A Mersey Mariner

IntroductionThe Alexandra Rose sailed into the Mersey Estuary accompanied by an all-enveloping fog. The doleful tone of the ship's foghorn announced her presence to any ships in the close vicinity. A slow passage of just over three weeks had brought the ageing cargo liner, its crew and small complement of passengers on an unhurried voyage across the Atlantic from Rio and the ship itself appeared tired and weary from the journey. Captain George Gideon rang the telegraph, signalling 'All Stop' and the Alexandra Rose's diesels ceased their rhythmic throbbing as the ship slowly came to a halt and Gideon awaited the arrival of the Mersey Pilot Boat to escort the ship into port. Gideon dispatches his second officer, Robert Gray to inform the passengers of the short delay in entering port. Soon afterwards Gray returns to the bridge to inform the captain that one of their passengers lay dead in his cabin. With no readily visible signs of violence on the body and the ship's doctor suspecting foul play, Gideon informs the port authorities who in turn notify Merseyside Police. So begins one of Detective Andy Ross's most baffling cases, as the dead man was travelling alone and appeared to have no connections to any of the other passengers or crew of the Alexandra Rose. When a second body, a crew member from the unfortunate Alexandra Rose is discovered in similar circumstances a week later in a local hotel, Ross and his assistant, Sergeant Clarissa (Izzie) Drake must deploy all their investigative talents in an effort to untangle the web of mystery surrounding the two deaths. A Mersey Mariner is the fourth book in the Mersey Mystery series, featuring Detective Inspector Andy Ross, Sergeant Izzie Drake and their specialist murder investigation team.