The Mary Celeste

Brian Freemantle resolves one of the greatest maritime mysteries of all time

What happened to the Mary Celeste? A merchant vessel sailing out of New York with an Italy-bound shipment of commercial alcohol, the brigantine began her fateful journey in November 1872. One month later she was sighted on an apparent return course, her sails set but torn, her deck abandoned. The ship was in good condition, with her cargo intact. There was no sign of an attack, but the crew had vanished. What was to follow spawned the most famous maritime ghost story of all time: Convinced of murder and mystery, the British court investigator suppressed evidence to bolster his case. Rumors abounded of sea monster attack, Barbary Coast piracy, and the crew having been sucked from the vessel as it sailed over the site of the fabled Atlantis. Regardless, the mystery remained unsolved. Until now. In this thrilling retelling, Brian Freemantle depicts for the first time how the truth was turned into fantasy and legend, largely through the imagination of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes.  This ebook features an illustrated biography of Brian Freemantle including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.