Prepared For Rage

Coast Guard #2

by Dana Stabenow

Following A Deeper Sleep, her most successful Kate Shugak novel to date, the Edgar Award winner and New York Times bestselling thriller writer Dana Stabenow delivers a nail-biting, all-too-real novel of international suspense in Prepared for Rage.A terrorist with a most personal grudge, an FBI analyst challenged to be three steps ahead of the intelligence, a Coast Guard captain assigned to keep watch on that very American of symbols from the water, an astronaut who takes her job very seriously—the paths of all of these characters converge on one clear morning in Florida. NASA is preparing to launch the space shuttle, this time with a high-paying visitor on board as a guest, and the FBI and the Coast Guard are doing everything they can to help the launch go off without a hitch. But one Pakistani man with a bottomless personal grudge and the commitment of many zealous men behind him is determined to strike back at the most visible target he can find.Once again Dana Stabenow, who researched this gripping scenario by spending weeks living on board a Coast Guard cutter as it conducted its mission in the eastern Pacific, delivers an action-driven thriller with an ingenious, frightening, straight-from-the-headlines plot, certain to be her next bestseller.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, International

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 5, 2008

About the author

Dana 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.

Reviews

[PamG]

Prepared for Rage by Dana Stabenow is the second book in the Coast Guard series. This is an international suspense novel featuring a man with a grudge, an FBI analyst, a Coast Guard captain assigned to keep watch and protect the no-entry zone prior to and during a space shuttle launch, and an astronaut getting ready for her first trip into space.

While the characterization and world-building were good, the rest of the book didn’t work as well for me. The characterization gives readers insight into their motivations and actions. The story continued to jump from character to character and location to location. I understand the plot device and it works for me in some novels, but this didn’t quite work for me. The flow was missing and the story was somewhat predictable. The ending was over-the-top and the epilogue tells what happened to the main characters after the end of the story. (It was a tell versus show epilogue.)

Overall, the suspense was good towards the end of the book, but the overall pacing up to that point was lacking for me. I much prefer this author’s Kate Shugak series set in Alaska. While this one didn’t quite work for me, there are many others who enjoyed it more. I recommend checking out their reviews.

I purchased a copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date was February 5, 2008.
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My 3.09 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.

[Robyn]

Another all-too-real novel of international suspense to scare the pants off of us... because who would have thought to fly a commercial airplane into the World Trade Towers?

A little late reading this, but super interesting as well. In Florida, we find a terrorist who is at odds with the "big guy" and wants to make a name for himself, the FBI agents, A Coast Guard captain on the fast track to the top, and an astronaut about to make her way into Space on the shuttle.

Call it the perfect storm over Florida as all of the characters are realistic, well fleshed out, and have personal agendas of their own... save the country, or at least their country!

I was amazed at the depth of Stabenow's writing with regard to the Coast Guard, but then I read that she had spent 3 months on a cutter to ensure realistic information. One of Stabenow's best books.. really, really interesting.

5 Stars

Happy Reading!

[Deborah D.]

Suspenseful, sharp and well paced

Once I figured out who was who and realized what Akil/Isa was up to I got immersed and drawn in.
The first few chapters were a tad difficult to move through, but I realized all the main characters had joined the fun once the 'ride' started and I disliked having to put the book down!

Characters ran the gamut of relationship types, government lackey vs. politicians and to make it more pleasurable...heros and villains.
This is more plausible than I want to consider and without an appreciation for creative and vicious commitment could happen.

The ending is just right.

[Kirsten]

Terrific! A great fun read. The characters were alive and believable. And the plot line was suspenseful. I'd never thought about how easy it would be to shoot down the shuttle - but I can see how it would work.

This was a great thriller - from the pen of the author of the Kate Shugak mysteries. Makes me want to pick up one of her mysteries now.

[Coralyn]

There hasn’t been a Dana Stabenow book I have not thoroughly enjoyed. Prepared for Rage is something of a departure from the others. A good departure. In places more subtle than the Alaskan series despite the feeling at times of it being something of a credibility stretch. I liked that too, however, I keep going back to Alaska :-)

[Clay Davis]

Could have done without the pro-legalization of drugs part of the story.

