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Reviewed by Carol Thompson for Readers' Favorite
Reunion Cruise by Maria A. Palace begins on a cruise ship approaching the end of a voyage to Bermuda. In the early hours before dawn, an elderly passenger named Agnes Haggerby believes she saw a body fall from the ship into the ocean. Unsure of what she witnessed but convinced that something terrible happened, she reports the incident to the ship’s crew. The report raises concern but also uncertainty, since no one can confirm whether anyone actually went overboard. The mystery becomes the novel’s central question, setting the stage for the unfolding story. The story then moves back in time to introduce Margarita Kazlauskas, known as Margot, a striking young woman who immigrates from Lithuania to the United States with her parents. The narrative hints that Margot’s past and the lives of those around her will eventually connect to the mysterious incident aboard the cruise ship.
Maria A. Palace’s writing requires attentive reading, as it moves quickly between timelines, characters, and locations. The opening with the body overboard and Margot's backstory may give the impression of moving in several directions at once. The structure alternates between suspenseful moments and character history, allowing readers to understand how past decisions shape present events. These shifts add variety to the story and help distinguish each stage of Margot’s life. Readers who enjoy mysteries built around interpersonal drama, ambition, and hidden motives will likely appreciate the approach in Reunion Cruise, particularly the way early clues and character histories appear designed to converge as the investigation unfolds.
