There are many topics covered in this novel. Climate change and how many perceive the world to be on the brink of disaster if something isn’t done right now to change the ways we live, including air travel.

The narration is very good except that it's in one voice, other than a more childish voice for Sophia. The choice to make everyone in the story use the same voice meant that men sounded just like women and with so many characters in the story, I would get mixed up who was talking/thinking. I don't care for over acting when it comes to narration but I do think some distinction between the voices of main characters would be helpful. We spend a lot of time with both Adam and Mina and it would have been nice if Adam didn't sound just like Mina. Mina is a flight attendant who deliberately places herself aboard an inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney, Australia. This subterfuge, of a sort, is intended to give her a break from her husband, Adam, whom she believes has cheated on her, and her five-year-old, special needs daughter, Sophia.Somewhere in South America, at the home of the country's vice president, a lavish birthday party is being held in honour of the powerful businessman Mr. Hosokawa. Roxane Coss, opera's most revered soprano, has mesmerised the international guests with her singing. When a convenience store robbery takes an ugly turn, the three perpetrators take a family hostage, leaving small town police chief Jeff Talley to sort the mess out. Is Talley, whose life fell apart after a failed hostage situation years earlier, up to the task? Whew! What a roller coaster ride which had me holding on to my arm rest, anxiety riddled and fully entertained. Some injuries and deaths occur. The terrified passengers become aware of what is unfolding and that they are all doomed. It added a dimension to the story that we got to know some of the individual passengers through their thoughts about their lives and why they took this inaugural flight to Sydney.

Yes, Jim Botting is a very close friend of mine and a colleague in the FBI. Jim’s stories are based out of the Los Angeles office of the FBI, where he worked on a number of very interesting and high-profile cases. The book gives the reader a really good glimpse into a day in the life of an FBI agent working on the streets. He is very good at setting the stage and sharing with the reader what it is like to be an FBI agent.

Customer reviews

I love stories about everyday people ripped out of their normal lives and forced to face the craziest situations head-on. I mean, can you even imagine? Could you find a way to survive and win? To face down life-threatening danger and evil people and rise from the ashes stronger and smarter? I’m pretty sure I’d kill if it meant protecting my children…but strand me in the wilderness and I’d likely perish from eating the wrong berries. I hate to be hungry, but I love to bring edgy romantic suspense and twisty psychological suspense to readers. Enjoy! I absolutely hated this book and though I could list all the reasons why in this review, I'm afraid it would have too many spoilers that would anger fans and potential readers. That’s the choice before Mina, a flight attendant. In an attempt to avoid marital conflict and get a break from domestic troubles, Mina volunteers to work the inaugural twenty-hour long-haul flight from London to Sydney.

Mina -- no, she deserved prison with her selfish act. She violated every rule of her job. There was not a single decent character in this entire book. It was definitely make-believe and unrealistic in every way.Oh.my.goodness.Oh.my.goodness. Oh.my.goodness. This is freaking mind blowing! Breathe in ! Breathe out! This is everything I want from brilliantly delicious, extremely addictive and absolutely smart, twisty, claustrophobic, high tension story with detailed, connectable characterization! Summary of plot line: Boarding time for 20 hours nonstop direct flight from London to Sydney is just started! The flight crew are so excited to become a part of history. But 34 years old air hostess Mina barely gathers her thoughts to focus on her job, feeling guilty to leave their five years old kid Sophia behind with her estranged husband. The three take refuge in the house, holding a father and his two children hostage. Before long, they are totally surrounded and their chances of getting away safely are nil. If that weren't bad enough, it turns out that the house they have broken into belongs to the accountant for a major mob of criminals. There's over a million dollars in cash in the house. Even more important, there are also computer discs with records that could bring down several major figures in the mob. What will happen to Sophia and Adam in the basement and what will happen to the flight heading towards Sydney? The poignant - and at times very funny - novel from the author of The Dutch House and Commonwealth.