High Seas Murder

Lindy Haggerty #2

by Shelley Freydont

During a ten-day performing arts Caribbean cruise, hoofer-turned-sleuth Lindy Haggerty faces the dual challenges of trying to keep the Jeremy Ashe Dance Company afloat while finding the killer responsible for the murder of Enoch Grayson, a much-despised music critic.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy

Hardcover

First published August 1, 2000

About the author

aka Gemma Bruce

Shelley Freyont is the author of the Lindy Haggerty Sudoku mysteries. She attended the University of Utah majoring in philosophy and dance. Shelley Freydont has also toured as a professonal dance with Twyla Tharp Dance and Americal Ballroom theater. She has appeared and choreographed in television, film, and Brodway.

Series:
* Lindy Haggerty Mystery
* Kate McDonald Mystery

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay quick read--found it the cruise library. Wasn't really a good mystery at all. But entertained me for awhile.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good cozy, set on a cruise ship, which is what drew me to it, having enjoyed some other cruise mysteries. Interesting characters, many dancers and musicians. The scary Head of Security was quite stereotyped, and I picked up an important part of the mystery fairly early in the book.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amateur sleuth detects on Caribbean cruise.

[Amy (I'd Rather Be Sleeping)]

Attempted Reread December 2023
DNF - PG 56

Why?

I remembered really liking this series of mystery novels back in the day (of which this one was my favorite) so I thought this book would have the best chance of just about all my cozy mysteries to return me to actually enjoying this genre.

And I think I could have. The characters are all interesting and vibrant - and even mostly likable. But I have two problems.

The first one I would have been willing to deal with. The fact is, I don't know dance or opera so the terms that are bandied about herein are things I have no clue on. I think I used to know more about this than I do now, but I honestly don't know what Lindy is talking about like half the time.

The second one, is that there is such an obsession with weight in this book, from Lindy. She recently lost weight so now she's down to size eight - but she won't be happy until she's a size six. And she wears a wrap and a cover up to the pool because she doesn't want any of the thin, bikini-clad performers to see her body. (Or, apparently, and of the old, wrinkly patrons, either.) She doesn't want to eat anything but a salad because she must be skinny.

Look, I've recently lost weight. My size fourteens fit me loose now, where before they had been super tight and I thought I'd likely have to go up a size. I have not worn size sixes since I was probably sixteen. I honestly find Lindy's obsession with weight annoy, frustrating and, honestly, kind of disgusting.

I'm out.

(Side note: It also feels very dated on a lot of aspects. In a way that, at times, feels kind of gross. (Like female-on-male sexual harassment and using HIV/AIDS just to show what a mamma-bear Lindy is.))

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

High Seas Humor (4.0 out 5)

Shelley Freydont does it again with her second installment of her Lindy Haggerty series – High Seas Murder. The Jeremy Ash Dance Company (including Rebo!) is hired along with other arts and entertainment troupes to entertain a group of rich art supporters for a week long New Years bash on a supersized luxury yacht. Of course, what would be a cruise without a couple murders, one by the stairs and the other in a pool? Things get crazy and comical when Lindy, not learning from her last experience, takes it upon herself to solve the murders, but this time, Biddy, Jeremy Ash, Peter, and the entire dance crew will not let her go about it alone.

Yes, the plot is silly and outlandish. Yes, the humor is on the cheesy side. But, they don’t call it a “cozy mystery” for nothing. Not all books are meant to be serious or crafty. High Seas Murder is entertaining, fun, well-written, and a great read for readers who are in dire need to turn off the dreary news and relax with a cup of tea and a good book. This particular reader can’t wait to read the third installment!

[Chi Dubinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

On a ten-day performing arts cruise, rehearsal director Lindy Haggerty's duties include staging a show, then meeting and greeting some of the biggest names in music, opera, and dance. But when the curtain rises on the dead body of the most feared and despised critic ever to wield a pen, it's Lindy's cue to uncover which act is moonlighting in the deadly arts.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good cozy. Lindy is on a cruise with her dancing troupe where two murders have occurred and she is trying to find the killer. I got bogged down in the details of choreography but overall I liked the book.

[Tracy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always want to like the Lindy books because they are set in a dance company and the characters are great! But this book has Lindy jumping to so many confusions that she is grand jete-ing right overboard. On the other hand, I didn't figure out who dunnit until almost the end, so good going there.

[Homerun2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this, but I am not sure I will go on with the series. Not bad, but inconsistent and just not compelling.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 - Very Good