Final resting place? Deck chairDeath on the Diversion begins a new cozy mystery series from the USA Today bestselling author of the “Caught Dead in Wyoming” series.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Sheila Mackey has a secret. To the world, she’s author of a blockbuster book. Her wily great-aunt, the actual author, orchestrated this mutually beneficial masquerade. Now the aunt’s retiring and Sheila must draft Act Two of … retiring and Sheila must draft Act Two of her own life. This cruise is supposed to be the perfect time to do that.
Crossing the Atlantic on the Diversion, Sheila finds a dead body on deck.
She realizes she knows a whole lot more about the interactions of the victim and suspects than the ship’s officials do. She’s drawn into sleuthing, but finds herself hampered by a well-meaning but overprotective would-be Dr. Watson.
This murder mystery with humor is the first book in a new series, Secret Sleuth. In later books, amateur sleuth Sheila returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new home in small-town Kentucky.
If you like mysteries about the inner world of writers, set among the insular cruise ship community, where even the sleuth has secrets she’s hiding (and a dog to come in subsequent books), then you’ll love award-winning Patricia McLinn’s newest whodunit series with humor.
Get on board to sail away with crime, clues and memorable characters.
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On the spectrum of McLinn’s mysteries, the Caught Dead in Wyoming cozy mysteries are in the middle, Proof of Innocence is a edgier (and has more romance), and Secret Sleuth is a bit less edgy.
Secret Sleuth series
Death on the Diversion
Death on Torrid Avenue
Death on Beguiling Way
Death on Covert Circle
Death on Shady Bridge
More cozy mystery from Patricia McLinn:
Caught Dead in Wyoming
Sign Off
Left Hanging
Shoot First
Last Ditch
Look Live
Back Story
Cold Open
Hot Roll
Reaction Shot
“While the mystery itself is twisty-turny and thoroughly engaging, it’s the smart and witty writing that I loved the best.” — Diane Chamberlain, New York Times bestselling author
“Colorful characters, intriguing, intelligent mystery, plus the state of Wyoming leaping off every page.” — Emilie Richards, USA Today bestselling author
If you like mystery with romance and a bit of humor, try also:
Proof of Innocence
Price of Innocence (2020)
Ride the River: Rodeo Knights (romantic suspense; includes cameos from Caught Dead in Wyoming characters)
Bardville, Wyoming series (romance with a little mystery)
A Stranger in the Family
A Stranger to Love
The Rancher Meets His Match
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Patricia McLinn spent more than 20 years as an editor at the Washington Post after stints as a sports writer (Rockford, Ill.) and assistant sports editor (Charlotte, N.C.). She received BA and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University.
McLinn is the author of more than 50 published novels, which are cited by readers and reviewers for wit and vivid characterization. Her books include mysteries, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical romance and women’s fiction. They have topped bestseller lists and won numerous awards.
She has spoken about writing from Melbourne, Australia, to Washington, D.C., including being a guest speaker at the Smithsonian Institution.
Now living in northern Kentucky, McLinn loves to hear from readers through her website, Facebook and Twitter.
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It is an entertaining read with a likable heroine.
I love patricia Mclinn novels. They are great cozy mysteries with good story lines and wonderful characters . This book is a fun read that keeps you interested from beginning to end.
loved it! It was a fast read during a dreary afternoon.
Great sense of humor weaved into a cozy mystery!
As a person who cruises a fair amount, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe some of the characters have been on cruises we have taken.
I enjoy a good cozy mystery now and again.
Would love to give more than 5 stars! Kept me reading… excellent ending !!
Truly a page-turner. A book you just didn’t want to put down.
U hated it to end!
Cute story. Really enjoyed it.
This mystery is told in the first person by the heroine/mystery writer. The book starts slowly as you get to know the characters intimately through her. The author really creates believable characters and interactions. You feel that you are there on the ship with her at her elbow during the adventure. I greatly enjoyed this book and recommend it and the author highly.
Death on the Diversion by Patricia McLinn
Secret Sleuth Series Book One
Sheila Mackey, the name she was going by these day, was starting over. After fifteen years of being the face of a bestselling novel that had become a movie, she was retiring. She was a bit lost after so long, so her great-aunt sent her on this cruise. Along with a very annoying sort-of-non-relative.
Sheila did her best to enjoy her time, ignore her shadow who continually thanked her for taking her along and all but bowed to her and kissed her shoes—which she would have done if Sheila asked her. It was almost a relief to find a dead body and have a new purpose on the cruise…to find the murderer. What a way to start her new life…
This story is told from Sheila’s point of view. I laughed out loud as I read it. It was a great mystery too. So many would be villains who could’ve done it. I like a mystery that keeps me guessing. Great story and looking forward to more in the series.
https://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/2015/02/patricia-mclinn-book-list.html
3+. I enjoyed the characters Aunt Kit and Sheila, but the first half of the book seemed rather slow. The second half made up for it, though, and the solving of the mystery was great!
Fun to read! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
I have nothing positive to say about this book. Up until the 23rd chapter I had no idea what this book was about. I was bored with the acid tongue of Leah on every page and nothing to peak my interest and kept on turning pages to see what the story was supposed to be about. Then finally in chapter 20 a murder occurs. By that time I was totally disinterested and deleted the book. My personal opinion.
It didn’t hold my interest. Never finished it.
Tried very hard to get into the story but somehow the first person story telling just didn’t work for me. Couldn’t get to the end of the firstchapter. And the story itself was boring and silly to me.
I only gave this 3* because of a few annoying things in the book. One was not really being able to determine who was talking and/or whom was being talked about. Hard to keep the characters separated at times. Two, the constant repeat of “oh, no, I couldn’t possibly’ by the main character’s companion almost made me stop reading at the beginning. Three, it took forever for the ‘mystery’ part to come alive and with all the ‘suspects’ it was impossible to keep straight to really enjoy.
The things I did enjoy about this book was that it’s setting on a cruise ship. I had just returned from a cruise when I read this and I’ve found that we’ve cruised with most of these people before!!! And I did feel like I knew exactly where the people were–cabin, balcony, ice cream machine, buffets etc. Don’t know if I will continue with this author, but I can see where she might take this character next, so I’ll leave her on my list of TBR authors for awhile longer.
This book is about a woman who goes on a cruise and stumbles on a dead body. She gets involved because the chief suspect’s girlfriend begs her to.
It dragged on too long before it got to the plot. I gave up.
I had trouble keeping track of all the characters.