In The Press

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 1 June 2023
This story proves with just a few short pages that we really are our own worst enemy.

Not exactly a unique premise, but a well written, entertaining read nevertheless.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 31 May 2023
Verified Purchase
I have read books by this author before but this one was very different. A historical adventure/mystery with lots of peril and rip roaring violence. Ostensibly a story within a story, as an old man tells his care nurse a terrible secret he has known for years. His tale tells of a mission to find out what happened to the lost Franklin expedition. But the storyteller himself is in deadly danger in the here and now and might not get to finish the story. A long book, but worth the effort. I tore through it in 2 days.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 24 May 2023
I'd never heard of the Franklin Expedition and its dire consequences until I read this novel. Once I read this book, I decided to research it online and it's a fascinating story, as is this book.

It reminded me of the poorly-planned and ill-fated historical account of Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole, mixed in with a bit of Mutiny on the Bounty-style narrative.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 24 May 2023
I'd never heard of the Franklin Expedition and its dire consequences until I read this novel. Once I read this book, I decided to research it online and it's a fascinating story, as is this book.

It reminded me of the poorly-planned and ill-fated historical account of Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole, mixed in with a bit of Mutiny on the Bounty-style narrative.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 24 May 2023
In 1845, the infamous seafaring voyage of the HMS Erebus and HMS Terror to find a route through the Canadian Arctic ended in disaster as all 129 shipmates were eventually killed when both ships became ice-locked. Mystery surrounds what happened to them all, as there is evidence that some survived for many days and tried to walk to survival, but sadly failed in the end.

In this story, the main character, Chris Bryers, reveals a secret he has kept for decades, namely what "really" happened which caused the eventual death of all the shipmates on these two fateful ships.

A really engaging read.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 13 April 2021
Verified Purchase
is this is a ghost story? it certainly seems to be for much of the book and a surprisingly effective one to boot, but actually there is a lot more going on here than might be apparent. a short, sharp little novel that does not outstay it's welcome. highly recommended.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 11 November 2020
I came across the previous book in this series - The Final Crossing - by recommendation from a friend and I really enjoyed it, so I was pleased to see that a new adventure was available. I tore through this book in two days, and loved it. With many of the familiar elements of the best murder mysteries in place and no small amount of wry humour mocking those same elements this novel is a joy and well worth your time. The plot is simple enough, someone gets killed and the detective has to workout who killed them, but I liked the framing device - where he is telling the story of how he solved the crime to a bunch of unfriendly policemen who have cause to doubt him - and the ending sets things up nicely for what I can only assume will be the closing chapter of the story in the third novel.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 9 November 2020
Doubt is cast over the incriminating conclusions reached by Peregrine about a previous murder mystery, as a spade of similar killings suggest perhaps he pointed the finger at the wrong person. You want to know throughout this novel whether he was right in his deductions but wrong in his conclusion, or wrong in his assumptions and allowed the true killer to slip away only to return later to murder others and possibly put his Peregrine's own life in perilous danger.
This story really gives you an insight into the mind of a renown detective, and how he cleverly gets to the "facts". At the same time, the past has a way of coming back to haunt Lord Sebastopol.

Gripping thriller. Full of mystery and unanswered questions.

It leaves you wondering what will happen next to Peregrine Sebastopol and his faithful friend, Bryers.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 31 October 2020
Verified Purchase
Everitt’s detective Lord Sebastopol is back for another Victorian murder mystery. Essentially a run through the tropes of the genre but no less enjoyable for that being the case, this book sees our hero in trouble with the law for perhaps collaring the wrong man. If you like The final crossing then you’ll love this.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 4 April 2020
Verified Purchase
Fab

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 3 June 2019
Verified Purchase
I love old fashioned, drawing room murder mysteries. the conventions of gathering the suspects together to expose the killer should seem cliché but is comforting and something to be enjoyed. This book has that same feel. It is set in the Victorian era and with a typically unconventional detective, going by the bizarre name of Lord Peregrine Sebastopol, trapped on a transatlantic liner amongst variously ill intentioned fellow passengers. I loved the book, enjoyed the surprise ending and would be happy to read more adventures featuring this character and by this author.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 23 May 2019
I like reading well-written detective novels, and enjoyed this one a lot.

A murder takes place in curious circumstances on a ship travelling across the Atlantic in the 1880s, and an amateur detective sets out to investigate this complex case. It is a mystery on various levels both in terms of a whodunnit and a howdunnit. The story has a real vintage, classic feel to it.

I should have read this book on a cruise ship, as then I would certainly have been looking over my shoulder!

“The final book in the trilogy - I have to be honest here, I absolutely loved this!”

"The style of the writer encourages you to want to read more. Marc cleverly keeps the differing strands of the story in touch with each other by smooth transition from one to another then back again. In doing so he leaves you at the 'edge of the cliff' and a feeling of 'must read on'......."

“I've read numerous detective novels as I write murder-mysteries myself and I thought this story was first class......it is full of good twists and turns!”

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 11 January 2019
An enjoyable read. Surprisingly scary in places and tightly plotted with a tight focus on a small family of characters. Delightful switch of genre as the plot drives to a conclusion and left me wanting more. Recommended.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 19 December 2018
Verified Purchase
A great combination of sci fi and medical thriller. The characters were good and the story moved along quickly. Kept me interested through the end.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 20 September 2017
Excellent apocalypic novel. In this story, there is a mysterious virus which is very deadly and a doctor who is specially trained in containing viruses must leave his family to help contain it.

I've read a number of futuristic / sci-fi novels by this author, including "Planet of Graves", "Restitution Road" and "First Contact", and really enjoy the action and pace of his storylines.

"A lethal virus threatens humankind in the well-paced novel" (Proteus)

Excellent apocalyptic novel. In this story there is a mysterious virus which is very deadly and a doctor who is specially trained in containing viruses must leave his family to help contain it.

I've read a number of futuristic / sci-fi novels by this author, including 'Planet of Graves', 'Restitution Road' and 'First Contact', and really enjoy the action and pace of his storylines.

Recommended!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 26 April 2016
Verified Purchase
nice twist

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on 6 February 2016
Verified Purchase
...get her back, stop it happening." Fine psychological suspense short story with an amusing twist at the end that left me smiling. Not wanting to say more less I spoil the ending, but book is one I did enjoy and would recommend!

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on 21 January 2016
Verified Purchase
short and sweet with a twist in the tail/tale. highly recommended for a quick read.