Showing posts with label Simon and Schuster Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Simon and Schuster Canada. Show all posts

Thursday, July 10, 2025

The Woman in Suite 11 - Ruth Ware

 I’ve read and enjoyed all of Ruth Ware’s books. Her latest is The Woman in Suite 11. This book is a follow up to The Woman in Cabin 10 with character Lo Blacklock. If you have read Cabin, you’re all set. If you’ve not read Cabin, you’ll have to make a choice as you would find out all the answers from 10 in this book. Sorry, I hope that makes sense!

Lo has all of the of the things she wanted - husband, kids, and home.  It’s time to go back to work. When she receives an invitation to cover the opening of a new hotel, she jumps at the opportunity. And is shocked when her past catches up to her present…

There’s a lot going on in the suspense filled plot and a mystery to be solved. There are a lot of twists and turns and I had to be on my toes. The direction of who, when and where changes quite often. There were a few things that I just thought were awkward. Not sure why Mom and her ankle were even in the book. Nobody goes to see her.

This one is not one of my favourite Ware books, but I do like the author's work so I will happily pick up her next book.

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

Fire and Bones - Kathy Reichs

Yay! A new novel Temperance Brennan from Kathy Reichs! Fire and Bones has just released - and it's a hot read!

I've read every Tempe book and I'm always eager to see what her next case will be about. This time Tempe is headed to Washington to help identify fire victims and add her expertise to the investigation. And Tempe can't walk away when she comes across clues pointing to a much bigger operation.

I really enjoy Tempe as a protagonist. She's got a rich personal life that has progressed over the course of all 23 books in the series. She's dogged in her search for the answers and justice as a forensic anthropologist. Kathy Reichs herself is a certified forensic anthropologist. Her cases and writing have the details that tell you it's the real deal. I quite enjoy Tempe's inner dialogue as well!

The cases are always interesting. There's lots of history is this latest - and no way to predict how or what will come next. (I like the twist in the final chapter!) 

Her counterpart in this latest is journalist Ivy Doyle. Can Ivy be trusted with what's going on behind doors. I wasn't a fan of this character in the beginning, but... 

An excellent entry in this long running series. See for your self - read an excerpt of Fire and Bones.

Monday, November 20, 2023

Class - Stephanie Land

Star studded tell-alls are of no interest to me. Instead I find myself invariably drawn to memoirs of everyday people. The struggles and the triumphs - and real life.

Stephanie Land's first book, Maid, was a runaway bestseller. I thought it was a fantastic read. I was eager to turn the first page of Land's new book - Class.

Land's desire to be a writer and the love she has for her daughter were the driving forces in pursuing that goal.  Class brings us the next chapter - life while raising a young child, working as a cleaner, attending a four year college, homework, hunger, childcare and more. All from the under the poverty line.

Land's determination is so inspiring. She gets knocked down but keeps getting up. Trying to find her way through the byzantine agencies that seem to contradict each other. Facing judgment at school, at work and in society. Being judged as a mother and a woman by those who have no idea what she's struggling with. Now, that's not everyone, but there are enough.

I like the honesty of Land's work and not making it all 'pretty'. I don't think memoirs can be rated or judged. Each of us has their own way of doing things, achieving goals and living. I appreciate Stephanie Land's sharing of her journey. So far. I wonder if there will be another chapter? See for yourself - read an excerpt of Class. Definitely recommended. 

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Handyman Method - Nick Cutter

I thought Nick Cutter's 2014 horror tale, The Troop, was a great read. I read the premise of his latest novel, The Handyman Method, and thought it looked intriguing. And the cover is eye catching.

Okay, I'm going to be somewhat obtuse here as I don't want to spoil things for you.

Trent, Rita, and their young son, Milo move into a new subdivision. And their new house is...well it's the only one there. Trent is between jobs, as they say. When he sees an item that needs attention in his new house, he decides to undertake the repair himself. And like many of us, he turns to the internet to find some guidance. And he stumbles across upon Handyman Hank's site. And the weirdness begins. At home and out in the world. Specifically big box DIY stores. As odd as it sounds - these bits were darkly humorous and decidedly true. Cutter skewers toxic masculinity through the big box, the website and another program that pops up on Milo's computer. Quite frightening for sure. There are a number of other dark events and pieces. 

But. Yes, there's a but for me. The Handyman Method started down avenues that I understand are 'horror', but I found them to be things I didn't want in my head. Misogynistic comments that were truly vile. A doomed turtle. The plot seemed to feel repetitive and I decided to take a break from the book. I came back to it, but realized my opinion hadn't changed. I fast forwarded my way to the final chapters to see what answers the ending might bring. 

So, it's a rare DNF for me. I do know there's lots of others who quite enjoyed The Handyman Method, so check out the other reviews on Goodreads. Or read an excerpt of The Handyman Method.

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

The Bone Hacker - Kathy Reich

The Bone Hacker is the 22nd book in Kathy Reichs' long running Temperance Brennan series. 

For those who haven't read this series yet, Tempe is a forensic anthropologist who works with both American and Canadian labs, cases and police forces. 

The Bone Hacker finds Tempe examining the remains of a person who has been killed by a lightning strike. Or have they? Her findings may be a link to other cases on the islands of Turks and Caicos.

I have always liked Tempe as a lead character. She's intelligent, tenacious and doesn't back down. Her inner dialogue gives the reader a better sense of 'knowing' her. And it's quite funny at times.

The solving of the cases always fascinates me. In addition to the forensics clues, Tempe's intuitions, skill sets and determination are put to good use.

Taking the setting to a new location also gives us some new supporting players. Two Turks and Caicos police added a lot to this tale.

The case itself is different and led to some answers I hadn't expected when the book started. (And you'll find out where the title comes in!)

The Bone Hacker kept me engrossed from the first chapter to the last. Another great entry in the series, and I'm looking forward to the 23rd. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Bone Hacker.

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Drowning -The Rescue of Flight 1421 (A Novel) - T.J. Newman

 T.J. Newman's debut novel was a nail biting read that I (and a lot of other people) couldn't put down. I've been eagerly awaiting her second book - Drowning. You always wonder if an author can bring another great read to the table after a best selling first book? Newman does....in spectacular fashion.

So, you might be wondering about why the book is called Drowning. Well, it's another book about a plane in trouble, this time having to make a crash landing - on, or should I say in, water.

Some make it off the plane, and some don't. Newman gives us a core group of survivors. They're a mixed bunch of personalities, ages, backgrounds and more. One of them is engineer Will Kent - and the second is his young daughter. Can he figure out a way to get out? Or does he have to wait for the government to come up with a solution? Will isn't a patient man - not when lives are at stake. The book is told from two points of view - those up top and those still in the plane. 

The tension in this book is crazy - almost every chapter ends on a cliffhanger. Newman knows how to write suspense! Her personal bio gives her writing that ring of believability. Why? Well she was a flight attendant for 10 years. 

 See for yourself - read an excerpt of Drowning - The Rescue of Flight 1421. I can see this one as a movie. A film for Falling is already in the works.

Friday, May 12, 2023

Fit to Die - Daniel Kalla

Fit to Die is Danel Kalla's new novel.

There is such a focus on body weight in our society - rather than on being healthy. Kalla takes this skewed thinking as the basis of his plot in Fit to Die. Emergency rooms in Vancouver and LA are dealing with overdoses of an unnamed drug. Once the common thread is named, I thought, no way. But no, it's real. (and that is pretty scary)

Here's the neat bit - Kalla is himself an emergency physician in Vancouver, Canada. I can't even imagine what's he's seen or dealt with over the years. His medical expertise adds much to his book's overall feel in terms of setting, action and dialogue.

His protagonists are medical and law enforcement players whose lives intersect. Some of the characters have appeared in previous books and it's nice to see them again. The investigation is believable from both points of view.

Kalla keeps things moving at a good pace. There's a few twists that keeps the reader on their toes. Overall, an entertaining read for those who like medical thrillers. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Fit to Die.

Gentle readers there are some triggers. 

Monday, May 8, 2023

The Nigerwife - Vanessa Walters

The Nigerwife is Vanessa Walters' debut adult book. 

The title is a name that foreign wives of wealthy Nigerian men have given themselves. The author herself has been part of the Nigerwife community. 

Walters' inside point of view immerses the reader in terms of setting, mores, culture, community, everyday life and the upper echelon of Nigerian society. 

Nicole Oruwari is one of those wives who seems to have it all....until she goes missing. With no answers and no one seemingly looking for Nicole, her auntie Claudia makes the trip from England to Lagos get answers. She is stonewalled at every turn. 

The book is told in a then and now timeline, with Nicole's disappearance being ground zero. As readers we're privy to it all. We get to know Nicole in those before chapters. And I'm not quite sure how I feel about her. I questioned some of her thinking. I adored Claudio though. She often acts before she thinks, speaks her mind and is fiercely loyal to her family. But there are dark chapters to her life as well.

Did I see the who, why and what coming before the final pages? A wee bit, but I was surprised. And that last page? Perfect.

The Nigerwife was fresh, different and enjoyable. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Nigerwife.

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

A Death at the Party - Amy Stuart

A Death at the Party is Amy Stewart's latest release. This is a standalone book.

I was hooked in the first few pages. The prologue gives us a body in the basement and lots of questions. Curious cat that I am - I needed to know who, why and how.  

The book takes place over 24 hours. Nadine is hosting a 60th birthday party for her mother, a bestselling author. Nadine is a meticulous planner and she wants this party to be perfect,  so nothing can go wrong. But… you just know it’s not going to go smoothly. There are simmering undertones between each and every character, from the immediate family, to the neighbours, work colleagues, acquaintances, clerks and more. These connections are all intricately woven together as the book progresses. 

The tension ratchets up and up with every hour that passes. The compressed timeline heightens everything - actions, emotions and more. We're with with Nadine as she tries desperately to keep all  of her balls in the air. But they start to drop one by one. The fall out is not what I expected at all. I had some inklings that things might be headed in a certain direction, but was happily surprised by the direction Stuart took the tale. 

I thought the mystery of the book was well done. But, just as much of standout for me was the depiction and exploration of Nadine. See for yourself - read an excerpt of A Death at the Party. An easy five stars.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

The Golden Spoon - Jessa Maxwell

The Golden Spoon is Jessa Maxwell's brilliantly fun debut novel.
 
Okay, hands up if you binge watch baking competitions. Keep them up if you love murder mysteries, especially the 'locked room' kind. Yes? Then this is the book you need to read next.

Six lucky contestants are at beloved celebrity judge Betsy Martin's grand home. Also on the grounds is the tent where the contest will take place. As readers we're privy to the 'behind the scenes' machinations of making the show and what people are like when the cameras stop rolling. I'll stop there as you can just guess what happens right?

I think because I am one of those binge baking watchers, I conjured up very vivid mental images of  both the set and the participants. Fellow watchers will see that Maxwell has created contestants that mirror real show participants. But what I hadn't imagined was the direction that Maxwell would take with her mystery. Each and every character has something they really don't want to bring to light. Each one of them  have point of view in The Golden Spoon, giving the reader lots of opportunity and information to make a guess as to the 'whodunit'. There's more than one mystery woven into the book - and one in particular had me tearing up.

I was whisked away and bowled over by this debut novel. Absolute cozy fun to read, with an Only Bodies in the Building vibe. See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Golden Spoon

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

The Writing Retreat - Julia Bartz

The Writing Retreat is Julia Bartz's debut novel. 

Alex works in the publishing industry, but what she really wants is to be an author. She jumps at the chance to attend a month long retreat at the secluded estate of writer Roza Vallo. There will be five attendees, including Alex's former best friend, but she'll deal with that.

From the first night, things feel a little off. Roza's behaviour is mercurial, challenging the five with somewhat uncomfortable discussions - and as things progress - actions. The five acolytes continue to rationalize what's going, until it can no longer can be ignored. There's something very wrong at this retreat...

The book is told through Alex's eyes. And if it was me, I'd be on the next bus home. But there's a snow storm that cuts off their communication, so we're now in a locked room situation. Add in some odd staff and a mansion with a history in addition to the peculiar host. The other attendees are a mixed bunch - almost like you would expect to find in a horror film. There's always one who chooses to go in the basement. 

What's happening in reality is somewhat mirrored in the novel Alex is writing. I do enjoy the plot device of having a book within a book. 

