Page 2 of The Cruise Club

Carmen knew that she had to push her imagination. She’d led an ordinary life with little experience to draw on. Working in her father’s hardware shop was hardly the environment to plot and plan a cosy mystery. Yet, somehow, she’d managed to write a novel that had sold well.

The problem was in writing the next.

Carmen dreamed of penning stories all her life. As a child, she spent hours cutting out images from magazines and adding text to make her own fantasy books, and at school, she bravely held up her hand when a career teacher asked the class what they wanted to do.

‘I want to be a writer,’ the teenage Carmen announced.

But her teacher was dismissive and told Carmen that she didn’t have the talent for novels and must apply herself to work in her father’s shop.

Carmen picked up a pen and began to doodle in her notebook. An image of her teacher, hanging from scaffolding, began to appear on the page. ‘I proved you wrong,’ Carmen said, as she drew a noose, ‘I wrote a novel, and readers liked it.’

On her fiftieth birthday, Carmen had experienced an epiphany when, following the sudden death of her husband, Betty suddenly sold their business, and Carmen found herself out of work. Devastated not only by the loss of her dad, but by discovering herself at home with Betty all day, Carmen vowed that she would write her first novel.

Her dad’s words kept Carmen going through her grief.‘You’ve got to have a dream to make a dream come true…’Des had repeatedly told his daughter.

Now, as Carmen drummed her fingers on the tabletop, she thought of Des’s own dream of owning a business. Cunningham’s Hardware had been a successful shop in the Cumbrian market town of Butterly, and he’d hoped that one day, Carmen would fulfil her childhood dream too.

‘You’ve made up stories all your life,’ he’d told her. ‘Don’t die wondering what it might have been like to be an author.Make it happen.Let your writing dream come true.’

Carmen stood and began to tidy Betty’s tray.

As she prepared her mother’s supper of a mug of cocoaand a plate of Bourbon biscuits, her eyes drifted to Betty’s discarded newspaper where the pages were folded to reveal the daily crossword. She noted that all the clues had been solved. Betty zipped through a crossword faster than a knife through butter, and despite her insistence that her mind was failing, Carmen knew that the old lady was as sharp as a pin, her memory a minefield of clues and answers. Des and Betty Cunningham, in their day, had appeared in pub quiz teams and won many prizes.

As Carmen picked up the paper, a supplement fell out. Stooping to retrieve it, she saw that it advertised cruise ship holidays. The glossy brochure was colourful, and, sitting down again, she idly flicked through the pages, imagining what it would be like to pack her bag and escape to a far-flung location.

A holiday without Betty, imagine!

There were enticing cruises to the Caribbean, Asia, Antarctica and the South Pacific on giant passenger liners. At the same time, closer to home, one could enjoy a five-city break in Europe. Cruising on the Danube, the Rhine or even the Norwegian Fjords sounded fascinating. Carmen couldn’t remember the last time she’d enjoyed a holiday. The annual pilgrimage to Bournemouth, pushing Betty’s wheelchair along the promenade during two weeks in the summer, hardly made magical memories of sun, sea and shenanigans.

‘How I long for some shenanigans…’ Carmen said as she stared at the adverts and exotic locations.

But the words of an advert for a lesser-known cruise line suddenly caught Carmen’s eye.

Discover the magic of

The Mysteries of the Mediterranean

Embark on an unforgettable journey as you join The Cruise Club on theDiamond Star.

This small luxury liner prides itself on memorable cruises for the more mature. Set sail on an adventure through crystal-clear waters and visit sun-drenched beaches and ancient cities.

Enjoy a comfortable cabin with sea views, plush surroundings and gourmet dining.

TheDiamond Star’s talented team will entertain throughout with song, dance, comedy and knowledgeable enrichment speakers.

EXCLUSIVE:

Number One Bestselling Author of the award-winning TV SeriesDetective Inspector Blake Investigates

RUSKIN REEVE

will be on board to host a talk and workshops

For a cruise you will cherish forever – book your dream holiday today!

Carmen felt her pulse quicken as she re-read the advertisement. Her hero, the crime writer Ruskin Reeve, was a guest speaker on this Mediterranean cruise. It must be a sign!

The famed Ruskin Reeve was her inspiration, and shehad all his books, in series order, placed prominently on a shelf in her bedroom. She adored the crime writer who wrote tales of intrigue and deception and whose works had captivated readers and critics worldwide, gaining many prestigious awards. Carmen loved Ruskin’s keen eye for detail and understanding of human psychology, creating complex mysteries and believable characters. The writing gods had guided Carmen, and now, all she had to do was summon the courage to pick up the phone and book her place on the cruise.

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