The Titanic Murders, by Max Allan Collins

The Titanic Murders, by Max Allan Collins, all in all is an excellent book. I have read several of Collins' other historical mysteries and I continue to be impressed by his mastery of historical detail. Although Jaques Futrelle, the lead character and the author of the Professor Van Dusen detective stories, was one of the Titanic's victims over 100 years ago, Collins brings him to life and makes his death a recent tragedy.

Collins also gives the reader a front row seat to the Titanic's staterooms, cabins, restaurants, and lounges. For the first time, I learned that the Titanic's steerage passengers enjoyed the most luxurious accommodations ever provided to steerage class travelers. The floors and walls were sparkling, the beds comfortable, each cabin had washing facilities, and the meals were both tasty and abundant. The second class accommodations were the equivalent of first class on other ships, and the first class staterooms were unsurpassed in their luxury. Each of the characters that Collins introduces to us, lives, laughs, conspires, and, some even love. Too many, however, lose their lives when the great ship sinks. That is history's fault, not Collins'. Nonetheless, I am grateful that Collins did not devote many pages to describing the tragic sinking. I also am grateful that Collins avoided the cliche of allocating blame for the tragedy. He tells a truthful story with some whimsical attributes, and he solves a mystery. If you enjoy mystery novels that make you smarter, you will enjoy this book.

Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Berkley; 1st edition (April 1, 1999)
Language: English