A series by author Scott Finley

“Voyages of the Queen” by Scott Finley is a historical mystery series set aboard the British luxury liner Queen Victoria between 1929 and 1939. Headstrong nurse Maeve Chandler tackles thrilling mysteries on each Atlantic crossing, uncovering secrets amidst the glamour of ocean travel.

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Shadow of the Queen

Voyages of the Queen Series Book One, by Scott Finley

Murder books passage on the British luxury liner Queen Victoria, turning ship’s nurse Maeve Chandler into an amateur sleuth apprenticing under the tutelage of mystery writer Agatha Christie.

A passenger dies in full view of the First-Class dining salon, followed by a millionaire apparently leaping overboard a day before the New York stock market collapses. Add in an abusive husband pushed down an open lift shaft and a crewman left to cook against a boiler in the ship’s engine room, and a killer will walk free when the ship reaches New York unless Maeve and Agatha can unwind the clues – but with 2,935 suspects on board, every revolution of the Queen Victoria’s propellers means time is running out.

Marie BostwickNew York Times and USA today bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
“Well-written, meticulously researched, and full of surprises, Shadow of the Queen transports readers to the elegant age of the great liners and keeps them guessing until the greatest lady of them all docks. A delightful cozy mystery.”
J. KennerNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Release Me
“Author Scott Finley takes us into the golden age of the luxury liner in Shadow of the Queen. With exceptionally drawn characters, a tight plot, and a compelling mystery, this wonderful debut will keep readers guessing until the end.”
Excellent, exciting read! Extremely well written.
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2024
“Enjoyed this book so much! It was excellently researched to capture the essence of the time period. The characters are believable and I particularly like the way factual events, and even the “character” of Agatha Christie, are interwoven with well written fiction. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series. This book had me on board a ship in 1928, watching murder and mystery unfold before my eyes. That’s the type book that makes reading enjoyable. ”
Read this while on a cruise!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2024
“ I loved the level of detail brought into this historical fiction book. It became a topic of dinner conversation on my cruise. Looking forward to reading the next in this series. I bought both the paperback and digital version for convenience.”
Easy, fun read!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2024
“ Easy to follow the characters, intriguing plot line and lots of detail about a large ocean liner! Highly recommend this book!”
A real thriller!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2024
“ This is a true page turner! The period detail put you in the middle of the action. It keeps you guessing about the murderer. A delight.”
A fun, fast-paced nautical mystery set in the age of majestic ocean liners.
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024
"Wonderful cast of characters in a marvelous setting with a devious killer at large! Mr. Finley does an excellent job of explaining the period and the people (both fictitious and historical) while he keeps the pages turning. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read the next!"
Kept me reading
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
"What a fun read this was! I appreciated the author’s research because it lent authenticity to this mystery. I could learn about the great ocean liners and the time period without feeling I was learning. There were also quite a few surprises in the turn of events to relish along the way. Thank you , Mr. Finley, for this most enjoyable book. I look forward to reading the next book in this delightful series."
If you want to escape from your hard day, you need this book!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2024
"As someone who has always had a fascination with Gatsby-era finery — the formalwear, the table settings, the stemware, food, drinks, and social strata— I found this book fascinating. It definitely transports the reader to another space and time. Mr. Finley’s unbelievably well-researched details of the aforementioned items, never mind of ships and all their inner-workings of this era, are breathtaking in their accuracy and thoroughness. The plot line is as far from a predictable “formula plot” as a reader can get — just hop aboard for the ride! The character development and intertwined storylines are both intriguing and relatable: a combination that few authors can match. You will not regret buying this book! A tip: wear your finest jewelry and drink from the fanciest wine glass you own while holding this book in your other hand."
bookfrolic.comReviewed by Stephanie—June 24, 2024
"Some of my favourite cozy mystery series are set in the past – I just love a good historical fiction mystery! So when I read the synopsis for Shadow of the Queen, I jumped right in. A murder mystery set in the 1920s, on a luxury liner, with a plucky amateur sleuth, PLUS an assist by Agatha Christie? Yes please!"

Read the full review on bookfrolic.com
freshfiction.comReviewed by Clare O'Bear— August 4, 2024
"All aboard for the latest historical mystery, with an unmissable setting and ambience. Maeve Chandler introduces us to her fascinating job aboard the regular Atlantic cruise of the British luxury liner Queen Victoria. The SHADOW OF THE QUEEN grows darker in this adventure set in 1929."

Read the full review on freshfiction.com
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Queen of Diamonds

Voyages of the Queen Series Book Two, by Scott Finley

Ship’s nurse Maeve Chandler of the luxury liner Queen Victoria is finding out all that dazzles may not be diamonds, as she investigates asparkling shipboard murder alongside up-and-coming diamantaire Harry Winston.

