Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Freefall by Jessica Barry Narrator: Hillary Huber, Karissa Vacker, MacLeod Andrews
Published by HarperAudio on January 8, 2019
Genres: Mystery
Length: 12 hours, 3 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
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A propulsive debut novel with the intensity of Luckiest Girl Alive and Before the Fall, about a young woman determined to survive and a mother determined to find her.
When your life is a lie, the truth can kill you.
When her fiancé’s private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Allison Carpenter miraculously survives. But the fight for her life is just beginning. Allison has been living with a terrible secret, a shocking truth that powerful men will kill to keep buried. If they know she’s alive, they will come for her. She must make it home.
In the small community of Owl Creek, Maine, Maggie Carpenter learns that her only child is presumed dead. But authorities have not recovered her body—giving Maggie a shred of hope. She, too, harbors a shameful secret: she hasn’t communicated with her daughter in two years, since a family tragedy drove Allison away. Maggie doesn’t know anything about her daughter’s life now—not even that she was engaged to wealthy pharmaceutical CEO Ben Gardner, or why she was on a private plane.
As Allison struggles across the treacherous mountain wilderness, Maggie embarks on a desperate search for answers. Immersing herself in Allison’s life, she discovers a sleek socialite hiding dark secrets. What was Allison running from—and can Maggie uncover the truth in time to save her?
Told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter separated by distance but united by an unbreakable bond, Freefall is a riveting debut novel about two tenacious women overcoming unimaginable obstacles to protect themselves and those they love.
WOW. This is a thriller with greedy people who only care about themselves. Allison has been estranged from her mother since her father’s death. When her magazine job ends, she ends up in downward spiral until she decides her integrity requires finding the truth. Then people want to kill her.
Allison ends up in a plane crash, and she knows she must run. She tells her story of survival and it is interspersed with her mother’s efforts to deal with her loss and find out who Allison was these past two years. The writing unravels the mystery and the emotional landscape of the mother – daughter relationship brilliantly.
Everything about Freefall feels realistic from Allison’s struggle to survive after the crash to her mother’s love, and the ruthless killers trying to stop the truth from being exposed. The emotions and actions of Allie and Maggie (her mother) and their friends are believable. The pace was intense and I was terrified for them. Allie and Maggie have more in common than anyone would think.
Narration:
I’ve always loved Hillary Huber and she was excellent as she narrated Maggie’s point of view. I also enjoyed Karissa Vacker giving us Allison. MacLeod Andrews part was smaller but well performed. I was happy I could listen at 1.5x speed. Freefall was engaging and such a pleasure.
Listen to a clip:
About Hillary Huber
Hillary has recorded over 500 audiobooks spanning many genres. She is a multiple Audie Award finalist – including Best Female Narrator, multiple Earphone Award winner, Voice Arts Awards winner and one of Audiofile Magazine’s best voices. Hillary has a BA in English Literature and is a voracious reader and listener. Raised in conservative Connecticut and hippy Hawaii, she has unique perspective. She splits her time between Santa Monica and New York. Most of that time is in a 4×4 padded room. Er…booth.
About MacLeod Andrews
MacLeod Andrews is an actor and voice actor in Los Angeles He is a Company Member of Rising Phoenix Rep theater company in NYC
About Jessica Barry
Jessica Barry is a pseudonym for an American author who grew up in a small town in Massachusetts and was raised on a steady diet of library books and PBS.
She attended Boston University, where she majored in English and Art History, before moving to London in 2004 to pursue an MA from University College London.
She lives with her husband, Simon, and their two cats, Roger Livesey and BoJack Horseman.
See Melissa Pimentel
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2019 Audiobooks
- 2019 Releases
- COYER WINTER
I like the sound of this one, Anne. The family estrangement and secrets and people after her are great. I’ve not listened to any of the narrators, but glad they were a good match for the story.
Oh well Hillary Huber is one of my favorites and I’ve definitely heard MacLeod Andrews before.
This is a great survival / thriller / family relationship combination. It’s also a standalone, so I found it easy to fit in the schedule.
Thanks for the great review and recommendation for this one, Anne. I’ve been reading a lot of books in this genre recently and this one will fit right in!
I really enjoy thrillers and this has more layers. It’s also a standalone which is easier to schedule than a series with 6 or 14 books! I hope you will try and enjoy it.
OH Jessica sounds amazing. And the book sounds like a winner. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome. I really enjoyed this one.
I haven’t heard of this one before but it sounds really good. It has a great group of narrators too. Thanks for putting this one on my radar, Anne!
It’s a good one and you are right, the narrators are all excellent.
I like audiobooks which have a kind of cast recording, especially for the longer books as the variety of voices helps keep my concentration. This story sounds like it was quite an emotional one as well as being thrilling
It should keep you attention easily. Although it is not too long it has the different story layers which are thriller, personal growth and family relationship dynamics. And 3 excellent narrators.
It’s been a while since I read (or listened to) a good thriller and this one sounds excellent. Glad you shared your review, Anne!
This is a thriller and much more. You’re welcome.
I knew this would be good! Can’t wait to start. Wonderful review, Anne!
I really enjoyed. The narrators were all great. Thank you!
This sounds really good. Like something I would enjoy. I’m a huge Hillary Huber fan too. Great review.
Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart
I would recommend this one to almost everyone. There is much to enjoy about it.
I looooved this book too. Thanks for the review Anne!
Thank you for commenting ! I have always admired your work! This story had so much to offer, and all the layers were done.