The Last Flight

A Novel

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 23 Jun 2020 | Archive Date 10 May 2021
SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark

Description

Two women. Two Flights. One last chance to disappear.

Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of ten, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish. 

A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets — Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity, and along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.

For fans of Lisa Jewell and Liv Constantine, The Last Flight is the story of two women — both alone, both scared — and one agonizing decision that will change the trajectory of both of their lives.

Two women. Two Flights. One last chance to disappear.

Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of ten, her surroundings are...


Advance Praise

"The Last Flight is everything you want in a book: a gripping story of suspense; haunting, vulnerable characters; and a chilling and surprising ending that stays with you long after the last page." –AIMEE MOLLOY, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Mother

"I’m a sucker for suspense stories crafted around an airplane crash, and Julie Clark’s The Last Flight lived up to the hype and then some. Clark starts with a bang then keeps the pace at full throttle, deftly weaving two seemingly separate stories into one wild and entertaining ride. The perfect combination of beautiful prose and high suspense, and an ending that I guarantee will catch you off guard." –KIMBERLY BELLE, internationally bestselling author of Dear Wife and The Marriage Lie

"The Last Flight is everything you want in a book: a gripping story of suspense; haunting, vulnerable characters; and a chilling and surprising ending that stays with you long after the last page."...


Marketing Plan

National media launch

National print review campaign

Off-the-book-page features

Major web promotions & reviews

Consumer & trade newsletter promotion

National media launch

National print review campaign

Off-the-book-page features

Major web promotions & reviews

Consumer & trade newsletter promotion


Available Editions

EDITION Hardcover
ISBN 9781728215723
PRICE $26.99 (USD)
PAGES 320

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (EPUB)
Send to Kindle (EPUB)

Average rating from 265 members


Featured Reviews

To the outside world, Claire Cook leads a fairy tale life, married to a political hotshot with a glamorous home and a staff of servants waiting to do her bidding. But her famous husband is really a controlling monster who pays his staff to track every move Claire makes. Desperate to escape, Claire makes a daring plan with a woman who wants out of her life just as badly as Claire wants out of hers. At an airport, they switch tickets. Claire will take Eva’s flight to Oakland and Eve will take Claire’s to Puerto Rico. It was only meant to provide a little breathing room for both women, but when the plane to Puerto Rica goes down, Claire realizes she has a second chance in another life. After all, Eva’s life can’t be any worse than the one Claire left behind, could it? Original and captivating, I’d like to see this story on the big screen

Was this review helpful?

This is a fabulous story! I could not put this book down, I ended up staying up till 3:00 A.M. to finish this story, I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting a great book that you can get into. I also am going to recommend this to our book club when it is released. I can't wait to see what else Julie Clark writes! Great, Great Book!!!

Was this review helpful?

I received an early copy of this book on Netgalley and I'm so glad I did. I read a lot of psychological suspense and Julie's Clark's first book is this genre is up there with the best of them.

The story hinges around a plane crash over the Atlantic. Claire was supposed to be on the flight, but at the last minute she trades tickets with a woman in the airport, desperate to do anything to escape her abusive husband. The characters: Claire, the wife of a prominent philanthropist who is considering a senate run, and Eva, a college drop out who's now manufacturing and selling drugs, are both real, flawed and compelling. The structure of the book which alternates between Claire's story after the plane crash and Eva's story in the months leading up to the crash, amps up the drama and makes this book a real page turner. I tore though it in less than a day, anxious to figure out what really happened on the day of the crash and why. Clark' exploration of the emotional tolls of abuse is nuanced and important, but doesn't bog down the story. A perfect one day read.

Was this review helpful?

Beautifully written with relatable characters, underscored by a compelling set of mysteries and a thoroughly satisfying ending.

Was this review helpful?

What an incredibly well-written, timely book! The courage of the two main characters, Eva and Claire, was just astounding. Although they were in situations that could be dangerous -even deadly- they found the inner strength to get themselves out of trouble.... unfortunately, they were willing to risk life and limb to do so. I feel this is such an IMPORTANT book, especially in the #MeToo era. For every woma that comes forward with allegations of abuse, there are hundreds who suffer in silence, sadly. It was incredibly refreshing to read a thriller centered on brave, courageous heroines, as opposed to the more common damsel in distress themed novels. I had an incredibly hard time putting this one down; it definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, and had me rooting for both women, even if some of their decisions wer selfish or irrational.... the end justified the means, in this case Definitely a must read!

Was this review helpful?

An exciting read!

Claire is married to Rory - who is about to announce his run for the Senate This, to follow in his late mother's footsteps. Married for 10 years, Claire realizes that Rory is not his mother. He is abusive and a liar. He tricked Claire to believe his story about how his former fiancé, Maggie, died.

With the help of two old schoolmates, (who have more than questionable ties), Claire is able to obtain the documentation she needs to 'run away from Rory. Yet, due to a very last minute change of plane reservations by her husband, Claire's intricate plans are foiled. Also, documentation that would have been waiting for Claire in Detroit is now in the hands of her husband...

