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Freefall
The life that she's built for herself - her perfect fiance, their world of luxury - has disappeared in the blink of an eye. Now she must run, not only to escape the dark secrets in her past, but to outwit the man who is stalking her every move.
On the other side of the country, Allison's mother is desperate for news of her daughter, who is missing, presumed dead. Maggie refuses to accept that she could have lost her only child and sets out to discover the truth.
Mother and daughter must fight - for survival and to find their way through a dark web of lies and back to one another, before it's too late...
On the other side of the country, Allison's mother is desperate for news of her daughter, who is missing, presumed dead. Maggie refuses to accept that she could have lost her only child and sets out to discover the truth.
Mother and daughter must fight - for survival and to find their way through a dark web of lies and back to one another, before it's too late...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published January 8, 2019
1266 people are currently reading
19134 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Barry
6 books423 followersJessica 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
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,766 reviews
December 22, 2018
This is the kind of pulpy, plot-based read that you can power through in a single sitting, preferably on the beach or during a plane ride (if the plane crash aspect doesn't make you too nervous). The short chapters keep the pacing up and make it easy to zip through.
However, seasoned thriller readers might be a little disappointed by the lack of surprises. Most of the plot is fairly easy to predict and the one promised "twist" felt a lot more like deus ex machina to me. That being said, this can be forgiven if you just sit back and enjoy the ride, which is admittedly a fun and easy one.
Maggie learns that her estranged daughter Allison died in a plane crash with her fiance and attempts to piece together the last couple years of her life. Meanwhile, Allison's perspective instantly reveals that she is not actually dead but running from a mysterious someone. Maggie's digging and Allison's desperate bid for survival race against each other, until it all comes together at the climax.
The characters are somewhat interesting. They have a sort of general appeal to anyone who is a worried parent or has a difficult relationship with their own parents. But fans of lots of character development should probably seek out a Tana French or Jane Harper instead. I felt it was a book focused on discovering the whats and hows, without spending too long on the whys.
Freefall is an easy, escapist piece of fiction. Nothing demanding or life-changing, but fun nevertheless.
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However, seasoned thriller readers might be a little disappointed by the lack of surprises. Most of the plot is fairly easy to predict and the one promised "twist" felt a lot more like deus ex machina to me. That being said, this can be forgiven if you just sit back and enjoy the ride, which is admittedly a fun and easy one.
Maggie learns that her estranged daughter Allison died in a plane crash with her fiance and attempts to piece together the last couple years of her life. Meanwhile, Allison's perspective instantly reveals that she is not actually dead but running from a mysterious someone. Maggie's digging and Allison's desperate bid for survival race against each other, until it all comes together at the climax.
The characters are somewhat interesting. They have a sort of general appeal to anyone who is a worried parent or has a difficult relationship with their own parents. But fans of lots of character development should probably seek out a Tana French or Jane Harper instead. I felt it was a book focused on discovering the whats and hows, without spending too long on the whys.
Freefall is an easy, escapist piece of fiction. Nothing demanding or life-changing, but fun nevertheless.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
January 16, 2019
I don't know about you, but sometimes when I'm reading a book, something about the title triggers a song (or even two) in my brain, something that keeps running through my head the entire time. Needless to say, I was glad I devoured Jessica Barry's
Freefall
in one day, because I don't know if I could have handled Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'" running through my head longer than that! (If it gets stuck in your head, you're welcome.)
"Here are the facts: I am alone. I am on a mountain. The plane I was on has crashed. My body is covered in bruises and cuts and my left leg has a wound that will soon become infected if I don't clean it. My finger is strained or broken and quickly swelling. I have very little food and water. The sun is still high but it will be dark in a few hours and my only shelter is a twisted hulk of metal that could, at any minute, explode."
Allison Gardner survived the crash of her fiancé's plane in the Colorado Rockies. But even though she is battered and bruised, she knows the last thing she can do is wait at the crash site for someone to rescue her. If they know she's alive, they will find her and kill her. She has to force herself to get as far away from the crash as possible, because she's come too far to die now.
When Allison's mother, Maggie, learns that Allison is presumed dead, she is devastated, confused, and shocked. She and Allison have been estranged since a family tragedy two years ago, so she had no idea why Allison would be on a private plane, nor was she even aware that Allison was engaged, much less to the handsome CEO of a successful pharmaceutical firm. Maggie wants to understand the woman her daughter became in the two years since they've spoken, and the more she starts digging into things, the more she realizes things in Allison's life weren't what they seemed.
Two headstrong women are determined to succeed, Allison in trekking across the mountains in order to find a safe place to hide before she is found, Maggie in uncovering the secrets no one is telling her about Allison's life the last two months. Maggie has no idea of the danger her daughter was in, and has no idea of the risks she is taking looking for answers.
Freefall alternates in narration between Allison and Maggie, and most of Allison's chapters flash back to her life before getting on that plane, and why she needs to keep alert and keep going. It's a fascinating, fast-moving story that has some twists you can see coming if you've read any thrillers, but some twists surprise you. Barry keeps you hooked on both of their stories, and keeps you hoping that both women will be successful in their quests.
I really enjoyed this book, and as I mentioned, I read nearly the entire thing in one sitting. Barry has a great talent for teasing out the suspense and unfurling secrets little by little, almost in real time as Maggie starts looking into what happened to Allison. This was a great thriller for a snowy day, and I look forward to seeing what Barry comes up with next!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
"Here are the facts: I am alone. I am on a mountain. The plane I was on has crashed. My body is covered in bruises and cuts and my left leg has a wound that will soon become infected if I don't clean it. My finger is strained or broken and quickly swelling. I have very little food and water. The sun is still high but it will be dark in a few hours and my only shelter is a twisted hulk of metal that could, at any minute, explode."
Allison Gardner survived the crash of her fiancé's plane in the Colorado Rockies. But even though she is battered and bruised, she knows the last thing she can do is wait at the crash site for someone to rescue her. If they know she's alive, they will find her and kill her. She has to force herself to get as far away from the crash as possible, because she's come too far to die now.
When Allison's mother, Maggie, learns that Allison is presumed dead, she is devastated, confused, and shocked. She and Allison have been estranged since a family tragedy two years ago, so she had no idea why Allison would be on a private plane, nor was she even aware that Allison was engaged, much less to the handsome CEO of a successful pharmaceutical firm. Maggie wants to understand the woman her daughter became in the two years since they've spoken, and the more she starts digging into things, the more she realizes things in Allison's life weren't what they seemed.
Two headstrong women are determined to succeed, Allison in trekking across the mountains in order to find a safe place to hide before she is found, Maggie in uncovering the secrets no one is telling her about Allison's life the last two months. Maggie has no idea of the danger her daughter was in, and has no idea of the risks she is taking looking for answers.
Freefall alternates in narration between Allison and Maggie, and most of Allison's chapters flash back to her life before getting on that plane, and why she needs to keep alert and keep going. It's a fascinating, fast-moving story that has some twists you can see coming if you've read any thrillers, but some twists surprise you. Barry keeps you hooked on both of their stories, and keeps you hoping that both women will be successful in their quests.
I really enjoyed this book, and as I mentioned, I read nearly the entire thing in one sitting. Barry has a great talent for teasing out the suspense and unfurling secrets little by little, almost in real time as Maggie starts looking into what happened to Allison. This was a great thriller for a snowy day, and I look forward to seeing what Barry comes up with next!
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com, or check out my list of the best books I read in 2018 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2018.html.
January 6, 2019
4 exciting stars!
Freefall opens with Allison surviving a plane crash. She is the lone survivor, and she’s in the mountains with a smashed cell phone and few supplies.
The pilot was her fiancé, and she has lost everything. And guess what? She actually doesn’t want to be found. On top of it all, someone is following her.
Across the country, Maggie, Allison’s mom, has been told that her daughter likely died in the crash…but Maggie refuses to give up hope and sets out on a determined search for her daughter. She’s also seeking understanding because she and Allison have been estranged.
Maggie and Allison are desperate to be reunited, and in their search and survival, that special, but complex, bond between mother and daughter is explored.
Wow, Freefall is a page-turner! It shows why survival stories are among my favorites. Allison is strong and determined, and Maggie may be even more so. Maggie became the power player, and I could feel her thirst for answers. The pacing is exceptional, and the intensity continues to build. Jessica Barry has written a fab debut. I will be waiting in line for her next effort.
Thanks to Harper Books for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Freefall opens with Allison surviving a plane crash. She is the lone survivor, and she’s in the mountains with a smashed cell phone and few supplies.
The pilot was her fiancé, and she has lost everything. And guess what? She actually doesn’t want to be found. On top of it all, someone is following her.
Across the country, Maggie, Allison’s mom, has been told that her daughter likely died in the crash…but Maggie refuses to give up hope and sets out on a determined search for her daughter. She’s also seeking understanding because she and Allison have been estranged.
Maggie and Allison are desperate to be reunited, and in their search and survival, that special, but complex, bond between mother and daughter is explored.
Wow, Freefall is a page-turner! It shows why survival stories are among my favorites. Allison is strong and determined, and Maggie may be even more so. Maggie became the power player, and I could feel her thirst for answers. The pacing is exceptional, and the intensity continues to build. Jessica Barry has written a fab debut. I will be waiting in line for her next effort.
Thanks to Harper Books for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
April 23, 2019
DNF at pg 214.
Sorry, just can't go any further. It was too inconsistent and lacking believable character development.
Note to author: I assure you that those of us who are older than the millennials are perfectly capable of navigating the internet, social media, and those "new-fangled" smart phones. So don't make one of your MC's technologically stupid and using ancient equipment because of her age. The author probably thought those of us she offended couldn't possibly navigate a computer to leave a bad review.
Don't forget we are the generation who INVENTED these devices. Don't insult your audience by portraying us as dinosaurs. Matter of fact, while reading your book I was distracted by the smart phone at my side because I was bored.
Maybe I'm just cranky and I have one nerve left that the author stood on. I am giving it 2 stars only because at pg 214 I flipped forward to the end for the resolution.
Sorry, just can't go any further. It was too inconsistent and lacking believable character development.
Note to author: I assure you that those of us who are older than the millennials are perfectly capable of navigating the internet, social media, and those "new-fangled" smart phones. So don't make one of your MC's technologically stupid and using ancient equipment because of her age. The author probably thought those of us she offended couldn't possibly navigate a computer to leave a bad review.
Don't forget we are the generation who INVENTED these devices. Don't insult your audience by portraying us as dinosaurs. Matter of fact, while reading your book I was distracted by the smart phone at my side because I was bored.
Maybe I'm just cranky and I have one nerve left that the author stood on. I am giving it 2 stars only because at pg 214 I flipped forward to the end for the resolution.
February 12, 2019
This is a riveting debut thriller about survival and family from Jessica Barry. In the Colorado Rockies, a private plane crashes, and remarkably, a battered and injured Alison lives, although her dead fiance, Ben Gardner, a Pharmaceuticals CEO is not so lucky. In Maine, Alison's mother, the widow Maggie Carpenter receives the news that her estranged daughter, whom she has not been in contact with for two years, is missing, presumed dead. A shocked Maggie's life is rocked, but she begins to harbour hopes and a conviction that Alison is alive, as she begins to delve into Alison's life in those two years and how she ended up flying on a private plane. The narrative is written from the point of view of Alison and Maggie, going back and forth in time as we come to understand exactly how Alison ended up in such a precarious and dangerous position.
Alison is desperate as she embarks on a battle to survive, with barely any supplies, full of fear, facing the forests, hunger and inclement weather, whilst danger stalks her every footstep. Will she manage to reach safety and home? Maggie becomes aware of just how difficult and rough Alison's life became in the two years, right up until her engagement to Ben. Maggie's storyline eventually connects with Alison as the truth eventually emerges. This is a story of complicated mother and daughter relationships, secrets, deception, betrayal, and intrigue, where little is as it seems. The two protagonists, Maggie and Alison are strong and resilient women, and their characters are compelling. I found this a fast paced, intense and gripping read with twists. It is far from perfect, but it nevertheless held me enthralled, wanting to know how it would all end. An entertaining read for sure. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
Alison is desperate as she embarks on a battle to survive, with barely any supplies, full of fear, facing the forests, hunger and inclement weather, whilst danger stalks her every footstep. Will she manage to reach safety and home? Maggie becomes aware of just how difficult and rough Alison's life became in the two years, right up until her engagement to Ben. Maggie's storyline eventually connects with Alison as the truth eventually emerges. This is a story of complicated mother and daughter relationships, secrets, deception, betrayal, and intrigue, where little is as it seems. The two protagonists, Maggie and Alison are strong and resilient women, and their characters are compelling. I found this a fast paced, intense and gripping read with twists. It is far from perfect, but it nevertheless held me enthralled, wanting to know how it would all end. An entertaining read for sure. Many thanks to Random House Vintage for an ARC.
April 1, 2019
This is well plotted, if unsurprising, and the pace is fast. It’s told from the alternating voices of the daughter and mother which work but there are mistakes that the editor should have caught. Firstly, it is a character driven novel and the characterization should have been accurate. The mother is depicted as nearing eighty years old as opposed to her actual age. Next, please remember where your characters are. The daughter receives a phone call while on a treadmill in the lower level of her building. Huh? She is living the life of luxury in a spacious home. Finally, there is dangling loose end. A body is left in a hotel room where presumably it will be found but I may be mistaken. The murder has no consequences and the entire incident is simply dropped. These flaws, although small, mar what could have been a terrific read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
3.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 for Jessica Barry's debut thriller, Freefall, a fast paced story of one woman's will to survive and her mother's determination to find her.
Allison Carpenter and her mother Maggie are estranged. When Maggie learns that her daughter's airplane has gone down and she is presumed dead, she finds herself unable to accept it. She needs answers. Why was Alison in a private plane? What has her life been like for the last 2 years?
The story chronicles both women's journey. Allison is struggling to stay alive and make her way home. She finds herself in harsh territory without supplies, battling both the weather and other sinister forces. Maggie must face her complicated relationship with her daughter if she wants to uncover her secrets and ultimately find out what happened to Allison.
The story was entertaining and fast paced. Flashbacks reveal crucial pieces of information that kept me turning the pages in anticipation. I needed to know where everything was going! For a debut Jessica Barry did a solid job. There were some holes but nothing that really detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. Unfortunately, some of the twists were a bit too predictable for me which kept me from rating it higher. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with an underling theme of forgiveness that I appreciated within the mother-daughter relationship.
Allison Carpenter and her mother Maggie are estranged. When Maggie learns that her daughter's airplane has gone down and she is presumed dead, she finds herself unable to accept it. She needs answers. Why was Alison in a private plane? What has her life been like for the last 2 years?
The story chronicles both women's journey. Allison is struggling to stay alive and make her way home. She finds herself in harsh territory without supplies, battling both the weather and other sinister forces. Maggie must face her complicated relationship with her daughter if she wants to uncover her secrets and ultimately find out what happened to Allison.
The story was entertaining and fast paced. Flashbacks reveal crucial pieces of information that kept me turning the pages in anticipation. I needed to know where everything was going! For a debut Jessica Barry did a solid job. There were some holes but nothing that really detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story. Unfortunately, some of the twists were a bit too predictable for me which kept me from rating it higher. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with an underling theme of forgiveness that I appreciated within the mother-daughter relationship.
