Dead Man Docking (Bed-and-Breakfast, #21) by Mary Daheim

Judith and her cousin Renie have the opportunity to go on a cruise, for free. They board ship and soon the host is found dead, stuffed inside of a piano. As they wander about shore side, the killer is at large. Judith and Renie investigate to solve this crime before anyone else ends up dead.

The story moves at a fast pace, with well developed characters, engaging dialog and suspense. The list of suspects is growing, as new discoveries emerge. Dead Man Docking is a good who-done-it that had me hooked from the first page. I recommend to those who like cozy murder/mysteries. ( )

Disappointing.

Judith was a grouch.

The characters on the boat were not well developed. As Judith thought herself when reviewing things - they are caricatures not characters. ( )

I enjoy spending time with Judith and even Renie but I get a bit tired of the bickering. In this book Renie is invited on a cruise for a client and husband Bill can't join her, so she brings along Judith.

As usual, the first thing that happens is a dead body turning up. This time it is Renie's client and he is found stuffed inside a grand piano.

The search is on for a killer, only this time they are out of their home stomping grounds so they have to rely on another amateur sleuth by the name of Ricky. I really enjoyed their interactions.

I'll keep reading this series because there is a lot I like about the characters and I can ignore the parts I don't like as well. ( )

AUTHOR: Daheim, Mary
TITLE: Dead Man Docking
DATE READ: 05/08/2014
RATING: 4.5/B+
GENRE/PUB DATE/PUBLISHER/# OF PGS: Mystery/2005/Avon Books/292 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE: #21 in B&B series
TIME/PLACE: 2004/WA and San Francisco
CHARACTERS: Judith McMonigle FLynn -- B&B owner; Serena "Renie" Jones/Graphic Artist & cousin to Judith

FIRST LINES: "Judith McMonigle Flynn winced, flinched, & grimaced as she held the phone as far as possible from her ear. Cousin Renie was screaming obscenities at the other end & throwing in an occasional death threat. Unable to listen any longer, Judith severed the connection.
COMMENTS: This is a fun series I have been reading for years & have not tired of. It is a cozy mystery but beware the humor can be caustic. Judith & especially Renie don't pull any punches in telling it like it is! This entry is away from their home in the Northwest Pacific and set in San Francisco. Renie's account, Cruz Cruise lines has relocated to San Francisco and she has been invited on a 1930-s themed cruise to the South Pacific. Her husband Bill is detained w/ an emergency case and Judith takes his place. At the pre-launch party the 1st body shows up canceling the cruise. Judith & Renie become friends w/ a couple Rhoda & Rick (ala Nick & Nora) that are also amateur sleuths. Their combined efforts solve the mystery of the 3 murders. The plot/puzzle did keep me guessing until the end.This was a very fun romp and reminds me why I enjoy the series. Hopefully it won't be too long until I visit w/ the cousins again. ( )

Bed and Breakfast owner Judith McMonigle Flynn badly needs a vacation and when her cousin Serena (Renie) is invited to go on a free 1930's themed cruise, Judith agrees to go along. But murder has a habit of finding Judith and before the cruise can even get underway, the body of their host, Magglio Cruz, is found stuffed in a piano. With nothing else to do until their ship sails, Judith and Renie, along with the help of fellow passengers Rick and Rhoda St. George, decide to investigate the murder. They better find the killer soon - dead bodies are starting to pile up and none of them wants to be the next victim.

"Dead Man Docking" is a good, if over the top cozy mystery. Author Mary Daheim takes the 1930's cruise theme to the extreme creating characters straight out of a 1930's movie. Rick and Rhoda St. George (and their dog Asthma) are the best examples of this as they are thinly disguised takeoffs on Nick and Nora Charles. All of this is very amusing but not very believable. Daheim seems to have had a lot of fun writing the book which makes it fun to read, although the humor can be a bit much (Daheim relies a bit too much on puns at times and some of the characters, like the maid are stereotypical to the point of being offensive). The murder mystery elements are fine, although it's hard to believe people would open up as easily as they do to Judith and Renie. Also Judith and Renie tell people that are practically strangers far too much information when for all they know they could be talking to a murderer. There are plenty of suspects (and dead bodies!) and readers will have fun trying to figure out who the killer is. Unfortunately the scene where the killer is revealed is, like most of the book, way over the top and totally unbelievable. I was hoping that Daheim would put in a twist regarding the killer, but she didn't take any chances in this book which is too bad.

"Dead Man Docking" is a good but over the top cozy mystery. ( )