Murder Onboard Cruise and Sailing Mysteries

Short Story Collections

Death cruise: crime stories on the open seas Lawrence Block, ed. (1999)

Short stories about crime at sea written by members of the International Association of Crime Writers, including Agatha Christie, Nancy Pickard, Jeremiah Healy, Edward D. Hoch, and many others.

Murder on deck!: shipboard & shoreline mystery stories edited by Rosemary Herbert (1998)

An international anthology of twenty-five mystery stories on the high seas features the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Janwillem van de Wetering, Chris Rippen, Saho Sasazawa, John Mortimer, Agatha Christie, William Faulkner, Ellery Queen, and other notable writers.

Novels

ADLER, Elizabeth Sailing to Capri (2006)

Teaming up to investigate six possible suspects in the mysterious death of an English Yorkshire tycoon, Daisy Kean and private investigator Harry Montana interact with the suspects on a lavish Mediterranean cruise that culminates in a dramatic reading of the victim's will.

AKUNIN, Boris Murder on the Leviathan (2004)

Investigating the murder of an English aristocrat whose children and servants were found dead nearby of morphine overdoses, police commissioner Gauche teams up with Russian agent Erast Fandorin to identify a killer on board a luxury cruise ship. By Russia's most popular mystery writer.

ALLEN, Conrad Murder on the Marmora (2004)

Accepting a new assignment, one that includes keeping an eye on the Duke and Duchess of Fife during a luxury cruise to Egypt, ship's detectives George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield find their voyage interrupted by a murderer on board, in an atmospheric mystery set in 1908. See also Murder on the Caronia, Murder on the Lusitania and Murder on the Mauretania, all featuring Cunard detectives Dillman and Masefield .

ALLEN, Steve Murder on the Atlantic (1995)

Invited to join the maiden voyage of a reclusive billionaire's luxury liner, amateur detective Steve Allen and his vivacious wife Jayne are called upon to solve a mystery when a body is discovered in a lifeboat.

ARNOLD, Margot The Midas Murders (1995)

American anthropologist Penny Spring and British archaeologist Sir Toby Glendower embark on their twelfth adventure aboard a cruise ship in the Mediterranean, where a rakish father-and-son pair of millionaires meet their end.

BABSON, Marian The Cruise Of A Deathtime (1984)

A ten-day cruise from Miami to Nhumbala, Africa, with more than 500 passengers aboard the Empress Josephine, sails into treachery, panic, and twenty-six murders.

BAGLEY, Desmond Night Of Error (1984)

After receiving news of his brother's death, oceanographer Mike Trevelyan is robbed, assaulted, and forced to kill a man and finds himself following a trail of violence to the South Seas where he faces his brother's secret.

BAIN, Donald writing as Jessica Fletcher Murder On the QE2: A Murder She Wrote Mystery (1997)

Noted mystery writer and amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher accepts a free voyage on the luxury oceanliner in exchange for directing a play to entertain the ship's passengers and finds herself searching for the killer of the play's leading lady.

BECK, K.K. Death in a Deck Chair (1984)

Near the end of her round-the-world cruise, young Iris Cooper is called upon by the ship's captain to assist him in his investigation of a murder committed by someone with a fondness for brass-handled ship's knives.

BIGGERS, Earl Derr Charlie Chan Carries On (1930)

A Scotland Yard detective and friend of Chan's is pursuing a murderer on an around-the-world voyage. While his ship is docked in Honolulu, the detective is shot and wounded by his quarry; though he survives, he is unable to continue with the cruise, and Inspector Chan takes his place instead.

BORTHWICK, J. S. My Body Lies Over the Ocean (2000)

Amateur detective Sarah Deane and her husband, Dr. Alex McKenzie, return to investigate a series of apparent murders that occurs while they accompany Sarah's aunt on a luxurious transatlantic ocean voyage.

BRUCE, Leo Death in the Middle Watch (1974)

Carolus Deene, history teacher turned sleuth, is aboard a luxury cruise ship, hired by the owner of the cruise line to pose as a passenger and keep an eye out for trouble. Naturally, trouble doesn't take long to manifest itself, when the widow of the man who died last year is murdered.

