Bert and Mamie Take a Cruise

by John Keyse-Walker

All aboard the good ship SS Columbus for an African adventure to die for . . .

February 1939. Mamie Mason isn't enthusiastic when Bert, her husband of thirty years, persuades her to join him on an African cruise. Bert might be pining for adventure, but Mamie's perfectly content with her comfortable life in Hills Corners, Ohio.

But once the couple board the glamorous SS Columbus, Mamie has to admit - much as it pains her - that Bert was right. Swimming in the pool, dancing under the stars, their own bedroom steward to serve their every whim . . . Mamie settles in and prepares to thoroughly enjoy all the sights that Africa has to offer, in the company of a motley collection of eccentric first-class passengers.

Then Mamie witnesses something shocking - and her vacation takes a twist that neither she nor Bert could ever have predicted. Far from home, with a killer in their midst, the couple's only choice is to turn detective. But surrounded by Nazis, spies and passengers with secrets, how can they uncover the killer - enjoy their vacation of a lifetime - and make it back to Ohio alive?

Genres: Mystery, Historical, Cozy, Africa, Historical Mystery

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 7, 2023

Reviews

[Randy Golomb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable book with likable main characters. There’s a nice mix of factual information included about the cruise and the destinations. You also get a feel for the attitude and goals of Nazi Germany leading up to WW 2. Overall, another enjoyable easy read by John Keyes-Walker. His Constable Teddy Creque series is nice as well and I’m looking forward to reading his noir novel Havana Highwire.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy summer read, featuring a cute couple who have been married for 30 years but are as much in love as ever. Part travel guide, the author did a good job of including information about the places the cruise ship (based on a real cruise in 1939) visited. I was pretty sure I knew who the bad guy was before Mamie and Bert Revealed All but I enjoyed the cruise, the characters, and the mystery. Book discussion coming up.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Married for thirty years, Mamie agreed to this cruise around Africa so that her husband Bert could indulge his lifelong passion for adventure-- something you can't find much of in Hills Corners, Ohio. While Bert is hankering for some rip-roaring tales to tell the folks back home, Mamie is the sort who prefers room service, lounging poolside and dancing in the evenings. They are an outgoing couple who rapidly make friends among the passengers and crew, although they would prefer to avoid the Nazis on board.

When Mamie witnesses a crime, the captain of the ship wants to keep it as quiet as possible and uses Bert's experience as a sheriff's deputy (even though it was only for a year and twenty years ago at that) to avoid bringing in the police when the ship arrives at port. Husband and wife make an interesting investigative team, reminiscent of Hollywood's Nick and Nora Charles of The Thin Man movies. While Bert tries to keep his wife safe, Mamie gathers many important clues through her girl talk with the friends she's made on board.

Bert and Mamie are a likable pair, and I enjoyed their give and take. The author's setting of an actual ocean liner and cruise just before the start of World War II brought the story to life and made me wish I could travel along with them as they sailed around the continent, stopping several times along the way for "in-country" trips. All in all, a choice investigation for an armchair traveler like me.

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun historical mystery/travelogue of a Midwestern American couple married for 30 years who take a cruise around Africa on a German luxury liner just before WWII. The cruise is filled with glamourous people with dubious intentions, spies, Nazis, and star-crossed lovers. Then, of course, a murder happens which Mamie is the sole witness.
None of the port of calls are interested in investigating so, in desperation, the captain asks the only person with any investigative experience background--of course, Bert--to see if he can discover the culprit.

The beginning of each chapter has a description from an actual brochure of a passenger ship travelling around Africa from this time period. It is just one more detail that brings the experience of luxury travel and exotic places of "dark" Africa to life (which turns out to be not so exotic as Mamie and Bert expected in a lot of places). The depiction of the party that occurs for people who have crossed the equator, on a ship, for the first time is lavish in detail and sounds like a lot of fun.

The point of view changes between Bert and Mamie throughout the book. It gives insight into their relationship and their personalities. I love the give and take that happens between them as only can between people who have been together for a long time. There is subtle poking at each, inside jokes and tenderness.

