Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Michaela McPherson #3

The Case of the Man Overboard

Rate this book
Two Murders, A Man Overboard, And A Run-in With Big Pharma And Organised Crime

After an intense year of solving crime in their home town of Richmond, Virginia, Michaela, Dottie and retired canine Angel, travel to Europe to spend much needed leisure time at the Borghase Estate outside of Rome. Unfortunately, their plans are upended by a series of catastrophes.

˃˃˃ A Vacation From Hell

A luxury cruise around the Mediterranean culminates their trip and becomes a nightmare as Mic and Dottie investigate an American pharmaceutical company's release of a 'dirty' drug. The threesome meet up with lethal, dangerous and heinous criminals from their past and the cruise becomes a living hell.

How do you commit murder on a cruise ship while at sea and get away with it when there's nowhere to run?

˃˃˃ Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Judith Lucci does it again with this third installment in the Gold-Medal Winning Michaela McPherson Crime Series! There is something for everyone in this story. Murder, mystery, humor---another great read by Judith Lucci! Scroll Up And Grab Your Copy Today!

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2018

Loading interface...
Loading interface...

About the author

Judith Lucci

63 books422 followers
Dr. Judith Lucci is an Amazon bestselling author who writes what she knows. She is the author of the Alex Destephano Medical Thriller Series and the soon to be released Michaela McPherson, Private Eye, a series centered on a retired homicide detective from Richmond, Virginia who really can’t retire.

“Before I wrote fiction, I was an academic writer who published research, theoretical works, text books and just about anything a nurse or college professor needed to publish to survive. The differences in academic writing and writing fiction are dramatic. Writing what I know propels me to pull from my clinical experiences, some good, some not and use popular fiction as a means to teach and advocate for others. My books have three purposes, to engage the reader, to entertain them and to educate about healthcare and perhaps, the darker side of hospital life.

I am a nurse and hold graduate and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. I have always been a reader and a writer and I love it. I am a member of the Virginia Writers Club, The Shenandoah Valley Writers and Sisters in Crime.

When I’m not writing I am probably teaching, paining on silk as I am a multi-media artist or playing with my many dogs. Please feel free to contact me at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. I am excited about meeting you!

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
175 (58%)
4 stars
83 (27%)
3 stars
27 (9%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
82 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2019
Absolutely delightful!

Mic and Dottie are a hoot. Angel is the best. Enjoy their Mediterranean Cruise. Learned a lot about generic drugs too.
Profile Image for Linda Rainey.
2,347 reviews19 followers
January 3, 2018
Wow!!
Mic and Dottie are at it again in this riveting mystery,set aboard one of Dottie's cruise ships.
I love these characters including Angel, the German Shepherd.
This book is highly recommended for those who like mysteries and thrillers.
Profile Image for Tony Parsons.
4,156 reviews73 followers
May 6, 2019
Blake Pharmaceutical was having their convention on board & had paid for all the Dr.’s on board The Regina Mediterranean (Cruise Line luxury flagship).
While having quite a few Vodka drinks Vadim (older man), & Snake (younger man) were conversing & on what Snake had snuck on board.
Countess Dorothy “Dottie” Borghase (82, Italian, wealthy widow aristocrat, co-owner Mediterranean Cruise; Line, former U of Malta Professor) was in the Captain’s private dining room enjoying her tea.

Michaela “Mic” McPherson (Dottie’s BFF/neighbor, Richmond, VA.), & Angel (Michaela’s retired German shepherd), were aboard also.
Dr. Ian Pennington (husband, Psychiatrist/MD, Virginia Commonwealth U), & Dr. Alana Pennington (wife, speech pathologist former Professor George Washington U, U of Malta) were enjoying the expensive wine Countess Borghase had sent to the table.
Dr. James O’Leary (30+, U of Maryland staff Psychologist, clinical researcher, Psychiatrist/MD, Professor PhD neurological research, former FDA) told Jeff Baldridge (Blake Pharmaceutical head corporate henchmen) he wanted Quelpro (antidepressant) pulled from the market.
7 PPL had died.
Captain Frederick Wodensen, 1st Mate Gustav Hensen joined Dottie, Mic, Senator Peter Bostitch (MD), Dr. Pennington, & Alana Pennington for dinner/drinks.
The Royale Casino. Dietrich 1 of the blackjack dealers had been sliced ear/ear. Blood was everywhere.

The camera video showed who the killer was. A search was on.
Dr. O’Leary (Catholic) had not showed up for his next talk.
Later a Code Oscar (man overboard) was sounded 3 times.
The Coast Guard & the Italian Water Fleet had been notified.
What did Ms. McPherson (cabin steward) find in # 652 when she was making her rounds?
Captain Wodensen introduced Mic, & Dottie to the security Chief (former Russian military officer).
Senator Bostitch’s body was found hanging upside down in his cabin.

The name of St. Germaine or the Vampire came up.
What was Grady Jones (former Biddy’s busboy) up to?
Would the murderer(s) be caught & brought t justice?

I did not receive any type of compensation for reading & reviewing this book. While I receive free books from publishers & authors, I am under no obligation to write a positive review. Only an honest one.

A very awesome book cover, great font & writing style. A very well written mystery book. It was very easy for me to read/follow from start/finish & never a dull moment. There were no grammar/typo errors, nor any repetitive or out of line sequence sentences. Lots of exciting scenarios, with several twists/turns & a great set of unique characters to keep track of. This could also make another great mystery movie, or better yet a mini TV series. There is no doubt in my mind this is a very easy rating of 5 stars.

Thank you for the free author; LisaatManybooks; Amazon Digital Services LLC.; book
Tony Parsons MSW (Washburn)
Profile Image for RO G'ma.
1,005 reviews35 followers
January 6, 2018
The Case of the Man Overboard is the third book in Judith Lucci’s awesome Michaela McPherson Mystery series and is an intricately woven tale with lots of action and suspense. Ms. Lucci is very talented in creating suspense and tension with her written words. This book is a fast-paced page-turner and kept me engaged from the beginning of the book until the end. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy reading books in the mystery, thriller, and suspense genre.

Michaela (Mic) McPherson retired Richmond, Virginia homicide detective owns and operates a restaurant and bar, Biddy’s McPherson’s, but she still likes to investigate crimes and often does so with her elderly friend, Countess Dorothy (Dottie) Borghese, and her retired police dog, Angel. Mic, Dotty, and Angel have had an exciting crime solving year and Dottie has decided to treat all of them to a month long vacation in Europe to visit her deceased husband’s ancestral home, ending with a Mediterranean cruise on one of the cruise ships she owns. Mic and Dottie were enjoying their well-deserved vacation, but things took a turn for the worse during their cruise. A man goes overboard and murder and mayhem break out on the ship, they learn about a pharmaceutical company’s release of a dirty drug, and someone is stalking Mic. The ship’s Captain, Frederick Wodensen, does what he can, but his resources are limited and Mic calls upon her boyfriend, Detective Slade McKane, and Commander Jack Françoise of the New Orleans police department to help them. Slade, Jack, and FBI agent, Travis Stoner, meet the ship in one of the ports of call and help determine what is going on and identify and apprehend the culprits.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for David Fisher.
Author 10 books37 followers
February 26, 2018
A Highly Recommended Read.


This is the third book in the Michaela McPherson Mystery series and fits in nicely with the previous two. You don't need to have to read them to follow this suspenseful tale. But if you have, you will enjoy this story all the more.

The action takes place on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean. A most unlikely place for multiple murder, but it works. This time the trio of amateur sleuths is out to enjoy a holiday in Italy aboard the boat. But it isn't long before their vacation is interrupted by some unpleasant surprises – two murders, a man overboard, a break-in, not to mention conflicts with Big Pharma and organised crime. As if that weren't enough, a couple of nasties return from the previous book as well. Quite a handful for our three friends. But, have no fear, they are not alone and import support from the FBI and the New Orleans police department to help in apprehending the culprits.

Besides a cast of nicely drawn characters, the story is well-written, has many twists and turns and moves at a compelling pace. Even with all the murder and mayhem going on, the author enlivens the story with an amusing sense of humour.

