Booklist Reviews
A private plane crashes, and 9 of the 11 people on board die, while Scott and four-year-old J. J. survive. Word of the crash spreads quickly, as the passengers were the family and guests of a multimillionaire. Narrator Petkoff reveals the victims' lives with measured honesty, from the bombastic speech of a dishonest young man named Ben to the narcissistic, pulling voice of the copilot. Scott finds himself victimized by the press, which initially hailed him as a hero after he swam 10 miles with J. J. on a flotation seat but now questions why he was on the plane in the first place. Scott's thoughtful responses contrast dramatically with the rude, shouted questions from an overwrought, accusatory press corps. Young J. J., in shock after the accident, speaks in a thin little voice. Although techno music distracts from Scott's conclusive thoughts and drowns out his words, the story—in which a huge trust fund, a kindly but unworldly artist, and disreputable media collide—makes a suspenseful audio. Copyright 2014 Booklist Reviews.
Booklist Reviews
A private plane crashes, and 9 of the 11 people on board die, while Scott and four-year-old J. J. survive. Word of the crash spreads quickly, as the passengers were the family and guests of a multimillionaire. Narrator Petkoff reveals the victims' lives with measured honesty, from the bombastic speech of a dishonest young man named Ben to the narcissistic, pulling voice of the copilot. Scott finds himself victimized by the press, which initially hailed him as a hero after he swam 10 miles with J. J. on a flotation seat but now questions why he was on the plane in the first place. Scott's thoughtful responses contrast dramatically with the rude, shouted questions from an overwrought, accusatory press corps. Young J. J., in shock after the accident, speaks in a thin little voice. Although techno music distracts from Scott's conclusive thoughts and drowns out his words, the story—in which a huge trust fund, a kindly but unworldly artist, and disreputable media collide—makes a suspenseful audio. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.
Library Journal Reviews
A private jet carrying 11 people crashes off the Atlantic coast. There are only two survivors—struggling artist Scott Burroughs and the four-year-old he saves, the son of a powerful network executive. Chapters alternate between the present-day investigation of what happened and the backstories of all those who were on the ill-fated flight. The stories of the passengers, pilots, and flight attendant, plus the investigators and surviving relatives, provide acute character studies that complement the brisk storytelling. As Scott develops a bond with the boy, events begin to spiral out of control as accusations fly and the media spin their tales. Robert Petkoff's narration is engaging and effectively portrays a diverse set of characters. VERDICT A great summer listening experience that will be popular with fans of mystery and suspense fiction. ["Rich with a compelling narrative, suspenseful plot twists, and engaging characters, this fourth novel…by an Emmy Award-winning producer…promises to be the must-read thriller of the summer": LJ Xpress Review 4/15/16 starred review of the Grand Central hc.]—Phillip Oliver, formerly with Univ. of North Alabama, Florence. Copyright 2016 Library Journal.
Publishers Weekly Reviews
Hawley, an Emmy-winning television producer and writer, starts his fifth novel with a riveting event that reader Petkoff dramatizes to full effect: on a moonless night, a private plane carrying 11 people from Martha's Vineyard to New York, crashes into the Atlantic. Scott Burroughs, a young artist, survives. He's preparing for an impossibly long swim with a damaged shoulder when he discovers another survivor, a four-year-old boy. Hawley makes their swim as arduous as possible, with Petkoff adding a breathlessness to Burroughs's progress and terror to the boy's fearful cries. Their arrival on shore is just the start of a book that is part mystery (what caused the crash?), part thriller (past the swim, Burroughs is subjected to ruthless and uncompromising media scrutiny), and part social study (Hawley provides complex backstories of those aboard the flight, from the pilot and crew to the wealthy, powerful passengers). In unfolding the story, Hawley sets a fast pace, hopscotching from present to past. Petkoff delivers each shift in chronology and in characters smoothly and clearly, adding the proper emotional touches but being careful to narrate this story of redemption without sentimentality. A Grand Central hardcover. (May)
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