The Midnight Watch

Author/Guide: David Dyer

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1912: There was a ship sailing close to the Titanic that fateful night. One that did not answer the distress calls..

ISBN: 978-1782397793
Genre: Fiction, Historical

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What you need to know before your trail

April 1912 is a day that history will never forget. More than 1500 souls died at sea during the sinking of the Titanic. The freezing waters claims many of its victims instantly whilst others are left to freeze to death in the calm ocean.

Despite the many distress signals sent by the Titanic, there was a ship, the SS Californian which was close enough to see them. Yet it did nothing and did not come to its aid and the crew would later say that they saw nothing.

Not surprisingly the story becomes a scandal and journalists hound those on board to pick at the pieces. One journalists is Steadman by name and Steadfast by nature and he is determined to get at the truth.

Just what was the ugly truth that took place out there in the ocean at the dead of night?

Locations

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England
A: Southampton Docks

Travel Guide

The Titanic is a story that we think we all know but this view is from those on board the SS Californian which was the nearest ship to where the Titanic foundered.

John Steadman, is a fictional character but a realistic reporter who is determined to give a voice to those who perished and to bring those responsible to justice. It’s the captain and the man on the midnight watch who cause the most concern.

The feel of this novel is like reading a newspaper report of the day and getting swept up in the chaos, the misunderstandings, the clamour for the truth and the fight to get the truth to stick. Justice for those who can’t speak for themselves. Dyer uses authentic sources to build up a fictional account of the truth.

The Californian

Stanley Lord, the Captain and Herbert Stone, the Second Officer are both real characters as is Cyril Evans the wireless operator. Minute by minute and hour by hour, each of their movements and decisions are made, the men studied and their actions judged as the SS California sails into the history books – and not for the right reasons.

What captain could ignore the signal for ‘ peril at sea’. Why did the warning go unheeded? What consequences would this have had for the people waiting to hear about their families and loved ones?

Booktrailer Review

Susan @thebooktrailer

I’m fascinated by the Titanic story and this novel shone a really unique light on a well known story. I’d heard of the ship that could have helped but didn’t and have not read much about it though as it were hidden in history. I was intrigued to read this then and see what might have happened.

A lot is based on authentic records and transcripts as the author explains in his author’s note and whatever is true or not,I found it really interesting to find out why a ship might not have helped at the time. If the book is true or even partly true, then it’s even more of a tragedy that it turned out to be.

The pace is slow and at times there is a little bit too much repetition of that night as many people discuss it and report it but then when the waters start to clear (kind of) by the end, the whole sorry state of affairs rears its ugly head. If you’re interested in Titanic stories then this is a really unique and fascinating one.