Conrad Allen Murder on the Oceanic

Murder on the Oceanic

Conrad Allen

St. Martin's Feb 2006, $23.95, 288 pp.

ISBN: 0312342853

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 storyline.