Thursday 8 June 2017

Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys

Dangerous Crossing
By Rachel Rhys
Published by Doubleday (Hardback and Ebook now; Paperback - 10 August 2017)

Check out the fabulous new paperback cover:



Publisher's description
Sparkling cocktails, poisonous secrets ...
1939, Europe on the brink of war. Lily Shepherd leaves England on an ocean liner for Australia, escaping her life of drudgery for new horizons. She is instantly seduced by the world onboard: cocktails, black-tie balls and beautiful sunsets. Suddenly, Lily finds herself mingling with people who would otherwise never give her the time of day.
But soon she realizes her glamorous new friends are not what they seem. The rich and hedonistic Max and Eliza Campbell, mysterious and flirtatious Edward, and fascist George are all running away from tragedy and scandal even greater than her own.
By the time the ship docks, two passengers are dead, war has been declared, and life will never be the same again.

My verdict
Dangerous Crossing is a captivating journey back through time with a highly authentic feel. It's set in pre-war 1930s, an era filled with uncertainty and people hoping for a better life, bravely sailing off into the vast unknown. This is Lily's story, as she boards an ocean liner for Australia, leaving her family and loved ones behind.

The book is a slow burning murder mystery amid political and social unrest, as a young girl is thrown into a world of glamour, cocktails, romance, deception, lies and scandal. It's definitely a book to be savoured, with compelling writing and rich descriptions. Every detail is so clearly described that I couldn't fail to picture the setting in my mind - each of my senses stimulated on every page. The characters are diverse, not only in terms of social class but also their mannerisms and quirks, as if they were truly alive. I could definitely see this on the big (or little) screen - it's crying out for adaptation.

The murder mystery itself is only one thread within the multi-layered plot. This is a book about life, change and social etiquette. It's gripping, mesmerising and intriguing from beginning to end. I look forward to more books from Rachel Rhys.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher.

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