I was so excited to read this one! Described by Janet Evanovich as “the perfect summer thriller”, T.J. Newman’s debut novel has caught the attention of many and the reviews are glowing.
Falling by T.J. Newman was published in 2021 and I couldn’t wait to see for myself whether it could live up to all the hype.
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Plot
Captain Bill Hoffman is a pilot in a charge of a flight heading from Los Angeles to New York. However, shortly after takeoff, Bill is informed that his family are being held hostage.
His wife Carrie has a bomb strapped to her chest and their two young children are in immediate danger. Their captor requires Bill to make a decision – crash the plane or his family dies.
Falling Book Review
This was such a gripping, suspenseful read. Universal Pictures have won the rights to the film adaptation and I can see why there was a bidding war. I can already envisage the drama unfolding on screen.
It’s a thought-provoking book that has you questioning how you would react in the same situation. Would you save the lives of your family or all those on board who have entrusted their lives to you? So many thrillers can actually be quite lacklustre, but this is a thriller that really does thrill! It’s fast-paced and the tension builds rapidly, and yet the author still manages to create a cast of characters we can actually care about.
It’s hard not to compare it with Hostage by Clare Mackintosh as it has a very similar premise. I personally found them both to be brilliant reads but Hostage just edges it for me as I just love Clare Mackintosh’s writing.
T.J. Newman is a former flight attendant and her experience adds an extra layer of authenticity to the story. You can really tell she has the knowledge of procedures and the interactions between the crew feel really genuine.
There are a few cliches and stereotypes thrown in there which were a little irritating but the suspense and action made up for it.
The story is gripping and suspenseful and yet still managed to be really emotive. I felt a lump in my throat during several moments in the book.
I’d definitely recommend this book.
What to read next
If you’re a fan of suspenseful thrillers, I’d recommend also reading Hostage by Clare Mackintosh and Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton.
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I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. For more information please see my disclosure policy.