[Jodi]

Prepared for Rage by Dana Stabenow is the second book in the Coast Guard series. This is an international suspense novel featuring a man with a grudge, an FBI analyst, a Coast Guard captain assigned to keep watch and protect the no-entry zone prior to and during a space shuttle launch, and an astronaut getting ready for her first trip into space. While the characterization and world-building were good, the book was an unique look at terrorism. The characterization gives readers insight into their motivations and actions. The story continued to jump from character to character and location to location. I understand the plot device and it works for me in some novels, but this didn’t quite work for me. The flow was missing and the story was somewhat predictable. The ending was over-the-top and the epilogue tells what happened to the main characters after the end of the story. (It was a tell versus show epilogue.)

[Tory Wagner]

Prepared for Rage by Dana Stabenow is a suspenseful novel about the continued war on terrorism featuring a Coast Guard Captain, an American astronaut and a Pakistani terrorist. The action shifts between these main characters as Akil, the terrorist plots to destroy a NASA satellite while Cal, the Coast Guard Captain and a bevy of CIA operatives attempt to foil him. The characters are well imagined and the action is gripping.

[LAB]

An astronaut and a Coast Guard officer are in the crosshairs of an Islamic terrorist with plans to make a serious statement about religion and politics. The contemporary theme and setting of this novel by Dana Stabenow is the second in her new series. It has suspense, romance, and all that good stuff, but it really didn't appeal to me. Maybe it was too up-to-date or perhaps the characters lacked charisma; I was disappointed.

[LJ]

PREPARED FOR RAGE (Thriller-International-Cont) – G+
Stabenow, Dana – Standalone
St. Martin’s Press, 2008, US Hardcover – ISBN: 0312369735

First Sentence: She screamed, once, a single, helpless cry of agony, despair, and betrayed innocence.

Her whole life, Kenai Munro has dreamed of being an astronaut. How is her chance as the shuttle Endeavour. Kenai is also related to Douglas Munro, the only member of the Coast Guard awarded a Medal of Honor. Cal Schuyler is captain of the Coast Guard cutter, Munro. He and his ship have been ordered to protect the waters off the launch site of the Endeavour. Akil Vihari was the right hand of terrorist as-Zarqawi. He has set off on his own to prove himself by committing an act of terror that will garner the attention of the world and Osma Ben-Laden who, in addition to the intelligence forces of the Western World, is looking for him.

The strength of this book is the characters. Stabenow gives us backgrounds for each of the main characters that allow us to understand their motivations. Although we know pretty much where the plot is going, it’s the way the puzzle pieces fit together that make this a compelling read. Along the way we learn about the Coast Guard, the astronaut program and terrorist cells. The story is horrific, emotional, sexy, humorous and suspenseful. Stabenow’s descriptions are evocative and her dialogue crisp. This, for me, was not her best book, but once started, I didn’t put it down until I had finished it.

[Stacielynn]

I really enjoy Stabenow's ALaska series, so I tried this when I found the title available as an audiobook. I was a tad confused by how it jumped around at first, but finally got the rhythm and settled in for the long haul.. Fascinating premise. I could hear my husband harrumphing in my head saying "That's NOT how it works," but i shushed him and continued till the final denouement.

have to admit i am bummed there are no more. stabenow seems to have a habit of abandoning characters and locations with no warning, just when the reader is beginning to become attached.

[Marlene]

Got to 30% and just couldn't handle the amount of SA.

[Holly Gravel]

Female astronaut is with Coast Guard captain. They never can find a good mate, but are happy with one another.
A terrorist with a most personal grudge, an FBI analyst challenged to be three steps ahead of the intelligence, a Coast Guard captain assigned to keep watch on that very American of symbols from the water, an astronaut who takes her job very seriously—the paths of all of these characters converge on one clear morning in Florida. NASA is preparing to launch the space shuttle, this time with a high-paying visitor on board as a guest, and the FBI and the Coast Guard are doing everything they can to help the launch go off without a hitch. But one Pakistani man with a bottomless personal grudge and the commitment of many zealous men behind him is determined to strike back at the most visible target he can find.

[Dan Smith]

Author has had much success with Kate Shugak and Liam Campbell series. Even though this was a great story, it did not reach levels expected from this author.

