Dangerous Crossing: A Novel

In this “thrilling, seductive, and utterly absorbing” (Paula Hawkins, #1 New York Times bestselling author) historical suspense novel in the tradition of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile and Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10, pre-war tension and forbidden romance abound, and not everyone will survive the journey…

The ship has been like a world within itself, a vast floating city outside of normal rules. But the longer the journey continues, the more confined it is starting to feel, deck upon deck, passenger upon passenger, all of them churning around each other without anywhere to go...

1939: Europe is on the brink of war when young Lily Shepherd boards an ocean liner in England, bound for Australia. She is ready to start anew, leaving behind the shadows of her past. The passage proves magical, complete with live music, cocktails, and fancy-dress balls. With stops at exotic locations along the way—Naples, Cairo, Ceylon—the voyage shows Lily places she’s only ever dreamed of and enables her to make friends with those above her social station, people who would not ordinarily mingle with her. She even allows herself to hope that a man she couldn’t possibly have a future with outside the cocoon of the ship might return her feelings.

But Lily soon realizes that she’s not the only one hiding secrets. Her newfound friends—the toxic wealthy couple Eliza and Max; Cambridge graduate Edward; Jewish refugee Maria; fascist George—are also running away from their pasts. As the glamour of the voyage fades, the stage is set for something sinister to occur. By the time the ship docks, two passengers are dead, war has been declared, and Lily’s life is irrevocably changed.

“A vividly descriptive ride” (Marie Claire) with a “jaw-dropping ending” (RT Book Reviews, Top Pick), Dangerous Crossing is a transporting and “gorgeously atmospheric” (Ruth Ware, New York Times bestselling author) story for the ages.

Rachel Rhys is the pen name of a successful psychological suspense author. Dangerous Crossing is her historical fiction debut. She lives in North London with her family.

ISBN: 9781501162732
Format: Paperback
Pages: 368
Publisher: Atria Books
Published: January 08, 2019

"A vividly descriptive ride from this enticingly mysterious author, leading up to a killer ending we did not see coming.""Thrilling, seductive, and utterly absorbing.""A gorgeously atmospheric read. Prepare to be transported.""Rhys captures the essence of the era, class structure, prejudice and fear of war...Suspense is built from the opening page until the jaw dropping ending due to her sharp plotting. Readers will be completely absorbed in every aspect of the characters’ lives, the voyage and two murders. Dangerous Crossing is a tale to savor."“[Rhys] offers plenty of glamorous atmosphere, period detail, and engaging ports of call along the way to please both historical fiction readers and mystery lovers.”“A seductive novel that grabs readers’ attention from the first page and doesn’t let go. Rhys beautifully captures each scene during Lily’s five-week voyage, combining mystery, intrigue, scandal, and murder. Readers will love it.”“The most compelling mystery here lurks between the lines.”A Richard and Judy Book Club Pick 2017“A sumptuous and thrilling read. It captivates you in its spell right until the end. I loved it.”"An exquisite story of love, murder, adventure and dark secrets, Rachel Rhys brings this dangerous crossing brilliantly and beautifully alive.""An utter treat...a glorious mix of proper old-school glamour and a labyrinthine plot full of class war, politics and sexual tension.""Quite extraordinary...Beautiful, captivating, and I desperately did not want the journey to end.""Think Highsmith on the high seas.""From its intriguing opening, Dangerous Crossing - part drama, part crime novel - had me hooked. You'll want to read this in one sitting." “A sumptuous, thrilling and captivating adventure on the high seas where some of the characters find love and the romances of others are thwarted by dark secrets…a simply stunning novel.”"This a proper old fashioned tale of thwarted romance, impossible glamour, murder and mayhem on the high seas. The most enjoyable bout of cabin fever I’ve ever had . . . The pages turn themselves.""A book to lose yourself in. I loved it!" "Well plotted, absorbing read with a whiff of Agatha Christie." "Rachel Rhys has created a sumptuous world, rich in character and description. Possessing a rare talent for observation and detail, she has perfectly drawn this pre-war passage to Australia. For a few days it was as if I was a passenger on that ship myself. I loved it." "What a world of glamour, uncertainty and intrigue! I was immersed from the very first page. And the sense of time and place is so convincing, the voice so perfect, I felt as if I had made the crossing myself. It is a gem of a book.""Completely compelling and atmospheric. I absolutely loved it." "Utterly gripping . . . I loved Lily and the sumptuous detail of her onboard world with its constant undercurrent of tension and mystery. It's a brilliant evocation of the time"