Customer Reviews

Murder on the Oceanic: A Mystery (George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield Mysteries)

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Cruise ship detectives George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield are concerned when banker J. P. Morgan refuses to lock his valuables in the ship safe. But Morgan refuses to back down and he's brought his own security expert along to make sure his property stays safe. An outbreak of theft is only the beginning, however. And Dillman is summoned when the security expert is found murdered--and the most valuable of Morgan's treasures stolen.

Genevieve is tasked with tracking down whomever is stealing woman's jewelry--including that stolen from one woman who insists that she'll complain all the way to the Oceanic's parent company, the White Star Line. With all of the fabulous jewelry being displayed in the pre-WW-I Atlantic crossings, the thief or thieves have plenty of opportunities. And Genevive, in her guise as a single woman (she's actually married to Dillman) is an attractive target to rakes--including handome English Aristocrat Jonathan Killick. Meanwhile, Dillman has his hands filled with a sexy artist who just happens to be part of a very open marriage.

Author Conrad Allen continues his cruise ship historical mystery series with the story of the Oceanic--briefly the largest and fastest ship in the Atlantic fleet. The introduction of J. P. Morgan adds a bit of historical detail to an interesting look at how the rich lived in the late period of gilded age.

MURDER ON THE OCEANIC starts out with an introductory chapter that regular readers of the series will want to skip--with Genevive and Dillman telling each other things they both already know for the enlightenment of readers who want to catch up (always a weak tactic in writing). Things pick up once the Oceanic gets under weigh, with Dillman and Genevive investigating multiple thefts--and fending off predatory potential lovers. The ultimate resolution seemed a bit of a letdown, however, with Genevieve essentially stumbling into the clue that solved the case.

Fans of Conrad Allen's George Dillmand and Genevieve Masefield will certainly want to add this one to their to-be-read pile. Those new to the series might wish to start with one of the earlier stories, however

As this 7th Shipboard Mystery begins it is March 1910 and our heroes, George and Genevieve are once again crossing the Atlantic as undercover detectives watching over the First and Second class passengers on the grand passenger liners of the day. Now though they are working for the White Star line instead of the rival Cunard line that had occupied them in the earlier volumes of the series.

The now married pair are following their usual practice of pretending to be single during the trip. This trip is a particular challenge since financier J. P. Morgan is on board, returning from France with a cabin full of art treasures that are sure to tempt any thieves on the ship. Soon the pair has their hands full with a series of petty (and not so petty) thefts, a trouble making cad and a dead body. The detectives struggle to put all to rights before they dock in New York.

As is often the case with cozy mysteries the true attraction is the on going story of the Dillmans' personal lives rather than the mysteries. Still there are a few twists and turns to keep the readers guessing while spending a few pleasant hours sailing the high seas with George and Genevieve.

This time ship detectives George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield work the cruise vessel the Oceanic debarking from Southampton, England, briefly stopping in Cherbourg, France before crossing the Atlantic with a final destination of New York. The two sleuths are concerned with the world's leading financier J.P. Morgan coming on board with a retinue of art, antiques, and other valuables; their trepidation is increased by learning that Mr. Morgan keeps his collectibles in his room, making it a somewhat easier prey for thieves than say locking it in the ship's vault.

George tries to plead with Mr. Morgan to better safeguard his valuables, but is unable to get close to the wealthy banker as his bodyguard allows no one near his charge unless told otherwise. A few days out to sea, someone kills the bodyguard with a slash to the throat and much of the collectibles are stolen. With Genevieve tied up investigating a rash of small thefts, George works the Morgan murder-theft by himself until an inadvertent comment by a robbery victim leads the two detectives to link their previously thought of exclusive cases together.

The latest ocean going historical mystery is a fabulous tale filled with terrific twists that will surprise the readers (and the two stars). At over thirty knots speed, the fast-paced tale moves rapidly forward along two wonderful currents (though George's is the prime investigation) until they merge into a fabulous who-done-it. Conrad Allen remains captain of the ocean cruise mystery with this refreshingly original intricate plot, new secondary characters providing plenty of color and insight into the era to include real persona from the period, and a wonderful relationship between the protagonists inside a strong investigative story line.

Harriet Klausner