Dangerous Crossing: A Novel

Written by:
Rachel Rhys
Narrated by:
Katherine Manners

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
2
Narrator
1
Release Date
January 2018
Duration
11 hours 7 minutes
Summary
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.
Reviews
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Colette T.

This is a beautifully written novel, with a diverse cast of complex characters, vivid descriptions of exotic port cities, and (at times almost excruciating) suspense. I very much liked that the prologue started at the end of the journey which kept me guessing and constantly trying to work out what was ultimately going to happen on the voyage itself. The portraits of the characters are so real and relatable. As the novel progressed there were times my stomach was in knots because I was furious at the heroine's lack of resolve in speaking up for herself and what was right. But I understand that her weakness comes from her social class in relating to those in positions of authority and also from the naïvety of--or even willing-blindness to--what is happening in Europe. Obviously the reader/listener knows about the horrors Hitler will inflict and so the various characters' reactions from complacent indifference to abject racism fill one with dread. This book is so many things, I don't want to give the impression that it HAS A MESSAGE in a patronizing or clumsy way. Rather, I appreciated how subtly this theme resonated with the big questions in our world now, and, like Lily, we may struggle to decide when to speak out or defend people on the margins--because it is right, even if dangerous or unpopular to do so. Katherine Manners reads beautifully, painting descriptions into life. I enjoyed her various dialects and portrayals, especially of Maria. I found Eliza's American accent grating, but that is probably due to the character's nature. Rhys describes her voice as "hard" and "brittle," and Manners captures the quality. Definitely recommend.

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