Cruise Ship Caper

Witches of Keyhole Lake #1.5

by Tegan Maher

Sunshine, massages, and drinks with little umbrellas in them. That's what cruises are all about, right? Maybe, unless you're a witch with a habit of finding trouble. 

When Noelle and crew go on a cruise to celebrate the death of the town's biggest bully, they find themselves in the middle of a robbery gone awry. 

Can they help a new friend get her grandma's pearls - and her life - back before the ship gets back to port? 

This novella is set in the Witches of Keyhole Lake Southern Mysteries series and falls right after book 1, though it can be read in any order.

Genres: Mystery, Paranormal, Fantasy, Cozy Mystery, Magic, Audiobook, Ghosts

77 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 16, 2019

About the author

I was born and raised in the South and even hung my motorcycle helmet in Colorado for a few months. I've always had a touch of wanderlust and have never feared just packing up and going on new adventures, whether in real life or via the pages of a great book.

When I was a little girl, I didn't want to grow up to be a writer—I wanted to raise unicorns and be a superhero. When those gigs fell through, I chose the next best thing: creating my own magical lands filled with adventure, magic, humor, and romance.

I live in Florida with my two dogs and when I'm not writing or reading, I'm racing motorcycles with my taller, more handsome half, hanging out at the beach, or binge-watching anything magical on Netflix.

I'm eternally grateful for all the people who help make my life what is today - friends, readers, family. No woman is an island.

To become a part of my readers group and learn about my new releases, giveaways, and other exciting news, check out my website at www.teganmaher.com.

Reviews

[Brooke]

Once again, Noelle saves the day!

I loved being able to see the women on a cruise being able to relax and enjoy themselves. Especially when a new arrival turns to arrivals.

I can't wait to see if the new arrivals come to Keyhole Lake and to see more of their stories. I loved being able to have a mystery along the high seas, it quinched the thirst of needing a short read to break up reading longer books.

It definitely gave me what I wanted in terms of a short mystery. I love being able to see the bag guy go down!

[Amy Rosenkoetter]

A fun, fast romp on the high seas. No murder this time around, but a good clean mystery nonetheless.

[Mary Heron]

An entertaining read

This would fit into the series without after book one but don't worry as it's set in a cruise ships the continuity isn't really an issue. Noelle and her.friends are taking a well.deserved holiday -- a.present from Annie Mae---- after the events of book one they could all do with a break and what better than a cruise, they get to lay around in the sun, indulge in massages, spa treatments and eat and drink to excess life is very good. The girls also make a new friend April who seems to be in her own only they are mistaken she's with her husband but he's not around much and when he is he's obnoxious. Then the second night of the cruise April's room is burgled and all her jewelry stolen she's not bothered about most of it but the third took her great grandmother 's pearls, they're irreplaceable and April.is devastated the girls don't see there is much they can do but are determined to help April any way they can.

[Helen Robare]

An entertaining (and sometimes) funny read. This is a short story in between book #1 and book #2 in the series.

After the death (murder) of Keyhole Lake's Sheriff and the abusive husband of one of her friends, Noelle and a group of friends go on a cruise. As "luck" would have it, another murder occurs while the ship is at sea. This man is as bad as the criminal sheriff back in their town. I will admit that even I would have contemplated murder if he were my husband. He is not only mentally, emotionally, and physically abusive towards his wife, but he is participating in insurance fraud because he spent all his money!

NOTE: if you are looking for magic hijinks in this book, there is very little of it.

However, the story is well (though predictable) written. The characters are like that gang of girls in high school you couldn't stand but now that you're all adults, you get along very well. :)

[Tari]

This was a fun and relaxing little novella that started right after the first Witches of Keyhole Lake ended. When I saw it on Goodreads, I knew I wanted to borrow it through Kindle Unlimited. Anna Mae had promised her friends a cruise, and this book was all about their relaxing vacation. Of course, it wouldn't be any fun unless there was a mystery. Since it's such a short book, it was just a theft of some jewelry. The girls had befriended a rich woman named April who was super nice compared to her rude and arrogant husband, and Noelle mainly felt like she wanted to help. But her friends went along with it, since April needed a friend.

It was honestly not hard to figure out the culprit, but it was still a cute short story. The newest ghost friend of theirs, Cheri Lynn had met a ghost guy on the ship, so I hope he gets included in the regular series!

[Renee Arthur]

This is a perfect between-the-books novella. This cozy series is awesome and I really enjoyed finally reading about the girls' cruise. Anna Mae took Noelle and most of their friends on a cruise. (This is where Cheri Lynn met Rupert if you've been reading the series.). They had a lot of fun on this trip and met April onboard. When her husband joined them, he turned out to be a real jerk. The next day all their jewelry was stolen out of the safe in their stateroom. Naturally Noelle is going to try to solve the case. This story had a lot of laugh out loud moments and some references that you might get. If you like even remotely magical books or cozies. You'll really enjoy this series. I know I did!

[Holly Stone]

this is a cute quick cozy paranormal mystery I have enjoyed it a lot. Cruise ships are for relaxing have a good time meeting new friends good food and lots of fun. But when you are a witch who can see and talk to ghosts and you also have a habit of getting into and finding lots of trouble woohoo. When Noelle and the crew go on a cruise to celebrate the death of a bully they find themselves in the middle of a robbery gone awry... Can they help their new friend April find her Grand Mother's pearls and figure out who got rid of them?? This is only 77 pages and such fun to read/listen to first book by Tegan Maher won't be my last either

[Janet]

After reading a few reviews, I have to wonder if we read the same book. One reviewer mentioned there was a murder in this (short story - 1.5 in the series). There was NOT a murder in this story. One of the reasons I liked it. Finally, a cozy mystery without a murder! This was a quick easy read - a short story that capped off the mention (in book 1) for the women to take a cruise together as a Thank You for helping Anna Mae with her husband's death. I like seeing how the group is starting to grow together. This one was written in first person - not usually my favorite, especially when the fmc "talks" to the reader. I'm hoping future books are a bit different.

[Jeff (buriedundermybooks)]

This is book 1.5 of the Witches of Keyhole Lake series. I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 and so had to jump in to this one right away. All the characteristic from the first book are there; wit, sarcasm, irreverence, deadpan and humor. The narrator is the same as book one and she did just as great a job this time. The story is a little weaker with this one. It’s rather predictable. But the execution is great. I highly recommend the audiobook version to get the full experience. This has convinced me to continue the series. I would rate this at 3.5 stars but am happy to round it up. So it’s on to the next one for me.

[Guenevere Garrity]

Loved it!

If you haven't read the Keyhole Lake mysteries you will after this book! There are some slight spoilers in this story, but nothing big, so you can enjoy it right now too! Noelle and the ladies decide to take a cruise to celebrate the end of Hank's tyranny and get involved in an investigation of a robbery. A quick, lighthearted story with the wonderful ladies of Keyhole Lake..

[Mike Lewis]

Great story

Short story from an awesome series. A small Georgia town that has a family of witches and other supernaturals living among the normal people. Including a small post living ghost population. This is a short story following book one when a group of ladies go on a cruise. As happens in these types of stories they run into a mystery and have to solve it. Very entertaining and worth The read

[Dave Nicoll]

Cruisin'...

After the case of the dead sheriff, Noelle and her crew - plus the widow of the sheriff - take to the high seas for a cruise. Little do they know that they will end up in the heart of another mystery.

This time it's a woman in an unhappy marriage who's husband, as it turns out, is trying to steal everything from her.

A quirky 77-page journey with Noelle et al trying to solve a crime when meant to be relaxing. Not Noelle and her crew's way of living, tho...

[Jennifer Goliash]

Cute little.filler story

I liked.this. It was cute & nice to "meet" Rupert. And to also.see.how the cruise went for all of them. I didn't think there was cell reception on cruise ships though - there wasn't in mine & I wasn't out to sea like they were. I went from island to island in Hawaii. A few miles into the trip to the next island there was nothing. From what I gather from others that have been in longer trips at sea there isn't cell service. Still, cute story.

[Dawn Steenken korzekwa]

1/2 books...seriously yall

Ok yall....You gotta watch for half books in this series!!! I missed books 1.5 and 2.5 because 1 and 2 didn't tell me about them. At least book 3 stressed book 3.5!! And then there's a 4.5 that I almost missed. So don't pull a me...be sure and look for the terrific little novelettes, short stories or half books...Call them whatever you want because I'm sure we can all agree they are great!!

[Richard Goodrum]

A spectacular psychic mystery. A group of women, living and living-impaired, from Witches of Keyhole Lake are going on a cruise. After they have been sailing for a day, their new ship-board friend has her grandma's pearl necklace stolen. That's when they find themselves embroiled in the mystery.

This tale combines rest and relaxation with fun and excitement. It was an enjoyable read.

Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Tragic. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.

[Kim Loomer]

When Anna Mae takes Noelle and the rest of the girls to celebrate they didn't know they would meet a new friend who's husband was as nasty as Anna Mae's had been. Once again things get a little out of hand when a jewel heist happens. But with Noelle and her friends trying to get to the bottom of it, plus enjoy all their is to do on the ship...this book was fun and fabulous.

[Vivian]

A cute cruise adventure with the Keyhole Lake ladies! An entertaining and very enjoyable short read. What I like most about this series is the sense of "family" that is present in each book - even though all are not related by blood, this group of characters has each other's backs through thick and thin!

[Cathy Van]

Quick, fun read filled with friendship & mystery

I really enjoyed this short story, it shows the bond of friendship, loyalty and love formed between the ladies - living and living-impaired.
I've read the entire series and am eagerly awaiting the next release.
If you enjoy cozy mysteries with no sex or swearing, you'll love this series...

[Angela Griffin]

A fine quick read

Noelle and gang deserve a gal's getaway after the shenanigans of Book One! This easy to read mini treat yields fine writing the author is known for, as well as a new mystery and new friends. The mystery is rather obvious, but the relationships are the lure in this story!

[Robin]

I listened to this book by publisher Findlay Voices narrated by Krystle Minkoff. The book was ok. I’ve been on lots of cruises so some details did not ring true to me but really no problem. I gave this version of the book three stars because I didn’t click with the narrator. She got really sing-songie especially toward the end.

[Fritz Sands]

A very cute and charming novella, set right after the first book in the series.

The girl gang takes a cruise, solves a theft, makes new friends. Utter fluff but really fun fluff.

A few plot threads were started and then simply cut adrift. There was a hint of menace, but then that drifted off.

But, all in all, it was an enjoyable read.

[Debbie]

I know that this cruise has been alluded to in later books in the series, so it was fun to find out what really did go on on the girls' celebratory cruise. I wish I had a crowd of friends like that to vacation with.

[JOHN C]

New friends, a beautiful cruise and a theft

The girls get a chance to go on a cruise and have a wonderful time. They also take along 2 ghost friends snd drink and eat and totally enjoy themselves until they are solving a theft of a new friend they meet.

[Bob]

Fun read.

I really enjoyed this book. Tegan Maher has done a great job with this book. It isn't so much a who done it as a how do they get caught. I love this series and I am glad to read about the cruise that they took after book one.

[Jennifer Lockett]

A lovely read

Join Noelle and her friends on board a cruise ship whilst enjoying themselves they meet a lady called April and her obnoxious husband, after a robbery in April's cabin and Cheri-lyn meeting a man can they solve this before the wrong man is arrested.

[Cheryl Joy Szalkowski]

Keyhole lake 1.5

What a cute extra loved it. I enjoyed reading this book it was funny and enjoyable to read. I recommend this book and series to all my family and friends. Happy Reading!

[K]

Can't get enough of Keyhole Lake

I can't seem to tear myself away from Noelle and the gang. This is the 7th book I've read in almost as many days. Fun, fast paced, a great mix of humour, mystery and supernatural shenanigans? Count me in! I hope Maher keeps 'em comin'...

[JoAn]

This book should be considered 1.5 in the Witches of Keyhole Lake series and was a great little cozy mystery. It was a lot fun seeing Noelle, Raeanne, Bobbie Sue, Coralee, Anna Mae and Cheri Lynn enjoying their first cruise.

[Paula]

Really good, fun cozy mystery. Six women go on a cruise together and encounter a friend whose jewelry is stolen. They decided to look into this themselves. They didn’t tell anyone they are witches or that they have two ghosts traveling with them. Fun!

[Chris Fracisco]

Super cute fun shortie

Nothing like a nice relaxing cruise with some of your best gal pals. And a mini mystery to boot. It was fun to see Noelle and the girls away from home but Keyhole Lake is a fun place to be as well.