Captain Bill is forced to make a choice - save his family or his passengers? This book brings 90s thriller movies vibe with non-stop action scenes! It mostly focuses on the flight crew and people on the ground including the FBI, so we don’t get to know the passengers. I have to say I’m disappointed that the book perpetuates racial stereotyping with the bad guys. Like was this written in 2002? There’s also several corny flag-waving-patriotism scenes that took me out of the story. But I liked the tug-at-heartstrings moments and I thought the flight attendant characters were awesome. Overall, an entertaining fast-paced adventure!

CW: suicide, kidnapping, physical violence

Falling tells the story of Coastal Airways Flight 416, from Los Angeles to New York, and the plane’s experienced pilot, Captain Bill Hoffman.

Bill wasn’t due to be on the Airbus A320 – he was supposed to be at his 10-year-old son, Scott’s Little League season opener – but when the chief pilot, Walt O’Malley, phones to ask him to fly the route, he can’t really say no. Bill’s 42-year-old wife, Carrie, is annoyed with her husband and, as he heads to the airport, the couple don’t part on the best of terms, especially as she’s distracted by the internet repairman. Bill promises to talk to her later, before take-off.

Onboard the plane are 144 passengers and five crew, consisting of Captain Bill and First Officer Ben Miro plus flight attendants Jo Watkins (46), Michael ‘Big Daddy’ Rodenburg and newbie Kellie. Bill has worked with Jo for over two decades and considers her a friend and part of his family.

Bill tries to phone his wife before the five-and-a-half hour flight to John F. Kennedy International Airport but she doesn’t pick up so he carries on with all his pre-flight checks.

Shortly after take-off, he receives an email from his wife. At first he thinks it’s blank, then he realises, to his horror, that it contains a photo of Carrie and Scott and they are obviously in danger and being held captive by someone. Bill receives instructions via a FaceTime call and is told he must crash the plane or his family will be killed. What an awful dilemma! He also learns that provisions have been put in place in the cockpit to ensure that he complies with the terrorist.

The story is told from the points of view of Bill in the cockpit and flight attendant, Jo, in the cabin of the plane. On the ground, we follow FBI agent, Theo Baldwin, who is related to one of the aircrew, and Carrie, son Scott and 10-month-old baby daughter, Elise, as they are held captive by another terrorist.

I love books set on planes and this was definitely an excellent story, full of suspense, peril and drama! I was really rooting for Bill and star of the show, Jo, and hoping that Theo would be able to solve things on the ground, despite the other FBI agents trying to hamper his earnest efforts.

Overall, I really enjoyed this dramatic, gripping and tense read! I felt like I was up in the air, experiencing all the terror and fear that the passengers and crew were enduring. It seems a hopeless situation from all angles and one from which there’s no escape.

The novel was fast paced and entertaining and the action and twists and turns came fast and furious as Bill and his flight crew battled to foil the terrorists’ plot. I was a bit unsure about the terrorists’ motives but they were certainly menacing and seemed to have thought of everything. They appear to be one step ahead all the time but Bill is determined to save his family and all the passengers and he has a few surprises up his sleeve too. It makes for disturbing and exciting reading!

The author is a former flight attendant and this book was written on cross-country red-eye flights while the passengers were asleep! Her professional experience really showed in the authenticity of the procedures and protocol on the plane.

I understand this is due to be made into a film and it would definitely be an intense and terrifying movie and I can’t wait to watch it! I’m also looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

This book took off (pun intended) the way it continued - with gripping action that hooked you in straight away.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and thought the writing was excellent, particularly for a debut novel. The twists and turns were reeling and you were left guessing what the outcome would be right up to the very end.

The characters were all very well written and I absolutely loved Big Daddy. I'm petitioning for him to have his own spin-off!

I deducted a star because I did have a hard time believing the plot from time to time, but this was thoroughly enjoyable and I raced through!

It's a great summer read, however, I definitely wouldn't want to read it before boarding a flight!!

As soon as I started reading this book, I was on the edge of my seat. The book went straight in with the drama and hooked the reader. The book was full of tension throughout and was thoroughly enjoyable. The book did seem to fall a bit flat in the middle of the book, but it did pick right back up and the author sucked the reader straight back in. I would highly recommend to anyone who loves a on the edge of your seat thriller.

This is a million miles away from my usual type of read but I read the blurb and I was really interested so decided to give it a go. I'm glad I did.

If you enjoy books that leave you holding your breath for most of the book and that totally absorb you to the point when you're doing something else, you just want to get back to your book and read then this is the book for you. I dont think I've ever read a more intense and emotional book in my life.

