Review: The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan

by:  Charlotte Rogan
published by:  Reagan Arthur Books
publish date:  April 3, 2012

The Lifeboat is about the survivors of the sinking of an ocean liner in 1914.  It's not about the Titanic.  There are references to it in this book.  So we're dealing with a completely different boat and different circumstances, although pretty much everything else is the same.  Too many people, not enough lifeboats and it's a life and death struggle to get in the few lifeboats available.

The difference with this book is what if no mayday alert got out?  What if those survivors in the lifeboats spent nearly a month at sea waiting to be rescued? 

The Lifeboat is told from the viewpoint of 22 year old Grace Winter.  She is recalling her time spent in the lifeboat while she is on trial for murder.  Grace details the everyday struggles the 39 people had to endure to stay alive on the small boat while they suffered from starvation, dehydration and exposure to the elements. 

For the most part I really liked this book.  I'm always a sucker for a survival story and especially when women are the strong ones.  I did have questions when I finished this book.  Why the ship sank was never explained.  The secrets of the boxes weren't ever told in full, although the contents were somewhat hinted at.  Some of the actions of John Hardie, the ship's mate, didn't make sense and I guess it was chalked up to madness brought on by starvation, but I don't know.  It felt like there was more to it, but it wasn't explained.

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