A well-crafted mystery with a bevy of intriguing characters.
“Retirement had turned out better than Myrick had anticipated.” Two decades in law enforcement have earned Evann Myrick some deserved relaxation, a gorgeous classic car, and a romantic vacation aboard the Savoy of the Seas, an impressive cruise ship headed for some of Mexico’s most beautiful coastal destinations. With the alluring Victoria Monroe at his side, Evann hopes to throw off the stresses of his old career and don his dancing shoes for a week of sunshine and swing dancing with fellow cruisers enjoying the ship. But a tranquil vacation isn’t enough of a distraction to turn off the analytical crime-solving part of Evann’s mind. So when a crew member goes missing and the themed cruise turns deadly, Detective Myrick reverts to cop mode. Subtle clues, airtight alibis, old flames, and plump red herrings act as a fly in the sunscreen, so to speak, coming between Evann and Victoria. But lives are on the line and difficult choices have to be made. Out of his jurisdiction and running out of time, Evann will have to brave more than just the stormy seas if he wants to catch a killer before the ship gets back to the States.
Open water and salty air provide the scenic backdrop for Doug Dorsey’s jaunty mystery, Rock Step Triple Homicide. This sharp but unexpectedly reverent novel drops a serial killer into a warm community of dance enthusiasts, resulting in an intense mystery that is balanced out by all the round-the-clock fun a floating resort has to offer. Especially dazzling in this dance-centric detective novel is the vividly detailed layout of the cruise ship. Dorsey makes it so easy to feel the jazzy music in your bones as you take in a workshop in one of the ship’s lounges. Likewise, you can vividly picture the immense gift of a brilliant sunrise over an endless sea paired with a steamy cup of fresh coffee. These small but significant moments serve to pull readers into tantalizing scenes they can visualize, creating a delight and tension that project beyond the page. Despite the high-seas treachery, Evann deftly navigates through any darkness, always searching for light, making for a protagonist with a refreshing worldview. If you like dancing, are an avid cruiser, or simply enjoy a well-crafted mystery with a bevy of intriguing characters, you’re going to love Rock Step Triple Homicide, a wildly entertaining story with an energy that will make you want to jump up and dance.
