Drowning by T. J. Newman @T_J_Newman #StevenWeber #LauraBenanti @SimonAudio @librofm

the setup…
Minutes after Flight 1421 takes off in Hawaii, things go haywire with the pilots losing all systems and they prepare to crash in the ocean. The water landing was miraculous but while evacuating, an engine explodes, flooding the plane and starting a fiery scene outside. The twelve survivors remaining inside are forced to close the doors but the plane begins sinking. Okay, is this enough for you to want more?

the heart of the story…
True confession…I’ve watched every airplane disaster movie ever made so getting this was a no brainer. It’s my guilty pleasure. And, this doesn’t take much time before the excitement starts. The primary points of view are from Will Kent, an engineer who was accompanying his eleven-year old daughter Shannon to camp, and his wife Chris who is a professional diver currently working with the Navy on a salvage operation. There are others, including the pilot and the man heading the rescue mission but it’s Will and Chris who captivate the story. They are currently separated and both of them are smart, resourceful and fiercely love their daughter. Every decision Will makes inside that plane has Shannon’s survival in mind, as is the same with Chris as she forces herself onto the rescue team.

the narration…
Weber is one of my favorites and he seems to be ideal for these kinds of stories. He was perfect for Will’s voice as well as for other male passengers and crew. I also enjoyed Benanti, especially her interpretation of Chris. They made a great story outstanding.

the bottom line…
I loved Falling but am over the moon about this one. It’s literally nonstop action except for those transitions to the past where we learn more about Will and Chris Kent. It far surpassed my extremely high expectations. FYI, there was a fierce bidding war for the rights to bring this to screen and it hadn’t even been released! Don’t even bother to buckle up as there’s no way to avoid this story’s turbulence.

Book Info

• Release Date: May 30, 2023
• Narrators: Steven Weber & Laura Benanti
• Audio Length: 7 hours, 43 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)