Books like The Ghost of the Mary Celeste by Valerie Martin

Set in 1872, the novel follows the discovery of the American merchant vessel Mary Celeste adrift off Spain, its cargo intact but its crew missing. The maritime enigma becomes the centerpiece of a complex story that spans late‑nineteenth‑century British literature, American spiritualism, and investigative journalism. A young Arthur Conan Doyle, aboard a voyage to Africa, is inspired to write a sensational short story about the incident. The tale circulates in the United States, sparking debate between the sought‑after spiritualist medium Violet Petra and rationalist journalist Phoebe Grant, who intends to expose Petra’s fraud. Meanwhile, the captain’s family—a lineage marked by sea‑related tragedy—holds essential clues to the disappearance. Through diaries, letters, and the haunting presence of the ghost ship, the narrative explores themes of death, creativity, and the blurred line between the living and the unseen.

First publish date: 2014