An Agatha Christie style whodunnit set on the luxury of a cruise ship in the 1930s on its way to New York.

An elderly man is found dead and one of the other passengers on board happens to be a detective who demands to investigate. What at first seems to be accident is quickly revealed to be murder.

Timothy Birch, the ships officer is tasked with assisting him in his enquiries.

I really wanted to love this book but found some of the characters to be very two dimensional, and at times I got confused as to who was who. I thought the storyline was interesting, although I did work out the twist at the end.

It’s a 3.5 stars from me, needed a little more oomph to grab me unfortunately. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

A fatal crossing is the debut novel by Tom Hindle. This is an intriguing Agatha Christie style mystery set on the luxury cruise line The Endeavour in 1924. It sailed with 2000 passengers on board from Southampton to New York.
When a man is found dead at the bottom of the stairs at first it was deemed an accident, but after further discovery it is found out that it was murder. Officer Timothy Birch has been given the task to deal with the problem when Detective James Temple argues that this incident needs to be investigated further before they dock in New York. As the killer will walk free. As they delve further the connection to the murder is some valuable paintings that have gone missing that were due to sold at an Art fair in New York.
I was really looking forward to reading this. Quite different to other murder mysteries I usually read. The first part drew me in to the “whodunnit” mystery with the hint Agatha Christie. I liked the premise of the story and the writing style flowed effortlessly but I found the last third of the book the story stretched out a bit too much and I was quite disappointed with the ending. 3.5 stars from me.

I really wanted to enjoy this book. I love Agatha Christie so a murder mystery set in the 1920’s sounded right up my street. Unfortunately I didn’t find myself particularly engaged in the story, or really caring about the outcome.

When the body of an elderly passenger is found at the bottom of a flight of stairs on board the Endeavour - a liner sailing from Southampton to New York - ship’s officer Birch is tasked with assisting an onboard police officer with his investigation. So begins the unravelling of a story which involves stolen paintings, long-standing grudges, and keeping up appearances.

That the mystery needs to be solved before the ship docks in New York should add an element of suspense, but I didn’t feel that this was used to the greatest effect. There’s also the addition of an additional storyline involved the disappearance of Birch’s daughter, and the help tracking her down that he’s been promised by an American who saved his life during the war.

Whilst there’s a great twist at the end that I hadn’t seen coming, the main murder mystery just didn’t hold my attention. The book felt over long in places, and the storyline about the missing daughter felt too much like a plot device to really inspire any sympathy for Birch.

Overall not a bad book, but if you’re looking for a period-set murder mystery I’d recommend Christie instead.

The story is of a liner crossing the Atlantic on the last few days before reaching NY. It centres on some nebulous characters each with a secret mission to NY. When a dead body is found, apparently falling down a gangway, they come into focus, a detective with a secret aided by a ships officer obsessed by the loss of a missing daughter, art dealers with valuable secret works of art, covetous art collectors, a witches cauldron leading to toil and trouble when all comes to a devious head just before the liner docks. A fascinating study of enigmatic characters with disparate obsessions that leads to dark ends.

This book took me a while to get into as I wasn’t really sure if I liked the writing style. There is a lot of speech throughout, and to begin with I wasn’t a fan but after around eight or nine chapters I grew used to it and started to get really into the story. With the speech aside, this was a very well written book. Hindle included many secrets and mysteries that all happened at the same time, but I wasn’t confused. It was easy to keep track of what was happening and to whom.

A Fatal Crossing wasn’t a book I was racing to get through and finish, and to some that may sound like a bad thing but I actually loved this. I’m normally incredibly impatient and feel a need to rush through a murder mystery book as I can’t wait to find out whodunit, but this one was different. I was able to take my time and enjoy the read, take in all the information and enjoy it casually throughout the week.

I really loved and felt a connection with Temple. I don’t know what it was, but he was just so straight to the point and smart and able to piece the puzzle together so effortlessly, that it made me love him. He was troubled and flawed but I didn’t really care.

In the end, I couldn’t figure out who the murderer was or what their motive may be. But to be honest, I barely even tried to guess because the second I thought one thing something happened and my mind went in the opposite direction. Whereas for the twist at the end, oh my! I could sense something more was going to happen but I did not see that coming at all. I loved it! Want to know what the twist is? Well you’re just gonna need to wait until 20 January 2022 to find out.

This is definitely a book everyone should keep on their radar once its published. A great addition to any book shelf and a lovely read to enjoy with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. I know which one I would prefer.

I love a locked room thriller, and the premise of this book, set on The Endeavour, an ocean-going liner sailing from Southampton to New York in the 1920s absolutely appealed to me. When an elderly gentleman is found dead at the bottom of the stairs leading from one deck to another, there’s pressure on ship’s officer Timothy Birch (an man with a Past) to declare it nothing more than a tragic accident.

Of course, it’s nothing of the kind and the irascible and frankly quite irritating Scotland Yard detective James Temple, who happens to be on board, insists on investigating further. The unwilling partnership forced upon Birch and Temple makes for an entertaining read, interspersed with the mystery of a missing painting and further deadly events which unfold as the ship nears its destination.

Beautiful period detail, highly evocative descriptions of life on board and the intriguing relationship between our two sleuths kept me reading right to the end.

I was so hyped for this book! I'm not usually into historical fiction but it was giving me Titanic vibes so I just had to give it a go, especially as an avid cruiser myself!
Overall this book was quite fast paced which was nice but I felt like it was just a tad too long.
The actual mystery was a tad tedious, especially the relationship between the officer and the police officer.
However, just as you thought you know where the book was going... BOOM. What a twist!

I really struggled to connect to this one. The characters were a bit flat and while the premise seemed interesting, I couldn't bring myself to read on. I really wish I had liked this one, it sounded exciting!

'I unfolded the paper and stared at it, poring over the words until they barely made sense. I could hear them echoing in my mind. Feel them on my tongue. It was a threat. A warning of the most terrible kind. "Keep away or you'll be next."'

I am a big fan of locked room mysteries and of Agatha Christie so I was very keen to read this book when I found it on NetGalley. Set in the 1920s on board a cruise liner en route from London to New York, it is narrated by one of the Endeavour's officers, Tim Birch.

When the body of a man is discovered on board, face down on the deck, the ship's captain is keen to assure passengers it was a tragic accident. But abrasive Scottland Yard detective, James Temple immediately smells a rat and demands the right to investigate. The captain reluctantly agrees, but only if Birch accompanies the police officer to make sure he doesn't disturb the passengers.

Very soon, Birch realises the accident theory doesn't make sense. The victim used a fake name to board. He had his back to the staircase he fell down. He was out in the rain without a coat. And why was a seemingly precious painting stolen from a guest's room the same night?

But with 2,000 passengers and only two investigators, who don't even get along, how will the unlikely pair find the killer?

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, and it's very much set up Poirot-style. I just felt like the story got slightly convoluted in places and dragged in others. What I loved, was getting involved in figuring out who was the culprit, and the Christie-worthy twist.

A Fatal Crossing is a mystery story , And great for fans of Agatha Christie The story is set on a boat in 1974 it's a very intriguing story would recommend if you have a not much to read its a time filler but would not put it in my top ten books of this year ..... it lacks some substance and left me wondering on what happened to one of the main characters and left me with some questions. But overall it was an enjoyable read and thankyou for allowing me a copy to review

This is Tom Hindle's historical fiction debut, styled in the classic tradition of crime mysteries, set in 1924 on a transatlantic cruise liner, The Endeavour, travelling to New York from Southampton with 2000 passengers. It opens with a death of an elderly man, apparently falling down the stairs during a storm. Captain McCrory is on his final journey before retirement, intent for nothing to upset the apple cart, he is all too keen to accept the death as a accident, and his priority is that none of the passengers should worry. So when Detective Inspector James Temple of Scotland Yard voices his suspicions that this might be a murder that he wants to investigate, McCrory is not a happy man. He eventually agrees, but that Temple can only proceed if he is accompanied at all times by the ship's officer, Timothy Birch.

Temple is furious that he has to put up with Birch, and so begins their acrimonious partnership in which the pair have 4 days to find a killer, after which the liner arrives in New York, the passengers disembark, and there will be no chance of resolving the case. Birch is a traumatised man who served in the war, left with a bullet wound in his shoulder. His daughter, Amelia, has been missing for 2 years, and his marriage to Kate has fallen apart. He blames himself, he is a shadow of the man he used to be, putting his hopes in finding Amelia on the only person he has any faith in, American Raymond, clinging to a yellow ribbon belonging to Amelia as if his life depended on it. Virtually all the crew, with the exception of Wilson avoid Birch, he is incapable of maintaining any relationship. Temple is a man with his own demons and secrets, he refuses to divulge what police business has him travelling on the liner.

The two of them find themselves looking into a group of passengers, most of whom know each other, intent on attending the NYC Art Fair, in an inquiry that revolves around a valuable stolen artwork, having to sift through the deceptions, secrets and lies, whilst facing numerous obstacles, such as a powerful, ruthless and dangerous criminal gang. This is an engaging crime read which took a little time for me to become immersed in, with many red herrings, and twists and turns galore, although the final twist really stretches credulity to the limit and requires a big suspension of disbelief from the reader. Readers who like a blend of historical fiction with an intriguing mystery are likely to enjoy this. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

A Fatal Crossing is a very good mystery story .Quite intriguing ,though a little slow to get into the story but then the pace quickens and the excitement begins ! Set in 1924 aboard an ocean liner travelling from Southampton to New York an elderly man is found at the bottom of some stairs ,from then on Thomas Birch a Ships Officer and a Scotland Yard Detective James Temple are tasked to investigate whether he fell or was pushed .This ship and era reminded me of the Titanic with the different classes and the opulence of the ship itself .This is such a good atmospheric story and the twist at the end had me gasping with shock !!! Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my free copy in return for an honest review .

When I first came across this book, it seemed like something I would absolutely love. Set in 1924, aboard a transatlantic liner travelling from Southampton to New York, this seemed to have the period flavour I love and a great setting. The Endeavour, with two thousand on board, is a wonderfully self-contained world, which seems ideal for a mystery.

Thomas Birch is the ships officer, with a difficult past, who becomes involved in an investigation into the death of an elderly man, found crumpled at the bottom of a set of steps. The question was, why was he out on deck on a wet and windy November night. Scotland Yard Detective, James Temple, is on board and he insists on not accepting the death as an accident, even though the captain – on the verge of retirement – would rather not peer too deeply into what happened or risk upsetting the passengers.

Birch’s daughter, Amelia, has been missing for two years, which has led to the breakdown of his marriage and a rather irritating habit (well, for the reader perhaps) of constantly touching a piece of yellow ribbon that she wore. I know it was meant to be touching, but I would have thought it rather risky on a ship’s deck in November and it did seem to happen more and more, until the word yellow led me to skip over the sentence. Perhaps I am just cynical and uncaring, but it drove me a little crazy. Of course, he clashes with the taciturn Temple, who dislikes being shadowed but, on their travels, we get to really explore the ship, which is fun.

The actual crime involves art theft, which is something a little different. It did drag a little for me, but the ending had a great twist and overall, I enjoyed this, and it had promise. Not quite a five-star read for me, but it did lift from a 3 to a 4-star rating as I liked the end and the setting, even if I failed to emphasise with the characters or really become invested with the plot. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

The Endeavour sets sail from Southampton in 1924, bound for New York with 2000 passengers and crew on board. An old man is found dead; it's thought to be an accident and ship's officer Timothy Birch is about to declare it so but this is resisted by a Scotland Yard inspector, James Temple, who happens to be on board. The two of them investigate - though not as a happy team. The trail leads onto art theft and is fraught with danger. The killer, after all, is still on board.

For enthusiasts of Agatha Christie, cosy crime, glamorous settings and historical fiction.

3.5 stars
This cover is stunning. It definitely drew my attention, as well as the blurb: Agatha Christie meets Titanic. Which made me want to read it.

Things I liked: I loved the setting of the ship. And the fact they only have a few days to solve the case before they dock in New York. It's a race against time to find the killer. And I liked the great art robbery sidestory. "In many ways, the Endeavour was a melting pot. A community of strangers brought together for six nights, with no option to leave. Nowhere for anybody to escape to. It wouldn't take much to disturb such a delicate balance"

But after having high expectations for this book I found it too long and a bit repetitive. And while I enjoyed one twist at the end of the book, the rest of the ending was far fetched and not entirely satisfactory.

The premise of this book was intriguing, and the cover really lovely.

However, the old adage of don’t judge a book by its cover certainly comes into play here.

I naively thought that this would be a Christie type mystery, but it soon became obvious that it didn’t meet my expectations.

The story rambled and became very convoluted, without a decent conclusion. Perhaps there is to be a follow up book about what happened to Birch?

I did enjoy the main storyline, but the peripherals lacked substance. The pace was fast but the story too bulked out.

Thank you NetGalley.

A Fatal Crossing is an Agatha Christie style murder mystery set on the cruise ship Endeavor. When Mr Dupont's body is found the ships officer Birch is told to assist the on board Detective Temple to look into his death.

This is a perfect read for the winter months, cosying up with a cuppa but pay attention, there is a lot of characters and red herrings!

This is a great read with a superb twist (had to read it twice to make sure I read it right!) Highly recommend.

A whodunnit in the style of Agatha Christie set in 1924 aboard an ocean liner headed for New York. Ticks a lot of boxes already! From the sumptuous luxury of First Class to the cramped Third Class accommodation , by way of the officers quarters and ‘below decks’, Tom Hindle paints a fine portrait of the heyday of Atlantic crossings.
A dead art dealer and a stolen painting set the scene. A young officer, burdened with his own tragic past, is tasked with accompanying an arrogant and irascible detective as he investigates the suspicious death. You’ll encounter a satisfyingly large cast of possible suspects. Sift through the clues and red herrings ( or if you’re like me, miss them completely!) to see if you can figure out whodunnit before all is revealed….and then there’s the twist in the tail.
A clever tale, well worth a read if you like a whodunnit.

This is just the sort of book to read on a rainy Sunday afternoon whilst cozying up indoors with a hot choc! It's a murder mystery partly in the Agatha Christie tradition set aboard a cruise liner in 1924. The investigating duo are Birch, an officer on the ship, and Temple, an Inspector from Scotland Yard. Their relationship is unpleasant to read at times - not exactly a Holmes and Watson - but the story is full of great twists!

With its luxurious fittings, clear travel path and captive audience, a luxury cruise liner makes a fabulous setting for a crime novel. Throw an enthralling, innerly torn ship officer sparring with a determined and grumpy detective into the mix and set their altercations in an era of great political and social upheaval, and the outcome is an extraordinary crime novel such as this one. One of Tom Hindle’s main characters is fictional ship captain Timothy Birch, who is still reeling from the mysterious disappearance, two years earlier, of his daughter Amelia. Against his wife Kate’s wishes, he has agreed to sail the luxury cruise liner Endeavour from Southampton to New York in the winter of 1924. On board Tim’s ship are 2,000 passengers, one of whom with a horrible motive: soon after setting off, an elderly passenger is found dead at the bottom of a stairwell Whereas Scotland Yard detective James Temple is determined to prove that a crime has been committed, Timothy Birch is keen to keep the matter as quiet as possible. Over the course of the novel, we get a deep insight into both men’s motives, their passengers’ class distinctions, and the goings-on in the first and second class decks of 1920s society. The twists and turns of this mysterious plot unfolding in such a luxurious setting kept me enthralled over the 400 or so pages of this debut novel that I am sure will become a classic in ‘golden era mystery thrillers’. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for the free ARC I received in exchange for this honest review.