Before the Fall by Noah Hawley

Before the Fall by Noah Hawley is both a mystery story and a social commentary.  It is an engaging read that you will be able to finish quickly, but that will leave you pondering the quirks of fate.

Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Noah Hawley’s latest novel begins with a private plane’s crash over the ocean between Martha’s Vineyard and Teterboro airport in New Jersey. Onboard are 11 people: rich executives, their spouses, two children, a painter-friend, a bodyguard, and the crew.  The mystery is whether this was an accident or an act of sabotage. The social commentary concerns the lifestyle choices made before, during and after the flight.

Yes, some passengers do survive and are later subjected to harsh media scrutiny.  Hawley is obviously playing with us and with concepts like: “Life is a series of decisions and reactions.  It is the things you do and the things that are done to you. And then it’s over.” 

Since we all have stories, unexpected encounters and feelings, Before the Fall has surprisingly wide appeal for fans of mysteries and more literary fiction.  This suspenseful tale involves a huge trust fund, phone tapping, indictments, depictions of natural disasters, and exercise star Jack LaLanne. Of course, in some ways it is sensationalized, but Before the Fall also asks that we reflect on what is ultimately important, even while continuing to guess about the most likely motive for the crash. Before the Fall received starred reviews from Booklist, Library Journal, and Publisher’s Weekly.