Customer Reviews

Set Sail for Murder: A Henrie O Mystery (Henrie O Mysteries)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had a hard time accepting the premise of this book, that an "old love" would ask Henrie O to come on a cruise and evaluate his family for potential murderers. As I read through the book, the one thing on my mind was that Ms. Hart, a wonderful writer, needed an excuse to take this marvelous trip to Scandanavia and Russia, and so wrote a book around it.

I felt the guilty party was fairly obvious, and the characters became so friendly with Henrie O so rapidly that it was a farce. Why on earth answer her questions? Old friend or not, she definitely intruded on this family gathering, and I was uncomfortable. This book is merely OK, but it comes from a five-star writer.

Henrie O Collins, a retired newspaper reporter, is surprised to hear from her former lover, Jimmy Lennox. Jimmy has married a wealthy woman named Sophia Montgomery who is in charge of her step-children's trust fund. Sophia will soon make an important decision about her step-children's money and Jimmy is afraid that one of them wants to kill Sophia before she has a chance to make that decision. Jimmy invites Henry O to accompany the family on a Baltic cruise and to try to find out which of the step-children is threatening Sophia's life. Although this puts Henry O in an awkward situation, she agrees to help Jimmy try to protect Sophia. Author Carolyn Hart puts out plenty of red herrings, but I did figure out who the murderer is. Despite knowing the murderer, I enjoyed the book and found the setting of a cruise and the stops at various Scandanavian ports to be very interesting.

Carolyn Hart's long-awaited seventh installment in the highly popular Henri O series after six years takes you on a exotic and opulent cruise.The book kicks off with spunky retired journalist Henri O receiving a phone call from dear friend and one time lover, Jimmy Lennox.Jimmy's wife glamorous world-famous documentary film maker, Sophia, has been barely escaping some weird "accidents " that she just shrugs and shakes off as coincidence. Jimmy fears for his wife's safety and pleads with Henri O to join them on a family cruise to the Baltic that will determine what Sophia will do with her step children from her second husband's inheritance.Henri O reluctantly agrees to join the family, but knows Jimmy would come to her rescue if ever there was a need. Sophia's scheming step children loathe her for controlling their money.As the voyage sets sail we are given a wonderful description of the ports of call and the luxuriant cruise ship. I truly enjoyed my two week cruise with the lovely Henri O. It was my first Henri O book and I am anxious to read the series from the beginning. It was well-written, well-plotted and a delight to read.As a diehard fan of her Death on Demand series I was highly impressed with getting to know this charming, fiesty, humorous character.The one thing I love about picking up a book by Hart is her vast use of vocabulary.

This is a good book that takes you on a Baltic sea cruise. The mystery is pretty good; I didn't figure out the murderer till about 2/3 of the way through. A couple nitpicks, a continutity issue when on one page a character comments on soaking up the sun and 2 pages and only moments later, a second character is on the deck wrapped in a blanket with a comment about the day being so grey. Also, in my experience, girls in their 20s are highly unlikely to wear their hair in "a sleek french twist" or "a neat bun". I doubt any of the 20-somethings I know would have any idea what those styles are! So, beyond those little details, a fun read that brings back a beloved character and lets you cruise the Baltic with her.

Henrie O. returns for a long awaited new engagement, featuring new and old well-drawn charcters as Carolyn Hart again intrigues readers with her quick thinking retired reporter. If you're planning a sea-cruise carry this mystery in your tote bag for long days in a deck chair. The plot twists will hold you spellbound to find out what happens next. The story will make you forget to eat. Weight control with pleasure cannot be beat.
"Set Sail for Murder" is the seventh enty for this popular series, which keeps readers waiting for the next addition. Will Henrie O and Jimmy Lennox reuite?
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks, & Pitfalls for Authors 2007."

After a much too long delay, Carolyn Hart has brought back her intrepid "senior," Henrie O. And readers are delighted! Henrie O is a role model for all who are or will become seniors. Smart and persistent, Henrie O doesn't let quarreling step-children or cruise-ship officials stop her from investigating one, then two, suspicious deaths. And all the while we're treated to entrancing Northern Europian sites. But that's not all: we learn that romantic desire doesn't wane with seniority. Let's here it for a super senior sleuth! And a great read. Thank you, Carolyn.

Eleanor Sullivan, author of Assumed Dead

If you're a mystery aficionado, you'll know 'who done it' pretty much from the beginning.

Yes, you get all the clues, a red herring or two, but it's so obvious who the murderer is you have to force yourself to keep reading.

Nice travel descriptions. All her books have them. Makes me want to travel more than read these mysteries.

Maybe Carolyn should switch to travel writing. She sure does it better than murders, IMO.

When old flame Jimmy Lenox contacts Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins, otherwise known as Henrie O, her heart beats faster and her mind flits back to a time when she was the reigning queen of his heart. In spite of a great affection for Jimmy, Henrie O turned down his previous proposal of marriage. Jimmy is now married to the renowned documentary filmmaker Sophia Montgomery.

Unfortunately, Jimmy's life with Sophia is not all wine and roses. Sophia is the stepmother of four adult heirs to her previous husband Frank Riordan's fortune. She must make a decision regarding the future of the trusts set up for them. At present, all are receiving an income off the money in the trusts, based on Sophia's good will toward them. If all goes well, the trusts will be dissolved and each of the Riordans will receive full control of their fortunes. However, if Sophia decides otherwise, which is a definite possibility due to the animosity between the heirs and their stepmother, then the trusts will be set aside, out of their reach, and reviewed again in 10 years.

The problem is that someone is not willing to wait patiently for the money. Sophia recently had a near miss with a boulder, and while she refuses to take it as an attempt on her life, hubby Jimmy is suspicious that this rolling stone was no accident. When a possibly poisoned glass of sherry is struck from his hand before he can deliver it to Sophia, he becomes convinced that one of the Riordans is to blame. But which one?

In addition to the heirs, there is Auntie Evelyn to be considered. This unmarried sister of Frank stepped in to raise the children when their mother died many years ago. She loves them with undying devotion, but how far will she go to see that they receive the money that is rightfully theirs?

In spite of all the intrigue and high drama surrounding her, Henrie O manages to do some sightseeing when the Clio docks in a variety of beautiful and ancient cities. Copenhagen, Gdynia, Tallinn and St. Petersburg, and the ancient and exotic sights, call to Henrie O and she answers. After all, she'd be an idiot not to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime voyage.

It's a little hard to concentrate though when the mystery and intrigue deepen with each passing day. More attempts on Sophia's life occur, and it becomes obvious that someone is determined to get their money. Will Henrie O be able to solve the mystery in time, or will lives be lost while the one with malice in his or her heart hides among the innocent? Only time will tell.

--- Reviewed by Amie Taylor

Her former lover Jimmy Lennox married Sophia Montgomery instead of Henrie O Collins so when he comes begging for her help she wants to tell him to ask his wife instead. Jimmy explains that Sophia has had a series of accidents that individually seems to affirm she is clumsy, but in total make him suspect a family member wants to hurt perhaps kill her. He assumes it is one of Sophia's stepchildren from a previous marriage and wants Henrie O to join them on a cruise in order to keep his spouse safe and to uncover who wants to harm her.

On the two week cruise of the Baltic, Henrie O quickly realizes that all the stepchildren loathe Sophia with good cause. However, which one wants her dead before she announces her plans for their inheritance that she legally controls seems impossible to determine as every family member wants her dead, money or not.

The latest investigative tale starring retired reporter Henrie O is a fabulous entry due to a strong support cast especially Jimmy, Sophia, and the wannabes. The story line is filled with red herrings, terrific knots and twists, and several suspects with strong motives to kill. Fans of the series will appreciate this tale as Henrie O struggles to control her feelings for James while wondering just who demands death for Sophia.

Harriet Klausner