Book Reviews

Review: Maiden Voyage

Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse (aka the Fake History Hunter) posted just a few days ago about what she calls "The Titanic Complex." She defines it as "when extra drama is added to a historical event because it is (wrongly) assumed that the truth is not exciting enough." What makes Maiden Voyage by Bradley Harper different from James Cameron's "Titanic" movie is that it is based on actual events concerning the very real all-female gang called the Forty Elephants and their plan to snag a priceless piece of art.

The book begins in the unofficial office of the Forty Elephants' leader Mary Carr who loves to quote literature. Samantha "Sam" McMurphy, the gang's enforcer who can pass herself off as a man as needed, handles Mary's meetings and announces a house maid with information on a painting belonging to her soon-to-be former employer. The Blondel has sold for one hundred thousand pounds (almost £10,000,000 today) and it set to be taken to the new owner in America by the employer's son.

The first third of the book details the gang's attempts to steal the painting before it leaves England. Eventually, they realize that their best bet is on the ocean liner as it sails across the Atlantic.

Besides Mary and Sam, there is also a young Pinkerton agent who is the son of a infamous thief and a petite French-Canadian woman who dabbles in jewelry work of the illegal type. Harry's notes as the first class passengers board provide insight into both him and them. Colette's role as maid to Mary's role as a rich widow gains her access to world of the liner's staff and crew. Their first encounter is a sort of an Edwardian age "meet cute" that hints at things to come.

Harper's prose rotates between vivid descriptions of the historic ocean liner and her passengers plus the movements and machinations of Mary's gang as they go through the steps of their planned heist. To be honest, I was so enthralled in the story of the all-female gang and the Pinkerton agent that I was almost shocked when the first mention of possible ice occurred. Oh yeah! This is all taking place on the Titanic!

I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Titanic lore myself. I watched the movie once on some streaming service years after it came out and don't remember much about it. I probably know more about the starship version of the Titanic that was featured in the Doctor Who episode "Voyage of the Damned" than the actual ocean liner. But this book has me intrigued!

As a history buff myself, I especially loved the author's notes at the end of the book. Harper does a great job explaining more about the real people in the book (including photos!) and the characters he created. Also, each chapter begins with a small drawing of the Titanic that made me smile each time I saw it.

I thoroughly enjoyed Maiden Voyage and plan to seek out Bradley Harper's first book A Knife in the Fog as soon as I can. I definitely want to read more about these characters too if we can!