Book Review: Newman’s “Falling” Lifts the Thriller Genre to New Heights

 “If you tell anyone, your family dies. If you send anyone to the house, your family dies.” — “Falling” by T.J. Newman

I'm a sucker for a good airplane thriller...

When it comes to this sub genre in entertainment, I’ve really enjoyed theatrical efforts like “Executive Decision” (1996), “Passenger 57” (1992), and “Non-Stop” (2014). 

Stories such as this are built on the foundational anxieties people have about air travel. Those anxieties serve as fertile ground for cultivating dramatic tension. 

T.J. Newman's debut thriller “Falling” traverses this tried-and-true territory. 

Yet she tweaks the formula to create a fresh, fast-paced narrative that reads like a high-octane mix of a Harlan Coben novel and “ticking clock” movies like “Speed.” 

“Falling” is built around an intriguing premise. 

Coastal Airways pilot Bill Hoffman is in the midst of flying an Airbus A320 with 144 “souls” (as he refers to passengers) from Los Angeles to New York City when he learns his family has been kidnapped — and the only way for his wife Carrie, 10-year-old son Scott, and 10-month-old daughter Elise to live is to crash the plane. 

I know some cynics will say, “But Jon... that setup sounds like numerous high-concept thrillers over the years.” 

True enough, but the way in which “Falling” is crafted sets it apart from those thrillers. 

First and foremost, Newman's decade working as a flight attendant for Virgin America and Alaska Airlines is evident throughout “Falling” (she came up with the premise on a red-eye flight to New York). 

Oftentimes, supporting characters in this type of story can feel one-dimensional. 

One of the strengths of Newman’s novel is her supporting cast. In particular, the flight attendants on Coastal Airways Flight 416 prove to be well-drawn characters.

The trio of Jo Watkins, Michael “Big Daddy” Rodenburg, and fledgling flight attendant Kellie serve critical roles in “Falling.” But Newman doesn't simply prop the characters up as plot devices — she manages to give each individual depth during the novel's suspenseful narrative. 

Being able to draw on her own real-life experience is a considerable benefit. That experience helps to inform the trio of attendants and creates a sense of verisimilitude as events unfold. 

While those three characters stood out for me, the entire cast proves to be pretty compelling. 

At the core of “Falling” is Bill Hoffman, who spends most of the story in the cockpit. Like Sandra Bullock in “Speed,” Hoffman being buckled into a seat tests our protagonist's mettle as he navigates an impossible situation. 

That restriction enhances the sense of hopelessness Hoffman feels as he tries to find a way to save his family and the passengers on the airliner. 

Some authors might have been tempted to make Hoffman a former special forces operator or someone of that ilk — like Steven Seagal’s Casey Ryback character in “Under Siege” (1992) and “Under Siege 2: Dark Territory” (1995). 

Instead, Hoffman is a relatable protagonist more akin to David Beck in Harlan Coben's brilliant 2001 novel “Tell No One.” Having a protagonist with “limits” creates a sense of vulnerability that fuels the dramatic tension. 

Hoffman understands the gravity of the situation, and the power that he as a pilot holds in his hands. 

The internal struggle the character faces works to great effect in “Falling.”  

“Falling” reminded me of Joseph Garber's addictive 1996 thriller “Vertical Run” (a novel that ranks among my all-time favorites) in terms of tone and pace. Both high-concept stories avoid getting bogged down in navel-gazing minutiae. In each case, the authors understand what the mission is, and keep a laser-like focus on building suspense. 

The movie rights for “Falling” were won in a seven-figure deal by Universal Pictures after a multi-studio bidding war. The material seems tailor-made for the big screen, and I'm excited follow the development process. 

It's pretty amazing considering the fact that Newman wrote 30 drafts and received 41 agent rejections before “Falling” was finally published in 2021. 

I zipped through the hardcover of “Falling” in just two days. It is a breezy read at 285 pages, and the author does a brilliant job hooking you into the propulsive plot. 

If you are searching for a gripping standalone thriller to read, add Newman’s “Falling” to your itinerary. It lifts the genre to new heights and is an impressive debut. 

Previous post: Book Review: Take an “Oath of Loyalty” for Kyle Mills’ Latest Rapp Thriller 

Book Review: Take an “Oath of Loyalty” for Kyle Mills’ Latest Rapp Thriller

Thank goodness Mitch Rapp is back... 

I needed this. I've been in something of a “book slump” recently. 

Have you ever been in a book slump? As a reader, it can be a frustrating thing. 

I always have a book in hand, and I like to feel like I'm making progress in my reading goals each year. But sometimes I just get stuck — and can’t seem to finish anything. 

Since I started reading Vince Flynn's venerable Mitch Rapp series back in 2006, the novels have become “go to” stories that serve as a “literary elixir” for me. 

But when you are all caught up with a series, you have to wait patiently — with eager anticipation — to see what the next book will bring. 

This year’s entry — “Oath of Loyalty” — just arrived in the form of an advance reader copy as part of my participation in the “Mitch Rapp Ambassador” program. 

It couldn’t come soon enough.

“Oath of Loyalty” follows “tip of the spear” operator Rapp as he deals with the aftermath of events in 2021’s “Enemy at the Gates” (read my review). 

Our hero has a lot on his plate (both literally and figuratively) in this novel.

As the story begins, Rapp is dealing with the aftermath of a tense (and tragic) showdown with a long-time colleague. 

President Anthony Cook is hellbent on nullifying the perceived threat Rapp poses to his administration. 

In addition, various assassins-for-hire (including a new player known only as “Legion”) are on the trail of our protagonist and his make-shift family — former assassin Claudia Gould and her daughter Anna (named after Rapp’s deceased wife). 

Author Kyle Mills keeps the focus primarily on Rapp in this outing, dishing up a thriller with healthy portions of our hero's domestic life. 

“Oath of Loyalty” illustrates Mills’ range in the genre as he ratchets up the narrative intrigue. 

Instead of macro-level events seen in recent entries — such as a pandemic-level threat in “Lethal Agent” (read my review) or a mass power outage in “Total Power” (read my review) — smaller moments fuel the suspense in “Oath of Loyalty.” 

(If you ever wondered if “household errands” could be fodder for building tension in a thriller novel, wonder no more.)

In that regard, the novel has a kinship with 2008’s “Extreme Measures” and 2009’s “Pursuit of Honor” — shedding light on the pitfalls of mixing a family with a career in espionage. 

There is also an undercurrent running through “Oath of Loyalty” that echoes the political climate fueling unrest in the United States today. 

Mills alludes to the concept of a world where global power is accumulated by a loose alliance of dictators throwing their weight around — an environment where weakness and compromise aren’t tolerated. 

President Cook hopes to be at the helm of this new world order. 

One of the returning players introduced in "Enemy at the Gates" is trillionaire Nicholas Ward (described by Mills in interviews as a cross between Elon Musk and Bill Gates) who has a foundation dedicated to solving the world’s ills. 

Mills (yet again) proves to be prescient as it regards the power, influence, and controversy he imbued in Ward. 

In the intervening year since the publication of “Enemy at the Gates,” we’ve watched as Elon Musk has become the world’s wealthiest person, attempted to purchase Twitter, and become a political lightning rod in the process. 

In the same vein, there is a subtext in “Oath of Loyalty” that hints at Ward working to build his sphere of influence. The question posed is whether or not the trillionaire (with his vast resources) could reshape the world in a way that governments are incapable of doing. 

It will be fascinating to see what Mills has in store for that character in the future — and how his relationship with Rapp evolves. 

Mills has been adept at shifting the course of Mitch Rapp’s future in incremental steps through eight novels. What we have in “Oath of Loyalty” is a protagonist who has more depth and nuance than he did in the early entries in this series. 

Rapp’s future is hazy, and that uncertainty presents a variety of interesting opportunities for Mills going forward. 

I’m curious to see how things develop! 

A key aspect of Mills’ work in the Mitch Rapp series (since taking over for Vince Flynn after the author’s death in 2013) is his effortless prose. 

Mills (an author known for crafting detailed outlines prior to writing) is an underrated wordsmith. There is a readability factor in his work that elevates the overall pace and keeps you turning the pages. 

As the years progress, I become more convinced that “how” a book is written is just as important as “what” the book is about (maybe more). 

In the case of “Oath of Loyalty,” the symbiosis between the craftsmanship and plot is terrific. That one-two punch might make this Mills’ most enjoyable novel yet!

As I mentioned earlier, I received an advance copy of “Oath of Loyalty” as part of the “Mitch Rapp Ambassador” program. If you are interested in learning more about the program — and learning more about the Mitch Rapp series — head over to the official website for additional details. 

I mean, you might someday find yourself featured on the site (like I was in 2019). 

It’s also worth following the official Vince Flynn Twitter and Facebook accounts if you haven’t done so. In addition to the “Mitch Rapp Ambassador” program, there are other fun giveaways and contests throughout the year. 

I’ve pre-ordered my copy of “Oath of Loyalty” in hardcover. You can order your copy here. It will arrive Sept. 13, 2022.

Related posts on Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills: 

> Cool to be Part of the “What’s Your Story” Feature on VinceFlynn.com 

> Honored to Be Part of “Mitch Rapp Novel” Title Reveal! 

> Thoughts on “The Survivor”... A Mitch Rapp Novel By Kyle Mills 

> Book Review: “Vince Flynn - Order To Kill” By Kyle Mills

> Book Review: “Vince Flynn - Enemy of the State” By Kyle Mills 

> Contagious Thrills in “Vince Flynn - Lethal Agent” By Kyle Mills 

> Book Review: Sparks Fly In “Vince Flynn - Total Power” By Kyle Mills

> Book Review: Things Change In “Enemy at the Gates” By Kyle Mills 

> “American Assassin” Review: “It’s About the Mission, Not About You!” 

Previous post: Water That Looks Like Beer: Clever Marketing or Potential Problem? 

Water That Looks Like Beer: Clever Marketing or Potential Problem?

A few weeks ago, one of my relatives walked into our house (on their way to swim at the neighborhood pool across the street) holding a tallboy can that looked like a beer. 

I wouldn’t have thought anything of it except for that fact that the relative in question was my nine-year-old niece!  

I'd love to have seen the look on my face, because I was confused, wondering if I'd awakened that morning in an alternate universe where 21 was no longer the legal drinking age. 

She left the can sitting on the counter. And after the crew walked over to the pool, I snatched it up, and studied the labeling. 

“Liquid Death” it said (in an Old English-type font) and the liquid inside was labeled as “Mountain Water.” 

My fears were initially allayed. The beverage was nothing more than water. 

I thought maybe it was like the old idiom that states “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” It’s just packaging, after all. What harm could it do? 

Suffice it to say, our family ended up having a fun and spirited conversation about this after the fact via group text. 

I told Bridget: “This is my next blog post.” 

It’s obvious on initial glance that Liquid Death canned water is designed to be provocative. “Murder Your Thirst” is the brand’s tagline, and it is canned by Austrian beverage company Starzinger (the brand itself was concocted by former creative director Mike Cessario, the mind behind promos for Netflix shows like “Stranger Things”). 

The name Liquid Death evokes the term “liquid courage” (a euphemism used to describe alcoholic beverages and their ability to make you do unusual things). 

The words “Don’t Be Scared. It’s Just Water” grace the front page of the Liquid Death website (as of this writing) with a series of social media videos showing a person "shotgunning" (poking a hole in the side of the can and drinking it) along with one of a young girl consuming the beverage. 

They sell both “sparkling” and “still” waters. On the descriptions of the sparkling variants, it reads “Liquid Death Sparkling Water doesn't just look like a beer, it is actually carbonated like a beer.”  

(Being carbonated like beer essentially means less carbonation than typical sparkling water drinks.) 

On the site’s FAQ section, one of the questions is “Is Liquid Death safe for children?” 

The answer — “Yes and highly recommended” — epitomizes the approach the brand takes with its website (and aluminum can) copy. 

In the intervening weeks since I was introduced to Liquid Death (and after having procured four cans for this blog post), I have shown the beverage to various parents I know to gauge their reactions — friends, relatives, members of our neighborhood pool, and even the woman who cuts my hair. 

While my research is firmly planted in the anecdotal realm, the parents I showed Liquid Death to were rather surprised. The overarching sentiment seemed to be: “This looks like a gateway product that could encourage underage drinking.”  

As mentioned earlier, that sort of controversy is part of the brand's unique selling proposition. Like it or not, they don't shy away from it. 

This Liquid Death commercial — set to Judas Priest’s song “Breaking the Law” — epitomizes that vibe as viewers see young kids partying while drinking the beverage: 

The brand has apparently supplied various online influencers with Liquid Death. Others have found it on their own. 

Tech YouTuber iJustine recently shared a picture of herself holding a can of Liquid Death on her Twitter account: 

Hehe pic.twitter.com/sKBmJ2APAa

— iJustine (@ijustine) July 16, 2022

The main question in all of this is whether or not a product that *looks* like beer — even if it is just a harmless can of water — can have negative consequences as it regards underage drinking. 

That is certainly a subject for debate. 

It sort of reminds me of the “candy cigarettes” they sold when I was a kid. Did those chalky sugar sticks make a kid more likely to become a smoker later in life? 

In my case, the answer was no. But I’m not everyone. 

I will say this... as someone who doesn’t consume alcoholic beverages, sometimes you can feel a little out of place at parties and gatherings when you aren’t partaking in the adult beverages offered. In those instances, it is possible holding a Liquid Death water might make you look less out of place. 

The other question is whether or not the Liquid Death water is any good.

I drink a number of sparkling water brands. In recent months, I’ve been into Spindrift and BUBBL'R sparkling water brands. The latter of the two has become a favorite of mine. 

I’ve sampled Liquid Death's “Mango Chainsaw” and “Severed Lime” sparkling water flavors. 

Both of them were just okay, in my opinion. Neither was particularly remarkable. Frankly, the lower carbonation level in the drink (which is done by design) made the beverage seem somewhat flat to me. For me, this genre of drink really depends on its “bubble” factor (as far as I'm concerned, the more bubbles the better). 

In that regard, it does make me wonder if Liquid Death’s viral popularity is largely smoke and mirrors — unremarkable canned water that is basically buoyed by unorthodox packaging and marketing. 

When the novelty wears off (which it will), does the product have the legs to survive?

I’ll let you decide for yourself. 

In the meantime, you can purchase Liquid Death at select online retailers like Amazon and at brick-and-mortar outlets like Target, 7-Eleven, and Whole Foods. 

Previous post: TV Review: Pratt’s Visceral Performance Elevates “The Terminal List”