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Lillian Crawford #1
Murder Above the Silver Waves
In the summer of 1923, danger crosses the Atlantic, as Lillian Crawford sets out on a voyage to England...
Banishment from New York aboard a magnificent luxury liner should have been the wealthy socialite’s ideal escape from disgrace, but everything changes when a moonlit stroll leaves Lillian the only witness to a shocking murder.
Could a hot tempered American millionaire be behind the killing? Or perhaps a certain handsome, blind pianist who guards a secret? And what does the victim’s bitter wife have to hide?
Determined to answer questions no one else is asking, Lillian enlists the aid of her twin brother Felix – as often as she can drag him away from the card tables. The Crawford siblings’ idyllic voyage becomes a fight for their lives, as they race to uncover the identity of a killer...before they become the next victims.
Banishment from New York aboard a magnificent luxury liner should have been the wealthy socialite’s ideal escape from disgrace, but everything changes when a moonlit stroll leaves Lillian the only witness to a shocking murder.
Could a hot tempered American millionaire be behind the killing? Or perhaps a certain handsome, blind pianist who guards a secret? And what does the victim’s bitter wife have to hide?
Determined to answer questions no one else is asking, Lillian enlists the aid of her twin brother Felix – as often as she can drag him away from the card tables. The Crawford siblings’ idyllic voyage becomes a fight for their lives, as they race to uncover the identity of a killer...before they become the next victims.
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 26, 2021
487 people are currently reading
205 people want to read
About the author
Blythe Baker
117 books386 followersBlythe Baker is a thirty-something bottle redhead from the South Central part of the country. When she’s not slinging words and creating new worlds and characters, she’s acting as chauffeur to her children and head groomer to her household of beloved pets.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
Blythe enjoys long walks with her dog on sweaty days, grubbing in her flower garden, cooking, and ruthlessly de-cluttering her overcrowded home. She also likes binge-watching mystery shows on TV and burying herself in books about murder.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 24, 2023
Rating: 2.2 / 5
DNF at about 52 pages
There are books and then there are books.
There are books that grab you and then there are books that...don't.
This one falls in the latter category.
If I had to say why, I'd say it's this:
It's rather slow-moving, there's too much vague-ness and hush hush about both Lillian and her brother's pasts to really make them interesting as characters (or make me care about what happens to them), and the narration itself is just kind of bland and takes too long to pick up on anything.
So...yeah and no.
Thanks...but ultimately, no thanks.
DNF at about 52 pages
There are books and then there are books.
There are books that grab you and then there are books that...don't.
This one falls in the latter category.
If I had to say why, I'd say it's this:
It's rather slow-moving, there's too much vague-ness and hush hush about both Lillian and her brother's pasts to really make them interesting as characters (or make me care about what happens to them), and the narration itself is just kind of bland and takes too long to pick up on anything.
So...yeah and no.
Thanks...but ultimately, no thanks.
February 7, 2022
Exiled on a luxurious cruise ship, redeemed by murder
Twins Lillian and Felix Crawford have not conformed to their wealthy New York parent's expectations, so they are being sent to their English Uncle's home to do penance. Their father booked them on a luxurious cruise ship, so exile didn't seem too hard to bear, but when Lillian sees the shadow of what turns out to be murder, they decided to solve the case themselves. Lillian is a rich, spoiled brat, who doesn't understand hunting for a murderer can be dangerous, but Felix has a much better grasp on human nature. The twists and turns of the plot are interesting. I found Lillian to be thoroughly obnoxious in the beginning of the book, but her personality improved after several close calls with death. The book was interesting enough that I got the next in the series, hoping that Lillian will improve.
Twins Lillian and Felix Crawford have not conformed to their wealthy New York parent's expectations, so they are being sent to their English Uncle's home to do penance. Their father booked them on a luxurious cruise ship, so exile didn't seem too hard to bear, but when Lillian sees the shadow of what turns out to be murder, they decided to solve the case themselves. Lillian is a rich, spoiled brat, who doesn't understand hunting for a murderer can be dangerous, but Felix has a much better grasp on human nature. The twists and turns of the plot are interesting. I found Lillian to be thoroughly obnoxious in the beginning of the book, but her personality improved after several close calls with death. The book was interesting enough that I got the next in the series, hoping that Lillian will improve.
March 14, 2022
Vacuously pompous, primitive, and ultimately pointless book.
