Freestyle is free and happy.

1. Title:Santa Cruise

2. Author: Mary Higgins Clark/Carol Higgins Clark

3. Publisher: Simon & Schuster

4. Date of Publication:2006/8

5. Pages:261pages

6. Major characters:

Alvirah Meehan is the lottery winner turned amateur sleuth and 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 never-do-well nephew, Eric, has smuggled two
escaping criminals on board. Eric is also their accomplice.

7. Plot Summary:

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 best-selling author. There are
also ten men on board who had donated their time playing Santa Cruise
during the holiday season as well as assorted other charitable folk, all
planning on a restful post-Christmas vacation.

8. Comments:

This novel is very interesting. Before journey starting, each passenger is
happy to receive, but the hoped-for tranquility soon vanishes. A 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.
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!
Alvirah and Willy Meehan, lottery winners, are guests upon the newly
refurbished "Santa Cruise". It is the maiden voyage of Commodore
Randolph Weed's cruise ship. As a marketing ploy dreamt up by cruise
director, Dudley, this voyage is a free trip given to honor those people
whose charitable contributions made life a little better for others. It
curiously included ten 'Santas' who year after year heard the wishes of
children everywhere. When a series of odd and law-breaking occurrences
happen abroad the ship, amateur sleuth, Alvirah revs up her nose for clues
and discovers an intertwining series of plots hatched by monsters,
law-breakers, ex-wives and shady characters.
This book is about a 'do-gooders' cruise given by a cruise ship owner
trying to drum of business for his fledgling cruise ship. From the get-go
things go wrong. Commodore's nephew is stowing away two dangerous
fugitives, a member of the staff jumps overboard to avoid being arrested,
storms...etc. In the middle of everything is a man planning a heist. It
certainly had the makings of a good mystery. It is fun to read, to wonder
about everything and enjoy it in the end.