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Dressed to Keel

by Candy Calvert

Dressed to Keel by author Candy Calvert is as much a modern romantic 'bodice ripper' as it is a mystery, but that doesn't make it any less a fine read. Ms. Calvert writes well and entertainingly even though the reader knows almost at the beginning that the protagonist' suspect can't be the real killer. Dressed to Keel (clever title!) is the first of a shipboard series featuring Darcy Cavanaugh, an ER nurse attempting to escape from the constant pressure of emergency accidents and fatalities. Since author Ms. Calvert is herself a nurse in the Emergency Room, her fictional protagonist comes across as a very believable, real individual.

Darcy Cavanaugh, decidedly not gay, is on a cruise with her lesbian friend, Marie Whitley. Marie is working as nurse on the cruise, and Darcy is apparently just along for the ride – and to escape her own ER as well as the collapse of a relationship. But there have been a number of robberies on board. Since Darcy is the only young person on the ship besides a handsome Dance Host named Luke Skyler (and of course, Marie) – she immediately suspects him of being the robber.

Luke is a very attractive male, and Darcy finds herself falling in love with him despite her suspicions. The grey and white hair crowd composing most of the passengers on board cheer on the relationship even while Darcy continually finds additional clues which could implicate Luke in the robberies (and consequently add to her suspicions). Her friend Marie then becomes a major suspect, encouraging Darcy to pursue her investigation. One of the stewards is murdered, and shortly after that, Darcy finds herself the killer's target.

Ms. Calvert inserts enough clues into the story to keep both the reader and Darcy attempting to figure out who the murderer/robber might be – without once giving the actual identity away. And the reason, when it eventually surfaces, comes only after Darcy is herself almost murdered – rescued (of course) by none other than Luke, with the assistance of Marie.

Candy Calvert expresses herself very well, with just enough of a light touch to keep you involved with her heroine and the shipboard adventures occupying her without obscuring the dark side of the mystery itself. Dressed to Keel is an accomplishment not to be ignored. Ms. Calvert is one of the newer murder-mystery authors to watch.

Alan Paul Curtis

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