FALLING, by T.J. Newman

    

Mystery/Thriller -- 5 stars

There are 134 passengers plus crew on a flight from LA to NYC.  What none of them knows is that Capt. Bill Hoffman's wife and children back in LA have been kidnapped, and he has been given a choice: crash the plane or his family dies. ----- I reviewed a book with a similar theme several weeks ago and found it disappointing.  But this...THIS is how to write a thriller.  Jumping between the plane and the captain's family on the ground keeps the tension tight and relentless.  One of the crew member's connection to an FBI agent adds a third dimension to the excitement.  A former flight attendant, Ms. Newman's insider knowledge of how an airline crew works adds a layer of unvarnished realism to the unfolding drama, and makes the surprises completely believable.  Her characterizations are natural, each bracketed by the confines of their situation.  This is a thriller that doesn't stop until the very last page.  Be prepared to stay up late, because you won't be able to put the last chapters down until you finish.