Book Review: Murder on the Salsette

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Murder on the Salsette     Amazon US HC Amazon Canada HC
Conrad Allen
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Historical
Series: Dillman / Masefield # 6
St. Martin’s, April 2005, $23.95, 336 pp.

George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield are private detectives for the P&O cruise line. After working together on several cases they fell in love and were married by the captain of the Marmora as it sailed to Australia. After honeymooning in Bombay they are working on the Salsette which is sailing to the Aden Protectorate. The purser assures them they will have a quiet cruise since there is relatively no crime on the Salsette.

That statement proves false almost immediately when a woman passenger has her jewels stolen from her unlocked cabin while she rendezvoused with her lover. Three more passengers have their purses stolen when they are on deck, sleeping or talking to other passengers. Genevieve is in charge of finding the thief as George concentrates on finding out who murdered Dudley Nevin, an Englishman who was sent to India after a scandal in England. In fact, the person, Dudley tried to harm is also a passenger on the ship and George is waiting for the right moment to confront him.

Although the year is 1909, sea cruises have not changed much in the last ninety plus years. There are still class divisions and cliques and the crew is sometimes treated as serfs by some of the passengers. The two mysteries are well crafted, especially the theft sub-plot. Readers are going to be shocked when they discover who the thief is. The murder mystery is also well done although there are hints that reveal the identity of the killer midway through the storyline. Conrad Allen has written an entertaining and enjoyable sea cruise mystery.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner