The Missing Sapphire of Zangrabar - (Patricia Fisher Cruise Ship Mysteries) by Steve Higgs (Paperback)

About the Book

"Patricia Fisher is about to find out that 52 is the perfect age for an adventure! When her life is unexpectedly turned upside down, ginaholic housewife, Patricia, doesn't react as most would. Instead, she empties the bank accounts and jumps on the first cruise ship available--it just happens to be the world's largest and finest, the Aurelia. Less than 24 hours later, the world throws her the next curveball and so begins a race against time to prove she's not a killer. She has help though: Her butler--his perfect Downton Abbey accent and penchant for folding napkins correctly should be enormously helpful! A pretty gym instructor--can balanced nutrition and perfect abs keep Patricia out of jail? Her chances don't look great, but in our most testing times, we truly find our inner strength. Join Patricia Fisher as she learns that you are never beyond discovering a new version of yourself. The world will always look a little different once you have seen it through Patricia"--

Book Synopsis

When life gives you lemons, empty your cheating husband's bank accounts and go on a cruise.

That's right, isn't it?

Fuelled by anger, and decision-impaired by gin, Patricia boards the world's finest luxury cruise ship for a three-month tour of the world ...

... and awakes to find herself embroiled in a thirty-year-old priceless jewel theft.

Less than twenty-four hours after setting sail, she's accused of murder and confined to her cabin. Thankfully, she is staying in the royal suite and that means she has a butler to help her. When he recruits his gym instructor BFF, Barbie, the trio turn detective to find the real killer.

But someone on board doesn't want them to succeed and when the next body is found in her kitchen, the team realise it's more than just her freedom at stake.

They'd better solve this fast or all three of them might be next.

Read this fast-paced adventure as a middle-aged housewife throws off the shackles of her old life and becomes the woman she was always meant to be.

Review Quotes

'When Steve Higgs writes, he hits it out of the park. I find myself laughing out loud and often.'

Mr. Higgs managed to create an older female protagonist who acted her age and was still interesting. Her anger, confusion, and grief to catching her husband cheating with her friend was believable and relatable. Wiping out the bank account and going on a cruise was inspired and hilarious.

Patricia is an authentic, engaging, and sympathetic character, an honest voice, even pointing out to herself, and the reader, she had no idea what she was doing, her thoughts pingponging back and forth on her decisions. The strength of her personality drags Jermaine, her butler from her suite, and Barbie, her fitness instructor, along with her as she searches for clues to prove her innocence. The burgeoning friendships between them is as entertaining as it is heartwarming.

Absolutely terrific! As a somewhat overweight 50-something, I found the story not only lots of fun to read, but also encouraging. I'll definitely be reading more in this series.

This book was better than an actual cruise. I enjoyed every page and could not put it down. The characters were well defined and the ending was a great surprise.

Funny, light-hearted murder mystery with a wonderful ending!