Author: Clare Mackintosh
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
Year of Release: 2021
Release Date 29th June 2021
Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
You can save hundreds of lives.
Or the one that matters most . . .
The atmosphere on board the inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney is electric. Numerous celebrities are rumoured to be among the passengers in business class and journalists will be waiting on the ground to greet the plane.
Mina is one of a hand-picked team of flight attendants chosen for the landmark journey. She’s trying to focus on the task in hand, and not worry about her troubled five-year-old daughter back at home with her husband. Or the cataclysmic problems in her marriage.
But the plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger, someone intent on ensuring the plane never reaches its destination. Someone who needs Mina’s assistance and who knows exactly how to make her comply.
It’s twenty hours to landing.
A lot of can happen in twenty hours . . .
Review
World Airlines is about to take to the skies for Flight 79 their first non-stop flight from London to Sydney. Rumour has it that celebrities will be among the 353 passengers on board, journalists will be in Sydney to greet the plane upon arrival. World Airlines has spared no expense for flight 79 so they and the rest of the word expect to see results.
Flight Attendant Mina Holbrook has been chosen to take the 16,983 km from London to Sydney, her marriage is currently in turmoil, so the distraction is more than welcome, however, the time apart from her five-year-old daughter Sophia is not what Mina nor her daughter need right now. Departure day arrives and Mina and the other crew take to the skies, Mina carries out tasks making sure to familiarise herself with the other passengers and their needs. She’s having some trouble keeping her mind on board, her thoughts continually drift back to London with Sophia.
Not long in the air, Mina receives a note from an anonymous passenger sending chills down her spine, someone on board Flight 79 has a goal to ensure they never disembark the plane in Sydney, Australia 20 hours from now. This same stranger requires Mina’s assistance and if she doesn’t help them achieve their goal, they know just how to make sure Mina will obey their demands.
Can they make it to Sydney in time?
The minute you open the book the story is in constant motion, I found myself eager to absorb everything not wanting to miss the slightest detail. Thanks to the short chapters I didn’t have to wait long, but I think it’s also fair to say this reviewer didn’t think the novel lacked any detail because of chapter length. (Just in case you’re worried).
The use of multiple perspectives was put to good use as it only heightened the feelings of suspense and added to my belief Hostage is worthy of five stars.
I’ve long been a fan of air travel and so when Hostage come about, I was eager for a seat on board. Even though being held Hostage isn’t high on anyone’s bucket-list I was keen to see just how all the pieces joined together I was impressed by the time I reached the Epilogue at just how much time and effort author Clare Mackintosh has put into researching this novel and that is what makes Hostage a clear standout read in this genre for 2021 for this reader.
I’ll admit I was somewhat worried that Hostage would turn out to be predictable, especially in the conflict and resolution chapters, but I try as I might I wasn’t able to find a single crumb that led me to guessing the climax until I read it. I believe this is thanks to a very strong cast of three-dimensional characters and the moments my heart wanted to escape my chest which was often.
“Truth slid into my mind like the answer to a crossword clue long after the paper’s been thrown away, and my mouth formed the words I didn’t want to say.”
― Clare Mackintosh, Hostage
Recommended for mature readers, if you’re looking for a strong character based read that’s heavy on Mystery and Suspense from the moment you board Flight 79, where you’re on the edge of your seat then look no further. Personally, I am somewhat glad not be flying anywhere anytime soon (even if it’s a work of Fiction), this is my first time reading a Clare Mackintosh novel and it won’t be my last.
With continued thanks to Hachette Australia for sending this copy to read in exchange for an honest opinion.