Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial

Hardcover
$7.75

Paperback
$11.32

$13.99 with 26 percent savings

Print List Price: $18.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

Sold by Simon and Schuster Digital Sales LLC. Price set by seller.

Add an

audiobook with Audible narration for $12.99

Audiobook Price: $16.40

Save: $3.41 (21%)

Read with our free app

You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.

Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

There was an error. We were unable to process your subscription due to an error. Please refresh and try again.

Falling: A Novel

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

To view this video download Flash Player

VIDEO

Follow the author

T. J. Newman

Follow

Falling: A Novel Kindle Edition

by T. J. Newman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.4 20,632 ratings

Editors' pick Best Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

See all formats and editions

#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER * NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“Terrifying…buckle up for a chilling summer read.” —People (Best Books of the Week)
“The perfect thriller! A must-read.” —Gillian Flynn
“Stunning and relentless. This is Jaws at 35,000 feet.” —Don Winslow

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

From the Publisher

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

An Amazon Best Book of July 2021: If Falling weren’t about a plane hijacking, this would be the perfect book to read on an airplane—captivating, thrilling, and packed with nonstop action. Pilot Bill Hoffman is about to take off on a cross-country flight when he receives a call from his wife’s phone. Except the person on the other end isn’t his wife—it’s a man who is holding his wife, son, and infant daughter hostage. The terrorist gives Bill a choice: crash the plane he’s flying, or his family dies. Imagine the movie Speed, but on an airplane. The author, T.J. Newman, wrote the book while she was a flight attendant and staffed on cross-country flights. Falling is what a summer thriller should be—taut, suspenseful, and absolutely unputdownable. —Sarah Gelman, Amazon Book Review

Review

“An unputdownable thriller that will take you on a wild ride full of twists and suspense.”
—Good Morning America

“The frenzy for Falling is understandable: At every turn, Newman cranks the tension in unexpected ways that still satisfy the thriller lust. Her insider’s knowledge comes through in details that not only bolster the book’s credibility but also catalyze the plot.”
—Margaret Wappler, Los Angeles Times

“Terrifying . . . Buckle up for a chilling summer read.”
—People (Best Books of the Week)

“A rich and assured debut . . . Emotionally complex in surprising and refreshing ways . . . Falling is expertly paced—if you were to begin reading this book at LAX, you’d finish it right as you began your descent into JFK.”
—USA Today (3.5 out of 4 stars)

“A white-knuckle thrill ride.”
—Newsweek

“One of the most talked-about debuts of the year. Like all good thrillers, Falling gets off to a dramatic start and maintains its momentum . . . Newman’s various narrative strands resemble high-voltage live wires. One tense predicament replaces another, from poison gas attacks to mutinous passengers to orders to kill the co-pilot or shoot down the plane. The suspense is heightened by the fact that the terrorist is not open to negotiation.”
—Malcolm Forbes, Minneapolis Star Tribune

“The summer’s buzziest beach read.”
—Los Angeles Magazine

“Bound for JFK out of LAX, pilot Bill Hoffman has no idea he’s about to be given a choice: Either crash the plane or his family will be murdered. The author, a former bookseller and flight attendant, seems to think of everything — every trick, every error, every advantage — in a plot that executes more barrel rolls than a stunt plane on the Fourth of July.”
—Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times

“One of the year’s best thrillers . . . This novel is like the films Die Hard and Speed on steroids . . . Newman keeps up an extreme pace from the first page.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

“Brilliant . . . Incredibly suspenseful . . . With abundantly human characters, natural dialogue, and a plot that unleashes one surprise after another, this could be the novel that everyone is talking about this summer.”
—Booklist (starred review)

“A superlative debut . . . This tense, convincing thriller marks the arrival of an assured new talent.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“High-octane drama . . . Newman’s background means Falling brings a freshness and depth to the genre. While the story is propelled by the impossible situation Bill and his captive family find themselves in, at its heart is the relationship between the tight-knit crew. . . . It’s an eye-opening look into the reality of working on a plane.”
—The Guardian

“Attention, please: T. J. Newman has written the perfect thriller! Such a cool, high-concept idea: commercial airline pilot forced to make the ultimate life-or-death choice. Newman’s background in the air grounds the story in reality, while her writing amps up the suspense to unbearable levels. Terrific and terrifying, a true page-turner. A must-read for summer vacation—but my advice is, don't start this book until you’ve gotten off the plane.”
—Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Gone Girl

“Falling is the best kind of thriller (for me as a reader anyway). Characters you care deeply about. Nonstop, totally authentic suspense.”
—James Patterson, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“T. J. Newman has taken a brilliant idea, a decade of real-life experience, and crafted the perfect summer thriller. Relentlessly paced and unforgettable.”
—Janet Evanovich, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Amazing . . . Intense suspense, shocks and scares plus chilling insider authenticity make this one very special.”
—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“A bullet train of a thriller with incredible tension and personal stakes. The real engine of this stunning and relentless book is how far would you go to save your family? I read Falling with my heart in my throat—this is Jaws at 35,000 feet. An extraordinary debut and the perfect summer page-turner.”
—Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of The Force and The Cartel