This book will be a delight for the author's fans and anyone who loves cosy mysteries. It ranks way up there with some of the best and will keep you riveted to your seat.

A fascinating read to relax with.
Profile Image for Eric J. Gates.
Author 27 books151 followers
February 23, 2018
“The Case of the Man Overboard” is the third book in Judith Lucci’s Michaela McPherson crime thriller series and features an interesting premise. How do you commit murder on a cruise ship while at sea and get away with it when there’s nowhere to run? That’s the basic question author Lucci poses, though she uses the narrative to ask some troubling questions about Big Pharma and especially the use of generic medicine in psychiatry. This is far from a run-of-the-mill whodunnit.

Fans of her work will be thrilled not just to see the dynamic trio of Michaela, her friend and mentor Countess Dottie Borghase, and her faithful retired police dog Angel in action again but familiar characters from her New Orleans-based series also pop up in the tale. And what a tale it is!

Old enemies, and one unexpected threat from Mic’s past, reappear and create havoc aboard the cruise ship as it travels through the Mediterranean Sea. Lucci’s deft writing skills quickly turn the idyllic sojourn into a series of deadly events while maintaining an overall sense of oppressive menace and impending doom that will keep readers glued to the page. In my opinion, this is the best in the series so far. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Bev.
2,779 reviews74 followers
February 25, 2018
After a very busy and difficult cases of crime to solve for a year, Michaela, Dottie and of course Angel are taking a much deserved vacation to help relax and recharge themselves. Everything is going well until they board a luxury cruise ship around the Mediterranean. This begins the nightmare as they investigate an American pharmaceutical company for the release of a "dirty drug". Then a man goes overboard. Apparently he had evidence of this drug being released and now he is gone into the ocean never to be seen again. Dottie pulls quite a few strings during the murder investigation--after all, she is the majority owner of the cruise ship and this is bad for business. There is something for everyone in this story. Murder, mystery, humor---another great read by Judith Lucci!!!!!
Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books70 followers
March 10, 2018
"Murder And Mayhem On A Luxury Liner"

Having a tense year of solving crimes, Michaela and aged 82 Dottie, plus Angel the dog, travel from Richmond, VA to Europe. They then take a cruise trip around the Mediteranean ... which becomes a nightmare for both of them. An American pharmaceutical company has released a 'dirty' drug and the corporation has invited numerous doctors to sway them to prescribe their product. Also, there are a couple of hit men aboard being assigned to eradicate many passengers. There is also a stalker which soon stimulates memories for Michaela. It's a journey through hell for so many aboard. A very intense story to enjoy.
632 reviews4 followers
July 21, 2019
Great location

On a Mediterranean cruise Mic and the Countess meet physicians who are attending a medical conference held by Blake Pharmaceuticals . Then murders occur including a US Senator . In the meantime a young man with a crush on Mic is also on board and has devious plans for Mic.
I don't understand why these obviously educated people say "gonna" and "wanna " instead of going to and want to .
Profile Image for Marianna Ochs.
18 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2021
K -9 Police Hero Novel

Judith Lucci has a winning series of novels You will fall in love with Michaela, Mic , Slade, adoptee and especially Angel a retired K-9 police dog who always saves the day! This whole series of 5 novels is action packed and Dottie, better know as the 82 year old Countess Dorothy Borghese, wool charm you you with her street smarts , spunk, and gun skills. She will be your new best friend. Check these books out, you will love them!
Profile Image for Ski Croghan.
609 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2022
Very exciting book!!

This book really got my blood pumping!! I was up most of the night finishing it. I just couldn't put it down, I tried several times but my mind would NOT let me go to sleep! So I just had to finish reading it. So much action and danger for our ladies and Angel, the hero, of course. So many twists and turns that I had to go back a couple of pages several times to make sure I was remembering it right. Excellent book! Highly recommended for all ages.
19 reviews
February 28, 2018
A Cruise From Hell

Meeting Judith Lucci at Massanutten Resort prompted me to read some of her work. I'm glad I did. I now have read all three of the Michaela McPherson books. They are easy to read and somewhat surprising in their resolution. This is no exception. Once you read one chapter, you will want to see what the next one brings. Try it - you'll like it!
49 reviews3 followers
September 24, 2018
The characters are ridiculous and undeveloped, uninteresting and unbearably unbelievable. A wealthy Duchess from Virginia and a Russian killer with snake tattoo are woven into a polemic on big Pharma and generics and a man overboard interrupting dinner at the Captains table. I had to stop and so should Lucci.
Profile Image for Sheryl Messinger.
75 reviews4 followers
February 15, 2019
Good book

This is the third of the series I have read. I loved the first 2, but noticed that this was a little repetitive in the story telling. Some of the plots were explained several times, which is slightly annoying to me. The story was good and I will most likely continue with the series.
193 reviews1 follower
June 12, 2021
A review of the book.

A wonderfully written story. Full of mystery and excitement. A lot of twists and turns. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat. Full of heart pounding sospence and intrigue. Angel is definitely the hero along with Mic and the Countess Dottie. A trio not to be trifled with. Definitely a must read.
Profile Image for Louise Pledge.
1,148 reviews21 followers
June 13, 2021
It started out too slowly for me but then picked up enough that I wanted to continue. I was liking it until I reached the end and found that it's a cliff hanger! You have to read the next book (or maybe more) to get the ending. That is always annoying to me.

Now I wonder whether to read the next one in the series or if I still won't get the answer!
Profile Image for Marlys.
1,047 reviews5 followers
March 11, 2018
I received a copy of this book for an honest review. This is the second book about Micheala that I read. It is a good story. I enjoyed reading it. The characters are well rounded and complex. I enjoy reading books that Judith has written.
Profile Image for Jennie Ersari.
407 reviews2 followers
September 7, 2018
Thrilling book!

Michaela and Dottie are on an Italian cruise ship when mystery finds them once again. This time it appears that a Pharmaceutical company is killing off those that are questioning one of their newest drugs.
12 reviews1 follower
May 31, 2019
Great read!!!!

One of the best crime thriller series i have ever read. Kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys this kind of books!
Profile Image for Kym Gamble.
375 reviews13 followers
April 2, 2021
Set on a cruise ship, Michaela McPherson struggles against the bad guys with nowhere to go. This is the third in a series from Judith Lucci... Good read, fast pace and just enough to tell the whole story. I highly recommend her books.
606 reviews24 followers
September 11, 2021
Nan Overboard

Again, an interesting and thrilling book. I love reading about the very large dog. He is an awesome part of the story. He makes everything more exciting. Can hardly wait to read the next book!!
Profile Image for Chaplain Stanley Chapin.
1,848 reviews17 followers
November 21, 2021
A mystery that not quite ends

I was somewhat disappointed in the story as it only partially ends. I would have preferred they catch at least one of the perpetrators and then pick up in the next book. It was an enticing story until the final pages and then it seemed the author was tired of it and threw together a [unsatisfactory ending],
556 reviews
December 22, 2018
Excellent as always

Judith Lucci is one of my must read authors. She never lets you down in your search for a good book. The stories are addictive and you love the characters.
Profile Image for Karen.
64 reviews
February 24, 2019
Good book

Always love a good thriller, but not so good when there are missing words or incorrectly used words, due to not so good editing.
Profile Image for Lori.
137 reviews4 followers
May 11, 2019
Loved this page-turner...good characters & lots of twists & turns
214 reviews1 follower
July 5, 2019
Had me by the throat!

One shall have to read more from Lucci. Well-crafted and edited. Yet humble enough to invite criticism and corrections. I love this author!
October 25, 2019
The Man Overboard

Great characters and lots of twists make this a great book. Mic and crossover characters from New Orleans not to mention Angel keep this story moving.
1,062 reviews4 followers
October 3, 2020
Great thriller

Loved the main characters. The countless was a real interesting character. Loved the dog. Great story with lots of suspense.
4,374 reviews26 followers
June 6, 2021
Good

a book where this retired dective and her friend who owns a Morgan of a crude ship and they take
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.