Falling: A Novel

Bill Hoffman has a recurring nightmare that has been jarring him awake constantly. A plane in free fall, chaos widespread, no one in control. Bill is a senior pilot at Coastal Airways. The on-call nature of his profession has caused strain on his marriage, as he is missing important parts of his children’s lives. Bill is called in to fill a vacancy on a Saturday flight from Los Angeles to JFK. As he leaves his family, his only concern is the current row with his wife, Carrie, about his work.

Bill is all set to helm the cross country flight when he receives dreadful news. A text from his wife reveals that Bill’s family has been kidnapped. The kidnapper provides Bill with an ultimatum: Crash the plane and he will let Bill’s family go, if not, he will blow them up. Bill’s back is to the wall. What will Bill do? Whom can he tell?

Falling is an intense new thriller from newcomer T.J. Newman. The adrenaline rush hits from the beginning to a heart-stopping climax, the drama skillfully relayed in each chapter. The plot is nuanced, the characters introduced are individually compelling. This is a brisk, but ultimately satisfying read. A++