The Last Run : A true story of rescue and redemption on the Alaska seas

Rating:
Summary: Simply an amazing story and great book
Review: The story starts in the latter part of 1998 when 2 teenage boys on are on a hunting adventure and on the trail of a big bear when the stumble upon a neoprene glove that contains parts of human fingers. David Hanlon a forensics investigator pretty knew to the position has strong desire to find out who this person is to provide closure for the family. Because of his determination he ends up with a match of a man who was lost on a fishing boat that capsized but he cannot believe that they body could end up on a island 800 miles away so the story really begins

The story centers around the fishing boat the La Conte a 78 year old fishing schooner which had been bought and sold and retro fitted many times til it is bought by a goat and pig farmer from the georgia who made it big an decided to try commericial fishing in alaska after learning from the japanese just how much money there is to earn. One of the problems was the owner just wants to put the bare minimum moneywise into the boat which proves tragic when the boat is in hurricane forces in the alaskan sea.

The crew including the captain who proves to make the wrong choices are a broken down cast of characters who all seem to be dealing with alcohol problems broken families and broken marriages are just trying to get through and get a big enough haul to make some money that just might turn there luck around.

As you probably know from the story description that there is of course there is a disaster and the coast gaurd mission that comes about is non stop action and a roller coaster of emotion when you read this book and really get into it you can really feel the highs and lows with the successes and failures

This is a really good book i would say just as good as "Perfect Storm". If you like these kind of stories i would also recommend some books by Spike Walker. READ THIS BOOK

Rating:
Summary: A GENUINE ADVENTURE STORY TRIGGERED BY GREED
Review: This is a real adventure story that gives you background of the principals' life, then a detailed story that encompasses the life of a fisherman in the Alaskan waters with a lot of boat talk and fishing smarts, then the storm and events that lead up to the storm; the sinking and then the rescue. The rescue is awe-inspiring and details of flying a helicopter and the hazards involved most enlightening. Appreciation of our Coast Guard is evident during the rescue phase and the stress almost unreal. The reader gets wrapped up in this story and a postscript gets you up-to-dte of what has happened to all of the participants.

Rating:
Summary: True to the real life events - I relived the tragedy
Review: You won't be able to put this book down. As the lead Coast Guard investigator charged with delving into the sinking of the fishing vessel LaConte, I heard first hand the stories of the survivors and the heroic actions of the rescuers. Todd Lewan does a masterful job of protraying the crew's will to survive and the impossible rescue efforts of the Coast Guard pilots. It will leave you with a great appreciation for the men and women of the Coast Guard who dedicate their lives to protect people from the sea and who are Always Ready, Always There.

D. C. Stalfort
U.S. Coast Guard