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The Memory of Eva Ryker
How is the sinking of the "unsinkable" Titanic in 1912 related to a gruesome murder in Hawaii 29 years later? The narrator and primary character of the novel is Norman Hall, a writer who was a young patrolman with the Honolulu PD when the murder took place in 1941. He discovered the body and resigned from the force shortly thereafter. Now he has been offered a considerable sum to write about a very wealthy man's attempt to locate and raise the Titanic, the ship on which his wife died while his daughter was rescued. Hall is cynical, bitter, and inclined to smart comments and not at all convinced that everything is as he has been told.
412 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 1979
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
January 17, 2009
One of my favorites of all time. Travels through history from the sinking of the Titanic to the days just before Pearl Harbor, and then after.
You will not believe the plot twists and turns. Surprises abound, and you will be kept enthralled by them.
You will not believe the plot twists and turns. Surprises abound, and you will be kept enthralled by them.
July 18, 2024
Slick, fast-paced plot with an interesting subject matter. Some cringeworthy dialogues but I suppose it fits in well within the theme. All in all a great palate cleanser with nice twists to keep you hooked.
March 26, 2016
I have read many books on Titanic. I have never read one quite like this. It was totally different from any Titanic story I have read. For any that know the facts of the sinking and rediscovery, you have to set that knowledge aside and just enjoy. I did like this, possibly because of the off the wall approach. I was surprised it was published in 2015 as I felt like it would have be written before 1985. I am very intrigued at the writers approach to go the way he did with the story.
The book will travel through 1912 and the sinking to the day before Pearl Harbor (Dec 6, 1941) and there is lots of drama!!!
UPDATE: I clicked on the Amazon link to this book, and reviews were dated back to 2000, upon further research I see this book was published in 1978! Now it all makes sense to me. I change my thoughts with that thinking.....since it was published pre 1985, I say this is brilliant.
The book will travel through 1912 and the sinking to the day before Pearl Harbor (Dec 6, 1941) and there is lots of drama!!!
UPDATE: I clicked on the Amazon link to this book, and reviews were dated back to 2000, upon further research I see this book was published in 1978! Now it all makes sense to me. I change my thoughts with that thinking.....since it was published pre 1985, I say this is brilliant.
April 12, 2012
I first read this book about 30 years ago ... I'm sure I was drawn to it because of the Titanic connection, but only a small part actually takes place on or is directly about the Titanic. I've read it once or twice since and was interested to see what I thought of it now all these years later -- and what I think now is WOW what a great book! I'm one of those people who never remembers a book once I finish it - I remember the basic plot and whether I liked it or not but not usually the details, so I can enjoy a reread without knowing what's going to happen. In the case of this book that was a good thing because even though I've read it before, it still wowed me. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good fast paced mystery and a little history thrown in for fun. Hopefully I'll forget it in time so I can enjoy it once again sometime in the future.
July 8, 2019
The Criminal Element newsletter is reviewing previous years' Edgar winners. This book was a runner up the year "The Eye of the Needle" won. I've read "Eye" but this book didn't even ring a bell - I checked it out on Amazon and it sounded great so I bought the kindle edition, started it last night and have gotten nothing done today except reading this extraordinary book. The suspense kept my on the edge of my seat and the conclusion was completely satisfying. They don't write them like this anymore!
August 18, 2021
I picked up this book in a Hotel in Vienna during one of my many trips around Europe. I love when hotels have book shelves where passersby can leave books they've recently finished. This book was one of the only few in English and I picked it up the day I was leaving, as I had nothing or nobody to keep me company for the flight back to Paris.
It's a very unique story, is that it details intrigue on board the Titanic with trail of murders half way around the world. The story itself is full of intrigue and mystery, at times you are wondering how the author will tie it all up at the end, but he does manage with a plot turn that most people I gather would not imagined.
It's a very unique story, is that it details intrigue on board the Titanic with trail of murders half way around the world. The story itself is full of intrigue and mystery, at times you are wondering how the author will tie it all up at the end, but he does manage with a plot turn that most people I gather would not imagined.
August 8, 2023
This 1978 book narrates a fictional story that partly happenes aboard the Titanic before it sank.
It also immagines that submarines find the wreck and recover items, this 7 years before it actually happened. The story of the last hours of the Titanic, of the dialogues between Captain Smith, the first officer Murdoch and the builder Andrews are the same as those of the reconstructions and those we saw in Cameron's 1997 film.
The story of the book is quite intricate, with several twists and turns.
It also immagines that submarines find the wreck and recover items, this 7 years before it actually happened. The story of the last hours of the Titanic, of the dialogues between Captain Smith, the first officer Murdoch and the builder Andrews are the same as those of the reconstructions and those we saw in Cameron's 1997 film.
The story of the book is quite intricate, with several twists and turns.
January 24, 2022
I read this book when it first was published and never have forgotten how much I enjoyed it. Rereading was equally enjoyable because although I had forgotten a lot I did remember how the bodies just kept piling up. This is a a thriller, a murder mystery, a psychological drama and simply a darn good story. Most highly recommend.
August 11, 2022
4 Minus. Read in Norwegian
January 3, 2013
I had high hopes for this book, which were not totally disappointed. The plot line overall was well done, with plenty of twists and turns all interweaving with the infamous Titanic. Unfortunately the author, rather than simply telling his story, continually makes erroneous efforts at being alternately witty and deep, creating an all around sloppy writing style that is very distracting. If you can get past the atrocious piecing together of words, the story itself is a good one.
May 13, 2012
c1978: FWFTB: Titanic, unsolved, salvage, treasure, scheme. FCN: Eva Ryker, Norman Hall, Jason Eddington. 'Loosening my tie, I walked around the end of the bed. Naked except for sunglasses, William Ryker was a burned red lobster. Surrounded by olive green sheets, his gnarled body looked like a strip of bacon floating in a bowl of pea soup.'
July 13, 2013
Wow! At first, I didn't like this book, but I kept reading, waiting for it to get better, and I did well!! I really liked the ending.. I wasn't expecting any of that to happen and it took me by surprise.
It is not the best book I have read, but it's worthy.
It is not the best book I have read, but it's worthy.
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June 29, 2011Good read -dated!
June 24, 2012
Truly skillful story-writing
May 23, 2014
Very enjoyable. Fun to mix a good fictional murder mystery with details on and around the Titanic sinking.
June 2, 2016
A good story with many twists and turns throughout. Masterful storytelling!
May 27, 2015
A great mystery and a wonderful read.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews