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katykelly's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
A terrific opener on a plane, a very tense scene as a trip quickly degenerates into a dangerous and then fatal air incident. Finn feels an attraction to fellow passenger Maddie, but quickly realises she may have something to hide. Or can be believe her?
After a corker of an opener (not many books start with a plane crash), I actually felt myself losing interest as it became a bit more of a bland do-we-trust-her? story, though the implications of the flight’s end are explored quite movingly.
It might be because I’m comparing this to other ‘thrillers’ I read recently that stood out from the average, but this didn't hold up well.
This is short, and probably will have appeal (male protagonist, mysterious and attractive femme (fatale?), plane crash, mystery to solve), but I didn’t think it stood out.
I didn’t agree with Finn’s decisions either, I don’t know how male readers feel about him, but he annoyed me with his choices (and the results of them seemed pretty obvious to me). I also didn’t like Maddie at all, and really didn’t want to know her history and back-story.
Not a stand-out for me, it is a popular genre though, so will probably be popular.
Some sexual scenes, violence and upsetting death scenes to be aware of.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
A terrific opener on a plane, a very tense scene as a trip quickly degenerates into a dangerous and then fatal air incident. Finn feels an attraction to fellow passenger Maddie, but quickly realises she may have something to hide. Or can be believe her?
After a corker of an opener (not many books start with a plane crash), I actually felt myself losing interest as it became a bit more of a bland do-we-trust-her? story, though the implications of the flight’s end are explored quite movingly.
It might be because I’m comparing this to other ‘thrillers’ I read recently that stood out from the average, but this didn't hold up well.
This is short, and probably will have appeal (male protagonist, mysterious and attractive femme (fatale?), plane crash, mystery to solve), but I didn’t think it stood out.
I didn’t agree with Finn’s decisions either, I don’t know how male readers feel about him, but he annoyed me with his choices (and the results of them seemed pretty obvious to me). I also didn’t like Maddie at all, and really didn’t want to know her history and back-story.
Not a stand-out for me, it is a popular genre though, so will probably be popular.
Some sexual scenes, violence and upsetting death scenes to be aware of.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance copy, sent for review purposes.
erinnejc's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this novel It was well written, and kept me turning the pages. Would read more by this author.
portybelle's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a big fan of Doug Johnstone's books and heard him mention this book briefly last year at the book launch for his previous novel The Jump. I am not a fan of flying, however, and this book did little to dispel my fears! It begins with Finn Sullivan meeting and having a few drinks with stranger Maddie Pierce at Kirkwall airport after their flight is delayed due to bad weather. Once in the air, in the tiny plane, Finn becomes involved in a fight with an oil worker who is harrassing Maddie - a bit of a nightmare scenario for me! I don't think, given the title and cover of the book, that's it's giving much away to say that the plane then crashes.
This is book which will make you think about the consequences of your actions. Although not directly responsible for the plane crash, Finn's decision to defend Maddie leads to the crash and to him making a whole lot of other bad decisions. At least I felt they were bad. One lie just seemed to lead to another and I was wondering what on earth he was thinking! It is also a book about who you can or should trust. Although he didn't really know her at all, Finn felt he could trust her rather than people he had known for years. Because of his decisions, he put himself in such danger.
Doug Johnstone has created the perfect ratio of tension, drama, excitement and danger throughout the book. With all the action taking place against the beautiful though rugged Orcadian landscape, I felt this was a book which would lend itself well to a film version. I particularly liked how the ending was a bit ambiguous, leaving me wondering just what had happened to Maddie - and what decision Finn would make next! A taut thriller, Crash Land is another excellent read from Doug Johnstone.
Thanks to the publishers Faber & Faber for my copy of the book via Netgalley.
This is book which will make you think about the consequences of your actions. Although not directly responsible for the plane crash, Finn's decision to defend Maddie leads to the crash and to him making a whole lot of other bad decisions. At least I felt they were bad. One lie just seemed to lead to another and I was wondering what on earth he was thinking! It is also a book about who you can or should trust. Although he didn't really know her at all, Finn felt he could trust her rather than people he had known for years. Because of his decisions, he put himself in such danger.
