Dead in the Water

More about the book

From award-winning journalists Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel comes a gripping true-crime narrative centered on a notorious maritime hijacking and the unsolved murder that threatened to expose a massive conspiracy. In July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was attacked by pirates in the perilous Gulf of Aden, resulting in a catastrophic explosion. Maritime surveyor David Mockett, inspecting the damaged vessel for Lloyd's of London, was left with perplexing questions: How did the pirates board so easily? If their goal was to steal the ship for ransom, why destroy it? Tragically, Mockett would never uncover the answers, as he was murdered shortly after his inspection. This shocking exposé reveals the criminal underbelly of international shipping, focusing on the Brillante hijacking and its repercussions. Through firsthand accounts from crew members, witnesses, and ex-London detectives turned private investigators, Campbell and Chellel unravel the complex truth behind one of history's most audacious financial frauds. Drawing on over four years of investigative reporting, this work uncovers a tangled web of conspiracy within the lawless maritime industry that supports our global economy.