The Good Ship Murder - Season 3

After the ship docks in the Spanish resort of Alicante, Donna, claiming a life-changing illness, boards with her friend Bernie. As the festive voyage begins, Donna charms fellow passenger Gary and visits a remote monastery, where she meets a mysterious priest and an enigmatic nun, but the holiday cheer is lost when Bernie is found dead. Meanwhile, the recently sacked Jack is lying low, but the murder draws Kate back to him and, with Jamil's help, the two might finally rekindle their romance.

The red carpet is rolled out as the ship docks in Cannes, in town for the night of the premiere of the latest film by infamous film director Werner Altmann. The acclaimed but outspoken auteur reluctantly chaperones his ‘muse' - rising star Mimi McQuinn. But Mimi is then murdered during the premiere.

Jack and Kate are on the case, focussing their attention on Werner himself, and also on influential but corrupt and unscrupulous film critic Erin Daniels, and her besotted and feckless son Lucian, both of whom appear to have grudges and motive.

Meanwhile, Jack and Kate navigate their way through various challenges in their new life as a couple – but when cabin sharing starts to become cabin fever, they're forced to redefine their living arrangements. All's well that ends well – what they have transcends such mundane concerns. Also, we meet Carole Merryweather, a long-term passenger, who is celebrating a milestone in her life on board the ship.

Renowned wellness guru Dr Woo comes on board to promote a new age-defying beauty treatment. He is accompanied by his latest investor - none other than the mother of Sharon Tan, the ship doctor. Sharon's mother imagines a future where she acts as match-maker for her daughter and Dr Woo, not counting on Sharon's fierce sense of independence, and resistance to the mere thought of an ‘arranged' marriage.

With Sharon and Jack acting as onlookers, Dr Woo hosts a presentation at the site where he hopes to develop his clinic. But during the presentation, it transpires that Dr Woo's colleague, the clinical director, has been murdered. Jack is on the case.

The prime suspect is a disgruntled patient, Donna, whom Jack and Kate manage to track down, while Sharon's own mother is a suspect too.

Meanwhile, Piers steps up as an unlikely hero and pretends to be Sharon's fiancé, helping Sharon in her cause to keep Dr Woo and her mother at bay. Even though it is only a ruse, she and Piers realise they quite like playing the couple.

Also, Jamil tries to win Colin's favour when an opening on the Ents team arises.

In Crete, a pop-pioneer photographer, Alfie Blake, hopes to recapture the magic of his former years by recreating an iconic photograph of his long-lost muse, the model Chelsea Meadows, from the 1980s. But he is then found murdered, with his body discovered at the scene of the original photo shoot. Jack and Kate are on the case.

Various suspects emerge. There is Alfie's manager and travelling companion, who stands to profit financially from Alfie's death. Also, Ari, the owner of a nearby taverna who has a chequered past with Alfie and who had clashed with him just before his demise. And then there is Chelsea herself, who Jack and Kate track to the remote farmhouse she now lives in with her housekeeper, who is harbouring a secret.

Meanwhile, Kate's concerns about Marlowe continue to grow, and she shares with Piers that she has noticed unusual patterns in Marlowe's behaviour. Piers suggests they keep a close eye on it together.

Also, a surprise inspection of the ship by the formidable Angela Boden from Head Office sends Colin's blood pressure soaring, and it emerges that Colin has a fraught history - as a ballroom dance partner - with Angela.
 

Two merry widows, Tilly and Elsa, are on a grief cruise to celebrate the lives of their departed loved ones. When the ship docks in Cape Verde, the two of them join a small group going to visit a shrine to pay their respects to those they have lost. When Tilly is found murdered, Jack and Kate investigate to uncover the killer's identity.

When the ship docks in Valletta, Malta, brothers Dominic and Christopher depart on a scavenger hunt around the capital city. Dominic is accompanied by his wife Rosie, while Christopher is joined by Julia, a woman he met on the ship. During the hunt, Dominic is found dead and various suspects emerge. Also, Kate is forced to take control of the bridge as Marlowe potentially puts the ship in serious peril.

In Ibiza, two old flames, Alex and Lucia, reunite in the nightclub where they first kissed some twenty years previously. Alex is on a lads holiday with his lairy mate Gary, and Lucia now co-owns the club. But then Lucia's slimy business associate, Rico, is murdered - pushed off the balcony of the club. Jack and Kate are on the case.

Various suspects emerge. Lucia herself seems to have ample motive for wanting Rico out of the picture. Also in the frame are Carmen Rivera, a local mafia boss who is trying to force Lucia out of the club, as well as her henchman Paco. In an effort to protect Lucia, Alex himself actually turns himself in, confessing to the crime.

Meanwhile, in the wake of learning about Marlowe's illness, Jack remains at odds with Kate, but he can't stay mad with her for long and the pair eventually reach a new understanding. Also, Jamil prepares for his big audition to join the Ents team.

The ship docks in Ancona, Italy. Piers is in great spirits, and arranges to meet Sharon for some food, their romance blossoming beautifully. But first he must entertain two old naval college friends, Jens and Antoine. The arrogant Jens wastes no time in attempting to humiliate and goad Piers.

Meanwhile, Captain Marlowe, who has been confined to his cabin, starts to suffer from delusions associated with his early on set dementia. After bumping into Carole, he tracks Piers down to the café where he is meeting Jens and Antoine, accusing him of being a traitor and attempting to steal the captaincy from him. Someone close to the ship is found murdered, Jack and a devastated Kate are on the case.

Various suspects are in play. Jens appears to be the prime suspect, and has ample motive. Antoine, too, has his own secret - he had been in love with the victim and feels downcast at being rejected by him. Even Sharon, the ships doctor, is in the frame.

But when the murder weapon is found, a dagger that Marlowe had been brandishing in the café, it appears that Marlowe himself is surely the culprit. He is arrested and looks likely to be charged and incarcerated.

Jack, however, senses there is more to this and vows to bring the true culprit to justice.