MURDER ON THE RIVER OF GOLD

A relaxing boat trip takes a turn when a murder forces St. Paul, Minnesota, journalist Warren “Mitch” Mitchell to investigate in Ickler’s latest series whodunit.

Mitch’s mother, Alice, won two tickets for a cruise, and she naturally brought along Mitch; his wife, Martha Todd, an attorney; Mitch’s best friend, photographer Alan Jeffrey; and his spouse, Carol. They soon board a beautiful ship called Felicity Amour, but the opposite of love may be afoot. As they enjoy the beginning of the voyage, exploring ports on the Douro River in Portugal, they meet several intriguing characters; among them is Lady T, a Hungarian aristocrat and television personality, accompanied by her aide, Gigette. She’s friends with another couple onboard, Harold and Estelle Koerner, the latter of whom owns a spectacular emerald necklace. Finally, there’s Charlie Ferris, who owns a jewelry shop. The peace of the cruise is shattered when Estelle discovers that her necklace has been stolen, and Harold accuses Lady T of taking it. Mitch attempts to interview Lady T for an article on the theft, but finds the celebrity to be as mysterious as she is eccentric. As the cruise nears its end, tensions seem to have died down—until someone is found murdered, and Harold again accuses Lady T. As Mitch looks into the crimes, he finds that some friends can be worse than enemies. Ickler returns to his long-running mystery series with another comedic and unpredictable investigation. Mitch exploring Portugal with his family and friends is amusing, and although exposition regarding the setting is intriguing (“It was only a few minutes after nine o’clock, but it seemed as dark and desolate as midnight as I sat alone looking out over the river of gold”), it sometimes slows the narrative pace. However, the mystery itself remains compelling, and the relatively tight group of suspects gives the author more time to develop the various characters and their relationships. Lady T is a highlight with her eccentric way of referring to herself in the third person and her preoccupation with turtles, among other traits that make her unforgettable.

An entertaining mystery that’s sure to satisfy returning fans.