A razor-sharp and mind-bendingly clever whodunnit from award-winning playwright and actor Toby Schmitz.

It’s 1925, and the Empress of Australia is making her regular Atlantic crossing to New York with a full roster of passengers. But when a dead body is discovered onboard, Inspector Archie Daniels must find the killer before panic—and the body count—spread. Solving one murder quickly turns into solving two, then three, and it becomes clear that no one is safe. From the horrendously wealthy first-class passengers to those considered the “dregs of empire” below deck, everyone is trapped—and everyone is a suspect.

Both a witty, bloodthirsty whodunnit and a biting examination of the British Empire at its twilight, The Empress Murders is a tense, claustrophobic mystery told with dark humor, intelligence, and flair.

Praise for The Empress Murders:
“Prepare to be both dazzled and discombobulated. You have been warned.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
“Readers expecting a bit of Miss Marple-style cozy crime will be in for a shock... a book that will leave you thinking.” – The Australian
“A tense and claustrophobic mystery told with startling wit.” – Tim Minchin
“Whatever you think this book is, think again... I loved it. What a trip.” – Malcolm Knox
“A uniquely brilliant reimagining of the nautical murder mystery... literary and highly readable. Unequivocally recommended.” – Richard Roxburgh