Halfway though the book and are taking a break to do some research. The story is based on real events in Norway during WWII. MS Rigel- The ship mentioned in the book was used as a German prisoner of war (POW) transport during World War II, and was sunk by British Fleet Air Arm aircraft off Norway on 27 November 1944 with more than 2,500 dead, mostly POWs. That is 1000 more casualties than the Titanic shipwreck!