Dead in the Water

Inside the corrupt and secret business of global shipping, the explosive true story of a notorious international fraud and murder

Shortlisted for the 2022 Financial Times Business Book of the Year Award.

***A Waterstones Best Books of 2022 pick***

A Financial Times, The Times and The Economist Book of the Year

'Gripping... A startling tale of fraud and impunity. ' The Economist

'I read it in one sitting, and I know it'll stay with me for a long time.' Oliver Bullough, Sunday Times bestselling author of Moneyland

Inside the corrupt and secret business of global shipping, the explosive true story of a notorious international fraud and murder

In July 2011, the oil tanker Brillante Virtuoso was drifting through the treacherous Gulf of Aden when a crew of pirates attacked and set her ablaze in a devastating explosion. But when David Mockett, a maritime surveyor working for Lloyd's of London, inspected the damaged vessel, he was left with more questions than answers. Soon after his inspection, he was murdered.

Dead in the Water is a shocking expose of the criminal inner-workings of international shipping, an old-world industry at the backbone of our global economy. Through first-hand accounts of those who lived the hijacking - from members of the ship's crew and witnesses to the attacks, to the ex-London detectives turned private investigators seeking to solve Mockett's murder - award-winning reporters Matthew Campbell and Kit Chellel piece together the astounding truth behind one of the most brazen financial frauds in history.

About the Authors

Matthew Campbell is a reporter and editor at Bloomberg Businessweek. He has reported from more than 20 countries and is currently based in Singapore.

Kit Chellel is a reporter at Bloomberg and a writer for Bloomberg Businessweek. His features have won numerous international awards and prompted investigations by the UK's market regulator. He is currently based in London