Cruise Ship Kid: Thief at Sea! by Emma Swan

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✦ BLURB ✦

Jump on board with Silver, the Cruise Ship Kid, in the hilarious new detective adventure series from debut author and West-End actress, Emma Swan.

There's 4 things you should know about me:

1. I live on a cruise ship

2. My name is Silver. Yes, really

3. I've never had a best friend my own age :(

4. I'm definitely not a detective

Somehow, though, I'm now investigating the CASE OF THE MISSING MEGA-EXPENSIVE WATCHES. But, I've got a plan. If I can solve the crime, then surely the kids on board will want to be friends with me. Right?

I've had lots of help (interference) from the Gang, but I won't tell you about them because they are all over 80 and prefer playing bingo to solving crimes.

So, do you want to be definitely-not-a-detective too and help me catch the thief at sea?

THIS BOOK IS:

- 50% crime-solving + 50% friendship = 100% FUN!

- Written in diary form

- Inspired by the author's childhood growing up on an actual cruise ship!

- Filled with doodles, activities and lots of space to scribble!

- Pamela Butchart meets Tom Gates, set at sea.

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Pamela Butchart meets Tom Gates on the high seas - with a diary, doodles, and a mystery to solve!

Pre-Reading Thoughts
The cover had me instantly - I’m a sucker for books that break the fourth wall, and anything that promises interactivity and adventure. Plus, the idea of growing up on a cruise ship? That’s pure kid wish-fulfillment gold. I went in expecting hijinks, chaos, and hopefully a crime or two that wouldn’t actually alarm the coast guard.

Post-Reading
As I thought...
Silver is a total delight! The voice is strong, funny, and feels so authentically kid - snarky one minute, sincere the next. The diary format makes it feel like Silver is whispering secrets to the reader, and the doodles and quizzes scattered throughout make it irresistibly engaging.

It surprised me by...
Just how cleverly the mystery was constructed! It’s silly on the surface, but there are real clues, red herrings, and deductions tucked in among the jokes and cruise ship trivia. I also loved the way the book subtly tackles themes like loneliness and the awkwardness of trying to make friends when you’re the “weird kid.”

MUSIC PAIRING
🎵 Featured Song: “We’re Going to Be Friends” – The White Stripes
🎶 Vibe Album: A Little Bit of Everything for Kids – They Might Be Giants
🎧 Artist Recommendation: Parry Gripp

VIBE CHECK
🎨 Colour Palette: Aqua blue, cruise-ship white, and doodle black
🎬 Soundtrack: A mix of steel drums and mystery-solving montages
🌞 Season: Summer
💭 Mood: Mischievous but hopeful
👃 Scent: Saltwater, sunscreen, and a hint of buffet pizza

TAROT PULL
🃏

Kid’s Tarot, Page of Swords

Silver leaps into sleuthing with the same unfiltered gusto as the Page of Swords - bold, inquisitive, and slightly chaotic in the best way. In this deck, a young girl brandishes her sword mid-leap, echoing Silver’s eagerness to prove herself (despite the whole definitely-not-a-detective thing). It’s the perfect match for a book that invites readers to dive in, scribble notes, and solve a mystery at sea with gusto and glitter pens.

Cruise Ship Kid publishes on the 3rd of July, 2025. I received a free copy and am giving an honest review.