Death on the Diversion (Secret Sleuth, Book 1) - Patricia McLinn

Final resting place? Deck chair

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 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 Doctor Watson. 

This murder mystery with humor is the first book in the Secret Sleuth cozy mystery series. In later books, amateur sleuth Sheila returns to dry land in the Midwest, where mysteries abound in her new small-town home.

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 book two), then you'll love award-winning Patricia McLinn's whodunit with humor.

Get on board to sail away with crime, clues and memorable characters.

On the spectrum of McLinn's mysteries, the Caught Dead in Wyoming cozy mysteries are in the middle, The Innocence Trilogy 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

Death on Carrion Lane

Death on ZigZag Trail

Death on Puzzle Place

More mystery from Patricia McLinn

Caught Dead in Wyoming series

Sign Off

Left Hanging

Shoot First

Last Ditch

Look Live

Back Story

Cold Open

Hot Roll

Reaction Shot

Body Brace

Cross Talk

Air Ready

Holiday Bullets

Cue Up

"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

The Innocence Trilogy

Proof of Innocence

Price of Innocence

Premise of Innocence