30 Jun 2015

MURDER ON THE MINNEAPOLIS.


MURDER ON THE MINNEAPOLIS by ANITA DAVISON

PRESS RELEASE BLURB: Flora Maguire, a young governess, is on her way home on the SS Minneapolis after the wedding of her employer's daughter. She meets the charming Bunny Harrington on deck on the first night, after having avoided the dining room, conscious of her status among first-class passengers. 

Flora finds the body of a man at the bottom of a companionway, but when his death is pronounced an accident, she is not convinced, and, having experienced her own tragedy as a child in the form of her mother's disappearance, is driven to find out the truth.

Flora starts asking questions, but following threats, a near drowning during a storm and a second murder, the hunt is on in earnest for a killer.

Time is running out as the Minneapolis approaches the English coast. Will Flora be able to protect Edward, her charge, as well as herself, and uncover the identity of the murderer? Is her burgeoning relationship with the handsome Bunny Harrington only a shipboard dalliance, or something more.

FIRST SENTENCE/ MEMORABLE MOMENT: Not applicable.

SOURCE:  An Uncorrected Proof Copy (the UK publication date for Murder On The Minneapolis is 30th June) received for review with thanks to Isobel Cairns, Marketing & Publicity Department, Robert Hale Publishers

MY THOUGHTS: An 'Edwardian Cosy'. I won't dwell on the plot for fear of spoilers but will say that with intrigue heaped upon intrigue Murder On The Minneapolis is certainly a great 'who-dun-it' that kept my attention from start to finish. However to me personally this wasn't the main appeal.

Transported back to a golden-age of travel aboard the SS Minneapolis I loved the descriptions of life aboard ship. The snobbery, the politics of class, the relationships, the meals eaten and, oh, the characters themselves.

I relished the antics of the dreadful snob that was Mrs Penry-Jones, revelled in the feisty and yet ever so feminine Flora, loved that her blood sang in her veins whenever Bunny was near and yet stood her ground when she had to.

All in all a thoroughly good read. I can't help but wonder if we will see Flora solve yet more murders in future books. I certainly hope so.


9 comments:

carol said...

This sounds like one I would enjoy. Kind of a country manor mystery on the sea.

Natasha said...

This sounds really cool - will definitely have to add this to my list! Thank you for all of your lovely recent comments too. - Tasha

brandileigh2003 said...

The mystery and her as a character sounds nice, hope there is another for you

Kelly said...

Oh, I think I would like this...the genre, the setting, the time period.. Definitely one to keep in mind for the future, thanks to your glowing review.

Stephanie@Fairday's Blog said...

This sounds like a delight! I love a good mystery and historical fiction is fun too. Thanks for sharing. I will look for this one. :)

Literary Feline said...

This sounds like a satisfying cozy, Tracy. I always wonder though at people going off to investigate crimes on their own. Not that it stops me from reading books like this. :-)

Anita Davison said...

Many thanks for your lovely review, Tracy. I'm so glad you liked Flora, and as to whether or not you will hear more from her, well I certainly hope so too......

Brian Joseph said...

Great review Tracy.

I think that my wife would love this book. I will be sending her the link to it. It does sound like a lot of fun.

Gina said...

Curious. That "class" reminds me of the Titanic...