Vicki Silver: Cruise Control

by Alissa Wood

Aboard the cruise ship "Crystal Palace," Vicki and C.J. expect a week of fun and relaxation. Their plans change however, when a soon-to-be groom disappears just before his wedding. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0980186110
• ISBN13: 9780980186116
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Summertime Books
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.0" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Especially recommended for school and community library contemporary fiction collections

The Vicki Silver Mysteries are back with "Cruise Control", author Alissa Woods' newest addition to her popular series for young readers ages 12 to 18! Vicki and C.J. are off for a week of fun and sun aboard the cruise ship Crystal Palace. Their plans suddenly change when a soon to be groom disappears just before the wedding. The bride puts Vicki and her friends on the case. Did the groom get cold feet? Did he fall overboard? Or was it something worse. For Vicki and her friends time is short; they only have seven days to figure this out on one of the largest cruise ships on the seas or this groom may be lost out at sea forever. Author Alissa Wood has written another deftly penned and exciting tale of mystery and suspense in her Vicki Silver Mysteries series showcasing young woman and her friends who solve crimes and other mysterious events in their hometown of Sport, Maine. "Cruise Control" is especially recommended for school and community library contemporary fiction collections.

Vicki Silver: Cruise Control is an excellent book!

The Vicki Silver series has the energy of a teenager and the sophistication of a new Agatha Christie. This time we join the young sleuths on a seven-day cruise ship rounding Nova Scotia with a destination of Quebec City. A troubled man in a tuxedo ends up missing on his wedding day leaving a gym bag full of money and a handful of angry business associates that top the suspect list of Vicki, CJ, Catlin and Joe. As usual adult authorities are an obstacle, but a trail of clues will keep readers turning pages. And fortunately for all of us it seems very easy to break into staterooms. The ship, like a manor house or small English village, reins in possibilities and the length of the cruise imposes a deadline. Diagrams of the ship and the route of the cruise help us follow the action; and because there is minimum description the plot moves quickly. (Details of the Titanic rescue attempts at Halifax do provide some lifeboat foreshadowing.) Writing is discovery, not of what comes next, but of how all the elements of the story fit together. In one chapter I particularly liked each of the detectives takes a different suspect and these segments are juxtaposed for the reader in a way that makes us active participants in solving the puzzle. This also builds suspense and cleverly reveals character. The ending, while not surprising, is exciting and satisfying. For those not familiar with Vicki Silver, she is clever, but also a born leader who knows how to take charge and defend herself physically and verbally if she has to. This book has less bickering between her and her older sister and I think the business (embezzling) is handled with credibility. There are two segments where the author's religious values are presented to readers (some will like the overt Christian perspective, others might not). In the case where the minister on ship, who was to perform the marriage ceremony, talks to Susan (the fiancé) and Joe it seems in character. Later when added to a description of Susan and her future husband's courtship, it is more like editorializing tacked on to the story. I suppose this does help explain a certain lack of male-female dynamics not only between the engaged couple but also in the interests of the three girls and Joe (Joe is Vicki's boyfriend). But this series of mystery novels is a franchise on the move and this particular book delivers even more on its promise than the first one, The Stolen Gem. Great work, young detective crew. Full speed ahead!

Great Mystery Series! Safe Reading!

This is the second book I've read in the Vicki Silver series and I'm very impressed to say the least. I had no problems handing the first book over to my thirteen year old daughter and I won't have any with this one either. Vicki Silver works with her friends to solve crimes all the while demonstrating Christian values. In the book, Cruise Control, what is supposed to be a fun family (and friend) vacation turns topsy turvy when Vicki and her friends find themselves in the middle of a very unexpected case. And now what is supposed to be the cruise of a life time for a couple about to be married has turned into a nightmare when the groom goes missing. To make matters worse, he seems to have disappeared from the Crystal Palace altogether and could be anywhere including somewhere in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Once again Vicki and her gang of friends band together to help the groom's frightened fiancé before it's too late. I have recommended this series to many of my friends who have young readers because of the good clean reading. Mystery, suspense and narrow escapes flourish in this sea bound tale. In addition to trying to figure out who done it, young readers also receive a little nautical knowledge and history facts along the way! Cruise Control will leave the reader excited to turn the next page! Hats off to Alissa Wood who has the ability to give readers what they want while maintaining wonderful values and a Christian influence. Vicki Silver: The Stolen Gem