I was shocked to read in the Acknowledgements that this was a debut novel as the writing was so good and even more shocked to discover that the author sent this to 41 agents before the 42nd gave them a chance.

It was a really good book but perhaps not one to read if you're going on a plane anytime soon

You have a choice. Kill everyone on the plane you are piloting or we kill your family.
This is the predicament for Bill Hoffman.
He is flying from Los Angeles to New York and has about five and a half hours to decide what to do. The question is what is more important - his family or saving the lives of everyone on his plane?
A book that starts like a rocket and doesn’t stop until its breathtaking end. A brilliant story with twists and turns throughout. It is very well written and scarily believable. I was hooked from the start. This is a blockbuster you do not want to miss out on. A debut novel of some renown. I loved it.

Really brilliant gripping read. Had me hooked from the very beginning and the pace was fast and tense. Highly recommend this!

Incredible page Turner. Best book of 2021 so far I would highly recommend! If you like books like The Chain, Thirteen, The Silent Patient, The Girl Before, The Woman in the Window then you’ll love this!!

Coastal Airways senior pilot and family man, Captain Bill Hoffman, is already in the doghouse with his wife, Carrie, after agreeing to cover Flight 416 from LAX to JFK and thereby missing his ten-year-old son’s Little League season opener. Things get far worse when moments after take off he receives an email containing a photo of his wife, son and baby daughter being held at gunpoint. T.J. Newman wastes little time in grabbing the reader by the throat with the sealed cockpit having been breached and Bill faced with an ultimatum to either crash the plane or his family dies, and then issued with a list of demands that include launching a gas attack on the cabin. Bill has no intention of crashing the plane and taking the lives of the 144 souls and crew on board, or losing his family, and has the flight time of just under five and a half hours to achieve the seemingly impossible and take care of his passengers and rescue his family. Integral to Bill’s on the hop strategy is cabin crew attendant Jo Watkins, whom after two decades of flying together is also a valued friend. Jo’s nephew is a rookie FBI agent who is skating on very thin ice with his new boss, but following a text from his Aunt Jo things become very personal for Theo Baldwin and he springs into action. The story rotates between events in the cockpit, the cabin, the kidnapped Hoffman family and the FBI team.

There are elements of real originality within the novel, many no doubt aided by Newman’s insider knowledge as a former flight attendant, and anytime I felt like I might be able to predict what was coming next another curveball was thrown into the mix. Falling is an exhilarating thriller and an impressive debut but I did encounter a few moments of turbulence whilst reading, most specifically with the portrayal of the men behind the hijacking that could leave Newman open to accusations of ethnic stereotyping. Although Newman handles it with sensitivity and manages to induce some empathy for them it’s dangerous territory and a superficial snapshot of such a complex issue does nobody any favours. Whist conveying the hijackers rationale does give the novel extra depth, and definitely made the story more emotionally engaging, it also gave rise to quite a bit of jingoism. The characterisation throughout the novel is a mixed bag with the multidimensional head of the cabin crew, gutsy forty-something Jo Watkins, taking most of the plaudits with her big heart, compassion and dedication. Bill may seem the obvious hero but for me it was Jo as she commanded her team and delivered inspirational speeches that proved the highlight. The dialogue and camaraderie within the cabin is brilliantly on point and also made this component unexpectedly heartwarming. In fact the only times I found the novel flagged was when the action turned to Theo and the FBI team where characterisation was far more of a mixed bag and the narrative significantly less convincing.

The novel does open with a rather brutal prologue that is oddly out of kilter with the story which follows and totally irrelevant to it. Readers put off by this should definitely persevere as things are far more palatable once the actual story begins.

I loved this, it was a high impact thriller with loads of twists and suspense. It gripped me from the vert start. The plot reminded me of something you would see on a tv drama series like 24. There were some intense moments which make you feel like you need to hold your breath, and it definitely is not a position you would ever want to find yourself in! The pilot is a great character and I felt myself warm to him and his plight immediately. There are also some great side characters including the cabin crew. It made me feel like I needed to race through the pages to find out what was happening and I couldn’t put it down! A great intense thriller, and definitely not something you want to take with you to read on a plane!

Falling is a scintillating, high-octane debut thriller set at 35,000 feet and once it takes off there's no stopping the action-packed, thrill-laden plot. Captain Bill Hoffman of Coastal Airways has just taken off from Los Angeles airport en route to JFK in New York City with 149 passengers and crew on board when he receives a blank email from his wife, Carrie. Sent by the repairman who claimed he had come to fix a fault with the internet in their home that morning before Bill left, he discovers he has taken Carrie and his 10-year-old son, Scott, hostage and in the photo taken in their living room, they are stood masked with large hoods and clearly have bombs strapped to their bodies. Bill then receives a FaceTime call from Saman Khani, the one who appears to be calling the shots of the terrorist agenda. Bill has, for some reason, been chosen to be presented with a shocking and impossible ultimatum: he must crash the plane killing all onboard or the group will murder Carrie, Scott and their young daughter, Elise. He must refrain from informing anyone about the threat or sending anyone round to his home or this will ultimately end in their slaughter. But having been trained to be a pilot, choosing death for anyone is the exact opposite of his thought process so he decides because he cannot choose between them that he must use every bit of his flying experience and intelligence to achieve the seemingly impossible, and he has a plan.

Use one of the crew’s family members who is an FBI Agent to attend the hostage situation on the ground and by informing the rest of the crew of exactly what is happening in the air so they can take chances when they have the opportunity. Over 150 people have their lives on the line. Can Bill become the hero of the day and save them all? This is a riveting, compulsive and completely nail-biting thriller and as well as moving at a rapid-fire pace and Newman’s former career as a flight attendant adds authenticity to the plot. It's a terrifying story of Islamic terrorists seeking revenge for the deaths of their families at the hands of the Allies in the Middle East. Usually, in an action-adventure thriller such as this, the author focuses on crafting the plot at the expense of characters and their development but both have superb attention to detail here. They are each multidimensional and distinctive. Palpably tense, utterly convincing and featuring natural-sounding dialogue, flawed, relatable characters and a mindblowing plot that unleashes twist after wicked twist, this is a thriller with never a dull moment, the type that makes you hold your breath without even realising it and deserves the big-screen treatment. In case I haven't already affirmed, I absolutely loved this from start to finish and as I was tearing frantically through the page count I couldn't help but think: now this is how thrillers should be written. Amazing. I can't recommend it highly enough.

I actually started reading this book on a flight, I thought it wouldn't affect me. I already hate flying anyway, I wouldn't let a book get to me, guess what? It did! So after finishing the return journey, I finally got my hands around it again and this time I just couldn't put it down. It was SO intense and fast-paced, loved to read it and I can totally envision it in film format. Can't wait for the next one from T.J Newman!

Quick… pass me the oxygen tank I think I may have been holding my breath for too long. Falling is literally a white-knuckle ride of a book and if you are afraid of flying, you may want to take a valium before starting this book and if you don’t have a fear of flying, you will after this book!

Falling is an action-packed, fast paced thriller which literally takes the reader on a turbulent journey. Experienced commercial pilot Captain Bill Hoffman has just disappointed his young family and left his wife mid-argument when he agrees to pick up an extra flight at the last minute. Once on board his airline and safely in the cockpit, he tries to call his wife before take-off to sort things out, but unusually for her, she doesn’t answer. Several minutes later he gets an email from his wife with a photograph attached showing her and their 10 year old son with bags over their heads and suicide vests around their waists. He is then contacted by an unknown man who is giving him a simple choice – CRASH THE PLANE or SAVE YOUR FAMILY.

How’s that for an opening chapter? What comes next is thrilling and page-turning and terrifying in equal measures. The story is told by three major characters; Bill the Captain – a courageous, honourable, family man who is determined to save his family and all the passengers; Jo the head air stewardess, a long time friend of Bill’s with a nephew in the FBI and Theo, FBI Agent (and Jo’s nephew) who is contacted by his aunt mid hi-jack and will do ANYTHING to save the passengers and stop the terrorists.

The author’s indepth knowledge of the airlines, procedures and day-to-day responsibilities are evident throughout which makes the book more authentic, far more scary and seriously I still have palpitations thinking about this book.

So as Adrian McKinty said “Buckle Up” when you start this book as it’s a hell of a bumpy but exhilarating ride and I personally won’t be going on a plane any time soon.

Remember the name of this author, T. J. Newman, because I assure you, you will be awaiting her next book. A former waitress and flight attendant, this is quite a debut!!

This novel will take you away from wherever you are and take you into the air and the TERRIFYING PLIGHT OF THE PILOT, PASSENGERS AND CREW!!!

Coastal Airways Captain Bill Hoffman wasn’t supposed to be flying that day. In fact he had a disagreement with his wife before he left, this was supposed to be a family night. But when his superior officer asked him to fly, he felt he had no choice. There are 143 souls on board, an incredible responsibility.

Bill’s mind is on home as he does his pre-flight checks, but all seems right with the plane and they are ready for take off, a six hour flight from LA to New York.

Not long into the flight he receives a message from his wife’s number for a FaceTime call. What he sees is not what he expects. His family has been taken hostage, tied up and are strapped with explosives and terrified.

Sam, the man calling the shots on the ground, tells Bill that he HAS TO MAKE A CHOICE!!!! To save his family he is told he must crash the plane, if he doesn’t his family will die!! Bill’s immediate response is “YOU WILL NOT KILL MY FAMILY AND I WILL NOT CRASH THIS PLANE”.

Kellie is a new flight attendant while Jo and Big Daddy are the seasoned professionals “They’d both been in aviation their entire adult lives and they both knew the only thing you could always count on was that your crew had your back. Crew was family”

Jo has a nephew, Theo, in the FBI and manages to get a message to him. Eventually the FBI, Homeland Security, Air Traffic Control and even the president will have a decision to make about this flight!!! What that is I will leave you to discover.

You will not be bored as you race through this book, following the crew as they come up with a plan to keep the passengers safe. When one plan falls short, they come up with another. Even for Kellie, their training kicks in and helps them make decisions.

Both scenarios are equally as exciting; what is happening in the air and what is transpiring on the ground as Theo and all of the other pros race against the clock to try to save Bill’s family.

I couldn’t stop reading this until the ending, which was outstanding!!

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

This novel is set to publish on July 6, 2021.

I will post this review to Amazon upon publication.

What's the last action thriller you read?

'Snakes on a Plane' meets 'Speed'!

'Falling is the one action thriller story you can read at one go and never get bored. Hostage situation? Check. Committed insurgents? Check. A classic save-the-world team? Double check.

Fast paced and entertaining, this book might be the worst one to read on a flight, but the best one of you're tired of cliché movies that revolve around the same topic.

With various real life examples (Sully Sullenberger) and completely casual undertones, this book is the one if you're looking for a classic adrenaline rush.

"Hold on tight to the best ride in the park"

Falling By T.J Newman
A super fun thrill ride as you strap yourself in for one hell of a ride that just keeps thrilling up to the very last page.
We follow the unfortunate day in the life of Captain Bill Hoffman a pilot on a LA TO NYC run when things take a turn for the worse and Newman puts you right up front with the Question "What would you do?"
I will not say anymore about the plot as I feel to go in blind you would get so much more from the book, but what I will say is this book will be in the hands of everyone this summer.
The writing is solid and tight the story moves along at a fantastic place as we follow events on the plane and ground and I was hooked from the off.
The characters are all well-rounded and believable especially Jo the fight attendant this is no wonder as Newman was such for over ten years and she captures this character superbly.
This is a great book which I had so much fun with and no doubt this would be an excellent movie or Tv mini series on one of the many streaming services.
It amazes me that this was rejected 41 times as it's a stone cold dead hit.

Well worth your time and hard-earned cash.

Expected Publication July 6
Thank you for my copy provided through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review!

'Falling' is an absolute corker of a novel. Even during the brief periods of time when the action calmed a little, the tension never abated. This novel is incredible, even more so when you find out that it is TJ Newman's debut.

This is a very special novel featuring characters you can empathise with, relentless action that leaves you breathless and the kind of pacing that will have you enthralled until the very end. TJ Newman uses every word to incredible effect, shocking the reader with a number of twists and turns and some genuine scares. Never mind a roller-coaster, never mind edge of your seat, 'Falling' cannot be put into words, it is extraordinary.

'Falling' is a breathless race against time that captures Newman's experience as a flight attendant, adding authenticity to an audacious plot.

A fast paced thriller that would be perfect for the big screen! T.J.Newman manages to set a page-turning pace in this high-concept novel. Let's just say that the next flight I go on I want to be with this crew of fearless flight attendants!

This was a compelling, edge-of-your-seat thriller that unsurprisingly has already been optioned into a film. And it'll make a great film. It's exciting and thrilling and the characters are all very heroic. The author was a flight attendant for years until she was furloughed over the pandemic, but it sounds like that gap in her career has done her wonders!

My only real critique is that I just didn't get the 'baddies'. I didn't understand what their motivations were, and I feel a little bit like they were just written as generic Middle Eastern terrorists. That part fell very flat.

A compelling if often ludicrous thriller. I'm not surprised the film rights have already been sold because this is basically Die Hard on a plane. Newman's writing is very visual and seems ready made for a screenplay. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.