Dangerous Crossing by Rachel Rhys

In 1939, Lily Shepherd is making the five week voyage from England to Australia on a passenger ship. Her goal is work in service for two years and then return to England. On board, she meets siblings Helena and Edward, Maria (who has fled Hitler's Austria), and the wealthy hedonist couple Max and Eliza. With lots of time available for socializing on board and in the different ports of call (including Gibraltar, Egypt, and Ceylon), Lily finds herself becoming involved in all their lives and being exposed to situations and people very different from home. When a horrible crime occurs, will Lily come out unscathed? Dangerous Crossing has an interesting storyline, describing the long journey of people both rich and poor starting new lives on the eve of war.