"Scholars of history, maritime archaeology, nautical archaeology, avid ship modelers, and enthusiasts of the subject will want to add this book to their libraries."

Nautical Research Journal Volume 68 (2023)

Betts’ offering is an excellent contribution to maritime studies. It does indeed cover the design, fitting, and voyages of the ship and moreover it does so through an historical narrative. The detailed ships drawings in the book offer modelers insight and instruction which cannot otherwise be found so readily.

During review, it was shared with children, teenagers, and retirees alike, all of whom remarked on how fascinating it was. Such a book has a place in the reference library and on the coffee table of a modeling enthusiast as well as in the reference section of a library or museum. It offers a fascinating insight to marine engineering and wooden shipbuilding of the 1800s, from increase in size of the moulded orlop and lower deck beams, as well as strengthening of the transoms and deadwood to perform Arctic service. This book also offers insight into social and political history topics, such as why Sir John Franklin was chosen as expedition commander, why finding a navigable Northwest Passage was so important to Great Britain, and why the crew ultimately abandoned their ships.

The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord

As featured in

Ships Monthly - July 2023

"...sumptuously produced and surely definitive account."

Times Literary Supplement - 23/06/23

As featured on Naval Review

Naval Review

This is a fascinating book that would appeal to a broad readership, not just those with an interest in the Franklin Expedition.

In summary, this is a very well-researched, beautifully-illustrated book that draws the reader into the ship and helps us understand how people lived in it and operated its systems. It will continue be a valuable reference work that puts new discoveries by the archaeologists into context when they are found; it is written in a very readable style and, as you may have gathered, I found it to be fascinating. I highly recommend it.

Read the review here

David Hobbs - Australian Naval Institute

The full story of HMS Terror is not yet over; years of careful underwater archaeology and analysis of the wreck and its contents lie ahead. But Matthew Betts’ book is a magnificent, detailed and timely tribute to the ship that is so central to the ‘North West Passage’ story and polar discovery more widely. It is an impressive, informative and enjoyable book - and highly recommended.

South West Maritime History Society. 'Soundings 122'

The authors interest and fascination about HMS Terror is unbounded by his dedication and enthusiasm for historical accuracy of the humble bomb ship. His time, devotion and research of archaeological evidence including ships logs of the polar voyages is presented to the reader in a logical progression from Terrors construction plans, through to her eventual fate. Interspersed within the narrative are the techniques required to build an accurate scale model of Terror. He provides his evaluated hypothesis of why the crew deserted their ship, met their deaths and how Terror was drawn down to her watery grave. HMS Terror’s story is a page turning historical journey and visually illuminated. The drawings, elevations, plans within the book are first class, accompanied by colour, black and white photographs, drawings, maps, an appendix, notes, bibliography, and index.

Roger Coleman, The Wessex Branch of the Western Front Association

"Dr. Betts has honed his analytic deftness and eye for detail acquired as a professional archaeologist, and enhanced them with the precision required by his hobby as a modelmaker. To these skills, he now adds storyteller and writer to produce this passionate biography of an interesting and significant ship."

David Woodman, explorer, sailor, and author of,