I thought this was excellent - a proper 'big American novel' with the worlds it inhabits, flying and Hollywood, brought to life so well. Great ending too.

Fired from the "Archangel" film franchise, young actress Hadley Baxter is approched to star in a biopic of Marian Graves a world famous aviatrix who disappeared into the Great Southern Ocean in the 1950s with her navigator Eddie Bloom.

Hadley is drawn into Marian's story by various characters who knew her or own part of her legacy. As she reads Marian's story, she realises the parallels with her own life in terms of both being orphaned at an early age and being raised by a reprobate uncle.

This and Marian's journal and books about her life draw Hadley into Marian's fascinating story.

Oh my goodness did this book deliiver!! What an amazing amazing read. I was captivated by Marian and those she loved (and lost ...).
Loved the settings, New zealand, seattle, antartica, even the UK.
An insane amount of research must have gone into writing this book and i was completely absorbed by it and now totally bereft that it is over!

The story of Marian Graves and her adventures in life, love and aviation is told with perspicacity. From barn-storming to ferrying WWII planes to achieving ideals. There is an enormous sense of space, inherent in both the geography and the metaphysical thinking of the characters. It was a wholly enjoyable privilege to read this book.

An absorbing novel about the life of the famous aviator Marian Graves. After a slow start filling in some back story of Marian’s parents, which you eventually realise is necessary, the story follows Marian’s unusual life as one of the first women pilots.
The novel spans prohibition America and World War II in Europe and America, with a sub-plot involving a wild child Hollywood actress who is starring in a film biopic of Marian.
I really enjoyed the adventure story aspect of the book but there is so much more to this novel. Reading Marian’s journal about being a woman in a man’s world positions her as a feminist role model but the existential musings are humanly poignant.
I rarely give five stars but this is the best book I’ve read in a long time.