Alvirah Meehan, the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth;
her husband, Willy; recently hitched private detective
Regan Reilly and her groom, Jack, head of the NYPD Major
Case Squad; and Regan's parents, Nora and Luke, are guests
on the Royal Mermaid's maiden voyage, the Santa Cruise. The
cruise is Commodore Randolph Weed's gift to a select group
of people who in the last year "made the world a better
place." What he really wants is good publicity that will
generate future bookings for his struggling new venture. He
also plans to scatter his beloved mother's ashes at sea
during this four-day odyssey in the Caribbean. What he
doesn't know is that his ne'er-do-well nephew, Eric, has
smuggled two escaping criminals on board.
Alvirah won the cruise at a charity auction and persuaded
the Reillys to accompany her and Willy. Other passengers
include members of the Oklahoma Readers and Writers group,
who volunteer their time teaching people to read. The group
is planning a mystery seminar dedicated to a Ghost of
Honor, the late Left Hook Louie, a champion prizefighter
turned bestselling author. There are also ten men on board
who had donated their time playing Santa Claus during the
holiday season as well as assorted other charitable folk,
all planning on a restful post-Christmas vacation.
The hoped-for tranquility soon vanishes. A terrified
mystery fan swears she has spotted the Ghost of Honor in
the ship's chapel. Two Santa suits disappear from a locked
supply room. A storm develops, and in the infirmary an
attempt is made on the life of a seemingly feeble
passenger. Back in Miami, a TV reporter is turning the
cruise into a public-relations nightmare, thanks to her
spies on the ship.
As the Royal Mermaid sails through troubled waters,
Alvirah, Regan, and Jack are uncovering the clues that lead
them to dangerous criminals who were not on the original
guest list!
Filled with suspense and humor, Santa Cruise is a holiday
mystery you won't want to miss. Join the Clarks as they
bring this unpredictable voyage to a hair-raising and
heartwarming conclusion and ring in the New Year.
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