Murder on the High Seas

The ocean hides more than sunken ships and forgotten treasures — it swallows secrets, muffles screams, and carries killers far beyond the reach of any court.

From the ghostly legend of the Flying Dutchman to the chilling mysteries of the Mary Celeste and MV Joyita, the sea has always been the perfect accomplice. Yet some stories aren’t legends at all. They’re flesh and blood tragedies, dark decisions made under starlit decks, and crimes that vanish as quickly as a body pulled beneath the waves.

In Murders on the High Seas, Bill Stewart — a man who spent decades aboard ships — delves into the haunting world of maritime crime. From pirate betrayals to modern cruise ship vanishings, from eerie distress calls to his own chilling encounters during naval service, these tales reveal just how easily danger slips past the rail.

Why is murder so hard to prove at sea? What twisted games unfold on isolated decks where trust can be fatally misplaced? And could the person sharing your watch be hiding darker thoughts than the rolling tide?

Perfect for fans of true crime, ghost stories, and maritime history, this book is a stark reminder: at sea, even the most ordinary voyage can end in unspeakable ways.