The murder doesn't happen until a far ways into the book. The mystery is solid with plenty of twists to keep the reader guessing.

An enjoyable book (though I didn't like the having the Nazis around spieling their hate, but it is realistic).

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by a friend and I very much enjoyed this read. Bert and Mamie are a middle aged Ohio farm couple just coming out of the depression and just as the world is about to be plunged into WWII. B/M decide to take a 3-month cruise from NYC around the African continent and back to NYC. Besides the sights and sites of Africa, among their fellow cruise travelers and staff are Nazis, spies, displaced Jews, smugglers, and even a concentration camp releasee. A SS officer is murdered and, of course B/M must solve the case before they reach the final port. The year is 1939 and Keyes-Walker narrative seems very accurate to that time in a social political way, clearly making the case that Nazis and Axis countries are bad and the soon to be formed Allies are good while recognizing that USA wants isolationist. Also written with a sense of humor and fun at the same time. I kept thinking of the Bette Davis movie, Now, Voyager (1942) that was based on the Olive Higgins Prouty book of the same name (published 1941). The books travel background was in Germany just as the Nazis were gaining control; Hollywood sanitized the travel background to a cruise to South America. The plots are different but the images of the cruises/travelers of the time were in my mind.

[Sue Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part travelogue, part murder mystery Bert and Mamie Take a Cruise is an enjoyable trip around Africa in the early part of 1939 just before the start of World War 2.
Bert and Mamie alternate the story telling which gives two opinions on the events as they unfold. They set sail on a cruise around Africa from New York on a German ship the SS Columbus little imagining that there would be murder on board. A fictional story but the real SS Columbus did make a sixty three day cruise around Africa in February 1939.
There is an interesting cast of characters, including Nazi Party members, agents and double agents. Who to trust and who to doubt unfolds slowly as you travel with Bert and Mamie to the exotic African coast. The notes at the beginning of each chapter are direct quotes from the Round Africa Cruise Brochure that was published to promote the 1939 cruise.
All in all an enjoyable book which should please lovers of golden age of crime fiction.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the author's Teddie Creque mysteries set mainly in the British Virgin Islands. This new series looks promising. Told in journal entries alternating between Bert and his wife Mamie as they cruise on a German luxury liner all around the African coast. This is just prior to WWII and Mamie witnesses an obnoxious SS Officer being pushed overboard. The couple must try to ascertain the killer before Mamie herself is targeted. Many shady characters and I was sure I knew the perp but I was wrong, so kudos to the author. There was a lot of foreshadowing of the coming war and fear of the rising popularity of the Nazi Party. An epilogue gives the real history of the cruise ship, The Columbus, and what the author changed about its history. The ending hinted that a future cruise by our adventurous couple might take them to South America. I'll be there!

[Geoff Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read the two of the author's Teddy Creque mysteries and "Havana Highwire" from his Cuban noir series. All are very enjoyable including this one.
Well researched Bert and Mamie Mason who run a successful Tomato growing and distribution business in Ohio USA decide to travel to the African continent. They travel on the north German Lloyd liner "Columbus". Sailing from New York for 63 days before returning to New York.
What turns out from a pleasant voyage soon turns sinister. Mamie witnesses a dislikeable SS Nazi officer thrown overboard. it is 1939 just before the outbreak of WW2.
With Mamie in danger Bert and his wife try to find out who the murderer is.
Featuring Spys, double agents and a gun toting woman this is an excellent read.
Very highly recommended.

[joyce w. laudon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery readers will adore getting to know Bert and Mamie, those Americans from Ohio. Many will hope that this is the start of a series.

The couple goon a cruise to Africa, motivated by Bert’s wish to take the trip. It is 1939 and readers probably know what this means about the state of the world. Things are not good.

What will happen when Mamie witnesses a murder? Yes, readers can imagine that she and Bert will figure things out; the fun is in getting there in this entertaining read.

