The essence of a kidnapping story is finding the basis by which you care for the characters. If a sense of loss or tension is not created then the progression of the narrative won't work. In "Passenger 19" [Ward Larsen/Oceanview/386pgs], everything seems to work well on all counts. This is helped by the character of Jammer Davis who, like someone like Dirk Pitt gets his humor right and could distinctly be made eventually into a franchise character on film. The basis of the story in "Passenger 19" is that our man Jammer is an airline crash investigator for the NTSB. When a plane goes mysteriously down in Colombia, he quickly realizes through his friend and sometimes employer at the CIA, that his daughter might be one of the victims. Jammer heads down south of the border but he begins to uncover details, especially being helped both by an unscheduled G3 flights and quick satellite photos, that makes him realize that something is going on behind the scenes. The  structure of the book works well because it operates on the slow build so you realize what Jammer is doing. A lot of it is integrated on the details of the crash with Bogota as the backdrop. It all whittles down with a bit of humor which allows the progression to not become downtrodden. what tends to function best is that the action is punctuated and not without reason. There are also quick blips back to the U.S. for quick story points. This makes the story extremely filmable from an adaptation standpoint. The crux of most of the story lies in a why the plane was actually deliberately crashed in the first place. The reveal of those details actually works pretty well in that it involves a cover up and Secret Service protection. Eventually our hero becomes the focus of trying to be pushed off the investigation but it is his daughter at stake. And while that story point is the most cliche, it also makes the most logical sense. The final integration of some DEA guys to make the circle complete as they take on an isolated Colombian stronghold makes good logical sense and provides an adequate climax. Everybody gets what they want and even among the returning factors, Jammer gets a nice epilogue that solidifies the character. Despite the characterization being in the vein of a Bruce Willis or Wesley Snipes vehicle, it does qualify as good entertainment.

B

By Tim Wassberg

Fast paced, well-written and very interesting story.  I would definitely recommend this one.

Jammer Davis has spent most of his life investigating aircraft accidents and has just heard that a small regional jet carrying his 19 year old daughter Jen has disappeared in the jungles of Colombia

When the wreckage is found it is clear that a hijacking has taken place and  the search begins to find two passengers who boarded the plane, yet their remains cannot be found.

This book is gripping and full of twists and the characters.are amazing and some very bad ..in a good way.

I loved the tense and gritty plot and I was absorbed from the start 

recommended

I requested this book not realizing it was part of a series, which was not clear on Netgalley site.  Therefore I will save to read once I've read the first two. I am not going to rate it based on the fact I haven't read yet.

Great story! This was the first book I had read by Ward Larsen but definitely won't be the last. He did a masterful job of developing his characters, especially Jammer Davis. Interesting plot, quite a bit of action, and seemingly effortless storytelling. I also learned a little bit about aircraft.

I loved this book.  it was interesting and had twists and turns that I didn't expect.  It kept me guessing throughout the book.  A great summer read, unless you are traveling to Columbia by plane.  ;)

Enjoyed this book, but have never used a dictionary so much! Would recommend to friends and family as it is worth a read

Starts off brilliantly, but that revealed identity has been done so many times it was pretty underwhelming.

Great read. Excellent thriller but what was most impressive was Mr. Larsen's knowledge of the subject matter.

Ward Larsen''s book [book:Passenger 19 is the 3rd book in the Jammer Series but reads as a perfect stand alone. This is the first book I have read by Larsen and from the very first page it moved at Mach 0.89. As a former Air Force fighter pilot, airline captain, and aircraft accident investigator, the author weaves his knowledge through the story of a plane crash creating authenticity and intrigue. Jammer, the main character, a former pilot and airplane accidents investigator is called to duty when a ARJ-35 has crashed off path in the Amazon in Columbia. A personal complication is that his daughter was on board. A political complication is that accident may be more of a crime scene versus an accident. In the mist of this duplicity lies the hope that Jammer’s daughter may still be alive...and a father's tenacity to find her. This book is so fluidly written that it was hard to put down. The author cultivates his scene with wit, sarcasm and poetry. I highly recommend this book. And I will continue to explore the Jammer series.

Quite a gripping story with some good twists along the way.

4 1/2 stars!

An exciting, suspenseful thriller that you won't want to miss! With the unique storyline, interesting characters, lies, secrets, mystery, action, suspense, and intriguing twists, this story will have you on the edge of your seat till the very end. A fantastic book that's a must read for suspense lovers. 

