Majestic Descending

Katherine Adams Mystery #1

by Mitchell Graham

Soon to be a major motion picture It was supposed to be a vacation…Katherine Adams is taking a cruise on the fabulous Ocean Majestic , the largest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world. This is exactly the break Katherine needs from her demanding Atlanta legal practice…and it’s also a chance to forget the demons that still haunt her, to forget the madman who abducted and tortured her twenty years ago.On board the Majestic , Katherine meets John Delaney, a streetwise ex-NYPD detective who is now a lawyer. Romance is certainly in the air, but all is not quite right aboard the Majestic . Events soon turn Katherine’s romantic dream into another grisly nightmare.Katherine witnesses a violent argument between two men. Then one of them turns up dead. After Katherine and Delany narrowly escape from a disaster of terrifying proportions, she must quickly learn how to survive in the dark and dangerous world of international conspiracy and terrorism. From the blood-smeared decks of the Majestic to the achingly beautiful—and dangerous—countryside of Italy, to the streets of New York City, Katherine finds herself in a desperate race against a ruthless hit man. And, unless she and Delany can unmask the sinister cabal behind the killing, she will certainly become his next victim.Majestic Descending delivers suspense, captivating characters, romance, and humor—it will haunt you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Murder Mystery

Unknown Binding

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Mitchell Gross is an American writer and convicted con man, writing under the pen name Mitchell Graham. Gross has written two fantasy series and several mystery novels.

Preceding the publication of those novels, Graham ran a fictional writing contest called the "Delmont-Ross Writing Contest". The Writer Beware website run by the SFWA investigated that contest, and . Gross has made similar claims of a history as a world-class fencer and a movie project with Steven Spielberg for which no evidence can be found.

Gross was sentenced to 12.5 years in prison in 2012 for defrauding two women and one couple of more than $6.5 million.

Series:
* The Fifth Ring
* Katherine Adams Mystery

Reviews

[Ace · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this book up in a local junk shop. That's where it belongs. Let me see, kids, you want a "surprise" ending, something out of left field that you'll never see coming, even if it doesn't make any sense? Then this is the book for you. I was going to bring it back to the junk shop, but I the humanity in me tells me to burn it. Unfortunately, I bought another book by the same author. I'll burn it, too.

[JANET · Rating 2 out of 5]

I ALSO FOUND QUITE A FEW INCONSISTENCIES. ONE QUOTE WAS FOLLOWED BY "SAID DOUG". DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS. PLUS A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT THREW ME OFF. I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE ENDING. IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM POSSIBLE. I DIDN'T SEE ANY CLUES THROUGH THE STORYLINE THAT WOULD BRING THE ENDING TO THIS.

[Vicki · Rating 2 out of 5]

I certainly read the whole book, but I was not really impressed with the writing. I am put off by misspellings and inconsistencies. It had promise, but not much came of it.

[Jenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was good until the end. The ending was completely unrealistic and just awful. It was rushed and soooooo absurd it didn’t make any sense. Between the horrible ending and the awful lack of proofreading, this book deserves one star.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Pretty intense. I would have liked to know more details about what had happened in Katherine Adam's teenage years. I also would have liked to have learned more about Katherine's & Beth's friendship development. Very surprising end... never saw that coming!

[Jon Dueck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started interesting, but the second half dragged.

[Jenny Delandro · Rating 4 out of 5]

after much persuasion KJ goes on a cruise.... her best friend Beth Jumps at the chance to go with her.... her rich husband paves the way for a great holiday......

Katherine meets John Delany and the sparks fly.....


Then there is a murder of a scientist AND
there are explosions onboard AND
the largest passenger liner catches fire AND
the largest passenger liner SINKS

oh and then when they get to Italy ....
someone tries to kill KJ and John kills him

back in New York and they continue to investigate....
chasing leads about who owned the boat and who could have been responsible

then suddenly Beth ..... tells Katherine to leave it alone

it was all about money

money from a patent of the scientists new invention

then the dean of the uni where the scientist was employed .... joins a swanky country club (joining fee 125,000) and he has bought a new house($2.5 mill) then Beth shoots him
and tries to bribe KJ and John crashes in and Beth shoots him in the shoulder and his mate mike Franklin kills Beth...

Epilogue
they stay together
KJ kids like him
and they lived HEA

[ItBetterBeGood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this author from friends who know that this book and its sequel are currently in production to become Bruce Willis movies, the first coming out in July 2011, so I had to read it. The sequel is "Dead Docket" which I literally put on my shoes to drive to the book store to purchase within five minutes of finishing "Majestic Descending". I finished that one the next day. That's how good these two books are. I really cannot remember being so happy about time spent with a modern day mystery in quite some time. Thank you, Mitchell Graham!

These books are AWESOME! You really will be stunned by the endings and this author is going to be responsible for some of the best new movie thrillers of the future. It is so fun to find a fresh new voice that isn't the usual formula writing so many of the household name writers keep churning out in what seem to be never ending pipelines of the same old, same old. Finally some originality that is challenging.

A must read -- you'll thank me but you will be tired after staying up all night -- twice!

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for something trashy to read on my airplane flight and got what I wanted- the seemingly improbable tale of two friends who go a cruise across the Atlantic only to encounter murder, bad guys for hire, and the sinking of said ship. All in all an unrealistic tale but what I was looking for.

[Thomas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Read this horrible, horrible thriller for a magazine article I'm writing about this author, a con man who not only defrauded his victims out of millions of dollars, but also conned the publishing industry into thinking this book was being acquired by Hollywood for the next Die Hard. The book is awful, the true story is amazing.

[Shirley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Plot was pretty good--though not exactly believable as to who the guilty party turns out to be, but little flow to the writing style. And a couple of definite errors as in one paragraph describing someone as 30 or 31 years old, and not two paragraphs further on saying the same person was 35 or 36.

[Alstair S · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first rate thriller with some really fun characters. Delaney reminds me of Robert Parker's Spencer. Katherine Adams was a wonderful female lead. I really hope the author continues with them in the future. The pace moved well and the dialogue was quite well done.

[Jayme Damm]

I thought this book was kind of wierd. The format was good but not really my style. All though i did like how it kept you on the edge of seat and wondering what would happen next. The ending was totally unexpected.

[Debby · Rating 2 out of 5]

A book of adventure on a cruise ship and then in Europe - but too many obvious inconsistencies made the book more annoying than enjoyable.

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very well written.

[Noelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and entertaining storyline, albiet the ending is unexpected. No character development, and dialogue is unnatural-sounding.

[Salsadancer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a murder mystery that is centered around a cruise ship. The plot is so contrived, not realistic.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good find at the library book sale.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thriller with stem cell research, terrorism, gigantic ocean liners, cops and lawyers.