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John Decker #12

Deadly Crossing

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An ill-fated ocean liner on a tragic date with destiny…

A cursed Egyptian mummy on its way to the New World…

A frantic race against time…

April, 1912. With Mina still missing, and no clue to her whereabouts, John Decker has spent the last four months frantically searching. But now he might have found her. There's only one problem. He will have to board one of the most infamous ocean liners in history in order to get her back. The RMS Titanic.

With no other choice, he follows her aboard, intending to disembark in Queenstown before the mighty ship steams toward her deadly encounter with an iceberg. But it might not be that simple. The men who abducted Mina will not let her go without a fight. There are other problems, too. An ancient Egyptian mummy in the hold that might not be as dead as everyone thinks, and a dangerous enemy Decker has encountered before who have their own plans for the mummy... and Mina.

John Decker might just have found himself in the worst situation of his life. A situation with no way out.

404 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2022

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Anthony M. Strong

36 books307 followers

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5 stars
472 (65%)
4 stars
183 (25%)
3 stars
52 (7%)
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8 (1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
Profile Image for Carol.
3,763 reviews137 followers
August 10, 2023
It's been a long time since I read a John Decker book. Glad I found this one. As everyone knows I love spooky stories and this one, like all of Anthony Strong's books, fits that bill to a T. Deadly Crossing has the added benefit of being set on the Titanic and bit is added here along with the tragic loss of the liner and a great many of its staff and passengers. Since it's sitting on the bottom of the sea it is a perfect setting for eerie stories that can't be proved or disproved. A perfect home for spirits and other things that go bump in the dark. There is nonstop action and chilling thrills right up to its ending. The plot covers time travel, vampires, and the ill-fated ocean liner that is now home to several things you would not want to encounter in the dark or the light. The story line merged in well with history where it needed to. Anyone that is a fan of this supernatural horror and history will not be disappointed...well maybe a little that there's not another 300 or so pages.
Profile Image for Sammie Reads.
1,137 reviews183 followers
July 27, 2025
Man, this had PROMISE! Doctor Who meets Titanic meets The Mummy?! Execution, not so much. It fell flat dialogue wise and it was just too long, too dense, too rambling. Still, a fun ride!
Profile Image for Barefoot Gypsy Jimerson.
713 reviews55 followers
December 18, 2022
This was a lot of fun to read. You get a little history along with fantasy. John Decker an Mina are stuck on the Titanic with two kidnappers an two vampires along with one Egyptian killing numero uno vampire. The Titanic is going down three are left to try and get off the ship.
Bang up job on all fronts. The writer moves you along at such a fast pace you can't put the book down. If I made it this far I guess you can call me a fan if John Decker.
286 reviews2 followers
December 20, 2022
I found this book to be a compulsive page turner, which I did not want to take a break from. For me the consistent length of each chapter was a big plus concluding individual events. I have just the two criticisms to make. Firstly I felt an explanation was necessary as to how John Decker ended up in the year 1911. Time travel was an unexpected feature to come across. My second critique concerns the very limited amount of action directly concerning Decker. I would definitely have awarded five stars if the main hero of the story had clashed with the cult of anubis earlier in the book. What I loved was the vivid portrayal of life aboard the titanic for first class passengers, especially the luxurious fittings and food. The character of Mina and her back story was sufficiently explained for anyone coming across her for the first time. The fate of the mummy Amenmosep is I felt, deliberately left open for a follow up book. The fate of Mina is constantly in the balance. Can she escape her captors. Read to find out. As for Amenmosep his scenes are well crafted and fitfully scary. The cult of anubis vampires are also given a terrifying aura. Mister Strong writes convincing supernatural villains as few others can. This is a book I recommended to all fans of this genre.
Profile Image for Sudasha.
645 reviews17 followers
April 2, 2023
This was an ok read for me; I didn't enjoy it as much as the past books and I think that's partly due to the ambiguous conclusion regarding a particular villain. I wished there had been a concise closure and not the open-ended one but this is more of a personal issue. Otherwise, the plot flowed well in the way the series always does, and John continues to be a good MC.
45 reviews
December 23, 2022
Quite possibly my favorite book in the entire John decker series l

Well, Mr. strong has done it again. Though I have read all of the books in the John Decker series, this is quite possibly my favorite one of them all. With the perfect balance of fiction and historical fact Mr. Strong has woven a perfect tale. With his talented dedication to story detail and character development he has created a book series that makes you turn page after page into the middle of the night and then, once you finish the book You are left hungry for more. Bravo Mr. Strong for another wonderful adventure in the world of John Decker. Now on to the Christmas story, And on my long Christmas weekend no less. Sounds perfect to me.
Profile Image for myreadingescapism.
1,276 reviews16 followers
May 6, 2025
Wowzer, I was bogged down and bored to tears with thrillers and "horror" lately and then John Decker comes along and makes my day. Reminds me why I enjoy binging audiobooks again 😂🚢
4 reviews
December 25, 2022
I loved it and it’s a great read! But that’s just me. What can I say that’ll give an accurate reflection of what I’ve read?

Well let’s start by addressing expectations. I’ve noticed other reviewers compare Anthony M Strongs John Decker series with Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Whatever you do do not read this book based on this as it’s just not true. Dean Koontz’ writing is all about the best of human nature always prevailing against evil. His stories are woven with modern, mystical, spiritual enlightenment. Stephen King on the other hand is all about the story, so much so that his monsters and horror are almost incidental. On top of this both Dean Koontz and Stephen King are exceptionally mature writers and their writing style reflects this. Their books are grown-up.

This is not a poor reflection on Anthony M Strongs writing, it’s just different. Anthonys’ John Decker series are written in a cinematic style, and as such are more readily compared with movies. If you enjoyed the Indiana Jones franchise, Jurassic Park or American Werewolf in London then you’ll love the pace and subject matter of Anthonys’ John Decker books.

So what about this latest offering, ‘Deadly Crossing’? Well, first start thinking Brendan Fraser in The Mummy but with less laughs and your expectations will be set and rewarded in spades.

Although some of the early John Decker books could be read as stand-alone stories Deadly Crossing is definitely not one of these. This is a story line that started several books ago with Whitechapel Rising where many of the events and characters in Deadly Crossing have their origin. Here, in contemporary London we met a rejuvenated Jack the Ripper who we learn was actually an ancient, humanoid creature that could indefinitely retain his youth by black magic and the blood of humans. We have no idea exactly how old the creature is but we are also given a clue that he’s not the only one of his kind and that they have been living amongst us without our knowledge for millennia. The story also introduces us to the story of a Victorian secret agency The Order of St George dedicated to tracking down and overcoming exotic cryptids! So I’d really recommend you start reading the series if not at the beginning then at least with Whitechapel Rising.

The other thing you’ll notice when starting Deadly Crossing is that our protagonist, John Decker, a man from the 21st Century, is running around Victorian London! Again, another reason to read at least the previous few books in the series If you want to know what the heck is going on!

Anthonys’ writing skills have definitely improved since his first John Decker books and if you’ve read the series from the beginning, as I have, you’ll see a definite progress from apparently random, yet exceptionally enjoyable, monster hunter stories to a more rounded plot and theme development. In Deadly Crossing we’ve reached the stage where we’re comfortable with who John Decker is, what he stands for and how far he’s prepared to go to protect his loved ones, in this case his young friend and protege, Mia.

What’s still missing for me though is a bit more depth of character. The characters, probably due to the pace of the narrative, tend to be two-dimensional. I wouldn’t want Anthony to ruin the pace of his narrative with lengthy monologue or back-stories but I do think there’s room to flesh the characters out a bit more.

If I had a wish list though, I’d love to hear more stories about the vampiric creatures past - their history over the millennia must be fascinating. A series in the style of Anne Rices’ vampire stories would be a must read!

I’m not going to give a synopsis of Deadly Crossing, others can do that but be prepared for mummys, vampires and secret cabals (literally), all on-board the Titanic! Great fun! What I really want to do is give you an honest recommendation. If you love fast-paced, imaginative, cinematic monster stories that don’t take themselves too seriously then buy the prequels from Whitechapel Rising onwards, catch up with the adventure then sit back and enjoy the latest John Decker romp - Deadly Crossing!
Profile Image for Boomer.
394 reviews5 followers
July 7, 2023
I have mixed thoughts after finishing Deadly Crossing. On the positive side the idea of having Decker and Mina being trapped on the Titanic as it steams towards its inevitable doom is a clever idea that’s executed well. The descriptions of the ship and passengers all seem authentic and you can’t help but be caught up in the moment as the heroes try and avoid the bad guys while trying desperately to escape the vessel before it collides with the famous iceberg and gets sent to the bottom of the ocean. If that wasn’t bad enough, there’s also an ancient mummy being transported - with this being a John Decker story, you can guess what comes next….

The biggest problem for me in this story is the villains themselves - minor spoilers to follow. The antagonist role has shifted from the shadowy organization that abducted Mina to a group of vampires called The Cabal. I’ve read plenty of books with vampires as antagonists, and the ones that do it really well are the ones that put them over as intelligent and vicious - The Red Court from the Dresden Files comes to mind. The ones in Deadly Crossing I just can’t buy into as a threat. They’re a couple of guys who stroll around the Titanic with fine clothing and top hats, talking and acting exactly like everyone else. I understand they need to blend in, but one moment they’re cutting someone’s throat, the next they’re chatting about cigars and going for drinks in the bar. They’re just a little too normal for me to take them seriously. They also don’t seem very bright, with Mina being able to easily outwit them time and time again.

I am curious where the John Decker series will go from here. It seems like the whole thrown back in time angle is going to be coming to a close soon and that’s a good thing. Hoping to see Decker back to monster hunting soon!
Profile Image for Dawn.
205 reviews15 followers
December 24, 2022
AM I READY FOR THE NEXT JOHN DECKER BOOK - HELL YES!!!!

(Especially after this book I ask the author)!!

This book is set in 1912 and John Decker and Mina are still stuck in the past, but as you know Mina is still missing and John Decker has been looking for her for the last four months. Has a mole infiltrated the Order of St George, Decker is on the trail to find out.

Inbetween this though there is a deadly or supernatural monster thrown into the mix too. Decker and Nina end up on the RMS Titanic and we know what happens to the Ocean Liner in history. They are in the worst situation ever, but aren't they always oh dear!!!!

Well, what can I say this is the 11th book in this series and I have absolutely loved every story. But just as I thought phew, I could relax with this book, the author throws in another twist and a cliffhanger in my opinion, oh no you can't do that to me, shouting at the book I know.
837 reviews
January 1, 2023
Not my favorite book in the series. I liked the Titanic angle but it has been done to death and I was hoping for somethung new and exciting. Unfortunately, I was rather disappointed in how it was handled. I also thought that part of the story dragged and was repetitive. I thought Decker accepted his presence on the doomed ship too easily. Once my mission was accomplished I would have been frantic and constantly wracking my brain for a way out. On the plus side, I found the book almost impossible to put down and it did keep me guessing in some quarters. I like the series a lot but every now and then one of the entries won't resonate with me. Unfortunately, this was one of those books. I'm looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Cat B..
787 reviews7 followers
December 16, 2022
I have to admit that I am a staunch fan (one might say rabid even) of the Decker series, but in this one, Anthony Strong has hit full stride. What a fabulous read!. As much as I tried not to, as I wanted to savor the story, there were parts that I just raced through, loathe to slow down. You never know when an author might do the unthinkable and kill off a favorite character and I HAD TO KNOW. Having just now finished, I think I need a moment to cleanse my mental palate and read a cozy with kittens or puppies or something innocuous. Brava for a tale well told!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest and unbiased opinion of the tale.
33 reviews4 followers
December 14, 2022
Decker is still trying to find Mina. His quest leads him onboard the most famous ship in history the Titanic. Unfortunately for Decker he has more than the sinking ship to deal with! An ancient mummy come to life and wreaking havoc and committing brutal murders! This book is brilliant it reads just like an action movie! I loved it from start to finish! Could not put it down! It's one of the best of the series and I think Anthony's writing takes the reader on the journey perfectly! Highly recommend it and the rest of the series!
Profile Image for varena manion.
134 reviews
December 26, 2022
book 11

I have throughly enjoyed the John Decker series and will continue to read Strong’s work, mostly. There are few sub genres I won’t read. I rated Deadly Crossing three stars: one star deduction for poor grammar. Misusing first person singular pronouns at this stage in a writers career is unacceptable. Another deduction, this book was just too easy to put down, it took me three days to finish it. Repetition of details was annoying. If reader’s have invested time and money into this series then Deadly Crossing is a must read. I just expected to enjoy it more than I did.
Profile Image for Rose Haskins.
814 reviews5 followers
January 15, 2023
Awesome series

Oh my goodness, what an exciting story. Vampires, and the Titanic. Really enjoyed this story in the series, could not put it down. Then I saw the title of the next story in line FINAL DESTINY and feared that it would be the last in the John Decker series, till I read the epilogue of sorts. I was tickled to see that Anthony Strong has many more ideas for John and Mina. My only hope is that Mr. Strong gets them written quickly, or I may have to become a ghost and read over his shoulder if my time comes before he's done.
Profile Image for Elsie  Kenast.
7 reviews
January 18, 2023
Well, I don't need to repeat what all the others have said. I would like to add that this is a little different from his other books. The tale is an excellently written to combine fact and fiction.
The ending is not full of twists and turns though. But, You are left with a cliff hanger. So, you will have to read his new extension of the Deadly Crossing which is Final Destany. Your imagination will keep you busy as to what happens with the vampire mummy and the future of John Decker and Mina.
New York here they come.
Profile Image for Terry and dog.
1,009 reviews36 followers
February 7, 2023
How long can you hold your breath? I found myself holding my breath while reading, quite a few times. Once started, you cannot stop. This is a continuation of John Decker's quest to find Mina and bring her back to the future where they belong. I'm not normally a time travel fan, but when there are vampires and the Titanic involved, it was a must read for me. I already knew that I like the main characters, and the setting and obvious issues with being on the Titanic made it a fast, compulsive read.
Profile Image for Cattie Whaley.
300 reviews2 followers
April 25, 2023
Great read!

Imagine finding yourself taking a journey on the Titanic! That's just where Decker finds himself this time. And all because Mina is on board somewhere being held hostage by her captors. And what else is on the ship? Monsters, of course! It's a race against time knowing when the Titanic is going to sink. Can Mina and John stay alive long enough to make an escape off the doomed ship? What a wild ride. Mr. Strong did an excellent job researching the Titanic and bringing it to life in this book. Highly recommend!
29 reviews
March 14, 2024
deeply invested in Decker

Okay. These books are easy reads. I like Decker and Mina (and the whole gang). But dear author, you don’t have to keep repeating yourself as often as you do. I got tired of reading for the umpteenth time Decker and Mina bemoan not being able to save anyone from their fate. Or the master at arms saying over and over he doesn’t believe in the supernatural. It’s a habit you have in many novels. It seems just too repetitive. My only advice from someone who has never written a creative line in my life.
9 reviews1 follower
December 24, 2022
Another brilliant Decher book. Decher is still searching for Mina which takes him aboard the fated Titanic. With a, not ordinary, Egyptian Mummy plus the organisation holding Mina and a couple of unsavoury characters this story shoots along at one hel of a pace. It is longer than his usual novels but it never flags in pace. One of the best he has written and at the risk of a spoiler there is some ice involved 😉. Buy it. Sit back and get taken on an adventure you won't forget
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,395 reviews8 followers
February 4, 2023
John Decker has tracked his missing friend Mina to an ocean liner, leaving England soon. The problem is that the ocean liner is the R.M.S. Titanic and Decker must get Mina off the ill-fated ship before it hits the iceberg. Filled with twists, turns, historical figures, and an ancient evil, this was one of the best in the series. Another great installment with me staying up late into the night to finish. I'm very excited to see what and who John Decker encounters in the next book!
Profile Image for Trevor.
1,445 reviews2 followers
March 6, 2023
Still stuck in 1911 and searching for Mina, John Decker finds himself on the maiden voyage of the Titanic. With his future knowledge, he also knows it is the last!! With time to disembark fading, Decker finds Mina but is then trapped on board the doomed ship, with the man in the suit, vampires, an ancient vampire and the doomed passengers. Good story, with the time travel paradox. Would you or should you change the past.
Profile Image for MRS G .
267 reviews3 followers
May 20, 2023
Beyond brilliant!

Goodness me I've romped through this book, holding my breath as I went. It's soooo interesting, as well as exciting. (Who isn't intrigued about the unsinkable ship that sank on her maiden voyage!)

It brought to life the luxury and devastatingly short 'glory' of the Titanic. 🚢

Oh and of course let's not forget there's a monster in the mix.

My absolute favourite John Decker so far. 🌟
113 reviews
May 27, 2025
Stand out of the series

I'm working my way through the John Decker series of books and thoroughly enjoying them all, THIS one however has been a bit of a "stand out" however due to the time travel and finding himself and Mina trapped on the Titanic, what could so easily have been a hatchet job, it's pretty clear the author had spent some time researching the Titanic and events around it, really well done and looking forward to the next John Decker stories
Profile Image for Lakota Schultz.
391 reviews2 followers
September 18, 2025
A historical episode in Decker's life!

Decker and Mina find themselves embroiled in an Egyptian mummy horror story that takes them to a very famous ship.
This addition to the series leaves you wondering how Mina and Decker will make it alive.
At one point I was hoping for a storm of biblical proportions to whisk them away, but this, as usual, takes you right to the edge.
A super fun read!
426 reviews7 followers
December 20, 2022
Unputdownable reading

Another nail biting episode in the John Decker series of books set in 1911 onwards non stop action and thrills till its ending on board the ill fated Titanic. Story line merged in well with history and for those who love this genre of book you will not be disappointed very highly recommended by me
354 reviews3 followers
December 24, 2022
Received as ARC. Excellent story. John ends up in London in 1912, trying to find Mina and return to the 21st century. She is kidnapped and is intended to be taken to New York, along with what is thought to be the first vampire, They all end up on the Titanic, and the story is fantastic. Looking forward to next adventure.
836 reviews4 followers
January 2, 2023
5 Stars

Thankfully this one didn't end with a cliffhanger, Oh John Decker and Mina's ordeal in the past is far from over but this one didn't leave you hanging like the last so 5 Stars instead of 3. Decker trying to rescue Mina from the kidnappers ends up on the most famous ship in history, along with a very old and hungry vampire.
150 reviews2 followers
January 4, 2023
incredible

I began this book upon receiving. I put it down because I felt bogged down in detail. But I picked it up again and I’m soooo glad I did. Incredible action and wonderful finish. Mr. Strong’s attention to detail makes the action so easy to “see.” Read!!! Use to details to deepen your experience. It is well worth it.
733 reviews13 followers
January 10, 2023
This is the second book of Decker in the past woven into the story of the Titanic. The book is a bit slow. I did like the way Strong managed to weave his characters into the history. Not exactly a cliffhanger, but still leaves the characters struggling with no resolution in sight.

I received this book for free and wished to leave a review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews

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