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Algernon Vereker #3
The Pleasure Cruise Mystery
“What’s the matter?” Vereker asked breathlessly, and at the same moment realised that the mass lying at Ricardo’s feet was the body of a woman. “Has she fainted?”
“It’s Mrs. Mesado, Algernon,” replied Ricardo, “and if I’m not mistaken, she’s dead.”
Algernon Vereker’s best friend Manuel Ricardo is looking forward to a cruise on the luxury liner Mars, and persuades an overwrought Vereker to join him. Once on board, Ricky’s mind is on romance while the amiable and eccentric Vereker is keener to relax with a cigar and a good book - until murder at sea means an abrupt detour into spine-chilling mystery. Vereker starts to investigate Mrs Mesado’s demise, which presents many baffling features - beneath borrowed gloves, the lady’s hands were cut and bruised; and where was the diamond necklace she had been wearing earlier that evening? These and other conundrums must be solved before Vereker can bring the culprit (or culprits) to justice, but as Ricky sagely observes: “half the fun of eating a nut is cracking the shell”.
The Pleasure Cruise Mystery (1933), a light-hearted but lethal maritime whodunit, is the third Algernon Vereker detective novel. It is republished here for the first time in over 70 years, and includes a new introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
“It’s Mrs. Mesado, Algernon,” replied Ricardo, “and if I’m not mistaken, she’s dead.”
Algernon Vereker’s best friend Manuel Ricardo is looking forward to a cruise on the luxury liner Mars, and persuades an overwrought Vereker to join him. Once on board, Ricky’s mind is on romance while the amiable and eccentric Vereker is keener to relax with a cigar and a good book - until murder at sea means an abrupt detour into spine-chilling mystery. Vereker starts to investigate Mrs Mesado’s demise, which presents many baffling features - beneath borrowed gloves, the lady’s hands were cut and bruised; and where was the diamond necklace she had been wearing earlier that evening? These and other conundrums must be solved before Vereker can bring the culprit (or culprits) to justice, but as Ricky sagely observes: “half the fun of eating a nut is cracking the shell”.
The Pleasure Cruise Mystery (1933), a light-hearted but lethal maritime whodunit, is the third Algernon Vereker detective novel. It is republished here for the first time in over 70 years, and includes a new introduction by crime fiction historian Curtis Evans.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1933
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50 people want to read
About the author
Robin Forsythe
9 books4 followersAka Peter Dingwall.
Robin Forsythe was born Robert Forsythe in 1879. His place of birth was Sialkot, in modern day Pakistan. His mother died when a younger brother was born two years later, and ‘Robin’ was brought up by an ayah until he was six, when he went to the United Kingdom, and went to school in Glasgow and Northern Ireland. In his teens he had short stories and poetry published and went to London wanting to be a writer.
He married in 1909 and had a son the following year, later working as a clerk at Somerset House in London when he was arrested for theft and fraud in 1928. Sentenced to fifteen months, he began to write his first detective novel in prison.
On his release in 1929 Robin Forsythe published his debut, Missing or Murdered. It introduced Anthony ‘Algernon’ Vereker, an eccentric artist with an extraordinary flair for detective work. It was followed by four more detective novels in the Vereker series, ending with The Spirit Murder Mystery in 1936. All the novels are characterized by the sharp plotting and witty dialogue which epitomize the more effervescent side of golden age crime fiction.
Robin Forsythe died in 1937
(from Dean St Publishers Website)
Robin Forsythe was born Robert Forsythe in 1879. His place of birth was Sialkot, in modern day Pakistan. His mother died when a younger brother was born two years later, and ‘Robin’ was brought up by an ayah until he was six, when he went to the United Kingdom, and went to school in Glasgow and Northern Ireland. In his teens he had short stories and poetry published and went to London wanting to be a writer.
He married in 1909 and had a son the following year, later working as a clerk at Somerset House in London when he was arrested for theft and fraud in 1928. Sentenced to fifteen months, he began to write his first detective novel in prison.
On his release in 1929 Robin Forsythe published his debut, Missing or Murdered. It introduced Anthony ‘Algernon’ Vereker, an eccentric artist with an extraordinary flair for detective work. It was followed by four more detective novels in the Vereker series, ending with The Spirit Murder Mystery in 1936. All the novels are characterized by the sharp plotting and witty dialogue which epitomize the more effervescent side of golden age crime fiction.
Robin Forsythe died in 1937
(from Dean St Publishers Website)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 7, 2018
Two and a half stars.
Though this book is very nicely written, the witty dialogue of Vereker's acolyte, Ricky becomes tiresome after a bit. The plot is clever but very complicated and I found it difficult to follow at times. My least favourite of his books so far.
Though this book is very nicely written, the witty dialogue of Vereker's acolyte, Ricky becomes tiresome after a bit. The plot is clever but very complicated and I found it difficult to follow at times. My least favourite of his books so far.
July 25, 2022
3,5 estrellas
June 15, 2017
For my full review click on the link below:
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
https://crossexaminingcrime.wordpress...
January 24, 2016
Very little actual detecting.
December 25, 2025
Too much Ricardo. Too little Inspector Heather.
My pleasure in the first two books in this series lies mainly in the entertaining relationship between amateur detective Anthony "Algernon" Vereker and Chief Detective-Inspector Heather of Scotland Yard. Both are intelligent men, but (not surprisingly) they come at life from far different angles. Still, they work together with respect and affection and their banter is charming.
The weakest character in the books is Vereker's friend and hanger-on starving writer Manuel "Ricky" Ricardo. He's supposed to be the comic relief, but his inane chatter grates on me. Someone called Forsythe's books part of the "flippant" school of detection and Ricky is certainly flippant. And he's an insider in the London social scene, which proves useful to Vereker on occasions. But he's still a light-weight and an annoyance IMHO.
