Synopsis – This is the only way to explain the series of misfortunes that have plagued the passengers of the ship from the moment they set sail: mysterious disappearances, and sudden deaths. Now suspended in an eerie, unsettling twilight zone during the four days of the liner’s illustrious maiden voyage, a number of the passengers – including millionaires Madeleine Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim, the maid Annie Hebbley and Mark Fletcher – are convinced that something sinister is going on . . . And then, as the world knows, disaster strikes – The Deep
Author – Alma Katsu
Blending historical events with supernatural occurrences, The Deep by Alma Katsu is an atmospheric and engaging story that straddles dual timelines- 1912 aboard the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic and 1916 on her sister ship the Britannic after its conversion into the wartime hospital ship.
Very slow to start, Alma takes her time introducing the reader to an extensive cast of characters that might put off some readers. However, I found the contrasting viewpoints and LGBT representation a great way to prevent the isolated location and the impending disaster that is about to befall it from feeling stale.
The longer the story progresses, the more important the haunting and beautifully written ghost story affects the events, though it’s never the main aspect of the story, but rather an added element that makes the tales of these characters (Some of which were real-life passengers onboard the Titanic) even more engaging/heartbreaking.
The only real downside I found with the story was the abrupt way in which the story ends, leaving the stories of some of the characters unresolved, personally, I would’ve preferred Katsu to keep the slow pace shown in the first half, thus making a much more steady read. But overall I would recommend this as an enjoyable experience that anyone with a love of ghost stories, early 20th-century fiction or all things Titanic.
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