Santa Cruise

This is not the gritty, suspenseful mystery one would expect from Mary Higgins Clark. It is a It is a farce-like caper mystery where you laughingly ask yourself what else could happen to these people. No matter how many times I asked myself that question, Mary and Carol Higgins Clark had an answer. However, as funny as it got at times, the plotline never appeared dumbed down". It was humorous, but not absurdly ridiculous. I enjoyed the story very much and would gladly read another in this series.

I listened to the audio version of this story. I'm not normally a fan of authors narrating their own works. IMO, they tend to be too invested in the characters and the plotline and can't detach themselves from it to observe the audience's show more perspective. However, I thought Carol Higgins Clark did an excellent job narrating the story and could poke fun at her own characters to amuse the listener. I really enjoyed this story and its narrator." show less

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.

Alvirah Meehan, lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, and private investigator Regan Reilly are guests, along with their spouses, on the "Santa Cruise." The cruise is a gift from Commodore Randolph Weed to a select group that "has made the world a better place." His largesse is prompted by the desire to create a buzz about his new cruise ship, the Royal Mermaid, as she sets out on her maiden voyage. Alvirah, Regan, and her new husband, Jack -- head of the NYPD Major Case Squad -- are joined as guests on the cruise by a mystery fan convention celebrating a "ghost of honor," as well as ten men who donated time playing Santa Claus, now hoping for a restful post-season. That tranquility vanishes when two Santa suits disappear from a locked show more room, a storm develops, and an attempt is made on a passenger's life. As the Royal Mermaid sails through troubled waters, Alvirah, Regan, and Jack uncover clues that lead them to dangerous criminals not on the original guest list... show less

I enjoyed reading this book. It was quick and easy to read. There were a lot of characters to keep straight, and the narrative switched point of view often. Still, I felt it was easy to follow. For a relatively short book, there was a lot packed into it. 2 separate mysteries, lots of bad guys and some pretty intricate plots, and it all gets wrapped up by the end.

I liked the Santa theme, even though it wasn't really necessary to the story. It was just a fun little touch. The two obnoxious little girls added some fun to the story too. Reading this has put me in the mood to head to the library and pick up some more books by this author.

This was a fun, light-hearted mystery. Nothing heavy, nothing graphic, just a quick, enjoyable who-dun-it. The story revolves around a free cruise taken by a lottery winner. On board are bumbling crooks trying to escape their fates. I read this book and visualized the comic mystery movies of the 40's and 50's. Silly, somewhat goofy, and far from believable, but a fun romp nonetheless.

I found that after a few chapters of being told who were the bad guys and probably why they were there made this a book not worth reading all the way through. I had high hopes since I have never read anything by either of these authors and felt because it was a "household name" that I would have some enjoyable reading. I felt that the back and forth between the stowaways and the other characters was just a waste of pages. I don't want things spelled out for me in a mystery. I want to find out near the very end when the person solving the crime does. I like to be captured so I can't put the book down until the very end. Unfortunately this was not the case with this book. I truly felt ripped off with the few chapters I read.

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.