This is the first book in the Darcy Farthing series. Here, pragmatic free thinker, Darcy, meets a quirky cast of characters while on an ill-fated South American cruise. She describes exotic ports of call with tidbits of history and geography while explaining the bizarre set of circumstances and coincidences that changed her life forever. After the journey of murder, madness, and romance ends, the bonds among these acquaintances strengthen, as they go on to future exciting and complex adventures on land and at sea.