Instead of a trip to Detroit from JFK, Claire is now to be sent to Puerto Rico. In the airport bar, Claire meets Eva who is running away, too. They exchange information - and Claire is off to Oakland. The plane to Puerto Rico crashes. Everyone thinks that Claire is among the casualties . Claire ends up at Eva's house and finds out that everything Eva told her about her "dead husband" is a lie. Why was Eva running away? Claire had rigged Rory's computer to see the secret internet mail between Bruce (Rory's closest assistant) and Rory.

Especially puzzling is when Claire sees a woman who she thinks is Eva on a New York TV news clip...

An explosive read that promises to delight! Highly Recommend!

Many Thanks to SourceBooks Landmark and NetGalley for a twisty ride!

Was this review helpful?

TEN STARS to this author! I LOVED this book. I can't say enough good things about it--excellent writing, fabulous plot, believable and realistically c characters--what else can do say except you will devour this book just as I did. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you so much for this ARC!

OBSESSED!!!! This was so good from the very first page. I couldn't put this book down and was so sad when it was over. I enjoyed learning about Eva and Claire and how their lives intersected and changed each other.

Really fabulous twist, loved how the characters came together - I was not expecting it!

Cannot wait to see what Julie Clark writes next!!

Was this review helpful?

The Last Flight has twists and turns and incredible suspense. It leaves you guessing until the very last chapter.

Julie Clark’s plotting is amazing. Claire’s current circumstances and Eva’s past situation weave together so effortlessly. As the story develops you will not be able to put this book down until the final word.

No “girl” in the title. No “unreliable narrator”. This is a suspense thriller with two intelligent, capable, and resilient women. The female friendships in this book were supportive and inspiring. Claire and Eva have grown desperate enough to plan to disappear from their lives. A chance meeting (or is it?) gives each the opportunity to make a big change.

There are so many great lines in this book:

“In this world, money and power were equivalent to immunity.”
“Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
“If you pay attention, solutions always appear. But you have to be brave enough to see them.”
“Sometimes, the death of a dream can finally set you free.”
“If we don’t tell our own stories, we’ll never take control of the narrative.”
“The world didn’t need to hear my story, but I needed to tell it.”

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

This book was incredible—engaging, suspenseful and thrilling! I literally couldn’t stop reading because I was so anxious to find out what happened next. That’s a great sign for a mystery/thriller! I highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book. From the very beginning, I was immediately hooked. Stayed up all night to finish it and am glad I did!

Was this review helpful?

First thing: read this book.

Even if you’ve read a ton of female driven suspense #metoo books recently and are tired of the narrative, READ THIS BOOK ANYWAY. (Also read The Night Swim by Megan Goldin already voted a RSR book club pick of 2020)

Claire has been planning in secret to escape her abusive husband who is from a powerful political family. She has planned it down to the detail until a last minute change of plans by her husband forces Claire into the ultimate course of destiny. When she meets Eva in line at the airport, Claire and Eva hatch a plan to exchange their destinations.

We only requested The Last Flight by Julie Clark because we’d received several book club questions about it and the buzz they’d been hearing. Several want to make it their June book club read, so we decided to dig in and SUPER THANKFUL we did.

The book unfolds so well that I personally would stop, fix my coffee or tea, ponder the circumstances I’d just read and what they could mean. I was never confused at the back and forth between Claire and Eva because it written so well.

I loved this book! The suspense was so enthralling I couldn’t wait for the next opportunity to pick it up. I have no doubt it’ll be a huge summer book of 2020 for all the clubs!

​Thanks Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic! Brilliant! Compellingly Thrilling and twisty! I loved every second of this book. Julie Clark blew me away with this intricate story. I think we've all thought of what it would be like to disappear and become someone else...Well, get ready for a ride. From lavish Fifth Avenue and Clare meets Eva at the airport and from that point the trajectory of their lives changes in ways they never thought. A fascinating tale you wont put down. Highly recommended! 5 stars!

Was this review helpful?

A very well crafted story of two women coming from different backgrounds who meet briefly and change each other's lives forever. Claire Cook is an intelligent and accomplished individual married into one of the wealthiest families in the world. She seems to have a perfect life enjoying the things that her husband's money can bring her. All she has to do is work on various projects that benefit many people and obey her husband. The fly in the ointment is that her husband has turned into an abusive tyrant who insists on complete obedience from her or he will physically beat her up. Eva is the other woman involved in the story. Through circumstances beyond her control she has drifted into the life of a drug dealer. Her knowledge of chemistry combined with a need to make a living has forced her into a position that places her on the wrong side of the law.
Both Claire and Eva come together as both are fleeing their current lives and trying to disappear completely. They meet at an airport bar where Claire is to fly to Puerto Rico and Eva to Oakland, California. The women end up telling the other about their desire to escape their lives and start again. It strikes them while talking that changing identities will throw those that are looking for them completely off the track. And, since each has their boarding pass in hand the change is accomplished. Certainly just this action will enable a good story to emerge. However, it is complicated by a plane crash to Eva's plane as it flies to Puerto Rico.
Ms. Clark tells the story via the use of rotating first person narratives involving both the women, but also persons that are of interest to the tale. It is an engrossing, well done novel with the ending completely logical but not telegraphed in the reading. Character portraits, thoughts, doubts and problems arising are as well done as it has been my pleasure to read. A five star book that after conclusion will project a desire on the part of reader toward following the author and obtaining her future novels as they emerge.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: