Murder on the Atlantic

Rating:
Summary: Another Winner for Steve Allen
Review: Steve Allen had so much talent, not the least of which was writing. He writes as good a detective novel as almost every other writer. He's funny, fast paced, and has the unique ability to mix fact and fiction, a fascinating combination. Some characters in the book are real (Steve and his wife, Jayne, for example) and others are not (the murderers). While weaving his plot, he gives the reader an inside glimpse of Hollywood which is always clever and insightful. I not only say "Don't miss this book", I say, "Don't miss ANY of Steve Allen's books."

Rating:
Summary: Steve Allen rides through the storm
Review: This book was excellent, with a bevy of intertwined suspects and multiple murders, set in a situation where the protagonists - Steve Allen and his real life wife Jayne Meadows - are in personal danger. Mr Allen does an outstanding job of leading the reader astray with well thought out red herrings, but pulls together a spectacular grand finale, coming back from the dead to provide a unique entertainment show, where he reveals the killer to all. Too bad Steverino isn't around to continue his murder series.

Rating:
Summary: A pleasurable read
Review: This is my first Steve Allen mystery. I loved it. I prefer light cozy type mysteries without graphic violence, vulgar language, etc. Steve writes himself and his wife Jayne Meadows as the sleuths in a high seas mystery reminiscent of the English houseparty genre. Isolation and inability to contact the authorities force the Allen's to sort through many suspects and motives as a series of bodies appear, while simultaneously coping with multiple crises creating urgent need for resolution of the mystery. The plot is intricate, the clues in plain sight but easy to miss or misunderstand. He gives the reader a fair chance to deduce the plot points. Many real life folks are entwined with fictional characters often thinly disguised representatives of the rich and famous such as Princess Diana; The characters are complex, and the story is witty and suspenseful. Steve Allen is a kind and gentle man, funny, and intelligent, and it shows strongly in the story. I especially like the picture he painted of his wife Jayne, and the wonderful way he represented the passion, trust and friendship possible in a lifelong marriage without a single scene involving heavy breathing (well the romantic kind anyway). It was a pleasure to spend the time with him. I intend to read all his other books.

Rating:
Summary: Cute book
Review: This was a very humourous and lighthearted book which was a joy to read. Steve Allen and his wife Jane Meadows make a cute detective duo in this easy-to-read mystery whodunit. The duo is booked on an atlantic cruise filled with humor, love, betrayal, and secret plots---all of the ingredients for a delightful mystery book.