the setup…
The pilot of commercial airliner Delta Flight 224 suddenly has a widow-maker heart attack at 35,000 feet while his first officer is out of the cockpit. The plane plunges to the ground, crashing into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. That small town becomes the epicenter for the most catastrophic event the world has ever faced…categorized as a Level 8 on the International Nuclear Event Scale, which only has 7 levels.
the heart of the story…
The people in Waketa were used to drills living in a town with a nuclear plant. But when they felt the impact of that plane throughout the town, nothing went according to plan as communications were cutoff or disabled. There’s a heartbeat in small communities and this one beat strong as in the middle of all the confusion, the residents rose to the occasion. Ordinary citizens brought their skills, resources and common sense to the table as they sought to do the right things and take care of each other while the brightest and smartest minds worked to resolve the catastrophe at the nuclear plant. It was riveting and scary stuff that kept me breathless.
the narration…
Joe Morton was just a brilliant choice to tell this story. That voice brought all the right emotions, tension and poignancy to create vivid images of the scenes and characters. I can still hear him.
the bottom line…
There’s a lot of science here that went over my head but it just wasn’t important as the President (the kind you dream of having in these situations) demanded plain speak. I was drawn into the separate dramas going on outside of the nuclear disaster as you can imagine the wide range of devastation when a jet falls from the sky. But it was the spirit of the community that captured my heart and imagination with heroes rising from unusual places, risking their lives to save not only their town but potentially the world. Newman strikes gold yet again. I’ll always read whatever she wants to write.
Book Info
- Release Date: August 13, 2024
- Narrator: Joe Morton
- Audio Length: 8 hours, 13 minutes
- Publisher: Hachette Audio
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(Thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Blue Mood Café 
I’m glad that you enjoyed this one as much as I did Jonetta. I loved this narrator too! Great review!
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Thank you, Jodie💜 I’m a fan or Joe Morton the actor so this was a nice surprise.
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I am listening to this book now! Phew what a disaster this book portrays!
Great review, Jo!
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Thanks, Marialyce💜 Happy reading!
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Wonderful review Jo! Was it as terrifying as it sounds? 😱
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Thanks, Nicki💜 It was a bit heart pounding but the human element balances it nicely.
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I’ve been impressed and fully engaged with this author’s works.
Excellent review!
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Thank you, Anne💜 She’s three for three with me, too.
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I will read this one soon, soundd great, amazong review!
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Thank you, Ani💜 Here’s hoping you have the same good time!
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Fab review! I’ve loved all three TJ Newman books so far, but being able to listen to this one on audio made it even more special. His voice was perfect for this story!
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Thank you, Yvo💜 I’ve listened to all of them and when I learned Morton would be narrating, I became manic about getting this😏
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This was such a gripping book. I totally agree about the narrator, Joe Morton was perfect. Great review, Jo.
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Thank you, Carla💜 Morton’s such a good actor.
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Oh my goodness, I just googled him and have seen him in several things. No wonder he has such a wonderful voice.
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Yep! That’s why I gasped when I saw him named as the narrator.
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