I really enjoyed the plot, characters, intensity, and overall feel of the book. After the beginning, it took me a little bit to get back into the story, mainly due to the extensive details explained regarding planes, and the recovery process that the investigators have to go through. There was some of the information that was relevant later on in the book, and it wasn't as though it wasn't interesting, just not something that I'm into personally. 

I appreciate the expertise of the author in this field, and he made it very easy to understand the importance of the details and certain situations in the story. Although this isn't something that I'm interested in, it was enlightening, and made me respect the investigators that have to deal with these circumstances. 

This is the first book I have read by this author, and in this series, but it won't be the last. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. 
I strongly recommend this book and author. 

I have voluntarily reviewed this complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I received a copy from Ocean view Publishing via Net galley and I have to thank them for giving me an opportunity to read and review such a wonderful piece of work of Ward Larsen. 

A small regional jet, an ARJ-35, with registration number HK-55H  carrying 21 passengers and 3 crew members disappears over Southern Colombia, Jammer Davis an aircraft accident investigator was sent in NTSB, with informed that her daughter Jen Davis was also on board. 

Initially no wreckage was found and through satellite search they were able to pinpoint the debris. The passengers and crew members were all dead except two girls from the manifest. Though the accident looked like a hijack something was missing for Davis, his conclusion that the plane is not hijacked is ridiculed by the team. Did Davis finds out what is the reason behind the hijack drama? Who is Passenger 19 and why it is kept secret? What it has to do with his daughter? The duration of the story is 5 days of search by a desperate father to find his only daughter, Passenger 19 is breathtaking, page turner and twist galore novel.

This is the best book i have read in a long time! I love it.  The story just pulls you in from the very first page and never lasts go.  A must read..

I was drawn to the intriguing cover of this book. I used to have a strong fear of flying, and though I can fly now without losing my mind, I still find horror/thriller/action involving airplanes more anxiety-producing than any other locale. I hadn’t read something like that in awhile, so I decided to give this one a try. I have never read anything by this author before, but this book works as a stand-alone.

The good news is, this is a fast-paced thriller that kept me reading. Also, not that much of it actually happens on a plane .  Jammer is an airline investigator whose daughter was on a plane that went down in Columbia, so he travels there to investigate and find her, since she was not listed among the victims. The investigation happens on the ground not 30,000 feet up, but you still get a sense of the vulnerability of all flights.

I love to travel to new places while reading, so one of my favorite things about the book was the Columbian jungle setting. The author does a great job of getting across the atmosphere, look and feel of the location. (And gave me a great nice spot for my armchair traveler challenge). The plot was a bit slow to get rolling, and the solution/political conspiracy was perhaps a wee bit OTT, but I can forgive that for a novel that’s a fast, fun read, and this one is that. The fact that Jammer was investigating what happened to his own daughter added a lot of emotion and frantic desperation to the search.

Recommended to fans of thrillers and not-fans of airplanes!

A heart pounding, edge of your seat, don't put down read involving a commuter jet crash in the jungle in Columbia with no survivors (apparently). When Jammer Davis, a long time aircraft accident investigator finds his daughter listed on the manifest he jumps into action to get to the cause of the crash but everything is not as it seems. Why were both pilots and one other person shot before the crash and why are two passengers missing and accounted for? Is this a hijacking or does this go much higher into government business? Great storyline-tight concise writing. Great read!

I hate it when i read a book that i can't put down. I stayed up late 2 nights so that i could finish it. Fast paced, action packed book! Jammer was a relentless dad investigating the air crash while searching for his daughter. I highly recommend this book.

Fast paced, action packed. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The story line was very good and the characters fit the story. Looking forward to reading more from Mr. Larsen

Review: 

There are certain things about the plot that appealed to me. For example, the lead character Jammer Davis is a man of a complicated personalities. His career choice itself intrigues you and keeps you asking for more. The parts of the plot that involved his investigation skills were done brilliantly. The main idea behind the plot was also solid and grounded. However, there were certain moments when it felt like the story is lagging because of the pace of narration or maybe because of the secondary characters. The climax was as expected and lived upto the expectation of being a blockbuster in terms of the adrenaline and action. 

While the title is definitely justified here, the cover image definitely requires more drama that can match the story that is played out. 

My opinion: It’s surprisingly a good book though it did created a level of excitement that can be described as slightly more than mediocrity. 

My rating: 3.5 out of 5