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Gale Force
For all lovers of maritime adventure comes an electrifying thriller of treachery and peril on the high seas featuring a dynamic new heroine, from multi-award-nominated suspense star Owen Laukkanen.
In the high-stakes world of deep-sea salvage, an ocean disaster can mean a huge payoff--if you can survive the chase.
McKenna Rhodes has never been able to get the sight of her father's death out of her mind. A freak maritime accident has made her the captain of the salvage boat Gale Force , but it's also made her cautious, sticking closer to the Alaska coastline. She and her crew are just scraping by, when the freighter Pacific Lion , out of Yokohama, founders two hundred miles out in a storm.
This job is their last chance--but there is even more at stake than they know. Unlisted on any manifest, the Lion 's crew includes a man on the run carrying fifty million dollars in stolen Yakuza bearer bonds. The Japanese gangsters want the money. The thief's associates want the money. Another salvage ship, far bigger and more powerful than Gale Force , is racing to the rendezvous as well. And the storm rages on. If McKenna can't find a way to prevail, everything she loves--the ship, her way of life, maybe even her life itself--will be lost.
Filled with bravery, betrayal, sudden twists, and pure excitement, Gale Force is a spectacular new adventure from the fast-rising suspense star.
In the high-stakes world of deep-sea salvage, an ocean disaster can mean a huge payoff--if you can survive the chase.
McKenna Rhodes has never been able to get the sight of her father's death out of her mind. A freak maritime accident has made her the captain of the salvage boat Gale Force , but it's also made her cautious, sticking closer to the Alaska coastline. She and her crew are just scraping by, when the freighter Pacific Lion , out of Yokohama, founders two hundred miles out in a storm.
This job is their last chance--but there is even more at stake than they know. Unlisted on any manifest, the Lion 's crew includes a man on the run carrying fifty million dollars in stolen Yakuza bearer bonds. The Japanese gangsters want the money. The thief's associates want the money. Another salvage ship, far bigger and more powerful than Gale Force , is racing to the rendezvous as well. And the storm rages on. If McKenna can't find a way to prevail, everything she loves--the ship, her way of life, maybe even her life itself--will be lost.
Filled with bravery, betrayal, sudden twists, and pure excitement, Gale Force is a spectacular new adventure from the fast-rising suspense star.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published May 8, 2018
65 people are currently reading
894 people want to read
About the author
Owen Laukkanen
21 books550 followersOwen Laukkanen's debut thriller, THE PROFESSIONALS, was published by G.P. Putnam's Sons in spring 2012. Its sequel, CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE, will hit stores on March 21, 2013.
An alumnus of the University of British Columbia's Creative Writing BFA program, Laukkanen spent three years in the world of professional poker, traveling to high-stakes tournaments across the globe as a writer for www.PokerListings.com.
A commercial fisherman when he’s not writing, Laukkanen divides his time between Vancouver, British Columbia and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
May 19, 2018
I've long been a big fan of Owen Laukkanen's series featuring F.B.I. agent Karla Windermere and Minnesota B.C.A. agent, Kirk Stevens, and as a result, I was a bit disappointed to learn that his new book, Gale Force, would be a thriller rather than another entry in the Stevens and Windermere series. However, that disappointment lasted only about three pages into the prologue of the new book, by which point I was thoroughly hooked.
At the center of the novel is a woman named McKenna Rhodes. As the result of a tragic accident which took her father's life, McKenna has become the captain of a salvage vessel named the Gale Force. As a woman in what is most definitely a man's world, she faces any number of serious obstacles, but in addition to that, she still bears the psychological scars of the accident in which she lost her father. As a result, she's been playing things very close to the vest and taking relatively small, safe jobs. Sadly, though, small, safe jobs are not enough to pay the bills and keep a boat like the Gale Force in business.
An opportunity for McKenna to save the business and to prove herself arrives when a huge Japanese cargo ship, the Pacific Lion, rolls over and begins sinking in a heavy storm two hundred miles off the Alaska coast. The ship, which is carrying five thousand Japanese automobiles, is abandoned, making her fair game for salvage hunters, including McKenna, if she has the nerve to tackle the job.
It's a huge gamble, given that just getting to the Lion would basically put McKenna on the brink of bankruptcy. And while the potential payoff would be worth millions, any number of things could easily go wrong: Another salvage team might beat the Gale Force to the sinking ship. Even if McKenna does get there first, saving the ship and towing it safely to port would be a daunting, dangerous, and perhaps impossible task. The weather could easily turn against her and doom the mission. In any such event, there would be no payout at all, and she would lose everything.
McKenna decides to gamble on this one last chance, not knowing that there's another element of risk involved. A thief has stolen $50 million worth of bearer bonds from a group of gangsters and smuggled himself aboard the Pacific Lion. When the ship founders, he is forced to leave the bonds on the ship, The gangsters to whom the bonds belong are resourceful and merciless, and they will stop at nothing to reclaim their property.
Laukkanen, who descends from a family of boat builders and commercial fishermen, obviously knows his stuff, and he takes these disperate elements and very skillfully weaves them into a gripping, heart-pounding story. He's especially good at developing plot twists and crises large and small, and then expertly manipulating the tension level. It's a wild, roller coaster ride that kept me glued to the pages well into the night. All of the characters are very well drawn, and McKenna Rhodes is a very appealing protagonist. I certainly hope that we'll see more of her (and of Stevens and Windermere, of course), but Gale Force is a book that will be right at home in the beach bag of anyone looking for a great summer read. An easy 4+ stars.
At the center of the novel is a woman named McKenna Rhodes. As the result of a tragic accident which took her father's life, McKenna has become the captain of a salvage vessel named the Gale Force. As a woman in what is most definitely a man's world, she faces any number of serious obstacles, but in addition to that, she still bears the psychological scars of the accident in which she lost her father. As a result, she's been playing things very close to the vest and taking relatively small, safe jobs. Sadly, though, small, safe jobs are not enough to pay the bills and keep a boat like the Gale Force in business.
An opportunity for McKenna to save the business and to prove herself arrives when a huge Japanese cargo ship, the Pacific Lion, rolls over and begins sinking in a heavy storm two hundred miles off the Alaska coast. The ship, which is carrying five thousand Japanese automobiles, is abandoned, making her fair game for salvage hunters, including McKenna, if she has the nerve to tackle the job.
It's a huge gamble, given that just getting to the Lion would basically put McKenna on the brink of bankruptcy. And while the potential payoff would be worth millions, any number of things could easily go wrong: Another salvage team might beat the Gale Force to the sinking ship. Even if McKenna does get there first, saving the ship and towing it safely to port would be a daunting, dangerous, and perhaps impossible task. The weather could easily turn against her and doom the mission. In any such event, there would be no payout at all, and she would lose everything.
McKenna decides to gamble on this one last chance, not knowing that there's another element of risk involved. A thief has stolen $50 million worth of bearer bonds from a group of gangsters and smuggled himself aboard the Pacific Lion. When the ship founders, he is forced to leave the bonds on the ship, The gangsters to whom the bonds belong are resourceful and merciless, and they will stop at nothing to reclaim their property.
Laukkanen, who descends from a family of boat builders and commercial fishermen, obviously knows his stuff, and he takes these disperate elements and very skillfully weaves them into a gripping, heart-pounding story. He's especially good at developing plot twists and crises large and small, and then expertly manipulating the tension level. It's a wild, roller coaster ride that kept me glued to the pages well into the night. All of the characters are very well drawn, and McKenna Rhodes is a very appealing protagonist. I certainly hope that we'll see more of her (and of Stevens and Windermere, of course), but Gale Force is a book that will be right at home in the beach bag of anyone looking for a great summer read. An easy 4+ stars.
April 14, 2022
I've enjoyed reading almost all of Owen Laukkanen's books, and this was no exception. It seemed that the suspense would never end; as soon as one problem was solved, new ones came along, and there was always the elephant in the room that we knew would need to be resolved.
If you like cold, wet, stories with stormy ocean trips, you'll like this one. It takes place along the coast of the Pacific NW in Washington and Canada, mostly in the water and almost always on a ship of some sort, except for the unlucky few who didn't manage to stay on board.
The main character was the captain of a tugboat, a young woman who inherited her skills and the boat from her father, who drowned while she was in charge. She has a great crew who are like family, and they keep things interesting. There is also some on again-off again romance going on. And I guess the subject of the story is how far people will go in order to get or hold on to a large sum of money. The answer is, pretty damn far.
I've basically run out of books to read by this author, except for a YA novel that I actually started once but decided it was too YA for me to spend time on. I hope he has some more in the pipeline.
If you like cold, wet, stories with stormy ocean trips, you'll like this one. It takes place along the coast of the Pacific NW in Washington and Canada, mostly in the water and almost always on a ship of some sort, except for the unlucky few who didn't manage to stay on board.
The main character was the captain of a tugboat, a young woman who inherited her skills and the boat from her father, who drowned while she was in charge. She has a great crew who are like family, and they keep things interesting. There is also some on again-off again romance going on. And I guess the subject of the story is how far people will go in order to get or hold on to a large sum of money. The answer is, pretty damn far.
I've basically run out of books to read by this author, except for a YA novel that I actually started once but decided it was too YA for me to spend time on. I hope he has some more in the pipeline.
July 21, 2021
This is a swashbuckling high-seas adventure involving a daring female protagonist who carries on the legacy of her father as the Captain of the Gale Force in the family tug boat salvation business; a life-risking attempt to rescue a huge listing abandoned cargo ship, Pacific Lion, threatened with sinking off the coast of Alaska in the Pacific Ocean and taking all 5,000 Nissan cars with it; a treacherous Japanese "mafia" called yakuza, a criminal organization with a high stakes deal for which they will do anything to preserve; a daring theft by one of the organizations members; and a strained personal relationship between the Captain and the ship architect needed to plan the rescue; and the unpredictable storm swells of the ocean which in a way becomes another character in the story.
Captain McKenna Rhodes gathers her crew, that had been let go due to low funds and growing debt, when she learns of the floundering cargo ship and the potential for a huge pay-off with its rescue. In spite of feelings of guilt and inadequacy after the drowning death of her father several years before due to an error she had made at the helm of the tug during a previous rescue job, McKenna knows this is her chance to make the business profitable and to restore the legacy her father left behind at his death. AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. All the elements mentioned above become entangled, making for some exciting and dangerous episodes in the rescue mission.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters who interacted as family in their dedication to each other and to the tug boat itself. There were some intricate descriptions about the workings of the tug and of the cargo ship which seemed superfluous but which also demonstrated the hardships and difficulties of their undertaking. A good read that held my attention throughout.
Captain McKenna Rhodes gathers her crew, that had been let go due to low funds and growing debt, when she learns of the floundering cargo ship and the potential for a huge pay-off with its rescue. In spite of feelings of guilt and inadequacy after the drowning death of her father several years before due to an error she had made at the helm of the tug during a previous rescue job, McKenna knows this is her chance to make the business profitable and to restore the legacy her father left behind at his death. AND THE ADVENTURE BEGINS. All the elements mentioned above become entangled, making for some exciting and dangerous episodes in the rescue mission.
I enjoyed getting to know the characters who interacted as family in their dedication to each other and to the tug boat itself. There were some intricate descriptions about the workings of the tug and of the cargo ship which seemed superfluous but which also demonstrated the hardships and difficulties of their undertaking. A good read that held my attention throughout.
July 8, 2018
I have read all of Laukkanen's previous books which I have enjoyed tremendously. I was a little nervous about this one because the subject matter - tugs that rescue stranded ships - is so different from the pair of detectives he has written about before. In Gale Force the stranded ship is the Pacific Lion - a container ship from Japan carrying 5000 Nissan cars and trucks. Fortunately, I have been to the Panama Canal and I watched a container ship with 5000 cars on it go through the canal. It was an incredible experience. I didn't know anything could be that big. So it was fairly easy for me to picture the Pacific Lion and what was happening as the story unfolded. Laukkanen does a great job of developing his characters, especially McKenna Rhodes - the captain of the Gale Force, the tugboat. She is dealing with the recent death of her father who had been the skipper of the boat and knows she has to prove herself to her crew and to herself. I really liked her and I hope that Laukkanen has more sea-going stories that feature her. I didn't need to be nervous about how I would like the subject matter - I literally could not put it down. Well done, Owen!
