Review: Cruising can be bad for your health!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 31, 2013
POISONED WATERS is a thrilling mystery set on an Atlantic cruise travelling from the UK to the USA where a mid-cruise murder means that the murderer still on board.A lot of characters are introduced early in the book which I found to be very confusing - I just jotted down the names and the relationships and was then easily able to keep track of everyone.The story is set in the 1950s and author, Ermisenda Alvarez, has recreated the period very well. With all the characters demonstrating, and living, the prevailing social views of the time. One of the male characters even musing that as a group women seemed to coming out publically and demanding rights and this was not healthy! Helen Gardner is not the first murder victim by a long shot, the body count mounts up, blood is shed, and beatings occur as the story twists and turns. Some characters take advantage of the situation, others are bullied, a few are injured, more than a few killed, there are muggings, sets up and by the end of the book you are just gasping for breath both pleased and sorry that the ride is over. The killer of Helen is finally revealed - but wait there is more and it will surprise you! There are quite a few back stories and they all have endings that will surprise! Sometimes you have no idea who to trust - who is a victim and who is a manipulator.The pace is fast after the slow introduction; the tension had me sitting on the edge of my seat. One thing you can be sure of you will be surprised at some of the outcomes and I recommend this to any whodunit reader.