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If you couldn’t tell by this year’s April Fools’ Day post, I’m a big fan of crime and mystery stories. I always have been. So when I stumbled across Buoyant: The Heist of Titanic II, I was immediately intrigued. Especially when it said it was intended for readers who “enjoy fresh, twisty, high-concept crime thrillers.” I’d say that’s definitely me.
Buoyant: The Heist of Titanic II is the debut novel by author Alan Hartwell. In his words:
The original voyage of Titanic in 1912 is such a powerful story and has touched so many lives that it would be a disservice to not acknowledge the enormous loss left in its wake. No other crossing has fuelled so much speculation, interest and analysis. Books, both fiction and non-fiction, films, stage plays and large-scale exhibitions have all come from the tragedy. And I have watched, read, travelled to and absorbed myself in each one of these mediums for over seven years in order to bring you the most accurate backdrop possible for the successor to the most famous ship in history.
This novel was inspired by the announcement of Australian billionaire Clive Palmer, that he intends to build a full-size fully functional replica of Titanic and put her into service.
A crime thriller based on a real-life billionaire’s eccentric plan to resurrect the most famous ship in the world? Count me in!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bright Ideas Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book to read and review.
Book Summary
British billionaire Lucien Croft has an ambitious idea: to build a replica of the ill-fated Titanic and sail it across the Atlantic with 2,000 passengers and 1,000 crew members. Managed by the Bright Star Line, Titanic II will offer a standard of luxury (including an outdoor pool) unheard of even in 1912. However, the new ship will stay true to the spirit of the original and aim to transport passengers back to the Edwardian era. As part of the overall experience, passengers will be required to wear period attire for the entire six-day voyage.
Scott Rainer has an even bolder idea: to rob Titanic II in the middle of the Atlantic. With First Class tickets starting at £100,000, the ship’s maiden voyage is sure to attract the world’s wealthy elite for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Scott plans to steal every gem, jewel, and high-value item aboard, estimating the job’s worth between £150-200 million. It’s a bold, audacious plan that could make Scott and his crew richer than they ever imagined.
Working with Scott is his charming but impulsive older brother Jay. The rest of the crew is comprised of a former US Marine and tech wizard named Ramirez, a French thief named Pascal, and new recruit Candy—a law student. She has personal reasons for joining the team and quickly becomes a valuable member. Candy also unintentionally threatens to drive a wedge between the Rainer brothers at a critical time. This will have repercussions for the entire Titanic II heist.
My Thoughts
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I stayed up late several nights reading and found it impossible to put down. The plot is fast-paced and exceptionally well-crafted. Hartwell has a real talent for creating relatable, human characters, and the character development is particularly impressive. Buoyant: The Heist of Titanic II is incredibly well-written and an absolute pleasure to read.
There were a few minor formatting issues throughout the text, but I attributed that to the fact I was reading an advance copy. I wanted to mention this because I know that sort of thing can frustrate some readers. However, it didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment of the book.
It’s clear that Alan Hartwell did his research on the original Titanic. He studied the ship’s blueprints extensively (although he admits to making some minor changes for plot purposes) and did years of exhaustive research. As a result, Hartwell devised a wholly believable plan for Scott and his crew to implement. The vivid descriptions of the new ship’s interiors made me feel like I was aboard Titanic II myself. Everything was so clear in my mind’s eye and I could almost smell the fresh paint.
Conclusion
I thoroughly enjoyed Buoyant: The Heist of Titanic II. Fans of crime thrillers as well as Titanic enthusiasts will appreciate this book. It’s a wild, fun, and enjoyable ride that takes readers from Surrey, England, to a Chinese shipyard and into the heart of the Atlantic Ocean. The book’s ending is particularly satisfying; I found myself smiling broadly and nodding enthusiastically.
Buoyant: The Heist of Titanic II offers lots of fun and surprises throughout. It kept my attention the entire time and I found myself wanting to read more after it was finished. That’s definitely the sign of a book, and I highly recommend it!
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