“terrorist with a most personal grudge, an FBI analyst challenged to be three steps ahead of the intelligence, a Coast Guard captain assigned to keep watch on that very American of symbols from the water, an astronaut who takes her job very seriously—the paths of all of these characters converge on one clear morning in Florida. NASA is preparing to launch the space shuttle, this time with a high-paying visitor on board as a guest, and the FBI and the Coast Guard are doing everything they can to help the launch go off without a hitch. But one Pakistani man with a bottomless personal grudge and the commitment of many zealous men behind him is determined to strike back at the most visible target he can find.”

[M. O'Gannon]

Prepared for Rage – Coast Guard Series Thriller – 2008 - ** - Shouldn’t even try to rate the book. Lost interest about 100 pages in and quit reading. The back and forth between POV had my head reeling along with the thousand characters introduced. Characters did not develop to the point that I had an interest in their outcomes. It is interesting that I found Stabenow’s jumping POV hard and uninteresting where I have enjoyed other authors that do the same. Too bad, I am a Stabenow fan of her other series. I’ll stick with the Alaskan novels of Shugak and Campbell.

[George]

Prepared for Rage by Dana Stabenow is a suspenseful novel about the continued war on terrorism featuring a Coast Guard Captain, an American astronaut and a Pakistani terrorist. My first non Shugak Stabenow novel and it was pretty good. There's a love interest and an Alaska connection (like any Stabenow novel) and some bumbling bad guys that are dispatched by the hero. All neat and clean. I liked the book.

[Liz]

Starting this book was like driving with somebody new to a stick shift. I'm used to cutting from one scene to another to follow the characters, which is used a lot in her two Alaska series, but it didn't work for me in this book. Perhaps if I had read the first CG book first I'd know and empathize with the lead characters, but I didn't and I didn't. If Ms. Stabenow is interested in my opinion I'd suggest she forget this stuff and keep going with Kate Shugak!

[Katie Murphy]

Prepare for Rage

I adore Dana Stabenow. From the very first moment she introduced me to Kate Shugak and Mutt she's been my favourite author. Someday when I grow up, I want to BE Kate Shugak.
With what's happening in the middle East at the moment this is not an easy book, but prevail, it's worth it.

[Mel Brannen]

DNF p. 240 - Very good international thriller along the lines of Tom Clancy. With more than 8 main characters this book takes a while to lay the groundwork before it takes off. Scrupulously researched the storyline is highly believable. But, I’m not interested in this type of international intrigue any longer and put this down before finishing.

[Mary]

This was a fun and exciting read with an astronaut and a Coast Guard captain as main characters. It was a good example of how things can go wrong even when everyone is doing their job. I guess I’m saying that the storyline was believable.

It was a little confusing at first keeping telling some of the ‘bad guy’ characters apart.

[BeverlyB]

WOW! There was a lot going on in this book! It had everything! The Coast Guard, NASA and the space shuttle, terrorists, FBI, and a great cast of characters along with a well crafted story. There were a lot of moving pieces and for a while I could not fathom how it was all connected and how it would all come together. But it did!

[Hilary]

A great thriller featuring the US Coast Guard. I didn't quite get how the beginning led to the end, but the range of characters, the chase, the suspense and the uneasy realization that something similar might be true kept me enthralled. Lorelei King as narrator didn't hurt!

[Nancy]

I have Whiplash!

Where is Kate Shugak, and Mutt? Where is Aleute culture and Alaskan intrigue?
Dana Stabenow, your broad knowledge and creativity is awesome!
Thank you for a wonderful read!

[Karen Bluestein]

Better than I expected. A quick read that included a variety of topics from terrorism to politics to NASA to post 9/11 culture to romance.

The ending was a postscript. That info could have been woven into the story.

This is my first book by this author.

[Darlis]

Very exciting! We enjoyed listening to this thriller! If I had read it, it would have been a page-turner.

[Fanona]

its confusing going back n forth. not liking the subject matter esp the terroristic parts.I feel very ambivalent about this story. it's fantastical & very disturbing. maybe cuz it's hard to discern truth from fiction.

[Kathy]

audio book

[Shauna]

A good story about terrorism; the narrator was not great. Coast guard, shuttle launch, etc.

[Barbara]

I LOVE Dana Stabenow’s Alaska series. While this book was well written, the whole terrorist plot line wasn’t my cup of tea. Take me back to Alaska...

[Mario Medina]

First off, it has a lousy title. Then, it's entirely predictable. The story of Cal and Kenai is OK, the terrorist plot ho-hum.