Into the Raging Sea

Thirty-Three Mariners, One Megastorm, and the Sinking of the El Faro

By: Rachel Slade

Narrated by: Erin Bennett

On October 1, 2015, Hurricane Joaquin barreled into the Bermuda Triangle and swallowed the container ship El Faro whole, resulting in the worst American shipping disaster in 35 years. No one could fathom how a vessel equipped with satellite communications, a sophisticated navigation system, and cutting-edge weather forecasting could suddenly vanish - until now.

Relying on hundreds of exclusive interviews with family members and maritime experts, as well as the words of the crew members themselves - whose conversations were captured by the ship’s data recorder - journalist Rachel Slade unravels the mystery of the sinking of El Faro. As she recounts the final 24 hours onboard, Slade vividly depicts the officers’ anguish and fear as they struggled to carry out Captain Michael Davidson’s increasingly bizarre commands, which, they knew, would steer them straight into the eye of the storm. Taking a hard look at America's aging merchant marine fleet, Slade also reveals the truth about modern shipping - a cut-throat industry plagued by razor-thin profits and ever more violent hurricanes fueled by global warming.

A richly reported account of a singular tragedy, Into the Raging Sea takes us into the heart of an age-old American industry, casting new light on the hardworking men and women who paid the ultimate price in the name of profit.

©2018 Rachel Slade (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

“A Perfect Storm for a new generation, Rachel Slade's Into the Raging Sea is a masterful account of the El Faro's sinking.” (Ben Mezrich, best-selling author of The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook)

Incredibly researched

A ton of research must've gone into this story, many facets, told well. One of the few stories that I already knew the ending of but still choked me up. Left me wanting to blame the crew, as blindly following a madman made me more angry than sympathetic.

Good Read

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it reinforces the respect everyone should give the ocean. Poor choices by Tote, the captain and weather feeds cost 33 people their lives. I could have, however, done without the political editorials. I will never buy or listen to a book by this author again. Just another Boston liberal pontificating.

heartbreaking

This book is informative. if the facts are true book is also very heartbreaking. I couldn't put it down. my hat is off to all the families, God bless.

VDR made for a chilling reality. Shocking.

great research enhanced the tragic facts behind the sinking of the El Faro. Fasinating and shocking.

Very Entertaining

I judge a book by how much physical work I can get done while listening. I just got through four hours of mounting hurricane hardware in the Florida humidity. Then I went and mowed the lawn, Then I pressure washed the sidewalk and stone wall. Then I took a shower. Six hours! I can't wait to resume tomorrow! I'm getting so much done.:) Great book and excellent companion NTSB YouTube videos.

Great Summary of the event. Got a bit too political

She did a great job bringing the story together. I believe she got some things incorrect but we’re only minor details. Got a bit too political with the climate change push, not saying she’s wrong, but puts a negative side to an overall good book.

Great book

Very good investigation by the writer. I recommend reading this book to find out about the El Faro.

The El Faro tragedy

Well researched, fine naration, an interesting book.
Highly recommend, stayed up late t finish.
Am a weather follower, let have more like this

Political where it need not be

The story of the El Faro is compelling. It would be well told if the author would refrain from her personal political views that add nothing to the story.

An eye opener

My husband just came by and said that one of the steam engines would not be reconditioned because it was run into the ground by the company that owned it and it was beyond restoration. I then told him about the book I just finished - 'Into the Raging Sea'. This book really is an eye opener if you think that companies, and the laws, in the past (or even today) are concerned with preserving the functionality and safety of their fleets. For me, the ship's chain-of-command's inability to listen to the experts was astounding. I ran into similar situation being a technical person, but was always able to crack the hierarchy of command to reach a solution. This book was mesmerizing and enlightening. A worthwhile read.