Bartz is a practicing therapist and I can see how her  background has added to the plot. Roza plays a lot of mind games with the five. She's cruel and then kind, keeping the would be authors on edge. Bartz has added a sexual component to her plot line as well as horror elements. (Gentle readers, there are many triggers in this book) 

I'm on the fence with this one. I liked the idea, but I didn't overly enjoy the delivery. Things got into the over the top territory for me. The epilogue tied up many loose ends, but went a bit too long for me.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Lying Beside You - Michael Robotham

If Michael Robotham is the author, then I'll be reading it! Lying Beside You is the third book in his Cyrus Haven and Evie Cormac series.

As a child, Cyrus survived a horrendous crime. As an adult, he works as a forensic psychologist who consults with the police. Evie too has survived appalling damage as a child. The one unusual thing she has is her ability to know when someone is lying. Cyrus has taken Evie under his wing, providing a home, an education and someone who believes in her.

Cyrus has been called in to profile on a case involving a murder and the disappearance of a young woman. And at her new part time job at a bar, Evie calls an uber to make sure that an inebriated woman gets safely home. Except she's not safe - she's now missing. Evie was the last one to see her - and the driver. Home life is complicated as Cyrus's brother is now coming for visits - from a secure psychiatric prison. 

I really like this pair of lead characters. Cyrus's deductive reasoning and sensible, calm manner is a polar opposite to Evie. She questions authority, rules and struggles to fit in. The supporting cast brings back many familiar faces and new ones as well. I found it easy to discern who I didn't like!

And just as good as the characterizations is the plotting. Robotham never takes the reader on a straight path to the final answer. I now that and yet, I was pretty sure I knew who the culprit was many chapters from the end. I was happily proven wrong as the path took a large turn as the final pages  got closer.  

Lying Beside You is another fantastic book from Robotham. I'm looking forward to his next book!  See for yourself - read an excerpt of Lying Beside You

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

The White Hare - Jane Johnson

If you enjoy historical fiction steeped in a lovely gothic atmosphere, then you need to pick up Jane Johnson's new novel, The White Hare. It's a fabulous read!

1954, deep in a valley named The White Valley in the Cornwall District of England. We meet mother, daughter and grandchild, Magdalena, Mila and young Janeska as they arrive at a broken down house in the valley. It hasn't been lived in for many years and needs quite a bit of work done. Work also needs to be done on the relationships between the members of the family.

What other elements make this such a good read? All those gothic bits. First off is the house, of course. The atmosphere/setting was incredibly detailed and depicted. The forest, the shores of the sea, the darkness and the isolation. The rumors, beliefs, signs  and inexplicable events and portents that envelope the valley. A mysterious handyman who guards his privacy. Women in distress. Surly villagers. A romance perhaps. Or maybe a death. And so much more...

Johnson does a wonderful job with her story. I was caught up in the opening pages and literally couldn't put it down. Best read on a rainy night, with a pot of tea and a dog by the fire. See for  yourself - read an excerpt of The White Hare. 

Thursday, May 12, 2022

Last One Alive - Amber Cowie

The premise of Amber Cowie's new book, Last One Alive,  hooked me right away. 

What's it about? From the publisher: "A team of researchers exploring the myth of a witch find their numbers mysteriously dwindling in this irresistible psychological thriller for fans of Ruth Ware, Shari Lapena, and Lucy Foley."

I love 'locked room' mysteries. In this case, it's ten people on the site of an historic crime. And yes, one by one they die. But here's the thing that kept me guessing 'til the final pages. Is it the curse of the witch? Is there really something to the legends? Or is one of the ten turning on their fellow researchers?

Penelope is the organizer of the trip. While she has a good reason for the trip and says and does all the right things, I didn't like her. Or any of the ten for that matter. There's something 'off' with each and every one of them. Which only serves to have more suspects!

The setting descriptions easily conjured up a detailed picture in my mind. The isolation, the forest, the rocky beach, the old outbuildings and more all add to the unsettled feeling of the endeavor.

But what I enjoyed the most was trying to solve the whodunit - keeping track of who was where at a certain time, who was together, what was overheard, what was found. (I always wanted to be Nancy Drew.)

I did find some chapters ended quite abruptly and I would have to flip back to make sure I hadn't missed something. 

Cowie's book is well written, not easy to suss out and kept me interested right through to the final pages. See for yourself - read an excerpt of Last One Alive.  

Friday, April 22, 2022

Watch Out For Her - Samantha M. Bailey

Watch Out For Her is Samantha M. Bailey's second novel. 

Sarah and her husband Daniel decide to take on Holly as a summer babysitter for their young son Jacob. Holly is the daughter of one of Daniel's colleagues. And it's good in the beginning - until it's not. Sarah and her family end up packing up and moving from Vancouver to Toronto to put distance between themselves and Holly. 

So, what happened? Bailey tells her story from a now and then narrative, alternating between Sarah's and Holly's point of view. I didn't like Holly at all, despite what's going on with her. I initially liked Sarah in the beginning, but changed my mind fairly early on in the book. There are a number of supporting players in both locales, providing lots of options for suspicious behavior. 

As I read Watch Out For Her, I started to note some plot points with a 'really?' There were just too many coincidences, unrealistic behaviors and too many threads that were simply unbelievable for me. The whodunit is fairly obvious and easy to suss out. Much of the plot is cliched and the overall effect was too much. Less can sometimes work better than so many disparate and farfetched threads. 

I'm in the minority on this one. Check out what others thought on Goodreads.

Friday, April 8, 2022

Sari, Not Sari - Sonya Singh

Sari, Not Sari is Sonya Singh's debut novel. I really enjoyed it! 

What's it about? From Simon and Shuster: "This delightful debut rom-com follows the adventures of a woman trying to connect with her South Asian roots and introduces readers to a memorable cast of characters in a veritable feast of food, family traditions, and fun."

Our lead character is Manny - the owner of a unique business. 'Breakup' helps people ease the pain of ending their relationships. They'll help find the right way and words to break up - by email and/or text. A fun premise for sure. You'll find email requests at the beginning of each chapter that are quite funny. I found this tidbit reading Singh's bio - "Sari, Not Sari, is an ode to her own personal dating experiences, during which she honed the art of writing the perfect break-up email/text."

Now, following the rom-com formula, Manny has her own relationship issues, there's a client that might just be more than business, a find yourself epiphany for our lead character, a great bunch of quirky supporting characters and the ending that you really want. I quite liked Manny as a lead - she's warm, funny, caring and - she can't see that her fiancée is a bit of a donkey's behind. 

Singh gives us more to love with Manny's search for her South Asian roots and the large, boisterous and loving Patel family. Seriously, I'd love to go to one of their family get togethers - food, family and dancing - what's more to want? (Note that I really like Bollywood movies and can see this novel as a film!)

I loved Sari, Not Sari - what a great debut this was. Pick this one up for the beach bag this summer. 

I look forward to Singh's next book. But for now - read an excerpt of Sari, Not Sari. You can connect with Sonya Singh on her website and on Instagram.


Thursday, February 24, 2022

This Might Hurt - Stephanie Wrobel

This Might Hurt is Stephanie Wrobel's new novel.

Sisters Natalie and Kit have always had a fractious relationship, but they've always stayed in touch. Natalie is worried when Kit decides to get her life together by going to Wisewood. Six month mandatory stay and no communication with the outside world. And Nat doesn't hear from her - until she receives a cryptic email from someone threatening to tell Kit the secret Natalie has kept for years. "Would you like to come tell your sister what you did - or shall we?" She decides she needs to see her sister no matter what, so she heads to Wisewood...

Okay, the creepy feeling started when I read the Charles Manson quote that the book opens with. Uh huh - I had a feeling I knew what Westwood might entail. It might look idyllic, but it's anything but.

This Might Hurt is told from three points of view - a performance artist, Natalie and Kit. The artist scared the socks off me. I had to put the book down after reading her visceral chapters. Relationships of many types are found in the pages of This Might Hurt - most of them dysfunctional and disturbing. Timelines changes as well from past to present. 

The reader can't help but hope Natalie and Kit come to no harm, but I couldn't like either of them despite knowing their backstories. And there wasn't a one on the island that I liked either. 

Wrobel has penned a dark, disturbing plot. At times I didn't want to read any more, but I needed to know what happened. Wrobel throws in some twists that I didn't see coming. The ending is good as well - you know what's going to happen, yet its not spelled out. 

Wrobel made my skin crawl! See for yourself - read an excerpt of This Might Hurt. (Gentle readers - this may not be the book for you.)

Tuesday, July 13, 2021

Such a Quiet Place - Megan Miranda

I'm a fan of Megan Miranda's writing and was eager to read her new novel, Such a Quiet Place.

Hollow's End is a gated neighbourhood, an idyllic place to live, where the neighbours all know each other, host neighbourhood events, maintain an online community board, help each other out and more. Idyllic up to the point where two residents were murdered a year ago.  Another resident of Hollow's End was convicted of the murders - but the conviction was overturned. And Ruby has returned to the neighbourhood/scene of the crime. (And isn't the name Hollow's End just a little bit creepy?)

Ohh, the places this plot could go! And go it does. We meet all of the inhabitants and realize that that perfect veneer hides the sins and omissions of almost every resident. Harper Nash is the one resident who was close to Ruby. Harper was never quite sure of Ruby's guilt, but went to court and dutifully testified as to what she knew. Was it really Ruby? Harp still has doubts. But, she's under pressure from the rest of the neighbourhood to stick with the facts they presented last year. They also want Harper to convince Ruby to leave. Ruby is never given a voice, but is instead revealed through everyone else's memories, perceptions and actions. The first half of the book is slower while we come to know all the players. 

I loved the uncertainty as to who the real culprit was. Miranda kept me guessing with each new twist added to the narrative. I suspected every last one! Things move along much quicker in the second half of the book as the tension ramps up.

This is a great mystery read, but also a nice exploration of privilege, mob mentality, community and more. It's more than a little scary as it's not far from the truth at all. The ending caught me unawares and was a wee bit of a stretch. But overall, another great read from Megan Miranda. See for yourself - here's an excerpt.

Thursday, July 8, 2021

The Hunted - Roz Nay

Oh Roz Nay, you had me hooked right from the first chapter! If you're a suspense reader, you're going to want to pickup Nay's just released novel, The Hunted!

Stevie and her boyfriend Jacob decide to leave their small town and go on an adventure. They're headed to a secluded island where they'll work at a dive camp. (#1Beware of secluded islands!) On their way to Rafiki, they stay at a hostel that's a bit iffy. (#2) Stevie feels like someone is watching her. But then they meet Leo and Tamsin, a pair of seasoned travelers that make them feel a bit more settled.  And guess what! Yes, they're headed to Rafiki as well. (#3) Oh, the stage is set. (And there's one little detail in the opening chapters that I thought was perfect - take note of what book one of the other hostel guests is reading...)

We see the trip through Stevie's eyes and are privy to her worries, her doubts - and her fears. And who else has a point of view? Leo does. I'm not going to say more, but Leo's inner thoughts and dialogue are more than a little scary. The reader is aware of the overall picture - and the danger. I love that 'watching a scary movie with a pillow, ready to yell 'Don't go in the basement' feeling. And Nay has nailed it!

The tension builds with every chapter, ensuring a 'can't put it down read.' Which I didn't - it was done in a day. There's a nice twist as the end comes closer - I had my suspicions that this twist might transpire, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment at all. Perfect for back porch, beach chair reading! See for yourself - read an excerpt of The Hunted.

Monday, July 5, 2021

Falling - T.J. Newman

Falling is T.J. Newman's debut novel. And I just have to tell you the story behind the book before I tell you how much I enjoyed Falling!

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. But getting it published was a whole 'nother thing.... From the publisher:

"Bookseller turned flight attendant writes sensational thriller set on an airplane, gets rejected by forty-one literary agents before finding the right one, and then sells it in a major multibook deal to the first editor to whom it's submitted." 

I am most definitely not a fan of flying. (You might not be either after this tale!) This isn't a spoiler, but is the publisher's description...." 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."

Oh, great premise! There are so many ways this plot could unfold - and Newman gives us enough twists and turns to make you dizzy. Newman's familiarity with commercial flying gives her setting and characters detail and believability.  The characters are all intense, from the captain, the flight crew and the 'bad guy'. I think Jo, the lead flight crew member was my favourite, but Big Daddy is a close second. Just as intense is the action - it just never lets up. And that means I couldn't stop turning pages. Easily done in a day. 

Yes, you might have to suspend belief a few times, but just go with it. 

Falling reads like an action movie - think Die Hard and Speed. The film rights have already sold to Universal Pictures. (Betcha those first forty one agents that said no are kicking themselves!)

Looking for an addictive read for the the beach bag? Pick up Falling! And I can't wait to see what Newman writes next.