Allison and her mother have not spoken in a year. And now Allison has been in a plane crash, assumed dead. What follows is a tale told from both Allison and her mother's perspective as we learn about the strength of these two women - to survive, to believe, to love, to search for truth - and the lengths that they would go to for family. Tense, moving, and vividly brought to life.

Dual perspective, fast-paced thriller read in one sitting. A quick and exhilarating read which explores the bond between a mother and daughter and the enduring power of love.

I have an eARC of the book, but I listened to the audio version (mostly at work) since I love listening to thrillers.

As a thriller did I find the book lacking the extra punch to really make me love the story. Then again, I do read (and listen) to A LOT of thrillers so sometimes it feels like most books nowadays are kind of middle ground books for me. In other words, it's hard to surprise me. However, I did find this book enjoyable. I liked how you got to know more about Allison through flashbacks, why she is estranged from her mother and how she ended up on the plan. I also quite enjoyed her mother's hunt for the truth about what happened to her daughter. What I found a bit of a let down was the ending. Was I surprised? Not at all, it felt like a bit of a cliche, to be honest.

So, I would say that this book will appeal to those that can really take to the story, who doesn't feel the plot to be a bit predictable. The writing is good and the narrator did a great job. The story was definitely OK. Would I read more from the author? Yes, I would. I found the book held my interested straight through and if the story had just been a bit more twisty would it have been fabulous.

This a fast paced work of commercial fiction with short chapters which would work well as a holiday read. The story is told from the perspectives of the mother and daughter and it is this which I liked best about the novel. The daughter's survival in the first few days after the plane crash was very interesting but some aspects seemed too impossible for me to suspend my disbelief. For example, when her wound is described as filled with pus and yet a day or so later the infection is gone and the wound is scabbed over (this with a body weight that was already unhealthily low, excessive physical endurance with severe inures, lack of fluids, nutrition or antibiotics).

A very original and fast paced thriller. I loved the alternating chapters of mother and daughter and I particularly enjoyed the fact that both characters were flawed and therefore so much more accessible to the reader. A great plot with plenty of tension.

What a fabulous debut. Well-written fast paced. So much power, intrigue, lies and deception packed into this book. It hooks the reader from the first page. A little predictable in places, but a fabulous read nonetheless.

A gripping story depicting the love between a mother and a daughter. Annie moves away when her father dies and refuses to talk to her mother again.Maggie , her mother, left behind just wants to mend the bridge and talk to her daughter again. Annie goes to California and after a very dubious start falls in love and gets engaged to a very rich man from a well established family. A plane crash sets the reader on the trail of Annie trying to get home and slowly discovering the background story about what has happened to Annie since she arrived in California.
The story almost seems straight forward but towards the end the real twists start arriving with an explosive ending.

This book started slow but then became quite interesting - a clever idea and a great twist. I was a little disappointed with the reason for the aircraft crash - anyone who has spent any time in small aircraft, as Allison was meant to have done, could not possibly have made the error that was the cause of the crash, so that was irritating. However, the twist made up for my annoyance, although there had been sufficient pointers to show us that it was possible. Quite a clever book, for the most part.

Allison is involved in a plane crash in the Colorado Rockies with her fiancé, Ben. Badly injured, she manages to survive the crash and, believing dangerous people are trying to find and kill her, Allison makes her way across the mountains and hides from them.

Her estranged mother, Maggie, is told that Allison has died but refuses to believe this as no body has been found. She investigates the circumstances surrounding the plane crash and discovers things about her daughter's life over the last few years that she wasn't aware of. As the story progresses, we watch Allison and Maggie try to find each other and reconnect. Will they manage it before the bad guys catch up with them?!

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and I was holding my breath at times while waiting to see what happened!

Other reviewers have commented that it was slow but I thought it built up the tension nicely and I enjoyed seeing how everything was revealed and resolved at the end. It was slightly implausible in parts but, hey, it's a thriller! Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Ally has survived the plane crash that killed her fiance. She now has to escape the wreckage and make her way to safety but shes worried someone may be after her. Wanting her dead. Meanwhile her mother learns of her death in the crash and begins to investigate her estranged daughters life. Their lives become entwined once more but both are in danger. Can each one survive to find the other.

This is told from two voices, Ally and her mother each tell their story. I like this idea as it gives you both perspectives. This was a really interesting read with some very clever twists. The plot is steady and builds the suspense up well. The ending is really good and finishes the story off perfectly. Theres so much to this story that it kept me turning the pages especially towards the end.

Ally is an interesting character who you learn more about as the story develops. A small cast of characters but each plays a vital role.

Lack of surprises and constant mental girl power motivational speeches from Allison left me feeling cold for Freefall. It's not that I didn't like it, it's just that it felt like well trod ground. Nothing new here.

The story is told from alternating perspectives of Allison (the young woman who survives a plane crash only to go on the run hiding from those who would do her harm) and Maggie (her grieving mother searching for answers as to what really happened to her estranged daughter). I liked Maggie quite a lot. She had gumption and a personality whilst Allison grated on my nerves by repeating everything three time ("Move! Move! Move!") and seeming rather self-pitying and woe is me. I didn't care too much about why Allison found herself being hunted - it seems she brought it on herself - but focused more on Maggie and her detective work.

Freefall was fast paced and if you want a by-the-book quasi-thriller beach read, this certainly ticks those boxes.

Rating: 3.5*
An enjoyable read which brings two threads to the reader that of the thriller – Allison is running from someone and that of her mother, Maggie, who cannot accept that her daughter, who has been estranged from her for some time, has died. She wants to find out what happened.

It opens well and you have a good sense of tension building as Allison, badly injured, makes her escape from the air crash and away from whoever she believes is after her. As she does this we begin to get some of the back story in regard to what happened to Allison to put her into this position.

We then have her mother, understandably grieving and yet not accepting of what has happened, she wants answers and goes on a mission to find out what has been happening to Allison. Who is this man to whom she was engaged and who has crashed and died in the accident? She has a bad feeling about him. What she finds out will not only lead her to the truth but into danger.

Maggies is frustrated with the crash investigation and those close to her the police chief and his wife are trying to get her to accept that Allison has died but she can’t. She has to have proof.

We also learn about why the mother and daughter became estranged and this shows us how not trusting and communicating with those who we love can lead to loosing them.

Will Allison survive? What will happen to Maggie? Everything builds to a final, twisted and devastating conclusion.

Whilst delivering an ultimately good read, for me, it had moments that rather than turn up the tension slightly grated – during Allisons escape. Other readers may not notice or, indeed, may feel it enhances their experience.

There are some good characterisations Maggie in particular is believably and well portrayed. It is a book that addresses a number of issues – assisted death, family dynamics, grieving and loss – which adds layers and depth to the story.

An enjoyable read which gives a somewhat different slant, to me at least, on the thriller/mystery genre.

“Here are the facts: I am on a mountain. The plane I was on has crashed.“

This novel sets off at a cracking pace and moves swiftly between characters Allison and Maggie through their first-person perspectives. It all feels very filmic at the start while we work out what’s going on.

Then it descends into a back-and-forth between mother and daughter: one trudging through the mountains and the other trying to find out what has happened to her daughter. That's the case until about 50 percent of the way in. From there, the story does speed up but turns into an implausible tale, while paradoxically the plot “twists” also become entirely predictable.

I really dislike books in which female characters need to be rescued from their lives. While the book has some level of awareness of this, it contains the following sentences: “You would have fallen in love with him, too. Especially if you needed to be rescued.“ And “He was good-looking and he was rich. I think most girls see themselves with someone like him.“ Or “This man, with his handsome face and his kind smile and his expensive wristwatch, had tried to save me once before. This time, I was going to let myself be saved.“

These sorts of character thoughts caused me to intensely dislike Allison.

There were also plenty of literary clichés throughout. For example, these all appear on ONE page: “ She knows too much now.“ “It didn’t have to be this way”, “You are not the man I thought you were.” And “I gave you everything.” Just because this is a thriller doesn’t mean the writing should be of a lesser standard than we might allow for any other book. Just ask Jane Harper.

It’s also my view that to describe this as a “propulsive debut novel” is incorrect, given this author is publishing under a pseudonym and has other books published under her own name.

Some people enjoy a thriller like this because it’s an easy read and it’s light. If you’re on a beach and you have a few hours to kill, then this might really suit.

While I realise I was given a free, uncorrected manuscript, it’s worth noting that something odd happened with the text so that “fi” was always missing from words, for example the words fine, finger, officer, etc. It made for a challenging read as I guessed what the word was supposed to be. I know this will be xed for the nal proof (couldn’t help myself!) but wanted to mention it did get in the way of a free-flowing read. *Please note this paragraph will not appear on my Amazon review - just worth noting for NetGalley readers.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK - Vintage Publishing and the author for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly, I have to confess to wanting to read Freefall because it featured a plane crash. Yes, I know I'm weird, but regular readers of my blog over the years will have gotten used to this strange plane fascination that I have.

Sadly, for me (and probably luckily for everyone else) the detail of the plane crash itself, is not a main feature of the novel. It serves only to kick off our strange tale of complicated domestic relationships and fight for survival.

Allison, is the sole survivor of a plane crash in a secluded area. She has no idea where she is, or where she is going, only that she needs to get away from the burning wreckage as quickly as possible if she is to continue to live.

When Maggie receives a knock on the door from the local police, informing her that her daughter is missing, presumed dead, Maggie knows that it cannot be. She is certain she would know if her daughter was dead.

