“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.
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