“Heart pounding. Heart wringing. Heart STOPPING! A great book! One of those where you’re afraid to turn the next page, but you can’t stop.”
—Diana Gabaldon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Outlander series

“Think Speed on a passenger jet—with the cockpit dials turned up to supersonic.”
—Ian Rankin, #1 internationally bestselling author

“Buckle up for a completely original edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the final nail-biting pages. Save your family or save the hundred passengers who have put their lives in your hands. You cannot save both. T. J. Newman’s chilling novel stayed with me long after I finished reading it. This is the best thriller I’ve read in years.”
—Adrian McKinty, New York Times bestselling author of The Chain

“A jet-propelled thriller that will have you in its grip from first page to last. A truly astonishing debut and an incredible work of pure suspense.”
—Steve Cavanagh, #1 bestselling author of the Eddie Flynn series

“Falling redefines the phrase roller-coaster ride. It redefines the term edge-of-your-seat thriller. Falling is that rarest of things, a book that is even better than everyone says it is. T. J. Newman has delivered a stunning debut.”
—Dervla McTiernan, #1 internationally bestselling author

About the Author

T. J. Newman is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel Falling became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. The book was named a best book of the year by USA TODAY and Esquire, among many others, and has been published in over thirty countries. The book will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Pictures. T. J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Drowning is her second novel.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One CHAPTER ONE
GIVING THE DUVET A SHAKE, Carrie smoothed the creases with her hand. A whiff of fresh-cut grass drew her glance to the open window. The neighbor across the street mopped his face with the bottom of his shirt before closing the trash can full of lawn clippings with a clunk. Dragging it into the backyard, he gave a wave to a passing car, the loud music fading as it drove on. Behind her, in the bathroom, the shower shut off.

Carrie left the room.

“Mom, can I go outside?”

Scott stood at the bottom of the stairs holding a remote control car.

“Where’s your—” Carrie said, making her way downstairs.

The baby crawled into the room, blowing wet raspberries as she went. Reaching her brother’s feet, Elise grabbed onto his shorts and pulled herself up to a stand, her little body jerking subtly as she tried to find balance.

“Okay, did you bring your dishes to the sink?”

“Yup.”

“Then you can, but only for ten minutes. Come back before your dad leaves, okay?”

The boy nodded and ran for the door.

“Nope,” Carrie called after him, placing Elise on her hip. “Shoes.”

The “whoops” baby ten years after the first kid had been overwhelming in the beginning. But as the family of three learned how to be four, Bill and Carrie realized the age gap meant big brother could do little things like watch-the-baby-while-I-get-dressed-and-make-the-bed. Things became more manageable after that.

Carrie was wiping the remnants of sweet potato and avocado off the high chair when she heard the front door open.

“Mom?” Scott hollered, a pinched alarm to his tone.

Hurrying around the corner, she found Scott staring up at a man she didn’t know. The stranger on the front porch wore a startled look, his hand frozen on its way to the doorbell.

“Hi,” Carrie said, shifting the baby to her other hip as she moved to place herself subtly between her son and the man. “Can I help you?”

“I’m with CalCom,” the man said. “You called about your internet?”

“Oh!” she exclaimed, opening the door wider. “Of course, come in.” Carrie cringed at her initial reaction, hoping the man hadn’t noticed. “Sorry. I’ve never had a repairman come on time, let alone early. Scott!” she yelled, her son pivoting at the end of the drive. “Ten minutes.”

Nodding, the boy ran off.

“I’m Carrie,” she said, closing the door.

The technician set his equipment bag down in the entryway and Carrie watched him take in the living room. High ceilings and a staircase to the second floor. Tasteful furniture and fresh flowers on the coffee table. On the mantel, family photos over the years, the most recent taken on the beach at sunset. Scott was a mini-me of Carrie, their same chocolatey-brown hair blowing in the sea breeze, their green eyes squinted with wide smiles. Bill, nearly a foot taller than Carrie, held a then-newborn Elise in his arms, her lily-white baby skin a contrast to his Southern California tan. The repairman turned with a small smile.

“Sam,” he said.

“Sam,” she said, returning the smile. “Can I get you something to drink before you get started? I was just about to make myself a cup of tea.”

“Tea would be great, actually. Thanks.”

She led him into the other room, bright, natural light filling the kitchen that opened into the toy-dotted family room.

“Thanks for coming on a Saturday.” Carrie sat the baby back in the high chair. Pounding her fists on the table, Elise giggled through a sparsely toothed grin. “This was the only appointment I could get for weeks.”

“Yeah, we’re pretty busy. How long has your internet been out?”

“Day before yesterday?” she said, filling a tea kettle with water. “English breakfast or green?”

“English breakfast, thanks.”

“Is it normal,” Carrie asked, watching the stove’s pilot light ignite to a full flame, “for our house to be the only one having issues? I asked a few neighbors who also have CalCom and theirs is fine.”

Sam shrugged. “That’s normal. Might be your router, maybe the wiring. I’ll run diagnostics.”

From the front room, heavy footsteps made their way down the stairs. Carrie knew the next sounds well: a suitcase and messenger bag set by the door, followed by hard-soled shoes crossing the entryway. In a handful of strides, he was in the kitchen, polished black dress shoes, crisply ironed pants, suit coat, and tie. Wings above his breast pocket displayed the Coastal Airways insignia, BILL HOFFMAN engraved boldly below. A matching pair adorned the front of the gold-trimmed hat he laid softly on the counter. His entrance felt oddly dramatic and Carrie noticed how much of a contrast his aura of authority made to the rest of the house. She’d never noticed it before; it wasn’t like he came to dinner in uniform. And it was probably only because there was another person in the room, a man who didn’t know him, didn’t know their family. But for whatever reason, today, it was conspicuous.

Bill placed his hands in his pockets with a polite nod to the technician before settling his attention on Carrie.

Lips pursed, arms crossed, she stared back.

“Sam, would you mind…”

“Yeah, I’ll, uh, get set up,” Sam said to Carrie, leaving the couple alone.

The clock on the wall ticked the seconds. Baby Elise banged a drool-covered teething ring on the tray before it slipped out of her fingers, falling to the floor. Bill crossed the kitchen and picked it up, rinsing it off in the sink and drying it with a dish towel before returning it to his daughter’s eager hands. Behind Carrie the tea kettle began a soft whistle.

“I’ll FaceTime when I get to the hotel to hear how the game—”

“New York, right?” Carrie cut him off.

Bill nodded. “New York tonight, Portland tom—”

“There’s a team pizza party after the game. With the three-hour time difference, you’ll be asleep before we get home.”

“Okay. Then first thing—”

“We’re getting together with my sister and the kids tomorrow morning,” she said, and shrugged. “So, we’ll see.”

Bill straightened with a deep inhale, the four gold stripes on his epaulets rising with his shoulders. “You know I had to say yes. If it’d been anyone else asking I wouldn’t have.”

Carrie stared at the floor. The kettle began to screech and she shut off the burner. The noise gradually softened until it was only the clock making noise again.

Bill checked his watch, cursing under his breath. Giving a kiss to the top of his daughter’s head, he said, “I’m gonna be late.”

“You’ve never been late,” Carrie replied.

He put on his hat. “I’ll call after I check in. Where’s Scott?”

“Outside. Playing. He’s coming back any minute to say goodbye.”

It was a test and she knew Bill knew it. Carrie stared at him from the other side of the unspoken line she’d drawn. He glanced at the clock.

“We’ll talk before I take off,” Bill said, leaving the room.

Carrie watched him go.

The front door opened and closed a few moments later and a hush settled over the house. Crossing to the sink, Carrie watched the leaves on the oak tree in the backyard flutter in the breeze. Distantly, Bill’s car started up and drove off.

Behind her, a throat cleared. Wiping her face hastily, she turned.

“Sorry about that,” she said to Sam with an embarrassed eye roll. “Anyway. You said English breakfast.” Tearing open the tea bag, she dropped it in a mug. Steam rose from the kettle as she poured the hot water. “Do you need milk or sugar?”

When he didn’t reply, she looked back.

He seemed surprised by her reaction. He had probably imagined she would scream. Maybe drop the cup. Start to cry, who knows. Some kind of drama he surely expected. When a woman, at home, in her own kitchen, turns to find a man she’s known for a mere handful of minutes pointing a gun at her, a big reaction would seem natural. Carrie had felt her eyes widen reflexively, like her brain needed to take in more of the scene to confirm that this was actually happening.

He narrowed his eyes, as if to say, Really?

Carrie’s heartbeat pounded in her ears while a cool numbness trickled down from the top of her spine to the back of her knees. Her whole body, her whole existence, felt reduced to nothing but a buzzing sensation.

But that was for her to know. She ignored the gun and focused on him instead, and gave him nothing.

Puckering and cooing, baby Elise threw her teething ring back to the floor with a squeal. Sam took a step toward the baby. Carrie felt her nostrils flare involuntarily.

“Sam,” Carrie said calmly, slowly. “I don’t know what you want. But it’s yours. Anything. I will do anything. Just please”—her voice cracked—“please don’t hurt my children.”

The front door opened and closed with a slam. Panic seized her throat and Carrie drew breath to yell. Sam cocked the gun.

“Mom, did Dad leave?” Scott called from the other room. “His car’s not here, can I keep playing?”

“Tell him to come in here,” Sam said.

Carrie bit her bottom lip.

“Mom?” Scott repeated with childish impatience.

“In here,” Carrie said, and closed her eyes. “Come here real quick, Scott.”

“Mom, can I stay outside? You said I could go—” Scott froze when he saw the gun. He looked at his mom and back at the weapon and back at his mom.

“Scott,” Carrie said, and motioned for him. The boy never took his eyes off the firearm as he crossed the kitchen to her, where she deliberately tucked him in behind her.

“Your children may be just fine,” Sam said. “Or they may not. But that’s not up to me.”

Carrie’s nostrils flared again. “Who is it up to?”

Sam smiled.

Bill could feel people watching him.

It was the uniform. It had that effect. He stood a little taller.

Bill was many things but the consensus seemed to be that he was first and foremost nice. Teachers and coaches growing up, girls he dated, his friends’ parents. Everyone knew Bill as the nice guy. Not that he minded. He was nice. But when he put on the uniform, something changed. Nice wasn’t the default description. It still made the list. But it wasn’t the only word on it.

