#Review #NetGalley #Falling

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don't know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot's family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

Buy It Here!

My Review

I've had this book sat on my TBR pile for the best part of a year...WHY??!! I loved the sound of it when I first read the blurb, but starting it yesterday afternoon and finishing it this morning is a big giveaway as to how much I enjoyed it! This story is a high action thriller which I'd really love to see on the big screen. We meet Captain Bill Hoffman, a pilot for Coastal Airlines. He's just took charge of the Los Angeles to New York flight alongside his co-pilot, Ben Miro, when he receives a message to say his family have been taken hostage and for them to survive he needs to crash the plane with all 144 passengers on board.

The book begins straight into the action with a heart-stopping prologue. From there on, it's a adrenaline fuelled ride following Bill trying to work out how to save his family and his passengers. The writing was fast and snappy and I felt like I was way up there with them, riding the jump seat next to Bill or Jo, his lead flight attendant. The story is told from different viewpoints - Bill, Jo, FBI agent Theo, and Bill's wife Carrie - and switches effortlessly between the characters. As I read I could imagine how a film version of this book would pan out, with Bruce Willis dropping in to save the day!

I initially thought the author must have been a pilot as there was so much technical knowledge of the ins and outs of a plane, but have since discovered that she was cabin crew for many years. Her previous occupation certainly shows through as the detail written into the plot was fantastic! The fact that this was also her debut novel is outstanding! I've no doubt security protocols have changed over the years since 9/11 and but it's scary to think that things like this could still happen. Of course, this is fiction, and there are some moments which are a little far-fetched or unbelievable, but...who cares!! The plot was fast paced, intensely thrilling and scarily exciting!! Once I started it, I knew I wouldn't be able to put it down! Would definitely recommend!! A word of warning though, don't read this book before or during a flight! Fab, fab, fab!!

The Author

T.J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. She wrote much of Falling on cross-country red-eye flights while her passengers were asleep. She lives in Phoenix, Arizona.