The Titanic Murders

by Max Allan Collins

Book Overview

Celebrated American mystery writer Jacques Futrelle, a passenger aboard the Titanic, puts his crime-solving abilities to the test as he investigates two strange deaths aboard the ill-fated ocean liner.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0425168107
• ISBN13: 9780425168103
• Release Date: April 1999
• Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.1" x 6.7"

Customer Reviews

New Twist On An Old Tale!

I have read very little in the way of mysteries. However as a shipwreck buff in general and more specifically a Titanic buff, I was very interested int his book. Mr. Collins has done a superb job of capturing the nuances of the period and the ship itself. He made good use of his resource materials.I also enjoyed the prologue and the epilogue as a great way to neatly tie the whole book together.An imminently pleasurable read. Jacques Futrelle would be proud!

Collins takes on Christie in a fight to the death!

Hard-boiled fans know that when it comes to historical mysteries, Max Allan Collins' Nathan Heller novels are second to none. Now mystery fans who prefer the less-rugged mysteries of Agatha Christie and the like can sample Collins' phenomenal talent as well. By setting the story on the doomed ship, and using a cast comprised entirely of actual historical figures, Collins shows his flair for research and detail, while telling a gripping mystery that will have the reader turning pages breathlessly. Another Collins classic.

Fantastic. Fact filled, a nail biter. A delicious read

This is the type of mystery you hope to find between the covers of a book. Having been a amateur Titanic buff for years, I'm delighted with all the new books with the Titanic as a backdrop. This is one of the best. The writer has a wonderful grasp on what makes interesting characters and story-telling.I enjoyed it from cover to cover. Clearly he spent time on research because his details ring with authenticity.Collins' best book to date.

FASCINATING TITANIC BOOK

MAX ALLAN COLLINS HAS WRITTEN ONE OF THE MOST CREATIVE MURDER MYSTERIES. OUR HERO, REAL LIFE PASSENGER JACQUES FUTRELLE MUST SOLVE HIS FINAL MYSTERY ABOARD SHIP. WHAT COLLINS DOES, AND HE SUCCEEDS, WHERE OTHER WRITERS FAIL, IS THAT HE INTEGRATES THE REAL PASSENGERS INTO THE MYSTERY. THERE ARE NO MADE UP CHARACTERS, THESE PEOPLE REALLY SAILED ON THE SHIP. SOMETIMES, BECAUSE THE AUTHOR BLENDS FACT WITH FICTION SO WELL, THE READER WILL BE LEFT WONDERING IF THIS INDEED HAPPENED. A MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A titanic historical mystery

The anonymous caller clearly states that he has recently been inside the Titanic. However, it was the man's insistence that he saw two murdered corpses inside the deep freezer of the ship that had to happen before the Titanic grazed that fatal iceberg. Though doubting the account, Max, the author of historical mysteries, starts thinking about the possibilities. Especially intriguing is that the great mystery writer, Jacques "The Thinking Machine" Futrelle was a passenger. Max follows up his pondering by talking with Virginia Futrelle Raymond, the ninety-three years old daughter of Jacques. Virginia corroborates the phone call by saying her mother, a survivor of the tragedy, swore two murders occurred and that her father, though originally only a passenger, was investigating them. Virginia's story fits comfortably with what historians agree as the facts. So begins the tale of two murders on board the Titanic before destiny ended its run. Talk about Titanic nerve and guts. Only a historical mystery writer with the talent of Max Allan Collins would dare write a who-done-it, starring real persona (except perhaps Cameron and that couple) and events from the real Titanic. THE TITANIC MURDERS brilliantly works. The story line unfolds into a wonderful mystery being investigated by Mr. Futrelle, a superstar mystery writer of the period, who was one of many to die during the tragedy. The characters seem so genuine, especially their awe over the elegant surroundings. Historical detail makes this novel a winner as it's the research that makes the period come alive. The author of the renowned Heller series and the Ms. Tree comic book, Mr. Collins may have written his best novel to date.Harriet Klausner