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coulterdaniel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
shelfreflectionofficial's review against another edition
2.0
Sure, it’s a clean read, and I do appreciate that, but I just can’t get to the five stars so many others can. Feel free to read my reasoning below. I know it seems like I’m writing spoilers, but I’m really not.
Mills doesn’t waste any time getting into it. We immediately find out a virus has been unleashed on passengers of an airborne flight. Considering our current Covid situation, I was intrigued by this premise and wanted to give this book a chance, even though I’m fairly picky about my Christian authors (due to hokey-ness or preachy-ness).
And here is Mills’ first major mistake: the FBI’s first major suspect in this act of bioterrorism. The main character, FBI agent Heather Lawrence, is on the plane. By herself- because her husband has been begging her for a divorce. Her husband also happens to work for the CDC researching and studying viruses and is passionate about helping people and finding cures. Which this all apparently makes the perfect storm. Clearly he MUST have released the virus to kill his wife so he can finally be free from her. And even though there is no other evidence linking him to the crime, and even though his life work is stopping viruses, it makes perfect sense that he has turned so evil that he is willing to kill hundreds of people (no, not the thousands that Covid has, just hundreds because we’re going BIG on this story) just to kill his wife who won’t sign divorce papers. I mean if that’s not 0 to 100 in 2.5 seconds I don’t know what is.
And not only does the FBI strongly believe they have the culprit, and all the media, and every person who watched the news, but his own Christian wife who knows him better than anyone is wondering if he did it too. People fall out of love (unfortunately) all the time. But they either divorce or one of them kills the other in a far more normal and accessible way- not releasing a never before seen virus on an international plane with the potential for a global pandemic. Someone doesn’t ‘just become’ that evil.
And then! We are told Heather has a secret! Suspense! What could it be?! Well, all we have to do is read one more page to find out what it is! She’s pregnant! Exit suspense. And then she tells everyone. I guess she doesn’t need it to be a secret anymore. And also her evil terrorist husband doesn’t even care.
And then! Her husband claims innocence and seeks to clear his name. He uncovers way more convincing and practical evidence on another suspect than what they have on him, gives it to the FBI and they say, ‘That’s pretty far-fetched, man. We’re going to need more evidence than that that will stand up in court. Why don’t you let the professionals do their job?’
And then! Heather decides she was wrong about him and decides he could not have been so evil and actually maybe they should get back together. Oh, shoot, he hates God, though. Never mind, not an option.
And then! In the middle of all this terrible chaos, Heather has the NERVE to eat ice cream. And I quote:
“Had she lost her mind? People were dying. A virus had the potential to kill people around the world. And she was hungry? Embarrassing. Shameful. And true.”
And then! Heather is talking to her husband and lists off the three suspects who have died over the course of the investigation. Then says, ‘And a woman was murdered here but no one is investigating.’ Suspense! Just kidding. That’s the first and last time we hear of this murdered woman. She matters for nothing. Move along. No one wants to hear about an unidentified woman being murdered.
Let’s also mention Mills’ sentence structure. Way too many sentences structured like this one. Can’t stand these. Don’t have a subject. Or her sentences just don’t make sense, several times I had to reread things to understand. And so much of her dialogue was stilted. Vocabulary that was unnatural in normal conversations. People jumping from one topic to something completely different in content or tone one sentence later. Back and forth.
Sooo.... I’m landing on 2 stars, because clearly some people love this book, and if you’re one of them, more power to ya. I’m not going to say ‘no one read this.’ *shrugs*
But in the words of Randy Jackson, “It’s a no for me dawg.”
***Received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
Mills doesn’t waste any time getting into it. We immediately find out a virus has been unleashed on passengers of an airborne flight. Considering our current Covid situation, I was intrigued by this premise and wanted to give this book a chance, even though I’m fairly picky about my Christian authors (due to hokey-ness or preachy-ness).
And here is Mills’ first major mistake: the FBI’s first major suspect in this act of bioterrorism. The main character, FBI agent Heather Lawrence, is on the plane. By herself- because her husband has been begging her for a divorce. Her husband also happens to work for the CDC researching and studying viruses and is passionate about helping people and finding cures. Which this all apparently makes the perfect storm. Clearly he MUST have released the virus to kill his wife so he can finally be free from her. And even though there is no other evidence linking him to the crime, and even though his life work is stopping viruses, it makes perfect sense that he has turned so evil that he is willing to kill hundreds of people (no, not the thousands that Covid has, just hundreds because we’re going BIG on this story) just to kill his wife who won’t sign divorce papers. I mean if that’s not 0 to 100 in 2.5 seconds I don’t know what is.
And not only does the FBI strongly believe they have the culprit, and all the media, and every person who watched the news, but his own Christian wife who knows him better than anyone is wondering if he did it too. People fall out of love (unfortunately) all the time. But they either divorce or one of them kills the other in a far more normal and accessible way- not releasing a never before seen virus on an international plane with the potential for a global pandemic. Someone doesn’t ‘just become’ that evil.
And then! We are told Heather has a secret! Suspense! What could it be?! Well, all we have to do is read one more page to find out what it is! She’s pregnant! Exit suspense. And then she tells everyone. I guess she doesn’t need it to be a secret anymore. And also her evil terrorist husband doesn’t even care.
And then! Her husband claims innocence and seeks to clear his name. He uncovers way more convincing and practical evidence on another suspect than what they have on him, gives it to the FBI and they say, ‘That’s pretty far-fetched, man. We’re going to need more evidence than that that will stand up in court. Why don’t you let the professionals do their job?’
And then! Heather decides she was wrong about him and decides he could not have been so evil and actually maybe they should get back together. Oh, shoot, he hates God, though. Never mind, not an option.
And then! In the middle of all this terrible chaos, Heather has the NERVE to eat ice cream. And I quote:
“Had she lost her mind? People were dying. A virus had the potential to kill people around the world. And she was hungry? Embarrassing. Shameful. And true.”
And then! Heather is talking to her husband and lists off the three suspects who have died over the course of the investigation. Then says, ‘And a woman was murdered here but no one is investigating.’ Suspense! Just kidding. That’s the first and last time we hear of this murdered woman. She matters for nothing. Move along. No one wants to hear about an unidentified woman being murdered.
Let’s also mention Mills’ sentence structure. Way too many sentences structured like this one. Can’t stand these. Don’t have a subject. Or her sentences just don’t make sense, several times I had to reread things to understand. And so much of her dialogue was stilted. Vocabulary that was unnatural in normal conversations. People jumping from one topic to something completely different in content or tone one sentence later. Back and forth.
Sooo.... I’m landing on 2 stars, because clearly some people love this book, and if you’re one of them, more power to ya. I’m not going to say ‘no one read this.’ *shrugs*
But in the words of Randy Jackson, “It’s a no for me dawg.”
***Received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review***
See more of my reviews at www.shelfreflection.com!
sfairres's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
0.25
The writing is absolutely horrible. I would have rated it slightly higher if god wasn’t being forced upon the reader though the entire thing. This is the worst book I can recall reading in the last decade at least.
shammons's review against another edition
4.0
I must admit, I’ve had this one on my TBR pile for a bit of time. It came out during the early days of the pandemic, I believe, and involves a released virus, so I wasn’t overly enthusiastic to read it. Then, of course, I picked it up while fighting Covid, so I really probably do not have the best timing on the planet, LOL! I liked that it was a stand-alone and something different (plus it filled an empty slot in my Reading Challenge), so I gave it a go. I do enjoy Ms Mills writings, but do still struggle a wee bit with her shortened sentences, especially in the dialogue. Once I get past that, I’m usually fine, and I was so with this book. Heather Lawrence is a Houston FBI agent who is is separated from her brilliant husband/doctor, Dr Chad Lawrence. Chad has moved out, and is about to take a new job with the CDC in Atlanta. Heather has always wanted to visit Salzburg, so she boards a plane, solo, to fly to Frankfurt Germany and on to Salzburg. Once on board the plane, a deadly virus is unleashed in the cabin and people begin to be very ill and die. The plane is eventually diverted to JFK and passengers sent to isolation at Jamaica hospital or to a small island for quarantine. Meanwhile, the FBI’s chief suspect - her husband Chad. I really enjoyed this one!
christygsp's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed DiAnn's writing style. The plot had such a relevant feel for the times, and yet was a story all on its own.
The characters were really good. There was a solid amount of Christian themes in this book without it being too overpowering - however I did find that SOME parts felt a little rushed.
The mystery was engaging all the way until the end, and the resolution was fantastic.
Overall, a great read!
The characters were really good. There was a solid amount of Christian themes in this book without it being too overpowering - however I did find that SOME parts felt a little rushed.
The mystery was engaging all the way until the end, and the resolution was fantastic.
Overall, a great read!
bestinsuspense's review against another edition
4.0
Airborne takes readers on an action-packed adventure where biological weapons in the form of a deadly virus are unleashed on an unsuspecting airplane full of people. The virus acts fast, and Heather Lawrence, an FBI behavioral analyst, happens to be on the flight and immediately starts to work on assessing the situation.
The story is intense. People are dying, trapped on a plane circling the airport because if they land, they risk triggering a pandemic. Heather’s estranged husband is a suspect, since Chad works in a laboratory that has been researching viruses. The suspense continues as the FBI hunts for the responsible party behind the attack.
I know the author wrote this story before we actually had a pandemic, making the story very timely. Lots of issues surround finding a vaccine and isolating the passengers of the plane that are exposed to the virus. The plot is complex with lots of twists. The story also focuses on Chad and Heather and their dying marriage. Lots of faith elements come to light as Chad struggles with “God vs science” and Heather tries to pick up the pieces of their marriage.
Overall, I enjoyed the action, suspense, and drama, and highly recommend that suspense fans check out Airborne.
Overall Rating:
4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating:
5 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
The story is intense. People are dying, trapped on a plane circling the airport because if they land, they risk triggering a pandemic. Heather’s estranged husband is a suspect, since Chad works in a laboratory that has been researching viruses. The suspense continues as the FBI hunts for the responsible party behind the attack.
I know the author wrote this story before we actually had a pandemic, making the story very timely. Lots of issues surround finding a vaccine and isolating the passengers of the plane that are exposed to the virus. The plot is complex with lots of twists. The story also focuses on Chad and Heather and their dying marriage. Lots of faith elements come to light as Chad struggles with “God vs science” and Heather tries to pick up the pieces of their marriage.
Overall, I enjoyed the action, suspense, and drama, and highly recommend that suspense fans check out Airborne.
Overall Rating:
4 stars (I liked it a lot and would definitely recommend)
Suspense Rating:
5 stars (lots of action and suspense to keep me intrigued)
I received an ebook review copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
nadenetotallyaddictedtoreading's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I decided to read Airborne by DiAnn Mills because the premise intrigued given all that is taking place in our world. You may be wondering why would one want to read a book such as this during this time. Well, I am a sucker for these types of stories and I just could not resist. Ironically, this book was written prior to the start of COVID-19. However, the events which unfolded were a far cry from what we are facing at the present.
The story introduces FBI agent and Behavioural Analyst Heather Lawrence, who is heading to Salzburg, Germany for vacation. She needed the time away to evaluate her life and prepare herself to once again live as a single woman. In the middle of the flight some passengers fell ill, with a few succumbing to the illness. Somehow Heather was among those who were immune. The plane had to be redirected to New York where the sick passengers were transported to the hospital and those not displaying any symptoms were quarantined on Adams Island. The question was where did the virus originate and who was behind it. Heather’s ex-husband, Chad, headed the suspect list because of his work with viruses and his to end his marriage. Was he guilty or is someone trying to frame him?
The characters were persons one could relate to. Heather and Chad are experience marital problems. Heather is a Christian while husband is an atheist. This was a huge issue and the primary reason for the breakdown of their marriage. The author portrayed their struggles with communication, doubts, unbelief and trust quite eloquently. I enjoyed the character growth, especially as it relates to Chad. The reader also gets the religious views of a few of the secondary characters along with that of the protagonists. This was well done and did not have a preachy tone.
