| 1937, and Lord Edward Corinth is asked to unofficially act as
protector for the distinguished economist, Lord Benyon, as he sails to
New York on the Queen Mary. Benyon is on an important assignment to
persuade President Roosevelt to part-finance Britain`s forthcoming war
with Germany. But Benyon`s life is in danger. Special Branch have
information that an assassin - someone acting for powerful enemies of
Benyon`s mission - is likely to be aboard. Also aboard the great ship is
Verity Browne, Lord Edward`s sleuthing sidekick in the previous three
novels by this author. As a journalist for a Communist newspaper, she is
travelling to the States to meet with union bosses and to write about
the conditions of working-class people of America. The first corpse in
this traditional-style whodunit is found hanging naked in the cold
store. The second at the bottom of the swimming pool. The latter would
seem to have no connection with Lord Benyon or his assignment, being a
senator from South Carolina with racist and anti-Communist views. A
close-knit group of passengers which include a dodgy art dealer, a black
singer/actor, a German professor and ex-Nazi, a painter, an American
union organiser, and twins who appear to be remotely related to the
American president, provide Lord Edward and Verity with an interesting
collection of suspects. It`s a golden-age-style mystery, and the fourth
in this historical series of tales by an author who seems to know his
history. Not just the major events, but the little period details which
add interest for the reader. It is wittily written, marred only by the
tiresome use of having his characters spouting quotations (Shakespeare,
Bacon, Dr Johnson, the bible, etc.) at the drop of a hat. After the
first fifty or so pages I found myself skimming over these. Otherwise,
the story is well-told and neatly wrapped up at the finish.
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