The Case of Cabin 13: A John Darnell Mystery (John Darnell Mysteries)

Rating:
Summary: Strikes an Iceberg
Review: I can not recommend this book. I had expected a good period piece with plenty of Titanic atmosphere and a somewhat supernatural mystery. I don't think either was delivered. The hero could have been on the Titanic or the Queen Mary, just because a ship hits an iceberg doesn't bring the Titanic scene to life.

Ther are other, much better mysteries set on the Titanic. Two that come to mind that I enjoyed are Max Allan Collins "The Titanic Murders" and Jack Finneys' "From Time to Time"

Rating:
Summary: Strikes an Iceberg
Review: I can not recommend this book. I had expected a good period piece with plenty of Titanic atmosphere and a somewhat supernatural mystery. I don't think either was delivered. The hero could have been on the Titanic or the Queen Mary, just because a ship hits an iceberg doesn't bring the Titanic scene to life.

Ther are other, much better mysteries set on the Titanic. Two that come to mind that I enjoyed are Max Allan Collins "The Titanic Murders" and Jack Finneys' "From Time to Time"

Rating:
Summary: Warning: Pseudo-spoiler ahead!
Review: Maybe it's because author Sam McCarver is, as his cover blurb puts it, "a lifelong mystery and history buff," but I think I was hoping for a fresh, accurate angle on what had been turned into a slickly commercial blockbuster. Whatever I was hoping for, I don't think I got it.

The case of the title refers to a series of mysterious suicides in first-class cabin 13 of different White Star Lines ships. As the maiden voyage of the supervessel Titanic approaches in 1912, nervous White Star executives approach famous paranormal debunker Professor John Darnell in an effort to dispel rumors of a White Star curse. This brings me to my first complaint: Considering the suspicious circumstances of the "suicides," I think--even in 1912--that most people would have been quicker to suspect a human murderer than a ghostly one. It's not like these were tightly constructed locked-room puzzles in the John Dickson Carr tradition.

In order to catch the culprit, Darnell agrees to occupy Titanic's cabin 13. This should make things interesting, right? Unfortunately, my second (and overwhelming) complaint is that anything actually having to do with solving the mystery is almost boring. Darnell lives and works almost entirely in his head, so any scenes that could be called "action" are few and far between, and they usually involve Darnell's Chinese manservant being attacked. The bulk of what Darnell does in this book falls into two categories: falling in love with shipmate Penny Winters, and berating himself for falling in love with Penny Winters, who just might be a murderess, even though the author makes it very clear to the reader that Penny is not a murderess, so it's really okay if he falls in love with her, thus robbing the reader of any sense of suspense regarding Penny Winters and making the reader scream, "Just boink her already!!"

I don't want to mislead you into thinking that I hated this book. It was actually quite pleasant. It seems to me, though, that the book's flaws are the result of conflicting desires. McCarver obviously wanted to include a great degree of historical detail in his story. I'm certainly not qualified to comment on its accuracy, so I took it all at face value. But McCarver had a difficult time weaving it into the story, and I think that may be partially due to a desire (or perhaps external pressure?) to tell a story in blockbuster style. This brings me to my third complaint, which is that I felt I was continually being pulled out of McCarver's straightforward little mystery and plunked down in the middle of a less inspired version of Cameron's sweeping saga. Had McCarver spent more time developing his unique story before interjecting the known historical elements, I think it would have been a much more satisfying read. It's still worthwhile, though, and does provide a slightly different perspective on the famous tragedy at sea.

(adapted from a "Skullduggery" review)

Rating:
Summary: A formula mystery with engaging historical interest
Review: The strength of this book is its historical background, but compared to giants like Noah Gordon who provide tons of historical information, McCarver is a lightweight. However, I did really enjoy the way the author wove his "who-done-it" around the enigmatic figures and grand details of the Titanic disaster. Mostly McCarver needs to flesh out his characters as real people though. The villain seemed wooden, even melodramatic, his motivations for murder sketchy and unrealistic, until the book's end when the author finally summed them up in a several, weak paragraphs. Though Darnell is British, nonetheless he seemed two-dimensional and emotionless, despite the fact that he was supposedly so overcome by his love for Penny that he got distracted from the task of unraveling the mysterious Cabin 13 suicides. The first two thirds of the book were the best as far as plot line. After the Titanic went down the plot got tedious while Darnell hunted down the murderous villain. This portion of the book should have been more concise and less predictable. I will read McCarver's next book, though, just to see if he has improved his skill in drawing rich, engaging characters. If he does, I'll probably be entertained by a reasonable plot, a richer Orient Express tapestry, and characters I can sink my teeth into.

Rating:
Summary: A light, interesting mystery
Review: The Titanic is an often-discussed subject. Our memories are reverent, painful and even romantic. Sam McCarver was able to blend in just one possible story among thousands, which I am sure were occurring on ship. He puts his protagonist in the middle of the trouble and the reader gets a birds eye view of the crew and the Titanic before and after she goes down.

Professor John Darnell is hired to find out why passengers are dying in cabin 13 on three different ships belonging to the White Star Line. It seems when those who meet the professor hear he is a paranormal detective their first thought is abnormal happenings with ghost and demons. Actually the Professor is a detective who is out to debunk the myth of ghosts or demons being the killer. And he believes the one behind the cabin 13 deaths is very much alive. I considered it an interesting reading. The mystery of whodunit was over a little too quick for me. Mr. McCarver is well versed in the history of the Titanic, as the reader will discover should he/she decide to read it.

Rating:
Summary: A light, interesting mystery
Review: The Titanic is an often-discussed subject. Our memories are reverent, painful and even romantic. Sam McCarver was able to blend in just one possible story among thousands, which I am sure were occurring on ship. He puts his protagonist in the middle of the trouble and the reader gets a birds eye view of the crew and the Titanic before and after she goes down.

Professor John Darnell is hired to find out why passengers are dying in cabin 13 on three different ships belonging to the White Star Line. It seems when those who meet the professor hear he is a paranormal detective their first thought is abnormal happenings with ghost and demons. Actually the Professor is a detective who is out to debunk the myth of ghosts or demons being the killer. And he believes the one behind the cabin 13 deaths is very much alive. I considered it an interesting reading. The mystery of whodunit was over a little too quick for me. Mr. McCarver is well versed in the history of the Titanic, as the reader will discover should he/she decide to read it.

Rating:
Summary: A formula mystery with engaging historical interest
Review: This is an excellent, intriguing book that is hard to put down. Complete with all the necessary elements of a great mystery story, (suspense, excitement, and foreboding clues) the story is also historically accurate. Highly recommended for mystery fans.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and a quick read
Review: Well done, Sam McCarver! I must say that while I don't EVER read mysteries, this was fun and interesting. I'm ready to hop aboard the Orient Express for another ride, so . . . All Aboard!! Will Sung make the trip? Seems appropriate! (Ah, I'll bet he comes in handy. Is that what you had in mind all along?)

Rating:
Summary: Entertaining mystery in the deadly Titanic setting
Review: What a breath of fresh air to have a work of fiction filled with historical elements! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters that Mr. McCarver delivered; I am looking forward to reading more about them in the near future. Unfortunately, so much of todays published works are filled with unrealistic and unappealing fantasy, but gladly, such is not the "case" with The Case of Cabin 13. This book is filled with creditable characters in a realistic setting creating a true drama and suspense novel. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical drama and even moreso to those looking for a good mystery series. I give this book "two thumbs up" at the very least.