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Jerria Danson Mysteries #2
Murder On Deck: a cruise novel
Oh, not again. When mild real estate agent Jerria and her husband embark on an Alaskan cruise with friends, she can’t wait to enjoy one last vacation before the demands of a big change at home swamp her. But against Alaska’s beauty, passengers begin suffering from a rash of illness that is more than routine Mal de Mer. Jerria suspects they are being systematically poisoned. Can she discover who’s behind the nefarious plan before succumbing to it herself? Come along as Jerria experiences the Great Land day by day, with details rich enough to plan your own Alaskan cruise...minus the exotic poison. Be sure to pick up the Cruise Addict's Wife series.
328 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2021
124 people are currently reading
382 people want to read
About the author
Deb Graham
24 books20 followersDeb is the author of 26 books, four cruise-ship novels, five other novels, and seventeen non-fiction books, including two best-seller-in-genre-on-Amazon cruise books laced with stories about her innocent (so he says) husband; Tips From The Cruise Addict's Wife has been Amazon's Book of the Month repeatedly! Deb's One Daughter at a Time is a coming of age story, but it's about their mother. Can she raise five girls alone and develop a spine along the way? You'll love the Cookie Cutter Legacy, as 97+ year old Henrietta passes down the family lore with great humor and strength. The Ghost in the Bakery is a fun romp about Kate who moved to start a bakery in small-town Oregon, not knowing it has a couple of resident ghosts. Other include: how to write one’s personal story, how to complain effectively, and several cookbooks, science, and craft books for her eight beloved grandchildren, all of whom are cuter than yours. Deb believes firmly in the power of Story, and enjoys presenting workshops on finding one’s own story, as well as self-publishing. Deb’s background in stand-up comedy spills into both her speech and writings.
Deb’s superpowers include being able to spell-check and grammar-check with her brain, a talent for swiftly improvising, be it a dinner for twenty or a game for 200 teens, as well as finding an analogy for almost anything.
Born in New York, Deb now resides in Washington state, and has toured all fifty states, along with close to 30 countries. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about Deb, at first glance, besides her high energy, is the height disparity between her and her 6’ 4” husband, a full 16 inches. Those short jokes? Save ‘em; she’s heard them all.
Deb’s superpowers include being able to spell-check and grammar-check with her brain, a talent for swiftly improvising, be it a dinner for twenty or a game for 200 teens, as well as finding an analogy for almost anything.
Born in New York, Deb now resides in Washington state, and has toured all fifty states, along with close to 30 countries. Perhaps the most noticeable thing about Deb, at first glance, besides her high energy, is the height disparity between her and her 6’ 4” husband, a full 16 inches. Those short jokes? Save ‘em; she’s heard them all.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 29, 2018
This is not a mystery novel...there is some action around 80% of the digital version, it's obvious who did what and the characters are either bland or extremely annoying (Liza was the worst to me). Repetitive action, dialogues and food description (ok, we get it, Will does not like seafood!). And the rude crew members? Doesn't ring true to me.
September 9, 2017
( Format : Audiobook )
"What a hoot! "Super!""
This, the second of the Jarria and Will Ransom cruise mysteries is great fun. Yes, there are deaths but the real pleasure of this book is in taking a laid back holiday with friends - the Dansons again meet up with Nan and Charlie, the couple first encountered on the traumatic previous trip, as well as meeting new people. As the reader travels with them on a sailing towards Anchorage, there are many things to enjoy: like food, Scrabble, games of Trivia, food, line dancing, shopping,, chatter, food, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, whales, food, stunning scenery and even the Northern Lights. Oh, did I mention food? There is even an on board murder mystery themed dinner, a "pretend mystery inside of a real one."
This is a book which concentrates on the characters, who become real people trying to enjoy their relaxing holiday together despite the unfortunate incidents occuring around them whilst simultaneously talking about it and trying to solve the puzzle. The biggest mystery of all is, of course, why Jarria ever allowed herself to be talked into going on a second cruise after having been so upset the first time round. But then, we all do incomprehensible things at times - and, hopefully she will be persuaded by Will to take a third trip soon.
Ginger Walton's narration, too, is simply delicious. Her lovely honey gravelled voice is the perfect medium to tell this story, her reading well modulated and nicely paced. The individual vocal interpretations of each protagonist is not particularly different but that doesn't matter, she is such a pleasure to hear and the reader is further pulled into a pleasant holiday fun by had warm delivery. At one point Ms.Walton even has to sing: that, too, is lovely.
This is as much a holiday for the reader as it is a mystery story. All without having to leave the comfort of one's home. My especial thanks to the rights holder of Murder on Deck for the free gifting of it to me, via Audiobook Boom. It was a treat. I sincerely hope that there will be more in this delightful series in the future.
"What a hoot! "Super!""
This, the second of the Jarria and Will Ransom cruise mysteries is great fun. Yes, there are deaths but the real pleasure of this book is in taking a laid back holiday with friends - the Dansons again meet up with Nan and Charlie, the couple first encountered on the traumatic previous trip, as well as meeting new people. As the reader travels with them on a sailing towards Anchorage, there are many things to enjoy: like food, Scrabble, games of Trivia, food, line dancing, shopping,, chatter, food, sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge, whales, food, stunning scenery and even the Northern Lights. Oh, did I mention food? There is even an on board murder mystery themed dinner, a "pretend mystery inside of a real one."
This is a book which concentrates on the characters, who become real people trying to enjoy their relaxing holiday together despite the unfortunate incidents occuring around them whilst simultaneously talking about it and trying to solve the puzzle. The biggest mystery of all is, of course, why Jarria ever allowed herself to be talked into going on a second cruise after having been so upset the first time round. But then, we all do incomprehensible things at times - and, hopefully she will be persuaded by Will to take a third trip soon.
Ginger Walton's narration, too, is simply delicious. Her lovely honey gravelled voice is the perfect medium to tell this story, her reading well modulated and nicely paced. The individual vocal interpretations of each protagonist is not particularly different but that doesn't matter, she is such a pleasure to hear and the reader is further pulled into a pleasant holiday fun by had warm delivery. At one point Ms.Walton even has to sing: that, too, is lovely.
This is as much a holiday for the reader as it is a mystery story. All without having to leave the comfort of one's home. My especial thanks to the rights holder of Murder on Deck for the free gifting of it to me, via Audiobook Boom. It was a treat. I sincerely hope that there will be more in this delightful series in the future.
October 20, 2017
Jerria is setting sale on another cruise hopeful that things will go better this time. Hopefully no international jewel thieves will show up on this trip. The cruise director seems a bit touchy and irritable on this cruise instead of the normal happy, bubbly people she expects to meet. However the assistant director seems to be a very happy, friendly person. The trip is going well and Alaska is amazingly beautiful. Then people on the ship start getting sick. As the illness spreads through the ships, and they have the first fatality, doctor calls in for extra help. The CDC is having a conference in the next port and they agree to come help. As they start checking things out they realize that this isn't a virus. Someone is actually poisoning the passengers. Will Jerria figure out what is happening before anyone else dies?
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
April 30, 2020
I was given this copy by the author to review. This was a good mystery with you trying to figure out who was the killer. The author really let you get to know the characters well and their interactions with each other. The narrator did a great job. The problem I only rated this book 4 stars is because there was a chapter in the beginning that happened before this cruise happened and if you don't remember the character or the purpose of that chapter you do not figure out the killer until the very end. If this was a book you could just refer to the 1st chapter during reading, but since it is on audio I don't see that as an option. I would rather read the book on this series so as not to get lost.
September 2, 2017
I can't go on a cruise because I get terribly seasick. This book makes me think that not going on a cruise might be a good thing. :)
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to. I got a really good sense of what it would be like to be on a cruise and the people on that go on it. My only critique was that I wished the deaths and sickness started happening a bit sooner, but I still enjoyed it and listened all the way through.
If you're looking for something light that you can listen to and get a slice of life, this is the audiobook for you.
Please note that I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review
I enjoyed this book more than I thought I was going to. I got a really good sense of what it would be like to be on a cruise and the people on that go on it. My only critique was that I wished the deaths and sickness started happening a bit sooner, but I still enjoyed it and listened all the way through.
If you're looking for something light that you can listen to and get a slice of life, this is the audiobook for you.
Please note that I received this title for free in exchange for an unbiased review
October 5, 2019
Despite a major shake up in staffing most of the ship's staff do a great job, except for a couple of really obnoxious characters who contrast severely with the passengers and the rest of the crew. The characters are all interesting and engaging even the negative ones, and the whole story is great for those of us who cannot do a cruise. It's pretty obvious that no business could afford such blatantly negative employees so that aspect of the book clearly defined it as fiction. Totally enjoyed the read.
Narrator Ginger Walton has a smooth and clear delivery.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! :)
Narrator Ginger Walton has a smooth and clear delivery.
I won this audiobook in a giveaway! :)
June 23, 2019
Murder On Deck
: Deb Graham
As a person that's never been on a cruise I found this entertaining. The sites that were described sound familiar because others I know told of their Alaskan cruises. However they didn't have murder mystery on board. A nice clean book with believable characters. Thanks for the interesting escape.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by: Ginger Walton.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
: Deb Graham
As a person that's never been on a cruise I found this entertaining. The sites that were described sound familiar because others I know told of their Alaskan cruises. However they didn't have murder mystery on board. A nice clean book with believable characters. Thanks for the interesting escape.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed by: Ginger Walton.
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
April 28, 2020
Jerria and her husband embark on an Alaskan cruise. The reader experiences the Alaskan beauty. When illness breaks out, Jerria suspects someone is systematically poisoning them.
Memories returned from my Navy days within the pages of this book. A storm hits the cruise ship. I remember having to stay in my bunk because the waves were so huge, tossing the Fast Frigate I was stationed on.
I've been in a "cruise" ship frenzy because of COVID-19. It's my escape from reality. This was a great read.
Memories returned from my Navy days within the pages of this book. A storm hits the cruise ship. I remember having to stay in my bunk because the waves were so huge, tossing the Fast Frigate I was stationed on.
I've been in a "cruise" ship frenzy because of COVID-19. It's my escape from reality. This was a great read.
October 6, 2017
Wow book one made me want to go on a cruise but this book two is making me rethink that idea :-)
Jarria and Will Ransom cruise mysteries are really a good cozy mystery. I enjoy the way Deb Graham creates these setting. If you have not read a book by Deb Graham you need to they are great! Ginger Walton does a wonderful job of narrating theses fun books. I luck to be gifted this book with the promise of an honest review.
Jarria and Will Ransom cruise mysteries are really a good cozy mystery. I enjoy the way Deb Graham creates these setting. If you have not read a book by Deb Graham you need to they are great! Ginger Walton does a wonderful job of narrating theses fun books. I luck to be gifted this book with the promise of an honest review.
November 11, 2019
Clean mystery.
This is definitely not a whodunit for we know very soon who the culprit is and why. The rest of the story is about how she poisons the people. Also, the sightseeing of the main characters. Descriptions of the scenic countryside is a big plus for me as they brought back good memories of I cruise to Alaska. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.
This is definitely not a whodunit for we know very soon who the culprit is and why. The rest of the story is about how she poisons the people. Also, the sightseeing of the main characters. Descriptions of the scenic countryside is a big plus for me as they brought back good memories of I cruise to Alaska. All in all, this is an enjoyable read.
January 20, 2020
Jerria’sv is off on a second cruise, to enjoy the wonders of Alaska. Time with friends and exploring.Something is happening to the passengers, and it wasn’t a natural thing, can Jerria figure out what it is and have time to relax and enjoy cruise. Good narrative. and plot. Given ARC audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
March 8, 2021
Good story line
Great characters with a good story line but got very repetitive with facts about Alaska to the point I skipped over several pages. Also how often do we need to read about them going to eat at the buffet?? I've been on numerous cruises and a rude employee would have never been excused and that was very irritating to read over and over again.
Great characters with a good story line but got very repetitive with facts about Alaska to the point I skipped over several pages. Also how often do we need to read about them going to eat at the buffet?? I've been on numerous cruises and a rude employee would have never been excused and that was very irritating to read over and over again.
April 7, 2018
Waited and waited for the mystery
Had to read up to near the twentieth chapter before there was a mystery to try to solve. Then I knew immediately who the culprit was. Will not read more from this author. Was boring.
Had to read up to near the twentieth chapter before there was a mystery to try to solve. Then I knew immediately who the culprit was. Will not read more from this author. Was boring.
April 9, 2018
Not exactly a mystery ...
Quickly knew who did it, why, and how. But it was still a good read. I enjoyed the cruise ship behaviors and the trivia. Interesting travel information about Alaska - found myself googling a few topics for more information or for pictures.
Quickly knew who did it, why, and how. But it was still a good read. I enjoyed the cruise ship behaviors and the trivia. Interesting travel information about Alaska - found myself googling a few topics for more information or for pictures.
October 11, 2019
Totally different than the 1st book in this series but every bit as good. Interesting method used by the 'bad guy' and even though I figured it out before the end I still stayed up way too late to finish it.
May 30, 2020
Another good cruise book!
I like the cruising series very much. It was nice reading about the ports of call. We lived in Alaska for 30 years and the accuracy was nice to see. I took an Alaskan cruise just last year, so this brought memories. I look forward to the next one.
I like the cruising series very much. It was nice reading about the ports of call. We lived in Alaska for 30 years and the accuracy was nice to see. I took an Alaskan cruise just last year, so this brought memories. I look forward to the next one.
September 8, 2020
Love d this one
I'm a stay at home kind of person but I travel thru books. This series is the best. Deb Graham describes the location so you can see it through the characters eyes. Hope she has another Jerria Danson mystery out soon.
I'm a stay at home kind of person but I travel thru books. This series is the best. Deb Graham describes the location so you can see it through the characters eyes. Hope she has another Jerria Danson mystery out soon.
February 22, 2021
I enjoyed this, and the tour of Alaska was great, but I didn't like that she killed off my favorite character in the book. And I wanted Gretchen to be the killer. We never did find out why she was so obnoxious.
February 22, 2021
Lots of good information about cruising and the activities onboard. The actual murder was just too easy to figure out and who did it. Having been on several cruises I could relate sure could pass on this one though!
February 26, 2021
I found this book to be more of a cruise journal and less of a crime story. We learn all about the ship, the food, the places visited etc. It's not so much a who dunnit, more a we know who dunnit! Having said all that, it's a pleasant enough read with a touch of humour.
March 1, 2021
Fun Alaska cruise mystery pick it up!!
Another fun cruise mystery set among the active characters Deb has shared with us. Alaska cruise was fun and full of crevasses and peaks. I look forward to reading another.
Another fun cruise mystery set among the active characters Deb has shared with us. Alaska cruise was fun and full of crevasses and peaks. I look forward to reading another.
July 12, 2017
I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.
February 26, 2021
The first 2/3 of book was great. After that it was like the author just wanted to finish the book. What was thrown off the bridge?
March 2, 2021
Fun read
Love her books! Do not hesitate to try one, always great. Hard to put it down. Going to search my next one.
Love her books! Do not hesitate to try one, always great. Hard to put it down. Going to search my next one.
Read
March 2, 2021fluff
March 2, 2021
Excellent plot, very well written, hands down a fabulous book
It’s the second book I’ve read with Jerria, Will, Nan and Charlie and I enjoyed it very very much
It’s a book not to miss
It’s the second book I’ve read with Jerria, Will, Nan and Charlie and I enjoyed it very very much
It’s a book not to miss
June 29, 2022
Couldn't stop!
Learned so much about Alaska history! Also felt like I was there. Very informative about how cruise lines can be fun
Learned so much about Alaska history! Also felt like I was there. Very informative about how cruise lines can be fun
March 6, 2023
Great
Great story. I love the characters. After reading about everything they saw on the Alaska cruise I feel like I want to go on one.
Great story. I love the characters. After reading about everything they saw on the Alaska cruise I feel like I want to go on one.
July 27, 2024
Well, I really wanted to like this book and read through to the end to see how the author would wrap up the various mysteries in it but they didn't really.
***Spoiler alert. From here on down there may be spoilers but I think they are necessary in order to explain why I was dissatisfied with this book.
The book starts out with a member of the staff on a cruise ship on shore leave in Oman Jordan who goes into a tea shop in the souk where she is drugged, spirited away and (probably?) hypnotized. She is given a bottle of poison and some rather vague suggestions from a woman whose identity is hidden but who has a British accent as to what to do with it and released with just enough time to make it back to her ship before it sails.
So far not too bad other than the objectionable stereotyping of the evil Middle Easterner as the baddie.
She is transferred onto a ship that is cruising Alaska where she starts poisoning the passengers with the mistaken idea that if enough passengers get sick they will cancel the cruise and transfer her to the ship her boyfriend is on and she can draw him away from the other woman there who is vying for his affections. This idea is presented in a way that makes it obvious that it was planted in her head by the people who drugged her.
Eventually near the end of the book she is found out as the poisoner and is arrested and I assumed at that point that people who drugged her will be discovered and their motive for giving her the poison and the suggestion will be revealed. But none of that actually happens. And the woman with the British accent and hidden identity actually shows up and has a rather creepy interaction with the main character of the book but nothing ever comes of it! The cruise staff member takes all the blame for the poisoning and her motive is provided at face value. But who the people are who drugged her and what they were after is never mentioned.
It almost seems like this was a setup for a sequel where the baddies' motives are discovered but there is not really enough setup at the end to give any indication that a sequel is planned. And, given that this book was written 7 years ago and a sequel has not shown up yet, I assume that there will not be one.
