Murder on the Mauretania

by Conrad Allen

Book Overview

-- Wonderfully evocative mystery rich in historical detail-- Terrific sleuthing team -- both a smart young man, and an equally intelligent woman

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 031224116X
• ISBN13: 9780312241162
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Sophomore Slump

This is the second in the Shipboard mysteries featuring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield. As the story opens it is 1907, two months after the events of MURDER ON THE LUSITANIA. George Dillman, heir to a New England yacht building family, former actor and ex-Pinkerton detective is an undercover security agent for the famed Cunard line. Since the events of the previous novel Genevieve Masefield, a young English woman he met on the Lusitania is now his partner. As the pair set sail on the maiden voyage of the Mauretania Genevieve is keeping an eye on the First Class passengers and George is taking care of the Second and Third Class. The problems begin with a series of petty thefts that in First and Second Class, George is sure that he has identified the thief and is just looking for an opportunity to catch him with the goods when the man disappears. Genevieve's problems are hitting a bit closer to home when she attracts a stalker. Before the ship docks in New York though all questions are answered without attracting any unwanted publicity to the famed liner. It often happens with series novels that the second book is not as strong as the first. This is the case here. In the previous novel we were introduced to the recurring characters and the premise and given a more tightly written mystery to solve. In this one less time is spent establishing the back story leaving too much room for the mystery aspect to fill. The characters of George and Genevieve were not as well written in this one as they were in the first, in fact the only character truly came to life was the little girl, Alexandra. Still there are a few interesting twists and turns in the plot, and the descriptions of life abroad the glamorous liner are an enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

Fun high class turn of the century mystery on shipboard

Murder on the Mauretania by Conrad Allen is the second book in the shipboard mystery series starring George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield. This is another mystery full of beautifully dressed people who always come up with the wittiest response. Reading it, I couldnt' help but imagine Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert in the main roles with their dry humor and chemistry sparking between them. On the maiden voyage of the Mauretania, sister ship to the Lusitania, George and Genevieve have been hired by the cruiseline to make sure any crimes committed are small and are solved quickly, but with almost $3 billion in gold buillion aboard, several small silver thefts, and a missing cat they are soon kept busy. As always Allen fills the book with colorful secondary characters with mysteries that are never quite solved. There's lots of detail about the construction of the ship and sailing. There aren't too many red herrings, but the ending is much stronger than the first one, and I'm looking forward to the third.

Lots of excitement in this mystery

In late 1907 Liverpool, the maiden voyage of the world's largest ocean liner, the Mauretania begins. Among the passengers is detective George Porter Dillman sailing in second class and his new assistant Genevieve Masefield staying in first class. George and Genevieve met on the Lusitania (see MURDER ON THE LUSITANIA). They are working undercover for the Cunard Line to prevent robberies of the wealthy patrons from thieves that are plowing their trades and to protect a 2.75 million-pound gold shipment.As the ship sails, George stops minor pilfering from happening, but an unknown phantom continues to steal in spite of the detective's efforts. The weather for the most part is nasty, but the powerful Mauretania keeps a steady pace. However, the calm changes when a first class passenger falls overboard in what appears to be a tragic accident. However, Sam soon sees a connection with that incident and the clever stealing of some of the gold. Even with Genevieve's access to the wealthy first class patrons, Sam struggles to identify a master felon.MURDER ON THE MAURETANIA, the second Dillman-Masefield historical mystery set on the ocean cruise liners, is a wonderful tale that brings readers along for the ride sans seasickness. The story line is entertaining as readers obtain a glimpse at the ship, its passengers, and its crew mostly through the eyes of the undercover sleuth and his assistant. The enjoyable who-done-it adds to the fun of an exciting sea voyage. Sub-genre fans will book passage on Conrad Allen's next ocean adventure.Harriet Klausner