Now among these characters lay the villain behind the releasing of the virus. Each one was a suspect, as they all had motive and opportunity. I had a fair idea who may have been behind the mess, but it was not until near the end that the author confirmed my theory.
The author utilised the first and third person POVs to narrate the story. The author used the third person for the main characters while she applied the first person POV to the antagonist. The story does not provide much of the first person POV, but when it does it’s clear, this person is not only deadly but thinks highly of himself.
The pacing was slow and steady and not what one would expect with a suspense novel, but it worked well for this story. One thing for sure, I couldn’t wait to find to what was going to happen next.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I had a wonderful time with this book and would be reading more from this author. Airborne will appeal to readers who enjoy inspirational suspense novels.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
The story introduces FBI agent and Behavioural Analyst Heather Lawrence, who is heading to Salzburg, Germany for vacation. She needed the time away to evaluate her life and prepare herself to once again live as a single woman. In the middle of the flight some passengers fell ill, with a few succumbing to the illness. Somehow Heather was among those who were immune. The plane had to be redirected to New York where the sick passengers were transported to the hospital and those not displaying any symptoms were quarantined on Adams Island. The question was where did the virus originate and who was behind it. Heather’s ex-husband, Chad, headed the suspect list because of his work with viruses and his to end his marriage. Was he guilty or is someone trying to frame him?
The characters were persons one could relate to. Heather and Chad are experience marital problems. Heather is a Christian while husband is an atheist. This was a huge issue and the primary reason for the breakdown of their marriage. The author portrayed their struggles with communication, doubts, unbelief and trust quite eloquently. I enjoyed the character growth, especially as it relates to Chad. The reader also gets the religious views of a few of the secondary characters along with that of the protagonists. This was well done and did not have a preachy tone.
Now among these characters lay the villain behind the releasing of the virus. Each one was a suspect, as they all had motive and opportunity. I had a fair idea who may have been behind the mess, but it was not until near the end that the author confirmed my theory.
The author utilised the first and third person POVs to narrate the story. The author used the third person for the main characters while she applied the first person POV to the antagonist. The story does not provide much of the first person POV, but when it does it’s clear, this person is not only deadly but thinks highly of himself.
The pacing was slow and steady and not what one would expect with a suspense novel, but it worked well for this story. One thing for sure, I couldn’t wait to find to what was going to happen next.
Conclusion/Recommendation
I had a wonderful time with this book and would be reading more from this author. Airborne will appeal to readers who enjoy inspirational suspense novels.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
mistree's review against another edition
4.0
Went with the audio version on this one so it took longer. Pretty good.
heyanci's review against another edition
4.0
My first DiAnn Mills and I was so terrified that my anxiety would be on an all-time high because of the plot but I couldn't look away because it was so exceptionally written that my faith in God was boosted. Loved this book
100_pages_hr's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
It was a little strange reading about a highly contagious viral outbreak during a global pandemic. But it was a fast-paced read with enough twists and turns to keep me engaged.
I have to admit that I figured out who the villain was pretty fast. Mills did a good job trying to keep me guessing, but I had the person pegged pretty early. The good news is even though I figured out whodunit the motive was much more complex.
It was interesting to watch Chad's character grow throughout this book. It was a little hard to swallow how fast he made a complete change - but this is fiction.
Overall this was a good book but toward the end it started to drag on. I think it probably could have wrapped up in 50 less pages.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes Christian suspense/mystery.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
I have to admit that I figured out who the villain was pretty fast. Mills did a good job trying to keep me guessing, but I had the person pegged pretty early. The good news is even though I figured out whodunit the motive was much more complex.
It was interesting to watch Chad's character grow throughout this book. It was a little hard to swallow how fast he made a complete change - but this is fiction.
Overall this was a good book but toward the end it started to drag on. I think it probably could have wrapped up in 50 less pages.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes Christian suspense/mystery.
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Blood, Vomit, and Medical content
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Violence, and Murder
Minor: Bullying