Addictive, and in places completely in put down able.

I was thoroughly hooked on the story of Laura's past, which is rather disturbing but rather compelling.

I also loved the chapters set on the cruise ship, and trying to work out how the many threads would combine was completely beyond me!

There are a lot of characters, but luckily each chapter has a character name date and time so you can try to keep track of everything.

It's another accomplished book from this author I always look out for.

Thank you to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This gripping page-turner was the perfect holiday read for me - in the sense that it is ideal light reading for a holiday, not because of any festive subject-matter - this is actually pretty dark! The plot is extremely far-fetched and you need to be prepared to suspend disbelief, but it is quite clever, the pacing is good, the characters are engaging (albeit superficial), and the cruise-ship setting is fun and well executed. The writing is extremely simplistic, but the plot and pacing were good enough that this didn't bother me, and sometimes an easy read is just what I need.

I enjoyed this and would happily pick up another Catherine Cooper book in the future.

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

A New Year’s Eve party is taking place on board a glamorous ship in the Caribbean. The dancer on the sh
I’m Lola suddenly disappears, the coastguard is alerted and the ship is searched however, there is no sign of Lola. It is presumed that she has gone overboard. Lola was very secretive and kept herself to herself, everyone on the ship becomes a suspect. Will they find Lola’s body or what actually happened or will it remain a mystery. What an unexpected twist to the story.

Unfortunately this one wasn’t really for me. The premise was intriguing and the beginning was pretty good. It drew me in but then the subplot was introduced that didn’t really fit, so it felt like I was reading two different books. I understand why it was introduced but because of this it took me longer to pick up and for me to stay interested. I liked the mixed media of newpaper cutting and interview transcripts. The ending was good and tied everything together. I will try this author again in the future.

When a woman is seen falling from a cruise ship on New Year’s Eve, and a dancer cannot be found, it’s pretty obvious what’s happened … isn’t it?

A cruise ship makes a great setting for a murder-mystery as there are a limited number of people who could be involved and nobody can leave or arrive without being noticed. Crewmates come to rely on each other, but gossip spreads quickly and tensions run high. When the boat is laid up for maintenance soon afterward, an even more restricted cast of characters remain aboard so when more strange things happen, somebody needs to work out what is going on – and why!

We have alternating chapters from various people aboard, including the ship’s doctor Stuart, chef Alice and dancer/cleaner Antonio. We also have a side plot about Laura, a teenage girl growing up with an over-protective father – this story is obviously linked to what’s happening on board the ship but how?

Whilst the writing is excellent, portraying life aboard ship well, and the conclusion brings all the loose ends together well, I didn't like it as much as other Catherine Cooper books I have read. The alternating POV chapters were a bit random and this made it all feel disjointed. It felt a bit too contrived/improbable in places, some of the incidents really pushed the boundaries of believability, and the mysteries were a bit too obvious too soon.

This is the first I’ve read by this author and she’s one I’ll be looking out for in future as well as reading her debut – The Chalet.

The Cruise starts off on New Year’s Eve aboard a luxury cruise ship. There’s a report of a women seen falling overboard and the disappearance of crew member Lola.

This book had me gripped from the start, the fast paced storyline – together with dual timeline chapters – made for a thrilling page turner. Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Harpercollins and NetGalley for the review copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Cooper’s The Chalet so I knew I would be in for a treat with The Cruise.

As I anticipated, it’s a well written twisty thriller with several threads and timelines, which I found easy to follow and they all tied together satisfactorily at the end. I found it hard to put down as each new piece of information was revealed and although I felt that the plot surrounding the main protagonist Lola was a little far fetched, it was still believable enough to make the book a very enjoyable read. 4*

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in return for an honest review..

🚢 “I wanted freedom, open air and adventure. I found it on the sea.”
– Alaine Gerbault, Sailor

🚢 Without giving away any spoilers the story follows Lola, a dancer who disappears from a large cruise during New Year’s Eve party. The ship is thoroughly searched but no trace of her is found. All the crew members are questioned but it seems that everyone is hiding something. Soon more crew members start getting harmed. Is there a killer on the board?

