Perish in Paradise by Christian Wright is the first book in the Iris May Mysteries. A decade after the mysterious disappearance of reporter Stacy Underwood in a boating accident on Lake Granite, her husband Charles Underwood is found dead in the pool of the SS Paradise cruise ship. Iris May, one of the travelers on the cruise, has a history with the old case as it was one of her late husband’s unsolved cases from when he was a lead detective. As Iris gets to know her travel companions, she soon discovers more than one passenger on the cruise had good reason to harm Charles. As she burrows her way through old scandals and faces new threats, Iris must navigate a dangerous path where every revelation brings her closer to danger, making it seem like nothing is as it appears.

As an avid cozy mystery fan, I was happy to see a new series in the genre. The non-linear way the story is narrated, moving from flashbacks to the present timeline, added to the appeal as it helped reveal the information gradually and kept building the suspense. The use of a dream sequence involving Iris’s late husband also hinted at a supernatural angle, which could be explored further in the coming books to add another layer of intrigue to the series. I loved the inclusive bouquet of characters Christian Wright has brought to life in Perish in Paradise. In the initial chapters, the author takes time to establish the setting and introduce the characters who are the key players in this narrative. Christian uses short scenes with a shift in perspective from one character to the other, which helps to maintain a measured pace, without giving it a rushed feeling. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries and love amateur sleuths, this should be on your TBR list.

Perish in Paradise (An Iris May Mystery) by Christian Wright is a captivating murder mystery set on a cruise ship, the SS Paradise. Ten years ago, Stacy Underwood, the wife of Charles Underwood, disappeared during a family outing on Lake Granite. Now, Iris May wants to have some peace as she boards the SS Paradise, but everything changes when she discovers the body of the high-profile real estate tycoon Charles Underwood in the pool. Her late husband was the lead detective investigating Stacy’s disappearance. Iris unwittingly finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of intrigue and mystery as scandals are exposed and enemies lurk in the dark. She is determined to uncover the truth, but who can she trust?

Iris May is the lens through which readers discover the layers of intrigue swirling around Underwood’s character and his connections to various compelling figures on the SS Paradise. Characters such as Nora Brooks, a fellow journalist with a past relationship with Charles; Selina Lagman, the daughter of Charles’ deceased administrative assistant; and Georgia Fisher, a model with ties to the scandal surrounding Charles are intricately woven into the fabric of suspense and revelation. Each character seems to have personal stakes tied to both the past and present, enriching the web of potential motives for the crime. Perish in Paradise is suspenseful, and each chapter raises its stakes as tension builds. Christian Wright has crafted a spellbinding mystery to keep readers guessing until the end. Fans of The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and The Guest List by Lucy Foley will find this book irresistible.

Iris May, the wife of a deceased detective in Orlando, thought she would have a good time vacationing on the SS Paradise, a luxury ship cruising the Atlantic. Little did she know this was far from the truth. Aboard the boat is a group of unsuspecting vacationers linked to the scandalous past of Charles Underwood, a real estate tycoon. Ten years ago, Underwood’s wife had mysteriously disappeared. Iris’s husband had been the lead detective on the case but had died without closing it. The public speculation about the case claimed that Underwood had been caught cheating on his wife and had killed her to protect his wealth from a divorce. It did not help that his administrative assistant had died shortly before in a hit-and-run. As the ship sails off on its voyage, the paths of these people cross and the strangest thing happens. Charles Underwood is murdered. Among the passengers are a reporter, Underwood’s administrative assistant’s spiteful daughter, and an escort, all of whom had a bone to pick with Underwood. Could any of them have murdered him? Iris is determined to get to the bottom of this and close the case her husband died working on. Can the stay-at-home wife of a deceased detective solve this mystery? Find out more in Christian Wright’s Perish in Paradise.

Lovers of mystery murder novels will not peel their eyes off Christian Wright’s Perish in Paradise until the last page. Wright slowly unfolds this intriguing plot wrapped in a tangled web of mystery. Reading the book felt like I was playing an enthralling game. Whenever I thought I had solved part of the puzzle, I would be slapped with cliffhangers and plot twists that made me wary of the bigger picture. The edge-of-the-seat suspense hooked me, leaving me turning page after page. Wright breathed life into the scenes with colorful and vivid depictions, making me feel like I was in the scenes, watching every character wallow in the thick mystery enshrouding the ship. This book will have you creating an evidence board, giving you the thrill of hunting for the prime suspect as you sift through the deceptions and secrets of the cast. Wright brings out the cast’s emotions, allowing me to connect with them. When a man with as many skeletons in his closet as Charles Underwood dies, it takes a clever investigator to unmask his killer.

Perish in Paradise: An Iris May Mystery by Christian Wright is a fast-paced murder mystery set aboard the majestic SS Paradise, unfolding over one intense week. Iris May, eager to start her relaxing holiday cruise, is shocked to encounter Charles Underwood, a tycoon whose wife mysteriously disappeared a decade ago. This case was one of her late husband’s unresolved cases. Shortly after the voyage begins, Iris discovers Charles Underwood’s body in the ship's swimming pool. As she investigates, she uncovers several individuals connected to the decade-old case, leading her to suspect they’re also involved in this latest murder. When more suspects from the cold case turn up dead, Iris realizes she could be next. Can she solve the mystery in time, and finally close this case that eluded her husband?

In Perish in Paradise, Christian Wright combines the idyllic setting of a cruise ship and scenic ports with the gruesome details of a murder investigation. Every day of Iris’s holiday is filled with action, keeping readers fully engrossed and invested in the story. Each character plays a crucial role in shaping the mystery, whether as a suspect, victim, or investigator, contributing to the tension and intrigue as the story unfolds. Additionally, the one-week time limit heightens the suspense and raises the stakes, pushing the plot to stay fast-paced and focused. The vivid portrayal of cruise life and the scenic port calls made me feel as though I was on the ship alongside Iris. I highly recommend this book to fans of fast-paced mysteries featuring flashbacks and a strong female protagonist.