Death by Choreography

A Poppy James Cozy Mystery

A luxury food festival at sea, a “safe” plate that turns deadly, and a café owner who knows polished rooms can hide ugly truths.

When Poppy James boards the Bellafaire for a glamorous heritage-themed cruise, she expects fancy dinners, ocean views, and maybe a little quality time with historian Theo Mercer and her socially fearless friend Nadine. Instead, the festival director collapses after one carefully plated bite—and the ship is far too eager to call it a tragic mistake.

Poppy knows better. With Midsip, her clue-sniffing beagle, nosing where he shouldn’t, she starts seeing the cracks beneath the luxury: rerouted trays, wrong marker tags, and a room trained to obey the wrong voice. Celebrity Chef Luca Bellamy, with his polished charm and sharp temper, and sponsor heir Grant Mercer, with millions riding on the launch, both have reason to want the truth buried. So does cruise director Serena Vale, who can redirect a room with a smile.

As the voyage closes in and the killer tightens control, Poppy must expose a murder hidden inside service, timing, and trust—before the next “accident” disappears into the ship’s version of the story.