Title Wave

A recent installment (2016) of the "Booktown Mystery" series by Lorna Barrett, (who also writes at L.L. Bartlett  and Lorraine Bartlett), this book breaks with earlier titles, presumably, because it is set entirely on a cruise ship instead of in the small New Hampshire town of Stoneham. Protagonist Tricia Miles owns a mystery bookstore in the town, Haven't Got a Clue, and owns a cat named Miss Marple. I think I would rather have read one of the earlier books set in the village. She accurately depicts what it's like to go on a large cruise ship, in the this case the Celtic Lady. Her sister, Angelica owns a cookbook shop and is also an author. Angelica is also currently the president of the town's Chamber of Commerce and has been key in organizing a group from Stoneham to join the ship's Authors' Tour. Authors from several genres will give talks as will editors and publishers during the cruise from New York City to Bermuda and back. It's winter in New Hampshire and this is the first time the sisters have taken a vacation together, and the first time either of them has taken time off in several years. But instead of being relaxing, Tricia discovers the body of thriller author E.M. Barstow, a woman so unpleasant that nobody is really sorry she's gone. Although Tricia finds her hanging in her shower, several aspects of the situation make it clear, at least to amateur sleuth Tricia, that this was murder, not a suicide--although the cruise line's security person is bound and determined to keep anyone from thinking there's a murderer on board. What is enjoyable is that the two main female characters are both middle aged, and have been through rough periods as siblings, as daughters, as grown women. They are both successful business women, so good role models. I might check out some of her earlier books, but I wasn't overly impressed with her writing style--she used the word "grating" to describe the victim's speaking style a few too many times.
Review from Publishers Weekly.