May 8, 2018
If you like seafaring stories this is a great one to read. It's action packed and pretty much the entire story is set out on the water, in either the tugboat or car carrier.
I really wish they would make this into a series. I'd love to go on more salvages with the Gale Force crew.
*I received this ARC from the Penguin Random House First-to-Read program in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I really wish they would make this into a series. I'd love to go on more salvages with the Gale Force crew.
*I received this ARC from the Penguin Random House First-to-Read program in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
May 24, 2018
McKenna Rhodes has taken over her late father’s deep sea salvage operation and, with the company in dire straits, she needs the fee for the salvage of the freighter “Pacific Lion.” However, McKenna and her crew have no idea that one of the freighter’s crewmen carries stolen bearer bonds. With the Japanese Yakuza on the trail of the bonds and another salvage ship racing to the scene, McKenna may find everything she loves . . . her ship, her way of life, perhaps her own life . . . will be lost.
Well-drawn characters populate this high seas adventure filled with excitement, betrayal, and mayhem. The clever plot twists and turns as suspense mounts and a young woman bravely fights for all she holds dear. Readers are sure to find much to appreciate in this absorbing tale that navigates the world of maritime salvage with intrigue and suspense.
Recommended.
Well-drawn characters populate this high seas adventure filled with excitement, betrayal, and mayhem. The clever plot twists and turns as suspense mounts and a young woman bravely fights for all she holds dear. Readers are sure to find much to appreciate in this absorbing tale that navigates the world of maritime salvage with intrigue and suspense.
Recommended.
May 10, 2018
One of the most entertaining books I have read in a long time. Even though it is almost 400 pages, I couldn't put it down and found myself staying up late to finish it just because I had to know what happened. This book has all of the good makings for a great date movie. Just enough romance, or the idea of a past romance, to appeal to women but still plenty of action and excitement to keep men interested.
It took me about 50 pages to get into this book, I think the fact that at the beginning almost all of the characters were Japanese was a little confusing to me, it's harder to keep names you aren't familiar with straight but after we got the Gale Force boat team involved I was hooked. I plan on reading more of Owen Laukkanen's books now that I've gotten started because it was an easy read that keep me interested until the very end.
It took me about 50 pages to get into this book, I think the fact that at the beginning almost all of the characters were Japanese was a little confusing to me, it's harder to keep names you aren't familiar with straight but after we got the Gale Force boat team involved I was hooked. I plan on reading more of Owen Laukkanen's books now that I've gotten started because it was an easy read that keep me interested until the very end.
April 30, 2018
I received this book from Goodreads in exchange for a review.
McKenna Rhodes is a force of her own. When her father, a long-standing tug boat captain, dies in a tragic boat accident, McKenna inherits his boat, but she must work hard to earn the title of Captain. It takes several years before she finds herself in a position where she must return to the salvage business or risk losing her ship all together. With the decision made and her old crews support, she does so dramatically. She puts her life and tug boat business on the line to save herself, her crew, and her boat.
This story has many characters. Some you want to hug and others, you want to throttle. Sometimes you want to give some of both to the same person! The nautical descriptions and dialog are very authentic. The most mysterious one of the bunch is Spike, the tug boats cat. But I’ll let you read that yourself.
In all, I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with many twists and turns while we figured out what was going on. I love the characters, even the ones I wanted to kick. I do hope the author will consider writing a sequel to ‘Gale Force’. I think there is a lot still to be learned by the characters, and a lot of high seas adventure to be experienced by the readers.
McKenna Rhodes is a force of her own. When her father, a long-standing tug boat captain, dies in a tragic boat accident, McKenna inherits his boat, but she must work hard to earn the title of Captain. It takes several years before she finds herself in a position where she must return to the salvage business or risk losing her ship all together. With the decision made and her old crews support, she does so dramatically. She puts her life and tug boat business on the line to save herself, her crew, and her boat.
This story has many characters. Some you want to hug and others, you want to throttle. Sometimes you want to give some of both to the same person! The nautical descriptions and dialog are very authentic. The most mysterious one of the bunch is Spike, the tug boats cat. But I’ll let you read that yourself.
In all, I really enjoyed this book. It was filled with many twists and turns while we figured out what was going on. I love the characters, even the ones I wanted to kick. I do hope the author will consider writing a sequel to ‘Gale Force’. I think there is a lot still to be learned by the characters, and a lot of high seas adventure to be experienced by the readers.
October 28, 2018
Simple people portrayed (limited vocabulary and awkward dialogue at times) but for the Japanese criminal element as the action plays out in a more complicated salvage situation off the coast of Alaska than just a boat loaded with automobiles since the captain added murder and theft to the complexity. Rogue waves and competing salvage operator also add to the problems that will be conquered by a young woman salvage operator who took over the role from her father, lost in the sea during another operation.
Most of the book describes the challenges of this industry, and the conditions of the sea are described well. All of the back story stuff was inserted continually - something like stuffing a turkey too large to roast.
I will try more from the author and see if his other stuff strikes a better chord for me. After this one, feeling waterlogged, I have to dry out a bit first.
Most of the book describes the challenges of this industry, and the conditions of the sea are described well. All of the back story stuff was inserted continually - something like stuffing a turkey too large to roast.
I will try more from the author and see if his other stuff strikes a better chord for me. After this one, feeling waterlogged, I have to dry out a bit first.
June 5, 2018
GALE FORCE is a refreshing change of course for crime-writer Owen Laukkanen. He deviates from the minutia of FBI investigations to the oceanic adventures of a deep-sea salvage tug. True to his roots, the author introduces a criminal aspect to the story. But the core is a saga of how a small but intrepid tug-boat crew rescues a behemoth ship drifting toward disaster.
July 26, 2021
Laukkanen's maritime adventure story has a couple of things going for it. Laukkanen knows boats and the sea. I am fascinated by the technical aspects of salvaging the freighter.
The rest of the story was not as successful. The plot line of the theft of the bearer bonds was thin and could have been omitted. There is little to no character development and the dialogue is banal.
The story of salvage in a storm, if handled well, could provide all the tension needed to hold my attention. Developing the characters and their relationships would provide more depth to the story.
I would not recommend this novel. There are many better ones out there with which to spend your time.
The rest of the story was not as successful. The plot line of the theft of the bearer bonds was thin and could have been omitted. There is little to no character development and the dialogue is banal.
The story of salvage in a storm, if handled well, could provide all the tension needed to hold my attention. Developing the characters and their relationships would provide more depth to the story.
I would not recommend this novel. There are many better ones out there with which to spend your time.
May 2, 2018
Brilliant thriller set almost entirely at sea onboard a tugboat in crazy waters trying to save a freightship loaded with Nissans from Japan. A little too much time spent on explaining the art of tugging large ships, but Owen Laukkanen does a decent job not showing off his research ad nauseam and instead weaves a storyline of Japanese organized crime into the plot, which makes this book a quick and entertaining read.
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review]
[An ARC of the book was generously provided by the publisher through the First to Read program in exchange for an honest review]
September 23, 2018
Good on ya, Laukkanen! Mostly read it in one go and it kept me up and intrigued. Nice change from the later Stevens & Windermere stories. (I really like the series but, as with all good things, there are diminishing returns and even the characters seemed to weary of the tales). The best aspect of this new book is that the author is very successful at making life at sea during risky salvage operations seem authentic and immersive. Lots of edge-of-seat moments.
August 24, 2019
Owen Laukkanen's Gale Force (2018) is a thriller with an unusual setting—the competitive business of sea salvage in the Pacific Northwest, where injured freighters whose crews have abandoned ship are rescued and towed to land by large sea-going tug boats. It's an active business, with tug captains alert to the slightest whisper about a ship in trouble and ready to set out to earn the ten percent of ship and cargo value that's awarded to the tug that gets there first.
I'm a fan of most things nautical and of all things thrilling. I found this book very satisfying on both scores. Laukkanen, author of the recent Deception Cove, keeps a fast pace and constructs a great story. The book is formulaic, as are most thrillers, and it isn't destined for the Pulitzer Prize. But it's a good summer read, perhaps even into late fall.
McKenna Rhodes and her father, Randall, operate the 120-foot 10,000 HP Gale Force berthed in Seattle. Its last trip was to rescue a disabled 650-foot freighter in 60-foot seas off the coast of Oregon. In that trip, Randall was swept overboard while McKenna was at the helm. Her father's death caused McKenna to hesitate about another trip, but now news arrives of an automobile cargo ship, the Japanese-flagged Pacific Lion, disabled off the Alaska coast; the ship is carrying 5,000 Nissans strapped in its holds and it is close to capsizing from an unintended shift in its ballast. It has been abandoned by its crew, automatically making it fodder for the salvagers.
McKenna calls the crew together and they set off to be first in line. The crew is complete except for an "architect," a person knowledgeable in naval architecture who can model the Pacific Lion's design, calculate its stability characteristics, and determine the best approach to its salvage. Unfortunately, Courtney Harrington, the architect they normally use, is away playing high-stakes poker and turns the job down. The remainder of the crew—McKenna, the engineer Nelson Ridley, two divers, two deckhands and an architect (Courtney has signed on)—set out from Seattle for Alaska.
Back in Japan a few days earlier Tomio Ishimaru, an accountant in the yakuza—the Japanese mob—is told to deliver a briefcase with $50 million in bearer bonds. He makes a death-defying decision and enlists the aid of Hiroki Okura, the second in command of the Pacific Lion: Okura will hide Ishimaru with the briefcase on the ship at the Yokohama docks. Once in the U. S. he will spirit Ishimaru cum briefcase off the boat.Ishimaru will sell the bonds and disappear to live la vida loca.
The near-capsizing has put a hole in that plan. After the crew abandons the disabled ship, Ishimura has no way to safely leave the boat, and the Coast Guard is arriving to investigate. Also, Okura will get back on board, kill Ishimura, and be the sole possessor of the briefcase, though he will be trapped on the cargo ship in a hold full of Nissans.
The salvage company competing with Gale Force is Commodore Marine, with Christer Magnusson captaining Salvation. Commodore's main tug is in drydock and Salvation is chartered from an Alaska company. It is a small tug that could move Pacific Lion only in very calm waters, but if it can be first to get a line onto Pacific Lion it will win the right to try.
The weather is turning bad off Alaska as the Salvation puts its line onto Pacific Lion. The Coast Guard cutter is standing by in the event of problems, and there is a problem. With the bad weather the Salvation just doesn't have the horsepower to control the cargo ship. Gale Force takes over and we watch as she navigates rough seas to get a line onto the ship, aided by a Coast Guard helicopter to transfer deck crew to and from the cargo ship.
So we have three stories to sync: the Gale Force salvage operation in the middle of a gale, the destiny of the bond-laden briefcase on the disabled vessel, and a developing romantic interest. Will McKenna and crew save the Pacific Lion, and at what cost? Will the yakuza get its 50 million dollar briefcase back, and who will suffer? And will McKenna Rhodes and Courtney get it back on. Read on!!
I'm a fan of most things nautical and of all things thrilling. I found this book very satisfying on both scores. Laukkanen, author of the recent Deception Cove, keeps a fast pace and constructs a great story. The book is formulaic, as are most thrillers, and it isn't destined for the Pulitzer Prize. But it's a good summer read, perhaps even into late fall.
McKenna Rhodes and her father, Randall, operate the 120-foot 10,000 HP Gale Force berthed in Seattle. Its last trip was to rescue a disabled 650-foot freighter in 60-foot seas off the coast of Oregon. In that trip, Randall was swept overboard while McKenna was at the helm. Her father's death caused McKenna to hesitate about another trip, but now news arrives of an automobile cargo ship, the Japanese-flagged Pacific Lion, disabled off the Alaska coast; the ship is carrying 5,000 Nissans strapped in its holds and it is close to capsizing from an unintended shift in its ballast. It has been abandoned by its crew, automatically making it fodder for the salvagers.
McKenna calls the crew together and they set off to be first in line. The crew is complete except for an "architect," a person knowledgeable in naval architecture who can model the Pacific Lion's design, calculate its stability characteristics, and determine the best approach to its salvage. Unfortunately, Courtney Harrington, the architect they normally use, is away playing high-stakes poker and turns the job down. The remainder of the crew—McKenna, the engineer Nelson Ridley, two divers, two deckhands and an architect (Courtney has signed on)—set out from Seattle for Alaska.