May 23, 2020
You guys! I just finished the most amazing book! Twilight! Just kidding. I just finished Freefall by Jessica Barry, my first favorite of 2019! Congrats, Jessica!
Freefall is my kind of book. Most books take forever to actually start the story but unlike most books, Freefall hits the ground running (Literally 😉)
The book opens with a plane crash with a sole survivor, Allison. The book then switches back and forth between Allison and her mother, Maggie.
As Maggie tries to find her daughter and Allison tries to survive on her own, more and more gets slowly revealed. As the story goes on both Maggie and Allison have flashbacks and slowly reveal the story. By the end, I was wide eyed and stunned at what I had learned and was even more amazed by the way it had been slowly revealed. Almost like when your in the shower and it slowly starts to get cold but you don't notice it until your shivering. That's goes this book was.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review
Bottom Line:
5/5 Stars
Cover: 4/5 (Pretty simple and yet very pretty)
Plot: 5/5 (A slow burn thriller that amazed me.)
Characters: 4/5 (Badass, brave characters that I was constantly rooting for)
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February 16, 2019
News travels fast. There was a plane crash in the Colorado Rockies.
Maggie Carpenter thought about pulling the phone cord from the wall. Avoid phone calls from busy-bodies and newspaper reporters.
.....but she needed answers. She also knew Ali would need her clear-eyed.
Maggie and the rest of the world was sure Alison was dead. Maggie had ‘plane-crash-death-visuals’....yet there was still a part of her that was hopeful that her only child was alive. “SHE HAS TO BE”!.......[and she was......Alison Carpenter was alive]
For more than a year Maggie didn’t even know where her daughter, Ali, lived.
Ali stopped talking to her mother after her father died. It’s been 2 full years with no verbal communication between mother and daughter.
My *FIRST* THOUGHTS......it shouldn’t take a devastating punch-in-the-stomach accident to reunite parents and their adult kids. Kudos to the adult children who are busy with their own lives - school - traveling - working -families of your own who make it their business to stay in communication regularly with their parents. Even a month is almost too long of a stretch to be blasé - with lackadaisical phone calls....or at least some texting.
It’s gut wrenching to get a BAD-NEWS call home from our kids - but when communication has been far and few - that sinking feeling in your gut is that much worse.
Alison’s body was in agony - pain - hungry - thirsty - freezing at night - physically dreadful uncomfortable - attempting to keep on walking - up mountains across the treacherous elements in the wilderness .....alone and afraid - and shock having lost her fiancé. None of Ali’s clothes are water proof.
She needed a rain storm like a hole in the head ....but my god she kept fighting to survive.
The prose - detail descriptions of Ali alone in the Rockies gave me chills. I could imagine how heavy her legs were - how wet her hair was - her fingers blue - so cold - sooooo so COLD...( I’m freezing ‘now’ with our heavy California rains just thinking about Ali in her dire hell).
Her shoulders were screaming in pain having to carry her bag....LOST IN THE WOODS .....and nothing Ali could do would change her situation. Hopefully recuse teams were looking for her she thought. Of course!!!
Her mother, Maggie - on the other side of the country - was in a different kind of agony with a full range of uncomfortable emotions. It was so easy to relate to Maggie’s apathy toward the OWL CREEK community .....
.......the women of their small town in Maine. They were generous in wanting to help but Maggie just wanted their nagging questions and comments to stop.
Maggie wanted to punch out every gracious person who thought the power of healing was through casseroles:
tuna, green bean surprise, ham & potato, macaroni, chili cheese, etc. Maggie tossed them all!
“FREEFALL”, is easy to read in one or two sittings - It’s just what everyone is saying it is: “A PAGE TURNER”. We WANT to know the secrets - about Ali and Maggie’s estranged relationship. We want to know about the 2 missing years - about Ali’s fiancé, Ben - about the demons - dangers - secrets - ALL THAT has happened to BOTH Ali and her mother since the loss of Charles. (Husband & father).
There are flaws -
but it’s easy to be forgiving of them. We grow to empathize both mom&daughter. And damn if this book doesn’t make you want to call your adult children when done.
As a ‘debut’ character driven thriller .....
......author Jessica Barry delivers the goods: captivating sinister story - secrets - surprise twists - suspense - sorrows - guilt - regrets - fears - determination & hope.
......some lines might drive you to want to verbally spank either Ali (ONLY SURVIVOR of the crash)....or Maggie.
Both of these very strong - stubborn - proud - resilient women ( like them or not), will draw you in. We don’t want to miss a word of this novel.
A darn good story.....with an ending I never even considered. I love to be surprised!!!
4.7 .....rounding up to 5 stars!
Maggie Carpenter thought about pulling the phone cord from the wall. Avoid phone calls from busy-bodies and newspaper reporters.
.....but she needed answers. She also knew Ali would need her clear-eyed.
Maggie and the rest of the world was sure Alison was dead. Maggie had ‘plane-crash-death-visuals’....yet there was still a part of her that was hopeful that her only child was alive. “SHE HAS TO BE”!.......[and she was......Alison Carpenter was alive]
For more than a year Maggie didn’t even know where her daughter, Ali, lived.
Ali stopped talking to her mother after her father died. It’s been 2 full years with no verbal communication between mother and daughter.
My *FIRST* THOUGHTS......it shouldn’t take a devastating punch-in-the-stomach accident to reunite parents and their adult kids. Kudos to the adult children who are busy with their own lives - school - traveling - working -families of your own who make it their business to stay in communication regularly with their parents. Even a month is almost too long of a stretch to be blasé - with lackadaisical phone calls....or at least some texting.
It’s gut wrenching to get a BAD-NEWS call home from our kids - but when communication has been far and few - that sinking feeling in your gut is that much worse.
Alison’s body was in agony - pain - hungry - thirsty - freezing at night - physically dreadful uncomfortable - attempting to keep on walking - up mountains across the treacherous elements in the wilderness .....alone and afraid - and shock having lost her fiancé. None of Ali’s clothes are water proof.
She needed a rain storm like a hole in the head ....but my god she kept fighting to survive.
The prose - detail descriptions of Ali alone in the Rockies gave me chills. I could imagine how heavy her legs were - how wet her hair was - her fingers blue - so cold - sooooo so COLD...( I’m freezing ‘now’ with our heavy California rains just thinking about Ali in her dire hell).
Her shoulders were screaming in pain having to carry her bag....LOST IN THE WOODS .....and nothing Ali could do would change her situation. Hopefully recuse teams were looking for her she thought. Of course!!!
Her mother, Maggie - on the other side of the country - was in a different kind of agony with a full range of uncomfortable emotions. It was so easy to relate to Maggie’s apathy toward the OWL CREEK community .....
.......the women of their small town in Maine. They were generous in wanting to help but Maggie just wanted their nagging questions and comments to stop.
Maggie wanted to punch out every gracious person who thought the power of healing was through casseroles:
tuna, green bean surprise, ham & potato, macaroni, chili cheese, etc. Maggie tossed them all!
“FREEFALL”, is easy to read in one or two sittings - It’s just what everyone is saying it is: “A PAGE TURNER”. We WANT to know the secrets - about Ali and Maggie’s estranged relationship. We want to know about the 2 missing years - about Ali’s fiancé, Ben - about the demons - dangers - secrets - ALL THAT has happened to BOTH Ali and her mother since the loss of Charles. (Husband & father).
There are flaws -
but it’s easy to be forgiving of them. We grow to empathize both mom&daughter. And damn if this book doesn’t make you want to call your adult children when done.
As a ‘debut’ character driven thriller .....
......author Jessica Barry delivers the goods: captivating sinister story - secrets - surprise twists - suspense - sorrows - guilt - regrets - fears - determination & hope.
......some lines might drive you to want to verbally spank either Ali (ONLY SURVIVOR of the crash)....or Maggie.
Both of these very strong - stubborn - proud - resilient women ( like them or not), will draw you in. We don’t want to miss a word of this novel.
A darn good story.....with an ending I never even considered. I love to be surprised!!!
4.7 .....rounding up to 5 stars!
March 10, 2019
4.5 Stars* (rounded down)
Must-Read Suspense for Thriller Fans!
Could you survive if your plane crashed in the Colorado Rockies and you were the only survivor? Allison Carpenter is about to find out. She is presumed dead, thus no one is coming to her aid - though much to her chagrin, someone is chasing her. Allison had better use every survival skill she’s ever learned if she has hopes of getting out of this predicament alive!
When Maggie Carpenter hears of the crash she can’t believe it. Her daughter Ally can’t be dead - but then she knows nothing of her daughter’s life and hasn’t had contact with her in years unbeknownst to the police or anyone else. Maggie however knows that she has to investigate - what she finds out about her daughter and her daughter’s fiancé seems impossible and yet the more impossible it seems the more plausible it becomes.
Freefall is a heartstopping thriller that kept my mind racing with the never ending possibilities! While I guessed certain things immediately, it didn’t keep me from enjoying this high octane thriller. This crazy, intense, wild read is a must-read for fans of mystery/suspense.
Thank you to audible for my copy.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter on 3.10.19.
Must-Read Suspense for Thriller Fans!
Could you survive if your plane crashed in the Colorado Rockies and you were the only survivor? Allison Carpenter is about to find out. She is presumed dead, thus no one is coming to her aid - though much to her chagrin, someone is chasing her. Allison had better use every survival skill she’s ever learned if she has hopes of getting out of this predicament alive!
When Maggie Carpenter hears of the crash she can’t believe it. Her daughter Ally can’t be dead - but then she knows nothing of her daughter’s life and hasn’t had contact with her in years unbeknownst to the police or anyone else. Maggie however knows that she has to investigate - what she finds out about her daughter and her daughter’s fiancé seems impossible and yet the more impossible it seems the more plausible it becomes.
Freefall is a heartstopping thriller that kept my mind racing with the never ending possibilities! While I guessed certain things immediately, it didn’t keep me from enjoying this high octane thriller. This crazy, intense, wild read is a must-read for fans of mystery/suspense.
Thank you to audible for my copy.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter on 3.10.19.
October 3, 2018
3.5 stars
This turned out to be a pretty solid thriller. Maggie Carpenter is devastated to hear the news her daughter, Allison, died in a plane crash. Even though they have been estranged for the last two years, Maggie is determined to find out more about Allison's life leading up to the crash. Except wait, Allison didn't actually die, but she doesn't want people to know she survived either. Told from the perspectives of a grieving mother searching for answers and a daughter who seems to be running from her past.
Even though the story isn't exactly perfect, I really couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this one as you can't help but feel invested in the characters, particularly the mother. Maggie is what really drove the story in my opinion. I'm not even a parent but you do almost feel like you are grieving with her and understand her determination to find out more about what was going on with Allison during their estrangement. The thriller aspects of the story are done pretty well although there were a few times when you wanted to shout at the characters, "Come on, wise up!". Overall, it is a decent thriller, but an even better story about a mother's love for her child.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway. I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
This turned out to be a pretty solid thriller. Maggie Carpenter is devastated to hear the news her daughter, Allison, died in a plane crash. Even though they have been estranged for the last two years, Maggie is determined to find out more about Allison's life leading up to the crash. Except wait, Allison didn't actually die, but she doesn't want people to know she survived either. Told from the perspectives of a grieving mother searching for answers and a daughter who seems to be running from her past.
Even though the story isn't exactly perfect, I really couldn't turn the pages fast enough on this one as you can't help but feel invested in the characters, particularly the mother. Maggie is what really drove the story in my opinion. I'm not even a parent but you do almost feel like you are grieving with her and understand her determination to find out more about what was going on with Allison during their estrangement. The thriller aspects of the story are done pretty well although there were a few times when you wanted to shout at the characters, "Come on, wise up!". Overall, it is a decent thriller, but an even better story about a mother's love for her child.
I won a free copy of this book in a giveaway. I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.
January 12, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5
WOW you guys! Freefall by Jessica Barry is a fast-paced survival story that I absolutely could not put down!
What it's about: Allison Carpenter is on her fiancé's private plane when it goes down over the Colorado Rockies. The pilot doesn't make it, but amazingly enough Allison survives. But Allison knows a terrible secret, one that some very powerful people will kill to keep under wraps. So she must run, and not let anyone know she is alive. Meanwhile, Allison's mom Maggie is told that her daughter is presumed dead. She is shattered but also has a secret of her own - she hasn't spoken to Allison in 2 years and didn't even know she was engaged. Even though she knows nothing of this new life of Allison's, she is desperate to find out what led up to the plane crash, and will not give up hope that her daughter is still alive.
Freefall has a survivalist aspect that I know many people enjoy, and not only do we get to follow Allison on her journey through the mountains, we also get the benefit of her having flashbacks of all the things that led up to the plane crash. I do have to say, that she spends quite a lot of time out there on foot, so it was really helpful that there were flashbacks in her POV. I don't know if I could have handled only hearing about her surviving in the Rockies.
I loved the pacing of this novel, and I was hooked from the very first page. I've seen a few people that said it took them a bit to get hooked, but not this girl. It was a riveting story, and I loved having both Allison and her mom Maggie's POVs. There ends up being a bit of gore in this book, but nothing too major, and I think Barry did it in a way that it wasn't incredibly gruesome which is hard for me to read.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the dash of humor the author manages to throw into Freefall. Every once and awhile I would find myself laughing out loud at something, and that is truly one of my favorite things in a book.
Final Thought: I HIGHLY recommend Freefall and I can hardly believe it is a debut novel. I think this could be one of my top books of 2019 if you can believe that. Even though it was not a 5 star read for me, I was still blown away by the excellent pacing, the mystery, and how well this book is written. If you like a bit of a survivalist story with a strong mother/daughter bond aspect then I definitely recommend checking this one out. I can't wait to read more from Barry, and I hope she has another novel very soon!
WOW you guys! Freefall by Jessica Barry is a fast-paced survival story that I absolutely could not put down!
What it's about: Allison Carpenter is on her fiancé's private plane when it goes down over the Colorado Rockies. The pilot doesn't make it, but amazingly enough Allison survives. But Allison knows a terrible secret, one that some very powerful people will kill to keep under wraps. So she must run, and not let anyone know she is alive. Meanwhile, Allison's mom Maggie is told that her daughter is presumed dead. She is shattered but also has a secret of her own - she hasn't spoken to Allison in 2 years and didn't even know she was engaged. Even though she knows nothing of this new life of Allison's, she is desperate to find out what led up to the plane crash, and will not give up hope that her daughter is still alive.
Freefall has a survivalist aspect that I know many people enjoy, and not only do we get to follow Allison on her journey through the mountains, we also get the benefit of her having flashbacks of all the things that led up to the plane crash. I do have to say, that she spends quite a lot of time out there on foot, so it was really helpful that there were flashbacks in her POV. I don't know if I could have handled only hearing about her surviving in the Rockies.
I loved the pacing of this novel, and I was hooked from the very first page. I've seen a few people that said it took them a bit to get hooked, but not this girl. It was a riveting story, and I loved having both Allison and her mom Maggie's POVs. There ends up being a bit of gore in this book, but nothing too major, and I think Barry did it in a way that it wasn't incredibly gruesome which is hard for me to read.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the dash of humor the author manages to throw into Freefall. Every once and awhile I would find myself laughing out loud at something, and that is truly one of my favorite things in a book.