Doug Johnstone has created the perfect ratio of tension, drama, excitement and danger throughout the book. With all the action taking place against the beautiful though rugged Orcadian landscape, I felt this was a book which would lend itself well to a film version. I particularly liked how the ending was a bit ambiguous, leaving me wondering just what had happened to Maddie - and what decision Finn would make next! A taut thriller, Crash Land is another excellent read from Doug Johnstone.
Thanks to the publishers Faber & Faber for my copy of the book via Netgalley.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
Even though I have enjoyed all this authors novels, Hit and Run has always been my personal favourite. Well, that is until today. After reading Crash Land, it is without a doubt now my firm favourite, very closely followed by Hit and Run.
Crash Land is a very atmospheric read. Set in Orkney you get a real feel for how isolated a lot of the area is. No doubt it is a beautiful place but due to the story line it left me feeling quite chilled to the bone. The weather can be relentless at times and some parts of the story made me want to snuggle underneath a warm duvet with a nice hot drink.
Finn is just your average Joe. He is slowly strolling through life and letting it just take him where ever it goes. Meeting Maddie seems to awaken him and it is like he has become a different person. Where as before he was a law abiding citizen, Maddie makes him more reckless. It is obvious that he is infatuated with her and is more than happy to throw caution to the wind by helping her hide from the police.
From getting on the plane, Finn’s world seems to spiral out of control. Being involved in a plane crash that leaves several people dead certainly doesn’t seem to knock any sense into him. Maddie just seems to have a cast a spell on him that he can’t break. In a way he does come across as being quite weak as he fully lets her manipulate him, but overall I still found him a likeable character.
Maddie is a very complex character. I really wanted to believe her innocence in everything that was happening but there was just something about her that I didn’t know if I could fully trust. She certainly manages to not only captivate Finn, but the reader also.
Crash Land is an absolute cracker of a read. It is full of suspense and intrigue and I was hooked from start to finish. The author manages to keep you guessing while playing with your mind. With quite a few OMG moments, this is without a doubt a must read for fans of psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Crash Land is a very atmospheric read. Set in Orkney you get a real feel for how isolated a lot of the area is. No doubt it is a beautiful place but due to the story line it left me feeling quite chilled to the bone. The weather can be relentless at times and some parts of the story made me want to snuggle underneath a warm duvet with a nice hot drink.
Finn is just your average Joe. He is slowly strolling through life and letting it just take him where ever it goes. Meeting Maddie seems to awaken him and it is like he has become a different person. Where as before he was a law abiding citizen, Maddie makes him more reckless. It is obvious that he is infatuated with her and is more than happy to throw caution to the wind by helping her hide from the police.
From getting on the plane, Finn’s world seems to spiral out of control. Being involved in a plane crash that leaves several people dead certainly doesn’t seem to knock any sense into him. Maddie just seems to have a cast a spell on him that he can’t break. In a way he does come across as being quite weak as he fully lets her manipulate him, but overall I still found him a likeable character.
Maddie is a very complex character. I really wanted to believe her innocence in everything that was happening but there was just something about her that I didn’t know if I could fully trust. She certainly manages to not only captivate Finn, but the reader also.
Crash Land is an absolute cracker of a read. It is full of suspense and intrigue and I was hooked from start to finish. The author manages to keep you guessing while playing with your mind. With quite a few OMG moments, this is without a doubt a must read for fans of psychological thrillers.
My thanks to Netgalley and Faber & Faber for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
sammyastevens's review against another edition
5.0
Thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially given it was a blind pick from the local library, will definitely keep an eye out for others from Doug Johnstone
bibliophilebookclub's review against another edition
4.0
Bloody hell that Doug Johnstone knows how to hook a reader! Crash Land starts of with a bang and the pace is absolutely relentless. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours, reading at every available opportunity to see what the hell was going on!
