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Call Me Ismay
The year is 1911. A reporter for a London newspaper has made a horrifying discovery involving a member of the House of Commons.
It seems that Edward Lyons is no casual participant in the popular seances and occult practices of the day. His involvement is said to run deeper...FAR deeper. Indeed, as the reporter gradually uncovers, Lyons is in fact a vicious, bloodthirsty vampire.
Sensing that fate is conspiring against him, Lyons decides that it’s time to head for America. His means of escape is by traveling on what, to him, is just another ship. However, he makes a rather unfortunate choice: the ship he’s fleeing from Britain on is the brand-new TITANIC.
Meanwhile, TITANIC’S owner -the head of the White Star Line- is J. Bruce Ismay, a pampered, blessed “man about town.” As he prepares to sail aboard TITANIC, he cannot possibly know that it will be the ship’s one and only voyage, and that he will be hopelessly stuck in the middle of what will be a collision with destiny- and it doesn’t involve only a ship and an iceberg....
It seems that Edward Lyons is no casual participant in the popular seances and occult practices of the day. His involvement is said to run deeper...FAR deeper. Indeed, as the reporter gradually uncovers, Lyons is in fact a vicious, bloodthirsty vampire.
Sensing that fate is conspiring against him, Lyons decides that it’s time to head for America. His means of escape is by traveling on what, to him, is just another ship. However, he makes a rather unfortunate choice: the ship he’s fleeing from Britain on is the brand-new TITANIC.
Meanwhile, TITANIC’S owner -the head of the White Star Line- is J. Bruce Ismay, a pampered, blessed “man about town.” As he prepares to sail aboard TITANIC, he cannot possibly know that it will be the ship’s one and only voyage, and that he will be hopelessly stuck in the middle of what will be a collision with destiny- and it doesn’t involve only a ship and an iceberg....
405 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 15, 2013
About the author
Sean McDevitt
14 books158 followersSean McDevitt is an independent author and award-winning actor. In September of 2026, he released the sci-fi thriller A WORLD OF CHANGE. McDevitt is also the author of JOHNNY MIME, CALL ME ISMAY, and SHAKESPEARE'S SKULL: A NOVEL IN FIVE ACTS.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 1, 2022
I mean... it *could* have happened that way.
September 23, 2022
Not Good
I was so excited to read what I thought would be a historical fiction on Ismay and the Titanic. Alas, what I got was a bizarre mix of paranormal, mystery, and historical fiction.
The book seemed to be divided into sections, Ismays interrogations, and a man investigating a politician that could potentially be a vampire 😕
It was not until like, chapter 10(?) out of 12, that the reader finally makes a connection between the two. But at that point I found it all ridiculous.
Ismay's parts were repetitive and dull. Just a confused man who they kept asking the same questions to over and over again. The there was the reporter, going around not doing his job based on some anonymous letter.
The cherry on top came when the vampires decided to sink the Titanic because they THOUGHT their woman had an affair with Ismay.
Now, may be one of few who believe the Titanic's tragedy was not an accident but this.....took it over the top. And then, after over 500 pages, there was no satisfactory ending. The whole vampire thing was pointless! Nobody stopped them, there was no justice and everyone died which left me feeling like....what have I wasted all these hours reading?
Very disappointed. Some others might find the fantastical twists and actions of passion interesting, but unfortunately, I did not. Don't recommend 🤷♀️
I was so excited to read what I thought would be a historical fiction on Ismay and the Titanic. Alas, what I got was a bizarre mix of paranormal, mystery, and historical fiction.
The book seemed to be divided into sections, Ismays interrogations, and a man investigating a politician that could potentially be a vampire 😕
It was not until like, chapter 10(?) out of 12, that the reader finally makes a connection between the two. But at that point I found it all ridiculous.
Ismay's parts were repetitive and dull. Just a confused man who they kept asking the same questions to over and over again. The there was the reporter, going around not doing his job based on some anonymous letter.
The cherry on top came when the vampires decided to sink the Titanic because they THOUGHT their woman had an affair with Ismay.
Now, may be one of few who believe the Titanic's tragedy was not an accident but this.....took it over the top. And then, after over 500 pages, there was no satisfactory ending. The whole vampire thing was pointless! Nobody stopped them, there was no justice and everyone died which left me feeling like....what have I wasted all these hours reading?
Very disappointed. Some others might find the fantastical twists and actions of passion interesting, but unfortunately, I did not. Don't recommend 🤷♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2024
When I first finished this book, I was so disappointed. Where was the usual vampire book that I was looking forward to reading? Then I stopped and thought that the title says Ismay. And the book was more about him, his downfall and ruined reputation.
Ismay is a real person. He was the owner of the Titanic and was on the ship when it went down. He survived. However, he has been reviled for surviving since some people think he put himself ahead of woman and children to get into a lifeboat.
And he has no memory of certain events and blurry recall on others. This led most to think he was a liar and that he saved himself before others.
But the premise of the book is an alternate reason the Titanic went down. And that reason was vampires. Through the manipulation of a super cruel vampire and his cohorts Ismay was ruined. That is exactly what the vampires set out to do. Killing him was not enough. They wanted to destroy him and by destroying his beloved ship they accomplished just that.
After reflecting on this and looking at it from that perspective and not what I wanted the book to me, I have to say that I did enjoy most of it. The first third and the last third were good. The middle bogged down, and no one needed two almost identical court trials.
It definitely made you think that maybe the iceberg had some help.
Ismay is a real person. He was the owner of the Titanic and was on the ship when it went down. He survived. However, he has been reviled for surviving since some people think he put himself ahead of woman and children to get into a lifeboat.
And he has no memory of certain events and blurry recall on others. This led most to think he was a liar and that he saved himself before others.
But the premise of the book is an alternate reason the Titanic went down. And that reason was vampires. Through the manipulation of a super cruel vampire and his cohorts Ismay was ruined. That is exactly what the vampires set out to do. Killing him was not enough. They wanted to destroy him and by destroying his beloved ship they accomplished just that.
After reflecting on this and looking at it from that perspective and not what I wanted the book to me, I have to say that I did enjoy most of it. The first third and the last third were good. The middle bogged down, and no one needed two almost identical court trials.
It definitely made you think that maybe the iceberg had some help.
January 8, 2024
This book started off terrible! The first 1/3 of the book the chapters are going back and forth between two completely DIFFERENT and unrelated stories and have zero connection or relation to one another! One is a historical narrative about the real world-tragedy of the Titanic, and the other is this poorly-executed vampire investigation/story that only involves 3 vampires in the whole-wide-world!
The stories FINALLY begin to converge when the vampire group begins to head in the direction of boarding the Titanic, but it closer to half-way through the book before any of the characters in this story actually encounter one another and this back-and-forth story-telling begins to make some sort of sense.
The vampire story is a total fail. It was terrible.
The only redeeming quality about this book is the telling and perspective of the Titanic and the sinking and the detailed interest of Ismay. If the author would have stayed focused on that it might have worked as a novel, but the vampire gore completely distracted from what might have otherwise been a wonderfully done piece.
I won this in a giveaway, otherwise I likely wouldn't have read it of my own accord, as the plot with the vampire mixed into it gave me a feeling that it might not be that great...
The stories FINALLY begin to converge when the vampire group begins to head in the direction of boarding the Titanic, but it closer to half-way through the book before any of the characters in this story actually encounter one another and this back-and-forth story-telling begins to make some sort of sense.
The vampire story is a total fail. It was terrible.
The only redeeming quality about this book is the telling and perspective of the Titanic and the sinking and the detailed interest of Ismay. If the author would have stayed focused on that it might have worked as a novel, but the vampire gore completely distracted from what might have otherwise been a wonderfully done piece.
I won this in a giveaway, otherwise I likely wouldn't have read it of my own accord, as the plot with the vampire mixed into it gave me a feeling that it might not be that great...
February 9, 2022
Talk about a spin of a story! An interesting take on how a legendary maritime mishap could have happened. Plus a sad commentary on how someone being misunderstood and held in contempt by outsiders suffered. Easy to read page turner that is entertaining as well a truly tragic. A haunting tale that stays with you.
March 18, 2022
An unusual account of the Titanic sinking
I really enjoy Sean McDevitt’s Fictional account of Ismay’s devastating life as a result of the Titanic’s sinking. I think that Sean’s retelling including the paranormal aspect made him an even more pathetic character.
If the Titanic interests you, and the paranormal/fantasy then this is a good book for you!
I really enjoy Sean McDevitt’s Fictional account of Ismay’s devastating life as a result of the Titanic’s sinking. I think that Sean’s retelling including the paranormal aspect made him an even more pathetic character.
If the Titanic interests you, and the paranormal/fantasy then this is a good book for you!
April 28, 2025
I received this book via a goodreads giveaway. The lead up to the meat of the story was way too slow for me and I almost DNFd around 50%. I did finish and it was definitely an "interesting" take on a tragic disaster but not one I'd recommend. Also, not in a place where I can deal with fragile masculine egos, vampire or otherwise.
June 8, 2025
I found the story interesting and the pacing good. The characters were believable for the most part. I found the dialog a little weak in places but overall the book held my interest and I would be interested in reading something else by the author. I especially liked the story of Ismay and his scenes in the courtroom and immediately after he was rescued.
Want to Read
January 16, 2022i'm just so intrigued by this premise. and I sort of feel like it's setting up to be an enemies-to-lovers romance..????? i mean... i'd be down
Read
March 28, 2025Very good quick read. Unusual but interesting.
August 10, 2013
This describes the sinking of the Titanic, but is also wrapped up in vampire mythology, and some very odd descriptions of characters. The reporter, Kerry Langston, is attempting to thwart the vampire's attempt to move to Utah, where he will practice polygamy and take over the world. But, the boat sinks, complicating everything.
February 17, 2022
It was a struggle to finish this book. I know it has high ratings, but I was rather disappointed. I am not a overly religious person, but I didn't like how when referred, it was capitalized, like God. Not a fan.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews