Death on the Lusitania

An Agatha Christie-Inspired WW1 Mystery on a Luxury Ocean Liner

By: R. L. Graham

Narrated by: Carl Prekopp

'An instant classic' – Daily Mail

The ship was doomed before it ever left port. His fate was sealed before he ever stepped on board. From R. L. Graham, Death on the Lusitania is an immersive WW1 historical novel set aboard the ill-fated ocean liner.

Welcome on board the Lusitania’s final voyage . . .

New York, 1915. RMS Lusitania, one of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners, departs for war-torn Europe. Among those on board is Patrick Gallagher, a civil servant in Her Majesty’s government tasked with escorting a British diplomat back to England.

When a fellow passenger is believed to have shot himself in his cabin, Gallagher is asked by the captain to investigate the scene but one crucial detail doesn’t fit. The man’s body was discovered in a locked cabin with the key inside and no gun to be found. Was it really suicide? Or murder?

Gallagher believes one of the passengers is a deadly killer - one who could strike again at any moment. And all the while, the ship sails on towards Europe, where enemy submarines patrol dark waters . . .

'This engaging and well researched mystery is perfect for lovers of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers' – Philip Gray, author of Two Storm Wood, The Times Thriller of the Year

Critic reviews

This outstanding novel is an instant classic

What's not to love about a fast-paced, richly detailed crime thriller set on the doomed RMS Lusitania? The rich supporting cast, many of whom are suspects, means that this book is unputdownable. A real page turner! (Ben Kane, the Sunday Times bestselling author)

An immersive, gripping book, a classic locked room mystery made even more compelling by the real-life story of the ocean liner’s demise and the political intrigues of the time

Set on a doomed ocean liner, this engaging and well researched mystery is perfect for lovers of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers (Philip Gray, author of Two Storm Wood, The Times Thriller of the Year)

Very much enjoyed this shipboard murder mystery with an appealing sleuth in Patrick Gallagher and a positive cornucopia of suspects. Totally absorbing! (Leonora Nattrass, author of Blue Water)

This rip-roaring thriller cleverly combines a gripping Christie-style locked room whodunit with an exciting fictional account of the tragic last voyage of the Lusitania in 1915. The sense of dread heading towards its inevitable climax keeps the reader on the edge of their seats, and in British agent Patrick Gallagher, RL Graham has created a heroic and captivating lead character that everyone will want to hear more from. Thoroughly addictive and not to be missed. (David Young, author of Stasi Chid)

Masterfully weaves historical detail with an enthralling locked-room mystery. Impeccably researched, the story is not just a great crime tale, with a compelling central character in Patrick Gallagher, but a haunting imagining of the last hours of the Lusitania (Chris Lloyd, author of Paris Requiem, the Winner of the HWA Gold Crown for Best Historical Fiction)

A wonderfully gripping read, capturing a vanished age and an enduringly fascinating real-life mystery, with a brilliant cast of characters and mounting tension. I enjoyed it tremendously (Oliver Harris, author of Ascension, BBC2 Between the Covers Book Club Pick)

A vivid historical detective mystery coupled with an exciting WWI espionage drama, replete with sinister, devious characters (Greg Mosse, author of The Coming Darkness)

Death on the Lusitania is a complex and compelling debut novel, full of interwoven plotlines, snippets of history and unusual, nuanced characters (Browser Books)

A shipboard thriller with a truly chilling undertow

Several unexpected, plot twists 

I really enjoyed this story, I wasn’t familiar with the history of Lusitania, but enjoyed all the plot twist in several sub stories within. I also always love Carl Prekopp and his ability to give each character their own personality through his voice. 

Plot

The story had a fantastic storyline, but so many side stories that it made it difficult to stay engaged. I feel like the story of dolly, billie, and franklin took away from the momentum of the story. The last hour of the book was perfect! I wish the book would have dug deeper into the characters that were in the cargo at the end.