Series
Publication
Original publication date
Collections
Genres
Subjects
Description
For the passengers aboard the Latakia, the transatlantic journey from New York to Cherbourg promises weeks of rest and relaxation, no matter what class of ticket they have. But after an Italian baroness is found strangled in her cabin, the situation on board becomes more tense. The main suspect soon goes overboard, creating more questions than answers: Did a guilty conscience spur a suicidal act, or was he a witness silenced by the true killer, still at large on the luxury liner. Enter former intelligence officer Walter Ghost, tapped by the ship's captain to play detective and solve the murder. He's joined by his friend Dunsten Mollock, a novelist whose experience with mystery stories gives him helpful insights into the case. With clues including an amateur film, a doll, and a card from Memphis, Tennessee, it seems the duo have plenty to work with. But will they be able to solve the crime before word of the murder makes it into the steamship's rumor mill, surely sending any guilty persons even deeper into hiding? Originally published in 1929 and out of print for nearly a century, Murder on "B" Deck is a puzzling-yet-humorous whodunnit set in the Golden Age of transatlantic travel. Includes discussion guide questions for use in book clubs.… (more)
User reviews
To make good use of his
The ship's captain asks Ghost to investigate the deaths and solve the mystery before the ship reaches Cherbourg in France. Ghost faces a complex puzzle and there's a cast of interesting characters to study. Mollock is both a help and a hindrance in the sleuthing. A lack of motive for the killing adds complications to Ghost's investigation.
It's an intricately plotted story, full of red herrings to draw out the suspense. It's more character-driven then plot-driven. The ending is anti-climatic and may not satisfy all readers. The mystery story itself is the largest draw, rather than figuring out the answer to whodunnit.
The story was written in 1929 and reflects the then-current beliefs and conventions of those times. There's some writing that will offend modern readers, but it's not really in-your-face. This one of a series, but can be read as a standalone.
An entertaining read for cozy fans.