Lo Blacklock has been given the chance of a lifetime.  She is going on the maiden voyage of the exclusive cruise ship, Aurora!  With only a handful of rooms and no expense spared, this is a cruise ship that will only be for the rich and famous. However, as part of promoting this newest ship, Lo’s travel magazine as well as other journalists, leading socialites and trend setters have been asked to come aboard in order to generate interest. Luckily, Lo’s boss was unable to go, and asked Lo to go instead.

This was a lucky break in a number of ways. Lo had been feeling like she had hit a glass ceiling at work, and was hoping that this opportunity might shake things loose. Additionally, her apartment had just been burgled, and waking up to see the robber  looming over her before running away with her purse was still raw and traumatic. On top of that she had had an emotional confrontation with her boyfriend as well.  Reeling from all the drama and unable to feel safe in her own apartment, Lo was relieved that she would be on a boat, off the grid, and have some space to consider her life.

Once on board ship and ensconced in her lovely, plush cabin, Lo realizes that in her hurry she forgot to pack her mascara. Realizing this would never do when dressing in evening clothes for dinner was de rigor, Lo asks the woman next door in cabin 10, if she has some mascara she could borrow. The woman shoves a small tube into her hand and tells her she can have it and slams the door in her face.

Late that night after a long dinner where the drinks flowed, Lo wakes up. Suddenly, she hears a noise from the room next door-a loud splash. Running to the veranda she looks out into the swirling sea and sees a white shape just as it submerges beneath a wave. Looking at the veranda next to hers she sees something dark, smeared on the window. Terrified, she calls to report what she saw, but when security arrives the smear on the window is gone, and the room that had been occupied by the woman who gave her the mascara is clean and sterile with no indication that anyone had been there at all. After security determines no one is missing, Lo, herself, begins to question what she saw. Then she sees the tube of mascara that the woman gave her and she knows that as a journalist she cannot let this story go, even if it means she will put herself in danger.

Known as the author of the “twisty- mystery,” Ware has outdone herself this time. With a main character who witnesses something that no one can confirm and all the suspects in a confined space, this is a classic murder mystery, a la Agatha Christie! But that does not mean it is formulaic. Instead Ware, like Christie keeps us guessing. Did Lo really see what she thought she saw or was she drinking too much or reacting from the trauma of the burglary?  Who was the woman in Cabin 10 and why was she on board? Who has the motive to kill and why? Ware deftly feeds us a little information at a time, keeping us interested and inexorably building the suspense, which makes it a joy to read!

Brenda’s Rating: **** (4 out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Marian, Lauren, Keith and Sharon

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in ebook format.