Anty, Vickers, Inspector Wittersham, and a passenger list of howling eccentrics find themselves prey to the sway and spray of the Scilly Seas when what at first seems a simple, unexplainable, locked-stateroom murder twists into a tale of buried treasure, perilous weather and dangerous endeavours at sea.

Romance is in the ocean air as Anty conspires to win the heart of Frederica Hannibal-Pool aboard her uncle’s yacht, RMS Ballast, but when dashing Dare Flashburn joins the journey with stories of pirate gold, the moonlight cruise becomes a tempestuous tale of mutiny and murder and mal de mer.

Just as with all Anty Boisjoly stand-alone puzzlers, Mystery and Malice aboard RMS Ballast is best enjoyed by those who can stand some slight silliness in their seafaring stumpers.