Husband and wife team, Charlotte and Sam, are con-artists, they work on luxury cruise ships and prey on wealthy tourists. When Sam double crosses Charlotte she leaves him, seeking a divorce. A year later Charlotte receives a mysterious message from Sam telling her to be careful. Then comes the devastating news that Sam is missing, presumed dead. Charlotte begins to receive threatening messages from an unknown caller demanding the money her and Sam stole - or else! Charlotte flees, taking a job on a luxury super-yacht, hoping to outrun trouble.
The story switches between "then" and "now". The "then" part gives us the back story, how Sam and Charlotte met and fell in love. Slowly we discover that Sam is a thief and Charlotte is slowly drawn into his web of deceit, enjoying both the thrill and the ill-gotten gains of their crimes.
As the story switches to the "now" we discover that Charlotte is being threatened and decides that by joining the crew of a super-yacht she will evade harm. Unfortunately even out at sea the threatening messages continue and Charlotte realises that someone on the yacht is responsible.
I found it impossible to have any sympathy for Charlotte, a con-artist with no redeeming qualities. She is motivated by pure greed but tries to explain it away by saying that they are stealing from wealthy people who can afford it.
As the "then" and "now" stories converged the tension increases. Almost anyone on the yacht, guests and crew, could be responsible. Following a series of accidents you do begin to wonder if Charlotte is going to survive at all. Throughout there's also that nagging question, is Sam really dead or is this another elaborate con?
My thanks to NetGalley and Headline Audio for a review copy.
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