In The Hindenburg Murders, Max Allan Collins brings to life a world on the brink
of war, a world where paranoia rules and Germany is poised to show its military might.
Against this background he brings to life the forgotten experience of airship travel, propeling
the reader into the sky on a lighter than air zeppelin, the doomed Hindenburg, a luxurious
trip to rival the finest ocean liner in many aspects. Doing his usual top-notch research
job, Mr. Collins takes the reader on a journey aboard a ship sailing toward its date with
destiny.
The amateur detective for this mystery is Leslie Charteris, creator of the Saint, a
character who has seen life in novels, movies and television. As a passenger aboard the
Hindenburg, Charteris finds evidence of foul play and after presenting it to the captain
and a Luftwaffe officer, is asked to investigate and hopefully solve the case before the ship
arrives in America. Being the only "former-police- constable-trained-in-criminology-
turned-mystery-writer" on board, he agrees.
Charteris discreetly interviews all the suspects and slowly the truth of the situation
dawns on him. All the characters, passengers and crew, are vividly portrayed and many
give insights into the political situation in Nazi Germany at the time. The solution
presented is a logical one and the ending is very satisfying.
The book is a follow-up to The Titanic Murders, where Mr. Collins used another
mystery writer, Jacques Futrelle, to solve a murder on another ill-fated infamous journey.
This book will likely receive less attention due to the lack of a blockbuster movie dealing
with the same subject, but deserves to find a wide audience. It is a captivating mystery,
extensively researched.