CALVERT, Candy Dressed to Keel (2006)

When a ship steward is murdered, Darcy Cavanaugh's amateur sleuthing turns deadly serious. She's barely had time to think before her friend Marie is declared a suspect and is taken off the ship for questioning. Suddenly alone in a sea of senior citizens -- plus one really cute but possibly homicidal dance host -- Darcy must solve the mystery before she, too, becomes fish food.

CAUDWELL, Sarah Shortest Way to Hades (1985)

Complications include murder when five British barristers petition the court for the alteration of Lady Frances Remington-Fiske's trust arrangements for her five-million-pound estate. A sailing odyssey through the eastern Mediterranean is an important plot element.

CHRISTIE, Agatha Death On The Nile (1937)

When a murder occurs aboard a Nile steamer, the passengers find themselves in a state of panic and emotional conflict -- until Hercule Poirot steps in.

CLARK, Carol Higgins Decked (1992)

While attending a class reunion at St. Polycarp's in England, private detective Regan Reilly becomes embroiled in the murder of her former roommate, a mystery that follows her on a transatlantic cruise.

CLARK, Mary Higgins Santa Cruise (2006)

Embarking on a mystery seminar cruise during the holiday season, amateur sleuth Alvirah, private detective Regan, and their family members find their voyage overshadowed by a ghost spotting, the disappearance of a fan, and an unexpected storm.

COHEN, Nancy J. Killer Knots (2007)

When Marla Shore embarks on a supposedly romantic cruise with her fiancé Dalton Vail, she finds mystery and mayhem on the high seas when she accidently receives a cryptic message that leads to the murder of a renowned artist.

CORNWELL, Bernard Crackdown (1990)

Drug pirates stalk their victims in the treacherous waters of the Bahamas, then return to their fortress island of Murder Cay like primal sharks after a kill. Then along comes skipper Nicholas Breakspear with the son and daughter of a U.S. Senator. What should have been a simple de-tox cruise soon lurches into a voyage of terror and death when Breakspear is lured into a horrifying plot of cocaine, cash, and cold-blooded killings.

DAHEIM, Mary Dead Man Docking (2005)

When the pre-launch party for their cruise is interrupted by the murders of the cruise line owner and two additional victims, Judith and Renie prowl the streets of San Francisco in a case that is complicated by two fellow travelers.

D'AMATO, Barbara Hard Tack (1991)

Chicago journalist and amateur sleuth Cat Marsala is looking forward to a cruise aboard a million-dollar yacht, but she soon finds herself embroiled in a baffling locked-room mystery aboard ship and the possible target of a killer.

DAWSON, Delilah Truth or Dare (2006)

When beautiful Sonya Drummond meets Kai Armstrong on a singles' cruise, she has no idea that he has been hired to retrieve the stolen butterfly necklace that she has in her possession.

DEANDREA, William Killed in Paradise (1988)

When a real-life mystery surfaces during a mystery cruise, troubleshooter Matt Cobb's investigation takes him -- and his two attractive companions -- amongst an odd assortment of mystery writers.

EBERHART, Mignon G. The Patient in Cabin C (1983)

When her engagement cruise aboard a luxury yacht turns into a nightmare of murder, strong-minded Sue Gates takes it upon herself to search out the killer lurking among the ship's passengers.

FENNELLY, Tony Don't Blame the Snake (2000)

Murder at a crime writers' conference aboard a cruise ship on the Mississippi River, with former topless dancer and now New Orleans society columnist Margo Fortier and her gay husband, Julian, investigating.

FREYDONT, Shelley High Seas Murder (2000)

During a ten-day performing arts Caribbean cruise, hoofer-turned-sleuth Lindy Haggerty faces the dual challenges of trying to keep the Jeremy Ashe Dance Company afloat while finding the killer responsible for the murder of Enoch Grayson, a much-despised music critic.

GASH, Jonathan The Ten Word Game (2004)

Hiding out from the law in a port city far from London, Lovejoy finds himself shanghaied aboard a luxurious cruise ship en route to Russia and a prisoner of a group of schemers who hope to use his talents to steal Russia's legendary "amber room" and ransom it back in Great Britain.

GIBBS, Tony Landfall (1992)

Charter boat captain Gillian Verdean is suspicious of his latest passenger -- a self-proclaimed terrorist hunter -- but when U.S. Intelligence gets involved, the stakes are raised considerably to include a possible terrorist attack on a cruise ship.

