Abstract

December, 2014: In the forbidding waters off Antarctica, Captain Hammarstedt of the Bob Barker sets off on a voyage unlike any seen before. Across ten thousand miles of hazardous seas, Hammarstedt’s crew will relentlessly pursue the Thunder – an infamous illegal fishing ship – for what will become the longest chase in maritime history. Wanted by Interpol, the Thunder has for years evaded justice: hunting endangered species and accumulating millions in profits.

The authors follow this incredible expedition from the beginning. But even as seasoned journalists, they cannot anticipate what the chase will uncover, as the wake of the Thunder leads them on the trail of criminal kingpins, rampant corruption, modern slavery and an international community content to turn a blind eye. Very soon, catching Thunder becomes not only a chase but a pursuit of the truth itself – and a symbolic race to preserve the well-being of our planet.

A Scandinavian bestseller, Catching Thunder is a remarkable true story of courage and perseverance, and a wake-up call to act against the destruction of our environments.

'This 110-day, round-the-world pursuit of a rogue trawler reads like a noir thriller ... recorded with flair and precision. The book promises all the pleasures of a crime novel, but it is after bigger game.'
5/5* Telegraph

'An uproarious adventure — one predicated on the protestors’ ferocious sense of moral rectitude. Engdal and Sæter are energetic writers with a sense of pace and cinematic detail … Catching Thunder is an exciting read.'
Spectator

'A rip-roaring tale of piracy which charts an extraordinary chase and highlights an invisible crime against conservation. It defines page-turner or a book you can’t put down – and it’s all true. It came close to making me run away to sea to join the fight. The ultimate denouement is gripping.'
Chris Packham, Big Issue 

'A gripping story ... A clarion call for those who want to save our seas.'
National Geographic Traveller 

'A true story that reads like a spy novel, peppered with scary organized crime villains, charismatic environmental activists and Interpol agents, and enough tidbits about sailing treacherous seas, commercial fishing, and endangered species to satisfy the most dedicated nautical adventure fan.'
5/5* Foreword Reviews

'This is a modern pirate story, but the plunder isn't pieces of eight – it's the Patagonian Toothfish, as valuable as narcotics … A solid piece of collaborative journalism.'
Sydney Morning Herald

‘True adventure, life and death moments, and real life heroism: what reader could ask for more?’
Ingrid Newkirk, President, PETA

'Engdal and Sæter are to journalism what Jagger and Richards are to rock and roll – sexy, irreverent and brilliant.'
Luke Harding, Guardian journalist and author of The Snowden Files

‘This is the story of our time: the blind destruction of the oceans and our ecosphere, and the actions of those with the courage to stand up and confront it.’
Peter Heller, author of The Whale Warriors and Celine

‘The pursuit of the Thunder has become celebrated folklore by those of us fighting to protect our oceans. This is a captivating story, one which highlights the weaknesses in the global system but also, ultimately, gives us hope.’
Tony Long, CEO, Global Fishing Watch

Eskil Engdal has worked as a feature journalist at the Norwegian broadsheet Dagens Næringsliv for more than 20 years. He has won the prestigious SKUP journalism award for outstanding investigative reporting (2001), the International Reporter’s Journalism Award (2012) and the Golden Pen (2013). Kjetil Sæter has worked as a journalist for the broadsheets Aftenposten, Finansavisen and currently as feature writer for Dagens Næringsliv. He has won two SKUP diplomas (2007 and 2010), the SKUP award (2011) and the Schibsted Journalism Award (2008).