Final Thought: I HIGHLY recommend Freefall and I can hardly believe it is a debut novel. I think this could be one of my top books of 2019 if you can believe that. Even though it was not a 5 star read for me, I was still blown away by the excellent pacing, the mystery, and how well this book is written. If you like a bit of a survivalist story with a strong mother/daughter bond aspect then I definitely recommend checking this one out. I can't wait to read more from Barry, and I hope she has another novel very soon!
April 25, 2019
4 enthralling stars
Allison is alone on a mountain after a plane crashher body covered in cuts, bruises7 her left leg has a wound that will be infected soon i need to clean it finger is strained or bruisedits quickly swelling& have little water or food, the only shelter is a twistedbulk of metalthat could explode at any minute, she is sick with fear, she wants to feel the grass on her skin & gently fall asleep. She wonders what its like to die, will there be a light to follow or just dark!!
I am not going into the synopsis of this novel but all i will say it was enthralling a page turner the chapters were short & to the pointa well written thriller that kept you guessing right to the very end i loved Allison she was a tough nut you felt for her when shwe lost her fiance Ben gardner the pilot whose face was missing, her mother was told that her daughter was dead Maggie was consumed with grief wrapped herself in a bubble as the media wouldnt leave her to mourn.
When we get further into the book we find that Allison doesnt want to be found WHYWe also find out that Maggie & Allison have been estranged for 2 years. Why doesnt Allison want to be found & will Maggie ever see Allison again?
All in all a top notch thriller that will keep you turning the pages with gusto to find the truth there are a lot of twists & turns a very enjoyable read.
Allison is alone on a mountain after a plane crashher body covered in cuts, bruises7 her left leg has a wound that will be infected soon i need to clean it finger is strained or bruisedits quickly swelling& have little water or food, the only shelter is a twistedbulk of metalthat could explode at any minute, she is sick with fear, she wants to feel the grass on her skin & gently fall asleep. She wonders what its like to die, will there be a light to follow or just dark!!
I am not going into the synopsis of this novel but all i will say it was enthralling a page turner the chapters were short & to the pointa well written thriller that kept you guessing right to the very end i loved Allison she was a tough nut you felt for her when shwe lost her fiance Ben gardner the pilot whose face was missing, her mother was told that her daughter was dead Maggie was consumed with grief wrapped herself in a bubble as the media wouldnt leave her to mourn.
When we get further into the book we find that Allison doesnt want to be found WHYWe also find out that Maggie & Allison have been estranged for 2 years. Why doesnt Allison want to be found & will Maggie ever see Allison again?
All in all a top notch thriller that will keep you turning the pages with gusto to find the truth there are a lot of twists & turns a very enjoyable read.
December 26, 2022
This starts off with a bang! Ally has just survived a plane crash in the remote Colorado Rockies, and has to scramble to gather up what she can from the wreckage. But where you’re assuming she’ll be hoping for the search plane to find her, you quickly discover that in fact, she’s trying to get as far away from the crash site as possible before they come.
The dual perspective, her mother, gets a knock at the door, and is told her daughter’s plane has gone down. This quickly becomes a back and forth between mother and daughter as both examine their fractured relationship, Allison slowly revealing through flashbacks how she managed to make a mess of her life and discover something terrible going on that she had to try to stop, and her mother uncovering clues as she struggles to survive the Colorado wilderness. A fun escape read.
The dual perspective, her mother, gets a knock at the door, and is told her daughter’s plane has gone down. This quickly becomes a back and forth between mother and daughter as both examine their fractured relationship, Allison slowly revealing through flashbacks how she managed to make a mess of her life and discover something terrible going on that she had to try to stop, and her mother uncovering clues as she struggles to survive the Colorado wilderness. A fun escape read.
March 25, 2019
Allison Carpenter comes to consciousness, realizing she’s just survived a crash in her fiancé’s private plane somewhere in the Colorado Rockies. Her next moves are curious as she hustles to leave the plane site...and run before the crash is located. Game on as meanwhile, in her hometown of Owl’s Place, Maine, Allison’s mother Maggie is dealing with the news of the crash. Though no body is found, her daughter is presumed dead along with her wealthy fiancé Ben Gardner whose body was identified. Maggie isn’t ready to accept that Allison is dead but now must acknowledge to those around her that she’s been estranged from her daughter for two years. Her mission now is to discover what Ally was doing during that time and who was this man that she was engaged to and why didn’t she know about him.
The story transitions between Allison’s and Maggie’s points of view and the brilliance of how it was orchestrated left me with the feeling that they were slowly running towards each other in real time. Maggie’s decision to explore Allison’s life in San Diego was fortuitous and placed me in the middle of a lot of unexplained situations that were later clarified when the story pivoted back to Allison. The timing and pacing was just about perfect most of the time. This wasn’t so much a slow burn but more a slowly evolving reveal. Who was Allison running from? Why did that plane crash? Who could Maggie trust...or not trust? These were the questions I was desperately trying to resolve throughout and my proposed answers kept changing.
There were three narrators used to tell this story. Hillary Huber is one of my favorites and she nailed Maggie so well I could actually see this woman and predict a lot of her responses. The other two narrators, Karissa Vacker & MacLeod Andrews, were new to me and delivered equally fine performances. This was the perfect story to listen to on audio and I am impressed by this genre debut by the author. I enjoyed all aspects of the story, even some of the predictable parts as they were conveyed in interesting ways. Better yet, there were still a couple of surprises in the end that I didn’t foresee. I’m definitely in for the author’s next book!
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
The story transitions between Allison’s and Maggie’s points of view and the brilliance of how it was orchestrated left me with the feeling that they were slowly running towards each other in real time. Maggie’s decision to explore Allison’s life in San Diego was fortuitous and placed me in the middle of a lot of unexplained situations that were later clarified when the story pivoted back to Allison. The timing and pacing was just about perfect most of the time. This wasn’t so much a slow burn but more a slowly evolving reveal. Who was Allison running from? Why did that plane crash? Who could Maggie trust...or not trust? These were the questions I was desperately trying to resolve throughout and my proposed answers kept changing.
There were three narrators used to tell this story. Hillary Huber is one of my favorites and she nailed Maggie so well I could actually see this woman and predict a lot of her responses. The other two narrators, Karissa Vacker & MacLeod Andrews, were new to me and delivered equally fine performances. This was the perfect story to listen to on audio and I am impressed by this genre debut by the author. I enjoyed all aspects of the story, even some of the predictable parts as they were conveyed in interesting ways. Better yet, there were still a couple of surprises in the end that I didn’t foresee. I’m definitely in for the author’s next book!
(I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review)
February 27, 2019
4.5 Exciting, and Lots of Fun Stars!
For two years Maggie has had no contact with her only child. Allison has refused to speak to her since Maggie did something unforgiveable in her eyes. Now, Allison is presumed dead, one of two victims of a plane crash, and Maggie is seeking answers to increasingly dangerous questions, all the while hoping her daughter is still alive.
Allison has survived the crash, but the threat is far from over. Hurt and alone, she’s on the run in the treacherous terrain of the Colorado Rockies – equipped with secrets powerful men will do anything to protect.
Wowser – this was an excellent debut – a high-stakes, multi-layered, as thrilling as it was fun, action adventure with courageous protagonists who you’re genuinely rooting for. We are launched straight into the action with Allison sifting through the wreckage, and right off the bat I was blown away by her survivalist skills, and even picked up a few tips. At first I thought it a bit odd how resourceful, and resilient she was – she kept a clear head, didn’t panic, or fall to pieces – but it’s soon mentioned that her father taught her all sorts of useful practical things, and there are later flashbacks to support this.
I was awe struck by the level of emotion, and small details, Jessica Barry managed to inject into every scene. Even a paragraph on neighbourhood women leaving casseroles on Maggie’s doorstep was conveyed in an interesting manner.
I would class this as light entertainment – there’s no overly graphic content or language, and even when the characters are threatened, or in danger, you know they’re going to find a way out of it. The twists vary – some are fairly predictable, others completely threw me for a loop, but even when I suspected what was coming, I was never bored or disappointed. Chapters alternate between Maggie and Allison, with the latter’s chapters alternating between the present, and what led up to the crash.
Superbly written. I didn’t want to leave these characters. A first novel to be proud of, and one I highly recommend.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Random House UK – Vintage Publishing, and Jessica Barry for the e-ARC.
US Publication Date: Out Now!
UK Publication Date: 7th March, 2019.
For two years Maggie has had no contact with her only child. Allison has refused to speak to her since Maggie did something unforgiveable in her eyes. Now, Allison is presumed dead, one of two victims of a plane crash, and Maggie is seeking answers to increasingly dangerous questions, all the while hoping her daughter is still alive.
Allison has survived the crash, but the threat is far from over. Hurt and alone, she’s on the run in the treacherous terrain of the Colorado Rockies – equipped with secrets powerful men will do anything to protect.
Wowser – this was an excellent debut – a high-stakes, multi-layered, as thrilling as it was fun, action adventure with courageous protagonists who you’re genuinely rooting for. We are launched straight into the action with Allison sifting through the wreckage, and right off the bat I was blown away by her survivalist skills, and even picked up a few tips. At first I thought it a bit odd how resourceful, and resilient she was – she kept a clear head, didn’t panic, or fall to pieces – but it’s soon mentioned that her father taught her all sorts of useful practical things, and there are later flashbacks to support this.
I was awe struck by the level of emotion, and small details, Jessica Barry managed to inject into every scene. Even a paragraph on neighbourhood women leaving casseroles on Maggie’s doorstep was conveyed in an interesting manner.
I would class this as light entertainment – there’s no overly graphic content or language, and even when the characters are threatened, or in danger, you know they’re going to find a way out of it. The twists vary – some are fairly predictable, others completely threw me for a loop, but even when I suspected what was coming, I was never bored or disappointed. Chapters alternate between Maggie and Allison, with the latter’s chapters alternating between the present, and what led up to the crash.
Superbly written. I didn’t want to leave these characters. A first novel to be proud of, and one I highly recommend.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Random House UK – Vintage Publishing, and Jessica Barry for the e-ARC.
US Publication Date: Out Now!
UK Publication Date: 7th March, 2019.
March 31, 2019
This is really a story of survival. A plane crash, the pilot is dead, and the only passenger aboard is alive, but in a wilderness so uninviting that her life seems threatened once again. Allison Carpenter is in deep guano. Not only is she left to the elements, but she also is carrying a heavy secret, one that will threatened her in all the ways a deadly secret can. The pilot, Allison's fiance is dead, and she is alone, alone with the secret, alone with her life, alone on a trail that will probably lead to her demise.
But Allison has a major thing going for her and that is her mother, Maggie. These two have been estranged for years and yet her mother has that inner sense that Allison just might be alive. As Maggie tries to come to terms with her feelings, and her anguish, she decides to do some research into her daughter's whereabouts for the past two years. What she discovers is shocking and as the book comes to its conclusion, we are thrown into a maze of deceit and cunning. Lives are at risk, lives have been lost, and danger lies around every corner.
Allison has to call upon every part of her spirit of resiliency and strength in order to stay alive and try to get to a place in her life that is normal and loving. Will she be able to do so and ultimately return to a mother who has loved her. It's time for forgiveness on so many levels.
There were some holes in the plot and a bit of a downer that the author thinks older people can't handle the computer and social media, but overall this book kept me interested enough to read it to its conclusion.
But Allison has a major thing going for her and that is her mother, Maggie. These two have been estranged for years and yet her mother has that inner sense that Allison just might be alive. As Maggie tries to come to terms with her feelings, and her anguish, she decides to do some research into her daughter's whereabouts for the past two years. What she discovers is shocking and as the book comes to its conclusion, we are thrown into a maze of deceit and cunning. Lives are at risk, lives have been lost, and danger lies around every corner.
Allison has to call upon every part of her spirit of resiliency and strength in order to stay alive and try to get to a place in her life that is normal and loving. Will she be able to do so and ultimately return to a mother who has loved her. It's time for forgiveness on so many levels.
There were some holes in the plot and a bit of a downer that the author thinks older people can't handle the computer and social media, but overall this book kept me interested enough to read it to its conclusion.
March 13, 2020
A gripping survival tale that is held together by an intriguing mystery.
Allison Carpenter has survived a plane crash in the mountains, the news agencies are all reporting that she had died - she is completely isolated.
The only person that believes Allison is still alive is mother Maggie, the pair haven't seen each other for other two years - but the parental bond could prove so strong.
The narrative jumps between those two POVs and it really helped moved the story along, slowly the layers are pealed back as to why they've drifted apart.
Seen Allison's journey play out as Maggie seeks to trace her daughters footsteps is a great lead into the main plot.
Alternating the chapters with the various flashbacks glossed over the minor niggles of this novel and help made it a riveting read.
Allison Carpenter has survived a plane crash in the mountains, the news agencies are all reporting that she had died - she is completely isolated.
The only person that believes Allison is still alive is mother Maggie, the pair haven't seen each other for other two years - but the parental bond could prove so strong.
The narrative jumps between those two POVs and it really helped moved the story along, slowly the layers are pealed back as to why they've drifted apart.
Seen Allison's journey play out as Maggie seeks to trace her daughters footsteps is a great lead into the main plot.
Alternating the chapters with the various flashbacks glossed over the minor niggles of this novel and help made it a riveting read.
January 2, 2019
4.5/5
This is my first review of the new year and what a read it was, this one begs to be read in one breathless sitting, a total binge read. From the brief, incredibly fast paced chapters to the switch between points of view it’s a truly entertaining read with a fresh premise, what more could you want?!
This flips between Allison for one chapter and then her mother Maggie the next, Allison’s story begins from the minute her plane crashes and Maggie’s from the moment she finds out about the accident. As Allison fights to stay alive you slowly and steadily find out about her life over the past few years and the events that led to to the crash while simultaneously Maggie struggles to piece together what her daughter had been doing for the past two years. I was so invested in these two women and so eager to find out what was really going on, both possessed an inner strength that was remarkable and then add in a super tense environment for both women and I was all in.
While I did see a few things coming, the author did shock me in the end, and the aspects I did work out on my own didn’t take away from my enjoyment whatsoever. A really impressive debut, recommended for fans of pacey, exciting thrillers.
Freefall in three words: Entertaining, Dynamic and Fast.
This is my first review of the new year and what a read it was, this one begs to be read in one breathless sitting, a total binge read. From the brief, incredibly fast paced chapters to the switch between points of view it’s a truly entertaining read with a fresh premise, what more could you want?!
This flips between Allison for one chapter and then her mother Maggie the next, Allison’s story begins from the minute her plane crashes and Maggie’s from the moment she finds out about the accident. As Allison fights to stay alive you slowly and steadily find out about her life over the past few years and the events that led to to the crash while simultaneously Maggie struggles to piece together what her daughter had been doing for the past two years. I was so invested in these two women and so eager to find out what was really going on, both possessed an inner strength that was remarkable and then add in a super tense environment for both women and I was all in.
While I did see a few things coming, the author did shock me in the end, and the aspects I did work out on my own didn’t take away from my enjoyment whatsoever. A really impressive debut, recommended for fans of pacey, exciting thrillers.
Freefall in three words: Entertaining, Dynamic and Fast.
March 8, 2019
I found “Freefall” to be a powerful thriller that kept me up reading late into the night. What I also enjoyed is that it is a female driven read, with both protagonists determined and strong.
The story begins with Allison pulling herself out of a plane wreck in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She is frantically going through the wreckage to escape with her mantra “youhavetogo”.
Next Maggie, Allison’s mom is making homemade bread when the local Chief of Police, who is a family friend, comes to her door to tell her that Ally has been in a plane accident and presumed dead. Maggie has been estranged from Ally for a couple of years. Maggie clings to hope that Ally is still alive because her body wasn’t found in the burned wreckage.
The story is told in alternating chapters with Ally descending the mountain while she thinks about how she got where she is. It’s through Ally’s memories that the reader gains the back-story information.
Maggie, who is a retired Librarian from Bowdoin College in Maine, decides to use her credentials to research the man Ally was with and what Ally was doing prior to the accident.
I’m a fan of the alternating chapters. Author Jessica Barry uses the device to create heart-pounding angst.
With all great thrillers, there is a bit of unrealistic exploits that make the story exciting. No thriller is realistic fiction; I mean if it were, it wouldn’t be as entertaining. If one rolls with the story, mostly Ally’s timing and strength, one will be gifted with an awesome story. I loved this one. Reality isn’t important to me in thrillers.
The story begins with Allison pulling herself out of a plane wreck in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. She is frantically going through the wreckage to escape with her mantra “youhavetogo”.
Next Maggie, Allison’s mom is making homemade bread when the local Chief of Police, who is a family friend, comes to her door to tell her that Ally has been in a plane accident and presumed dead. Maggie has been estranged from Ally for a couple of years. Maggie clings to hope that Ally is still alive because her body wasn’t found in the burned wreckage.
The story is told in alternating chapters with Ally descending the mountain while she thinks about how she got where she is. It’s through Ally’s memories that the reader gains the back-story information.
Maggie, who is a retired Librarian from Bowdoin College in Maine, decides to use her credentials to research the man Ally was with and what Ally was doing prior to the accident.
I’m a fan of the alternating chapters. Author Jessica Barry uses the device to create heart-pounding angst.
With all great thrillers, there is a bit of unrealistic exploits that make the story exciting. No thriller is realistic fiction; I mean if it were, it wouldn’t be as entertaining. If one rolls with the story, mostly Ally’s timing and strength, one will be gifted with an awesome story. I loved this one. Reality isn’t important to me in thrillers.
February 16, 2019
Wow.. Jessica Barry...what a book!! I could not get enough of this story and desperately needed to find out what happened. I was pulling for both the main characters to get the ending that they deserved. I will certainly be looking out for more from this writer. This book is like a roller coaster and I read it so quickly. Can't recommend this book enough.. if you like thrillers then you need to read this book!!!
Allison is involved in the crash of a private plane and assumed to be dead. She does however manage to survive but this is just the start of her fight. She is now trying to stay alive, being stalked by a man determined to kill her because she knows too much. It's is a long way from the ideal life she was living just months ago with the perfect fiancée.
Across the country her mother Maggie is being told that her daughter has been killed in the crash. She hasn't seen her daughter for over 2 years and her heart is broken. But her gut is telling her that Allison is still alive and is determined to find her. After seeing a photo of Allison that she hardly recognises she sets out to find out what happens to her little girl.
Thanks to Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Allison is involved in the crash of a private plane and assumed to be dead. She does however manage to survive but this is just the start of her fight. She is now trying to stay alive, being stalked by a man determined to kill her because she knows too much. It's is a long way from the ideal life she was living just months ago with the perfect fiancée.
Across the country her mother Maggie is being told that her daughter has been killed in the crash. She hasn't seen her daughter for over 2 years and her heart is broken. But her gut is telling her that Allison is still alive and is determined to find her. After seeing a photo of Allison that she hardly recognises she sets out to find out what happens to her little girl.
Thanks to Random House UK, Vintage Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
January 3, 2019
Allison by her own choice had no contact with her mother for two years, and then her mother found out that Allison had been killed in a plane crash.
Maggie had not talked to her daughter since her husband had passed away, knew nothing about her life, and was at a loss to answer questions about her daughter.
Maggie did what every mother would have done to keep in touch, but to no avail, and I admired her for searching out details about her daughter’s life under the circumstances.
Maggie could find no one who knew anything about her daughter or rather anyone who would say anything about her. They became silent when she asked. Maggie wondered what the reason for that was.
Maggie had an inkling that her daughter hadn't perished in the fiery crash but kept that thought to herself for her own sanity.
We follow Maggie and Allison in alternating chapters both past and present as the story unfolds.
Allison's life the past two years had been a bit tough at first, and she had a secret that prevented her from her wanting to be found.
The tension mounted on Allison’s side of the story as we find out things about her past, what she was up to, and perhaps the reason for the crash.
FREEFALL keeps you rapidly turning the pages, has good writing, great detail, and enough suspense that you won’t want to put the book down.
Through bits and pieces everything slowly came together, the mystery unraveled, and the intensity of the situations increased.
If you enjoy suspense, secrets, and twists, FREEFALL fits the bill.
It takes a few pages to grab your interest, but be sure you don’t have anything else to do because you won’t be able to put this book down. 5/5
This book was given to me as an ARC by the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2019
4/5 stars! Great book. Highly recommend. Review to come. Thanks Harper Books for my free advance review copy.
January 8, 2019
It's quite possible that I sometimes rate debut novels a bit higher than I would other books. Maybe it's because I always feel that the first book may be a little bumpy and therefore it's a learning process. So when I come across a debut that just bites at me like the bugs did to Allison in the woods... well, I just can't help myself. Ok ok, I realize that might not have been the best analogy but I hope you get where I'm coming from.
Told in alternating views between Allison and her mother, Maggie, who she's estranged from - Barry takes us not only on a journey of Allison's surviving a plane crash, the mystery behind who is after her and how she got into this predicament, but most importantly into the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Maybe because it's my mother's birthday today and I'm missing her more than usual that this is what hits harder for me over everything else. *Sorry Jessica, if this was not your intention.
There are definitely things that seasoned thriller readers will see coming a mile away. But who cares?! The short chapters make this book a one sit read... not only because of how quickly each part seems to go but because this starts out strong and well, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW! Like most debut novels, there are certain things that could probably be improved upon, but I can't pick apart a book that I just absolutely was drawn right into. From pages one to the end, I was hooked.
Barry, bring me more. I'm waiting on you. 😉
Told in alternating views between Allison and her mother, Maggie, who she's estranged from - Barry takes us not only on a journey of Allison's surviving a plane crash, the mystery behind who is after her and how she got into this predicament, but most importantly into the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Maybe because it's my mother's birthday today and I'm missing her more than usual that this is what hits harder for me over everything else. *Sorry Jessica, if this was not your intention.
There are definitely things that seasoned thriller readers will see coming a mile away. But who cares?! The short chapters make this book a one sit read... not only because of how quickly each part seems to go but because this starts out strong and well, YOU JUST NEED TO KNOW! Like most debut novels, there are certain things that could probably be improved upon, but I can't pick apart a book that I just absolutely was drawn right into. From pages one to the end, I was hooked.
Barry, bring me more. I'm waiting on you. 😉
November 21, 2018
My Thoughts:
One hell of a debut! A well-written, gripping and positively unputdownable thriller! I can’t wait to see what Jessica comes out with next!
This book looked so good, I had to start reading it as soon as I was approved! First...the cover caught my eye. Although it’s nothing spectacular, there is something catchy about it. Then...I read the description. A plane crash in the Colorado Rockies. I’ve lived in Colorado most of my life, so this was the clincher!
The chapters alternate between the POV of the mother—Maggie—and the daughter—Allison. The chapters get you all pumped up, then boom...chapter change! You’re usually left with a cliffhanger, so you CAN’T STOP READING! I kept telling myself...just one more chapter!
Allison’s chapters were the most interesting. I couldn’t get enough of her...her life leading up to the plane crash, her relationship with Ben and her struggle after the crash. I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages as I was BLOWN AWAY...one shocking twist after another! And finally, the ending...WOW! Highly recommend!
Book Description:
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. For years, 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.
Thank you to Edelweiss / Harper Collins / Jessica Berry for this digital ARC / in exchange for my honest review.
One hell of a debut! A well-written, gripping and positively unputdownable thriller! I can’t wait to see what Jessica comes out with next!
This book looked so good, I had to start reading it as soon as I was approved! First...the cover caught my eye. Although it’s nothing spectacular, there is something catchy about it. Then...I read the description. A plane crash in the Colorado Rockies. I’ve lived in Colorado most of my life, so this was the clincher!
The chapters alternate between the POV of the mother—Maggie—and the daughter—Allison. The chapters get you all pumped up, then boom...chapter change! You’re usually left with a cliffhanger, so you CAN’T STOP READING! I kept telling myself...just one more chapter!
Allison’s chapters were the most interesting. I couldn’t get enough of her...her life leading up to the plane crash, her relationship with Ben and her struggle after the crash. I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages as I was BLOWN AWAY...one shocking twist after another! And finally, the ending...WOW! Highly recommend!
Book Description:
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. For years, 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.
Thank you to Edelweiss / Harper Collins / Jessica Berry for this digital ARC / in exchange for my honest review.
February 28, 2019
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, although I ended up listening to the audiobook after it was released.
Not a lot to say about this one: predictable plot and bland, unlikable, and unstable characters. Not one character was who they seemed; everyone had a mask or "hidden" past.
It was a struggle to finish, and barely got the two stars I gave.
Not a lot to say about this one: predictable plot and bland, unlikable, and unstable characters. Not one character was who they seemed; everyone had a mask or "hidden" past.
It was a struggle to finish, and barely got the two stars I gave.
January 30, 2020
Wow! This is an entertaining, fast paced, intense suspense novel.
June 22, 2019
I’m generously giving this one five stars because it hit all the marks for me. I liked the way it was written - we get teasers of previous life stories or incidents that will eventually lead to the why, how, who, what, where in the end.
I enjoyed following Ally from page one, starting with the horrific air crash, leaving her as only survivor with a secret to hide to fighting the mountains and elements. She uses what tools she has to survive (physical and mental) and what her mom and dad taught her as a child. Most Especially her dad, who loved the outdoors and taught her many types of these things when they spent time together.
Someone is after Ally and we don’t know why until we get further into the book and pieces are slowly revealed. On the other side of the story, is her mother, who while estranged, loves her daughter fiercely and won’t believe the authorities who presume her dead in the plane crash. Dang, I could absolutely relate to this woman, Maggie, her mom! She took the news but didn’t believe it - wouldn’t believe it. She fell apart, but then got angry and used her anger to find out what she could on her own about her missing daughter, who they’ve been estranged for a couple of years, all after the ravaging cancerous death of Charlie, Ally’s dad and Maggie’s husband. There’s a story behind that event, too.
Maggie embarks on a dangerous mission for an older woman like herself; alone, still grieving for her dead husband, coming from a small town with a sheriff who is convinced Ally has burned up and perished in the crash with no remains. So Maggie, using the internet and actually traveling out to Ally’s former place of residence, among other ways of trying to find out about her only child,does not know what she’s inserting herself into. Or what Ally has actually gotten herself into. We certainly feel her grief and her determination and love for Ally, despite their estrangement. A mother’s love never dies. We also feel Ally’s love and emotions and forgiveness come through more strongly for her mother and her guilt for staying away. We feel Ally’s determination and strength to get home to her mother while barely evading those who are after her.
It was a fulfilling read for me. I actually read through the book in one sitting - I, personally, found it hard to put down - I wanted to keep turning the pages and keep following the adventure. And damn, I really, really, could relate with Maggie. I probably would have done what she did...and then some! I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. You go, Maggie!!
There’s more to the root of this story than the family relationship; but I’m putting it out there that both Ally and her mom, Maggie, are heroes. It was a very satisfying read and a very satisfying ending for me. I would definitely recommend this one to add to your TBR list. Enjoy! 👍🏻
I enjoyed following Ally from page one, starting with the horrific air crash, leaving her as only survivor with a secret to hide to fighting the mountains and elements. She uses what tools she has to survive (physical and mental) and what her mom and dad taught her as a child. Most Especially her dad, who loved the outdoors and taught her many types of these things when they spent time together.
Someone is after Ally and we don’t know why until we get further into the book and pieces are slowly revealed. On the other side of the story, is her mother, who while estranged, loves her daughter fiercely and won’t believe the authorities who presume her dead in the plane crash. Dang, I could absolutely relate to this woman, Maggie, her mom! She took the news but didn’t believe it - wouldn’t believe it. She fell apart, but then got angry and used her anger to find out what she could on her own about her missing daughter, who they’ve been estranged for a couple of years, all after the ravaging cancerous death of Charlie, Ally’s dad and Maggie’s husband. There’s a story behind that event, too.
Maggie embarks on a dangerous mission for an older woman like herself; alone, still grieving for her dead husband, coming from a small town with a sheriff who is convinced Ally has burned up and perished in the crash with no remains. So Maggie, using the internet and actually traveling out to Ally’s former place of residence, among other ways of trying to find out about her only child,does not know what she’s inserting herself into. Or what Ally has actually gotten herself into. We certainly feel her grief and her determination and love for Ally, despite their estrangement. A mother’s love never dies. We also feel Ally’s love and emotions and forgiveness come through more strongly for her mother and her guilt for staying away. We feel Ally’s determination and strength to get home to her mother while barely evading those who are after her.
It was a fulfilling read for me. I actually read through the book in one sitting - I, personally, found it hard to put down - I wanted to keep turning the pages and keep following the adventure. And damn, I really, really, could relate with Maggie. I probably would have done what she did...and then some! I was rooting for her throughout the entire book. You go, Maggie!!
There’s more to the root of this story than the family relationship; but I’m putting it out there that both Ally and her mom, Maggie, are heroes. It was a very satisfying read and a very satisfying ending for me. I would definitely recommend this one to add to your TBR list. Enjoy! 👍🏻
February 24, 2019
This book is intriguing as Maggies daughter, who she has been estranged from for 2 years, has died in a plane crash with her husband....however you find out almost immediately that she hasn’t and is battling to survive in the forest and mountains whilst being chased by ‘baddies’
Why is she being chased? And why was she on the plane? Well these questions get answered as the book progresses and it turns out all is not as it seems in Allison’s life.
Meanwhile Maggie is half mourning her daughters death and half not believing it when a man enters her life and tells her what Allison has discovered and why her life was in danger
Its all a bit complex and takes a while to grasp ( well for me anyway) and the constant switch between past and present almost mid sentence can be hard work but if you can cope with that you are rewarded with a good adventure esque kind of tale
The character of Maggie is lovely, I really warmed to her, the character of Allison not quite so endearing!!
Its very American with lots of mulch and the like but it sets the scenes well
I did enjoy this debut story and was glad with the conclusion and the ‘twist’ ( sorry but there is one ) was unexpected, welcome and added an quite shocking turn to events....
A worthy read all told
November 7, 2018
When a private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, the two passengers on board are feared dead. Allison Carpenter miraculously lives but the pilot is mortally wounded. Willing herself to survive, Allison sets out in search of help. Her mother believes she is alive since her body is still missing but soon discovers that there is more to Allison's story than what's on the surface. This debut novel is a true thrill ride.
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