Recommended to mystery readers, those who like historical crime and armchair travelers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this title. All opinions are my own.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bert and Mamie made it through the Depression by farming inside green houses and selling the almost year-round produce off. Bert has always wanted to see Africa, so Mamie gamely agrees to a cruise around the continent. It's 1939. Their ship is the Columbus, a German luxury liner. The specter of the Reich is on board and eventually, a German military man is tossed overboard. Mamie, who was out getting some air late at night after the ship crossed the equator, serves as the only witness to this alleged crime. Bert served as deputy back in the day, so the captain taps him to look into the crime and keep an eye on the star witness, his wife, Mamie.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A locked cruise ship mystery! It's 1939 and Bert, using the profits from his tomatoes, booked a cruise to Africa hoping that he and his wife Mamie would see the wonders of the continent. It's a German owned ship, which complicates things - Bert hadn't thought about it- and then there's the Nazi. Told alternately by Bert and Mamie, this is only a question of who killed the man but deeper issues about the period as well (but don't worry- it's thought provoking but not heavy). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this was such a fun read! At first, the rotating chapters (Bert tells the story, then Mamie is next etc) was a bit annoying but I was quickly engrossed in the story and didn't even notice that after a few chapters. I love the time period (30's) and a stories set on cruise ships during the elegant years of cruising. There were exotic ports of call and plot twists. I never came close to guessing the ending.

I hope there will be more Bert and Mamie books - they are a fun couple! I also love that they are mature (50+) sleuths.

[Marybeth Taranow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was such fun for me. I loved the setting. A cruise to Africa on the Columbus in 1939. The little blurbs you get at the head of each chapter from the cruise company was fun. Throw in a man overboard and it became a fun mystery.

Bert and Mamie are a little rough around the edges but I enjoyed them both. I will certainly look for another adventure from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest opinion. 4⭐️

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adventures, spies, mystery and historical fiction: there's a lot going on in this book, I had a lot of fun and the slid mystery kept me guessing.
The author did an excellent job in describing the life on the ship and the places, I wished I was there as the seemed so fascinating.
I would be happy to read other books featuring these characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really liked this book. Especially since I read it while on a cruise! Bert and Mamie are just like Nick and Nora from The Thin Man movies. They are hilarious. The story takes place in exotic locations and it made it that much more fun. Takes place in the early 1940’s. The Nazi dynamic provided the tension. But it was fun nonetheless. Loved it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a strange mixture of a book. On the one hand, it’s a cozy about a likable older couple taking a cruise around the continent of Africa in 1939. The sense of time and place is well done.
But the black shadow of the coming War and the evils of nazism are definitely present.
The two threads didn’t blend, in my opinion.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. A fast read with likable characters and a window into history. The time before WW II started is not one I’m very aware of and this story brings much of that to life. The mystery was well developed and had me until the very end.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting scenario based on an actual German cruise ship and its itinerary in 1939. A who-dunnit involving a couple of the passengers and a plot which stretches belief at times. An easy-read. Quite interesting, but in my opinion, one for a holiday read.

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this mystery, I found it a little too improbable for the captain of the ship to ask them to investigate the murder. Why would he ask a middle-aged couple to investigate a mystery when they aren't professionals or sleuths of any sort.

[Jerry Summers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would love to take a circumnavigation of Africa cruise from NY like Bert and Mamie do less the murder and mayhem. They solve the case of the Nazi major and much much more. Like the Death on the Nile there is romance and deceit and in this case spies.

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Undemanding historical cozy set on a sea voyage around Africa in1939. Bert and Mamie are likable Midwesterners off on a grand adventure.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

By

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope there is another with these characters. I loved it.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read

[Muriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but you don't know Bert and Mamie much better at the end of the book than you do at the beginning. I would have liked to see some character development.

[Christopher Lutz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 A cozy read set on a real life cruise in 1939. Murder and intrigue abound as a long married empty-nester couple must to find the killer in their mist. A little hokey but still fun.