Book Review - Santa Cruise
A Light Holiday Gift from Carol and Mary Higgins Clark
A free holiday cruise sounded like a great idea to Alvirah Meehan, a recent lottery winner turned amateur sleuth, and her friends -- private detective Regan Reilly (known to readers from Carol Higgins Clark's novels), Regan's husband Jack -- the head of NYPD's major case squad, and Regans' parents.
The maiden voyage of the "Royal Mermaid," a restored classic yacht, dubbed the "Santa Cruise" is filled with invitees whose philanthropy and good works had come to the attention of owner, Randolph Weeds.
Santas and Ex-cons
Ten of the passengers are Santas, chosen in a lottery from among hundreds of applicants. The idea is for the Santas to wear Santa suits at dinner and at various times on the cruise to give the journey a festive (?) air.
From the beginning, things start to go wrong on the sailing. It seems that the ship's cruise and marketing director has miscounted the staterooms and the Meehan's are given Mr. Weeds' nephew's stateroom, much to the young man's chagrin. This incident is followed by two of the Santa suits being lost or stolen, a "ghost" sighting, and a variety of other difficult to explain happenings. What's more, the news from the mainland advises that two dangerous ex-cons have escaped from Miami. Could they be onboard the "Santa Cruise"?
A Holiday Surprise from Mary and Carol
Santa Cruise is a light enjoyable read, easily finished in an evening. The fourth in a series of similar holiday mysteries, it is more of a holiday gift from two talented mystery novelists than a serious work. Still, Santa Cruise is fun, slightly campy, and well worth picking up.
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