Starting off innocuously enough, the reader meets Finn waiting at the airport for his flight home. Seeing Maddie in the lounge getting hassle, he goes to try and help her out. This moment will change the course of their lives forever.
I’ve read a couple of books based in Orkney lately, so I’m relatively familiar with the landscape thanks to the various descriptions and locations used. I actually had an idea where the author was talking about at times! Orkney is a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and this only serves to make it all the more atmospheric.
Crash Land is gripping from the outset. Full of action, secrets and lies. And listen, we all know that these can come back to bite you in the behind and it’s no different here. It’s an exceptionally fast paced read, with plenty of different avenues for the reader to get lost in which I love. That’s what keeps me reading. Put me off the scent and I’ll keep reading until I damn well figure it out!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got lost in the pages, and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about how soon until I could get back into it. This was my first book from Doug Johnstone but it certainly won’t be my last.
Highly recommended!
Starting off innocuously enough, the reader meets Finn waiting at the airport for his flight home. Seeing Maddie in the lounge getting hassle, he goes to try and help her out. This moment will change the course of their lives forever.
I’ve read a couple of books based in Orkney lately, so I’m relatively familiar with the landscape thanks to the various descriptions and locations used. I actually had an idea where the author was talking about at times! Orkney is a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and this only serves to make it all the more atmospheric.
Crash Land is gripping from the outset. Full of action, secrets and lies. And listen, we all know that these can come back to bite you in the behind and it’s no different here. It’s an exceptionally fast paced read, with plenty of different avenues for the reader to get lost in which I love. That’s what keeps me reading. Put me off the scent and I’ll keep reading until I damn well figure it out!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got lost in the pages, and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about how soon until I could get back into it. This was my first book from Doug Johnstone but it certainly won’t be my last.
Highly recommended!
zog_the_frog's review against another edition
Johnstone doing what he does best. Taking a drama and turning it into a crisis. Well written and a great story with too many twist and turns to mention, every one taking you down the wrong road. Really enjoyed it.
bibliophilebookclub's review
4.0
Bloody hell that Doug Johnstone knows how to hook a reader! Crash Land starts of with a bang and the pace is absolutely relentless. I devoured this book in less than 24 hours, reading at every available opportunity to see what the hell was going on!
Starting off innocuously enough, the reader meets Finn waiting at the airport for his flight home. Seeing Maddie in the lounge getting hassle, he goes to try and help her out. This moment will change the course of their lives forever.
I’ve read a couple of books based in Orkney lately, so I’m relatively familiar with the landscape thanks to the various descriptions and locations used. I actually had an idea where the author was talking about at times! Orkney is a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and this only serves to make it all the more atmospheric.
Crash Land is gripping from the outset. Full of action, secrets and lies. And listen, we all know that these can come back to bite you in the behind and it’s no different here. It’s an exceptionally fast paced read, with plenty of different avenues for the reader to get lost in which I love. That’s what keeps me reading. Put me off the scent and I’ll keep reading until I damn well figure it out!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got lost in the pages, and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about how soon until I could get back into it. This was my first book from Doug Johnstone but it certainly won’t be my last.
Highly recommended!
Starting off innocuously enough, the reader meets Finn waiting at the airport for his flight home. Seeing Maddie in the lounge getting hassle, he goes to try and help her out. This moment will change the course of their lives forever.
I’ve read a couple of books based in Orkney lately, so I’m relatively familiar with the landscape thanks to the various descriptions and locations used. I actually had an idea where the author was talking about at times! Orkney is a harsh and unforgiving landscape, and this only serves to make it all the more atmospheric.
Crash Land is gripping from the outset. Full of action, secrets and lies. And listen, we all know that these can come back to bite you in the behind and it’s no different here. It’s an exceptionally fast paced read, with plenty of different avenues for the reader to get lost in which I love. That’s what keeps me reading. Put me off the scent and I’ll keep reading until I damn well figure it out!!!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I got lost in the pages, and when I wasn’t reading it I was thinking about how soon until I could get back into it. This was my first book from Doug Johnstone but it certainly won’t be my last.
Highly recommended!
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