Passengers’ heads popped up as he bypassed the never-ending line for security at Los Angeles International Airport, but it only took a peek at that hat and tie to dissolve indignation into curiosity. People didn’t dress like that anymore. It harkened back to a time when air travel was a rare privilege, a major event. Purposefully unchanged, the uniform kept a certain antiquated mystique alive. It elicited respect. Trust. It proclaimed a sense of duty.

Bill approached the lone TSA agent seated at a small podium set discreetly off to the side of passenger security. Scanning the barcode on the back of his badge, the machine beeped and the computer went to work.

“Morning,” Bill said, handing the woman his passport.

“It’s still morning?” she said, studying the information printed next to his picture. Comparing it to the information on his badge, she slid the passport under a blue light, holograms and hidden print appearing in the document’s blank space. Glancing up, she verified that the face in front of her matched the one on the IDs.

“I guess it’s not technically morning,” Bill said. “Just morning for me.”

“Well, it’s my Friday. So the day needs to hurry up.”

Bill’s badge photo and information popped up on the computer screen. After triple-checking all three forms of identification, she handed back the passport.

“Safe flight, Mr. Hoffman.”

Leaving the crew security checkpoint, he walked past the passengers tugging their shoes back on and returning liquids and laptops to their carry-on bags. On his last trip, Bill flew with a flight attendant who refused to retire simply because she didn’t want to give up her crew security clearance. She turned up her nose at the thought of having to travel like a mere mortal; waiting in line, liquid restrictions, limited to two carry-ons—which would be searched every single time, not just occasionally at random. Watching a man in his socks being patted down, Bill had to admit she had a point.

Claiming privacy at an unoccupied gate, Bill dialed home as promised. Watching a catering truck outside on the tarmac down below dodge about while rampers in neon vests loaded and unloaded bags from the cargo hold, he listened to the other end of the line ring over and over. An aircraft taxied out to the runway and in the distance, another took off.

He and Carrie didn’t fight often. Which was why when they did they were so bad at it. She had every right to be upset. Today was Scott’s Little League season opener and Bill had promised him he would be there. He made sure he didn’t have a trip on his line for the day of the game and the two days before and after. But when the chief pilot calls to ask you to fly a trip as a personal favor, you don’t say no. You can’t say no. Bill was the third-most senior pilot flying. When he was a new hire, no one was sure the company was even going to make it. Startup airlines almost never do. But he stuck it out nonetheless. And now, nearly twenty-five years later, the airline was a total success with both passengers and shareholders. Coastal was his baby. So when your boss says the operation needs you? You say yes. No isn’t even an option.

He had told Carrie as much. But he didn’t tell her that Scott’s game hadn’t crossed his mind when O’Malley asked if he was available. Or that even if it had, it wouldn’t have made a difference.

The phone rang and rang before finally, “Hi! You’ve reached Carrie. I can’t come…” Ending the call, he saw a family photo appear on the phone’s home screen before he pocketed it.

Catching a glimpse of his reflection in the window, Bill surveyed his dark, full hair. A betraying gray salted his temples. His eyes, a vibrant, deep blue.

Bill slapped the bell in the middle of the coffee table.

“Eyes. My eyes.”

“Final answer? This is for the win.”

“She said they’re like night swimming. When you can’t see the bottom. But it’s exciting. So, yes. My eyes. Final answer.”

Carrie’s jaw dropped.

Bill leaned forward. He could smell the beer on his own breath. “I overheard you say that to a friend on the phone once. I never told you, though. I love you so much, baby.” He blew Carrie a kiss.

The wives cheered, the husbands ribbed.

“All right, Carrie,” the party host said. “?‘His eyes.’ Was that your answer for what your favorite part about your husband is?”

Her cheeks turned pink. With a giggle she held up a piece of paper, her answer scribbled out: His butt.

The room erupted. Bill laughed hardest of all.

He adjusted his tie. I’m a good man, he reminded himself without wavering. His mind flashed to the image of Carrie’s look of disappointment as he walked out of the kitchen. He blinked, glancing away to follow a plane as it took off.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08SNVSF47
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (July 6, 2021)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 6, 2021
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 5.7 MB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 303 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #56,103 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #312 in Terrorism Thrillers (Kindle Store)
- #377 in Terrorism Thrillers (Books)
- #1,056 in Kidnapping Thrillers

Customer Reviews:
4.4 20,632 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

T. J. Newman

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

T.J. NEWMAN is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. Her second novel, Drowning: The Rescue of Flight 1421 was a an instant New York Times bestseller. Both books made a number of best book of the year list, are published in thirty-five countries and will soon be major motion pictures after selling in two separate headline making seven-figure deals: Falling with Universal Pictures, and Drowning with Warner Brothers. T.J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Her third novel - WORST CASE SCENARIO - is out August 13.

Customer reviews

20,632 global ratings

How customer reviews and ratings work

Review this product

Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the plot exciting and thrilling from start to finish. They describe the book as a great, fun read that keeps them hooked until the end. The pacing is described as fast-paced and non-stop action. Readers praise the writing quality as well-written and impressive. They appreciate the well-developed characters and how they evolve naturally. Overall, customers describe the book as engrossing and gripping, keeping them guessing until the end.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Suspenseful Readability Pacing Writing quality Character development Page turner Thought provoking Emotional content

547 customers mention "Suspenseful"462 positive85 negative

Customers enjoy the thrilling plot with its twists and turns. They find the story engaging from start to finish, with a solid plot and good pacing. The book's characters are interesting and the events are coherent, drawing readers into each passenger's story. The ending is unexpected and innovative, adding to the suspense.

"...combines it with some happenings from 9-11, adds some innovative twists, and looks at the situation from a perspective rarely, if ever,..." Read more

"...Short chapters that keep the story going. Great opening that draws you into the story." Read more

"Lots of twists and turns. Lots of suspense...." Read more

"Incredible story of something that could possibly happen in aviation and the willingness to survive! I was on the edge of my seat at every page!!" Read more

502 customers mention "Readability"469 positive33 negative

Customers enjoy the book's engaging story and find it hard to put down. They describe it as an enjoyable, fun read that makes them want to read the author's next book. Many readers praise the book as incredible, enthralling, and one of their favorite reads of the year. The fast-paced action thriller is described as a great movie idea and a stunning debut by the author.

"...care about that stuff, coolie beans....you will still have a blast reading this book. I can't wait for the movie and am just waiting to see the cast!" Read more

"...It would definitely work as a movie. The breaks, hits, chases and locations are all there for a fantastic summer blockbuster...." Read more

"Wow! What a book! Incredible! This is a gripping book (give it 10 or 20 pages or so to get into the story first)...." Read more

"...Her books always have plenty of twists. A great plot. Great charactors...." Read more

307 customers mention "Pacing"245 positive62 negative

Customers appreciate the book's pacing. They find it fast-paced and easy to follow from start to finish. The story is described as nonstop action with plenty of plot twists.

"...This book evokes a real faith in humanity - which is really refreshing and beautiful to read, while remaining an easy "rose all day" vacation read..." Read more

"This is a very good, quick read. Realistic characters. great detail with airplanes and service. I really enjoyed the book...." Read more

"...Having said that, it is excellent. Nonstop action that only gives you a little room to breathe, and then amps the tension right back up again...." Read more

"...A perfectly paced story with brief, but excellent character development. And the plot? It worked." Read more

204 customers mention "Writing quality"163 positive41 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They find it well-written, detailed, and rich in language. The author holds their attention throughout, with no wasted words or filler. They appreciate the balance between the precarious situation on the plane and the terrifying events happening elsewhere.

"...evokes a real faith in humanity - which is really refreshing and beautiful to read, while remaining an easy "rose all day" vacation read..." Read more

"...But the book is well written and much of it is not rivaled in gripping occurrences and challenges by most of the seasoned writers of crime,..." Read more

"This is a wonderful author. Her books always have plenty of twists. A great plot. Great charactors...." Read more

"...The author’s talent kept me captivated, and at times, even holding my breath...." Read more

145 customers mention "Character development"114 positive31 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters and their natural evolution in the story. They find the backstories on each character helpful for empathy. The author skillfully switches between characters without distracting from the timeline. Readers also praise the key figures' heroism, ingenuity, and intelligence.

"...Not so much, no Proust here, but Newman can write. Her characters are believable and sympathetic (across the board); they're diverse in beliefs and..." Read more

"This is a very good, quick read. Realistic characters. great detail with airplanes and service. I really enjoyed the book...." Read more

"...is likely to be uplifted by the heroism, ingenuity and intelligence of key figures in this drama...." Read more

"...book started out intensely and never let up, I had a problem with the stereotypical characters and the non-stop action that seemed a little..." Read more

71 customers mention "Page turner"71 positive0 negative

Customers find the book gripping and engaging. They say it's an eye-opening drama that keeps them spellbound until the end. The story is described as a great idea and well-written with twists and turns.

"...I can say that the book is engrossing, gripping, and a page-turner...." Read more

"...This novice suspense writer was adept in keeping the reader guessing and exploring a myriad of viewpoints from the perspective of the pilot, Bill..." Read more

"...I recommend listening to the audiobook, it is really captivating. The story as a whole was fantastic. I am looking forward to more of her books!" Read more

"A wonderful page turner about choices. Really easy to put yourself into the story and think "what would I do?"..." Read more

53 customers mention "Thought provoking"45 positive8 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and inspiring. They appreciate the multiple perspectives and how it teaches an important lesson. Readers like the concept, characters, and ending. Overall, it evokes faith in humanity and is a great read from cover to cover.

"...believable and sympathetic (across the board); they're diverse in beliefs and background; they are ...ordinary heroes...." Read more

"...And the reader’s spirit is likely to be uplifted by the heroism, ingenuity and intelligence of key figures in this drama...." Read more

"...From the first chapter, she maintained a fine balance between introducing new threats, resolving old ones, and giving you just enough time to..." Read more

"...The author kept you engaged the entire book, and right from the first few chapters I was hooked and wanted to know what happened...." Read more

49 customers mention "Emotional content"30 positive19 negative

Customers have different experiences with the emotional content of the book. Some find it action-packed, enthralling, and emotionally charged until the end. They mention it sheds light on societal and cultural issues while keeping on the edge of their seat. Others describe it as tense, heartbreaking, and thought-provoking.

"...I thought Newman did a really good job humanizing them. Then there was the crew of Flight 416. They were DEDICATED!!!..." Read more

"...way I can put it is....it's very much like a movie in that it's insanely suspenseful, some awful things happen, but in the end....let's just say it..." Read more

"...character attachment from the beginning, becoming so invested in their lives and decisions that I felt myself sweating at times...." Read more

"...The pacing, the excitement and surprisingly the emotion palpable...." Read more

Reviews with images

See all photos

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

BooksAreWings
A thrilling ride
Reviewed in the United States on July 13, 2021
Verified Purchase

So, I've written a couple reviews lately completely panning junk thrillers, because they're just not worth your time, and so many are just terribly written. Trust me, I know I annihilate some books, but I don't hate the beach read, in fact I LOVE it...I am just trying to save y'all from what my grandma would call "the dreck". You have better things to do. (As in, you could read something horrific like "The Missing" or you could clean out the garage. My goal here is that, because you probably really have to get that garage clean, your free time should be spent on a decent novel.)

"Falling" is TOTALLY a junk thriller, but it's quite well written, and it is just asking "who wants the film rights?" Grandma would not call this "dreck"...she'd be on the edge of her seat!

I came to this book via a hilarious New York Times review of thrillers based on planes, all of which have basically (almost exactly) the same plot. To avoid spoilers let's sum it up as "will this plane deliberately crash, or can anyone in the air or on the ground - who gets what's happening and can negotiate the forces involved - stop it?" There are several of these novels out at once. Let me save some pain and just say, if you want a compelling thriller that's not TOO dark, go for "Falling".

Is this great literature? Not so much, no Proust here, but Newman can write. Her characters are believable and sympathetic (across the board); they're diverse in beliefs and background; they are ...ordinary heroes. This book evokes a real faith in humanity - which is really refreshing and beautiful to read, while remaining an easy "rose all day" vacation read (assuming you aren't TOO scared of planes :)). The plot has twist and turns you won't see, but the best way I can put it is....it's very much like a movie in that it's insanely suspenseful, some awful things happen, but in the end....let's just say it wraps exactly like a blockbuster movie.

Newman's characters are richly drawn (given the time allowed) and sympathetic; power emerges in unexpected places; the leads are likable and, painfully, so are some of the "villains". I think what I loved most here, beside not being able to put it down, was that this novel really made me think. While in the end there are winners and losers, heroes and villains, there's far more going on, and "Falling", while taking you on its thriller ride, tells you clearly that these things are not simple, and that anyone privileged to enjoy such a thing as a "beach read" needs to understand that most of our planet cannot dream of such peace, and we are all able to help change that.

If you don't care about that stuff, coolie beans....you will still have a blast reading this book. I can't wait for the movie and am just waiting to see the cast!

Read more

28 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
TDRock
Good Quick Read
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is a very good, quick read. Realistic characters. great detail with airplanes and service. I really enjoyed the book. Not that there is anything wrong with this, but it really feels like it was written more for a movie as a novel. It would definitely work as a movie. The breaks, hits, chases and locations are all there for a fantastic summer blockbuster. Octavia Spencer as Jo, Donald Glover as Theo, Tony Goldwyn as Bill…it could definitely work.

Read more

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
David Keyes
Great thriller; great new author with a personal background that adds to the story
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2024
Verified Purchase
Wow! What a book! Incredible! This is a gripping book (give it 10 or 20 pages or so to get into the story first). After that, plan on not wanting to put the book down. Plan on waking up in the middle of the night—not just to go to the bathroom, but to read another chapter or two. If you have the audio book by Steven Weber (a great book narrator), alternate back and forth between the Kindle book and the Audible edition. (They will synchronize.). Plan to be late for work a few times while you sit in the parking area not leaving your car because you need to know what will happen next in the book. Five star, and I don’t give many!

I don’t want to spoil the ending; so I won’t say what my emotions were in its final stage of events. It was a good ending, for sure! Prior to that, for the most part I can’t say I “enjoyed” the book—the things that were happening were too terrible for that. I can say that the book is engrossing, gripping, and a page-turner. And the reader’s spirit is likely to be uplifted by the heroism, ingenuity and intelligence of key figures in this drama.

This book takes a topic common in the 1950’s (plane hijackings), combines it with some happenings from 9-11, adds some innovative twists, and looks at the situation from a perspective rarely, if ever, seen before. Much of the book dives into the lives and heroism of the pilot, his family, and the flight crew. There are other major players, including “terrorists” (whose motivations—good and bad—are sensitively treated in this book), law enforcement, military, flight and flight controllers, especially an FBI agent who is related to a flight attendant on board the aircraft. There’s even drama at a baseball game.

There are a few signs (not necessarily negative) of a beginning writer (e.g., flashbacks where people recall things that account for their present character traits and concerns). But the book is well written and much of it is not rivaled in gripping occurrences and challenges by most of the seasoned writers of crime, adventure, and suspense thrillers.

Having read Falling and now starting on her second book, Drowning, I am not surprised at their high standing on bestseller lists, multiple awards including best book of the year, and the making of those books into major movies.

I just signed on to “Follow” the author online and expect to read everything she writes. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I think we are seeing the work of a new, bestselling author. And in her first two books, she has the background to know what she is writing about; and where she wanted help, she or her agent knew who to ask. She took their input, added it to her own experience and imagination, and produced a winner.

Read more

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Report
Cosmo
Like flying?
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
Verified Purchase
This is a wonderful author. Her books always have plenty of twists. A great plot. Great charactors. The villian(s) in this story , you csn actually understand why they were driven to kidnap the pilots family and try to force the pilot to meet their demands( which is interesting in itself).
Short chapters that keep the story going. Great opening that draws you into the story.

Read more

Helpful

Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

carlosj.fsc
FAN
Reviewed in Mexico on December 16, 2024
Verified Purchase

Quien guste de thrillers sobre aviones, está en el lugar correcto

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
Mark Fowler
Falling: A High-Octane, Heart-Pounding Dive Into the Abyss
Reviewed in Canada on September 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Buckle up, because Falling by T.J. Newman is not just a novel—it’s a full-throttle thrill ride that grips you from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last. This book doesn’t just pull you in; it hurls you into a deadly, high-stakes game of survival, 35,000 feet above the Earth, where every second ticks away like a time bomb, and every decision is a matter of life or death. Imagine the adrenaline rush of a free fall—Falling is the literary equivalent, with all the gut-wrenching drops and hairpin turns of a rollercoaster ride through the most terrifying sky you've ever encountered.

The Plot: Danger at Cruising Altitude

The premise of Falling is simple yet explosively effective: a seasoned pilot’s worst nightmare comes true when he’s given an unthinkable ultimatum—crash the plane, or his family dies. What follows is an edge-of-your-seat battle between impossible choices, where the stakes are nothing less than the lives of the 143 passengers aboard. As Captain Bill Hoffman navigates the most harrowing flight of his career, the tension is as suffocating as the cabin pressure at 35,000 feet. Every page feels like a countdown, every moment a desperate gasp for survival.

Characters That Soar

Newman’s characters don’t just exist—they breathe under pressure, every heartbeat a pulse of adrenaline through the narrative. Captain Hoffman is a hero crafted not from bravado, but from the gritty realism of a man forced to confront the unimaginable. His courage and humanity in the face of overwhelming odds make him the kind of protagonist you root for with every fiber of your being.

But the passengers and crew aren’t just background noise; they come alive, each with their own story, caught in a nightmare none of them signed up for. From the resourceful flight attendants to the petrified passengers, every character adds a layer of depth and realism to the story, pulling you further into the harrowing drama unfolding in the sky.

The Pace: Pure Velocity

Falling doesn’t waste time. From the first page, you’re thrust into a world where every second matters, where danger lurks in every decision, and the unknown is a constant companion. The narrative builds like a jet engine, roaring louder and louder until you’re white-knuckling the edges of the book, unable to tear your eyes away. Newman, a former flight attendant, knows how to ramp up the tension to a fever pitch, mixing technical accuracy with an explosive plot that feels terrifyingly plausible.

The pacing is relentless, yet Newman masterfully balances the action with moments of heart-wrenching emotion. It’s a balance of speed and substance, keeping you not only on the edge of your seat but deeply invested in the characters’ fates. It’s the kind of book you can’t put down—one minute you’re planning to read just one more chapter, and the next, you’ve devoured the entire thing in a single sitting.

A Cinematic Experience

Falling reads like a high-stakes action movie, but with the emotional depth of a novel that stays with you long after the final page. You can almost see the scenes playing out on a big screen—the roaring engines, the desperate faces, the breathtaking suspense as the plane dips and weaves through impossible odds. The vivid descriptions make you feel every jolt of turbulence, every heart-pounding second of chaos, as though you were strapped into the seat right beside the passengers.

Final Verdict: A Gravity-Defying Thriller

Falling is not just a novel—it’s an experience, a white-knuckle, heart-pounding, gravity-defying thriller that keeps you guessing at every turn. It’s the kind of book that makes your pulse race, your breath catch, and your heart ache with the weight of impossible choices. T.J. Newman’s debut is a masterclass in tension, a story that refuses to let you go even after you’ve safely landed.

If you're looking for a fast-paced, adrenaline-soaked thriller that will have you reading late into the night, Falling is your ticket to a ride you won’t soon forget. Just make sure your seatbelt is fastened—it’s going to be one hell of a descent.

Read more
Report
Joana
Excelente!
Reviewed in Brazil on November 3, 2021
Verified Purchase
Amei o livro, a história me prendeu totalmente, li em dois dias (só não li tudo no mesmo dia por causa do horário, não queria passar a madrugada lendo hahaha).
Como é uma ex-comissária de bordo que escreveu acho que é uma perspectiva muito bacana da aviação, muito real.
E tudo foi muito bem escrito, estou super ansiosa pelo filme!

Read more
Report
Translate review to English
Supriya
Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!
Reviewed in India on January 25, 2025
Verified Purchase
Book Name: FALLING
Author Name: T.J. NEWMAN @tj_author
My Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖
Book no :2/80

""" IM NOT GOING TO CRASH THIS PLANE
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KILL MY FAMILY """

Description:
You just boarded a flight to New York. There are 143 other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before takeoff, your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to survive, he must crash the plane, killing everyone onboard. Will the passengers and crew make it out alive?

My Thoughts:
Omg, this is the second book by T.J. Newman I’ve read, and I’m officially a HUGE fan! After loving Drowning (which I finished in 5 hours and became my favorite book last year), I didn’t think she could top it—but Falling proved me wrong. This book is unputdownable! I devoured it in just 4 hours, screaming the entire time.

This thriller gave me goosebumps, made my heart race, and had my blood rushing from start to finish. T.J. Newman’s writing is pure perfection—a rollercoaster of emotions with twists at every turn. I literally held my breath through the entire book, and the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss!

I absolutely loved Billi ,Jo, Carrie, Big Daddy, and Kellie and Theo. Jo, especially, was incredible—her bravery and resourcefulness kept me rooting for her throughout. Each character was so well-written, and I felt like I was right there with them on the plane, living every terrifying moment.

This book is what a thriller should be: gripping, intense, and impossible to put down. T.J. Newman, I NEED more books from you! I’m ordering all your works right now because you are officially one of my favorite authors.

If you’re a thriller lover, this is a must-read. Seriously, it’s one of the best fiction thrillers I’ve read this year. Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Read more

Supriya

Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Reviewed in India on January 25, 2025
Book Name: FALLING
Author Name: T.J. NEWMAN @tj_author
My Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖
Book no :2/80

""" IM NOT GOING TO CRASH THIS PLANE
AND YOU'RE NOT GOING TO KILL MY FAMILY """

Description:
You just boarded a flight to New York. There are 143 other passengers onboard. What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before takeoff, your pilot’s family was kidnapped. For his family to survive, he must crash the plane, killing everyone onboard. Will the passengers and crew make it out alive?

My Thoughts:
Omg, this is the second book by T.J. Newman I’ve read, and I’m officially a HUGE fan! After loving Drowning (which I finished in 5 hours and became my favorite book last year), I didn’t think she could top it—but Falling proved me wrong. This book is unputdownable! I devoured it in just 4 hours, screaming the entire time.

This thriller gave me goosebumps, made my heart race, and had my blood rushing from start to finish. T.J. Newman’s writing is pure perfection—a rollercoaster of emotions with twists at every turn. I literally held my breath through the entire book, and the ending? Absolute chef’s kiss!

I absolutely loved Billi ,Jo, Carrie, Big Daddy, and Kellie and Theo. Jo, especially, was incredible—her bravery and resourcefulness kept me rooting for her throughout. Each character was so well-written, and I felt like I was right there with them on the plane, living every terrifying moment.

This book is what a thriller should be: gripping, intense, and impossible to put down. T.J. Newman, I NEED more books from you! I’m ordering all your works right now because you are officially one of my favorite authors.

If you’re a thriller lover, this is a must-read. Seriously, it’s one of the best fiction thrillers I’ve read this year. Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Images in this review

Report
Elizabeth B
Amazing
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2024
Verified Purchase
WOW Falling by T. J. Newman was an absolutely amazing aviation/hijack thriller.

There are one hundred and forty three passengers on board flight 416 coastal airways when Bill Hoffman the pilot has been told that his family have been kidnapped and is given the choice to either crash the plane or have his family killed.

Bill is a man of duty and this flight is going to test his ability at not only being a top notch pilot but a human being who cares for both his family, his passengers and his crew. After all the pilot's motto is aviate, navigate and communicate and all three will come into play on this perilous flight.

We will see humanity at its worst and best on board flgiht 416 and below on ground level in the stadium.

I am so excited that T. J. Newman is to write the script for Falling which is to be made into a movie. I am so glad that she did not give up after having had forty one rejections for Falling. Hats off to T. J. Newman and may she go on to write many more exciting aviation novels in the future.

Read more
Report

Follow the author

Falling: A Novel Kindle Edition

Customers who bought this item also bought

From the Publisher

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Review

About the Author

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Product details

Videos

Videos for this product

About the author

T. J. Newman

Customer reviews

Review this product

Customers say

Images in this review

Reviews with images

Thrilling- I was hanging by the edge of my seat!

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

5.0 out of 5 stars A thrilling ride

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Quick Read

5.0 out of 5 stars Great thriller; great new author with a personal background that adds to the story

5.0 out of 5 stars Like flying?

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars FAN

5.0 out of 5 stars Falling: A High-Octane, Heart-Pounding Dive Into the Abyss

5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente!

5.0 out of 5 stars Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Images in this review

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing

Report an issue

A thrilling ride

Good Quick Read

Great thriller; great new author with a personal background that adds to the story

Like flying?

FAN

Falling: A High-Octane, Heart-Pounding Dive Into the Abyss

Excelente!

Buckle up for a heart-pounding ride—you won’t regret it!

Amazing