Excited for my next voyage on this ship, I was escorted by the cast and my date. The river air in my nose and the boat’s slight rocking made me smile; I felt somehow at home. We, as the guests, were engulfed in an immersive experience of murder, madness, and mayhem. Just what this girl likes on a random evening.

The clues started in the introduction as we set sail.  I watched the cast throw themselves into their characters, never breaking character and often going beyond expectations. I even challenged one to take a shot of hot sauce to see if he was the culprit. He did it without question, and with only a slight grimace.

And I was sold on the idea that this show was worth seeing. I quickly began taking notes, faster than the “detective”, trying not to miss a thing. After all, the Captain was dead; he had been shot, stabbed, strangled, and poisoned. Maybe I was the only one who could help to solve the crime. With half a dozen suspects or so in the show, information came from whatever you saw or heard.

The cast includes (but is not limited to) the “influencer” constantly trying to keep relevant, who was everywhere, talking on the phone and taking “selfies,” the shy assistant who asked if they could sit in the empty seat next to me so they didn’t feel alone, and, of course, the always-pretending-to-be-fumbling detective made us feel like we were living in a real-life Agatha Christie novel or never-ending game of Clue.

As they did an audience poll to get our opinion on who the murderer was…the cast was not afraid to go the distance to knock you off guard or give you a “red herring,”…even though that was not on the menu.

Or was one of us in the audience the murderer? While showing a range of over-the-top characters we see daily, the show entertained and didn’t fail to surprise. The entire boat of guests was on the edge of their seats while we tried to figure out…who done it? It gave us an amusing intermission to enjoy our entrée while looking at our fellow travelers and thinking, “Was it them?” The intrigue ran deep as we sailed the waters and enjoyed our meal with companions, hoping we wouldn’t be next.

Honestly, I wasn’t even aware of the gem that is Barbara Lee until about 13 years ago, when I was invited to a wedding aboard her. When my plus-one canceled last minute, I reached out to an old friend for help. We will be celebrating our 12th wedding anniversary this month. And this journey was my 9th since that fateful day of my first 3-hour tour. If that isn’t a glowing review for the memories you can make on this journey of the St. John’s, then I am not exactly sure what is.

Tickets may seem a bit pricey, but it is well worth it. I can promise, on the Barbara Lee, you are treated like you belong there, even if you might be suspect. After all, how much is it worth to have a great meal AND perhaps be charged with murder?

The show will be running regularly until at least the end of the year. All mysteries can be solved by just going to https://www.stjohnsrivershipco.com/cruises-fares/murdermysteryshow/, and you can find out for yourself.

Tell them Jodi sent you.