Book reviews

Maritime non-fiction / Current affairs

High octane hostage story with heart

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by Colin Freeman

There are many writers who have attempted to tell a true story like a thriller, and it doesn't always come off. But in this powerful investigation of Somali piracy, author Colin Freeman has achieved a real page-turner with a solid foundation in years of research.

Maritime fiction / Novel

Spooky thriller dredges the demons of the deep

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

Author Stuart Turton crashed onto the scene in 2018 with his debut novel The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. That uniquely positioned 'manor house murder mystery' became an international bestseller, so his follow up novel was much anticipated.

Maritime non-fiction / Memoir

The Merchant Navy in vibrant verse

A Bucket of Steam by Captain Joe Earl

A Bucket of Steam is both a memoir and a work of the imagination – a little gem of a book where the author reflects on his own seafaring life and tells other maritime stories, all through the medium of poetry.

Maritime fiction / Novel

Captain vs captain in a Titanic novel

Deep Sleep by Paula Astridge

Described as the 'novel for the thousands of those who can’t get enough of all things Titanic', Deep Sleep is a gripping read of fact-based fiction.