by Rebecca Connolly (Author), Alana Kerr Collins (Narrator), Antony Ferguson (Narrator), Shadow Mountain (Publisher)

An AUDIObook Review by Jackie Houchin

We have all heard of (read about, seen in movies) the tragic sinking of the “unsinkable” luxury liner, RMS Titanic, on her maiden voyage to New York.  We have even seen photos of the broken ship lying 2.5 miles under the sea. Most recently we have read/heard of the disastrous attempt of the submersible, Titan, to get close to her.

But what was it like on that dark night in ice infested seas when the first distress call went out, and a radioman aboard the Carpathia happened to hear it. Harold Cottam had been undressing for bed, but still had the earpiece in his ear when it came in. He ran to Captain Arthur Rostron’s cabin, barged in without knocking and woke his commander. Ordered chaos followed as they raced, full speed, to the coordinates. Everyone, ship’s crew and passengers too, gave their all to help. Still, only 705 of Titanic’s 2,200 passengers were saved.

Rebecca Connolly wrote the story from both sides of the rescue, alternating between the Captain of Carpathia and a third-class passenger of Titanic, Kate Connelly (no relation to the author), both voiced by two wonderful narrators. The book is so well written and the narration so believable, that I was totally transported to the scene. The story also carries through after the Carpathia docked, in New York, with what happened to passengers, and a glimpse of the inquirey Captain Rostron experienced.

Connelly’s acknowledgment of the “Hand of Providence” (God) in the outcome of the rescue, and avowed many times by the captain in the story, was a sweet componant. And both the author and Captain Rostron acknowledged the Marconi (radio) man as the real hero. He was the first and seemingly only one who got the CQD distress call from Titanic. No other ship responded.

Rebecca Connelly has done a remarkable service in spotlighting the brave, quick-acting, and selfless captain and crew of the Cunard ship Carpathia in the daring attempt to rescue survivors of the Titanic disaster. This well-written historical novel is realistic, suspenseful, and at times heart-breakingly poignant. Connolly writes emotions that soar with hope and sink in agonizing sorrow. But in everything there is a distinct feel of truth, even in the fictionalized characters.

I commend her for her meticulous research and attention to detail, which she hints at in the Author’s Note at the back of the book. The documentation of the lives and deaths of the real characters after the story ends (also in the Author’s Note) put a stamp of realism on the book.

I highly recommend A Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice.

FIVE STARS

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