The British luxury liner Queen Victoria is bound from New York to Cherbourg carrying several diamond dealers when one of them, an irascible and miserly old man, is found dead in his First-Class cabin, seated in an armchair with no sign of struggle, his mouth stuffed with diamonds, and the cabin locked from the inside. Traveling with him is his young nephew,who owes an insurmountable amount of cash to an American gangster and has fallen in love with a ship’s nurse. Also along for the voyage is a mysterious gunman hired for protection by the uncle only the day before sailing, as well as the uncle’s former business partner, feeling constant remorse for the deadly incident that led to their 30-year estrangement. Meanwhile, diamonds of every sort seem to becoming and going aboard the Queen Victoria, except the ones Maeve and Harry are searching for – along with a killer not afraid to kill again.

Marie BostwickNew York Times and USA today bestselling author of Esme Cahill Fails Spectacularly
“Well-written, meticulously researched, and full of surprises, Shadow of the Queen transports readers to the elegant age of the great liners and keeps them guessing until the greatest lady of them all docks. A delightful cozy mystery.”
Delightful Period Piece/Maritime Mystery Thriller!!!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2024
"I have found a new, favorite protagonist in the quick-witted and hilarious Maeve! After finishing Shadow Of The Queen I am ready to dive into book number two! Mr. Finley is a gifted author, who will take you on an adventure in the setting of a luxurious ocean liner of a bygone era. I enjoyed exploring the various parts of the Queen Victoria as Maeve followed through each twist and turn to solve a murder case along with the great Agatha Christie. This is a wonderful book to get lost in while learning about the historical context of the late 1920’s as the Gilded Age slowly comes to the end of an era”
Blue ribbon award-winner in my book!
Amazon: Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2024
“I have done a fair among of quilting in my life. I imagine this story was maticulously crafted together piece by piece, using the smallest of literary stitches, to bring the story line together into a masterpiece. The use of descriptive detail of the time period, nationalities and traditions adds to the draw of the overall mystery. I would recommend this to any lover of diamonds, murder mysteries and historical fiction. Anxiously awaiting book 3!”
freshfiction.comReviewed by Clare O'Beara— August 4, 2024
"Maeve Chandler, ship’s nurse, once more welcomes us aboard the luxury Atlantic crossings of a liner, Queen Victoria. Just a few months after the stock market crash, some merchants are putting their stock in what glitters, in QUEEN OF DIAMONDS. Portable wealth leads to death."

Read the full review on freshfiction.com
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Queen of the Sky

Voyages of the Queen Series Book Three, by Scott Finley

Queen of the Sky, is in production for release in 2024 and has Maeve and Dr Harper answering a distress call at sea from the German Graf Zeppelin airship. Once aboard, Maeve pairs with airship passenger Lady Grace Drummond-Hay, a British journalist who was the first woman to travel around the world by air. They soon find themselves immersed in deadly political intrigue at close quarters with a killer who has little regard for life— or the nearly four million cubic feet of explosive hydrogen gas overhead keeping the zeppelin aloft.

Voyage of the Queen Series

Current and forthcoming books, by Scott Finley

Book One: Shadow of the Queen
In book one in the series, murder books passage on the British luxury liner Queen Victoria, turning ship’s nurse Maeve Chandler into an amateur sleuth apprenticing under the tutelage of mystery writer Agatha Christie.

Book Two: Queen of Diamonds
Book two in the series finds Maeve working with a young Harry Winston to solve the murder of a diamond dealer found locked in his First-Class cabin from the inside, his mouth and throat stuffed with diamonds.

Book Three: Queen of The Sky
Book three sees Maeve and the Queen Victoria’s Principal Medical Officer unwillingly whisked aloft aboard the German Graf Zeppelin after the Queen Victoria answers a mid-ocean distress call.

Book four follows Maeve as she takes the stage with magician Harry Blackstone on board the Queen Victoria to help the preeminent showman polish his new act – until murder steals the show.

Book five finds Maeve teaming with Emmett Dalton, last of the famed Dalton Gang, to solve a decades-old crime from the Wild West as a gunfighter stalks the Queen Victoria.

Book six and beyond – well, the Stoddard Lines, owner of the Queen Victoria, are happy to book your passage now.

Aiding Maeve are Principal Medical Officer Dr Leslie Harper and Chief Steward Mister Harvey.

About Scott Finley

Scott’s fascination with the golden age of luxury liners began in sixth grade with Walter Lord’s Titanic classic A Night to Remember and continued through a career as a multiple award winning and Lone Star Emmy nominated television news producer..

Scott believes that the devil truly is in the details and strives for as much accuracy as possible (with the occasional artistic license thrown in) for the series, including news and events of the day as well as clothing, popular slang, technology, and other items.

When not writing he enjoys electric trains and restoring radios from the 1930’s through 1950’s.

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