This is a clever 1920's mystery with clever female amateur sleuths. Nora and Aunt Julia are taking a trip on the Mississippi on the Miss Delta Belle, a steamboat. Aunt Julia is a mystery writer under a male pseudonym and together Nora and Julia have run into a lot of mysteries on their travels, and which they solve for the police. In the middle of the night, passengers hear a scream, and many run to the deck. They see Delilah, the lead singer, caught in the paddle wheel. One of the passengers, Percival Montford, is a doctor and when Delilah is brought to the deck he examines her. Aunt Julia notices a fingernail on the ledge below the rails. She also noted that Delilah's right hand looked like it had been stomped on - definitely a murder. However, the doctor and others consider that it's just an accident.

Since the boat docks still in Mississippi, the local policeman who can work on the murder is Artemis Leonard, someone who doesn't appreciate Aunt Julia's sleuthing. Julia and Nora have three days to figure out the murderer before they dock. Some of the suspects they have are Oxley, the head of entertainment, who was very interested in Delilah; Max, a very handsome man who has also been watching Delilah; Vera Hinchcliff, who has played at being sick; the two backup singers; Nordby the pilot who claimed he couldn't see anything; and a ne'er do well, Johnny Stokes. Some of the suspects are a little shady, even if they haven't committed murder.

Nora and Julia finally find out that Max is a detective in the Bureau of Narcotics and Prohibition, and the three decide to help each other detect. Max is looking for someone who is dealing narcotics, and the culprit for both might be the same person. Finally, on the last day after they have docked, and Artemis Leonard has come aboard, suspects and sleuths get together in a room so that Julia can tell Artemis who the murderer is, although Nora hasn't figured it out.

The first in a new series, Murder on the Mississippi is a light, entertaining read.
We are introduced to the feisty elderly aunt Julia, who writes murder mysteries under a male pen name. Her niece Nora, a ‘modern’ woman of the 1920s with an interest in psychology. Their friend Giles Hendricks who invites them on the maiden voyage of his Steamboat, The Miss Delta Belle, and when the lead singer ends up dead, Julia and Nora investigate.
The characters are interesting, well developed and fun to read. The setting is well described and for fans of the 1920’s well researched. Overall a good read, well-paced, loads of clues to get you guessing and some red herrings too. For fans of cosy mystery series, it’s a great read. I will certainly watch out for the next in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
#MurderonaMississippiSteamboat #NetGalley

I thought this story started well and certainly there were some lovely characters including the lead character and her aunt. Unsurprisingly, the leads were highly observant and led conversations in a way that little by little the character flaws and the varied histories of guests is revealed. Things are never what they seem are they?

I think the areas I wrestled with were that it was supposed to be a holiday cruise, and yet that really didn't feature as a key aspect. In addition, the majority of conversations with passengers revolved around the murderous incident. It is a very cozy murder mystery set in the 1920s and is destined to be loved by fans of this genre

With thanks to #Netgalley, Boocouture and the author for the advanced reader copy in return for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Loved, loved and loved this book! Cleverly written with such affable and charming characters. The repartee between Julia and Nora made me smile! Reading this novel, during the Corvid-19 lockdown, was the best part of my day. I recommend this read to all, even after we are all back to normal....it will still be a highlight of your day! I am always grateful to publishers who grant me the opportunity to read and review advance reader copies but this was one of the most enjoyable. Leighann Dobbs....you are on my author radar! Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture.

One thing you can (almost) 100% be certain of is, that when a murder happens on a boat, the killer is bound to be still on board.  On the one hand it's reassuring, because you know he or she will be apprehended, but it's rather frightening at the same time, because the perpetrator is the one who pulls the strings. You might be next.

Well, the latter would be the case if Julia and Nora Marsh would not have been on the ship. They have every intention to make sure the culprit will be put where they belong: behind bars.

The author takes us back to 1926 where we join her characters on a trip on a steamboat. The setting is nice and the passengers are fun. (apart from the baddies of course ;) )

A murder, a quirky aunt Julia and a lot of people who seem to have something to hide result in a very entertaining cozy mystery story. 4 stars.

Thank you, Leighann Dobbs and Bookouture

Superb craftsmanship and versatility are hallmarks for this author. Aunt Julia and her sidekick niece Nora took a steamboat to start this new series based in the roaring twenties. This book introduced the characters, laid down an storyline, and promised interesting plots on a theme, Lots of hints on where this duo might take us while leaving us with good feelings about our characters and storyline.

This was a great cozy mystery read. Loved it, had a hard time putting it down.
Julia is a mystery writer, and amateur sleuth. Her and her niece, Nora, go on a four day river cruise owned by a friend of Julia's. While on board, the singer for the cruise, Delilah, is heard screaming in the middle of the night and found dead. There are many suspects, but Julia assures Giles, the owner, that she can solve the mystery before the boat docks and the police come on board. Julia and Nora have a list of suspects, and go about conducting their investigation. What they uncover is that besides murder, there are drugs being smuggled, and others telling lies and keeping secrets. With so many clues gathering up, how is Julia so sure she knows who the murderer is?
This book kept me turning the page. It had it all, mystery, humor, few twists and turns, and great characters. Truly enjoyed this book, and look forward to 0thers by this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Cozy mysteries are a very unique branch of crime writing and one that when pulled off well is equal to anything that is more hard hitting.


The author has a lot of skills in writing characters.  They all seem to have unique narrative that pushes the envelope of this genre.


While cozy mysteries aren't really my thing normally this author has written so many great ones that I couldn't pass up the chance to read this new one.


The story was very good and one that relates well for me.  I used to do cruising and this type of book really shows the cruise lifestyle.


This was so well written and I really do love how well this author writes both characters as well as the story itself.  She is unique in her telling of tales and really makes me wish I had any talent that was similar to this.


Wonderful book and am looking forward to more from this author.

Leighann Dobbs is one of my favorite authors. Murder on a Mississippi Steamboat is a wonderful cozy historical set in the 1920's. In the story we meet Julia and her great niece Nora are onboard a steamboat cruise when a murder occurs.

Julia is a mystery writer and her and Nora are on the case.
I really loved this book. The characters were well developed and I love the relationship between Julia and Nora.

The mystery is well written and perfectly paced. , A few great twists with multiple suspects that made for a fantastic read.

Highly suggest this historical cozy mystery.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley and Bookouture.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

A relaxing steamboat cruise down the Mississippi turns deadly. Nora and her aunt Julia finds themselves in the middle of things as the suspects are endless as to who would want her dead. At first it is rule an accident but soon the evidence will speak to foul play.

Set in the 1920’s this cozy is a fun read of the period thrown in with mystery. Once again the author has given the reader a glimpse of the era.

I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and author Leighann Dobbs for providing me with an ARC of this novel.

The description of “a gripping 1920s historical cozy mystery” is a mouthful, but it’s a delicious one. I have never read this author, but I really enjoyed her writing. This is the kind of book you want to curl up with beside the fire with a glass of wine. This was entertaining and light, and a nice reprieve from some heavier reading. If you are even a fan of the 1920s, I would recommend this book!

Thank you again to those named above for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!

This was an interesting and fun first in a new series from Leighann Dobbs.
There were nicely developed characters, a solid plot line, and a few red herrings along with a bit of humor.

Julia Marsh is traveling with her great niece Nora Marsh on the maiden cruise of the Miss Delta Belle as the guest of the owner, Giles Hendricks.

When they are woken up during the night by a scream of terror, The headling star is found to have fallen into the paddlewheel. Julia determines it to be a murder, and is asked to try and find the murderer before they dock in three days' time and the local investigator takes over.

Main Characters:
Julia Marsh - She is a well known mystery writer under the pen name of Ridley Howes (no one knows she is the author). She has solved a few mysteries in real life and has investigator Artemis Leonard as her arch nemeses.

Nora Marsh - Has a doctorate in Psychology and has helped her great aunt on some of the cases that popped up while they traveled together.

Artemis Leonard - The county detective for the area in which the murder happened.
We are predisposed to kind of dislike this character due to the descriptions given of his past treatment of the Marsh ladies nosing into his investigations. He may be a competent investigator similar to Hercule Poirot? He may be a bumbling and lucky stooge similar to Insp. Jacques Clouseau? We simply don't know as he didn't actually make an appearance until the mystery was wrapped up. I'm looking forward to future books to learn more about this character and the way he thinks and acts.

Giles Hendricks - Owner of the Steamboat The Miss Delta Belle. He has everything sunk into the ship and needs a successful journey to start his career as an elite adventure passenger carrier.

I would like to thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the first book I read from this author, and I enjoyed it. It’s a light read with a fun and entertaining mystery. The writing was well developed and flowed nicely from chapter to chapter. I really liked it and would recommend it to others looking for a fun mystery.

cozy-mystery, murder, 1920s, family

I really enjoyed it! the publisher's blurb is a pretty good hook and no spoilers here. Nora is smart and observant without great aunt Julia's bluntness and they work well together to solve the murder, but I can't help wondering why neither of them put together the stumbling young man and the seemingly forgetful older gentleman and others who have had small items go missing. All of the characters are very well done and engaging, the descriptions of clothing are incredibly clear, and the plot is a really nice cozy.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!

If you love cozy mysteries or books set in the 1920's then you'll love this book. Julia and her great niece, Nora, are onboard a Mississippi steamboat cruise when they hear a terrible scream and discover that someone onboard has met an awful end. Luckily, with no way of the police getting onboard, Julia (a mystery writer) is on the case and can be assisted by Nora. I'm guessing, or at least hoping, this is going to be a new series starring these two characters and I look forward to reading more of them. Julia is a wily older woman much in the vein of Miss Marple but much more sparky (what is in her glass during this time of prohibition?) and fun. This able to conduct her investigation by appearing a little dotty but proves how sharp she really is. Her relationship with Nora is one of gentle humour with the latter often despairing of her elderly aunt and her not-so-subtle way of talking about her own mystery novels is fun, as is her competitiveness regarding the absent policeman, Artemis. The mystery itself has many plausible suspects and a few surprises but the real killer isn't immediately obvious. A really great read for those of us who love a great puzzle without the graphic violence.