So when I read that this book would involve a pleasure cruise undertaken by Vereker and Ricky, I was afraid there would be too much Ricky to suit me and I was right. After the murder (if it was a murder) takes place and Vereker has left the ship with the body, then Ricky recedes into the background and Inspector Heather comes forward to help solve the puzzle.
It's a bizarre story about three sisters and (frankly) not at all believable. The premise of where the murder occurred and the plot the murderers hatched to cover it up is the silliest thing I've ever read. I suppose it's of value as a look at pleasure cruising, a new pasttime in the 1930's. I agree with the ship's Captain that it's great nonsense, but judging by the way the industry has blossomed, I'm a lone voice in the wilderness.
It's worth reading, but not as enjoyable as the first three books in the series. The next ("The Ginger Cat Mystery") returns to the tried-and-true manor house murder and I have great hopes of it.
Little is known about Forsythe's life after he left prison and became a writer. It's been noted that he dedicated his second book to his only child, the son he was estranged from. The later ones were dedicated to various females.
Of course, they may have been cleaning ladies of whom he became fond. If they were lovers, he led a vigorous life for a middle-aged man. It's a shame he died relatively young. He wrote a lively Golden Age mystery and I wish there were more of them.
My pleasure in the first two books in this series lies mainly in the entertaining relationship between amateur detective Anthony "Algernon" Vereker and Chief Detective-Inspector Heather of Scotland Yard. Both are intelligent men, but (not surprisingly) they come at life from far different angles. Still, they work together with respect and affection and their banter is charming.
The weakest character in the books is Vereker's friend and hanger-on starving writer Manuel "Ricky" Ricardo. He's supposed to be the comic relief, but his inane chatter grates on me. Someone called Forsythe's books part of the "flippant" school of detection and Ricky is certainly flippant. And he's an insider in the London social scene, which proves useful to Vereker on occasions. But he's still a light-weight and an annoyance IMHO.
So when I read that this book would involve a pleasure cruise undertaken by Vereker and Ricky, I was afraid there would be too much Ricky to suit me and I was right. After the murder (if it was a murder) takes place and Vereker has left the ship with the body, then Ricky recedes into the background and Inspector Heather comes forward to help solve the puzzle.
It's a bizarre story about three sisters and (frankly) not at all believable. The premise of where the murder occurred and the plot the murderers hatched to cover it up is the silliest thing I've ever read. I suppose it's of value as a look at pleasure cruising, a new pasttime in the 1930's. I agree with the ship's Captain that it's great nonsense, but judging by the way the industry has blossomed, I'm a lone voice in the wilderness.
It's worth reading, but not as enjoyable as the first three books in the series. The next ("The Ginger Cat Mystery") returns to the tried-and-true manor house murder and I have great hopes of it.
Little is known about Forsythe's life after he left prison and became a writer. It's been noted that he dedicated his second book to his only child, the son he was estranged from. The later ones were dedicated to various females.
Of course, they may have been cleaning ladies of whom he became fond. If they were lovers, he led a vigorous life for a middle-aged man. It's a shame he died relatively young. He wrote a lively Golden Age mystery and I wish there were more of them.
January 26, 2020
#3 in the Algernon Vereker mystery series. Vereker, an amiable and eccentric artist with a razor-sharp mind and is somewhat eccentric in manner. Much of the story involves Vereker' working through and refining various theories as to what happen. Also includes many twists and turns in both the theories and plot actions.
It is mid March following the August Armadale murder case and Algernon Vereker’s best friend and frequent investigative aide Manuel Ricardo (Ricky) is going on a luxury liner cruise and persuades a down-in-the-dumps (he's unhappy with his performance in the Armadale murder case and just had an individual art show that was panned by critics.)Vereker to join him. On the cruise, Ricky’s mind is on romance while Vereker is keener to relax until a murder changes everything as Vereker starts to investigate.
In this series, Ricky provides much of the levity and bits of quaintly phrased philosophy.
It is mid March following the August Armadale murder case and Algernon Vereker’s best friend and frequent investigative aide Manuel Ricardo (Ricky) is going on a luxury liner cruise and persuades a down-in-the-dumps (he's unhappy with his performance in the Armadale murder case and just had an individual art show that was panned by critics.)Vereker to join him. On the cruise, Ricky’s mind is on romance while Vereker is keener to relax until a murder changes everything as Vereker starts to investigate.
In this series, Ricky provides much of the levity and bits of quaintly phrased philosophy.
October 8, 2022
This ended up being a disappointing read, and I gave up before the end. A woman is killed on a cruise, but the investigation is so slow-paced that I lost interest in who was responsible. I guess I’ll never know.
March 29, 2021
Fun, witty 3.5
March 18, 2023
3.5 stars. Interesting murder with some nice twists. Very verbose in explanation. Characters are very much of the times when this was written.
April 25, 2025
Not the best in the series but an enjoyable puzzle.
February 29, 2016
I enjoyed this book far more than I was expecting to. Though it's a distinctly average detective story it's lifted a finger's breadth above the crowd by some very witty writing. I was sad it finished, and that confused me, because it's really not that good, it's just totally harmless and delightfully funny in places.
May 1, 2016
Perfect Plotting!
Wonderful mystery with lots of twists and turns. Bio of author is quite interesting. Sleuthing in the early twentieth century keeps your interest.
Wonderful mystery with lots of twists and turns. Bio of author is quite interesting. Sleuthing in the early twentieth century keeps your interest.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews