“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.”

Hello and a very warm welcome to damppebbles. Today I am delighted to be sharing my review of Falling by T.J. Newman. Falling is published by Simon & Schuster today (that’s Thursday 10th June 2021) and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats. I chose to read and review a free eARC of Falling but that has in no way influenced my review.

Woah! I mean, WOAH! What a book! I’ve discovered in recent years that I’m a huge fan of novels which feature a disaster at their heart. I have a particular love of plane-based hostage situations. Stranded at 35,000 feet, there’s no escape and someone else is pulling the very delicate strings. One wrong move and….BOOM! So much so, Falling is the first of three flight-based thrillers I’m featuring on damppebbles this month. And it’s by far the best. I didn’t want to be separated from this book for a single second.

Captain Bill Hoffman boards flight CA416 to New York with a heavy heart. He knows he’s in trouble with his wife, when he left the house things were strained between them but for Bill, it’s impossible to say no to the Chief Pilot. Missing his son’s Little League opener is something he’ll have to come to terms with. Despite the tension at home, it’s another normal day for Bill. Nothing out of the ordinary. Until he receives a devastating message. His family have been taken hostage. In order for them to live, Bill must crash the plane killing everyone on board. Bill has an impossible decision to make and the clock is ticking…

Falling is a superb debut. Tense, scarily real and absolutely relentless. The book starts with a bang. The author throws the reader straight into the deep end. You have no idea what came before but you have a fair idea of what’s coming next. By far, the best opener to a book I’ve read in a long, long time. Although the action does grind down a gear or two after our initial introduction to Bill, the tension remains ever present. As the situation the crew are in becomes clear, as the pressure mounts, the book builds to a heart-stopping climax. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was living and breathing this book alongside the characters. Totally believable, completely engrossing and the ultimate thrill-ride.

As an ex-flight attendant the author has used her extensive knowledge (and a little artistic flair!) to create a pulse-pounding reading experience which I loved. I felt fully invested in the characters. Strong, capable Bill who everyone believes will do the right thing (whatever that is!), the fearless cabin crew who not only have a flight full of anxious, scared passengers to deal with but also the promise of the hijackers ‘back-up plan’. And not forgetting Bill’s family, his wife, Carrie, who has a suicide vest strapped to her but still manages to remain outwardly calm and in control for the sake of her two children – 10 year old Scott and baby, Elise. It’s the stuff nightmares are made of and I loved every heart in my mouth second.

Would I recommend this book? I most definitely would, yes. If you’re looking for a thrilling, high concept, intense and all-consuming read then make sure you get yourself a copy of Falling. It’s true, I won’t be stepping foot on a plane anytime soon but don’t let that stop you 😂! Highly, highly entertaining. I was completely captivated from that blisteringly good start to the heart-stopping, ‘read behind your hands’ end. A definite contender for my ‘books of the year’ list without a doubt. Shedloads of suspense, a fast and pacey plot and a cast of characters I felt fully invested in. Sublime! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Falling. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Falling by T.J. Newman was published in the UK by Simon & Schuster on 10th June 2021 and is available in hardcover, audio and digital formats (please note, the following links are affiliate links which means I receive a small percentage of the purchase price at no extra cost to you): | amazon.co.uk | Waterstones | Foyles | Book Depository | bookshop.org | Goodreads | damppebbles bookshop.org shop |

T. J. Newman, a former bookseller turned flight attendant, worked for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines from 2011 to 2021. FALLING is her first novel.