Title: THE CRUISE

Author: Catherine Cooper

ISBN: 978 0008 4973 09

Pages: 400

Source: Review copy from NetGalley / The Publisher

Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours

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?

Official Summary

25 November 2022

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.

Remember to Visit the Other Tour Stops

Also by CAtherine Cooper

The Chateau

They thought it was perfect. They were wrong…

A glamorous chateau

Aura and Nick don’t talk about what happened in England. They’ve bought a chateau in France to make a fresh start, and their kids need them to stay together – whatever it costs.

A couple on the brink

The expat community is welcoming, but when a neighbour is murdered at a lavish party, Aura and Nick don’t know who to trust.

A secret that is bound to come out…

Someone knows exactly why they really came to the chateau. And someone is going to give them what they deserve.

About The Author

Author bio from the author’s site

Catherine Cooper is a freelance journalist writing for many national newspapers and magazines, specialising in travel. She also makes regular appearances as a talking head on daytime TV. She lives in France with her husband and two teenage children.

Her debut thriller THE CHALET was a top-five Sunday Times bestseller and spent three weeks in the Kindle top 100. THE CHATEAU is her second novel.

Thank you to Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for including me on this blog tour. This author is well worth checking out if you haven’t yet. She will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Thank you for your continued support and regular visits to the blog. Until next time…Happy Reading!