April Book Club: A Cruise for Sous by MJ Mac
If you’re a Gen Xer like me, imagine The Love Boat meets Murder, She Wrote and Top Chef. For Millennials: picture Doctor Odyssey meets Clue. Set sail with a cruise director who’s just trying to keep things afloat, both literally and figuratively. That’s the vibe of A Cruise for Sous, the second book in M.J. Mac’s Cozy Cocktail Cruise Mystery series.
Kennedy Reeves is no stranger to drama at sea, but this time the Helio is hosting a high-stakes cooking competition, a nosy travel writer poking around, and enough quirky passengers to fill every deck chair on board. Oh, and she’s also in charge of decorating the ship for the holidays.
Having interpreted on three cruises myself, I love a mystery that captures both the glitz and the grit of ship life. Behind the buffets and Broadway-style shows, there’s a full-blown floating city run by people whose job descriptions could include everything from late-night comedian to casino dealer. Mac peels back the glossy surface and gives readers a peek at what working on a ship is really like. When you’re in the middle of the ocean, quitting isn’t exactly an option.
The book opens with a bit of a boarding drill, introducing a full cast of names and backstories to get everyone situated. But once you’re settled in, it’s a smooth and tasty ride. There’s something comforting about reconnecting with familiar crew members, with just enough new faces and motives to keep things interesting.
With five books already in the series, M.J. Mac clearly has plenty of ports and plot twists left on the itinerary. If you love cruises and cozy whodunits, this series might be your next vacation read. No passport or Dramamine required.
Kelly Brakenhoff is the author of 15 books and a seasoned ASL interpreter. She splits her writing energy between two series: cozy mysteries set on a college campus and children’s books featuring Duke the Deaf Dog.
In 2025, two of her children’s books were selected for the CBC Favorites Award Lists, honored by teachers and librarians nationwide for excellence in children’s literature. Parents, kids, and educators love the Duke the Deaf Dog books and activity guides because they introduce ASL and the Deaf community through engaging stories.
And if you enjoy a smart female sleuth, want to learn more about Deaf culture, or have lived in a place where livestock outnumber people, the Cassandra Sato Mystery series will have you connecting the dots faster than a group project thrown together the night before it’s due.
A proud mom to four adults, head of the dog-snuggling department, and grandma to a growing brood of perfectly behaved grandkids, Kelly and her husband call Nebraska home.