Murder on the QE2: A Murder, She Wrote Mystery by Jessica Fletcher & Donald Bain

    For as long as I can remember, there has been talk in my family about how great it would be to go on a cruise.  We have seen many exciting cruises offered.  Some with themes, some without.  But as of yet, I have never been on one.  Maybe someday I finally will.  Just hopefully a calmer one than Jessica Fletcher went on.

The High Seas/Artwork by Kate Dorsey

    Jessica Fletcher has been given the task of performing lectures and writing a play, all to be presented during a crossing of the ocean liner the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2).  She went on this exact same liner years ago with her husband, Frank, and is excited to be on the ship again.  There is some sadness she is not with her husband, but it is an adventure Jessica is looking forward to.

    She cannot, however, say the same about writing a play.  Her success is with writing novels, not plays.  Despite what some may believe, writing them is not the same.  Still, Jessica is willing to give writing the play a try.  She makes sure to have it ready when she boards the ship.

    In the script, Jessica has written parts for the other lecturers to participate if they want to.  If they don’t, they can simply be written out.  She does not expect having to write someone out because of murder, though.

    Actress Marla Tralaine was not the friendliest of people.  Still, it comes as a surprise when her body is found in a lifeboat.  Those who run the ship want to keep her death as quiet as possible.  Which means the news gets out quickly.  Along with speculation about how exactly Marla was killed.

    In an effort to keep the passengers calm, Jessica is asked to write an insert for the daily program distributed to the passenger rooms each morning.  For some, this works and they are able to enjoy their trip.  For others, it does not.

    Things actually become worse for one of the lecturers, Elaine Ananthous.  That is because amongst all that is going on with the murder, her friend and fellow lecturer, Troy Radcliff, has disappeared.  Elaine is concerned something bad has happened to Troy, and will not hear otherwise.

    Then someone is poisoned during a cooking presentation.  Now Jessica truly knows she has to figure out what is going on.  And she must do it before someone else gets hurt.

    It was interesting to have someone work with Jessica this time who is even more observant and astute than she is.  Mary Ward, who Jessica got to know, noticed many things Jessica did not.  In some ways, I’m not sure Jessica would have solved the case so quickly if it hadn’t been for Mary.  Since Mary was such a help, I have to wonder if she will appear in future books.  With as many people as Jessica Fletcher keeps in touch with, it is always possible.