02 - Girl From Malta by Fergus Hume

As the P. and O.s liner Neptune departs Australia for Britain, Ronald Monteith, a prosperous young Australian, is drawn into the haunting tale of Lionel Ventin, a fellow passenger with a tragic past. When Ventin is found murdered in his cabin, Monteith commits to solving the crime, assuming the culprit is Ventins vengeful ex-wife. Upon reaching London, he enlists a barrister and a detective to aid his quest. But as he delves deeper into the mystery, he is horrified to discover that the evidence is pointing towards the woman hes fallen for - the girl from Malta... - Summary by Celine Major