Customer Reviews

Best George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield Mystery So Far - By: Donald Mitchell, 08 Sep 2004
Murder on the Marmora is the fifth fictional voyage of George Porter Dillman & Genevieve Masefield, & I found it to be the most enjoyable.

The Marmora is a P & O (Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company) ship on which Dillman & Masefield are playing their familiar roles as undercover detectives. The ship doesn't provide any of the glamour that helped make the earlier books about the Lusitania & the Mauretania interesting. That lack is filledin by the novelty of minor Royals, the Duke & Duchess of Fife & their children, on board with the usual bevy of Royal watchers & hangers-on. The ship is also off to exotic Egypt & contains some rare artifacts.

Relations are tougher though on the detectives. The purser was once turned down by Cunard & holds a grudge against anyone who has worked for that luxury line. The purser likes Americans even less so Dillman takes his lumpsin this new relationship.

Once on board, there's the usual crime spree that this series always features along with a quick death as the title suggests. From there, the detectives wander around not learning very much until just at the end of the book.

One of the most interesting of the subplots brings Genevieve Masefield into the company of her ex-fiancé. I rated the book as the bestin the series due to the benefits of that subplot. Otherwise, I would have found this book to be an undistinguished three star effort.

Bon voyage!