What do you think?
Rate this book
Coast Guard #1
Blindfold Game
In Thailand, a bomb destroys a tourist spot while two North Korean terrorists casually walk away from the site to plan the next phase of their plot against the United States.
In Washington, CIA analyst Hugh Rincon catches the chatter about something big being planned along the Pacific rim, and his best agent says its linked to the Thailand blast. Now Hugh is beginning to connect the dots between missing radioactive material, a SCUD missile sold on the black market, and a Russian ship sailing toward the Alaskan coast…but the Administration refuses to heed his warning.
In the Bering Sea, Coast Guard cutter Sojourner Truth is on routine patrol. On board is Hugh's estranged wife, executive officer Sara Lange. Sara and her ship are Hugh's only hope for stopping the terrorists…if she's willing to believe her ex-husband's story and risk her own career--and her crew's lives--to hunt down a death ship….
In Washington, CIA analyst Hugh Rincon catches the chatter about something big being planned along the Pacific rim, and his best agent says its linked to the Thailand blast. Now Hugh is beginning to connect the dots between missing radioactive material, a SCUD missile sold on the black market, and a Russian ship sailing toward the Alaskan coast…but the Administration refuses to heed his warning.
In the Bering Sea, Coast Guard cutter Sojourner Truth is on routine patrol. On board is Hugh's estranged wife, executive officer Sara Lange. Sara and her ship are Hugh's only hope for stopping the terrorists…if she's willing to believe her ex-husband's story and risk her own career--and her crew's lives--to hunt down a death ship….
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 21, 2005
88 people are currently reading
695 people want to read
About the author
Dana Stabenow
104 books2,145 followersDana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
August 31, 2020
I came to Dana Stabenow via her wonderful Kate Shugak series. Now that I've finished those twenty books and the four in the loosely associate Liam Campbell series, I've turned my attention to her other novels.
"Blindfold Game" is a standalone thriller about a plot to bring harm to the US via the ports on its Alaskan coast.
As a thriller, it works very well: there is a twisty plot, a real sense of threat, and an "I must read one more chapter" pace.
What makes this into a Dana Stabenow thriller is the strong characters and the fully-immersive sense of place.
Many thrillers with this kind of premise are black and white affairs, with good Americans fighting to protect the American way of life from crazed fanatics from whatever group are currently at the top of the "We Hate America" list. These can be fun but they can also be very dull.
"Blindfold Game" is different. The "good" Americans do some fairly terrible things, up-close and personal, where the blood covers your clothes and you can feel the breathe from the screams against your skin. The bad guys have reasons. It doesn't make them any less bad but it places them far away from being crazy fanatics. Even the bad guys for hire have a backstory that makes them into real (albeit unpleasant and dangerous) people. This lifts a thriller from the formulaic to the stimulating.
I also liked the way in which Dana Stabenow showed me what life might be like in the US Coastguard. True, she seemed more than a little in love with the Service and its people, to the point where this book is a recruiting officer's dream but that love translates into vivid descriptions of life at sea and strong insights into the culture of the Service.
One of the reasons I read Dana Stabenow's books is because I am fascinated by the strong women she writes. "Blindfold Game" has two of them: a career Coastguard XO who is passionate about the sea and driven to have her own ship but who still can't refrain from saying what she really thinks, even when it affects her career, and a retired war correspondent, now travel writer, who works for the CIA with a chilling efficiency and brutality that she disguises behind an "I'm just an American Grandma on vacation" facade.
This was a fun read. I intend to follow it up with "Prepared For Rage" which is another coastguard-centric thriller by Dana Stabenow.
"Blindfold Game" is a standalone thriller about a plot to bring harm to the US via the ports on its Alaskan coast.
As a thriller, it works very well: there is a twisty plot, a real sense of threat, and an "I must read one more chapter" pace.
What makes this into a Dana Stabenow thriller is the strong characters and the fully-immersive sense of place.
Many thrillers with this kind of premise are black and white affairs, with good Americans fighting to protect the American way of life from crazed fanatics from whatever group are currently at the top of the "We Hate America" list. These can be fun but they can also be very dull.
"Blindfold Game" is different. The "good" Americans do some fairly terrible things, up-close and personal, where the blood covers your clothes and you can feel the breathe from the screams against your skin. The bad guys have reasons. It doesn't make them any less bad but it places them far away from being crazy fanatics. Even the bad guys for hire have a backstory that makes them into real (albeit unpleasant and dangerous) people. This lifts a thriller from the formulaic to the stimulating.
I also liked the way in which Dana Stabenow showed me what life might be like in the US Coastguard. True, she seemed more than a little in love with the Service and its people, to the point where this book is a recruiting officer's dream but that love translates into vivid descriptions of life at sea and strong insights into the culture of the Service.
One of the reasons I read Dana Stabenow's books is because I am fascinated by the strong women she writes. "Blindfold Game" has two of them: a career Coastguard XO who is passionate about the sea and driven to have her own ship but who still can't refrain from saying what she really thinks, even when it affects her career, and a retired war correspondent, now travel writer, who works for the CIA with a chilling efficiency and brutality that she disguises behind an "I'm just an American Grandma on vacation" facade.
This was a fun read. I intend to follow it up with "Prepared For Rage" which is another coastguard-centric thriller by Dana Stabenow.
February 25, 2009
This is a truly great suspense novel. The plot is tight, interesting, with a great paced storyline. During the information gathering section of the book, action is provided by the daily activities aboard a Coast Guard vessel. The author spent 16 days aboard a Coast Guard ship doing research and it really shows. It reads like she spent 20 years working for the Coast Guard, at least to an outsider.
The writing is professional, well-researched, well-paced and provides great characterizations. For each character that is introduced, the author does a good job of fleshing them out. Even in this large cast of characters, there are very very few left as outlines without details.
The ending was perhaps the most impressive part of this book, because she wraps up all the loose ends by telling where the characters went, but she does not make everything turn out black and white. There are shades of grey, compromises and successes and failures that make it read like a true story instead of a novel.
Normally,I'm more of a romance novel reader, but this book may have made me a suspense-convert. I know it made me a heck of a lot more interested in the heroic everyday duties of the US Coast Guard!
Note on audio book edition: Very professionally read, with discernable voices all done by one actor.
The writing is professional, well-researched, well-paced and provides great characterizations. For each character that is introduced, the author does a good job of fleshing them out. Even in this large cast of characters, there are very very few left as outlines without details.
The ending was perhaps the most impressive part of this book, because she wraps up all the loose ends by telling where the characters went, but she does not make everything turn out black and white. There are shades of grey, compromises and successes and failures that make it read like a true story instead of a novel.
Normally,I'm more of a romance novel reader, but this book may have made me a suspense-convert. I know it made me a heck of a lot more interested in the heroic everyday duties of the US Coast Guard!
Note on audio book edition: Very professionally read, with discernable voices all done by one actor.
August 18, 2020
Notes:
Okay story that did not manage to be completely character driven or an exciting thriller. There were location changes & not enough 'flavor' of the places were evident in the writing.
Okay story that did not manage to be completely character driven or an exciting thriller. There were location changes & not enough 'flavor' of the places were evident in the writing.
August 24, 2007
BLINDFOLD GAME (Thriller-Alaska mostly-Cont) – VG
Stabenow, Dana – Standalone
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2006- Hardcover
CIA analyst High Rincon is alerted by one of his operatives that two men she felt responsible for a bombing in Thailand, were planning a major attack, via a dirty bomb, on Alaska. Although Hugh’s superiors won’t take it seriously, Hugh commandeers the help of his wife and her superior; superior officers aboard the Coast Guard cutter Sojourner Truth. Can they stop the terrorists before millions in Alaska are affected?
*** Once again, Ms. Stabenow has created strong, interesting characters and excellent dialogue. Her characters are all people with histories, even the terrorists. Her sense of place is always good and here, particularly, it played a strong role. I enjoyed the red herrings, and her research really showed in providing us a look at the work of the Coast Guard and the environmental activists. The relationship between the two main characters was effective, even the “Awww” moment. I particularly appreciated her giving us a follow-up on all the characters. I found it a wonderfully interesting, exciting, enjoyable, straight-through read.
Stabenow, Dana – Standalone
St. Martin’s Minotaur, 2006- Hardcover
CIA analyst High Rincon is alerted by one of his operatives that two men she felt responsible for a bombing in Thailand, were planning a major attack, via a dirty bomb, on Alaska. Although Hugh’s superiors won’t take it seriously, Hugh commandeers the help of his wife and her superior; superior officers aboard the Coast Guard cutter Sojourner Truth. Can they stop the terrorists before millions in Alaska are affected?
*** Once again, Ms. Stabenow has created strong, interesting characters and excellent dialogue. Her characters are all people with histories, even the terrorists. Her sense of place is always good and here, particularly, it played a strong role. I enjoyed the red herrings, and her research really showed in providing us a look at the work of the Coast Guard and the environmental activists. The relationship between the two main characters was effective, even the “Awww” moment. I particularly appreciated her giving us a follow-up on all the characters. I found it a wonderfully interesting, exciting, enjoyable, straight-through read.