Back in Japan a few days earlier Tomio Ishimaru, an accountant in the yakuza—the Japanese mob—is told to deliver a briefcase with $50 million in bearer bonds. He makes a death-defying decision and enlists the aid of Hiroki Okura, the second in command of the Pacific Lion: Okura will hide Ishimaru with the briefcase on the ship at the Yokohama docks. Once in the U. S. he will spirit Ishimaru cum briefcase off the boat.Ishimaru will sell the bonds and disappear to live la vida loca.
The near-capsizing has put a hole in that plan. After the crew abandons the disabled ship, Ishimura has no way to safely leave the boat, and the Coast Guard is arriving to investigate. Also, Okura will get back on board, kill Ishimura, and be the sole possessor of the briefcase, though he will be trapped on the cargo ship in a hold full of Nissans.
The salvage company competing with Gale Force is Commodore Marine, with Christer Magnusson captaining Salvation. Commodore's main tug is in drydock and Salvation is chartered from an Alaska company. It is a small tug that could move Pacific Lion only in very calm waters, but if it can be first to get a line onto Pacific Lion it will win the right to try.
The weather is turning bad off Alaska as the Salvation puts its line onto Pacific Lion. The Coast Guard cutter is standing by in the event of problems, and there is a problem. With the bad weather the Salvation just doesn't have the horsepower to control the cargo ship. Gale Force takes over and we watch as she navigates rough seas to get a line onto the ship, aided by a Coast Guard helicopter to transfer deck crew to and from the cargo ship.
So we have three stories to sync: the Gale Force salvage operation in the middle of a gale, the destiny of the bond-laden briefcase on the disabled vessel, and a developing romantic interest. Will McKenna and crew save the Pacific Lion, and at what cost? Will the yakuza get its 50 million dollar briefcase back, and who will suffer? And will McKenna Rhodes and Courtney get it back on. Read on!!
March 10, 2019
Owen Laukkanen's 'Gale Force' showed a lot of promise, with an unusual plot surrounding a nearly capsized freighter and its ultimate rescue. However, extremely pedestrian writing and dialogue spoil the whole effect. What should have been a hugely exciting mystery turns into a predictable story with prose at about the 8th grade level.
It's an interesting story: a guy rips off millions in bearer bonds from the Yakuza, killing a few of them in the process, and stows away with the help of an insider on a freighter stuffed with Nissans heading to America. As they near US waters, their ballast exchange (I knew nothing of this process before this, but it's nice to learn) gets screwed up and they nearly sink. The vessel is abandoned in a severely compromised position in horrible weather, except for the two crooks. Ship salvage companies, who can hit the jackpot if they're able to right the ship, scramble for the riches. The salvage vessel belonging to a young lady captain, who also happens to be the daughter of a legendary salvage guy (wasn't aware these existed, either, but then again I'm a midwesterner....) wins out, and they begin the incredibly complex task of straightening out the freighter under awful conditions. Complicating matters is the fact that the Yakuza, who we wouldn't expect to roll over and accept the loss of such a huge sum, figures out what happened and joins the fun.
The plot is interesting and there's a lot of action, though significant portions take place in total darkness inside a huge ship that's listing at an steep angle. The dialogue is very basic, nearly humorless and with no snap to it, which I found unsettling for such an action-filled story. The writing likewise didn't propel anything forward. I've read the author's Stevens and Windermere series and think it's well done, but perhaps stepping away from his usual genre contributed to a different approach. Gale Force a worthwhile read but not quite as exciting as expected.
It's an interesting story: a guy rips off millions in bearer bonds from the Yakuza, killing a few of them in the process, and stows away with the help of an insider on a freighter stuffed with Nissans heading to America. As they near US waters, their ballast exchange (I knew nothing of this process before this, but it's nice to learn) gets screwed up and they nearly sink. The vessel is abandoned in a severely compromised position in horrible weather, except for the two crooks. Ship salvage companies, who can hit the jackpot if they're able to right the ship, scramble for the riches. The salvage vessel belonging to a young lady captain, who also happens to be the daughter of a legendary salvage guy (wasn't aware these existed, either, but then again I'm a midwesterner....) wins out, and they begin the incredibly complex task of straightening out the freighter under awful conditions. Complicating matters is the fact that the Yakuza, who we wouldn't expect to roll over and accept the loss of such a huge sum, figures out what happened and joins the fun.
The plot is interesting and there's a lot of action, though significant portions take place in total darkness inside a huge ship that's listing at an steep angle. The dialogue is very basic, nearly humorless and with no snap to it, which I found unsettling for such an action-filled story. The writing likewise didn't propel anything forward. I've read the author's Stevens and Windermere series and think it's well done, but perhaps stepping away from his usual genre contributed to a different approach. Gale Force a worthwhile read but not quite as exciting as expected.
May 2, 2018
Summary:
McKenna Rhodes is still reeling from her father’s death- one she feels she is responsible for. Working a salvage ship is dangerous work- but the payoff when you pull it off is amazing. Still, her father is a constant reminder that you don’t always win in this gamble.
She left the salvage business, mostly doing day trips and the like- no more big scores. This life, though, just isn’t paying the bills and she needs money- badly. When she hears about The Pacific Lion wrecked two hundred miles out in a storm…. well, maybe there’s a bit of her father in her after all, because despite her better judgement, she can’t resist. With her father’s old crew, she heads out. What they don’t know is that there’s more of interest on that boat than a bunch of cars. A man had stowed away with Yakuza bonds, and the thief’s associate wants the money- but so do the gangsters. With everything on the line, can McKenna prove herself as captain, get the big score, and keep her makeshift family alive?
My thoughts:
I have loved Owen Laukkanen for years due to his Stevens/ Windmere books and while I wasn’t sure this one would be up my alley, I had to try it. The author starts slowly, as usual, drawing you into the character’s world; but once he catches his stride it’s non stop action. I felt for McKenna and the amount of guilt she carried, the chip on her shoulder at times getting in the way of making the best decisions. I also loved the rest of the crew, especially Ridley. Harrison Court was a mixed bag for me. He was brash and ridiculous at times with a touch of Peter Pan syndrome. What I liked about him, though, was that he was growing up- he understood what he lost with McKenna so long ago and he had no bones about letting her know he wanted another chance. I did not like the fact that he often treated her like she wasn’t his boss- not listening to orders. It happened so often that I found myself wondering if this man could really be worth the hassle.
Each character on the team was well developed and interesting with their own past and stories. I love how Laukkanen can draw you in to the character- they are always so well fleshed out that you could almost touch them. I do feel like he didn’t give the Yakuza characters as much definition- they seemed a bit cookie cutter- but it was a minor thing for me. Looking through other reviews, I see a few talking about the technical verbage- and there is a lot, but I don’t feel it was over done. There was never so much that I was drawn out of the story. The writing was perfect, the plot interesting and the book had an even flow- after about the first twenty pages. Hey, there was a lot to introduce! This is a fast paced adventure that I think will not only please Laukkanen’s older fans, but bring him a new crowd as well. For me it is a five star book.
On the adult content- there’s some language and violence. Nothing over the top. I would say that this is fine for an older teen- I have seen far worse in comics lol. Let’s give this a four.
I was given an eARC of this book from First to Read in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
McKenna Rhodes is still reeling from her father’s death- one she feels she is responsible for. Working a salvage ship is dangerous work- but the payoff when you pull it off is amazing. Still, her father is a constant reminder that you don’t always win in this gamble.
She left the salvage business, mostly doing day trips and the like- no more big scores. This life, though, just isn’t paying the bills and she needs money- badly. When she hears about The Pacific Lion wrecked two hundred miles out in a storm…. well, maybe there’s a bit of her father in her after all, because despite her better judgement, she can’t resist. With her father’s old crew, she heads out. What they don’t know is that there’s more of interest on that boat than a bunch of cars. A man had stowed away with Yakuza bonds, and the thief’s associate wants the money- but so do the gangsters. With everything on the line, can McKenna prove herself as captain, get the big score, and keep her makeshift family alive?
My thoughts:
I have loved Owen Laukkanen for years due to his Stevens/ Windmere books and while I wasn’t sure this one would be up my alley, I had to try it. The author starts slowly, as usual, drawing you into the character’s world; but once he catches his stride it’s non stop action. I felt for McKenna and the amount of guilt she carried, the chip on her shoulder at times getting in the way of making the best decisions. I also loved the rest of the crew, especially Ridley. Harrison Court was a mixed bag for me. He was brash and ridiculous at times with a touch of Peter Pan syndrome. What I liked about him, though, was that he was growing up- he understood what he lost with McKenna so long ago and he had no bones about letting her know he wanted another chance. I did not like the fact that he often treated her like she wasn’t his boss- not listening to orders. It happened so often that I found myself wondering if this man could really be worth the hassle.
Each character on the team was well developed and interesting with their own past and stories. I love how Laukkanen can draw you in to the character- they are always so well fleshed out that you could almost touch them. I do feel like he didn’t give the Yakuza characters as much definition- they seemed a bit cookie cutter- but it was a minor thing for me. Looking through other reviews, I see a few talking about the technical verbage- and there is a lot, but I don’t feel it was over done. There was never so much that I was drawn out of the story. The writing was perfect, the plot interesting and the book had an even flow- after about the first twenty pages. Hey, there was a lot to introduce! This is a fast paced adventure that I think will not only please Laukkanen’s older fans, but bring him a new crowd as well. For me it is a five star book.
On the adult content- there’s some language and violence. Nothing over the top. I would say that this is fine for an older teen- I have seen far worse in comics lol. Let’s give this a four.
I was given an eARC of this book from First to Read in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!
April 5, 2018
Thank you First to Read for the opportunity to preview Gale Force by Owen Laukkanen.
I have been a fan of Laukkanen since the first book - The Professionals, which is his finest in my opinion.
This book introduces a new cast of characters and takes place on the high seas. The lead character is McKenna, the daughter of a famous sea captain. They own a large ship, Gale Force, that goes out to salvage other boats that can't make it to port. They are paid a hefty salary at times if they can get the boats back to land. Meanwhile...
In Japan, two men have stolen 50 million dollars worth of bonds and they are on a ship toward America. They have killed for this fortune and all they have to do is make it across the ocean. But their ship starts to sink and they must get off - but they have alot at stake here, and they know if they go back to Japan, they will be killed.
McKenna and her crew must reach that boat before other salvagers get there, and they have no idea what is in store for them. There is bad weather ahead for them, as well as, competition to salvage this liner.
There is alot of technical verbage in this book, and you do need it, but I did find my self skimming to get to the meat of the story.
This book is different than Laukkanen's other novels, and it is well written. I would have liked less technical writing, and more of the story of the Japanese men and the bonds. Overall it was a good read. Fans reviews will be mixed I think.
I have been a fan of Laukkanen since the first book - The Professionals, which is his finest in my opinion.
This book introduces a new cast of characters and takes place on the high seas. The lead character is McKenna, the daughter of a famous sea captain. They own a large ship, Gale Force, that goes out to salvage other boats that can't make it to port. They are paid a hefty salary at times if they can get the boats back to land. Meanwhile...
In Japan, two men have stolen 50 million dollars worth of bonds and they are on a ship toward America. They have killed for this fortune and all they have to do is make it across the ocean. But their ship starts to sink and they must get off - but they have alot at stake here, and they know if they go back to Japan, they will be killed.
McKenna and her crew must reach that boat before other salvagers get there, and they have no idea what is in store for them. There is bad weather ahead for them, as well as, competition to salvage this liner.
There is alot of technical verbage in this book, and you do need it, but I did find my self skimming to get to the meat of the story.
This book is different than Laukkanen's other novels, and it is well written. I would have liked less technical writing, and more of the story of the Japanese men and the bonds. Overall it was a good read. Fans reviews will be mixed I think.
May 5, 2018
McMenna Rhodes inherited the salvage boat Gale Force when her father was lost at sea on one of their jobs. Deep in debt and taking towing jobs to keep her company afloat, she hears of one job that could solve all of her financial problems. The Pacific Lion, a freighter out of Yokohama, is in trouble off the coast of Alaska. It is a race against a rival salvage company and Mother Nature to claim salvage rights to the ship. McKenna is unaware that there is a stowaway on board the Lion who has stolen $50 million in bearer bonds from the Yakuza along with the crew member who aided him.
This book is pure action on the high seas. McKenna has been playing it safe since the death of her father, but she evolves into a ship captain who is capable of completing this monumental task. She has a crew that provides the support that she needs and the memory of her father to sustain her.
Owen Laukkanen had me glued to the pages as the crew of the Gale Force battled huge waves, the listing Lion and a Yakuza team determined to retrieve the bonds. This is a story of betrayal, loyalty and determination that I would give 5 stars without hesitation. I would like to thank First to Read for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book is pure action on the high seas. McKenna has been playing it safe since the death of her father, but she evolves into a ship captain who is capable of completing this monumental task. She has a crew that provides the support that she needs and the memory of her father to sustain her.
Owen Laukkanen had me glued to the pages as the crew of the Gale Force battled huge waves, the listing Lion and a Yakuza team determined to retrieve the bonds. This is a story of betrayal, loyalty and determination that I would give 5 stars without hesitation. I would like to thank First to Read for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 21, 2018
To but it succiently, this book is a ton of fun. If you want a book that rockets out of the gate, with a cast of likable characters on both the hero and villain sides, the trill of the best disaster/event pictures, especially Twister in terms of the tug boats team dynamic and having a rival "hi-tech" team that they have to contend with, then this book is for you. It's a beach read of the highest caliber. You blink and you're 100 pages in and have no desire to stop. There's even a boat cat who may be the surliest character in the book.
I would say it's advantageous to know your basic ship terminology but you can still understand what's going on if you don't. If there are any slight drawbacks I'd say there are some passages that are too nitty-gritty for me personally when they're working out how to right the ship they're trying to salvage, and there's a lot of talk about water pumps, but soon enough it's on to the next set piece. And I know there are probably sea enthusiasts that will eat it up.
Recommended for people who like fast, fun breakneck paced reads and for people who didn't know they needed a Tugboat Thriller in their life.
I would say it's advantageous to know your basic ship terminology but you can still understand what's going on if you don't. If there are any slight drawbacks I'd say there are some passages that are too nitty-gritty for me personally when they're working out how to right the ship they're trying to salvage, and there's a lot of talk about water pumps, but soon enough it's on to the next set piece. And I know there are probably sea enthusiasts that will eat it up.
Recommended for people who like fast, fun breakneck paced reads and for people who didn't know they needed a Tugboat Thriller in their life.
July 17, 2018
If a book that focuses on tugboats rescuing other boats in distress during major storms in the Pacific can get my interest (I have no knowledge and probably even less interest in the subject), it must be a good book. The added intrigue about stolen bearer bonds increases rather than detracts from the story.
March 23, 2019
I had finished The Blight Way and found it to be adequate, which means that I found it lacking if not overall, at least for me as I want more than mediocre, adequate, OK. (If you're really that interested in my thoughts on the subject then go to my review of that book.) I looked forward to a book by an author that I knew and found far more than adequate. . . alas, only to be disappointed.
I first encountered Mr. Laukkanen in his first Stevens & Windermere novel shortly after it first came out. Though I have only visited the state once I have found several Minnesota based crime novels that I really enjoy, especially those of John Sandford and PJ Tracy. When I saw that Stevens was a Minnesota BCA agent and Windermere, an FBI Special Agent in Minneapolis I made sure to read that first novel straight away. I was not disappointed. Unlike this novel.
One of the first red flags was the name of one of the protagonists; Court Harrington. When I see an author name a character like that I immediately think SOAP OPERA! I am not a fan of soap operas; oh yes, I remember watching some episodes when I stayed home in the afternoon and my grandmother would turn on one of her few minor vices, The Days Of Our Lives. But I was 8 or 9 then and I think my tastes have matured, or at least changed since then.
There was quite a bit of action but several things that bothered me about this novel. There was a lot of technical information that I had a problem following completely. I got the gist of it but would have preferred to understand it more. Then parts of it read like a romance novel. There are those that enjoy romance novels and that's fine. . . for them, but I don't care for them. I find them melodramatic and silly - MY opinion, you're entitled to yours. (I laugh whenever I see an ad for the Hallmark Channel's When Calls The Heart, to me the name is pretentious and silly.)
This book had far too much of that soap opera theme and lacked depth at times. There were interesting situations but there were also things that bothered me, such as a salvage captain that harbored a fugitive but that tidbit is dropped. You'll have to read the book to see what I mean.
If Mr. Laukkanen turns this into a series I'll probably read the next one in spite of this less than (in my opinion) stellar beginning. The Stevens & Windermere started off better than this novel but they did improve. I will read the next in this series, if there is one, to see if that has happened again.
I very much look forward to the next Stevens & Windermere novel if there is one and other novels by Laukkanen.
I first encountered Mr. Laukkanen in his first Stevens & Windermere novel shortly after it first came out. Though I have only visited the state once I have found several Minnesota based crime novels that I really enjoy, especially those of John Sandford and PJ Tracy. When I saw that Stevens was a Minnesota BCA agent and Windermere, an FBI Special Agent in Minneapolis I made sure to read that first novel straight away. I was not disappointed. Unlike this novel.
One of the first red flags was the name of one of the protagonists; Court Harrington. When I see an author name a character like that I immediately think SOAP OPERA! I am not a fan of soap operas; oh yes, I remember watching some episodes when I stayed home in the afternoon and my grandmother would turn on one of her few minor vices, The Days Of Our Lives. But I was 8 or 9 then and I think my tastes have matured, or at least changed since then.
There was quite a bit of action but several things that bothered me about this novel. There was a lot of technical information that I had a problem following completely. I got the gist of it but would have preferred to understand it more. Then parts of it read like a romance novel. There are those that enjoy romance novels and that's fine. . . for them, but I don't care for them. I find them melodramatic and silly - MY opinion, you're entitled to yours. (I laugh whenever I see an ad for the Hallmark Channel's When Calls The Heart, to me the name is pretentious and silly.)
This book had far too much of that soap opera theme and lacked depth at times. There were interesting situations but there were also things that bothered me, such as a salvage captain that harbored a fugitive but that tidbit is dropped. You'll have to read the book to see what I mean.
If Mr. Laukkanen turns this into a series I'll probably read the next one in spite of this less than (in my opinion) stellar beginning. The Stevens & Windermere started off better than this novel but they did improve. I will read the next in this series, if there is one, to see if that has happened again.
I very much look forward to the next Stevens & Windermere novel if there is one and other novels by Laukkanen.
August 5, 2018
I've really enjoyed Laukkanen's books ever since I devoured The Professionals a few years back, but this one fell a little flat for me. The hallmark to his writing is that he cuts right to the chase and keeps the books moving at a steady clip - no unnecessary detail. And while I have had issues reading nautical-themed books in the past, I don't think that was the issue. He certainly knows his way around a ship; I cannot deny that. But I felt like the true action did not happen until well over half the book is over, and even then it felt a little tepid. I believe the author wanted to stay true to the way the characters would react to a situation and add realism, but in this case it felt unexciting. And the relationship drama between two of the characters (as well as the prologue) was a bit cliche.
While the Stevens and Windmere characters can obviously have a lot of exciting adventures given their jobs, I cannot see McKenna Rhodes having a long history, but we shall see. By all means, this is not a book that will result in me not reading another Laukkanen book. Rather, I like that he has branched out and can't wait for his next book.
While the Stevens and Windmere characters can obviously have a lot of exciting adventures given their jobs, I cannot see McKenna Rhodes having a long history, but we shall see. By all means, this is not a book that will result in me not reading another Laukkanen book. Rather, I like that he has branched out and can't wait for his next book.
May 3, 2018
In Owen Laukkanen's Gale Force, this standalone novel delivers an action-packed thriller sets on the water. For McKenna Rhodes, she mourned the loss of her father and takes the helm of his beloved ship. With little experience of steering a ship, she had called the people that she knows to help her sail across the ocean to Alaska. But straight ahead lies danger in the midst, when there was a sunken ship she needed to salvage, she had been denied requests for help. Besides there, there's an evil Japanese man who would do anything to get his hands on a briefcase of money. From the Pacific Lion to the Gale Force, he stowed away on the ship to get closer and do away with the obstacles that stood in his way. In this high-seas adventure, McKenna would have to set sail with smooth waters to arrive at her destination in a fight to a finish ending for a gripping ending.
June 24, 2018
I love a sea adventure and thrillers put me in a euphoric buzzy adrenaline mode. Gale Force ticked the boxes—out in a gale in the Pacific, the impossible maneuvers of a deep sea tugboat to right a listing cargo ship filled with Nissans seeping oil, and a briefcase that seems to be worth dying for containing bonds worth $50 million that found its way aboard the cargo ship with a Japanese stowaway in cahoots with the second mate who is a desperate screwup. Add to that a very well connected Japanese mafia, tugboat captain McKenna, who is determined to run her ship in the same disciplined way as her father did before her, and the maverick ship architect who broke her heart way back when, but has joined her crew to provide the engineering expertise needed to safely salvage the cargo ship before it drifts into disaster on the shores of the Aleutian Islands.
May 10, 2018
Nautical Thriller...I've never read before. One sub-genre I never knew to exist. Gale Force by Owen Laukkanen is the first of it's kind under my belt and I'm not going to lie...I was completely enticed but at the same time reluctant when I the book was right in front of me..waiting for me to read it.
Intimidating at 384 pages. Once you dive in..the thrill and rush of such a read is captivating. "Peril on the high seas", a female main character that is a total bad a** in the water behind a beast of a massive and powerful ship. Sold...a female Captain!! I thought that was quite unique. This book was action packed..nail biting...power surging...a great read. At times it got a bit daunting for me..I know nothing of boats, ships, large bodies of water..only that the ocean terrifies me to no end. Even more so after this read. A crew of likable characters, a fast paced story that seems to never end it's thrilling intensity...Owen Laukkanen has created something adventurous and suspenseful.
Recommend for all those high adventure readers.
Thanks as always to the great people of goodreads, Owen Laukkanen, and to G.P. Putman's Son's for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
Intimidating at 384 pages. Once you dive in..the thrill and rush of such a read is captivating. "Peril on the high seas", a female main character that is a total bad a** in the water behind a beast of a massive and powerful ship. Sold...a female Captain!! I thought that was quite unique. This book was action packed..nail biting...power surging...a great read. At times it got a bit daunting for me..I know nothing of boats, ships, large bodies of water..only that the ocean terrifies me to no end. Even more so after this read. A crew of likable characters, a fast paced story that seems to never end it's thrilling intensity...Owen Laukkanen has created something adventurous and suspenseful.
Recommend for all those high adventure readers.
Thanks as always to the great people of goodreads, Owen Laukkanen, and to G.P. Putman's Son's for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review to which I gladly and voluntarily gave.
August 28, 2025
Okay read his other book have been better
Change of pace from my usual reads so it was okay
Change of pace from my usual reads so it was okay
July 3, 2024
Picked up this book at my county library's sale and thought it sounded interesting. I enjoyed the boating aspect of the book, but at times it seemed like the author assumed the reader would know the technical terms of boating or the boat itself. The book lacked suspense, action, and details that would really make it standout. It was readable, but nothing to recommend to anybody.
July 30, 2021
Hella entertaining. The details on boat salvaging, navigating the treacherous waters of the North Pacific, and life aboard a tug were fascinating and brilliantly rendered, as were the claustrophobic intensity of scenes on the severely listing freighter. Less successful was the forced romance between the salvage ship's captain, McKenna Rhodes and the architect-for-hire Court Harrington (no, seriously, that's the character's name), complete with eye-rolling dialogue and less-than-zero chemistry. That dampened what could have been a buddy story with potential for more.
But a great, escape-from-it all read from one of my new favorite suspense writers.
But a great, escape-from-it all read from one of my new favorite suspense writers.
May 16, 2018
Ethics is the first "adventure" story I've ever read.....my nails are chewed to the nubbins. Like all of Owen Laukkanen's books , the people make the story.
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