Maria was on the jury in the trial of a serial killer. One vote keeps him from being convicted. The public and the press are harassing the jury, demanding to know who voted innocent. Maria’s life has changed and she has no control. This is a twisted story with a lot of gory details. I couldn’t stop turning the pages to figure out what was going to happen next. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Somewhere between a 2.5 and 3 star: This is a quick. effective serial killer thriller that has the extra pizzazz of the cruise ship setting. That being said, I think the flat characterization made the stakes feel pretty low, which diminished the sense of suspense. Still, if you're looking for an entertaining thriller to give you your serial killer fix, this will do ya

Wow. I was so excited for this one because I love stories set on cruise ships, but this was a MAJOR disappointment. The writing is James Patterson-level basic, the characters are completely one-dimensional cliches and the plot is wholly unoriginal. Reading <i>The Stowaway</i> was like watching one of the later <i>Saw</i> movies; terribly-written dialogue interspersed with gory scenes that are the only entertaining part of the story.
I guessed who the killer was the second he was introduced, that's how obvious it was. The only way I can see myself enjoying this would be if it was a straight-to-TV B movie you watch when you want to waste a few hours.

I loved this book! It was fast-paced and suspenseful. Maria Fontana goes on a cruise a year after admitting publicly that she was the deciding vote, in a trial, that let a serial killer go free. She then finds herself stuck on a cruise ship with the serial killer and he has one final act left in his game. The details of the murders that take place are pretty gruesome and do involve children, so that is something to keep in mind. The writing is great and the authors did a great job of diving into a psychologist’s understanding of a serial killer and also what goes on in the serial killer’s mind. I would definitely like to read more from these authors.

I have received this book as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review. I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked from the first chapter and was kept guessing until the end. I recommend this book.

I was intrigued by the blurb on this book and am so glad I got to read this one. I have never read a book by these author's but I can guarantee you that I will be looking for more from them. They write so well together and this is definitely a book that will keep your attention from beginning to end.

Maria was put on the jury of a malicious killer that loved mutilating kids. The images that were shared during the trial stuck in Maria's mind and would not leave her. Even though there was a lot of evidence that was presented, the juror's were in a hung jury for 2 votes and when the time came for a third vote, someone changed their vote and Wyatt Butler walked free. The juror's were sworn to never tell how each other voted so no one could know how they voted, one way or the other.

When the trial was over, the family members of the kids that Wyatt killed were very upset, as they should be. Wyatt should be behind bars for good. There started to be threats to the juror's after the trial to tell who the juror was that changed their mind and made Wyatt a free man, but they were not going to tell. Maria started to get worried that someone was going to get hurt or worse killed and so she decided to take the heat for all the juror's. Maria held a press conference and said that she was the one that changed her mind and voted that Wyatt was not guilty. Little did Maria know that there would be lots of stuff coming her way that she would have to deal with.

When Maria's job found out that she has shown up at a book signing of an author that has written a book on the whole trial and told lies about Maria in the book, she was put on a year's leave because of her radical actions that night. What was Maria going to do with a whole year to herself and not being able to work?

Maria and her family decided towards the end of the year of Maria being off of work that they needed a vacation. Maria had spend almost the whole year being scared that someone was watching her and that they were still out to get her from her confession. So, going on a cruise and not being recognized was her whole goal to the vacation. They got to the dock late so they wouldn't have to chance Maria being recognized by the other passengers, but when Maria notices some strange things going on, her mind begins to run away with her again.

Will Maria and her family be able to have the vacation they had planned on? You will want to read this book to find out! You will be on the edge of your seat reading this one! So well written and the plot is one that will keep you guessing what is going to happen next. I really enjoyed this book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book and all opinions are my own. Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author's for an advanced copy of this book. Such a great read!

I was so lucky to receive an opportunity to read this book from NetGalley and the publisher before it's publication date in exchange for my honest review and opinions. This is the first book I've read by these authors and I found it to be a great read. I will for sure be adding them to my list of must read authors going forward. This book is very fast paced and quite the thriller (often times can be a little gory) but boy is it good. I thought I had it figured out and was in for quite the surprise once I finished it (and I was wrong!). Do yourself a favor and pick it up and read it when you get the chance - you will be very happy you did!

Wow! This was a nice quick thriller that I couldn’t put down. I love murr ( James Murray the author is on impractical jokers ) and I’ve tried his book awakened but it isn’t really my genre of choice. I loved that it took place on a cruise ship and that it had a lot of twists and turns. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.



4.5/5

This was an interesting and fun to read mystery. The author kept the reader turning the pages. This is a book I would recommend to others. I will be looking to the next book from the author.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc. I had no idea what to expect from this book and it drew me in from the beginning. It really kept me guessing! I loved the story, and that it was on a cruise ship. Maria was a great character, smart and feisty.

This is a fast pace suspenseful thriller. The characters where really developed, and I loved the suspense and twists in this book. Most of this book takes place on a cruise ship. I loved the cruise ship setting. This is not a book that builds up the scary suspense through the book, but this book you know their is something going on. The book is all about solving who is causing everything that is going on. The ending was so great in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (St. Martin's Press) or author (James E. Murray and Darren Wearmouth) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be release on September 21-2021.

I honestly didn’t think I would love this, but boy was I wrong! So unique, fast paced, tense, and absorbing! Completely unputdownable! Full of twisty turns, chills, thrills, and many shocks! Literally had me on the edge of my seat, guessing and completely failing at what was next! Loved the unique plot line, which the writing nailed, both in creating it and the development of the characters! Cannot recommend enough!

Will buzz around platforms and use top Amazon reviewer number on release!

Professor Maria Fontana served as a juror on a murder trial. Not just any murder trial but the murder trial of alleged child serial killer, Wyatt Butler.
It seemed like a slam dunk case but there were some inconsistencies and one juror can’t convict. Wyatt Butler goes free and public outcry ensues. People can’t believe that this man walks out a free man.
Who could let this man walk free? None other than Professor Maria Fontana.
After being criticized and vilified in the court of public opinion, Maria tries to resume her life with her two children and new boyfriend.
She and the family embark on a two week transatlantic cruise as a break and chance to get some rest.
Unfortunately rest and relaxation are not on the cruise ships list of activities. It looks like Murder, mayhem and a race to solve this mystery are the course of events for this open-water mystery.
Is Wyatt Butler onboard or a copycat committing murders that only a few including Maria know all the details. The clock is ticking on this ship as someone is onboard willing to stop at nothing.
This book is chilling and graphic in detail that gives the reader a very gruesome insight into the murder.
This edgy thriller is full of twists and turns including a surprise twist at the end.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. #NetGalley #TheStowaway

suspenseful thriller, too gory at some points for me, but imagine being trapped on a cruise ship in the middle of nowhere, being targeted by a serial killer. It worked as a tense thriller if you accepted that the main character did what she did, which was not very realistic when she announced how she voted on the jury for the same killer, why would she put her family and herself in that kind of danger, so that was a big flaw for me, her motivation as it was revealed later fell flat

The Stowaway, a suspenseful masterpiece that leaves a cruise ship stranded at sea with a serial killer hiding aboard…

Sounds like a good premise. Stranded in the middle of the Atlantic with a serial killer. What better place? Like a buffet for serial killers.

This story begins with Maria Fontana. A single mother of two. Maria is on the jury of a sensational trial of an alleged serial killer, Wyatt Butler, who reeks of guilt and disdain. As the final day of deliberations arrives, she is still torn over the evidence. Will she vote guilty?

Jump to a couple of years later and the media frenzy has died down, Maria has met a good man and they are going on a two-week cruise across the Atlantic. Maria can’t help but look over her shoulder and hold her kids tight. And when people start dying, she is hypervigilant. Especially when there are children being killed in horrific ways and then posed with the next victim's clothing. Everywhere she looks she sees Wyatt Butler.

While the Security Chief thinks she may be seeing things that aren’t there, Maria knows. A mother knows. Her children are not safe and neither is she.

It’s hard not to give anything away here. This was a fast-paced, well-written thriller. I’m sure my heart rate was elevated the entire time. And that ending. Very nice.

NetGalley/ September 21st,2021 by St. Martin’s Press

This book just wasn’t for me. Shockingly gruesome acts (some against children) don’t compensate for the movie-of-the -week plot line. Luckily it didn’t take long to read, since I stuck it out to the end, hoping it would get better. Alas, for me it did not. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I started off giving this book 4 stars, deducting one because of the vivid descriptions of gory crimes some of which involved children. I changed it to 5 stars because, with the proper warning to be prepared for descriptions that hurt your head and heart, the writing and the suspense of the story were excellent. This book certainly kept my interest. I was also really interested because we take a lot of cruises and the setting of a transatlantic cruise really intrigued me. It was very interesting to read about things happening in parts of the ship that I am very familiar with and will now be eerily cautious about. I really thought I had figured out who the villain on the ship was when all of a sudden something happened that made it crystal clear it couldn't be him. Reviews are hard to write when you don't want to give away any of the heart pounding twists in the story. Let me just say that a couple times I had to close the book and remind myself to breathe so I could open it back up to see what happened next.

I received this book as an ARC and this is my review. I absolutely loved this book! The story is creepy and loaded with twists. The characters are filled with interesting flaws. The authors tossed in confusion and red herrings designed to make the book impossible to put down. The pace is unrelenting and the outcome is surprising. I totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers with a sadistic killer on the rampage.

⭐⭐⭐⭐+
Warning ~ the descriptions of the children's murders was very disturbing! 😥

Story starts with Wyatt Butler’s trial. He is accused of brutally murdering many children.
Maria Fontana is a Psychologist on staff at Columbia University; she is holding the deciding vote on whether Butler is acquitted or guilty. She has created a stir as it seems everyone believes he is guilty.

Jeremy Finch is an author who wrote a bestselling novel about the trial and also some negative things about Maria. He is speaking at the local B & N. Maria and her boyfriend, Steve Brannagan attends the presentation. She not only accosts Finch but shouts profanities and when Steve drags her out, she has the ‘last word’ and gives the Finch the ‘bird’.
Hmm this does not over well with her supervisor at Columbia. Although supportive of Maria, he believes she needs a break a year to cool down the negative things going on.
In the meantime, Steve proposes and they decided to go on family cruise with her young twins ~ Christopher and Chloe.
Six days into the trip, nasty things are happening. A murder victim in found in an empty cabin and has been murdered in the chilling way of the accused Wyatt Butler.

Security has checked the ships manifest and it appears there is a stowaway.
Is the murderer following Maria?
If so, why since she was the one whose vote resulted in the acquittal?

I am a big psychological thriller fan…I know to
 Expect twists and turns and to
 Suspect everyone!
Yes! Twists and turns but missed the mark with my suspicions.

A page turner that kept me up last night!!!


Want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for my honest professional opinion.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 21, 2021

Who knew Murr from Impractical Jokers could write something so dark?

I really. Really. Really. Wanted to love this. I love Murr and I love Mystery Novels but this was too much for me. I DNF due to the crude descriptions of children’s murders.