Murder Sails at Midnight

This is a suspenseful mystery that follows five main characters sailing from New York to Genoa, Italy. Mrs. Abercrombie, who is recovering from a medical condition and is wheelchair bound; Valerie Meadows, Abercrombie’s private nurse/companion; Susan Emery, returning to the family estate in England to claim her inheritance; Gloria Grandé Pontini and her toddler son, travelling to Genoa to visit family. The four women were wealthy and could afford the high price of the first class accommodations on the luxury ship, Beatrice Cinci. The fifth character was there to do a job and was on his client’s dime.

The story line bounces between the main characters, revealing their pasts and the possible futures. Each has their own trove of show more secrets that have a deadly side.

Tension builds with each chapter for each character’s storyline. One of the ladies is to die, but who, when, how and by whom is where the tension and suspense compounds.

It wasn’t a fast read for me. I did better reading one chapter at a sitting. Definitely a read to be savoured. I have read other of Marian Babson’s books and enjoyed them too. show less

Chapter one tells of a meeting outlining a contract for murder told from the viewpoint of the hit man, named Butler. His intended victim is a woman sailing on the Beatrice Cenci from NYC to Italy. Four wealthy women on board, all have someone who hates them enough to have set up a contract. Four men who interact with these women (none named Butler) could be the hit man. The women’s stories come out throughout the book and each is a sympathetic heroine; none deserving to be the victim. Each of the men at various times acts suspiciously. I thought this was a very well set up mystery that kept you guessing.