"Now and then a writer dares to flout the rules, and in so doing, carves out a niche that belongs to him alone. John Straley's novels are like no others." -- San Diego Tribune

Cecil Younger never thought it would come to this - providing surveillance for a chicken coop being raided by a fowl thief. But things have not exactly been breaking right lately for the Alaskan private investigator. The logical thing to do? Take a vacation cruise.

Well, it's not exactly a vacation. Younger has been paid to investigate a suspicious ship's doctor aboard a luxurious first-class cruise ship. Now Younger finds himself trapped on a ship of fools with a murderer who is leaving a trail of well-to-do passengers in his wake...and leaving evidence pointing an accusing finger at Cecil!

By the time the S.S. Westward makes landfall up the Alaskan coast, Younger will be wishing he was back guarding chickens, instead of sleeping with the fishes.

BUY