Joann C. (joluvsamystery) reviewed Before the Fall (Audio CD) (Unabridged) on + 66 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 4
This book started out so promising but went downhill rather fast. I kept thinking that the ending would be fantastic and turn it all around but that did not happen. I was making my own guesses to the outcome and I will say that my endings would have been way better. When I finished this book all I could say is, "REALLY, THIS IS WHY THE PLANE CRASHED". OMG, so dumb. I am not sure if it deserves even one star - such a let down.
Sixteen minutes into a flight, a private plane crashes into the ocean. The only survivors are painter Scott Burroughs and four-year-old JJ Bateman. With much speculation as to what caused the crash, Scott finds himself struggling to piece together his memories of the events leading directly up to the crash. The book takes the reader on journey between the present post-crash day and sharing the back stories of each passenger on the plane. It's a good read with a lot of intrigue, but there is a bit too much gratuitous foul language for my taste.
4.0 out of 5 stars -- "Life is a series of decisions and reactions. It is the things you do and the things that are done to you. And then it's over."
It's been awhile since I opened a book and read until I finished it. Over the couple of hours I spent with this novel, I experienced quite a few emotions and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the author and the characters he created in this sadly too familiar story that could be current headline news.
A private jet crashes into the ocean just minutes out of Martha's Vineyard. The passengers include a wealthy family of 4 the Batemans, a couple who were friends of theirs, the Kiplings, a bodyguard to Mr. Batemen, a washed up artist posed for a comeback, Scott Burroughs, and the plane's crew of 3. There are only two survivors -- 4 year old JJ Bateman and Scott Burroughs. What brought down this plane?
The narrative shifts in point of view as the backstory of the characters is revealed as well as all that was currently going on in each life. It's a story of how the very wealthy live. It's about the power of the media in this age of 24-hour all access news. It's about perception and honesty and the difficulty one can have in figuring out what is important and how terribly fleeting life is.
I don't want to say more -- I'd recommend it! February was a month of "plane crash" books for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.
It's been awhile since I opened a book and read until I finished it. Over the couple of hours I spent with this novel, I experienced quite a few emotions and thoroughly enjoyed the writing style of the author and the characters he created in this sadly too familiar story that could be current headline news.
A private jet crashes into the ocean just minutes out of Martha's Vineyard. The passengers include a wealthy family of 4 the Batemans, a couple who were friends of theirs, the Kiplings, a bodyguard to Mr. Batemen, a washed up artist posed for a comeback, Scott Burroughs, and the plane's crew of 3. There are only two survivors -- 4 year old JJ Bateman and Scott Burroughs. What brought down this plane?
The narrative shifts in point of view as the backstory of the characters is revealed as well as all that was currently going on in each life. It's a story of how the very wealthy live. It's about the power of the media in this age of 24-hour all access news. It's about perception and honesty and the difficulty one can have in figuring out what is important and how terribly fleeting life is.
I don't want to say more -- I'd recommend it! February was a month of "plane crash" books for me!
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the e-book ARC to review.
SUSAN S. (susieqmillsacoustics) -
This is a compelling read. A plane crashes into the ocean and we only know what happens to 2 survivors. We follow events with the team of investigators looking into why the plane crashed and teams of search and rescue looking for the wreckage and for survivors/bodies. As the book unfolds, each passenger and crew member's story is told up to them boarding the fateful flight. The answer to the mystery is not revealed until the very end, keeping us guessing. A chilling conclusion.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
I enjoyed this book very much. It held my interest and grabbed me from the start. The characters were fascinating and a chapter was dedicated to each which explained their role in the story. I couldn't figure out what caused the plane to crash and was surprised at the ending. If you like stories with surprise endings, you will enjoy this one!
I loved this book, as well as the format of the story. There were so many stories and possibilities presented that I was afraid I would not be able to keep up. The author guided me to the ending with no problem. I worried how it would end! I will watch for this author's books again.
I thought this was going to be a great book but was disappointed. It was quite flat, actually. There was no tension whatsoever. I finished it just to see what would happen but it never really lived up to expectations.
This is a compelling story about a private plane crash killing all except Scott, a struggling painter and JJ,,4 year old son of one of the affluent couples on the plane who is the only heir of an empire.
Scott is an an accomplished swimmer, and with a dislocated shoulder, swims many miles with the boy on his back and managed to reach land.
The story is told from the point of view of each of the passengers before they climbed on the ill fated plane.
I was captivated while reading about the loving relationship growing between JJ and Scott,
However, the story of why the plane crashed was spine chilling but credible.
This is a new to me author and I will seek out his other books. I recommend it to those who like thrillers.
Scott is an an accomplished swimmer, and with a dislocated shoulder, swims many miles with the boy on his back and managed to reach land.
The story is told from the point of view of each of the passengers before they climbed on the ill fated plane.
I was captivated while reading about the loving relationship growing between JJ and Scott,
However, the story of why the plane crashed was spine chilling but credible.
This is a new to me author and I will seek out his other books. I recommend it to those who like thrillers.
A very engrossing mystery with lots of interesting characters. It was hard to put down!
