DI Rachel Harlow is off duty and stuck aboard a cruise ship with her twin teenagers and uptight parents. Determined to distract herself from the complicated mess – professional and personal – she’s left back at Northumbria Police HQ, she embarks on a flirtatious game with a stranger on board… until she finds him dead the next day.

With no eyewitnesses and no official investigation, Rachel digs into the murder alone, going strictly against the captain’s orders. Dead end after dead end, she’s met with lies and silence from the ship’s crew.

International waters allow people to play by different rules, but Rachel won’t let up. Even when it leads her to a crime ring just as dangerous as the one she’s left behind on land. But at sea, she has no team to back her up …

‘A wonderful opening to the Rachel Harlow series' Abigail Dean

'Twisty and entertaining' Sarah Turner

'Dangerously addictive' Will Dean

'More twists and turns than a packet of fusilli' Daily Mirror

'A fast-paced, polished debut by a very talented writer.' Trevor Wood

'A cracking read … You’ll dive into this book!' Ellie Marney

‘Oozing with northern charm and grit … a real page turner.’ Rebecca Philipson

'An absolutely cracking read!' Robert Rutherford

'The scope is intoxicating, the characters compulsive, the pacing and drama absolutely cracking.' Henry Sutton

'Blair crafts a gritty and vivid world – you won’t ever want to sail on a cruise ship again' The Sun

'A superb page turner that will keep you up all night!' ★★★★★

'So skilfully written as if by … Ann Cleeves!' ★★★★★

‘I raced through the book … and I can’t wait to see what Blair comes up with next!’ ★★★★★

'Absolutely loved [Rachel Harlow] … you root for her all the way through the twists and turns!’ ★★★★★

‘WHERE HAS ELLE BLAIR BEEN HIDING? … Had me captivated from the very first page … This book will BLOW YOUR MIND!’

‘I could not put it down. A brilliant unique crime mystery.’

‘A standout debut that proves danger doesn’t need solid ground to find you.’