The second wife by Ali Lowe

Cruise concierge, Molly, loves being aboard the luxury liner, The Titan Pacifica, and constantly seems to have a finger on the pulse, knowing how to support the passengers, including the uber wealthy, tricky personalities on deck nine. When the wealthy but very dysfunctional Fairchild family boards, this trip becomes something other than the magical mystery tour one might imagine. Each of the characters not only has secrets to hide, they also exhibit varied personality traits and flaws.

The patriarch, Irving Fairchild, immediately proves himself to be a rude, self-absorbed, and totally unlikeable individual, treating everyone he meets badly, playing his family members off against one another for his personal entertainment. As the relationships between the characters and their backgrounds are slowly revealed, one grows to dislike each person more intensely. Scandals and secrets come to light, amidst the grandeur of the setting. The greedy, entitled group quickly begins to show their true natures, with motives for murder being exposed.

As a first-time reader of Ali Lowe, but someone who enjoys murder mysteries, I wasn’t sure what to expect of this title. Beginning with a Hitchcock quote, a cruise itinerary, the reflections of a character whose life is about to end, and the transcript of the podcast The Deadliest Cruise of All Time as the introduction, it was immediately obvious that it was going to be an interesting ride. Quickly, I found myself unable to put the book down. Interspersed with podcasts, transcripts and alternating views, and a large font, this was such an easy read. Whenever I thought I had guessed where the story was going, I was proven wrong, and the plot had me engaged until the very last word. I’m now keen to investigate Lowe’s other titles.

Themes: Crime, Mystery, Family, Greed, Secrets.

Jo Schenkel