🚢 Pick this up if you like:
📌 page turning thriller
📌 short chapters
📌 multiple POVs
📌 two different but interconnected timelines
📌 well developed and unlikeable characters
📌 binge worthy read
📌 unexpected turns and twists
📌 books about amnesia and revenge

🚢 This was my first book by the author and I can say with 💯 certainty that it won’t be my last. The intriguing plot grabbed my attention from the very beginning and I had to finish it over the course of 24 hours. This book was the literal definition of UNPUTDOWNABLE. Talking about the characters I found the MC quite unlikeable. I agree what she went through couldn’t be justified by any means but in my opinion she went too far while seeking vengeance.

🚢 Overall it was an entertaining read that kept me guessing till the end. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ebook in exchange of an honest review.

I saved this book until I went on a cruise so that I could properly absorb myself in it, having previously read both ‘the chalet’ and ‘the chateau’.

This was a great twisty thriller, where a performer goes missing in a luxury cruise ship, and as investigations progress more deaths follow…

As with many of these psychological dramas, there is an element of suspending belief at times but it delivered exactly what it promised. I did gasp at the twist at the end!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've never been on a cruise, but I really fancy one - waking up somewhere new every day without having to pack your bag for the journey, the countless options for entertainment and relaxation on board and, of course, the food and drink. So, along with the promise of (fictional) crime, this book seemed right up my gangplank.

It started incredibly well - with decadence and death. A winning combination for a thriller on a cruise ship. Then tragedy struck again and I was hooked.

However, the big problem I had with The Cruise is that, well, there was no cruise! The ship was docked with only a skeleton crew for much of the story and I felt cheated! Bye-bye Captain's Table and hello steerage!

The chapters filling in a character's backstory, while fulfilling a purpose, also slowed the pace a bit too much and detracted from the thriller aspect of the book.

The setting and the story lost their shine and, while the characters plodded along to give us an ending, it all felt a bit unsatisfactory. Having said that, I will still be reading the author's future books.

Thanks to the author, HarperCollinsUK and NetGalley for the eARC of this book.

Another spectacular mystery that both surprises and dazzles!

I’ve said this every time I’ve read one of Catherine Cooper’s novels, but yet again she proves that she is one of the 21st Century’s answers to Agatha Christie! The Cruise is a wonderfully plotted and beautifully executed mystery that is so stunningly plausible, so therefore has all the hallmarks of a classic Christie endeavour. I was immediately drawn into the narrative and found myself hooked to discovering the truth. As with all good mysteries, I was eagerly detecting away myself, trying to piece together the various strands and work out what was occurring. I managed to work out snippets of the truth, but Cooper is such an accomplished writer that I couldn’t see the full picture until I reached the point she wanted me to!

There’s something timeless, effortless and massively fun about Cooper’s writing and I swapped between reading the book and listening to the audio for this one. The audiobook has multiple cast members, which lends itself incredibly well to the format and helps it feel more like an old fashioned radio play. The narrator reading Antonio is especially expressive and really conveys both the desperation and anxiety wrapped up in that character. All of the cast are really good though and imbue each of the different characters with a distinct and clear voice. As the book moves through different timeframes and is told from various perspectives, this really made the audiobook stand out and it is definitely one of my favourite ones I’ve listened to. The cast of characters are fantastically drawn and as with her previous novels, Cooper treats her readers to a host of unlikeable, damaged, toxic and distinctly human individuals. I loved how everybody had a secret, everybody had a past and I relished trying to work out how they all slotted together. Needless to say, I didn’t guess exactly how these characters were linked, but when that final reveal came it all made perfect sense!

Another aspect of Cooper’s writing that I always admire, is how presciently thematic they are. The Cruise explores so many different angles that all lead to the final conclusion, giving readers a rich literary experience that is equally enjoyable and thought-provoking. This novel looks at the lasting impact of family trauma, the inability to let go of the past (even if you know the events of it were immoral and wrong), escapism and running away from problems, guilt, manipulation and revenge. There are so many different ways I thought this novel might go, but part of Cooper’s appeal to me, is the way she can play a reader like a marionette! There’s some excellent twists and reveals throughout the novel, which is perfectly plotted to be spread over a number of different parts that take the story in different directions to come to the truth. If you enjoy a modern mystery that incorporates all of the best elements of golden age crime fiction, The Cruise should sail right to the top of your TBR immediately!