September 10, 2017
This is the first book of a new series featuring the Alaskan coastguard in this book that is about modern terrorism that will this time strike at Alaska, which will not be a surprise if the reader does know anything about this particular writer. Her other series is about an Alaskan Policewoman and is pretty descriptive about live in Alaska. Anyhow this book starts with a big bang in Thailand and moves forward with some unsavory types doing their rounds through underworldy business that would start a campaign of terror on unsuspecting US of A. This time the danger does not come from a Middle Eastern corner with the need to terrorize the average citizen. The perpetrators do aim a lot higher in invoking the wrath of America's revenge.
This is a tight little thriller that does offer an well written story that makes you want to finish it in one reading session and thuis forgoing any necessary sleep. It does offer some unsuspecting twists while the story is going ahead with full speed. This is clearly a writer who does know how to entertain the reader. Well worth your while.
This is a tight little thriller that does offer an well written story that makes you want to finish it in one reading session and thuis forgoing any necessary sleep. It does offer some unsuspecting twists while the story is going ahead with full speed. This is clearly a writer who does know how to entertain the reader. Well worth your while.
May 25, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. Not only did it have a great story line but it was full of technical information that was very interesting. I imagine the author spent a great deal of time researching this book.
There is a small picture of the author inside the back jacket. She looks very youthful to be so knowledgable. I very much mean this as a compliment.
There is a small picture of the author inside the back jacket. She looks very youthful to be so knowledgable. I very much mean this as a compliment.
January 4, 2023
Good, salty job on the sea scenes, saith this (long-ago) Naval officer. I wasn't entirely convinced by the Macguffin, but so what? Good, fast read, with plenty of the trademark Stabenow conscientious research. Nice change of pace for her fans. Recommended reading: 3.6 stars
December 30, 2024
"Blindfold Game" - written by Dana Stabenow and published in 2006 by St Martin's Press. This exciting story is my kind of thriller. A terrorist threat is revealed to CIA agent Hugh Rincon although he is met with disinterest when going up the chain of command. He takes matters into his own hands. Very soon his wife Sara, an XO (executive officer) on a Coast Guard cutter in the Bering Sea off Alaska, finds herself deeply enmeshed in this threat and a dangerous cat and mouse adventure explodes on the dangerous, icy waters. I liked everything about this novel - the plot, the characters, the setting, and the non-stop action. I wish there were more in the series than just two total!
June 11, 2021
Didn't think I would like it but I couldn't put it down!
September 17, 2021
Picked this book up at the library thinking it was a Kate Shugak story. I was disappointed when I realized it wasn’t, but stuck with it. I’m glad I did as it was an interesting book. I was in the mood for a novel that was distracting and it was.
April 2, 2023
Another excellent read by one of favorite authors.
June 10, 2008
Mr. Smith and Mr. Jones are planning something big. The problem is, they are the only people who know the details. In fact, almost no one knows they even exist. CIA analyst Hugh Rincon does, however. He also has reason to believe that these two mysterious men were responsible for the explosion that killed a lot of people in Pattaya Beach, Thailand.
As Hugh gathers information, he discovers that terrorists Smith and Jones plan to do some serious damage from somewhere on the Bering Sea to his home state of Alaska. The only way to stop them is to recruit the help of Coast Guard cutter, Sojourner Truth, where his wife is an executive officer.
Dana Stabenow’s BLINDFOLD GAME is a clever, first-rate, page-turner I couldn’t put down. The plot, seemingly complicated at first, isn’t confusing. Main characters, Hugh Rincon and XO Sara Lange, are strong, interesting, and well matched. Stabenow’s attention to detail regarding life on board a U.S. Coast Guard cutter not only put me right in the story, but provided interesting information about the responsibilities and danger the Coast Guard faces. Stabenow’s descriptions of a ferocious storm at sea had me holding my breath and grateful to be reading the book from the warmth and comfort of home.
Having been to Anchorage recently, it was a treat to read about some of the spots I’d either been to or knew a little about. But it was even more of a treat to discover this award-winning author’s work.
March 3, 2011
This is my first time reading this author. I thought the beginning of this book started real slow for me. I was on board about midway through though and enjoyed the ending! A nice quick read to pass away the rainy weekend!
September 17, 2009
Another great book by Dana.
This one uses the Coast Guard as a back drop. I learned alot about this branch of the armed forces.
This is part spy novel, part mystery.
Really a fun read.
This one uses the Coast Guard as a back drop. I learned alot about this branch of the armed forces.
This is part spy novel, part mystery.
Really a fun read.
August 2, 2013
Parts of this were very good, especially the scenes on board the Coast Guard cutter.
However, the sum of the parts are Tom Clancyesque, lightweight, and unrealistic.
However, the sum of the parts are Tom Clancyesque, lightweight, and unrealistic.
October 1, 2017
My first book by this author, but a relatively pleasant surprise.
A well-constructed plot unfolding, with well-defined characters interacting with well-placed dialog and a skillful writing style, make this book a good choice to pass some time.
If you like thriller & suspense, combined with sea-maritime navy action and some spy intrigue, then you'll find this book entertaining.
On my end, it was OK, however the main protagonist a female leader figure is a bit too much of a super-woman type for my taste with all the strengths and no weaknesses, so I don't think I will, in fact, follow this series.
Please don't jump to conclusions, as to be fair, I've also dropped the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child for the exact same reasons, the protagonist being a male character with a superman complex, all strengths and no weaknesses, which is in itself unrealistic and lacking authenticity.
Thus, I don't discriminate when it comes to character's gender, to me is just dull to have a superpowerful character and is breaking the basic rules of building a character only with strengths and no weaknesses, hence it's hard to swallow for me.
A well-constructed plot unfolding, with well-defined characters interacting with well-placed dialog and a skillful writing style, make this book a good choice to pass some time.
If you like thriller & suspense, combined with sea-maritime navy action and some spy intrigue, then you'll find this book entertaining.
On my end, it was OK, however the main protagonist a female leader figure is a bit too much of a super-woman type for my taste with all the strengths and no weaknesses, so I don't think I will, in fact, follow this series.
Please don't jump to conclusions, as to be fair, I've also dropped the Jack Reacher series by Lee Child for the exact same reasons, the protagonist being a male character with a superman complex, all strengths and no weaknesses, which is in itself unrealistic and lacking authenticity.
Thus, I don't discriminate when it comes to character's gender, to me is just dull to have a superpowerful character and is breaking the basic rules of building a character only with strengths and no weaknesses, hence it's hard to swallow for me.
November 4, 2023
I read Blindfold Game in audio format, but I think the text version would be just as good. Stabenow writes two (overlapping) mystery series set in Alaska. I've read quite a few of her Kate Shugak books; they're reliably interesting, if not something to write home aboutt.
Blindfold Game is a standalone title, possibly Stabenow’s first, and more a thriller than mystery. It's somewhat formulaic: CIA agent discovers terrorist threat to America, isn't believed by his boss, discovers his wife happens to be dangerously close to the terrorist action and takes drastic measures to save her. But really, I was too engrossed in the action to think about whether the plot was original, and that's a sign of a good thriller, don't you think? The CIA agent's wife is a career sailor, second in command on a Coast Guard ship in Alaska, which added a lot of interest to the book. I recommend this for when you're in the mood for something escapist.
Blindfold Game is a standalone title, possibly Stabenow’s first, and more a thriller than mystery. It's somewhat formulaic: CIA agent discovers terrorist threat to America, isn't believed by his boss, discovers his wife happens to be dangerously close to the terrorist action and takes drastic measures to save her. But really, I was too engrossed in the action to think about whether the plot was original, and that's a sign of a good thriller, don't you think? The CIA agent's wife is a career sailor, second in command on a Coast Guard ship in Alaska, which added a lot of interest to the book. I recommend this for when you're in the mood for something escapist.
November 21, 2025
Hugh Rincon is a CIA analyst based in D.C. His wife is an executive officer currently in the Bering Sea. While Sara Lange and Hugh met as children, married, and still love one another, they are now wondering if their separate goals may tear them apart. Theme two: Two brothers make arrangements for certain contraband to be secretly delivered (think Thailand, Korea, Russia) and carried on board a freighter. The terrorists are tracked by Hugh (actually more a gut feeling) and he finds himself on the way to Alaska; Greenpeace, in the area harassing illegal fishing boats, is requested to assist the Coast Guard; bad guys with all kinds of contacts are setting up false leads; lots of excitement and suspense. Never knew how much the Coast Guard really did!
June 18, 2024
Action Packed and a new plot. CIA analyst Hugh Rincon catches the chatter about a big terriorist threat. He tracks the clues all over the world. His stringers are out gathering pictures and tips.
I the Bering Sea, the Coast Guard is patrolling the sea for foreign fish trawlers poaching on the US area. Hugh's wife, Sara is the first officer on the ship. The chase, boarding and confiscation of ships is interesting and harrowing. If you are prone to sea sickness, beware.
A hugh action and dangerous conclusion. Stabenow knows how to weave a story and build suspense. No Kate Sujak, but boats and Alaska.
I the Bering Sea, the Coast Guard is patrolling the sea for foreign fish trawlers poaching on the US area. Hugh's wife, Sara is the first officer on the ship. The chase, boarding and confiscation of ships is interesting and harrowing. If you are prone to sea sickness, beware.
A hugh action and dangerous conclusion. Stabenow knows how to weave a story and build suspense. No Kate Sujak, but boats and Alaska.
August 22, 2020
I've never read anything like Stabenow's Blindfold Game, set on ship in the frozen waters north of Alaska and around the Arctic circle. Stabenow's protag, Sara Lange is impossibly heroic with nerves of steel, physical capabilities to match, lightning judgement and compassion that makes her human and vulnerable. There's twists and turns, and unexpected red herrings, some nice romance but that north sea pushes almost everything else out of mind when you read. It's really just you and Sara and the sea, in that ship, in that weather.
Great writing, Stabenow.
Great writing, Stabenow.
June 23, 2022
I've been a huge fan of Ms. Stabenow's Kate Shugak series and was happy to find this book. Although I struggled a bit with some of the nautical terms and their significance to the relevance of the story, I LOVED this book. I am anticipating reading "Prepared for Rage" in the very near future - another Coast Guard theme (although it does not appear to be a sequel, character-wise). I also appreciated the use of real geographical locations so I could use a map to better visualize where the action was occurring.
March 12, 2018
[library audiobook]
I was pleased that Stabenow had progressed from free on Bookbub to an audiobook on a library site. I enjoyed her Kate Sujak series with details of Alaska life. Blindfold Game includes Alaska detail, detail about the Coast Guard and a strong female protagonist. The downside of this novel is an approving depiction of CIA crippling torture to extract information. It cost the book a star.
I will read additional Stabenow books as they become available.
I was pleased that Stabenow had progressed from free on Bookbub to an audiobook on a library site. I enjoyed her Kate Sujak series with details of Alaska life. Blindfold Game includes Alaska detail, detail about the Coast Guard and a strong female protagonist. The downside of this novel is an approving depiction of CIA crippling torture to extract information. It cost the book a star.
I will read additional Stabenow books as they become available.
January 4, 2023
Dana Stabenow is amazing!
Initially, I met her books about Alaskan detective Kate Shugak. I love all that I have read. Then, I discovered her series about Genghis Khan's time and then Nefertiti's era. I love those and am in awe of her span of knowledge.
Now! I find her telling us of modern adventures in the Bering Straits and describing actions and adventures that almost made me seasick!
Dana Stabenow, you are a wizard with words and wonderful dreamer of plots!
Thank you!
Initially, I met her books about Alaskan detective Kate Shugak. I love all that I have read. Then, I discovered her series about Genghis Khan's time and then Nefertiti's era. I love those and am in awe of her span of knowledge.
Now! I find her telling us of modern adventures in the Bering Straits and describing actions and adventures that almost made me seasick!
Dana Stabenow, you are a wizard with words and wonderful dreamer of plots!
Thank you!
November 7, 2022
Was looking for another book by Dana Stabenow, but found this one. 2006 at this point is pretty dated, think no cell phones, but the suspense was very good. The female main character was very admirable (though sadly suffered from extreme sexism in the CG). I'll look for more recent offerings by this author.
September 29, 2024
I'm a long-time reader of Stabenow's Kate Shugack mystery series. This is the first of a different series, a Coast Guard thriller. Vicious terrorists plot to out smart and out maneuver the CoastGuard.
Stabenow spent weeks at sea with the Coast Guard doing research. Bernadette Dunne reads the audio. Beware: lots of violence and a torture scene.
Stabenow spent weeks at sea with the Coast Guard doing research. Bernadette Dunne reads the audio. Beware: lots of violence and a torture scene.
December 29, 2018
A spy thriller out of the usual by this author; but really good. As always; set in Alaska. Learned a to about the coast guard. A dirty bomb acquisition and attempt to the US to provoke a war in Korea.
February 11, 2020
Fast paced thriller in which a CIA agent deducts that Korean brothers are trying to fire a dirty bomb from a freighter into Anchorage. His wife is a Coast Guard officer and the two unit to try and foil the attempt.
August 5, 2020
Not one for military novels, however this nail biting, sit on the edge of your seat Coast Guard thriller was an excellent read. There were a few times where it lags, what book doesn't? The action, twists and turns kept it moving the the very end!
September 19, 2021
I have read all of the Kate Shugak series and really enjoyed them, so thought I would try this one but unfortunately for me the plot seemed so drawn out, took to long to build and then it just seemed to run out of steam
August 23, 2024
I can see how this book appeals to many readers. I am just not one of them. I read about half the book and quit. Too much info that didn't give me background information or have a point in the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews