2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Humorous Crime-Solving At Sea Among the Rich and Famous, August 2, 2003
This review is from: Murder on the Caronia: A Mystery Featuring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield (Hardcover)
It's 1908, and large liners are the transportation of choice by both the rich and those who are counting their pennies. With three classes of passengers (first, second and steerage), the scenes that occur vary vastly by where one is in the ship. Among the 2000 passengers are two undercover detectives for Cunard, the beautiful young Englishwoman, Ms. Genevieve Masefield, and the former Pinkerton detective and yacht designer, Mr. George Porter Dillman. Each blends beautifully into the first class life of the ship, where they pose as unacquainted passengers and share a fond personal relationship.
One of Cunard's finest liners, the Caronia, has her steam boilers all ready to go in New York when the Cunard detectives notice two Scotland Yard policemen ostentatiously escorting two prisoners, a man and a woman, on board with a shotgun. It turns out that the prisoners are accused of murdering the man's wife, stealing money and running away to avoid arrest.
While reporting to the purser, Paul Taggart, the detectives learn that there may be an illegal drug shipment on board. In addition, they are to keep a lookout for other potential crimes and solve them before arrival in England.
An unexpected murder soon complicates the voyage, and the detectives are pushed to the limit to determine who the guilty party is. They also become involved in the case of the two prisoners, and their questions lead to a solution. Other minor thefts are solved, as well. Will they also locate the drugs, if there are any?
The book pokes mild fun at the attitudes of social climbing Americans and English people, old-fashioned prejudices towards women, and double standards among those who are overly committed to winning.
Both detectives are fun to read about. The mysteries themselves are pretty lightweight, and resolved a bit too easily . . . almost like the confessions on the witness stand at the end of a Perry Mason novel.
The book is a little weak as a period piece, because so many of the phrases used seem to reflect today's language rather than a century ago. I did find the references to an endurance bicycle race between Bordeaux and Paris to be of interest in light of Lance Armstrong's recent victory in his fifth consecutive Tour de France.
This is the first book in the series I have read, so I cannot say how it compares to others. I suspect that fans of past books (Murder on the Lusitania, Murder on the Mauretania and Murder on the Minnesota) will probably like this one, too.
After you finish enjoying the book, think about how travel can be used today to meet new people and overcome your outdated ideas about how things should be.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not an avid reader but enjoyed this book, March 6, 2003
This review is from: Murder on the Caronia: A Mystery Featuring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield (Hardcover)
I am not an avid reader. Since there is a lot of garbage on tv. I decided I need to start reading. I borrowed this book from the library. I could not put it down. It easy to follow. This book has it all: suspense, mystery and love. It is must read. I went back to library to find the other book but did not have any. So I must buy Conrad Allen's book. It took only 5 days to read.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Story of a fascinating era, March 11, 2003
This review is from: Murder on the Caronia: A Mystery Featuring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield (Hardcover)
In the glory days of the Atlantic steamships in the early 20th century, the ultra-wealthy mix with criminals in the first class section of the great ships. The Cunard line has hired detectives Genevieve Masefield and George Porter to work their ships--this time the beautiful Caronia. In general, crime on the ships is limited to pick-pockets and drunken fights in the lower class sections. On this voyage, however, the purser suspects drug smuggling, and Scotland Yard policemen are escourting home a couple accused of murdering the man's wife and fleeing to the new world. Somehow, Genevieve and George must get to the bottom of all of the mysteries, while keeping their identities a secret and blending with the mogels who make up the aristocracy of the new world of capitalism.
Author Conrad Allen is convincing in his descriptions of these great steamships, providing enough historical detail to fascinate while not overwhelming the story itself. As always, Genevieve finds herself the target of unwanted attention, this time by a young professional bicyclist (perhaps the Lance Armstrong of his day), who had lived for nothing but his training, but can now think of nothing but Genevieve. When one of the Scotland Yard policemen is killed, both Genevieve and George have more important things to worry about than an unwanted attraction--once again, there has been a murder on the ship on which they travel. Unless they can find the killer, their careers as ship detectives will be over.
MURDER ON THE CARONIA is a pleasant read with entertaining, although sometimes flat, characters. The drug smuggling plot seemed to be undone by relative stupidity on the part of the smugglers rather than by any intelligence on the part of the detectives, but perhaps this is to be expected by smugglers. Allen's smooth writing and the fascinating environment of early 20th century steamships kept me turning the pages.
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