Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Drowning by TJ Newman Narrator: Steven Weber, Laura Benanti
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on May 30, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Length: 7 hours, 43 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
Six minutes after takeoff, Flight 1421 crashes into the Pacific Ocean. During the evacuation, an engine explodes and the plane is flooded. Those still alive are forced to close the doors—but it’s too late. The plane sinks to the bottom with twelve passengers trapped inside.
More than two hundred feet below the surface, engineer Will Kent and his eleven-year-old daughter Shannon are waist-deep in water and fighting for their lives.
Their only chance at survival is an elite rescue team on the surface led by professional diver Chris Kent—Shannon’s mother and Will’s soon-to-be ex-wife—who must work together with Will to find a way to save their daughter and rescue the passengers from the sealed airplane, which is now teetering on the edge of an undersea cliff.
I loved Falling. If I had managed to read it in 2021, it would have easily been in my Top 10 picks for the year. Drowning is equally stunning. Fortunately, I started listening in the morning because I was going to listen until I finished with only minor pauses.
The author’s knowledge of airplanes and flight personnel makes this more realistic. But the overall adrenaline rush and great character development makes it first class.
I enjoyed having characters of all age groups and attitudes which is just what happens in real life. We have the core though, of a divorcing couple, Will and Chris, and their 11 year old daughter , Shannon, who live in Hawaii. They lost her older sister 6 years ago and none of them has completely recovered. The father, Will, decides when Shannon is going to fly to San Francisco for camp he is going to go with her.
There are the pilot and other flight personnel who are key to knowing what equipment is available and information about the plane. Some others are an old couple, a newlywed couple, a young girl traveling by herself, a nurse, an asshole, and each has histories, feelings, hopes and dreams.
The plane drops from the sky only six minutes after takeoff. I LOVE a survival story with science and technology and mother nature all affecting the outcome. At first, those who survive the landing seem able to go out the exits into big slides. But then things change, and the plane sinks. Now they only have a few hours until there isn’t enough air and they will succumb to CO2 and drown.
Drowning is fast-paced with plenty of emotion and inspired with hope. I want these characters to survive and figure out how to live!
Narration:
Steven Weber is long a favorite narrator and in fact also narrated Falling. He provided distinct voices for Will and the people on the plane in his point of view chapters. Laura Benanti is new to me. She voiced Chris and her team, along with other rescue and military personnel for the chapters in Chris’ viewpoint. I enjoyed their performances and its emotional aspects. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About TJ Newman
T.J. Newman is a former bookseller and flight attendant whose first novel, Falling, became a publishing sensation and debuted at number two on the New York Times bestseller list. The book was named a best book of the year by USA Today, Esquire, and Amazon, among many others, and has been published in more than thirty countries. The book will soon be a major motion picture from Universal Pictures. T.J. lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Drowning is her second novel.
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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:
- 23-COYER
Glad we’re of like minds about this book, Anne💜 Excellent review!
Thank you Jonetta. I love this author.
I just downloaded this after reading your review. I still have Falling to listen to as well. I think I need to start in the morning like you did, because it seems like one you just need to get through because of the intensity of the story. Wonderful review, Anne!
Thanks Rachel. They are both amazing and unrelated to each other. yes start in the morning.
Oh wow, this sounds intense! Glad it was such a great read for you.
Very intense and excellent. I loved Falling also. I highly recommend them.
Gotta love a good intense story like this.
It’s a complete adrenaline rush with no breaks, full blast all the way.