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Taking the Titanic
The greatest story in modern history has a new chapter....
Posing as newlyweds, two ruthless thieves board the Titanic to rob its well-heeled passengers. But an even more shocking plan is afoot-a sensational scheme that could alter the fate of the world's most famous ship.
BookShots
LIGHTNING-FAST STORIES BY JAMES PATTERSON
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First published November 1, 2016
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About the author
James Patterson
982 books357k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews
January 27, 2019
A quick read, as are all Bookshots. Overall, I am not a fan of Bookshots, but this one held my interest and is one of a very few that I have finished and enjoyed.
Told from alternating viewpoints, the story moves along quickly and keeps the reader intrigued as to what is the true story beneath the cover story.
Told from alternating viewpoints, the story moves along quickly and keeps the reader intrigued as to what is the true story beneath the cover story.
December 15, 2016
A low three stars
In their first BookShot partnership, James Patterson and Scott Slaven use the voyage of the Titanic as the backdrop to their tale. As people of all classes and backgrounds prepare for the Titanic's maiden voyage in April 1912, there were a few aboard who saw it is as opportunity to line their pockets. After leaving port en route to New York, Nigel Bowen (or a man choosing the pseudonym to cover his sordid past in England) lures the unsuspecting to gambling away large sums at the poker table, bleeding them dry after playing the role of inept card player. Meanwhile, a young woman who is just as much of a con agrees to a 'marriage' aboard and takes the name Celia Bowen, which allows her to use her nimble fingers to steal from the women on board, which harbouring a secret of her own back in England. While Nigel and Celia make quite a name for themselves on board, fighting and becoming the buzz on every deck, there is another heist in the making. All this while the boat strikes an iceberg. Before long the 'unsinkable' Titanic is taking on water and descending into the Atlantic. Readers will know of the scramble to board lifeboats, which is not lost in this narrative. Will Nigel and Celia be able to turn away from their scandalous pasts and work together? A lacklustre story that is not horrid, but surely goes to show that not all BookShots are equal in their levels of excitement.
Patterson's BookShots idea has been working for close to a year now and his introduction of a number of authors has the potential to create new and exciting options. Slaven is new to the partnership scene and is sure to have tried to use the Patterson name to catapult him to success. While the story has some decent characters and a plot that is not awful in its development, there is too much history with the setting to effectively tell the story that Patterson and Slaven had in their minds. Much like the attempt of Leo DiCaprio to ruin the maiden voyage of the Titanic in that cinematic hot mess, this short story does little to respect the foundations set with sinking of the Titanic over one hundred years ago. Perhaps Slaven will return again and redeem himself, for it would be a pity to see him fail as he attached himself to the seemingly unsinkable world-famous author.
Decent work, Messrs. Patterson and Slaven, but it was not the best piece for me. I can only hope this was a partnership anomaly and that the next collaboration has more pizzazz.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
In their first BookShot partnership, James Patterson and Scott Slaven use the voyage of the Titanic as the backdrop to their tale. As people of all classes and backgrounds prepare for the Titanic's maiden voyage in April 1912, there were a few aboard who saw it is as opportunity to line their pockets. After leaving port en route to New York, Nigel Bowen (or a man choosing the pseudonym to cover his sordid past in England) lures the unsuspecting to gambling away large sums at the poker table, bleeding them dry after playing the role of inept card player. Meanwhile, a young woman who is just as much of a con agrees to a 'marriage' aboard and takes the name Celia Bowen, which allows her to use her nimble fingers to steal from the women on board, which harbouring a secret of her own back in England. While Nigel and Celia make quite a name for themselves on board, fighting and becoming the buzz on every deck, there is another heist in the making. All this while the boat strikes an iceberg. Before long the 'unsinkable' Titanic is taking on water and descending into the Atlantic. Readers will know of the scramble to board lifeboats, which is not lost in this narrative. Will Nigel and Celia be able to turn away from their scandalous pasts and work together? A lacklustre story that is not horrid, but surely goes to show that not all BookShots are equal in their levels of excitement.
Patterson's BookShots idea has been working for close to a year now and his introduction of a number of authors has the potential to create new and exciting options. Slaven is new to the partnership scene and is sure to have tried to use the Patterson name to catapult him to success. While the story has some decent characters and a plot that is not awful in its development, there is too much history with the setting to effectively tell the story that Patterson and Slaven had in their minds. Much like the attempt of Leo DiCaprio to ruin the maiden voyage of the Titanic in that cinematic hot mess, this short story does little to respect the foundations set with sinking of the Titanic over one hundred years ago. Perhaps Slaven will return again and redeem himself, for it would be a pity to see him fail as he attached himself to the seemingly unsinkable world-famous author.
Decent work, Messrs. Patterson and Slaven, but it was not the best piece for me. I can only hope this was a partnership anomaly and that the next collaboration has more pizzazz.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
January 20, 2021
My obsession with anything Titanic related led me to this title and I was surprisingly impressed by the contents. I wasn't expecting much from 160 brief pages, but this was a neat and entertaining thriller, which also provided many new snippets of information about its setting and evoked the tragic atmosphere of this most infamous of ships.
November 6, 2016
Under strange circumstances, two thieves meet and join forces taking their devious game of looting aboard the Titanic, one of them unaware a more sinister plan is in the works.
Overall, a decent little "lightning fast" but somewhat rushed mystery, albeit far-fetched, with just a teeny bit of love story, but......there is ambience in TAKING THE TITANIC.
November 3, 2016
For a short sweet book of love & intrigue on the Titanic I kind of enjoyed this one!
February 17, 2017
Kind of can't get enough of these. Nice little reads in between (or during) novels.
August 17, 2017
This is my second bookshot I have read, I remember the first one being decent but nothing amazing and I wasn’t sure if these little books were for me, however, I kept seeing this one and I always liked reading about the Titanic so after some deliberation I decided to give it a try and I am so glad I did.
Bookshots are meant to be a quick read and this definitely was but it had all the action I would want packed into this small book. Who knows, maybe something like this did take place on the Titanic, it was told realistically and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.
I know that there are many mixed reviews for this one but for me it was really enjoyable.
Bookshots are meant to be a quick read and this definitely was but it had all the action I would want packed into this small book. Who knows, maybe something like this did take place on the Titanic, it was told realistically and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.
I know that there are many mixed reviews for this one but for me it was really enjoyable.
November 13, 2022
A couple of scam artists pick pocket and cheat their way through the first class passengers. Then the boat sinks.
August 3, 2019
I don't get why he had to co-write this book with someone else. It's not even 200 pages!
This isn't a "heist to remember" but a "rip-off to remember." I mean they start off with a card game? Did they not see how James Cameron started his film?
What bothers me the most about this "book" is the facts about the ship that are thrown in haphazardly. I get it, you did some research on the disaster, but if you are going to have two characters talk about something, make it believable. I lost count with the amount of times a character knew something that they couldn't possibly know.
And why is no-one acting like it's 1912? So many modern things happen that would have never been acceptable back in 1912. If someone called someone a gold-digger back then, they probably actually meant that the person went out with a pick axe and dug gold.
I'm glad that this was so short, so I could put it down and read something that is actually worth my time.
This was my first (and last) James Patterson nightmare that I will read.
This isn't a "heist to remember" but a "rip-off to remember." I mean they start off with a card game? Did they not see how James Cameron started his film?
What bothers me the most about this "book" is the facts about the ship that are thrown in haphazardly. I get it, you did some research on the disaster, but if you are going to have two characters talk about something, make it believable. I lost count with the amount of times a character knew something that they couldn't possibly know.
And why is no-one acting like it's 1912? So many modern things happen that would have never been acceptable back in 1912. If someone called someone a gold-digger back then, they probably actually meant that the person went out with a pick axe and dug gold.
I'm glad that this was so short, so I could put it down and read something that is actually worth my time.
This was my first (and last) James Patterson nightmare that I will read.
July 25, 2023
Such a fun short read that I binged!! Page turner for sure. I love a good mystery!
November 5, 2016
Taking the Titanic
This was one of the better Bookshot stories that I've read so far from James Patterson. It was a typical story but it was enjoyable. It makes you think about the different types and kinds of people that were aboard the Titanic. This tragedy brought so many different stories most of them are interesting and really make you think.
This was one of the better Bookshot stories that I've read so far from James Patterson. It was a typical story but it was enjoyable. It makes you think about the different types and kinds of people that were aboard the Titanic. This tragedy brought so many different stories most of them are interesting and really make you think.
June 28, 2018
Pretty interesting. I love reading all things Titanic especially fiction, but the language in this one did not ring true and left me feeling disappointed. The story line was unique for me, but towards the end I kept waiting for a huge twist and it never happened.
The audio for the audio book was awesome. I enjoyed both artists who read the book.
The audio for the audio book was awesome. I enjoyed both artists who read the book.
October 30, 2020
Not a bad book shot. I enjoy the short chapters because I was watching movies and I was able to read a few chapters during commercials. Everyone SHOULD know the story of the Titanic. This just adds a little crime to it. Quick read.
August 13, 2023
This is a quick read. Two thieves pose as a marriage couple aboard the Titanic. The plan is to rob the wealthy passengers. Add the twists and turns and this story is interesting and enjoyable.
January 29, 2019
This was enjoyable for what it was. I love reading about the Titanic, so I’d probably be drawn to any story that ties into that history. This is enough of a story on its own, too; the authors took time to develop characters and a plot, and they didn’t just expect the details of Titanic to be enough to hold readers’ interest. The bad: It’s really, really short (this was my first Bookshot, and I read it as an ebook, but apparently that’s the nature of them?); the dialogue feels far too modern for 1912, especially for the high society of the era; and some of the events felt a little too unbelievable. The good: The characters were very interesting; the writing was tight; the story had nice tension as well as some twists and turns; the characters had some opportunity to develop and change; and the ending left some things open, so that not everyone’s fate is revealed. A very interesting story, and not quite like any other Titanic book I’ve seen. If you like realism, you may be disappointed, but if fast-paced action suits your fancy, this may be the story for you.
January 24, 2017
A novella that starts slowly but gradually increases in pace until the last chapters carry you, the reader, along. The story is ultimately about second chances and the possibility of new beginnings. The major characters Nigel and Celia Bowen, pretending to be married, sail on the ill fated Titanic. Both are thieves and plan to rob the wealthy sailing on the Titanic's maiden cruise. Celia's former crime partners catch up with her and the plan to kidnap Arthur a young child occurs.
At the breakneck conclusion both Nigel and Celia are in a sense redeemed amid the carnage as the Titanic sinks.
At the breakneck conclusion both Nigel and Celia are in a sense redeemed amid the carnage as the Titanic sinks.
June 25, 2023
I picked up this book in a GoodWill shortly before the recent disaster that hit the news . Nevertheless I recently had a few reviews never made it to Goodwills rating for whatever reason. Thus I was not inclined to waste my time in the future with further reviews but in leiu of the recent tragedy decided to post this review.
Patterson co-authored this book in 2016 and I really wonder how much input was (if any other than his name) with regard again to the recent sub incident?
The book was "blaahhh" and a boring love/hate short story other than a few pages of the original tragety on the worlds greatest tragedy of the Titanic and in this readers review nothing more than a one star.
Patterson co-authored this book in 2016 and I really wonder how much input was (if any other than his name) with regard again to the recent sub incident?
The book was "blaahhh" and a boring love/hate short story other than a few pages of the original tragety on the worlds greatest tragedy of the Titanic and in this readers review nothing more than a one star.
October 15, 2018
You really don't want to love the characters in this, as they are travelling on the Titanic stealing from people. But you end up rooting for them as there are other things happening to think that they aren't as bad as other people aboard. Really suspenseful toward the end, and edge of your seat until the final page. Well done!
March 26, 2018
3.5 stars. I was going to rate it as 4 because I really enjoyed the story up to the sinking but then the story lost its way.
March 18, 2017
The two of them agree to pose as a married couple in order to scam fellow passengers of the Titanic. "Mr & Mrs Nigel Bowen" meet the night before when she assisted him in getting out of a card game alive in order to scam the money. They manage to get into first class lodgings aboard the Titanic to steal jewelry and money in a huge scam.
I might have liked it better if a murder had been involved but it is a first class scam aboard the doomed sinking ship. I'm character driven and didn't like any in this short story. However, it's an original take on the ill-fated journey of the Titanic.
I might have liked it better if a murder had been involved but it is a first class scam aboard the doomed sinking ship. I'm character driven and didn't like any in this short story. However, it's an original take on the ill-fated journey of the Titanic.
August 28, 2020
Taking the Titanic is another book shot from James Patterson. I liked the story but personally will i go grab it in a pinch, probably not. With that being said, it is a decent little book. It is a quick read and does capture your attention.
Taking the Titanic is about two strangers who happen to be thieves. The came up with a plan to be newlyweds taking a honeymoon trip on the Titanic. Their plan was to rob its well-heeled passengers. Well naturally this very laid out plan will obviously work... Right?
Taking the Titanic is about two strangers who happen to be thieves. The came up with a plan to be newlyweds taking a honeymoon trip on the Titanic. Their plan was to rob its well-heeled passengers. Well naturally this very laid out plan will obviously work... Right?
January 6, 2017
This book was actually disappointing. I hated that. Normally I love all things Titanic related, but this book was not what I thought. This was my first introduction to James Patterson and again I'm disappointed.
The book was hard to finish. Most of the book was a slow read, with the mass majority of the action not taking place until 3/4 of the way into the book.
The book was hard to finish. Most of the book was a slow read, with the mass majority of the action not taking place until 3/4 of the way into the book.
January 8, 2017
I was really excited to start this book. Being a huge fan of historical fiction, I thought this would be a great story. There is one main event that occurs in the book that I personally could never live through and it's not the boat's sinking. Made me a little upset and a little disappointed with the ending. Definitely a mystery, with a little bit of a love story.
February 17, 2022
Picked this one up on a whim from the library simply because it had Titanic on the cover. I've read one other Bookshots story before and enjoyed it, but this one fell a little flat for me. There was a lot of build up to the sinking of the ship and then everything was rushed. It just wasn't the greatest story for me. A decent fill-in read, but nothing exciting.
April 5, 2017
A quick read with an interesting plot. A few similarities to James Cameron's "Titanic". Not an "edge of your seat" mystery, but it was nice to read something enjoyable after the last book I read (boring!).
March 15, 2020
A fast-paced interesting plot, great character development and an intriguing story premise; I really enjoyed this one.
The ending could of been a tad better but is, overall, a great short story. Definitely a read I recommend.
The ending could of been a tad better but is, overall, a great short story. Definitely a read I recommend.
April 25, 2022
An entertaining read but with the book intentionally being short and fast paced, it lacked the emotion of the tragedy of the Titanic sinking.
This story should have been saved as a full sized novel and fully fleshed out as it was a good story to tell.
This story should have been saved as a full sized novel and fully fleshed out as it was a good story to tell.
January 21, 2017
I wanted to try a Bookshot. It was predictable.
July 9, 2017
Normally any book that uses the Titanic as a backdrop is fascinating to me..except this one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 342 reviews