the setup…
Palmer is a nurse, married with twin four-year old daughters but her husband just left her for a much younger woman. Her best friend Beth wants her to agree to the getaway on a luxury sailing cruise with two former high school friends, Emma and Gigi. It’s to commemorate the twenty year anniversary of a fated rafting trip where their friend Courtney died. Palmer reluctantly agreed as her memories of that trip and its aftermath are still painful. Not long after they set sail, they run into a powerful storm that sets off a series of other catastrophes, including the loss of the captain and one of the friends. Turns out, they all were keeping secrets about Courtney’s death and one of them is out for revenge.
the heart of the story…
A locked room mystery on a sailboat! You’d think it would be easier to figure out in this close confinement but no way. The dual timelines shift from present day to that rafting trip twenty years ago and other points in the past for context. The secrets were just as intriguing as the whodunnit.
the narration…
Vanessa Johansson tells the story from Palmer’s point of view and does a great job of storytelling. Her pacing was excellent.
the bottom line…
This was a nail biter and I kept thinking of Dame Christie’s And Then There Were None with a modern flair. Even though I guessed the who early on, it didn’t lessen my enjoyment because I questioned my theory at every juncture. It’s twisty and harrowing enough to make me rethink sailing.
Book Info
- Release Date: January 6, 2026
- Narrator: Vanessa Johansson
- Audio Length: 9 hours, 2 minutes
- Publisher: Brilliance Audio
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Blue Mood Café 
Oh this does sound good! Great review Jonetta.
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Thank you, Jodie💜 This was fascinating.
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