This is my second novel by this author and another one that I have absolutely loved
Catherine Cooper has a clear talent for thriller writing and I can’t wait to read more by her
The book was told from different points of view, all in a short chapter format. I think this works perfectly for this storyline as it made you want just one more chapter to find out exactly what had happened.
The book is definitely one to be devoured in one sitting and had it not been for work this is what I definitely would have done!
I found this book to be exactly what I thought it was going to be, full of twists and the reader racing to read and find out just what was happening to the guests of Immanis
the author nailed it with this novel and I highly recommend
Thank you to the tour organiser and publisher for inviting me to be part of the tour

Really liked the idea of a thriller based on a cruise liner which sounded like a glamorous setting, but it turned out that most of the action took place on an empty cruise ship except for the skeleton staff that were left. The story is told in two parts – the first being about a girl called Laura who was held captive by her ‘father’ in a remote cottage in Scotland. Laura later gets reunited with her real family and struggles to reconnect with her mother but gets on well with her brother. The other part of the story which is the part set on the cruise ship starts with the end of a Caribbean cruise on New Year's Eve when one of the passengers saw someone falling overboard. It then turns out that one of the dancers, Lola, has gone missing. Antonio her dancing partner is totally heartbroken at her disappearance and struggles to come to terms with her loss. The other main characters in this story are Alice, the head chef and Stewart, the ship’s doctor. None of the characters are at all likeable, which is a slight downside for me but the two story lines, which eventually merge, work well. I enjoyed this book overall but found it slightly unbelievable and had difficulty connecting with the characters. Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me an ARC of this book.

Thanks to @netgalley and publishers for arc
I have read Catherine Coopers other amazing book The Chateau which was fantastic but this book was another level it had me guessing right until the very end
The story follows a young girl who is found on the side of the road unconscious she has no memory of who or where she has come from. But the police find out she was abducted as a four year old and her mum and brother are desperate to have her back, she on the other hand doesn’t remember them at all so finds it very difficult
Alongside this story is the cruise and the story of Lola a dancer and her boyfriend Antonio also a dancer but nowhere near as good as her. But then she is seen falling overboard and even though rescue services are called no trace is found of her
This book is so exciting and thrilling it’s definitely worth a read guys so sit in a comfy chair and prepare to read the whole book i kid you not

The Cruise by Catherine Cooper

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

A glamorous ship. A mysterious cast of passengers. And a New Year’s Eve party that goes horribly wrong…

During a New Year’s Eve party on a large cruise ship in the Caribbean, the ship’s dancer, Lola, disappears. The ship is searched and the coastguard is called, but there is no sign of her, either dead or alive.

Lola was popular on the ship but secretive about her background, and as the mystery around her deepens, each passenger becomes a suspect. Who was she arguing with the night she vanished? Why did she come aboard the cruise in the first place? What was she running from?

My Opinion

Another great book by Catherine Cooper. If you have read The Chalet or The Chateau you will know to expect an intricate plot with a lot of twists. Throughout the book there are many different perspectives used and it took me quite a while to work out how they were all connected - for me this added to the charm.

Personally I wouldn't go into this book if you don't have much time to read, you will be drawn in and it will be difficult to put it down.

Rating 4/5

The Cruise by Catherine Cooper has an interesting premise and certainly a glamorous backdrop (set on a luxury cruise liner) but I have to admit that it just wasn’t for me.

I found the story very far-fetched and the author seemed to try far too hard to make everyone appear sinister with lots of dramatic and mysterious endings to each short chapter (‘I have my reasons for wanting to get away’, etc were repeated numerous times for several different characters).

The writing was also quite stilted and the language a little too casual and ‘Janet and John’ for my taste – ‘lots of stuff’ or ‘takes ages’ as examples.

I also wasn’t fond of the characterisation of most of the male characters – they were all abusive, controlling or generally unpleasant in some way. There wasn’t much to like about any of them so it was hard to connect and care about what happens.

Almost a DNF but I persevered.

I haven´t been on a cruise yet and I don´t have this in my travel cards for the next years, but nevertheless I feel that from the mystery thriller point of view, the claustrophobic perspective of being caught on a huge boat, in the middle of the sea, is a great choice. There could be so many things happening on a cruise and crime is one of the things that come to mind the fastest.
Catherine Cooper´s The Cruise is using this motive in order to create a crime story which is hard to leave down before the riddle is solved.
During a New Year´s Party on a glamorous large cruise ship in the Carribean, the dancer Lola disappears without trace. There is no corpse but no other way to find her either. The mystery is well built around this important event, and although the pace may not be very fast, it allows the unfolding of additional events as well as to focus on the cast of characters.

Who is/was Lola actually? What it is known about her ? As the main character in the book, who is weaving the rest of the story, she remains mostly mysterious. However, there is another timeline which takes shape, about a 15 years old girl named Laura, reclusely growing up with her father.

Personally, most of the twists of the story took me by surprise. As the suspicions of murder are becoming more and more real, there are other characters randomly involved in the investigation, but no matter on whom I placed my bets, I didn´t succeed to guess right, not even in percentage of 75%. Which is also perfectly fine, because surprise mystery solutions is one of the reasons I keep reading mystery thrillers anyway.

The Cruise is an eventful and unexpected story, hard to put down and captivating, a must read by any crime and thriller lover.

This is another great read from this author which is set on a huge and luxurious cruise liner.

After the mysterious disappearance of dance Lola and the mysterious death of Rick the captain of the liner becomes concerned.

In a different timeline the story of Laura, a teenager sheltered from the world by her father becomes infatuated with an older boy. When her father finds out he reacts violently and forbids her to see him again, which she ignores.

A complex mystery which ties up well in the end with a cunning and vindictive plan being laid out to bring down those responsible for perceived crimes.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Be prepared to read late into the night when you reach for this book. Catherine Cooper keeps you glued to the pages from start to end with this psychological thriller.
This book unfolds during different timelines which keep you on your toes. At times it feels as if you are reading two different stories. However, this does not make the book difficult to read – the two storylines are easy to follow and adds to the intrigue. The author brings the past and present together beautifully, leaving you loving this reading experience.
This is my second book by this author and I cannot wait to find the time to read more of her work. She is creative with her storytelling and keeps you engrossed with stunning settings and realistic characters.
When Lola, a petite dancer on a cruise ship in the Caribbean goes missing it causes a lot of upset. Lola is well-liked even if she is a little mysterious about her past. When no trace of her can be found the rumours take over. Who was she arguing with the night she disappeared and why? When more people disappear captain Leo is held accountable, but could he have done anything differently? Who is Lola? Why was she on the ship in the first place, and what is she trying to hide?
This book had me hooked from the first page. I loved the way the author combined the past and the present, jumping between different timelines as she tells this story. It was a gripping read that I found myself racing through and then it ended all too quickly.
The characters in this book perfectly reflect the people I would imagine finding on a cruise ship. The crew is a mix of people, all with a past they would rather forget. Lola and Antonio make an interesting dance duo. You can feel the dynamic between these two characters. Alice the chef is a pleasant woman who is well-liked. She keeps a lot to herself which keeps the other characters in the dark. As for Rick, this man jumps off the page. You are given such a clear picture of this guy, you feel as if you know him.
This book was a brilliant read. I am happy to add this one to my loved list for 2022 and it just might be my book of the month.
If you enjoy a gripping psychological thriller, you will not be disappointed when you reach for this one. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Please add this one to your TBR – you will love it.

Probably a controversial and /or unpopular opinion, but I didn’t particularly enjoy this thriller.

I understand why the subplot was introduced and the ending tied everything together with an odd, lopsided and strange bow, but the book just wasn’t for me.
The pacing with the added subplot/back-in-time plot sort of felt totally plugged in and I just didn’t like it. Again, I understood why it was done, I just didn’t like that approach. Also the past plot didn’t feel like a part of a thriller book, as it was advertised.

Again, wonderful and engaging writing, the author is clearly very well at what she does, but the book simply wasn’t for me.

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!