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The Mary Celeste
On 5th December 1872, Captain David Reed Morehouse sighted the Mary Celeste, an American half-brig carrying 1,700 barrels of commercial alcohol, apparently calling for help. The fluttering he took to be a distress signal was a ripped, tattered sail; the wheel was unmanned; the master, Captain Briggs, his wife, their two-year-old daughter and the entire crew had disappeared. Frederick Solly Flood, Attorney General of Gibraltar, can see only one possible cause -- mutiny and murder. In a tense courtroom, he is determined to prove a dreadful crime has been committed; turning a civil inquiry into a criminal prosecution and allowing stains on the deck -- which he knows to be rust -- to be passed off as blood. Two compelling narratives are as Flood forces the evidence and badgers the witnesses, the voyage itself is brought vividly back to life. But there remains one simple, known fact. Its repercussions have been overlooked by history, but they at last point to the true fate of those aboard the Mary Celeste....
- GenresFiction
208 pages, Hardcover
First published December 4, 1980
About the author
Brian Freemantle
106 books69 followersAka John Maxwell, Jonathan Evans, Jack Winchester, Harry Asher and Richard Gant.
Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.
Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.
Brian Freemantle [b. 1936] is one of Britain's most acclaimed authors of spy fiction. His novels have sold over ten million copies worldwide. Born in Southampton, Freemantle entered his career as a journalist, and began writing espionage thrillers in the late 1960s. Charlie M (1977) introduced the world to Charlie Muffin and won Freemantle international recognition—he would go on to publish fourteen titles in the series.
Freemantle has written dozens of other novels, including two featuring Sebastian Holmes, an illegitimate son of Sherlock Holmes, and the Cowley and Danilov series, about an American FBI agent and a Russian militia detective who work together to comabt organized crime in the post-Cold War world. Freemantle lives and works in London, Englad.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 24, 2019
A believable solution to the "Mary Celeste" mystery
Writing as John Maxwell, Brian Freemantle provides his take on the disappearance of the crew of the "Mary Celeste". Written in the form of an entertaining novel, Freemantle uses the facts of the matter and logical inferences and speculation to offer one of the best and most likely solutions to the mystery which I have ever read. Additional facts are included in an epilogue.
In this account, and I think in reality, one of the people who created much of the confusion and subsequent erroneous speculation is Mr. Frederick Solly Flood, Attorney-General and Admiralty Proctor of Gibraltar. Elsewhere, I have read Flood described as an arrogant and pompous man with both of those traits being much greater than his IQ would warrant. Apparently once he got an idea in his head, it couldn't be dislodged. In this novel, Mr. Freemantle records Flood's nickname as Pouter Pigeon. Flood initially accepted the post of attorney general at Gibraltar in 1866 after selling his legal practice because of gambling debts. Unfortunately I have worked for and with prosecutors just as dense and stubborn as is Flood in this version of events, so I have little trouble with the idea that he is a main villain of the piece. Fortunately for my peace-of-mind and even sanity, I also worked with some great prosecutors including one who went on to become widely recognized for his legal acumen and ability.
Writing as John Maxwell, Brian Freemantle provides his take on the disappearance of the crew of the "Mary Celeste". Written in the form of an entertaining novel, Freemantle uses the facts of the matter and logical inferences and speculation to offer one of the best and most likely solutions to the mystery which I have ever read. Additional facts are included in an epilogue.
In this account, and I think in reality, one of the people who created much of the confusion and subsequent erroneous speculation is Mr. Frederick Solly Flood, Attorney-General and Admiralty Proctor of Gibraltar. Elsewhere, I have read Flood described as an arrogant and pompous man with both of those traits being much greater than his IQ would warrant. Apparently once he got an idea in his head, it couldn't be dislodged. In this novel, Mr. Freemantle records Flood's nickname as Pouter Pigeon. Flood initially accepted the post of attorney general at Gibraltar in 1866 after selling his legal practice because of gambling debts. Unfortunately I have worked for and with prosecutors just as dense and stubborn as is Flood in this version of events, so I have little trouble with the idea that he is a main villain of the piece. Fortunately for my peace-of-mind and even sanity, I also worked with some great prosecutors including one who went on to become widely recognized for his legal acumen and ability.
August 7, 2025
3.25⭐️
An intriguing take on a possible resolution to a real-life mystery, and quite well written. I really enjoyed the blend of past and present timelines—it added depth and kept the story engaging throughout. The ending was so tense and gripping that I found myself rooting for the protagonists, even though the outcome was clear from the start. The narration was smooth and pleasant, making it a great quick listen overall.
An intriguing take on a possible resolution to a real-life mystery, and quite well written. I really enjoyed the blend of past and present timelines—it added depth and kept the story engaging throughout. The ending was so tense and gripping that I found myself rooting for the protagonists, even though the outcome was clear from the start. The narration was smooth and pleasant, making it a great quick listen overall.
Read
October 12, 2020As someone long intrigued by the mysterious story of the Mary Celeste, I was looking forward to settling into a novel that explained what happened and why. Well, the reader gets exactly that, but this reader didn’t find it all that interesting. Half the book covers the salvage trial held afterwards, none of which held my interest. I could have done without all of it. I would have preferred Freemantle just tell us the story of what happened on the Mary Celeste. It might have been shorter, but I’d have found it more enjoyable.
August 23, 2014
[2.5] *POTENTIAL SPOILER* It was fine... up until the last paragraph or so, which rendered the whole imagining relatively pointless. WHY include an anecdote that's completely contradictory to the potential scenario you propose?!
Want to Read
April 3, 2019Synopsis: the basic facts are true; in 1872 the Mary Celeste was found adrift near the Azores. Deserted. What happened to the captain and crew?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews