Mayday [Hardcover]

 

 

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A very realistic aircraft thriller that glued me to my chair.I enjoyed reading the depth of deviousness and dishonesty human beings will become involved in.Personally, I dislike seeing a favourite author tied in all of a sudden with another author.

I received this audiobook for review from Hachette Audio. I did not receive any compensation for my review, and the views expressed herein are my own.

This is my first DeMille novel, and it won't be my last! This heart-pounding thriller will have you gripping the edge of your seat!

I had no idea that this book was actually originally written in the 1970s. In order to update aviation procedures and technology, it was updated and re-released in the 1990s.

A commercial airliner (Trans-United Airlines' Stratton 797) is accidentally struck by a missile launched by the Navy during a secret (illegal) testing operation. Instead of hitting a drone target, the missile blows through one side of the passenger jet and out the other. Some passengers are immediately swept away out the holes of the jet and others are injured in the immediate aftermath but what happens next is what is most frightening: The complete depressurization of the cabin at an altitude of 60,000 feet has left the majority of passengers and crew brain-damaged except for the few that were in pressure-stable areas.

The hero of Mayday, passenger John Berry, is a salesman and "weekend" pilot that has only flown small planes. He is the only person aboard that is capable of attempting to land the plane. Assisted by Flight Attendant Sharon Crandall, the two must defy the odds in order to survive aboard Flight #52.

**SPOILER WARNING

John Berry's only hope to land the Stratton is to have an expert pilot give him explicit landing instructions. John and Sharon manage to contact the airline's headquarters in San Francisco by data-link, which is a computer-messaging system. The vice-president of the company, Edward Johnson, and the company's insurance agent, Wayne Metz, intercept the SOS messages and concoct a plan to derail the Stratton's return to San Francisco, knowing that the payout to the families of nearly 300 brain-damaged individuals will put the company into financial ruin. They want to see the Stratton crash into the ocean, killing all survivors.

The Navy's Commander Sloan, wanting to hide the evidence of their illegal test operation, wants F-18 Pilot Peter Matos to sink the Stratton with the second missile which the Commander wants launched directly into the cockpit.

Not only does John Berry have to contend with government conspiracies, the brain-damaged passengers are "waking-up" due to the drop in altitude and their behaviour is becoming increasingly more violent.

Faults notwithstanding, you cannot help but root for John Berry. At every turn, obstacles are thrown his way but he keeps a clear head for the most part and perseveres. DeMille has created a flawed hero, but that is what makes him so likeable. Berry isn't perfect, which makes him easy to relate to.

But that's not the best part...where DeMille really shines is in his antagonists: Edward Johnson, Wayne Metz, and Commander Sloan are truly despicable. I can't recall when I last read a book containing antagonists who were more loathsome and vile. They are truly contemptible with total disregard for human life. Bravo, DeMille! I loved to hate these villains!

This is also my first experience with Scott Brick as narrator. I thought Brick did a fabulous job, and the urgency in his voice had my shoulders tensed. Brick softened his voice for the female voices, and his reading made it easy to distinguish between characters.

Fans of airline disasters and conspiracy theories will love this novel! If you have high blood pressure, listening to this audiobook is probably not a good idea because the action is pulse-pounding! Likewise, you wouldn't want to listen to this book while you are flying or if you plan to fly at any point in the near future or if you already have a fear of flying!

In the beginning of the audiobook, I had a little difficulty focusing on the extremely detailed aviation lingo. I think my eyes glazed over a bit, and that's the only reason why I'm not giving this 5/5 stars.

MY RATING: 4.5 stars!! I loved it!! Thank you, Hachette Audio!

This book covers everything from military wrong doing, Government cover-up, animal instinct with a large serving of action.
A supersonic passenger jet in distress that everyone but family members wish would crash, but with the heroics of a few passengers they attempt to save the airliner and figure out who is behind the sabotage and save the passengers.
Nelson Demille has been a favorite author of mine for quite some time, but by hooking up with Thomas Block they have created a book that fans of Tom Clancy, David Hagberg and Robert Mccammon will enjoy , with a different spin on the passenger aircraft in distress , Nelson and Thomas blind side you with a unique story line and keep you wanting more.

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5.0 out of 5 stars AN EDGE OF YOUR SEAT THRILLER...
This is an exciting, air disaster yarn, spun by best-selling author, Nelson DeMille, and his long time friend, Thomas block, a commercial airline pilot and author of aviation... Read more

Published on Mar 2 2009 by Lawyeraau

5.0 out of 5 stars FOR SOMEONE WHO NEVER READS A BOOK ALL THE WAY THROUGH
This book had me from the first page i read. I am the type of person who likes the thought that im actually reading a book. Read more

Published on Oct 15 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't count on sleeping
MAYDAY

By Nelson DeMille and Thomas Block

My first thought when I finished this book was damn. Damnit, this is too short and should NOT be ending now, it is TOO good a book to... Read more

Published on July 3 2003 by Greg Senter

2.0 out of 5 stars No Tom Clancey
When I read the back cover at the book store, I thought I was buying a good thriller. However, I was soon dissapointed. Read more

Published on Mar 28 2003 by Matthew Ptak

1.0 out of 5 stars The First and the Worst of the Nelson Demille books
If you've read The Gold Coast, Up Country, The Charm School and Word of Honor, you would never guess that Mayday was co-written by DeMille. Read more

Published on Jan 24 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put this one down
I read this book in two days. This is actually one of Demille's earlier books that was updated and rereleased in the late 90's. Read more

Published on Dec 16 2002 by TLoosbrock

4.0 out of 5 stars A not so easy cover up
Coupled with a person that has a life of aviation much like my own, Nelson Demille has pleased me with another book again! Read more

Published on Dec 4 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars BAd day all around
It is bad enough when your SST gets hit by a stray US Navy missile. It gets worse when the home office figures it would be cheaper for everyone to die in a hurricane rather than... Read more

Published on July 14 2002 by Douglas De Bono - Author of No...

5.0 out of 5 stars msavage
Clasic DeMille. Awesome book! You can't go wrong with this one!

Published on July 10 2002

4.0 out of 5 stars Good early effort
While not the best of his work, DeMille's style is demonstrated in an interesting spin on the damaged, "no highway in the sky" supersonic airliner theme. Read more

Published on Jun 6 2002 by Peter Lorenzi

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