One gets an impression it`s been written by a junior high school student who attempts to recreate the spirit of the 1920s by putting together sentences like, "We are very nearly at the time of being too late to be acceptable." The junior also apparently thinks that petty bickering is a suitable substitute for plot tension, because the book almost entirely consists of the former and has none of the latter. (Seriously, it took a lot of WORK to keep coming back to the book, but I wanted to persevere to be able to write a review after actually reading the whole book, although its primitivity was obvious from the first 5%.) The bickering is of the quality you`d expect to find in high school, with body language to match ("she stuck her hip out, planting her fist upon it").
The junior also seems to be fascinated by the idea of high society and tries to use every opportunity to underscore how conscious all the charaters are of their connections, what people think of them, with whom they are seen, etc. The result is that none of the characters actually has a personality--they only have names (Mr. This and Mr. That)--save for the trait of condescension and contempt for those outside of those circles.
"He has not spent a great deal of time in the same circles as we have, has he?"
"Felix and I exchanged pitying looks. Poor thing, he doesn`t know the value of said bragging."
This is the main character you are supposed to... like?
All that in really helpless writing that tries too hard. There is a lot of "glaring". "My heart slammed against my ribcage..." "My heart pummeled my insides..." "My heart clenched, but excitement purred, as well. I wheeled around, my smile growing. Felix`s gaze sharpened..." "It would not do, it would never do, it would have to do." "Icy fear, icy chill, icy panic" (the excerpt for the next book has "icy chill", again, and also "icy terror").
I guess it should have been obvious that when an author releases a volley of six 200-iPhone-pages books within two months, they will hardly be on par with "To Kill a Mockingbird". But I gave it a chance. What if the author sweated over this particular series for 5 years. Well, nope.
Life is too short to waste it on word sequences pretending to be books. Hilariously, the "book" slips up at one point and admits, "I realized I might have been a bit overzealous with my words." The thing is, the output of this particular zealotry is zero.
Don`t bother.
One gets an impression it`s been written by a junior high school student who attempts to recreate the spirit of the 1920s by putting together sentences like, "We are very nearly at the time of being too late to be acceptable." The junior also apparently thinks that petty bickering is a suitable substitute for plot tension, because the book almost entirely consists of the former and has none of the latter. (Seriously, it took a lot of WORK to keep coming back to the book, but I wanted to persevere to be able to write a review after actually reading the whole book, although its primitivity was obvious from the first 5%.) The bickering is of the quality you`d expect to find in high school, with body language to match ("she stuck her hip out, planting her fist upon it").
The junior also seems to be fascinated by the idea of high society and tries to use every opportunity to underscore how conscious all the charaters are of their connections, what people think of them, with whom they are seen, etc. The result is that none of the characters actually has a personality--they only have names (Mr. This and Mr. That)--save for the trait of condescension and contempt for those outside of those circles.
"He has not spent a great deal of time in the same circles as we have, has he?"
"Felix and I exchanged pitying looks. Poor thing, he doesn`t know the value of said bragging."
This is the main character you are supposed to... like?
All that in really helpless writing that tries too hard. There is a lot of "glaring". "My heart slammed against my ribcage..." "My heart pummeled my insides..." "My heart clenched, but excitement purred, as well. I wheeled around, my smile growing. Felix`s gaze sharpened..." "It would not do, it would never do, it would have to do." "Icy fear, icy chill, icy panic" (the excerpt for the next book has "icy chill", again, and also "icy terror").
I guess it should have been obvious that when an author releases a volley of six 200-iPhone-pages books within two months, they will hardly be on par with "To Kill a Mockingbird". But I gave it a chance. What if the author sweated over this particular series for 5 years. Well, nope.
Life is too short to waste it on word sequences pretending to be books. Hilariously, the "book" slips up at one point and admits, "I realized I might have been a bit overzealous with my words." The thing is, the output of this particular zealotry is zero.
Don`t bother.
January 18, 2022
Definitely Not the Bobbsey Twins
Good book. I like that Lillian is the abrupt twin while Felix is the thoughtful twin. The story is good and so is the telling. I will definitely read the next book. Just have to know what happened with Felix in the past.
Good book. I like that Lillian is the abrupt twin while Felix is the thoughtful twin. The story is good and so is the telling. I will definitely read the next book. Just have to know what happened with Felix in the past.
January 3, 2022
Lillian and her twin brother Felix are on a trip across the Atlantic. They travel away from New York to visit a cousin in England. The twins have had some social troubles a broken engagement for Lillian and leaving school for Felix so their parents have sent them away from the high society wagging tongues in the city. On the trip Lillian more than Felix seems to struggle to come to terms with the past as her brother sees this as an opportunity for a fresh start. Tragedy strikes one night as a man overboard turns out to be murder. Even worse Lillian is the only witness, but what she saw seems to be an impossibility. The twins decide or more accurately Lillian talks Felix into investigating in hopes of redemption. However things get risky when Lillian becomes a target. Although they argue they eventually agree to continue and divide and conquer according to their strengths. The intrepid duo do suss out the solution to a perplexing mystery in a most shocking conclusion.
