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Murder on the Mauretania (Ocean Liner Mysteries, #2)

Conrad Allen,

Edward Marston

Start date: July 15, 2022

Finish date: August 7, 2022

Discussion: Buddy reads

Why we're reading this: The second ocean liner mystery.
[close] The second ocean liner mystery.

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What Members Thought

Jul 07, 2022 Susan rated it liked it

This is the second in a republished series of mysteries set on Ocean Liners. It is 1907 and our two private detectives, employed by the Cunard Line, George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Mansfield, are on board Mauretania. It is November, so not the best weather, and a storm is only one issue on this maiden voyage. As well as the weather, there are a spate of thefts, a missing passenger, and a tempting amount of gold bullion aboard in order to help steady a crisis in US banks. That is, of course, ...more

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Jun 28, 2022 Susan in NC rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5 stars, I enjoyed this more than the first in the series; the author seemed to have more control of the pacing and the multiple characters. He shifts the action between his two undercover detectives, Dillman covering second class and steerage, and Masefield in first class pretty smoothly, and keeps the pacing moving along. Both are hired by the Cunard Line to blend in among the passengers and keep an eye out for any shifty, possibly illegal behavior, and ideally nip it in the bud.

Masefield, a 3.5 stars, I enjoyed this more than the first in the series; the author seemed to have more control of the pacing and the multiple characters. He shifts the action between his two undercover detectives, Dillman covering second class and steerage, and Masefield in first class pretty smoothly, and keeps the pacing moving along. Both are hired by the Cunard Line to blend in among the passengers and keep an eye out for any shifty, possibly illegal behavior, and ideally nip it in the bud.

Masefield, a beautiful young woman (as we are told repeatedly, it got a little old), finds herself drawn into a group of wealthy, indolent, rather catty British gentlefolk. I think the author intended for us to feel that these were witty, cosmopolitan people, but they seemed just rather bitchy and rude to each other. I got tired of the constant sniping, and Genevieve apparently did as well, trying to escape dining with the group for every meal, so that she could meet other people, and attend to her work as a detective.

Dillman, in second class, befriends a family on the boat train, including a little girl who turns out to be key to solving one of the crimes the detectives encounter during the cruise. Luckily, the author controls this child character, and she doesn’t become too annoying. I am personally not a big fan of children in mystery series, as they can wear thin pretty quickly.

As with the first mystery (Murder on the Lusitania), the author sets the stage effectively, giving readers a good look at life aboard a luxury ocean liner in 1907. Action moves between several characters in first class, second class and steerage, full of poor immigrants trying to make their way to America in spartan conditions.

As for the crimes making up the mysteries in this second novel, we have silver items going missing in second class, a missing passenger after a storm at sea, and attempts to break into the secure storage room of the ship containing gold bars being sent to America. All of the plots come together in an interesting way, no spoilers, and are resolved by the end of the cruise. An enjoyable fairly cozy historical mystery, I read this book for an upcoming the Reading the Detectives group Buddy read, and would read further on the series. ...more

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Jun 29, 2022 Jill rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: conrad-allen, jill-s-eighth-year-challenge

I enjoyed this book, more than the first in this series. Although the romance between the two main characters is now fore to the story, it does not interfere with what is going on, and there is a lot going on here. Both detectives having there position on the boat, Genevieve placed in the first class cabins, with George in the second class berths having access to the steerage section. The ship is also carrying a shipment of gold bullion - twelve tons in all - sent from the Bank of England. Almos ...more

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Feb 12, 2008 Nancy Oakes rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-crime-fiction, crime-fiction

#2 in this series featuring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, who are both undercover detectives working for the Cunard line.

It is 1907, and the Mauretania is making its maiden voyage from Liverpool to New York. Aside from the three levels of passengers in 1st class, 2nd class and steerage, there is a cargo of gold bullion being sent to the US to help out the ailing US government and its cash flow problem.

Pretty much as soon as the voyage is underway, itmes begin disappearing from ...more

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Aug 28, 2022 Carolien rated it liked it

Shelves: 2022, english-mystery

I enjoy the historical details of these mysteries and the romance of the ships. This episode includes more information about passengers in steerage which were less well-treated as the ship carried thousands of immigrants to New York. An interesting cast of characters.

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Sep 19, 2020 Lillian rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2020, mystery-vintage-golden-age

3.5 stars. I enjoy character driven mysteries but this was a little slow even for me. The split story between Dillman and Masefield kept it interesting but I expected there to be more twists and maybe a bigger surprise at the end. But I enjoy the protagonists enough to try the next in the series.

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