The book begins when a private jet goes down over the ocean leaving some survivors. The story then goes on to show the story of those people who were on the plane, both before and after the crash. This book sounded so interesting when I initially read the blurb, and it made me feel like I was about to sit through the opening episodes of the TV series Lost. Unfortunately, the book did drag in parts and I found it difficult to keep the interest up with it. I liked the way I wasn’t sure whether the crash was accidental or deliberate and that was one thing that did keep me going to finish the book. I also liked the way the stories of the survivors were each told individually as I did find some of them a bit harder to read than the others and I could just move onto the next one if that was the case.

I think I had higher expectations from it than what I actually got but all in all it was an okay read.

imageThanks to Hodder and Stoughton, Bookbridgr and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

I was really excited to get the opportunity to read this book as I’ve enjoyed Noah Hawley’s TV work on Fargo and Legion. I think he’s a really talented storyteller and how on Earth does he find the time to work on so many quality projects?

This book did not disappoint. It’s a really well-written suspenseful story with strong treatises on wealth and how the media covers certain news stories. It’s rare for a page turner to take such strong standpoints on social issues and this brings depth to what could be a quite a lightweight story.

The novel starts with a private plane crashing into the sea with two survivors, a painter who hitched a lift at the last minute and the 4 year old son of the plane’s millionaire owner. The book follows these two characters, both of whom I really liked, in the aftermath of the crash and highlights how they are treated by the investigating authorities and the media. It also relates the lead up to the crash from the perspective of each of passengers and crew members who died in the crash.

It’s very cleverly written let down only slightly by the final reveal of the reason why the plane crashed being a bit trivial and underwhelming. However, I may also have found it marred if it had revealed some big dramatic conspiratorial reason why the plane crashed. There was probably no completely satisfying ending to this kind of book. It’s often the case with whodunnit style books, the pleasure is in the reading rather than the ending which can never live up to all the possible conclusions you’ve imagined along the way.

I’d totally recommend reading this book and I’m looking forward to reading more of Hawley’s books in the future. I think I have The Good Father in my Audible library.

Unable to give feedback for this one due to an issue - thanks so much for approving, bought a copy and looking forward to reading.