The mystery in this story is absolutely confounding in the most wonderful way. I love a good story that keeps you guessing right up to the end. The twins are amusing, intelligent, and balance each other quite nicely. Their personal histories are hinted at and I would hope that more of that background becomes known in further stories especially with the revelation at the end of this book about Felix. There’s not much in the way of history besides the travel by boat and the formal speech which is a little disappointing. Other than that I did enjoy the book as a whole and would gladly read more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The mystery in this story is absolutely confounding in the most wonderful way. I love a good story that keeps you guessing right up to the end. The twins are amusing, intelligent, and balance each other quite nicely. Their personal histories are hinted at and I would hope that more of that background becomes known in further stories especially with the revelation at the end of this book about Felix. There’s not much in the way of history besides the travel by boat and the formal speech which is a little disappointing. Other than that I did enjoy the book as a whole and would gladly read more in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 9, 2022
Murder Above the Silver Waves is the first book in a Lillian Crawford Murder Mystery Series.
In the summer of 1923, Lillian Crawford and her twin brother, Felix, are aboard a magnificent luxury liner from New York to England, Lillian witness a man falls overboard which turn out to be murder. Lillian drag her brother into the investigation to find the killer and they might turn out to be the next victims.
This is a fun enjoyable cozy mystery with delightful characters, it's full of suspense and twists and turns that will keep you glued to your seat while you're trying to figure out the murder and mystery. It's a page turner and very entertaining, I have a great time reading this book and would recommend it to any cozy mystery fan who like historical mysteries. I am looking forward to the next books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 7, 2022
This is a 1920s shipboard mystery, and the narrator character, a New York socialite, has that brittle and arch tone that I associate with the Bright Young Things of that era. The story follows the now-classic plot: heroine, being at odds with the authorities investigating a mystery, decides to investigate herself, snoops around, and gets into the sort of trouble that proves she was right – or half-right – or plain wrong – all along. It is pretty well done, and the characters have a certain charm, and the denouement is just surprising enough.
April 4, 2022
Hmmm, I'm a fan of cozy mysteries, but this one let me down. The story/mystery was not too bad. The issue is that I really did not like the main character, Lillian. She is written as defensive, angry, and impulsive (and not in a good way). The author has her "balling up" her fists, biting her tongue, huffing about with anger, etc. It was not appealing. I completed the book to see how the crime was solved, but ultimately came away feeling rather meh about the book and about the possibility of my reading any more in this series.
I don't expect characters to be perfect or women characters to not have a range of emotions and reactions. My issue is that Lillian didn't strike me as someone I would want to know. If she sat at my table on a cruise, I'd probably not sit with her again. She's quite hung up on how she and her brother are seen by their NYC peers and "recovering" their tarnished reputations, but she seems to go about it in all the wrong ways.
That's my two cents. Not a bad story, just not a series I'll be pursuing.
I don't expect characters to be perfect or women characters to not have a range of emotions and reactions. My issue is that Lillian didn't strike me as someone I would want to know. If she sat at my table on a cruise, I'd probably not sit with her again. She's quite hung up on how she and her brother are seen by their NYC peers and "recovering" their tarnished reputations, but she seems to go about it in all the wrong ways.
That's my two cents. Not a bad story, just not a series I'll be pursuing.
January 6, 2022
Lillian and Felix are amazing twins ! I very much enjoyed reading about their voyage to England. At that time it was rather custom to do so via sailboats, but not so much in the luxury setting. Only high born and very rich people were able to afford it. But if there’s only those people on board… how comes there’s a murder committed ??
With wit, intelligence and a bit of arrogance the twins aim to learn more … and discover the truth ? Or a sham ? Or anything at all ?
You’ll love the chase !
Enjoy your read !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
With wit, intelligence and a bit of arrogance the twins aim to learn more … and discover the truth ? Or a sham ? Or anything at all ?
You’ll love the chase !
Enjoy your read !
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 14, 2022
A thoroughly unlikable main character
Let me be clear, I didn't finish it. I couldn't take anymore and stopped reading half way through. At the beginning, the main character shows no likable traits.
She's self-serving, egotistical, a paranoid, and a liar, all the keymarks of a psychopath. She and her brother have been, supposedly, sent to a distant cousin in disgrace. However, we're never told why. Being dumped on the way to the alter is no disgrace, even in the 1920s. The premis doesn't fly.
The whole plot is contrived. Much better writers have done the 'murder on a passenger liner' theme. Don't waste your time and money on this book.
Let me be clear, I didn't finish it. I couldn't take anymore and stopped reading half way through. At the beginning, the main character shows no likable traits.
She's self-serving, egotistical, a paranoid, and a liar, all the keymarks of a psychopath. She and her brother have been, supposedly, sent to a distant cousin in disgrace. However, we're never told why. Being dumped on the way to the alter is no disgrace, even in the 1920s. The premis doesn't fly.
The whole plot is contrived. Much better writers have done the 'murder on a passenger liner' theme. Don't waste your time and money on this book.
February 1, 2022
If reading about the Gilded Age-particularly when the setting takes place on a luxury liner bound for England, this book is for you! Fraternal twins, exiled by their New York society parents to avoid further embarrassment to themselves, immediately are placed in the center of attention. Lillian has been an eyewitness to a murder; brother Felix is anxious to help his sister find the murderer. Thus, we find a fun dilemma; their styles of attempting to find the solution is nothing but polar opposites. I truly enjoyed this book like so many books authored by Blythe Baker and look forward to reading more in this new series. This ARC was provided by the author; this is my honest review.
May 27, 2023
Lillian Crawford and her brother are crossing the ocean to get away from some big disgrace. It's fairly large but, luckily, there are still some people on board willing to talk to them. But Lillian is doomed to be a name on people's lips once again when, while strolling the deck one night, she witnesses a murder. Being a plucky 1920s female main character, of course Lillian is going to try and solve the murder herself. Of course, she and her brother aren't the only people on board with a secret. And the more she looks, the more she's likely to get herself into trouble.
This was a decent start to a series and I have a feeling it will get better as the characters are developed more.
This was a decent start to a series and I have a feeling it will get better as the characters are developed more.
January 12, 2022
In the summer of 1923, danger crosses the Atlantic, as Lillian Crawford sets out on a voyage to England...
Murder on the high seas lends to a nice, suspenseful, mystery that keeps you turning the pages. Twists and turns have you sitting on the edge of your seat while you wait to find out what happens next. The characters are well developed, realistic and easy to get to know. An entertaining, page turner you won't be able to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Murder on the high seas lends to a nice, suspenseful, mystery that keeps you turning the pages. Twists and turns have you sitting on the edge of your seat while you wait to find out what happens next. The characters are well developed, realistic and easy to get to know. An entertaining, page turner you won't be able to put down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 22, 2022
I was excited about this book going into it because I was just in the mood for a cozy murder mystery. The setting onboard a cruise ship and the I love the era, but something was just missing from the book. The protagonist is hard to like although the character development was solid. I do think it was purposely done by the author to make the Lillian Crawford unlikable, but it just took away from the story. The buildup was good, but I felt the ending was rushed. It was a decent book all around and some will love it.
January 18, 2023
Self serving detective
The parents of our heroes, Lillian and Felix Crawford, are bashing their children to live in London with their Mother's cousin. Their mode of transportation is a seven day luxury cruise giving the pretentious pair a chance to repair the wayward image they present to peers and society.
I can't accept the opposite image of Lillian when confronting the murderer. All her actions are designed to put her in a better light in society. I will not be exploring the future adventures of this lady.
The parents of our heroes, Lillian and Felix Crawford, are bashing their children to live in London with their Mother's cousin. Their mode of transportation is a seven day luxury cruise giving the pretentious pair a chance to repair the wayward image they present to peers and society.
I can't accept the opposite image of Lillian when confronting the murderer. All her actions are designed to put her in a better light in society. I will not be exploring the future adventures of this lady.
January 6, 2022
Being left at the altar is never a good thing, but totally devastating in the 1920s! So much so that a fresh start in a new country was called for. But no one bargained for a much more exciting and dangerous cruise, where being jilted was preferable to being dead!
Baker has come up with another winner, very readable, although self centered Lilian could do with a slap, but still... Good plotting, clever storyline, much enjoyed.
Baker has come up with another winner, very readable, although self centered Lilian could do with a slap, but still... Good plotting, clever storyline, much enjoyed.
March 9, 2022
One of my favorite authors
Very good story. Interesting plot and kept me guessing. Wasn't sure I liked the heroine at first, I was ready to smack some sense into her. I hope she remains a likeable character in the rest of the series. Thank you Ms. Baker for sharing your considerable talents with us.
Very good story. Interesting plot and kept me guessing. Wasn't sure I liked the heroine at first, I was ready to smack some sense into her. I hope she remains a likeable character in the rest of the series. Thank you Ms. Baker for sharing your considerable talents with us.
