Audiobook Review: Terns of Endearment by Donna Andrews

Terns of Endearment
Author: Donna Andrews
Narrator: Bernadette Dunne
Series: Meg Langslow Mysteries (Book 25)
Publication: Dreamscape Media (August 6, 2019)
Length: 10 hours and 45 minutes

Description: Meg's grandfather has been booked to give lectures on a cruise as part of the education/entertainment itinerary, and he's arranged for a passel of family members to join him. The passengers’ vacation quickly becomes a nightmare when they wake up to find themselves broken down and in need of repairs. Things get even worse when a crew member announces to all that a woman has jumped overboard, leaving behind her shoes, shawl, and a note. The note reveals she's a disliked member of a writers' group onboard for a retreat, and the group is split on whether this is in-character for her.

The captain decides not to investigate, saying he'll notify American authorities when they reach their destination. But Meg's father decides they need to look into whether there was possible foul play while the prime suspects are all stuck on board. It'll be a race against the clock to solve this mystery before they make the necessary repairs and return to shore.

My Thoughts: TERNS OF ENDEARMENT is the 25th book in the Meg Langslow mystery series. This time Meg, her family, and other relatives are on a cruise to the Bahamas. Her grandfather had been hired to give a series of lectures on natural history and was offered generous discounts so that his family could go along. 

Meg meets a group of authors who have taken the cruise in memory of one of their number who had committed suicide a year before. Also on the cruise is an author - a diva - that they all dislike. Meg is surprised to discover that the ship is becalmed - in the Bermuda Triangle - and the disliked author is missing and presumed to be a suicide. She apparently jumped overboard leaving her shawl and her Louboutin heels behind.

Meg is surprised that the captain isn't going to investigate the death. She and her family including her father who has experience as a doctor and coroner begin their own investigation. Meanwhile, the ship is in need of repair and conditions deteriorate quickly with no electricity, running water or air conditioning. It doesn't help that the understaffed ship is crewed by people suffering from food poisoning. 

This was another engaging episode in this long-running series. 

I bought this one for my Kindle November 21, 2024, and as an audiobook December 5, 2025. You can buy your copy here.