All By Myself, Alone: A Novel

The Queen Charlotte’s maiden voyage is a prestigious event, drawing passengers from all walks of life, including Lady Emily Haywood, owner of the world-famous Cleopatra necklace that’s rumored to be cursed. A curse that seems to come to life when it becomes clear that at least one passenger is willing to kill for the notorious necklace. Now every passenger seems to have secrets to hide, from the embezzling accountant to the unhappy assistant to the butler with the sticky fingers. Who has the most to gain? And who’s capable of killing to get what they want?

This is the first Mary Higgins Clark book I’ve ever read, and to say that I’m disappointed is an understatement. A cruise-ship murder-mystery with an impressive array of potential suspects seems to offer fertile ground on which to construct a thrilling whodunit, and yet Clark’s tale never actually delivers. There’s very little tension, no suspense, and the cast of characters, while varied, is so one-dimensional that you could easily sum up most of the characters’ defining traits with two-word titles such as Crooked Accountant, Bored Wife, and Innocent Damsel. Frankly, I’m a little stunned that this novel is the work of a bestselling author.