Sneak Peek!
Panama Canal Killer Cruise
Book Description:
An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts.
Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
It’s Halloween on board the Emerald Queen of the Seas! Throw in a notorious drug lord, a scorned ex-wife, a mystery writers’ convention, along with a killer, and suddenly, bingo seems the least of my concerns.
Cosmopolitan Magazine calls Addison’s books, “…easy, frothy fun!” INCLUDES RECIPES!
An impending divorce. An ornery homicide detective. The cruise of a lifetime. And ghosts.
Midlife on the high seas is proving to be a real killer.
If I thought the first half of my life was a bumpy ride, I’d better buckle up because I’m about to go over the hill and off the rails.
A laugh out loud Paranormal Women’s Fiction Novel by New York Times, USA TODAY, & Wall Street Journal bestseller Addison Moore. A cruise ship cozy mystery!
My name is Trixie Troublefield, and I live on a cruise ship. My days are filled with exciting shore excursions, nonstop buffets, and ceaseless games of bingo—can life get any better than this?
It’s Halloween on board the Emerald Queen as we sail through the Panama Canal, and the ship is playing host to a mystery writers’ convention.
Authors from across the country have swarmed the ship with their noir narratives and peculiar plotlines. Who knew there could be so many ways to kill someone in fiction?
But fiction turns into chilling reality as we transit the Panama Canal. It’s spooky season on board the Emerald Queen, and the ship is decked out in its macabre best for our annual costume party. But when an ornery ghost and a very real killer crash the festivities, even the authors who specialize in murder are left speechless. Who needs a whodunit novel when we have a live mystery unraveling on board?
We’re cruising through the glorious Panama Canal, where every lock and gate seems to whisper a cryptic warning, carrying an undercurrent of danger that chills to the bone. And the echoes of a tumultuous past reverberate through its narrow passageways.
Ransom's sister, who also happens to be the captain's ex-wife, is coming along for the ride. It doesn't help that there's tension between her and her brother, not to mention the extreme discord between her and the captain. With tensions mounting, I’m swimming in a sea of family drama and deadly secrets. Throw a notorious Colombian drug lord into the mix, who also happens to be the latest flame of our scorned guest, and suddenly, bingo seems the least of my concerns.
I’m about to discover that the most terrifying ghost isn’t the one moaning on the lido deck. It’s the deadly secrets lurking in the hearts of those I hold dear.
One thing’s for sure—this cruise will be one for the crypt keeper.
Midlife on the high seas is proving to be murder.
Chapter 1
Suddenly Single—What a Trip!
Hello, dear readers! I hope this message finds you well and in good spirits. It’s your friendly cruise buddy, Trixie, here to share some exciting news. I’m about to embark on a thrilling adventure through the Panama Canal, and I can hardly contain my excitement!
As I prepare to set sail on this amazing journey, I want you to know that I’ll be taking you along with me every step of the way. From the stunning landscapes to the fascinating cultures, and, of course, the unexpected twists and turns that often come with cruise adventures, I’ll be sharing it all with you.
So feel free to bring me your burning questions, and in the meantime, I’ll pepper you with a few tips on cruising and perhaps even provide a dose or two of humor.
Together, we’ll navigate the high seas, explore new horizons, and make memories that will last a lifetime. So fasten your seatbelts—or life vests—because the adventure is about to begin!
Stay tuned for more updates and tales from the Panama Canal and beyond.
Here’s to smooth sailing!
XOXO Trixie
Emerald Queen of the Seas, Royal Lineage Cruise Lines
Itinerary
13 Night Cruise
Day One = Departure: San Diego, California
Day Two = At Sea
Day Three = Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Day Four = At Sea
Day Five = Santa Cruz Huatulco, Mexico
Day Six = Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala
Day Seven = Corinto, Nicaragua
Day Eight = Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica
Day Nine = At Sea
Day Ten = Panama Canal Transit
Day Eleven = Cartagena, Colombia
Day Twelve = At Sea
Day Thirteen = At Sea
Day Fourteen = Arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Three hours from now…
The Killer
There they are, I muse as I watch my intended victim as they move through the crowded lounge, laughing and oh so oblivious as to what’s about to transpire.
I stand hidden in plain sight, watching their every move.
Their spirits may seem bright, but their heart is nothing but soot.
“You won’t hurt me or anyone else again,” I whisper it to myself like a promise fueled with the powerful need for revenge.
How I wish they weren’t laughing.
How I wish they were afraid—just the way they made me feel. I wish they knew exactly what was coming.
Watching as they move through the crowd, acting charming and delightful, I keep my eyes on them, waiting. Every smile they give, every laugh they share is nothing but another carefree moment ticking away, bringing them closer to their ultimate end.
I move around unnoticed, blending in, ready to act.
I’m about to bring their whole world crashing down, and that alone puts a smile on my face.
