The Titanic Murders

by: Max Allan Collins

Published by: Berkley Books

Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart

Since the publication of Bait Money in 1973 through the movie tie-in of The X Files: I Want to Believe in 2008, Max Allan Collins has been one of America’s most prolific mystery writers. Many of his works have earned him a Mystery Writer’s of America “Edgar” nominee and, according to his website, “he has earned an unprecedented fifteen Private Eye Writers of America ”˜Shamus’ nominations for his historical thrillers.”

The Titanic Murders was released in 1999 and was the first of Collins’ “Disaster” series, the last of which was published in 2005. Collins used real-life characters to populate this novel. Popular mystery writer Jacques Futrelle and his wife May were aboard the Titanic and are the novel’s leading protagonists.

The novel begins with an interesting premise: a 93-year-old woman recalls her mother telling a tale about bodies that had been found on the Titanic.

Then Collins takes readers back to 1912. When ferret-faced John Crofton–who tries to blackmail the rich and powerful as the ocean liner speeds toward history–turns up naked and dead, the ship’s builder Thomas Andrews and owner J. Bruce Ismay call on Futrelle to uncover who killed Crofton.

As murder mysteries go, The Titanic Murders is okay. I found that the story lacked tension. What set it apart are the lengthy descriptions of the Titanic, from the disguised portholes to the lavish meals. Never before have I encountered such details about the famous ship.

While I wouldn’t recommend readers run right out and order a copy, for Titanic buffs, the story is a lot of fun.

Armchair Interview agrees.

Author’s Web site: http://www.MaxAllanCollins.com