Dead Wake by Erik Larson

     On May 1, 1915, the Cunard’s flagship oceanliner, the Lusitania, set off from New York, bound for Liverpool.  WWI was 10 months old, but America was still neutral.  Gentlemanly warfare rules dictated that passenger vessels were safe from attack, but Germany was about to change that.  Circumstances—a dense fog, mandated slower speeds for Cunard liners, lack of an expected military escort, and more—resulted in the Lusitania being sunk by 1 torpedo from a German U-boat.  Larson is an adept historical writer, drawing you into life aboard the Lusitania, the U-20, the British military machine, and the White House.  This is a fascinating read!