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S.S. Whitetip: A Shark Attack Survival Thriller
The Neptune was the largest cruise ship ever built. Twelve hundred feet long. Twenty decks high. Ten thousand souls aboard.
Then an engine room explosion capsizes the luxury vessel during summer break. And with rescue still days away, former Navy SEAL Jim Spencer reluctantly finds himself in charge of the survivors trapped inside the upturned maze.
But the explosion attracted attention from below.
Oceanic whitetip sharks, the most dangerous species for shipwreck survivors, begin invading the dying ship. Bold, persistent, and aggressive, they stalk the survivors across the flooded corridors, and there's no way out that doesn't go through the water.
The ship sinks lower every hour and the ocean keeps no monuments.
Based on real shark behavior and inspired by the USS Indianapolis disaster.
Then an engine room explosion capsizes the luxury vessel during summer break. And with rescue still days away, former Navy SEAL Jim Spencer reluctantly finds himself in charge of the survivors trapped inside the upturned maze.
But the explosion attracted attention from below.
Oceanic whitetip sharks, the most dangerous species for shipwreck survivors, begin invading the dying ship. Bold, persistent, and aggressive, they stalk the survivors across the flooded corridors, and there's no way out that doesn't go through the water.
The ship sinks lower every hour and the ocean keeps no monuments.
Based on real shark behavior and inspired by the USS Indianapolis disaster.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 13, 2026
Welcome aboard Neptune, a beautiful ship cruising the Atlantic carrying vacationers in style. The engineers keep the ship running smoothly, and everything is fine- until it isn’t. Systems on board will fail and the ship will be sinking within days. The survivors must find a way out before all hope is lost- And there are sharks- in the ship!
Meet Jim, Claire, and clever Eli as they figure out ways to get out of the ship before the sharks find them!- This is a great shark adventure. The story is fast paced, and you won’t be able to put this book down. A fun one for sure!
I received an advance copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Meet Jim, Claire, and clever Eli as they figure out ways to get out of the ship before the sharks find them!- This is a great shark adventure. The story is fast paced, and you won’t be able to put this book down. A fun one for sure!
I received an advance copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 8, 2026
This had me stressed up to my eyeballs!! Oh my god you know when you get so tense your body locks up? THAT WAS ME READING THIS. Basically exactly what I thought I was getting, so it delivered! It truly brough back Poseidon vibes from my childhood (probably should NOT have been watching that as a kid....). This was just a very high-adrenaline book!
October 25, 2026
4.5 Stars.
🛳️ The vibes:
- A cruise ship disaster
- Claustrophobic
- Shark-infested waters
- Survival
🛳️ My thoughts:
The author promises a Poseidon + Jaws combo, and as a lover of both films, I strongly agree with those comps (which never happens for me). The story's thrill and stress were SO GOOD.
🛳️ I liked the cast of characters. I loved seeing Jim’s backstory and how that connected with his current mindset during the crisis. Of course I had a special place in my heart for Claire and Eli - the mother and son duo. The author used the young boy as the perfect outlet to share all the random shark facts throughout the book, and that worked really well for me. And Caleb and Micah’s bravery was just inspiring to me.
🛳️ We get just enough to know a bit about each character’s backstory to keep things moving forward, but the focus is definitely on the cruise ship crisis.
🛳️ This would have been an easy five stars for me, but there were some moments where the writing was very confusing to follow… such as a few heavy-engineering explanation moments about explosions and cruise ship mechanics that DEFINITELY lost me. There were also a few parts where I felt like the scene setting could have used some adjustments to help me be more aware of where I was in the cruise or the layout of the location, but hear me out- this was just a really solid cruise ship crisis/shark thriller for me. Even with the issues in the execution, this will still be a favorite read for me for the year because of how much I enjoyed the ride.
Note - a few editing issues (punctuation, some confusing wording, Jim is randomly called James with zero explanation); language (3 f*; 3 sh*); lgbt characters (addressed but not the focus of the story).
🛳️ The vibes:
- A cruise ship disaster
- Claustrophobic
- Shark-infested waters
- Survival
🛳️ My thoughts:
The author promises a Poseidon + Jaws combo, and as a lover of both films, I strongly agree with those comps (which never happens for me). The story's thrill and stress were SO GOOD.
🛳️ I liked the cast of characters. I loved seeing Jim’s backstory and how that connected with his current mindset during the crisis. Of course I had a special place in my heart for Claire and Eli - the mother and son duo. The author used the young boy as the perfect outlet to share all the random shark facts throughout the book, and that worked really well for me. And Caleb and Micah’s bravery was just inspiring to me.
🛳️ We get just enough to know a bit about each character’s backstory to keep things moving forward, but the focus is definitely on the cruise ship crisis.
🛳️ This would have been an easy five stars for me, but there were some moments where the writing was very confusing to follow… such as a few heavy-engineering explanation moments about explosions and cruise ship mechanics that DEFINITELY lost me. There were also a few parts where I felt like the scene setting could have used some adjustments to help me be more aware of where I was in the cruise or the layout of the location, but hear me out- this was just a really solid cruise ship crisis/shark thriller for me. Even with the issues in the execution, this will still be a favorite read for me for the year because of how much I enjoyed the ride.
Note - a few editing issues (punctuation, some confusing wording, Jim is randomly called James with zero explanation); language (3 f*; 3 sh*); lgbt characters (addressed but not the focus of the story).
October 26, 2026
If there is one thing horror has taught me, it is that the ocean is terrifying enough without adding hungry sharks to the equation!
S.S. Whitetip takes a cruise ship disaster and turns it into a fight for survival that would make me think twice about ever stepping foot on a massive ship. When the Neptune capsizes, the survivors find themselves trapped inside a sinking maze of flooded corridors, with rescue still days away. Unfortunately, the disaster has attracted some very unwelcome visitors. Oceanic whitetip sharks are closing in, and getting out alive means facing the water where these predators are waiting.
What I love about this kind of horror is the feeling of being trapped with nowhere safe to go. You cannot simply run away when the danger surrounds you, and every decision could mean the difference between life and death. The setting alone creates so many frightening possibilities, and the shark attacks add another layer of tension to an already desperate situation.
I also like that this story draws inspiration from real shark behavior and the USS Indianapolis disaster. There is something especially unsettling about horror that connects to real-world tragedies and reminds us just how vulnerable people can be when nature turns against them.
For readers who enjoy survival thrillers, shark horror, disaster stories, and characters pushed to their limits, this sounds like a solid choice. Sometimes the scariest place to be is somewhere you thought was supposed to be a relaxing vacation!
If Jaws and The Poseidon Adventure had a terrifying little horror baby, this would be right up that alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
S.S. Whitetip takes a cruise ship disaster and turns it into a fight for survival that would make me think twice about ever stepping foot on a massive ship. When the Neptune capsizes, the survivors find themselves trapped inside a sinking maze of flooded corridors, with rescue still days away. Unfortunately, the disaster has attracted some very unwelcome visitors. Oceanic whitetip sharks are closing in, and getting out alive means facing the water where these predators are waiting.
What I love about this kind of horror is the feeling of being trapped with nowhere safe to go. You cannot simply run away when the danger surrounds you, and every decision could mean the difference between life and death. The setting alone creates so many frightening possibilities, and the shark attacks add another layer of tension to an already desperate situation.
I also like that this story draws inspiration from real shark behavior and the USS Indianapolis disaster. There is something especially unsettling about horror that connects to real-world tragedies and reminds us just how vulnerable people can be when nature turns against them.
For readers who enjoy survival thrillers, shark horror, disaster stories, and characters pushed to their limits, this sounds like a solid choice. Sometimes the scariest place to be is somewhere you thought was supposed to be a relaxing vacation!
If Jaws and The Poseidon Adventure had a terrifying little horror baby, this would be right up that alley.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
October 6, 2026
If you're looking for a good horror that makes you feel like you're experiencing Jaws, The Poseidon Adventure/Poseidon, Deep Blue Sea, The Meg and more, you'll definitely enjoy this book. I was captivated by the storyline and couldn't stop reading because I had to KNOW if anyone would survive this tragic tale.
I'm a fan of survival movies, particularly sinking or abandoned ship ones, and I happen to like shark-themed horror movies. I swim less in the ocean than my younger years, and enjoy a good shark movie more than I should. This book gave me everything I love about those movies! The fight for survival, grit, unexpected leadership, quirky characters, and moments of heartbreak and loss that live rent free in your head long after you've finished reading.
I found it fascinating how easy it was to read through some of the more intricate parts of this book detailing ship systems or shark behavior. It was not boring or dull as I tagged along with survivors and learned about the ship and sharks they were battling as they tried to stay alive. I would say this is a credit to the author, finding the right balance of technical explanation mixed with brilliant writing execution to keep a reader enthralled and interested, while still staying true to the factual parts of scenes.
Overall, a really good read with a lot of suspense and thrills, but not so tragic you don't find yourself experiencing the same drive toward survival and theme of hope and perseverance the characters exhibit. I will be looking forward to seeing if A.J. McAllister writes more survival/disaster horror in the future!
I'm a fan of survival movies, particularly sinking or abandoned ship ones, and I happen to like shark-themed horror movies. I swim less in the ocean than my younger years, and enjoy a good shark movie more than I should. This book gave me everything I love about those movies! The fight for survival, grit, unexpected leadership, quirky characters, and moments of heartbreak and loss that live rent free in your head long after you've finished reading.
I found it fascinating how easy it was to read through some of the more intricate parts of this book detailing ship systems or shark behavior. It was not boring or dull as I tagged along with survivors and learned about the ship and sharks they were battling as they tried to stay alive. I would say this is a credit to the author, finding the right balance of technical explanation mixed with brilliant writing execution to keep a reader enthralled and interested, while still staying true to the factual parts of scenes.
Overall, a really good read with a lot of suspense and thrills, but not so tragic you don't find yourself experiencing the same drive toward survival and theme of hope and perseverance the characters exhibit. I will be looking forward to seeing if A.J. McAllister writes more survival/disaster horror in the future!
October 3, 2026
Properly chaotic survival thriller that feels like The Poseidon Adventure crashed headfirst into Jaws. The setup gets right down to business: the massive luxury cruise ship Neptune suffers a catastrophic engine explosion mid-voyage, turning twenty decks of holiday comfort a open menu for sharks. Former Navy SEAL Jim Spencer ends up reluctantly trying to lead a handful of survivors through a pitch-black, disorientating maze, which would be stressful enough on its own even before the marine life gets involved.
What really drives the tension is how unforgiving the environment feels. The upturned hull is sinking lower by the hour, and the ocean water flowing through the wreckage brings in a pack of oceanic whitetip sharks that actively stalk the corridors. The blend of claustrophobic disaster fiction and persistent predator threat keeps the pacing thoroughly relentless. It plays out much more as a realistic disaster story than a campy creature feature, drawing on genuine shark behaviour rather than absurd sci-fi mechanics.
The group dynamics hold up well under the pressure, particularly the contrast between Jim's tactical instinct and the sheer panic of the stranded passengers. Navigating flooded companionways with dwindling air pockets while trying not to splash or bleed into the water makes for a handful of properly nerve-shredding set pieces. It is a swift, tense, and deeply atmospheric ocean nightmare from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What really drives the tension is how unforgiving the environment feels. The upturned hull is sinking lower by the hour, and the ocean water flowing through the wreckage brings in a pack of oceanic whitetip sharks that actively stalk the corridors. The blend of claustrophobic disaster fiction and persistent predator threat keeps the pacing thoroughly relentless. It plays out much more as a realistic disaster story than a campy creature feature, drawing on genuine shark behaviour rather than absurd sci-fi mechanics.
The group dynamics hold up well under the pressure, particularly the contrast between Jim's tactical instinct and the sheer panic of the stranded passengers. Navigating flooded companionways with dwindling air pockets while trying not to splash or bleed into the water makes for a handful of properly nerve-shredding set pieces. It is a swift, tense, and deeply atmospheric ocean nightmare from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 26, 2026
S.S. WhiteTip by A.J. McAllister is a masterclass in claustrophobic, abyssal, and predatory horror.
First off, thank you so much for this ARC. As a fan of survival horror, I found this book truly exceptional—and I say that as someone who thought they’d seen every ‘shark-infested’ trope in the book. Turns out, I hadn’t. McAllister delivers new depths (pun absolutely intended).
The author skillfully develops the characters, making you care deeply about their fate and keeping you invested throughout.
The sense of fragility and hopelessness made me genuinely question whether I'd ever want to set foot on a cruise ship again. (Note to self: cancel all future vacation plans involving the ocean.) Especially in the early chapters, the abrupt shift from celebration to survival was chilling and vividly depicted. The characters' ordeal was beyond imagination—utterly terrifying, in a way that makes your heart rate spike and your palms sweat just from turning the page.
Every chapter left me craving more, thanks to the impeccable pacing. It’s the literary equivalent of ‘just one more episode’—except you might want to leave the lights on while reading.
If you enjoy stories that completely immerse you in both plot and character, this book is for you. Be warned: it's not for the faint of heart, as it can be immensely emotional.
First off, thank you so much for this ARC. As a fan of survival horror, I found this book truly exceptional—and I say that as someone who thought they’d seen every ‘shark-infested’ trope in the book. Turns out, I hadn’t. McAllister delivers new depths (pun absolutely intended).
The author skillfully develops the characters, making you care deeply about their fate and keeping you invested throughout.
The sense of fragility and hopelessness made me genuinely question whether I'd ever want to set foot on a cruise ship again. (Note to self: cancel all future vacation plans involving the ocean.) Especially in the early chapters, the abrupt shift from celebration to survival was chilling and vividly depicted. The characters' ordeal was beyond imagination—utterly terrifying, in a way that makes your heart rate spike and your palms sweat just from turning the page.
Every chapter left me craving more, thanks to the impeccable pacing. It’s the literary equivalent of ‘just one more episode’—except you might want to leave the lights on while reading.
If you enjoy stories that completely immerse you in both plot and character, this book is for you. Be warned: it's not for the faint of heart, as it can be immensely emotional.
October 5, 2026
I’m a sucker for a shark/ocean survival story especially if it makes me feel like watching a shark movie. This one is The Poseidon Adventure meets Deep Blue Sea. It’s not as campy as many shark books/movies and was somewhat realistic at times. I’ve read a lot of Steve Alten’s books (The Meg series) and this one is on par with those and actually maybe even better than the later ones.
Jim Spencer a Navy Seal (I’m totally picturing Jason Statham, who else?) is helping a group of passengers make their way through a maze of flooding rooms and decreasing air pockets due to the cruise ship being turned upside down in shark infested waters.
This was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my time reading this. The writing is pretty solid, but there were a few times when it was telling instead of showing that’s why I lowered it to a 4 star. If you enjoy shark related media then you will definitely enjoy this. I highly recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Whitehorn Media Group for allowing me to read and listen to this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
Jim Spencer a Navy Seal (I’m totally picturing Jason Statham, who else?) is helping a group of passengers make their way through a maze of flooding rooms and decreasing air pockets due to the cruise ship being turned upside down in shark infested waters.
This was a lot of fun and I really enjoyed my time reading this. The writing is pretty solid, but there were a few times when it was telling instead of showing that’s why I lowered it to a 4 star. If you enjoy shark related media then you will definitely enjoy this. I highly recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Whitehorn Media Group for allowing me to read and listen to this book early. The opinion in this review is my own.
October 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!
I really loved the premise of this book. Like who wouldn’t want a cruise ship wreck with man eating sharks? In theory this book would be absolutely thrilling and amazing, but it kind of got lost on me with the engineering talk of how a cruise ship functions and why it decided to blow up. There was quite a few pages where it just went on and on and one about the schematics of this cruise ship, which I guess if you’re into that, then you’d probably enjoy that portion. I just wanted more, because the parts with the characters navigating the wreckage of this ship that is slowly sinking into the ocean, and trying to find their way around the sharks was sooooo intense and gave me the creeps. I LOVED those parts!
The author was able to create such a unique atmosphere, with really well-built characters. I just think for me, there should have been a little less talk about the functionings of the cruise ship, and more intense “sinking ship” moments and more shark moments, because those areas of the books were perfect!
I really loved the premise of this book. Like who wouldn’t want a cruise ship wreck with man eating sharks? In theory this book would be absolutely thrilling and amazing, but it kind of got lost on me with the engineering talk of how a cruise ship functions and why it decided to blow up. There was quite a few pages where it just went on and on and one about the schematics of this cruise ship, which I guess if you’re into that, then you’d probably enjoy that portion. I just wanted more, because the parts with the characters navigating the wreckage of this ship that is slowly sinking into the ocean, and trying to find their way around the sharks was sooooo intense and gave me the creeps. I LOVED those parts!
The author was able to create such a unique atmosphere, with really well-built characters. I just think for me, there should have been a little less talk about the functionings of the cruise ship, and more intense “sinking ship” moments and more shark moments, because those areas of the books were perfect!
October 13, 2026
Ten thousand people. One capsized ship. Sharks closing in.
SS Whitetip drops you onto the world’s largest cruise ship right after a catastrophe strikes, with survivors trapped and oceanic whitetip sharks on the prowl.
I really loved how the sharks behaved, persistent and menacing without being overly monstrous. I learned a whole lot about oceanic whitetips and cruise ship anatomy, even if some of the ship-specific descriptions lost me at times. The opening hooked me, and the ending dragged me into the depths.
This was a fun disaster thriller that I’d recommend for you if you enjoy survival stories or creature features! 🦈
Thanks to NetGalley and Whitehorn Media Group for the ebook in return for a honest review.
SS Whitetip drops you onto the world’s largest cruise ship right after a catastrophe strikes, with survivors trapped and oceanic whitetip sharks on the prowl.
I really loved how the sharks behaved, persistent and menacing without being overly monstrous. I learned a whole lot about oceanic whitetips and cruise ship anatomy, even if some of the ship-specific descriptions lost me at times. The opening hooked me, and the ending dragged me into the depths.
This was a fun disaster thriller that I’d recommend for you if you enjoy survival stories or creature features! 🦈
Thanks to NetGalley and Whitehorn Media Group for the ebook in return for a honest review.
October 19, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
First off a big thank you to Booksirens for letting me read and review S.S. Whitetip, as well as introducing me to this author, at first I had just came to look then I saw this cover and there was no way I wasn't leaving Booksirens without it , because like my friends love to joke with and say this is definitely my type of book and it's perfect a perfect October read. Because of how well detailed the author wrote about the sharks , but also the ship itself, what the passengers went through day by day, and how dangerous their Surroundings was in the ship. I also loved how the author used information about the the USS Indianapolis also to remind us of those brave man
First off a big thank you to Booksirens for letting me read and review S.S. Whitetip, as well as introducing me to this author, at first I had just came to look then I saw this cover and there was no way I wasn't leaving Booksirens without it , because like my friends love to joke with and say this is definitely my type of book and it's perfect a perfect October read. Because of how well detailed the author wrote about the sharks , but also the ship itself, what the passengers went through day by day, and how dangerous their Surroundings was in the ship. I also loved how the author used information about the the USS Indianapolis also to remind us of those brave man
October 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
Jim, a former Navy SEAL, sets off on a 10-day cruise vacation. What could go wrong? Well, a massive explosion in Chapter One, and suddenly, we're in the middle of a Poseidon Adventure-style disaster. And then we throw sharks into the mix!
S.S. Whitetip is a fun, fast-paced summer beach thriller with just the right amount of character development and plenty of exciting, disaster-movie-style scenes featuring a sinking cruise ship and man-eating sharks.
Lots of fun! I'd recommend it!
Jim, a former Navy SEAL, sets off on a 10-day cruise vacation. What could go wrong? Well, a massive explosion in Chapter One, and suddenly, we're in the middle of a Poseidon Adventure-style disaster. And then we throw sharks into the mix!
S.S. Whitetip is a fun, fast-paced summer beach thriller with just the right amount of character development and plenty of exciting, disaster-movie-style scenes featuring a sinking cruise ship and man-eating sharks.
Lots of fun! I'd recommend it!
October 12, 2026
An explosion on a cruise ship leads to Jim leading a group of survivors to hopeful safety.
This was an interesting book, I love cruise ship horror. I did struggle with some of the descriptions and thought I was imagining the scene properly and then some new detail would make me realise I wasn’t imagining properly. But that’s probably a me thing. This book was tense but the ending is good.
Thanks NetGalley for the copy.
This was an interesting book, I love cruise ship horror. I did struggle with some of the descriptions and thought I was imagining the scene properly and then some new detail would make me realise I wasn’t imagining properly. But that’s probably a me thing. This book was tense but the ending is good.
Thanks NetGalley for the copy.
September 30, 2026
I love ocean books especially ones with sharks. This read very quickly, with characters you wanted to see make it through. The boy who had all the shark facts was a favorite.
The story itself was not farfetched and in a crisis on a cruise ship, could happen.
The story itself was not farfetched and in a crisis on a cruise ship, could happen.
October 7, 2026
Who doesn’t love a horror book with a cruise ship that’s sinking and sharks? This book was really good.
I recommend it to anyone that likes horror books.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc🤗
I recommend it to anyone that likes horror books.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc🤗
October 23, 2026
Great book. I will be reading this one again. Loved the Poseidon Adventure meets Jaws concept with the splash of history with the USS Indianapolis tragedy for realism of the what if this happened.
October 6, 2026
What a wild ride. McCallister promised a thriller and he delivered. This book is full of tension, suspense, and a fair share of violence. I'm a sucker for a good survival story and I always wonder why more authors don't write them about cruise ships. It has all the elements to create a terrifying situation; isolation, limited resources, drunk adults. This book saw the potential the setting held and delivered a story that really took advantage of its strengths. I did have a very specific issue. The book really could have used a map. A diagram of the ship and its basic orientation for the duration of the book. I found myself struggling a lot trying to map out locations and sometimes I had to just give up and accept I didn't know how they were crossing a room. I really enjoyed the ending and felt a little sad when I had finished.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews