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Shipwreck: The Strange Fate of the Morro Castle
A spellbinding moment-by-moment account of one of the most spectacular disasters off the coast of New York which killed more than 130 people. Answers the question which until now has remained unanswered: was it a terrible accident – or arson?
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1934, the luxury cruise liner Morro Castle, carrying 316 passengers and 230 officers and crew, caught fire a few hours out of the New York harbor on a return voyage from Havana. The fire spread with terrifying swiftness, transforming the ship into a blazing inferno.
One hundred thirty four people died that night.
Was it an accident?
Until now, that question has remained unanswered. In Shipwreck, authors Thomas and Witts prove that the disaster was no accident – that it was planned, meticulously and deliberately, by an office of the Morro Castle. His name: George White Rogers, chief radio officer aboard the ship. They show that quite possibly, Rogers was also responsible for the untimely death of the ship’s captain, who died mysteriously, apparently poisoned, several hours before the fire broke out.
Other embarrassing questions are answered – questions raised during the investigation following the disaster and never satisfactorily answered: Why was a proper alarm never given? Why did the fire-fighting equipment, such as it was, fail to function? Why were only two life boats launched, and why were they filled with crew and officers instead of passengers?
Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts have written a spellbinding moment by moment account of the Morro Castle’s last voyage, one of the most spectacular disasters to stir the Atlantic Ocean. In interviews with eye-witnesses – survivors, rescuers, investigators – they have uncovered the startling answers to a multitude of questions that have surrounded the case for almost forty years.
The result of their research is a dramatic tale of personal heroism, obvious incompetence, tragedy, and quite possibly murder.
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1934, the luxury cruise liner Morro Castle, carrying 316 passengers and 230 officers and crew, caught fire a few hours out of the New York harbor on a return voyage from Havana. The fire spread with terrifying swiftness, transforming the ship into a blazing inferno.
One hundred thirty four people died that night.
Was it an accident?
Until now, that question has remained unanswered. In Shipwreck, authors Thomas and Witts prove that the disaster was no accident – that it was planned, meticulously and deliberately, by an office of the Morro Castle. His name: George White Rogers, chief radio officer aboard the ship. They show that quite possibly, Rogers was also responsible for the untimely death of the ship’s captain, who died mysteriously, apparently poisoned, several hours before the fire broke out.
Other embarrassing questions are answered – questions raised during the investigation following the disaster and never satisfactorily answered: Why was a proper alarm never given? Why did the fire-fighting equipment, such as it was, fail to function? Why were only two life boats launched, and why were they filled with crew and officers instead of passengers?
Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan Witts have written a spellbinding moment by moment account of the Morro Castle’s last voyage, one of the most spectacular disasters to stir the Atlantic Ocean. In interviews with eye-witnesses – survivors, rescuers, investigators – they have uncovered the startling answers to a multitude of questions that have surrounded the case for almost forty years.
The result of their research is a dramatic tale of personal heroism, obvious incompetence, tragedy, and quite possibly murder.
299 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1972
183 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Gordon Thomas
120 books199 followersGordon Thomas (born 1933) is a Welsh author who has written more than fifty books.
Thomas was born in Wales, in a cemetery keeper's cottage where his grandmother lived. He had his first story published at nine years old in a Boy's Own Paper competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School, the Maritz Brothers (in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and, lastly, at Bedford Modern School. His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel, Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis and ending with the first Gulf War. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World and Horizon.
He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book was Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli intelligence agent, and legendary Israeli spy Rafi Eitan. According to Charles Foster in Contemporary Review: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel."
Thomas was born in Wales, in a cemetery keeper's cottage where his grandmother lived. He had his first story published at nine years old in a Boy's Own Paper competition. With his father in the RAF, he traveled widely and was educated at the Cairo High School, the Maritz Brothers (in Port Elizabeth, South Africa) and, lastly, at Bedford Modern School. His first book, completed at the age of seventeen, is the story of a British spy in Russia during World War II, titled Descent Into Danger. He refused the offer of a job at a university in order to accompany a traveling fair for a year: he used those experiences for his novel, Bed of Nails. Since then his books have been published worldwide. He has been a foreign correspondent beginning with the Suez Crisis and ending with the first Gulf War. He was a BBC writer/producer for three flagship BBC programmes: Man Alive, Tomorrow's World and Horizon.
He is a regular contributor to Facta, the respected monthly Japanese news magazine, and he lectures widely on the secret world of intelligence. He also provides expert analysis on intelligence for US and European television and radio programs.His book Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors became a major documentary for Channel Four that he wrote and narrated: The Spy Machine. It followed three years of research during which he was given unprecedented access to Mossad’s main personnel. The documentary was co-produced by Open Media and Israfilm.
Gideon's Spies: Mossad's Secret Warriors has so far been published in 16 languages. A source for this book was Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli intelligence agent, and legendary Israeli spy Rafi Eitan. According to Charles Foster in Contemporary Review: "Writers who know their place are few and far between: fortunately Mr Thomas is one of them. By keeping to his place as a tremendous storyteller without a preacher's pretensions, he has put his book amongst the important chronicles of the state of Israel."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
June 11, 2022
Published in 1972, this book is narrative non-fiction about the SS Morro Castle, a ship that was returning from a pleasure cruise to Havana, containing over 500 passengers and crew, when it caught fire and ran aground in New Jersey, killing 134 people. This book attempts to prove it was arson by one of the radio operators. The authors also highlight contributing factors, such as untrained crew, lack of lifeboat drills, and other negligence. The story is based on interviews of many survivors and experts. There are a few questionable structural issues – the last part of the book basically recounts news articles. The details of this tragic shipwreck are vividly described. Much is based on circumstantial evidence, but the authors do make a plausible case for arson. It held my interest and has led me to further research this disaster. Recommended to those interested in history’s mysteries.
December 27, 2014
I am waiting for a couple books I ordered to arrive and had finished what I was reading so I went to my local used book store and picked this up to kill time. What a lucky guy I am. This book was WAY better than I could ever expect. Ship fire with true crime/mystery. Throw in a tropical storm and complete incompetence. Possible communist sabotage twist and murder. Yes ladies and gentleman the story of the "Morro Castle" defines the expression "fact can be stranger than fiction". The best fiction writers would have a hard time topping this story. I read the 267 pages in 2 days. That is the actual text, not including the appendix and bibliography at the end. This was a great read. Amazing story. Just so much going on yet the author kept it simple and to the point. Never got confused or lost. Just amazed. This is truly a diamond in the rough.
May 19, 2021
An absolutely fantastic and wild tale, researched to perfection, that is hampered by the narrative form on vintage nonfiction.
February 12, 2017
On September 8, 1934, the luxury liner, S.S. Morro Castle, just hours from the port of New York, caught fire. Of the 566 passengers, officers, and crew aboard, 134 perished in the disaster. Inaccurate media coverage and missteps by investigative agencies abounded, swinging wildly from speculation that it was an unfortunate accident to a deadly plot by Communists. In Shipwreck: The Strange Fate of the Morro Castle by Gordon Thomas and Max Morgan-Witts, an exhaustive examination of surviving documents and media coverage, as well as interviews with some of the survivors and their families, the reader is treated to an alternative answer. The S.S. Morro Castle disaster was the work of one man, a deliberate and meticulously executed plot by chief radio officer, George White Rogers.
Sounding more like a thriller than nonfiction, this book pieces together the final days of Morro Castle in a compelling narrative that, while it probably couldn’t stand up in a court of law, leaves no doubt that this deadly disaster wasn’t part of some Machiavellian Communist plot, but was the work of one deranged psychotic who had little regard for human life, and who was striving for recognition and attention. At the same time, it shows how individuals and organizations, even government agencies, can be misled in an atmosphere of fear and conspiracy theories. With the attention today being given to ‘fake’ news, it’s instructive to see that this isn’t a new phenomenon, but something that has been with us for a long time, and how people with over-large egos and sociopathic tendencies can manipulate it to the disadvantage of society.
Sounding more like a thriller than nonfiction, this book pieces together the final days of Morro Castle in a compelling narrative that, while it probably couldn’t stand up in a court of law, leaves no doubt that this deadly disaster wasn’t part of some Machiavellian Communist plot, but was the work of one deranged psychotic who had little regard for human life, and who was striving for recognition and attention. At the same time, it shows how individuals and organizations, even government agencies, can be misled in an atmosphere of fear and conspiracy theories. With the attention today being given to ‘fake’ news, it’s instructive to see that this isn’t a new phenomenon, but something that has been with us for a long time, and how people with over-large egos and sociopathic tendencies can manipulate it to the disadvantage of society.
August 17, 2019
A great narrative showing how one evil person could cause an entire ship to sink. Engrossing read.
August 29, 2025
This book was a hidden gem. The story behind the Morro Castle was told in riveting fashion by Thomas and Witts. Overall it was a fun read.
April 27, 2014
I read this book in Kindle format over a couple of days. I didn't know at the time I purchased it that this was an older book (poorly) converted to the Kindle format.
The story itself is quite riveting, and it's clear that the authors interviewed many people to put the pieces together. I think what is missing is a level of scholarship, or just a better sense of objectivity. Perhaps the book would have been written differently today than in the 1970s. It succeeded in making me interested in the accident and the conditions and events that led up to it, but it is frustrating when I'm not sure what is fact and what is spin.
The story itself is quite riveting, and it's clear that the authors interviewed many people to put the pieces together. I think what is missing is a level of scholarship, or just a better sense of objectivity. Perhaps the book would have been written differently today than in the 1970s. It succeeded in making me interested in the accident and the conditions and events that led up to it, but it is frustrating when I'm not sure what is fact and what is spin.
November 6, 2017
Ship Wreck
It is interesting to read about a tragedy that I have heard references to all my life, but never before known the details. The authors do an excellent job of recreating the disaster and even came with a probable cause. It was worse than I had imagined and their theories make sense
It is interesting to read about a tragedy that I have heard references to all my life, but never before known the details. The authors do an excellent job of recreating the disaster and even came with a probable cause. It was worse than I had imagined and their theories make sense
April 23, 2021
“In 1884 the Daily Spray, an Asbury Park NJ local newspaper, would write the area needed a first class shipwreck to improve its resort status. The shipwreck could ram upon the beach.
Almost 50 years later to the day this would happen. It’s the story of the passenger ship Morro Castle.”
In September 1934 while on the air, WCAP radio announcer shouted “She’s here”...“The Morro Castle’s coming right toward the studio!”. (The Morro Castle runs aground 300 feet from the radio announcer’s studio located in the convention center of Asbury Park, NJ”
The Morro Castle is one of the most surreal maritime disaster events to ever occur (more so than The Titanic, less so than The Batavia). You have a paranoid(rightfully so) captain that mysteriously dies on the cruise’s last night, several hours later a small but very intense fire occurs, ensuing woefully inept crew firefighting and emergency procedures, soon hundreds of unfortunate people are jumping into a pitch dark and VERY stormy ocean from a ship that held almost 300% lifeboat capacity, numerous tales of heroism along with seeming cowardice, a completely burned hulk of a ship that ends up on a tourist beach, and last but not least is the man hailed by newspapers as a “hero” that in reality was a disturbed murdering psychotic (and likely the cause of the fire).
In 1912, on the Titanic you have stories such as one of the richest men in the world making sure his wife and her maid are safely seated within one of the limited number of lifeboats. The band playing music until almost the end. Deep in the bowels of the ship, engine room officers and crew stayed at their stations at the likely cost of their own lives. In 1934, on the Morro Castle, which could carry 800+ people but lifeboats to carry 2000+, of the few lifeboats launched, the first lifeboat ashore contained 15 people: 13 crewmen including the chief engine room engineer (the most senior officer on the ship). Very few passengers would evacuate via lifeboat.
This is my second read on the Morro Castle. This book does not go into as much granular detail, however, it still aptly puts you in the midst of the disaster while sufficiently filling the reader in on the pre and post disaster particulars. It also takes a more certain view of the culpability and despicable nature of the “hero”.
I gave it 4 stars, not 5, based upon one issue: there were a few assumptions that, imho, did not have sufficient supporting evidence presented. But this is still a very good read. For maritime disaster fans this book should be on your reading list (along with A Night To Remember and Batavia’s Graveyard).
Almost 50 years later to the day this would happen. It’s the story of the passenger ship Morro Castle.”
In September 1934 while on the air, WCAP radio announcer shouted “She’s here”...“The Morro Castle’s coming right toward the studio!”. (The Morro Castle runs aground 300 feet from the radio announcer’s studio located in the convention center of Asbury Park, NJ”
The Morro Castle is one of the most surreal maritime disaster events to ever occur (more so than The Titanic, less so than The Batavia). You have a paranoid(rightfully so) captain that mysteriously dies on the cruise’s last night, several hours later a small but very intense fire occurs, ensuing woefully inept crew firefighting and emergency procedures, soon hundreds of unfortunate people are jumping into a pitch dark and VERY stormy ocean from a ship that held almost 300% lifeboat capacity, numerous tales of heroism along with seeming cowardice, a completely burned hulk of a ship that ends up on a tourist beach, and last but not least is the man hailed by newspapers as a “hero” that in reality was a disturbed murdering psychotic (and likely the cause of the fire).
In 1912, on the Titanic you have stories such as one of the richest men in the world making sure his wife and her maid are safely seated within one of the limited number of lifeboats. The band playing music until almost the end. Deep in the bowels of the ship, engine room officers and crew stayed at their stations at the likely cost of their own lives. In 1934, on the Morro Castle, which could carry 800+ people but lifeboats to carry 2000+, of the few lifeboats launched, the first lifeboat ashore contained 15 people: 13 crewmen including the chief engine room engineer (the most senior officer on the ship). Very few passengers would evacuate via lifeboat.
This is my second read on the Morro Castle. This book does not go into as much granular detail, however, it still aptly puts you in the midst of the disaster while sufficiently filling the reader in on the pre and post disaster particulars. It also takes a more certain view of the culpability and despicable nature of the “hero”.
I gave it 4 stars, not 5, based upon one issue: there were a few assumptions that, imho, did not have sufficient supporting evidence presented. But this is still a very good read. For maritime disaster fans this book should be on your reading list (along with A Night To Remember and Batavia’s Graveyard).
November 19, 2017
Story of a Forgotten Disaster - And Its Cause?
A fire is the most dangerous hazard you can face at sea - besides all the other dangers you face from a fire in land, you're confined in a small space, and the thing that's most effective in stopping the fire creates a dangerous hazard of its own. Today, cruise ships have many safety measures and devices to help prevent and control fires and prepare passengers for an emergency, but they might never would have been put in place had it not been for a cruise ship fire off the coast of New Jersey in 1934. Shipwreck covers the story of that fire and the events that led to the disaster, which cost 134 passengers their lives.
Morro Castle was a ship traveling on weekly cruises between New York and Havana; beneath a veneer of luxury and modernity, the ship had serious issues - many of them caused by a ruthless devotion to the bottom line by the cruise line, personality conflicts, and questionable decisions by the ship's captain. A series of events, ending with a fire of unknown origin, led to death and destruction. Shipwrecked tells the story of the Morro Castle 's last voyage, and shares the author 's ideas as to how the fire occurred, as well as the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
The story of the Motto Castle is fascinating, and I enjoyed hearing more about the disaster. However, I wish the author had said more about the investigation afterward, the results of those inquiries, and the effect it had on maritime safety rules. Mr. Thomas seems convinced he knows who caused the fire that destroyed the ship and why, but doesn't really share what led him to this conclusion, only relating the events based on his interpretation. Still, the story's engaging and well written, and is a pretty good read.
A fire is the most dangerous hazard you can face at sea - besides all the other dangers you face from a fire in land, you're confined in a small space, and the thing that's most effective in stopping the fire creates a dangerous hazard of its own. Today, cruise ships have many safety measures and devices to help prevent and control fires and prepare passengers for an emergency, but they might never would have been put in place had it not been for a cruise ship fire off the coast of New Jersey in 1934. Shipwreck covers the story of that fire and the events that led to the disaster, which cost 134 passengers their lives.
Morro Castle was a ship traveling on weekly cruises between New York and Havana; beneath a veneer of luxury and modernity, the ship had serious issues - many of them caused by a ruthless devotion to the bottom line by the cruise line, personality conflicts, and questionable decisions by the ship's captain. A series of events, ending with a fire of unknown origin, led to death and destruction. Shipwrecked tells the story of the Morro Castle 's last voyage, and shares the author 's ideas as to how the fire occurred, as well as the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
The story of the Motto Castle is fascinating, and I enjoyed hearing more about the disaster. However, I wish the author had said more about the investigation afterward, the results of those inquiries, and the effect it had on maritime safety rules. Mr. Thomas seems convinced he knows who caused the fire that destroyed the ship and why, but doesn't really share what led him to this conclusion, only relating the events based on his interpretation. Still, the story's engaging and well written, and is a pretty good read.
July 4, 2023
This is about a psychopath and a ship. The ship was the SS Morro Castle, a luxury liner that caught fire and burned up before running aground on the shores of Asbury Park, New Jersey. The ship had plenty of firefighting equipment and provisions like water hydrants, fire hoses, and smoke detectors, however the captain of the ship had decreed that they not be used: the fire hoses put away, smoke detectors disabled, and the hydrants capped and sealed so as not to disturb the wealthy passengers aboard the ship. There was a psychopath also on board the ship's company, as a radio operator and the author makes an excellent case that this person may well have committed arson in starting the fire. The psychopath had a history of setting fires and bombs, and continued to do so well after the Morro Castle, including attacking one police officer with a homemade bomb and a neighbor. I think this story was excellently written with no excessive jaunts into off-topic areas. I had never heard of the Morro Castle disaster before now. I would have liked to know more about the psychopath, perhaps a bit more about his upbringing or childhood, but that is my only complaint. I am giving this book four stars.
April 17, 2024
A historical thriller. When a cruise ship unwittingly takes on a wireless operator with a penchant for secret workplace machinations and covert bombings (!), it's set on a course towards tragedy. There's a Red Scare, the captain gets murdered, and then suddenly - there's a blazing fire on board out of nowhere.
What happened? Who's to blame? The murdered captain, who scoffed at safety drills and let all the safety equipment rust & decay? The acting captain, who steps up to command but inexplicably fails to take a number of actions that could have limited the tragedy? The chief engineer, who panics and flees the ship without helping at all? Or could it be the hero from the wireless room, who caught a Communist saboteur earlier in the voyage and now is running around like crazy trying to help?
This book goes fast and hard, and is definitely gripping. It didn't quite stick the landing for me - the ending felt rushed and abrupt and I would have liked more about the subsequent lives of the people we had come to know. I also would have liked more contextualization about whether this led to changes on cruise ships and/or maritime safety in general.
What happened? Who's to blame? The murdered captain, who scoffed at safety drills and let all the safety equipment rust & decay? The acting captain, who steps up to command but inexplicably fails to take a number of actions that could have limited the tragedy? The chief engineer, who panics and flees the ship without helping at all? Or could it be the hero from the wireless room, who caught a Communist saboteur earlier in the voyage and now is running around like crazy trying to help?
This book goes fast and hard, and is definitely gripping. It didn't quite stick the landing for me - the ending felt rushed and abrupt and I would have liked more about the subsequent lives of the people we had come to know. I also would have liked more contextualization about whether this led to changes on cruise ships and/or maritime safety in general.
December 16, 2022
I enjoyed this a lot better than the more current book on the Morro Castle disaster. This book focuses more on the last voyage and the people involved from passengers to the crew, and gives a nice rounded approach to the events that led up to that fateful September night. Reading like a mix of true crime and ocean liner non fiction, it didn't get as bogged down with descriptions of Rogers and his many crimes but gave enough details that you got the idea. The authors also carefully stepped on the line of saying what happened and who did it and presenting plausible information to prove it. Even after all these years there is little doubt that George White Rogers was the cold blooded culprit. His motives to me at least are kind of vague rumors of being fired, a man who wanted to make himself look like a hero by causing the fire he'd save others from. This was a really enjoyable (if a book about a horrific disaster can be enjoyable) and engaging read and I might check out more books by these authors.
August 25, 2022
This is one absolutely batshit story. It has everything: Communist plots, attempted arson, actual arson, attempted murder, ACTUAL MURDER?? And that’s BEFORE the ship is abandoned on fire off the coast of New Jersey.
I wish the convoluted and wild story of the Morro Castle had been told in a better book. Although the story was fascinating, you can really tell this book was written in the 70s. The author continually makes George White Rogers’ weight an issue—obviously he was a disturbed person because he was so grotesquely fat!—and talks about his mental state in really outdated, unsympathetic terms. I didn’t enjoy constantly hearing how the bad man is so fat. Really unnecessary.
I wish the convoluted and wild story of the Morro Castle had been told in a better book. Although the story was fascinating, you can really tell this book was written in the 70s. The author continually makes George White Rogers’ weight an issue—obviously he was a disturbed person because he was so grotesquely fat!—and talks about his mental state in really outdated, unsympathetic terms. I didn’t enjoy constantly hearing how the bad man is so fat. Really unnecessary.
March 21, 2018
A slice of history totally unfamiliar to me
This book has a shipwreck tale far different from the one’s I’m typically use to. A bit more into the nonsense age.
I was very startled at the incompetence of the crew of this luxury cruise ship.
That the villain of this story was just slippery enough to squeeze out from the grips of being more so many crimes was astounding.
In the end I really didn’t find too much satisfaction in this book. It is written in such a “just the facts” kind of way that it totally failed to draw in my emotions or even caring much for the victims.
This book has a shipwreck tale far different from the one’s I’m typically use to. A bit more into the nonsense age.
I was very startled at the incompetence of the crew of this luxury cruise ship.
That the villain of this story was just slippery enough to squeeze out from the grips of being more so many crimes was astounding.
In the end I really didn’t find too much satisfaction in this book. It is written in such a “just the facts” kind of way that it totally failed to draw in my emotions or even caring much for the victims.
November 26, 2019
First of all, this story is WACK, holy cow.
Unfortunately, the storyline badly needs an edit. The ‘whodunit’ is revealed like, 40 pages in. This would have been better arranged properly chronologically, and then at the end the authors present their ‘new information’ and tie everything together. As it is, this book is anemic and scattershot.
Also, published in 1977, which is not obvious from the updated graphic cover.
Unfortunately, the storyline badly needs an edit. The ‘whodunit’ is revealed like, 40 pages in. This would have been better arranged properly chronologically, and then at the end the authors present their ‘new information’ and tie everything together. As it is, this book is anemic and scattershot.
Also, published in 1977, which is not obvious from the updated graphic cover.
March 10, 2020
Amazing
Although this book was written in 1972 it really doesn't feel like it. I totally believe the authors' conclusions of what happened. If only the possibilities hadn't been overlooked by the authorities looking for the conclusions THEY wanted. This is more than well worth the read. I definitely would have enjoyed reading more about the passengers and crew, but understand how a book can only be so long. Read it!!
Although this book was written in 1972 it really doesn't feel like it. I totally believe the authors' conclusions of what happened. If only the possibilities hadn't been overlooked by the authorities looking for the conclusions THEY wanted. This is more than well worth the read. I definitely would have enjoyed reading more about the passengers and crew, but understand how a book can only be so long. Read it!!
October 12, 2018
Spent way too much time on what happened on the ship when a fire started. It didn't get interesting until the investigation started pointing fingers at an arsonist who continued setting bombs on unsuspecting people.
February 18, 2021
Hmm, Gordon Thomas, what was the strange fate of the Morro Castle? Cos all we know is it burned up (not strange) and... it must have been the radio psycho guy... we guess? Not a lot of detail here but a lot of anticommunism. I suspect this is actually propoganda.
February 19, 2021
Quick read, but abrupt ending
This is a good book and a very quick read. The detail regarding the sinking is excellent, but the ending is very abrupt. It doesn't go into what happened to many of the important players after their trials and the ending is very abrupt.
This is a good book and a very quick read. The detail regarding the sinking is excellent, but the ending is very abrupt. It doesn't go into what happened to many of the important players after their trials and the ending is very abrupt.
September 17, 2018
Lento y aburrido, además, cuenta cosas que no vienen al caso. Demoré tanto en leerlo y eso que no era tan largo.
October 13, 2018
I'd never heard of this horrible tragedy until I picked this one up a while back. Such a senseless loss of life, and so heartbreaking. Full review to come.
December 7, 2020
Just loved the historical novel. I grew up back there & heard about the Morro Castle running aground @the Convention Center in Asbury Park. Well written & must read for those who love history.
January 30, 2021
The story is incredibly interesting, but the book itself is not that great.
February 15, 2021
Alright addition to your disaster binging booklist
April 18, 2021
Very interesting book.
May 31, 2021
Until reading this book, I had never heard of the Morro Castle disaster before. This is a well-written book that makes you feel like you’re on board this doomed vessel.
August 16, 2021
Interesting Maritime Mystery
Well written and easily read, this little known true crime story is a page turner. Was it arson? It was definitely murder.
Well written and easily read, this little known true crime story is a page turner. Was it arson? It was definitely murder.
November 7, 2022
I was very pleased with this book. I am a retired 28 year navy vet. Mostly a blue water sailor so in many ways it made me sad. Overall a great read.
March 20, 2021
The authors tell a pretty straightforward, and mildly lurid, tale of a cruise ship full of secrets, and how mismanagement leads to an unmitigated disaster. The tone and momentum are page-turning, but they never quite hit a level where it's anything more than that, and there are a few characters, particularly the likely perpetrator, that might have made for a better book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews