Beyond the Headlines

Major historical events are often reduced to a headline, a familiar story or competing versions of what happened.

Billy’s Book Club helps readers go further.

Through evidence-led books, “what Happened” articles and companion material, we examine what happened, why it happened, what the evidence supports, where accounts differ, and which questions may still remain unanswered.

The aim is to turn complicated events into clear, accessible stories without oversimplifying the evidence or losing sight of the people affected by them.

"Tell the story honestly. Respect the facts. Never lose sight of the people."

Our Mission

Billy’s Book Club exists to explore important events, investigations and stories with clarity, evidence and respect for the people involved.

Through books, “What happened” articles and companion material, our aim is to look beyond the headlines, explain what happened and why, examine the evidence and unanswered questions, and help readers better understand the events that shaped our world.

Tell the story honestly. Respect the facts. Never lose sight of the people.

About Bill Stewart.

Bill Stewart is a Scottish author and former Marine Auditor and Lead Accident Investigator whose work explores major disasters, maritime and aviation history, intelligence operations, true crime and significant historical events.

Before becoming a full-time writer, Bill spent more than four decades at sea, beginning as a Boy Seaman and later working in senior maritime roles involving marine auditing, accident investigation, safety management and complex operational systems.

That experience continues to shape the way he approaches history.

Rather than simply retelling the headline version of an event, Bill looks beneath it — examining timelines, evidence, decisions, human factors and the circumstances that allowed events to unfold. His aim is not merely to describe what happened, but to help readers understand how and why it happened, what investigators discovered, and which questions may still remain unanswered.

Today, Bill writes across investigative nonfiction, maritime and aviation history, espionage, engineering, historical events, true crime and historical fiction.

His nonfiction has examined subjects including the sinking of the Titanic, the OceanGate Titan disaster, the Lockerbie bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, Air India Flight 182, MH370, Chernobyl, Apollo 13 and other events in which evidence, engineering, leadership and human judgement collided.

Billy’s Book Club

Billy’s Book Club is the home of Bill’s writing and research.

Alongside his books, the site features historical articles, investigative background pieces, companion material and new writing exploring the people, evidence and events behind the stories.

The aim is simple: to give readers more than a book description or sales page. Wherever possible, the site provides useful historical context, additional reading and a clearer understanding of the real events that inspired or shaped Bill’s work.

A Writer Shaped by the Sea

Bill continues to travel throughout the United Kingdom and Europe, often finding inspiration in old ports, shipyards, islands, historic landscapes and places where remarkable events once unfolded.

Many ideas still begin in much the same way — with curiosity, a notebook, a camera and a good cup of tea.

Based in Scotland, Bill remains fascinated by history, engineering, investigation, leadership, human resilience and the decisions that can change the course of events.

His purpose as a writer remains straightforward:

to uncover stories worth remembering, examine them carefully and tell them in a way that informs, engages and respects the people at their heart.

Thank you for visiting Billy’s Book Club. I hope you’ll stay awhile, explore the stories, and perhaps discover one you hadn’t encountered before.

Bill Stewart