But Maggie and Allison have been estranged for months, and as the investigation into the accident progresses, Maggie wonders if she really knew Allison at all. The more she discovers, the more concerned she is, and more convinced that her daughter is alive.

Allison meanwhile just wants to go home. She is tired of living a lie. She is tired of everything. But more than anything she is scared of what might happen should anyone know that she survived that crash. Going home, may no longer be an option ...

For Allison surviving a Planck crash is just the beginning. Allison was on a private plane with her Fiancée being the pilot, when they crashed in the mountains. She is the sole survivor but someone wants her dead and she is convinced they are following her in the mountains.

Across the country, Maggie, Allison’s Mother has just learnt of her daughters plane crash, and that she is now presumed dead. Maggie hasn’t seen or spoken to her daughter in two years and can’t understand why she was on the plane. Maggie decides to do some digging of her own to find out more about her daughter. But in doing so she will be putting her self in danger !!

What has been happening in Allison’s life for her to be scared for her life ? Will her Mother discover the truth ?

This is a great mystery thriller with the story being told from both Maggie and Allison. We gradually discover the events leading up to the plane crash as well as what happens after. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you engaged throughout. The two lead characters are strong and resilient, you will definitely find yourself willing them both on !!

Thank you to Random House UK and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

A very entertaining, though completely implausible story about a woman who survives a plane crash and her estranged mother who assumes she has been killed. The story is fast paced and very readable but the twists are very predictable. A great choice for anyone in the mood for a lightweight thriller with a mother and daughter relationship at its heart.

The story begins with a small plane crashing in the Colorado Rockies, the pilot is killed but the passenger has survived. Allison has no intention of summoning help, she needs to disappear and the crash is a perfect cover to give her that start. The crash had been no accident, someone wanted her dead.
Allison's mum hadn't seen her daughter for over 2 years and now she had been told that her daughter was dead, they just needed to recover her body which hadn't yet been found. She felt that if there was no body, then there was a chance she was alive and so begins to dig into her daughter's past. A very shady past that she had no idea that her daughter was leading, including an engagement to Ben Gardner, a very wealthy Pharmaceutical CEO.
The story is told in chapters by Allison and mum Maggie, as it dips into the past of both women and present day as they are trying to find each other. There is history between the two that put a huge rift between the pair of them when Maggie's husband died. There were times that I didn't like Maggie, some things you just can't repair.
I didn't quite gel with these characters straight away but there were so many secrets to uncover. There was definitely something intriguing about both women so much more than I first thought. Both strong in their own right. I really enjoyed the last quarter of the book, as all the characters came together and slotted into place. Nicely tied up. Her best book so far.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book that I have reviewed honestly.

Freefall took ages to get going and I almost quit the book a couple of times but I stuck with it because I had some questions I wanted answered. I’m glad I did. First off, I really like the way the book is structured. The chapters alternate between Allison and her mother Maggie’s POV. Allison’s chapters focus on her surviving the plane crash and trying not to get found by the man hunting her and include flashbacks to her relationship with seemingly perfect Ben. A word to the wise, Ben is so perfect it’s unbelievable so when his darker side is revealed it’s nowhere as shocking as it could have been. Maggie’s chapters focus on her trying to find out the truth about her daughter. The chapters get shorter and more intense towards the end as things move full circle. This works really well in building and maintaining tension. My heart went out to Maggie. However, I could never really like Allison which affected my sympathy for her and investing in her story. Freefall is a great read nevertheless.

I was intrigued by this story and it didn’t disappoint.
A private plane crashes in the Rockies and remarkably, Alison lives.
In Maine, Alison's mother, Maggie receives the news that her estranged daughter is missing, presumed dead.
Maggie is shocked by the news but she begins to believe that Alison is alive, as she begins to look into Alison's life in the past two years when they lost contact, and how she ended up being on a private plane.
The story is told from the point of view of Alison and Maggie, over different time periods, and we eventually learn how Alison ended up on the plane. This is a story about an estranged mother and daughter which delves into secrets and betrayal.
A great mystery thriller.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Freefall is a debut thriller from Jessica Barry, it starts in the mountains, with a plane crash, the is pilot dead and his passenger is injured but shes desperate to survive, The story is told in alternative chapters of Alison Carpenter ( the injured passenger) and her estranged Mum Maggie.

Maggie is told that Alison died in the crash but her mothers instinct tells her that the news is wrong and that Alison is still out there somewhere, but whilst delving into Alison's life, she is shocked to see the girl she remembers has changed so much.

Each chapter brings them closer to each other with taut twists and turns until the shocking conclusion.

I did enjoy the novel, but whilst reading it I did feel there was something missing in the telling, but its a good debut and would make a great movie.