Dead Man Docking: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery [Hardcover]

Mary Daheim (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2, 2005

B&B hostess Judith McMonigle Flynn and her closer-than-a-sibling cousin Renie would be crazy to turn down a free, 1930s-themed South Pacific islands cruise aboard the magnificent San Rafael, the pride of the Cruz Cruises fleet. Unfortunately, the fabulous pre-launch party is as far out to sea as the passengers are likely to get, after the body of their VIP host, Magglio Cruz, is discovered stuffed in the piano and the cruise is cancelled.

Suddenly free to gad about San Francisco with their marooned shipmates -- at least one of whom is possibly homicidal -- the cousins decide to join glamorous, martini-quaffing Rick and Rhoda St. George and their wheezy white pooch, Asthma, for a bit of amateur sleuthing. But the route to Magglio's murderer may not be such smooth sailing. And if Judith, Renie, and the St. Georges aren't careful, they may all end up leaving their hearts in San Francisco . . . and the rest of their mortal remains as well!

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In Daheim's disappointing 21st bed-and-breakfast cozy (after 2004's This Old Souse), B&B owner Judith Flynn and cousin Renie tear off to San Francisco to join a 1930s-themed maiden cruise for Renie's employer's newest luxury liner. The dock is as far as they get, however, after someone stabs cruise line owner Magglio Cruz to death at the bon voyage party. While the ship remains in port, the intimate group of partygoers continues to mix and mingle and dwindle in number. Aided by wealthy sleuthing, martini-swilling couple Rick and Rhoda, Judith and Renie attempt to narrow the list of suspects. These 21st-century characters, who include an impassioned environmentalist and a blonde "bombshell" bimbo, seem caught in a time warp as they blurt lingo like "flatfoot" and "dame." This almost slapstick tale with its contrived dialogue falls far below the level Daheim fans have grown to expect.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

The prolific Daheim alternates between two charming and successful cozy series, both set in the Pacific Northwest. Her latest, part of her Bed-and-Breakfast series, brings back innkeeper Judith McMonigle Flynn and her zany cousin Renie, who tend to get in trouble whenever they're together. This time, the cousins--whose kids are grown and out of the house--leave their husbands behind for a journey to San Francisco. From there, they are to take a free cruise that Renie finagled from a client. Before they can leave shore, however, the ship owner is murdered at a cocktail party aboard the ship. As police investigate his death, another murder occurs. In the manner of Lucy and Ethel, wacky adventurers Judith and Renie are always loads of fun to be around. While investigating the murders, they paint San Francisco red and hobnob with wealthy cruise patrons such as Rick and Rhoda St. George, a martini-swilling Nick and Nora-like couple whose dog is named Asthma. More madcap fun from the always-reliable Daheim. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (August 2, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060566485
• ISBN-13: 978-0060566487
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,366,475 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing and boring, November 18, 2005

By 

Claudia McGill (Wyncote, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dead Man Docking: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Hardcover)

I'm a fan of this series and have read them all. After the last installment (This Old Souse)I hoped for a return to Judith and Renie I met in the earlier books, but this book isn't it. The strength of the books for me has always been the skewed take on life these two have, but in this book, they just seemed silly, almost caricactures of their former selves. Like the cruise, the book didn't go anywhere - the two cousins seemed to run around a lot, but getting nowhere, I think since the plot was so weak and the other characters so "cardboard cutout". I miss the focus on Hillside Manor, the family characters (Joe and Gertrude are almost non-existent in this book), and the comfortable atmosphere and the earlier books have. It seems as if the author has run out of ideas and is forcing the humor. I actually found myself skipping parts of the book, impatient with what sometimes seemed like needless diversions or filler. I hope the next book is better, or maybe it's time for this series to end.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Guys and Dames, November 18, 2005

By 

Casiana (CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Man Docking: A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Hardcover)

On a cruise that is not to be, Renie and Judith find, of course, a corpse. The theme of the cruise is 1930's and once everyone disembarks into the wonderful city of San Francisco ( which is well drawn)it seems the theme continues ashore. Part of the mystery is for the reader to discern who the characters represent from past famous mysteries. At times enjoyable, frivolous and - tedious.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing Read, August 17, 2006

By 

MyFirstMystery (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dead Man Docking : A Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery (Bed-And-Breakfast Mysteries) (Hardcover)

This was my first Mary Daheim book, I picked it up on a whim.

I was disappointed in the book, in no small part because of the unlikeable characters. After about a quarter of the book was behind me I found myself wondering why I should continue, because the heroines were just as cranky as the supporting cast, and even the cruise ship setting, which had some great promise, lacked sparkle.

Unless you have an interest in reading everything in this particular series, I'd devote my time elsewhere.