Murder on the Spanish Seas

by Wendy Church

Overview

Jesse O'Hara is profane, introverted, and not frequently sober – and has just lost another job. “A million-dollar brain and a ten-cent personality,” her last employer said. With nothing better to do, Jesse reluctantly accepts the gift of a luxury cruise around the Iberian Peninsula. She’s not sure she can drink enough to keep her boredom at bay, but that's the least of her problems. From the very first moment of the cruise, it's clear to Jesse that something is very wrong. 

Aided by her near-photographic memory, Jesse investigates a series of strange incidents on the ship and uncovers what looks like a terrorist plot in the works. But with each new layer uncovered, her perception shifts and broadens— and someone doesn’t want her poking around. For Jesse, bruised and concussed is preferable to tan and relaxed, so she ignores the mounting danger even as she closes in on the villains, who have perfectly timed their grand finale... 

Murder on the Spanish Seas is a riveting, whip-smart, and smart-aleck debut thriller that will keep you on your toes just as frequently as it keeps you in stitches. A perfect read for fans of Ruth Ware and Janet Evanovich.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781951709853
Publisher:	Polis Books
Publication date:	10/11/2022
Series:	Jesse O'Hara Series , #1
Pages:	292
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.60(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Wendy Church has been a bartender, tennis instructor, semiconductor engineer, group facilitator, nonprofit CEO, teacher, PhD researcher, and dive bar cleaner. Her first suspense novel, Murder on the Spanish Seas, is set on a luxury cruise in the Iberian peninsula and introduces smart-mouthed amateur sleuth Jesse O’Hara, whose adventures are partly informed by Wendy's expertise and international travels.

Editorial Reviews

04/01/2022

DEBUT Jesse O'Hara is at loss for what to do next. She has just lost another job because she is sarcastic and mouthy. When her friend Sam offers her a gift of a luxury cruise around the Iberian Peninsula, Jesse reluctantly accepts, not having anything better to do. She figures she'll get drunk a few times and be bored for most of it. But in a pub on the lower decks, Jesse witnesses an altercation between a Russian couple that arouses her curiosity. She follows the man after she witnesses him hand a crew member a black backpack resulting in the Russian angrily confronting her in stairwell. On day three, a body is taken from the ship and passengers are told it is an individual who fell overboard. But was it an accident? Jesse soon realizes that something more is at stake and someone is playing a deadly game. The danger continues to escalate to a satisfying finish. VERDICT Church has penned a whip-smart, sarcastic, amateur sleuth and a tightly plotted story that's perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Catriona McPherson, and Darynda Jones. Readers will want to see Jesse again.—Bill Anderson

Library Journal

Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy meeting the freewheeling Jesse, and this debut gives an enticing hint of more adventures to come. Armchair travelers and foodies, rejoice. Go, Jesse!

Booklist Starred Review

Clever, transportive, and laugh-out-loud funny, Murder on the Spanish Seas is the perfect book to read poolside – just not on the deck of a luxury ocean liner. I can't wait to read more from this wickedly entertaining new voice

New York Times bestselling author Andrea Bartz

An action-packed debut that’s as funny as the heroine is unstoppable. I loved it!

author of the Lily Hawkins mysteries Nora McFarland

A riveting, entertaining read that will appeal to fans of Janet Evanovich

Booklist on Knife Skills

Praise for MURDER ON THE SPANISH SEAS!


"Clever, transportive, and laugh-out-loud funny, MURDER ON THE SPANISH SEAS is the perfect book to read poolside—just not on the deck of a luxury ocean liner. I can't wait to read more from this wickedly entertaining new voice.”
—Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of WE WERE NEVER HERE


"Fans of Janet Evanovich will enjoy meeting the freewheeling Jesse, and this debut gives an enticing hint of more adventures to come. Armchair travelers and foodies, rejoice. Go, Jesse!"
—Booklist (Starred Review)



"Church has penned a whip-smart, sarcastic, amateur sleuth and a tightly plotted story that’s perfect for fans of Ruth Ware, Catriona McPherson, and Darynda Jones. Readers will want to see Jesse again."

—Library Journal



"An action-packed debut that’s as funny as the heroine is unstoppable. I loved it!"

—Nora McFarland, author of the Lilly Hawkins Mysteries

From the Publisher