Erik Larson’s Dead Wake: The Last Crossing of the Lusitania is a spellbinding retelling of World War I history, global political machinations, and devastating maritime disaster. The story explores the journey of the great ocean liner leading up to the inevitable tragedy, painting the Lusitania as a linchpin, a turning point toward modern warfare as the code of honor with which war had been fought was shattered, and a rung in the ladder of America’s climb to a world power.

The first hundred pages begin slowly, setting the stage with information about the war, the ship, and her captain. Once the ship gets underway, so too does the story. Mr. Larson takes the reader aboard the ship and the U-20, into the White House and Room 40. The tale brings historical figures to life on the page. Some characters were more interesting than others, and one who particularly interested me was Charles Lauriat, an antiquarian bookseller. Both Germany and Britain are painted in a less than favorable light, and Captain Schwieger takes on the role of a chilling villain as he steers his U-boat closer into position. The characters of Woodrow Wilson and Edith Bolling Galt provided a romantic subplot, but one that I did not feel was necessary for the story.

Close to 1,200 people perished with the sinking of the Lusitania, and Mr. Larson’s well-crafted retelling is an outstanding tribute to those lost. The book is not solely about the event. Instead, Mr. Larson delves into the era as a whole, transporting me to the second decade of the twentieth century with rich detail and a riveting writing style. Dead Wake is a tense, suspenseful tale, and with each page, I was drawn ever closer to the tragic end.