Cruising Through Midlife by Addison Moore Narrator: Claire Shadrawy
Series: Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery #1
Published by Hollis Thatcher Press on October 17, 2024
Source: Library
Genres: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Length: 6 hrs 28 mins
Pages: 228
Format: Audiobook
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An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts. Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
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If I thought the first half of my life was a bumpy ride, I’d better buckle up because I’m about to go over the hill and off the rails.
My name is Trixie Troublefield, and I see ghosts. It’s sort of a new thing, and it’s more than a problem.
While I was busy running around doing some last minute packing for my tropical anniversary cruise, my husband was busy bedding three other women—at the same time. So I did what any other sane person would do—I grabbed my suitcase and took to the high seas, alone.
Here’s the thing. I’ve never been on a plane or a cruise ship. I’ve never left the state of Maine. I’ve never been on my own. I’ve never seen ghosts before either, but that seems to be on the universe’s agenda for me, too.
I’ve got eighteen days to recalibrate, rethink my life, recharge, and eat all the food I can get my hands on. And I might look into a poltergeist pest control service while I’m at it.
Of course I’ll start a travel blog and log all of my adventures for the world to see. Why not rub all the fun I’m having in my cheating ex-husband’s face? I’ll call it Suddenly Single! What a Trip.
But no sooner do I step on board of that stately cruise ship than I stumble upon a body.
Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
Trixie is on her 25-anniversary cruise to Hawaii alone because her husband is a cheating jerk. And I do have to say she moved on well. She’s determined to have fun and not fall for any of his pleading or mean jabs. She seems to take everything in stride and with a smile, even when she finds a dead body in her luggage and a ghost turns up to help her solve the mystery.
It’s a fun, lighthearted mystery with plenty of romance. Trixie has two potential love interests, both crew. I’m not a fan of love triangles and I did kind of want her to just pick one, but it’s only an 18-night cruise, and she’ll never see either of them again, so what’s the harm? And I might have peeked at some of the later blurbs in the series, so I’m willing to let it slide for now.
It’s a fun book. I enjoyed Trixie and her new friends. It’s funny and full of delicious food and cruise activities.
The mystery was decent. We have several potential suspects and obvious clues.
I listened to the audio and the narrator was a little annoying. At spots where the writing was a bit awkward, her tone and phrasing didn’t help. She brought Trixie to life, but maybe a younger version that the Trixie I would have had in my head had I been reading the ebook. I will definitely be picking up the second in the series, probably sooner rather than later, since it’s a perfect summer read.
About Addison Moore
Addison Moore is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author who writes mystery, psychological thrillers and romance. Her work has been featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine. Previously she worked as a therapist on a locked psychiatric unit for nearly a decade. She resides on the West Coast with her husband, four wonderful children, and two dogs where she eats too much chocolate and stays up way too late. When she’s not writing, she’s reading. Her Celestra Series was optioned for film by 20th Century Fox. Represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books and Such Literary Agency.
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