Trixie
Suddenly Single—What a Trip!
Trip Tip: As you step aboard the ship on that exciting first day, don’t forget to unpack your sense of adventure. Leave your worries behind, unpack your enthusiasm, too, and set sail with the spirit of exploration. The first day is the perfect time to dive into all the ship has to offer and embark on your unforgettable journey with a sense of wonder and anticipation.
Above all, don’t forget to hit the buffet on the lido deck!
Let’s make day one a splendid start to our cruising adventure.
Cruising straight for the lido deck,
XOXO Trixie
“Welcome to the haunted high seas party.” Captain Weston Crawford is the first to greet Bess, Nettie, and me as we step aboard the most majestic cruise ship there is—the Emerald Queen of the Seas.
Wes is decked out, clad in white, wearing his very best captain’s uniform with a matching glossy cap and lots of brass buttons running up and down his chest. His dark hair peeks from under his hat, and with his verdant green eyes and pearly white smile, he’s a looker that happens to garner the attention of just about everyone with ovaries.
“Oh, Wes.” I toss my arms around him tight. “How we’ve missed you. And we’ve missed the Queen of the Seas, too.”
It’s true, while the ship was repositioning from Vancouver to San Diego, Bess, Nettie, and I rented a car and took a road trip all the way down the California coast. And boy, was that an adventure—and that’s putting it mildly.
It’s October, the spookiest month of them all, and even though I’ve lived on the Emerald Queen for almost a year now, I’ve yet to experience Halloween on board the vessel.
Orange and green buntings are strewn over every inch that I can see here on the promenade deck, and there’s a large black sign that reads Welcome to spooky scary party days aboard the Emerald Queen! Fun for some and a nautical nightmare for others. Beware, haunted high seas ahead!
And next to that rather ominous sign stands a ten-foot-tall headless horseman holding a smiling jack-o’-lantern in one hand and the wheel of the ship in the other.
“Looks as if we have a whole new captain,” I muse as Bess and Nettie take in the sight along with me.
“Eh, I guess he’s hot,” Nettie grouses with a note of disinterest in her voice. “But get a load of him.” She points dead ahead, and right next to the entry to the Queen’s Mall stands a twenty-foot skeleton dressed as a pirate, complete with a parrot on his shoulder, an eyepatch, and a red bandana tied around his head. Behind him are about six smaller versions, all dressed to thrill as a pack of high-seas bandits.
“Oh wow.” I laugh. “It looks as if the skeleton crew is about to take over the ship.”
Nettie gravels out a laugh. “With that hottie at the helm, I’ll submit to his lusty demands. I have a weakness for a man with a killer smile and a rebel heart.”
Bess groans, “Please, you practically said the same words to the waiter at that restaurant last night and he was anything but a rebel. Face it, Nettie, you have a weakness for testosterone.”
“There you go yucking my yum again,” Nettie says. “You and I both know there’s something irresistible about a man who can rock a fake parrot on his shoulder and still offer up a killer smile.”
Bess shrugs. “I won’t fight you on that one.”
“Just remember,” Nettie says. “If you hear ahoy, matey coming from my cabin, don’t come a knockin’.”
Bess rolls her eyes my way before we share a laugh.
Bess and Nettie are both somewhere in their eighties, and they happen to live on board the Emerald Queen right along with me.
Bess Chatterley is a redheaded feisty retired teacher from Vermont. And Nettie Butterworth is a gray-haired hippie who happens to hail from the same area.
When I first stepped on the ship to celebrate my twenty-fifth anniversary last January—solo, might I add—they were the first to comfort me regarding my newly dissolved marital status. In fact, they were the ones who convinced me to move on board.
I did and I’ve never been happier.
“Captain,” I say, glancing around him as he nods and waves to the eager passengers as they board. “Where’s the rest of the welcoming committee?” Namely my red-hot boyfriend, head of vessel security, Ransom Courtland Baxter.
Ransom and Wes are actually ex-brothers-in-law, and oddly enough, Ransom’s sister, Scarlett, who also happens to be Wes’ ex, let us know she’ll be joining us on this trip.
For that reason alone, I’m pretty sure this will be the most frightening cruise I’ve taken on the Emerald Queen. Let’s just say Ransom blames Wes for the fact Scarlett left their marriage, left the United States, and moved to Colombia to live with a drug lord.
I’ll admit, it’s not ideal.
And that’s exactly why Ransom and Wes have been at odds ever since.
Wes glances over his shoulder. “The crew has been decorating for the last three days, and they’re still putting the finishing touches on the ship. We take spooky season seriously around here.”
“That’s an understatement.” Bess nods to the spiderwebs attached to the glossy railings and lampposts nearby. “Trixie, prepare to have your socks scared right off your tootsies.”
Nettie looks up and gasps, sponsoring Bess and me to do the very same thing—and the three of us belt out a bloodcurdling scream at the very same time.