School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--Jade Miller can't wait to put an entire ocean between her and her past. She's embarking on her semester of Campus on Board, fulfilling her dreams of traveling the world while escaping two bad break-ups: one with her boyfriend, Silas, the other with her best friend and former Stanford roommate, Lainey. She and Lainey had been planning to room together aboard the Sea Voyager, but that plan came to a screeching halt over the summer, when Silas unceremoniously dumped her (via text, no less) for Lainey. So, Jade is understandably shocked when she spots Lainey and Silas together in the embarkation line. Thus, the stage is set for this clever revamp of Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile. As the ship sets sail, the tension mounts, but Jade does her best to move on. She befriends her new roommates, twin sisters Navya and Divya; burgeoning influencer Miguel; and cute, brooding Felix. In the chaos of a stormy night, the first murder occurs, and everyone's a suspect. As the bodies pile up, so do Urban's trademark twists, and readers will surely be shocked by the novel's final reveal. VERDICT A fun, twisty thriller with a diverse cast and a dash of romance, this book is perfect for readers who love Urban's first two thrillers, as well as fans of Jessica Goodman and Karen M. McManus.--Dana West
Publisher's Weekly Review
Along with 700 other students, Stanford University sophomore Jade Miller is spending a semester at sea in a prestigious Campus on Board program. Much to Jade's distress, among the passengers are her ex-boyfriend, Silas, and her former best friend, Lainey, who are now a couple. Luckily, Jade gets along with her twin dorm-mates, Divya and Navya; befriends YouTube skincare sensation Miguel and his roommate Tate; and develops a budding relationship with brooding, mysterious Felix. But she can't shake her preoccupation with Silas, and craves answers as to why he dumped her for Lainey. Jade plans to confront the pair, but then Lainey goes missing, leaving behind a blood-covered cabin--and Jade is the primary suspect. Though there's no dearth of potential culprits, Jade embarks on some dangerous sleuthing to clear her name as an increasing body count begins whittling away at possible perps. Jade's fixation on Silas and Lainey is somewhat laboriously rendered, leading to repetitious narration. Nevertheless, this cleverly plotted mystery and its earned, complex solution by Urban (These Deadly Games) boast numerous exhilarating twists and red herrings. Main characters read as white; context clues suggest racial diversity throughout. Ages 14--up. (May)