Bodies of Water

There's murder on deck when English professor/sleuth Sarah Deane decides to set sail on a sloop exploring the coast of Maine. The luxurious vessel, aptly named the Pilgrim , is owned by a Florida real estate magnate whose dual mission is to distribute Bibles to out-of-the-way churches and to keep his eye out for shipboard drug trafficking for the police. Sarah joins the cruise in order to reestablish contact with her brother, a new member of the crew, but instead finds herself preoccupied with the actions of a cast of characters that includes the perfect host, a prim secretary and her emotionally disturbed brother, and a female chef endowed wth great culinary talents and a distractingly large bust. When murder enters their midst, evasive actions and enigmatic conversations with a literary twist keep the story tacking back and forth from discoveries to lengthy reflections about the meaning of each incident. This book will appeal to those who wish a very leisurely read with introspection at times taking the helm. (July)