Deadliest Sea: The Untold Story Behind the Greatest Rescue in Coast Guard History

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars | 825 ratings

Price: 17.46

Last update: 10-12-2024


About this item

Deadliest Sea by Kalee Thompson is the spellbinding true story of the greatest rescue in US Coast Guard history. Recounting the tragic sinking of the fishing trawler, Alaska Ranger, in the Bering Sea and its remarkable aftermath in March 2008, Deadliest Sea is real-life action and adventure at its finest. The full story of an amazing rescue - where extraordinary courage, ingenuity, will, and technology combined in one of the most remarkable maritime feats ever recorded - has never been told before now. It’s The Perfect Storm meets Deadliest Catch.


Top reviews from the United States

Frank E. Campbell
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping and poignant story of amazing rescue -- read it!
Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2011
Kalee Thompson's highly detailed and extremely well-researched account of the sinking of the Alaska Ranger fishing boat, and the attempt to rescue its 47 crew by the Coast Guard is so riveting you will ignore other duties and keep turning the pages until the end. From the very first sentence, the reader is thrust into the tension of this unfolding drama. Because of her extensive research, the author is able to take the reader through the sinking and rescue with moment by moment detail through the eyes of the crew of the Alaska Ranger and the many Coast Guard men and women employed in the rescue effort. As Thompson states in the "notes" at the end of the book, "This book is a work of nonfiction". So detailed is the account that one needs to remind oneself of this. Surely this detail and the masterful writing that tells the story are among the strengths of the book, but there is another great strenth: the story is a very human story told through the eyes of those who experienced it. We learn from the author who the key players in the story are, the path that brought them together on the Alaska Ranger that fateful day (or on the Coast Guard Ship, helicopters and plane), and their thoughts and actions throughout this ordeal. The story is complex. As the Ranger is sinking, the story of multiple rescue efforts simultaneous unfolding is told in a coherent and compelling way. How long can the men survive in the 32 degree water? Will rescue ships, planes and helicopters that are hundreds of miles away arrive in time? How do you rescue 47 persons with limited space aboard a helicopter and land so very far away? Will fuel run out? All this is of course happening in the dark in gale force winds with intermittent snow squalls. You get the picture. It is a remarkable story told remarkably well by Kalee Thompson. Read it.
Mike Rizzo
4.0 out of 5 stars Deadliest Sea Review
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2020
Being a marine engineer/shipbuilding for 40 years I'm enthralled with all things Ships and USCG. I found this book to be spot on and very well done. Kaylee is a true story teller. It's nice to see s technical non-fiction writer showing her talents enabling me to immerse myself in this story.
Marietta Huffington
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a really good book. It opened my eyes on the dangers ...
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2016
This is a really good book. It opened my eyes on the dangers of commercial fishing in the bearing sea, boat owners, regulations, and safety of everyone on the boats. To think that the ole mightily dollar takes precedence over peoples lives is beyond me. I think that people who want to go fishing on these boats need to have their eyes open more, take some real safety classes, really practice getting in the survival suits in stressful situations, and getting in a life boat in some rough water. I don't know how long that takes, weeks worth of training, but I believe it is needed before getting on a boat heading out to the sea, any sea or rough water. The Coast Guard is awesome in my opinion, risking their lives to save yours. They have families too. I think the owners of these boats should be held accountable for the employees on their boats, that they make it mandatory for the employees go thru extensive training for survival if some thing should happen. And have proof that their boat is safe, the employees have been thoroughly trained, and pass inspection. Or they can't go out!
Bob Pederson
5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to Rate Historical Books
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2015
Sometimes it is difficult to review historical books. One already knows the ending so there is not much suspense. There are no plot twists. There is no character development because the characters are who they are. Despite this, Kalee Thompson has manages to write a masterful book. She has done an exhaustive amount of research into the circumstances and personalities of this marine tragedy. Even though the ending of this true story is known, Kalee has created suspense and she has caused me to like and dislike characters based on their personalities and actions from the time the ship sank until the investigation was complete. Kalee jumps back to the history of these characters and why they were on this voyage of this ship, the Alaskan Ranger. She then moves forward to real-time on the ship as it is sinking. She tells us of the heroic actions of the US Coast Guard as they perform the jobs they have been trained to do. This book will appeal to those who like recent history, those who enjoy marine history, and those who are fans of the Coast Guard and its awesome record of marine rescue.
sailor
4.0 out of 5 stars Real life superheroes
Reviewed in the United States on March 2, 2015
When I was younger, I nearly joined the Coast Guard. What stopped me from signing the papers was the recruiter's insistence that I become a rescue swimmer. This book contains every reason I said no.
Fortunately for the crew of the Alaska Ranger, the Coast Guard's men and women deployed in Alaska said yes. They did a phenomenal job under horrendous circumstances which are meticulously documented, and saved 40+ lives in the process.
The book is well written and researched. No hyperbole is used (or needed), and the story moves as quickly as the events it describes. Read it. You won't be sorry.
Al D
5.0 out of 5 stars Very well written
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2023
This story is incredible. The author does a great job of emerging the reader into the lives and thoughts of the fishermen and the Coast Guard rescuers. I loved the details.
RoLayne Wilhelmsen
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021
Had already purchased as gift. Had to return as not needed

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