GLATZER, Hal The Last Full Measure (2006)

The cruise ship Lurline sails for Hawaii in late 1941 with the Swingin' Sarongs, an all-female band, entertaining the passengers. When the brother of one of the band members is murdered, fellow musician Katy begins to investigate, but she does not know that the United States is about to be attacked by Japan.

GORMAN, Ed Several Deaths Later (1988)

Tobin, semi-permanently drunk movie critic and ex-TV star, is the guest panelist on Celebrity Circle, a TV game show being taped on a cruise to the Virgin Islands. When murder ensues, Tobin is called on by the ship's captain to investigate.

GOULD, Judith Dreamboat (2005)

Determined to turn her life around, shy Crissy Gregory signs up for a month-long, trans-Atlantic cruise, only to find her voyage undermined by a shocking international conspiracy, betrayal, threats of violence, and murder.

HALL, James Buzz Cut (1996)

A pleasure cruise off the coast of Florida becomes a confrontation between the hard-bitten Thorn and a mad terrorist who is threatening to blow up the ship with an explosive capable of destroying the Florida coastline.

HART, Carolyn G. Murder Walks the Plank (2004)

Pleased with the success of her murder-mystery cruise, Annie Darling and her husband, Max, are suddenly on the hunt for a killer when one of the cruise participants falls overboard, the first in a series of suspicious deaths.

HART, Carolyn G. Set Sail for Murder (2007)

Responding to a former lover's call for help, retired newspaper reporter Henrietta O'Dwyer Collins finds herself aboard a Baltic cruise, a voyage during which she realizes that she still has feelings for her former flame and that a killer is stalking her fellow passengers.

HELLER, Jane Princess Charming (1997)

Talked into a Caribbean cruise by her best friends, feisty P.R. executive and divorcee Elaine Zimmerman finds herself falling for gorgeous fellow passenger Sam Peck, but her vacation takes an unexpected turn when she discovers that a mysterious hit man, hired to kill someone's ex-wife, is on the ship.

HENRY, Sue Death Takes Passage (1998)

Delighted to represent the Alaskan State troopers in a re-creation of the famed Voyage of 1897 on Alaska's inside passage on a ship laden with Yukon gold, Alex Jensen and his girlfriend Jessie Arnold are having the time of their lives, until a crew member disappears, plunging Alex into a world of greed and betrayal.

HUNTER, Fred Ransom at Sea (2003)

When a passenger aboard a Great Lakes senior cruise is found murdered, church group member Emily Charter teams up with her friend, detective Jeremy Ransom, to solve the case.

HUNTER, Maddy Norway to Hide (2007)

Emily Andrews begins to expect the worst when her transgender ex-husband Jackie is assigned to be her roommate for her Scandinavian tour with her favorite Iowa senior citizens, Jackie's new novel raises the ire of an ardent critic who turns up dead, and Emily must track down a killer.

KRUGER, Mary No Honeymoon for Death: A Gilded Age Mystery (1995)

Looking forward to her honeymoon aboard the luxury liner S.S. New York, Brooke Cassidy Devlin is crushed when she and her husband are called upon to investigate the murder of a co-passenger and prominent financier.

LEVINE, Laura Killer Cruise (2009)

While teaching on a swanky cruise, wordsmith Jaine Austen soon discovers that her all-expenses-paid trip to the Mexican Riviera comes with a high price when she is faced with blackmail, a sleazy British dancer, eccentric passengers, and murder.

LOCKRIDGE, Frances and Richard Voyage into Violence (1956)

On a Caribbean cruise Pam and Jerry North discover the body of J. Orville Marsh, a retired private detective, who was murdered with a ceremonial sword.

LOCKRIDGE, Richard Inspector's Holiday (1971)

Cruise ship routine forms a background while Inspector Heimrich tries to untangle a web of international intrigue on a Mediterranean voyage.

LOVESEY, Peter The False Inspector Dew (1982)

The year is 1921. A passionate affair between a romantic woman and her dentist has led to his wife's murder. The lovers take flight aboard the Mauretania and the dentist takes the name of Inspector Dew, the detective who arrested the notorious Dr. Crippen. But, in a disquieting twist, when a murder occurs aboard ship the captain invites "Inspector Dew" to investigate.

MARSH, Ngaio A Clutch of Constables (1969)

Troy Alleyn , celebrated painter -- and wife of Scotland Yard Inspector Roderick Alleyn -- is aboard the Zodiac on a canal boat cruise of the English waterways, and finds a colorful constellation of personalities on its passenger list. Plus one who missed the boat -- found murdered in London.

MARSH, Ngaio Singing in the Shrouds (1958)

A serial strangler's latest victim lies covered in flowers on a London dock as the murderer heads out to sea, but Inspector Roderick Alleyn is on board to uncover the killer before he strikes again.

MORRIS, Bob A Deadly Silver Sea (2008)

Celebrating the imminent birth of their first child, Zack Chasteen and his wife, Barbara, join the inaugural cruise of the Royal Star, the world's most exclusive and luxurious liner, but their dream vacation is threatened when armed gunmen seize the ship.

O'CONNOR, Joseph Star of the Sea (2002)

In the middle of the Atlantic Ocean during the summer of 1847, a boatload of Irish refugees heading for the promise of America is stalked by a killer in their ranks who seems bent on some kind of revenge.

O'DONNELL, Lillian The Goddess Affair (1996)

While investigating a series of jewelry thefts on a luxurious ocean liner, private investigator Gwenn Ramadge suddenly switches gears as she hunts for the murderer of the owner of a dress-making firm.

PENCE, Joanna Cooks Overboard (1998)

On the way to Acapulco with her detective boyfriend, Paavo Smith, food writer Angie Amalfi's romantic dreams are shipwrecked when the cook tries to jump off the boat, Paavo behaves bizarrely, the fellow passengers are weird, the food is terrible, her suitcases are violated, and a murder occurs.

PETERS, Elizabeth Night Train To Memphis (1994)

Art historian Vicky Bliss cruises the Nile in an attempt to unmask her ex-lover and most dangerous antagonist, Sir John, before he can rob the Cairo Museum.

ROGERS, Jane The Voyage Home (2004)

Voyaging home to England from Nigeria after the tragic death of her father, Anne Harrington assists the dangerously ill wife of a stowaway and is haunted by guilt when her subsequent decisions lead to deception and murder.

ROOSEVELT, Elliott A First Class Murder (1991)

First Lady and amateur sleuth, Eleanor Roosevelt, must solve the mysterious murder of the Russian ambassador aboard an ocean liner in the Atlantic amid a dazzling and famous group of guests.

RUBENS, Beatrice Birds of Passage (1982)

A well-mannered rapist skulks on board a cruise ship bearing aged vacationers, including widows Alice Pickering and Ellen Walsh, neighbors for thirty-eight years, and newly widowed Stella Dove.

SNOW, C. P. Death Under Sail (1932)

When the host of a party of seven friends spending a fortnight sailing on a small boat is abruptly murdered, a diligent amateur detective and a comic detective-sergeant slowly uncover the murderer's identity.

SQUIRE, Elizabeth Daniels Where There's A Will (1999)

Slightly forgetful, totally unforgettable, and entirely lovable amateur sleuth Peaches Dann finds a new mystery aboard a luxury cruise.

STRALEY, John The Angels Will Not Care (1998)

Alaskan private investigator Cecil Younger is on board a first-class cruise ship afflicted by a series of unexplained deaths, where he suddenly becomes a suspect in a homicide.

SUSSMAN, Susan Cruising for Murder (2000)

Morgan Taylor, a hopeful young actress from Chicago, encounters her second mystery when she joins a cruise ship's entertainment cast, learning a little after the fact that the person she replaced had been murdered.

THOMPSON, Gene Nobody Cared for Kate (1983)

Gene Thompson creates witty, engaging characters who find themselves on a French canal barge with a murderer. Attorney Dade Cooley and his wife Ellen are dashing folk from San Francisco who bring us into their repartee as we ride along in this rich murder mystery.

WHITELAW, Stella Second Sitting (2008)

Casey Jones is Cruise Director on board the luxurious Countess Georgina for her trip to the Caribbean. Casey's days and nights are filled with an endless stream of prima donna singers and feather-clad chorus girls. But when a guest collapses during the second sitting at table two, and later dies, Casey finds herself trying to uncover a bizarre chain of events helped by the gorgeous Cruise Doctor, Samuel Mallory.

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Check out the Nautical Fiction List at John's Nautical and Boatbuilding Page.

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