RED HEADED BOOK LOVER

Before the Fall, Noah Hawley

On a foggy summer night, eleven people–ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter–depart Martha’s Vineyard headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the passengers disappear into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs–the painter–and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of a wealthy and powerful media mogul’s family.

With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the tragedy and the backstories of the passengers and crew members–including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot–the mystery surrounding the crash heightens. As the passengers’ intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy: Was it merely dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations–all while the reader draws closer and closer to uncovering the truth.

Before the Fall is a thrilling mystery and I am so happy to have read it! This is a rare book, a book which does not rely on cheap thrills or lackluster mystery but rather a book that looks below the surface with a deep intricate plot and I loved it! The plot of this novel and the characters within this novel will stay with me for a long time and I hope that you read it so it will stay with you for a long time too!

The plot of the novel is very simple. A small plane carrying 11 passengers crashes and only two survive.  The two survivors are a painter named Scott who has a troubled past and a four-year-old boy named J.J. (who Scott had managed to save). As soon as the aircraft goes down there is speculation amongst the media and tabloids. There is speculation about how this had happened and why it could have. Whether it was an accident or a targeted attack because of the 11 passengers a few of them were controversial figures… could they have been targeted? Is our survivor Scott a Villain or the good guy? Either way, he has lost all right to his privacy in the media. The questions keep racing through your mind throughout this novel and it makes one hell of a mystery.

There is more to this story than it being an edge on your seat thriller. Instead, it takes you on a behind the scenes look at all the people we see on our television screens after every disaster we witness. It also shows you the role of the media in installing outrage in the viewing public and creating and fabricating conspiracies. This is a very important theme because we see this all too often in the media today. The media is great in the form that it educates you on what is happening but the majority of stories are fabricated to dangerous levels and fabricated beyond belief. This theme reminded me of Gone Girl and the role of the media and lack of privacy which was portrayed in that novel (which is one of my favorites by the way!).

The narrative winds back and forth between the present and the past and examines the events leading up to the crash and the consequences after it. The cleverly written narrative gives us a look into the lives of the people who died in the crash and the two survivors. It also shows us the government agencies from around the world who are trying to solve this mystery by looking for debris of the crash and their search for the black box etc; it makes for such a gripping read. I think our author Hawley has done a magnificent job in giving us readers an in-depth look into what happens behind the scenes of a disaster. I personally have been guilty of always wondering what is happening in those newsrooms around the world, how the knowledge they share with us has come into being and what they, in turn, had to do to secure that knowledge, so being able to witness this was fascinating to me!

Hawley is not only a magnificent writer but also a wonderful storyteller. His writing is very well written and constructed incredibly well all whilst being extremely fascinating. This comes to no surprise to me reading recently that Noah Hawley produced and wrote the hit FX television series Fargo. I personally loved that TV series, especially the first series so the fact that he wrote that and has now written a novel is beyond me and if you did love Fargo or the new series Legion (which he also produced) then you will fall madly in love with this novel! This novel itself is like a TV show, that is how it unraveled in my mind. I heard some news recently too that this book is being made into a movie, where Hawley will write the screenplay and James Cameron will direct… I mean come on, James Cameron! He is one of the most famous and well-accomplished directors we have today so the fact that he has put his name to this means that it must be good!

To summarise my thoughts I would say that if you love mysteries which keep you hooked and asking questions to the very end then this novel is for you! Every single chapter was so brilliantly written and so enthralling. They all tied in beautifully together to make one masterpiece of a hauntingly brilliant story. Before the Fall gets Four Stars from me!

Thank you so much for reading! I know I say this all the time but I do really appreciate it! Comment below whether you have read this novel or if you would consider reading it. It is truly magnificent and I truly believe all of you will adore it! Let me know also whether you love mysteries as a genre and whether you have ever watched Fargo! Thank you so much for reading!

Goodbye for now book lovers,

P.S. Here is a preview of the book for all of you lovely readers to enjoy! If you have loved what you have read and want to buy the wonderful novel then you can click the buy on Amazon button and it will take you straight to Amazon U.K.! If you are international then click the Book Depository link underneath it! Thank you so much again for reading!

Book DepositoryPublisher; Hodder & Stoughton

Thank you so much again for reading! 

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anintrovertedblogger

I just finished reading this book! You have captured the essence of this book really well. I think I was fascinated by how the media was portrayed in this book. Such a reality check.
I have done a review on my blog as well, if you fancy a read sometime.

anintrovertedblogger
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I actually haven’t watched Fargo, but my very good friend, watches it and swears by it!

anintrovertedblogger

Haha! I like chatty! Otherwise I feel like my comments are floating around in cyberspace somewhere. I just finished ‘When Dimple met Rishi’ and am in the midst of writing a review for that. Not sure what to pick up next. Though my tbr pile is a mile high!

anintrovertedblogger
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Sure. Quite briefly, it is about two young adults who are about to start college and have met up at a summer program. The meet up is not by chance, but somehow orchestrated by their parents. I did a spoiler free review on my blog, with some more details if you fancy a read.

anintrovertedblogger

Currently, living in Qatar. Moved here from the US. Born in Canada, and grandparents are from Pakistan. This is the simple version answer of where I am from 🙂

anintrovertedblogger

We lived in Toronto! Honeymooned in Banff!

Book-Wyrm

This book sat on my shelf for a long time, but I finally got around to reading it this year. I totally agree with your review. It was a really well-written book that isn’t your typical “trying to find out who-dunnit” thriller, but instead really goes through a character study of various levels of folk–the ultra-rich, the comfy rich, well-off, the poor, etc. There was a lot to the book, even though the plot was pretty simple.

Book-Wyrm
Reply to  Aimee Ann

The book was so internal, I’m not sure a movie adaptation would do it justice. I hope they don’t change the ending. Noah Hawley is very skilled, though, so it could be solid. Have they cast the movie yet?

Book-Wyrm
Reply to  Book-Wyrm

Byron. I’m new to blogging, so I’m still trying to figure out some of the norms and etiquette of it.

Prakash Hegade

It was nice to read your thoughts.

I don’t know why, I just did not like this one. 🙂 I had to put it down half way.

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

He he.. 😀 It just did not work with me..

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I dont have anything specific. Anything good works.. 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

He he.. good to hear that.. 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Last month I had won a writing competition and won a book – “Mock, Stalk and Quarrel”. Reading that… 🙂

How about you?

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

So far good… there??

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Not much. I had liked Martian. Will keep that in mind.. 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I saw the movie first and than the book. I have liked both.. 🙂 😀

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Well, I would say movie! 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I would not say many. I do watch movies. 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Prakash Hegade

ohh!! here it is. Nice to hear that.. A good read is happiness! 🙂

Prakash Hegade
Reply to  Prakash Hegade

It was after knowing about TV series and its going to be a movie, I had opted to read this book.. 🙂

sjhigbee

Another great review – I love the sound of this one. Thank you so much for sharing:).

sjhigbee
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Oh, no problem – I thoroughly enjoy interacting on the blog, though it is a time-swallower…

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

Oh, I’m with you 100%. It makes my heart hurt to watch toddlers twisting around to get mummy to look at something, when she is locked into texting/phoning/whatever on her phone and happens allll the time:(.

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

Absolutely! You are spot on. When the grandchildren come to stay, the phone only gets used to text their mum or my students and like you, we don’t have phones at the table. And it’s not just children either – whenever we go out for a meal or coffee somewhere, I’m struck how many couples are busy stuck on their phones instead of talking to each other. So sad…

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

I know what you mean! We were incredibly lucky to get tickets to see Kate Bush’s concert a couple of years ago and she made a point of asking the audience NOT to take any footage with phones/ipads, etc. and one person was escorted out by security. But everyone else complied and it was great. As folks are there, busy filming, you wonder how they can possibly be enjoying the experience.

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

I know – we all feel the same way, and so do the children which means when we get together, the phones all go off, except for my daughter’s partner who is often on call.

sjhigbee
Reply to  Aimee Ann

One of my writing friends was enthusing about it, too. I’ll have to put it onto my wishlist!

sjhigbee
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Oh I will!

sjhigbee
Reply to  Aimee Ann

I do watch TV – I enjoy Major Crimes, Dark Matter, Vera and far too many quiz shows and reality-based shows where people cook, needlework and paint. I’m not very good at keeping up with series – is Fargo the western show where everyone is swearing themselves into the seven circles of Hell?

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

No… I haven’t come across that one. It sounds great though. We both enjoyed Longmire about a sherrif in a small town with an Indian reservation close by. That was great:).

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

That’s wonderful:). There was a time when I did a lot of cooking and making things, when the children were little. But these days, I’m afraid my writing has swallowed up all that time and some… And the teaching, of course.

sjhigbee
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Oh, you’re right there! I couldn’t give it up, these days – I’m thoroughly addicted.

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

Thank you!

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

No – I have been watching Scott and Bailey – that’s amazingly good and they have been rerunning it. Oh, and I also love watching Gavin and Stacy…

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

If I’m a bit fed up, it invariably makes me grin:).

sjhigbee
Reply to  sjhigbee

Well if it is, there are a lot of us apparently in trouble…:)

The Book Whisperer

I’m really looking forward to reading this book. Great review 😊

apboustead

Reblogged this

Nthato Morakabi

Wow! Where do you find all these books!! I want to read them all!

Nthato Morakabi
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Haha awww thanks I hope I’m a wonderful reader xD

Nthato Morakabi
Reply to  Aimee Ann

It sounds really amazing! An intriguing plot and I wonder how they are all tied in. Will definitely get this book!

Nthato Morakabi
Reply to  Aimee Ann

There’s a movie for it?? When? Who? What? !!!!

Nthato Morakabi

Yeha I have seen Legion. Wow then it should be good then!

Jon
Jon

Its cool that he worked on Fargo.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Your welcome!

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

😀

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Hah! Glad you love it.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

No I haven’t yet!

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Ah nice nice! I’ll have to check it out soon.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Not sure if I will, I barely have time to get into books these days.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Jon

Oh wow! Seems like you really know how to find the time to read some good books!

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Good to know. 🙂

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yeah I probably will.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Jon

Good! Other shows I’m binge-watching on Netflix now are Archer, Supernatural, Sensitive Skin, and other good series.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yeah I’ve definitely seen those shows that you mentioned.

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Aimee Ann

Yup!

Jon
Jon
Reply to  Jon

Ah nice nice!

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