Lori Avocato, Deep Sea Dead

Deep Sea Dead

Lori Avocato

Avon, May 2006, $6.99, 320 pp.

ISBN: 0060837004

Insurance fraud inspector and former nurse Pauline Sokol is unhappy with her newest assignment, her sleazy boss Fabio Scarpello tells her to stop fretting about icebergs and forget the Titanic. Reluctantly she joins the medical team of the Golden Dolphin luxury liner as a nurse while the vessel sets sail for Bermuda because the alternative is unemployment.

Pauline's tied for best friend Goldie and her squeeze Miles booked passage on the luxurious ship to provide her support, though the former fears crossing the infamous Bermuda Triangle. Also on board are Pauline's parents, whom the undercover insurance agent assumes is coincidence; and the enigmatic Jagger, who insists he is her backup only. However, as she investigates what is going on the Golden Dolphin, someone prefers to eliminate the crew, including nosy nurses. FBI Agent Tim Harwinton, attracted to Pauline, struggles to keep her safe, while Jagger skirmishes with not beating up the Fed for trying to steal his role.

Homage to Poe aside, only Pauline could go first class on a cruise ship and find corpses in her room, as once again she stars in her fourth delightfully wacky whodunit. Tim adds freshness, as his interest professionally and personally in the heroine brings out the beast in Jagger who does not like the Fed poaching. The murder mystery, as always is fun to follow, as Pauline constantly lands in peril with two studs fighting over who should rescue her. DEEP SEA DEAD is a terrific cuckoo's nest homicidal investigative tale.