Southampton 1910 When the Oceanic sets sail its ultimate destination is New York But it must make one very important stop first at Cherbourg France to pick up internationally renowned financier and art collector J P Morgan fresh from a continental buying spree George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield ships detectives aboard the Oceanic are slightly nervous about the presence of such an important passenger not to mention his valuable cargo After all it is rare for a transatlantic voyage to pass without incident for the two sleuths The everyday difficulties of managing passengers including a charming rake intent on causing mischief and a controversial painter traveling with his bohemian wife and his alluring French model are brought to a pitch when a major art theft takes place and a throat is cut Dillman and Masefield must draw upon all their experience to find the killer before it is too late