A few other minor mysteries are presented in the last few pages of the book but those are also left hanging with no indication that they will ever be resolved.
The main characters, six passengers and a few of the ship's staff and crew, are mildly interesting and engaging but none of them are interesting enough that I would ever want to hang out with them. And even reading about them got a bit tiresome by the end of the book.
The description of life on board a cruise ship was fairly accurate including a focus on food, activities and shore excursions but very little of that did anything to move the plot forward or to make the main characters more interesting. An accurate description but ho-hum. A lot of the book was also devoted to what the characters were wearing which I also found completely uninteresting.
Two of the ship's staff members acted extremely unprofessionally to the extent that they would have been immediately fired if they were on any real cruise ship in modern times. And even the "good" crew members talked with the passengers about other crew members in ways that would never be accepted on a ship. Both of these things made the book feel unrealistic.
There were also several places in the book where there were letters or words missing and at least one place where two different variations in the same text were accidentally left in the book. Not a big deal but it did draw me out of the narrative. And in combination with the problems I mentioned above, I really got the feeling from this book that it would have benefited from a good proofreader and editor.
I do kind of want to read the first book in this series just to see if it is any better than this but I doubt if I will really find the motivation to do that.
***Spoiler alert. From here on down there may be spoilers but I think they are necessary in order to explain why I was dissatisfied with this book.
The book starts out with a member of the staff on a cruise ship on shore leave in Oman Jordan who goes into a tea shop in the souk where she is drugged, spirited away and (probably?) hypnotized. She is given a bottle of poison and some rather vague suggestions from a woman whose identity is hidden but who has a British accent as to what to do with it and released with just enough time to make it back to her ship before it sails.
So far not too bad other than the objectionable stereotyping of the evil Middle Easterner as the baddie.
She is transferred onto a ship that is cruising Alaska where she starts poisoning the passengers with the mistaken idea that if enough passengers get sick they will cancel the cruise and transfer her to the ship her boyfriend is on and she can draw him away from the other woman there who is vying for his affections. This idea is presented in a way that makes it obvious that it was planted in her head by the people who drugged her.
Eventually near the end of the book she is found out as the poisoner and is arrested and I assumed at that point that people who drugged her will be discovered and their motive for giving her the poison and the suggestion will be revealed. But none of that actually happens. And the woman with the British accent and hidden identity actually shows up and has a rather creepy interaction with the main character of the book but nothing ever comes of it! The cruise staff member takes all the blame for the poisoning and her motive is provided at face value. But who the people are who drugged her and what they were after is never mentioned.
It almost seems like this was a setup for a sequel where the baddies' motives are discovered but there is not really enough setup at the end to give any indication that a sequel is planned. And, given that this book was written 7 years ago and a sequel has not shown up yet, I assume that there will not be one.
A few other minor mysteries are presented in the last few pages of the book but those are also left hanging with no indication that they will ever be resolved.
The main characters, six passengers and a few of the ship's staff and crew, are mildly interesting and engaging but none of them are interesting enough that I would ever want to hang out with them. And even reading about them got a bit tiresome by the end of the book.
The description of life on board a cruise ship was fairly accurate including a focus on food, activities and shore excursions but very little of that did anything to move the plot forward or to make the main characters more interesting. An accurate description but ho-hum. A lot of the book was also devoted to what the characters were wearing which I also found completely uninteresting.
Two of the ship's staff members acted extremely unprofessionally to the extent that they would have been immediately fired if they were on any real cruise ship in modern times. And even the "good" crew members talked with the passengers about other crew members in ways that would never be accepted on a ship. Both of these things made the book feel unrealistic.
There were also several places in the book where there were letters or words missing and at least one place where two different variations in the same text were accidentally left in the book. Not a big deal but it did draw me out of the narrative. And in combination with the problems I mentioned above, I really got the feeling from this book that it would have benefited from a good proofreader and editor.
I do kind of want to read the first book in this series just to see if it is any better than this but I doubt if I will really find the motivation to do that.
June 26, 2025
This was a light “mystery“. I was waiting for some action to occur, but it was pretty basic. The cruise set in both Yukon and Alaska. In this book, people start getting sick on the cruise . Someone eventually dies.The descriptions of the surroundings were nice , I am familiar with Skagway so that was interesting to see it featured in this book. The actual plot was nothing special and no surprises in terms of who the murderer was even though there wasn’t much plot around the murder. A couple of the main characters were featured in a previous novel which I didn’t read, but it didn’t make any difference to my understanding of this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews