How to Read the Rachel Prince Mystery Series
The Rachel Prince Mystery series, written by British author Dawn Brookes, is a beloved cozy mystery collection set aboard luxury cruise ships. Following police constable Rachel Prince and her sharp-witted octogenarian companion, Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe, these clean crime stories blend exotic travel locales, locked-room puzzles, and a light touch of romance.
Because the books build on recurring characters, romantic subplots, and evolving relationships, the best way to read the series is in publication order. While each mystery is written to function as a standalone, reading them sequentially allows you to experience the full character development of Rachel, her friend Sarah, and the formidable Lady Marjorie.
Rachel Prince Mystery Books in Order
- A Cruise to Murder (2018) – Rachel boards a Mediterranean cruise to recover from a broken engagement and stumbles into a plot targeting the wealthy widow Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe.
- Deadly Cruise (2018) – On a transatlantic voyage, a crew member is found dead, forcing Rachel to put her police training to use.
- Killer Cruise (2019) – A Baltic cruise turns suspicious when a passenger dies under strange circumstances.
- Dying to Cruise (2019) – Rachel travels to the sun-soaked Canary Islands, where an onboard death disrupts the vacation vibes.
- A Christmas Cruise Murder (2019) – A festive cruise to the Canary Islands takes a dark turn, blending holiday cheer with murder.
- Murderous Cruise Habit (2020) – Rachel is back on the water, this time facing a complex mystery involving a group of nuns.
- Honeymoon Cruise Murder (2020) – Rachel and Carlos Jacobi celebrate their nuptials, but a killer aboard the cruise ship has other plans.
- A Murder Mystery Cruise (2021) – What is meant to be a fun murder mystery theme cruise turns into a real investigation.
- Hazardous Cruise (2021) – A voyage through the Norwegian Fjords exposes a chilling plot.
- Captain's Dinner Cruise Murder (2021) – A high-profile murder at the Captain's table forces Rachel to investigate the ship's elite.
- Corporate Cruise Murder (2022) – A corporate retreat aboard the Coral Queen turns deadly.
- Treacherous Cruise Flirtation (2023) – Rachel navigates dangerous romantic entanglements and crime on the high seas.
- Toxic Cruise Cocktail (2024) – A family anniversary cruise to Singapore becomes hazardous when a figure from the past appears.
- Cruise into Darkness (2025) – Rachel faces a dark puzzle as mysterious occurrences plague a cruise.
- Cruise Fountain Finale (2025) – Evolving character arcs culminate in a dramatic case.
The Interconnected "Brookesverse" Reading Order
Author Dawn Brookes has created a shared universe featuring three distinct, interconnected series that frequently cross over. Along with the main Rachel Prince Mysteries, readers can follow these companion series:
- The Carlos Jacobi Series: Centers on Rachel's husband, private investigator Carlos Jacobi, his ex-police dog Lady, and Detective Inspector Fiona Cook in Leicester.
- The Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe Series: Follows the sleuthing adventures of Rachel's octogenarian travel companion and her energetic group of friends.
If you want to track every character development, engagement, wedding, and guest crossover exactly as they occur, you should follow this chronological sequence recommended by the author:
- A Cruise to Murder (Rachel Prince #1)
- Deadly Cruise (Rachel Prince #2)
- Body in the Woods (Carlos Jacobi #1)
- Killer Cruise (Rachel Prince #3)
- The Bradgate Park Murders (Carlos Jacobi #2)
- Dying to Cruise (Rachel Prince #4)
- The Museum Murders (Carlos Jacobi #3)
- A Christmas Cruise Murder (Rachel Prince #5)
- Murderous Cruise Habit (Rachel Prince #6)
- Death of a Blogger (Lady Marjorie Prequel Novella)
- Murder at the Opera House (Lady Marjorie #1)
- Honeymoon Cruise Murder (Rachel Prince #7)
- Murder in the Highlands (Lady Marjorie #2)
- Murder at the Christmas Market (Lady Marjorie #3)
- A Murder Mystery Cruise (Rachel Prince #8)
- Hazardous Cruise (Rachel Prince #9)
- Murder at a Wimbledon Mansion (Lady Marjorie #4)
- Captain's Dinner Cruise Murder (Rachel Prince #10)
- Corporate Cruise Murder (Rachel Prince #11)
What to Know Before You Start
Dawn Brookes draws heavily on her real-life background as a nurse and her extensive personal cruise travel to write these books. The detailed ship layouts, cruise routines, and medical details are highly accurate, lending an immersive, locked-room feel to each mystery.
If you prefer to focus solely on the cruise ship mysteries, you can easily stick to the standalone Rachel Prince Mystery list. However, if you enjoy romance and ongoing character development, incorporating the Carlos Jacobi and Lady Marjorie books offers a richer reading experience, showing how Rachel and Carlos navigate their relationship and how Lady Marjorie spends her time when she isn't at sea.