Many thanks to netGalley, Canelo and J M Hewitt for my ARC of 'The Crew' in return for an honest review.

The novel is set aboard a luxury charter yacht and focuses on the activities of the crew. A murder happened a year before and the crew and same guests board the Ananke for another charter. Ashley who was murdered had secrets, as do most of the crew and these unfold as the story progresses.

I was excited by the blurb as I have worked as a chef on a charter yacht. Unfortunately this clouded my judgement of the novel as my experience over the six years did not tally with the behaviours.

a novel set on board a yacht and a luxury one at that.

Felt like a reality show with added bite and some very dark bits. Are luxury yachts really like this? I'd hate to be in that world if so. Not that I will ever be in this world but I got a feel for the whole bitchy industry (in this case at least) and loved it!

Wanted to throw a few characters off board myself but that's the sign of a good read.

JM Hewitt where will you go next?

I sadly didn't enjoy this one very much. I really wasn't a big fan of any of the characters and I found that the random switch from Ella's story to Annie and Robyn's to be very jarring. There wasn't any warning or explanation and it felt like we just started a totally new story for a few chapters before it made sense again.

I was excited about the premise because I loved the idea of it being set on a yacht. I think I just didn't love the execution and the writing style wasn't for me. I also didn't feel like the payoff of the ending was worth it and it seemed a bit too predictable and convenient.

Other people really enjoyed it though, so I think it's a me problem where it just wasn't to my personal taste.

Thank you to Netgalley and Canelo for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is my first book involving a yacht and the activities of the crew. At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like it, but I grew to love it!! It was intriguing, full of suspense, emotional, and everything in between. There’s plenty of mystery, It also splits into two different stories until it all comes together. I would definitely recommend it, and now, I will be seeking more books by this author!

Pic of a boat/yacht and a quick skim of the blurb that says ‘Elle loves working on a luxury yacht at sea’ and its a no brainer for me and am ready to go
All the elements were there;
Luxury
Annoying entitled guests
Staff-with secrets
Wonderful Greek setting
All that was needed was a story to pull it all together
And there was one and it wasn’t half bad, unusual, relaxing in it’s telling and interesting in it’s tales of 2 sides of the harbour
One side brimming with luxury
One side overflowing with homelessness, rats, abandoned ferries and misery
Good characters on either side to get your brain picturing the story….maybe the thrust of the story was easy to work out, even so it was enjoyable and as say different to the usual ‘on board’ tales that I love, a poignant modern day look at what is hidden under the surface of first class travel…..

The Crew - an unputdownable thriller about life on luxury superyachts. It drew me on the first page and I finished it in a few days.

It's a thriller, mystery and super writing all in one.

Highly recommend.

As a mystery novel, The Crew is a fun and fast read that is perfect for a day on the beach. The story switches seamlessly between then and now while offering the read glimpses into the developing mystery
I will have to admit as a fan of Below Deck, I read this book with their cast members as the characters in my mind and it made it an even more fun read. The story finishes with a dramatic flourish I did not see coming but I was cheering them on all the way!!

Cruises, secrets at sea, and murder? Count me in! I love books that are set on Cruise Ships, so I was happy to receive this ARC. "The Crew" by J.M. Hewitt takes place in Greece after the epidemic hit the world, revolving around a few protagonists.

The book begins with a bang - a murder, no less - and then moves forward a year to the present time. Ella, the chief stewardess on the superyacht Ananke, and the rest of the gang come back to the superyacht after the death of a crew member a year earlier rocked their world. When Ella finds the diary of the dead deckhand, where it states she believes to be stalked, Ella suspects the deckhand was murdered by one of the crew or even the guests. The plot thickens when Ella finds out the dead girl wasn't what she seemed to be, nor is Ashley her real name.

We then move backward into the past, following the story of two orphaned girls, Robyn and Annie, who came to Greece for a new beginning. The middle section details the events that led to the murder in the first act. The book is written in the third person POV and split into six sections, in alternating timelines. The middle part of the book develops slowly and, very methodically, creates an increasing sense of paranoia one can almost feel. The story comes full circle in the last section, tying together all the threads.

The plot was gripping, and I definitely felt emotionally invested in what was going on. The author has done a fine job of interweaving the various storylines. The book explores several themes, such as revenge, loyalty and friendship, crime and its consequences. While my suspicions about the guilty party were correct, despite the red herring the author threw our way, I didn't guess the motive and the ending left me agog.

My favorite sections were those that took place on the yacht. I enjoyed reading the descriptions of life on the yacht and all it contained. I liked Ella and her backstory added another layer to the plot. While I liked Annie, I did think she was too naive for her own good, letting herself dance to her friend's tone. Also, their illegal entry into Greece made me raise my eyebrow. Their reasons for doing so were unconvincing, but then it was a necessary part of the arch of the story to explain their desperate circumstances and their following actions.

I enjoyed the book and will be glad to read more books by this author. I thought to rate the book 4 out of 5 stars due to the slow-paced middle section, but the brilliant last section changed my mind. I found this a unique and original concept and rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I recommend the book to those who are looking for something different in their books and love mysteries at high seas.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

I thought this was a great read. It starts with a murder and then you’re introduced to the cast of characters. Which is a crew on a luxury ship. The crew are morning the death of Ashley who died on the boat on a tragic accident the year before. Suddenly there is a clue that her death is not what it first seemed. Ella starts to reconsider what happened and is someone on board to blame.
I liked the cast of characters and the twists and turns of the story. This was a perfect holiday read.
Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book from Canelo via NetGalley.

Ella finds solace in her nomadic life, working on a luxurious superyacht, which allows her to escape her past and embrace a fresh start among like-minded individuals. Each summer, she returns to her chosen family, the crew of the Ananke. However, the previous summer was marred by tragedy when a deckhand, Ashley, met a fatal accident. Ashley had been charismatic, skilled, and beloved by all, making her loss particularly devastating.

Despite the crew's grief, the Captain believes the best way to heal is to reunite the team on the Ananke once more. However, they soon discover that Ashley had been harboring secrets and living a double life. As they set sail again, it becomes evident that the events of the previous summer were shrouded in deception. The crew must unravel the truth, as they suspect that someone may have gotten away with murder. This thrilling and suspenseful story keeps readers on the edge of their seats and is ideal for fans of Catherine Cooper and Cameron Ward.

As a devoted fan of the hit TV series "Below Deck," my excitement for this yacht-themed thriller was palpable. The initial chapters seemed promising, with a female captain who had years of sobriety under her belt, reminiscent of the show's captivating dynamics, I thought the author was a fan of the show too. However, my enthusiasm quickly deflated as I delved deeper into the story.

First and foremost, the glaring contradictions in the crew composition left me perplexed. With a potential guest capacity of twelve onboard, having only two deckhands raised immediate questions about the yacht's operation. Moreover, their inexplicable intoxication hindering anchor work during a charter contradicted the professional standards expected in the yachting industry. Charter guests are typically served with utmost care, and crew members are expected to maintain their focus and sobriety during charters.

The misalignment continued as a green/third stewardess was tasked with anchor duties, an unlikely scenario on a real superyacht. In reality, a green stewardess would predominantly handle tasks such as laundry and cabin cleaning rather than crucial deck responsibilities. The inexperienced stewardess accompanying guests on an excursion, especially in her first week on the job, was another departure from reality. Also, how does a foster child acquire a diving certification and expertise?

Furthermore, the crew's behavior during the ongoing charter struck me as implausible. The crew engaging in romantic relationships and neglecting their duties seemed inconceivable in a professional yachting setting. Especially since they were excessively drinking WHILE on charter?!?!

Ashley's excessive paranoia added another layer of incredulity to the narrative. AND the Captain calling herself captain in the third person was just annoying!

While I hoped for an authentic yacht thriller inspired by "Below Deck," the story's deviations from the reality of the industry left me wanting more consistency and believability. Nevertheless, the book offered some suspense and intrigue, but it struggled to capture the essence of the world it sought to portray. If you know nothing about the yachting industry then this is the book for you.

A thriller version of Below Deck? YES PLEASE!

Luxury yacht, murder and a fairly straightforward plot. I appreciate JM Hewitt's writing and that 'get to the point' ness of it all. Other thriller seem to want to provide too many "twists' to try and throw readers off and this was just the kind of thrilling and well-researched kind of book I enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I loved the twists in this book! The setting of the yacht and harbour added to the imagery which helped me become immersed in the book. I definitely recommend it.

An interesting book with a novel subject matter. It held my attention although I did guess before the end what was going to happen. All the action happens on a super yacht in the Greek islands and Athens Marina. Annie and Robyn are two runaways who enter Greece illegally and try to survive post covid in the ferries moored up in the marina. Stealing and begging for what they need to survive. Annie gets the chance to work on a super yacht and sees a way to escape. But Robyn isn't happy about anything she can't control. Throw in a crew with problems of their own and things get very out of control!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own

I liked this book and give it 3.5 to 4 stars. The writing was decent and the beautiful descriptions of Greece added to the story. I felt the storyline was a bit predictable as it was easy to see where the story was going. The book was definitely not a warm and fuzzy read and at times a bit sad. I received an ARC for my honest review. My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

Ella works on a luxury superyacht. For the past few years, Ella has gotten to know her fellow crew members. They are a close knit group. One summer, they yacht is short a crew member. Ella hires newcomer Ashley, who is sweet, bubbly, and hardworking. However, tragedy strikes, and Ashely dies in an onboard accident.

Fast forward to the next summer, Ella and the crew are set to sail on the same yacht again. Ella finds out that Ashley was not who she said she was...and it seems that someone was out to get Ashley.

This book is split into a few parts. We start in the present and then jump back to learn about Ashley and her story. We then jump forward to the present, where Ella is trying to figure out what happened to Ashley. The flashback to Ashley and her story is the vast majority of the novel. Essentially, this novel is an extended flashback. To me, this took away from the suspense and made Ella's connection feel quite remote.

Overall, this novel is an interesting concept. However, the writing and actual execution of the story didn't really do it for me. Further, the twists were very predictable, including the ultimate final twist. Nonetheless, it is a quick, easy, and mainly enjoyable read.

Thank you Canelo and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ella is the main steward on the crew of the Ananke and loves her life as a yachtie working on a luxury superyacht.
At the start of the story she is returning to work on the Ananke following a tragic death of a new deckhand that cause the ship to be docked for an investigation. The captain has brought the group together again with the idea of moving forward but some of the crew cannot forget. When Ella finds the deckhand's journal she realizes all is not what it seemed and there was more than on person who might have wanted Ashley dead.

Super fun, great info on the yacht life and a great mystery to boot. Join Ella in Greece and solve the mystery of THE CREW #canelo #theCrew #JMHewitt

Below Deck turns deadly in The Crew, a behind the scenes look at the hard work necessary to please guests on a chartered yacht. In Part 1, we meet Ella Themis, head stew on the Ananke and still reeling from the horrible end to last year’s final charter. Popular, hard working Ashley Mercer was discovered dead, injured by an accident with the anchor chain. Was it an accident? Ella wonders. She and her crew work to ready the boat for their guests, the same guests whose prior cruise was ended by the accident. In Part 2, grifters Annie and Robyn are at the waterfront Greece. Annie finds day jobs while Robyn specializes in petty theft and other more serious crimes. The story unfolds at a steady pace as we learn more about Annie, Robyn and Ashley. More tragedy awaits the Ananke.

The crew of the Ananke proves that “Everyone in yachting is either running from something or chasing something.” While some characters are deeply flawed and disappointing, others, like Ashley, are very appealing. The Crew is well plotted and the details about life and work on a yacht are fascinating. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canelo and J.M. Hewitt for this ARC.

With many thanks to Netgalley and Canelo books for this free Arc and I’m leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

I love this authors style of writing and how she knits her story together and this book has that and more. The characters are all intriguing and as this is a ‘locked room’ style story you don’t know who can be trusted and everyone at one point is a suspect. Ebbs and flows very nicely from past and present and has a very very good ending. Addicted from the prologue with an idyllic Greek setting making it the perfect five star holiday read

This was so fun! My favorite ending in a long time. Twisted enough that I didn’t see it coming without it being completely far-fetched. Part two felt a littttle slow, but otherwise it was fantastic! Definitely will recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley and Canelo for the copy of The Crew by J M Hewitt. The plot was really good, but the execution was off. The writing didn’t really grab my attention and the timeline was a little confusing. The conclusion didn’t really even make sense. If you want a fast read and aren’t picky about how realistic the ending is, you will like this book because the story is good and it was interesting to learn what it’s like working on a superyacht. 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars.