First published 1999
This anthology brings together mystery writers from the International Association of Crime Writers to explore crimes on the high seas. Each story unfolds aboard a cruise ship, where the confined setting creates unique opportunities for murder, theft, and deception. Agatha Christie contributes "Problem at Sea," while other tales include Nancy Pickard's "Nine Points for Murder" and John Mortimer's "Rumpole at Sea." The collection spans multiple countries and styles, from a chess game turned deadly in Erik Amdrup's "Chess on Board" to the tropical menace of Jose Latour's "Havanightmare." Writers from England, Belgium, Denmark, Cuba, Brazil, America, Germany, Spain, and France contribute stories that use the romantic yet isolated ship setting to maximum effect. The ocean provides both backdrop and trap for characters who discover that escape becomes impossible when surrounded by water.
Genres: short-stories, adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: confined-setting, escape-impossible
Setting: Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Spain
Period: 20th-century, 21st-century
320 pages · Hardcover · Cumberland House Publishing