and decided to invite four people, Jack and Regan Reilly and Nora and Luke Reilly to their group. Things start with Alvirah seeing a ghost in the chapel, than two Santa outfits were stolen out of a locked utility closet, and chips found on the carpet in Erik’s room was a strange red flag for someone to noticed.
As the Royal Mermaid sails through trouble waters while Alvirah and her husband Willy and the four Reilly’s start to investigate what they think is trouble and mystery clues that lead them to the dangerous criminals who were not listed on the quest list.
The story was about a free Holiday cruise for passengers who had done a good deed that year. The book was fast pace and predictable all the way. There’s mystery, suspense, crime, and adventure with many Santa‘s on board. The Royal Mermaid was owned by Randolph Weed the Commodore of the ship who was a complainer throughout the book. However, his nephew Eric Weed is trying to earn millions of dollars by shifting and hiding two crooks wherever he could aboard the ship. These two fugitives are headed for an Island where there is no extradition back to the US.
Alvirah Meehan who was a strange character, won the cruise with her husband and decided to invite four people, Jack and Regan Reilly and Nora and Luke Reilly to their group. Things start with Alvirah seeing a ghost in the chapel, than two Santa outfits were stolen out of a locked utility closet, and chips found on the carpet in Erik’s room was a strange red flag for someone to noticed.
As the Royal Mermaid sails through trouble waters while Alvirah and her husband Willy and the four Reilly’s start to investigate what they think is trouble and mystery clues that lead them to the dangerous criminals who were not listed on the quest list.
November 12, 2020
3 / 5 stars
S U M M A R Y
Alvirah won a cruise during a charity auction, and due to miscommunication is offered to bring along 2 couples as appeasement. The entire thing is a series of comical disasters as this free Santa Cruise descends into chaos.
C H A R A C T E R S
A hilarious cast of well meaning amateur sleuths and stereotypical mobsters and criminals fill this book. I can't say any of them feel full or fleshed out, but I didn't expect them to at all, and so was amused by the whole thing.
P L O T
This book makes me think that Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors had a lovechild with The Series of Unfortunate Events. Definitely a suspension of belief in spades, but I didn't expect anything less from a Higgins book called Santa Cruise. I found it highly entertaining and laughed out loud more than once. Fun and cheesy.
N A R R A T I O N
Carol Higgins Clark is a good an amusing narrator.
O V E R A L L
A fun little read that doesn't seem to take itself seriously. Don't expect much from it, and it will entertain you. I only picked it up because I was playing book bingo, but I don't regret it.
S U M M A R Y
Alvirah won a cruise during a charity auction, and due to miscommunication is offered to bring along 2 couples as appeasement. The entire thing is a series of comical disasters as this free Santa Cruise descends into chaos.
C H A R A C T E R S
A hilarious cast of well meaning amateur sleuths and stereotypical mobsters and criminals fill this book. I can't say any of them feel full or fleshed out, but I didn't expect them to at all, and so was amused by the whole thing.
P L O T
This book makes me think that Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors had a lovechild with The Series of Unfortunate Events. Definitely a suspension of belief in spades, but I didn't expect anything less from a Higgins book called Santa Cruise. I found it highly entertaining and laughed out loud more than once. Fun and cheesy.
N A R R A T I O N
Carol Higgins Clark is a good an amusing narrator.
O V E R A L L
A fun little read that doesn't seem to take itself seriously. Don't expect much from it, and it will entertain you. I only picked it up because I was playing book bingo, but I don't regret it.
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