The book received widespread praise from contemporary critics. The New York Times called it "stunning ... one of the most exciting books of this or any other year".[6] The Atlantic Monthly praised the book for doing "a magnificent job of re-creative chronicling, enthralling from the first word to the last."[6] Entertainment Weekly said that it was "seamless and skillful... it's clear why this is many a researcher's Titanic bible", while USA Today described it as "the most riveting narrative of the disaster."[6]