The repartee between Captain Bill Donovan, his sidekick, Sergeant Moskowitz, his wife, Marcy, or anyone else who wanders into his ken isn't enough to enliven this eighth episode of Edgar-winner Jahn's New York environs series (Murder in Central Park; Murder on Fifth Avenue; etc.). The NYPD's Donovan, accompanied by Marcy, has the dubious honor of standing in for the mayor to welcome Compassionate Conservative Party presidential candidate Pete Bennett to the city. While the reception is taking place aboard the luxury cruise ship Trinidad Princess, a much livelier party is proceeding aboard the odd ship Sevastopol Trader
docked next to it, where Captain Dennis Yeager and a boatload of beautiful people are partying the night away. The next morning, when Bennett's campaign manager is found slain aboard the Sevastopol Trader, Donovan switches from host to investigator without missing a beat. Either Donovan or Marcy already knows almost all the suspects, from Yeager to supermodel Caren Piermatty, videographer Michael Avignon and an old wharf rat. The ensuing investigation turns into a kind of parlor game, with Donovan and Marcy playing teetotaling versions of William Powell and Myrna Loy. Donovan must sort through some tricky comings and goings, political shenanigans and environmental issues before solving the murder, but the solution seems secondary to the breezy interplay between Donovan and his foils. (Oct. 22)
