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The pacing was decent, the few twists were quite clever (if sometimes predictable), and the cruise-ship setting was convincing (as some of you may know, I love a good maritime setting - but equally, a bad one will really p*** me off). The stories in both timelines were engaging, and although the characters were superficial, I still wanted to know what would happen to them at each cliff-hanger, and would have read this in one sitting if I'd had that luxury.
The story begins with a dancer off a cruise named Lola going missing, there is speculation that she committed suicide by jumping overboard. The outcome was thrilling and highly unexpected. More crew members end up going missing and the way in which the crimes unfold will have you captivated. This book taps heavily into mental health, so bear this in mind if this is a trigger for you. This was my first Catherine Cooper book (I have her previous two sitting on my shelves) and I was truly impressed. Her writing is seamless and the plot really had me gripped. I read a lot of psychological thrillers so have pretty much seen (read?) it all, but this one felt unique. There’s a sub plot going on which I absolutely loved. It felt totally different to the main plot and for the life of me I couldn’t see how it was going to come together, but it did so magnificently. I also loved hearing about life on board a cruise ship, a topic i don’t know that much about as I’ve never really fancied that kind of holiday. Even less so now!During a New Year’s Eve party on a large, luxurious cruise ship in the Caribbean, the ship���s dancer, Lola, goes missing. In terms of the plot, I really did enjoy the plot with the idea that someone has gone overboard and is assumed dead. Soon, the ship is on a layover in the Caribbean and there is only essentials/useful staff allowed. Then another death occurs and one of the characters POV was very dodgy and poorly written in how their thought process is portrayed. There is a sub plot which I loved and I couldn't work out how it would all come together at the end, but it did wonderfully.
I listened to the full-cast audiobook and all four narrators did an over-the-top job with the narration. I listened on Audible and it was a fun narration overall. The last third really ramped up the pace and couldn't wait to see how everything settled. I do plan to read The Chalet by this author (which I own). We are always delighted to hear from authors. We are currently open for review requests and we are happy to review a wide variety of genres. Please submit your information below and we will be in touch asap. I’m working on it at the moment and it’s set partly in an overwater resort in the Maldives and partly in the home counties. Again, lots of luxury, great food, and a few deaths!I understand why the subplot was introduced and the ending tied everything together with an odd, lopsided and strange bow, but the book just wasn’t for me. The Cruise didn’t let me down, just like last time I was completely engrossed in the chapters set in the past, while the present was puzzling and addictive. I had no idea where this story was going to lead me! No idea! What a journey it was! Jeez! Mind Blown! I love the twists and turns, and I did guess who one character was but not the one you think.
A MASSIVE shout out for the audiobook, what a production, I particularly loved the narrator for Antonio - he was fab! I also found it disappointing when the ship was then put out of service, though admittedly with a skeleton crew. It's new years eve 2021 on the cruise ship and one of it's dancers, Lola goes missing. Someone is seen falling overboard - is it Lola?Again, wonderful and engaging writing, the author is clearly very well at what she does, but the book simply wasn’t for me. Fast forward 2 weeks and a modest crew are on layover preparing for next trip. Still missing Lola, friends work through their grief, but the body count still rises. To me it seemed absolutely enormous and I regularly lost my way trying to find my (rather lovely) stateroom, but since then obviously they have almost doubled in size! The plot flits between past and present and at first I did not understand how it all linked together. Once the truth is revealed and it all begins to come together it makes so much sense; it left me shook and made it impossible to put down.
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