April 27, 2022
'20's Yuppie
I did not take to the character of Lillian. She seems to be a spoiled, self centered, shallow brat! She gets upset over the most trivial of things and thinks she's smarter than she is. Her twin Felix is a saint for putting up with her. However he has his own demons that I'm looking forward to explore.
I did not take to the character of Lillian. She seems to be a spoiled, self centered, shallow brat! She gets upset over the most trivial of things and thinks she's smarter than she is. Her twin Felix is a saint for putting up with her. However he has his own demons that I'm looking forward to explore.
January 5, 2022
The first book in the Lillian Crawford Murder Mystery series a story that kept me turning pages I had to know who had done it. I did not see that ending comming. I want to read the next book. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 17, 2022
Beth Byer rip-off
A bad imitation of a Violet/Victor Carlyle mystery. There's not enough plot so over half the book was Lillian arguing with her brother about what their next move should be.
A bad imitation of a Violet/Victor Carlyle mystery. There's not enough plot so over half the book was Lillian arguing with her brother about what their next move should be.
February 4, 2022
Adequate!
I did not like the Mail character as she is abrasive, calling it being honest. Her twin, Felix, has the personality of the pair. Nothing outstanding in the story, suspects offer nothing, and investigation was reckless, thoughtless, and ridiculous.
I did not like the Mail character as she is abrasive, calling it being honest. Her twin, Felix, has the personality of the pair. Nothing outstanding in the story, suspects offer nothing, and investigation was reckless, thoughtless, and ridiculous.
February 12, 2022
Imo the length was juuust right.
Too many mysteries will wander around for way too long after they've set out the main facts for the reader, this did not!
The complaints about the protag's shallow personality are valid. I assume she's ment to have a multi-book long arc though.
Too many mysteries will wander around for way too long after they've set out the main facts for the reader, this did not!
The complaints about the protag's shallow personality are valid. I assume she's ment to have a multi-book long arc though.
February 13, 2022
A short but delightful cozy mystery. Twins having a hard time in 1923 go on a cruise together. Unfortunately a murder occurs and they get involved solving it. A light read with a bit of humour added.
March 12, 2022
Unlikable heroine.
I wanted to like this book but Lillian Crawford is the most unlikable character in Blythe Baker's books. I don't think I'll read anything else in this series.
I wanted to like this book but Lillian Crawford is the most unlikable character in Blythe Baker's books. I don't think I'll read anything else in this series.
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April 3, 2022Unlikable heroine
The heroine is a spoilt, unlikable snob and not very smart. It surprises me more books follow or are possible with this character. I won't be reading others in this series.
The heroine is a spoilt, unlikable snob and not very smart. It surprises me more books follow or are possible with this character. I won't be reading others in this series.
April 30, 2022
Interesting first book
I am trying to warm up to the twin duo here. They really love each other but they come across as two spoiled brats. Anyway it was a fun mystery and did Keep Me guessing till the end. Going to continue onto book 2 and see if I warm up to them more.
I am trying to warm up to the twin duo here. They really love each other but they come across as two spoiled brats. Anyway it was a fun mystery and did Keep Me guessing till the end. Going to continue onto book 2 and see if I warm up to them more.
May 17, 2022
Good book.
I enjoyed it.The murderer wound up being a person that wasn’t on my list, although all the clues were there. And the ending leads into another book in the series, which, I hope, winds up being very interesting indeed.
I enjoyed it.The murderer wound up being a person that wasn’t on my list, although all the clues were there. And the ending leads into another book in the series, which, I hope, winds up being very interesting indeed.
September 18, 2022
Heroin not likable
I will not be pur tvchasing anymore books about Lillian crawford. She is not a likable person. I guess I'm spoiled by the miss fisher mysteries., rich, funny, smart, compassionate
and caring. Crawford is just plain unlikable.
I will not be pur tvchasing anymore books about Lillian crawford. She is not a likable person. I guess I'm spoiled by the miss fisher mysteries., rich, funny, smart, compassionate
and caring. Crawford is just plain unlikable.
November 24, 2023
not as great as other books by Ms Baker
This book was not as great as the previous books by Ms Baker. Lillian is far too dramatic and almost arrogant for my tastes. I struggled to read the whole book. I will continue to read Ms Baker’s books, just not this series.
This book was not as great as the previous books by Ms Baker. Lillian is far too dramatic and almost arrogant for my tastes. I struggled to read the whole book. I will continue to read Ms Baker’s books, just not this series.
January 3, 2022
I couldn't stand the heroine. She only cared about what would make her look good. So shallow. I definitely won't read any more books about Lillian and her brother.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews