Title: After the Crash
Author: Michel Bussi
ISBN: 9780316309677
No. of Pages: 384
Genre: Thriller
Origins: Hachette Book Group
Release Date: 5 January 2016
“A night flight from Istanbul bound for Paris, filled with 169 holiday travelers, plummets into the Swiss Alps. The sole survivor is a three-month-old girl–thrown from the plane onto the snowy mountainside before fire rages through the aircraft. But two infants were on board. Is the miracle baby Lyse-Rose or Emilie? Both families step forward to claim the child–one poor, one powerful, wealthy, and dangerous.”
My Thoughts: After the Crash came to my attention through a marketing pitch from the publisher. Unlike most pitches though, this one included the prologue and the first chapter of the book. By the time I finished them, I knew I had to read this book to find out what happens. It is one of those books that is the very definition of “unputdownable.”
That’s not to say that the book is without fault. If anything, there are some major issues with the book. The ending is fairly predictable and some of the plot twists are equally so. The characters are somewhat lacking in development, and there are some holes in the plot which make the scene and character narratives a bit difficult to follow.
However, you can easily overlook those deficiencies for the intriguing mystery at the heart of the story. It starts with the crash and immediately heads into a tantalizing hint at the toll this eighteen-year mystery has wrought on those tasked with uncovering the truth. There is also the psychological toll that the miracle baby must face with the uncertainty surrounding her true identity. It is a taut scenario that has major repercussions for multiple characters and what is at the heart of the suspense.
Thrillers make for the type of novels that are just fun to read. There are usually no great expectations of you as the reader, and the story naturally moves at a pace that entices you to keep reading. A good thriller will give you insight into the human mind. Most importantly, they are just entertaining. In that vein, After the Crash more than lives up to its genre.
BOTTOM LINE: A fun thriller that may not keep you guessing but will keep you turning the page as rapidly as you can
I have this one on my TBR list but I have to say reviews are making me pause. I think I will give it a go but unsure how much we have to dismiss as unbelievable. Seems a lot of questions but still thrilling…….. hmmm. I appreciate your opinion on this one.
I am calling this one escapist fiction. Don’t try to analyze it. Don’t try to solve the questions. Just go with the story, and you won’t be disappointed.
Yes, Sarah had some good things to say about this one too. And so, of course I want to read it. Well, I already knew about it and wanted to read it, but it’s nice to hear that others think it’s a decent thriller. 🙂
LOL! It is definitely a decent thriller. Just don’t try to analyze it too deeply! 😉
I posted my review on this on today too. And I agree – completely kept me turning the pages despite some obvious flaws. I didn’t like the ending either, but for a different reason…I felt like it was overly random and coincidental. I wanted Bussi to try harder on that one. And there was one specific part of it that really annoyed me…don’t want to say anymore here b/c of spoilers. DM me on Twitter if you want to know!
I get it. I think I am going to just call it a good escapist novel and leave it at that.
Great review Michelle. The premise of this sounds really good.
Thanks, Pat!
I just put this on hold at the library, you’ve made me excited to get it in!
Yay! I hope you like it!