A new Clare Mackintosh book popping up on NetGalley is a sure fire way to get me hitting the “request” button in approximately a nanosecond. I knew the book would be good, but I wasn’t necessarily expecting quite the rollercoaster ride I actually got!

Adam, a police officer, and Mina, who works as cabin crew for a major airline - though she once planned to become a pilot - are parents to five year old Sophia, who they adopted as a baby. Although both are devoted to Sophia, family life isn’t always easy, and the chance to work on the historic first nonstop flight from London to Sydney - twenty hours in the air - is too tempting for Mina to refuse.

But will World Airlines Flight 79 ever reach its destination?

Hostage was an incredibly tense and gripping read, examining both the moral dilemma of the central character and exploring the different ways in which people can be radicalised. It’s a bit far-fetched, perhaps, at times, but it’s an absolutely compelling read, clearly well researched by the author in terms of the aviation aspects. I loved the structure of the book, alternating between Mina aboard the plane and Adam and Sophia at home, interspersed with snippets from the lives of certain passengers. The story is very cleverly written, skilfully misdirecting the reader at various points... though to day any more than that would be far too spoilery. And this is not a story where you want to be spoiled!

The end once again pulls the rug out from beneath the reader, undercutting what we thought we knew, and is all the more satisfying for it.

Many thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide an honest review. I honestly loved it.

I really enjoyed this. It was a book that started a bit slow for me but gathered pace and was excellent towards the end. A very interesting twist on reasons and compulsions behind terrorist plots.

What would you do? Choose the life of your daughter or hundreds of strangers? It’s a question that makes this a great book club choice. There is plenty in the plot to discuss and have different feelings and views over.

I got through this one quickly once I had got into it and really enjoyed it. The last couple of chapters are brilliant and tense, I’m impressed with the research done to make aspects of the story accurate and realistic.

Another gem from this author. 4 happy stars from me.

Absolutely unputdownable!! I really enjoyed this book, raced through it in a couple of days. I've read a few thrillers by Clare Mackintosh now but this one is my new fav - so gripping, so many twists, so GOOD! I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a fun new thriller that will have you turning the pages late into the night. It'll make you glad you're (probably) not going on a plane this summer too...! All the stars from me.

No question, this will be the thriller of 2021. Absolutely incredible. Hooked from the off and on the edge of my seat ever since.
A really mix of characters and like the way you get the different character perspectives, through seat numbers; you feel like you know the whole plane. The sub plots are just as engaging as the main drama too.
I've always read Claire's books, but this is by far the most thrilling, phenomenal, gripping, intriguing, moment by moment read. Wow. You will not be disappointed.

I've read and enjoyed every book by this author. No exception here. It's a dramatic thriller, full of moral dilemmas and danger - can't ask for more than that! Pacey read, interesting and complex characters, and a unique scenario.
A must-read for any thriller fans who want a book they can't put down! And that ending...

Clare Mackintosh, you are just an expert at what you do!! What is particularly refreshing for me is that Clare is writing across genres and nails them all!
This is a thriller like none I’ve read before. To be fair that’s probably because this kind of novel wouldn’t be my usual fare but I’ve read everything Clare has written so I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed.
Mina and Adam are parents to 5 year old Sophia. Mina is cabin crew for a large airline and Adam a police officer. Their marriage is falling apart, his work is falling apart due to an undisclosed gambling habit, and to top things off hijackers have targeted Minas work trip to Australia.

But the hijackers have targeted Mina specifically and have exploited her home life to pressure her to allow the hijack situation on board the aircraft to unfold.

Every single chapter is tense, totally compelling and although it felt very OTT drama at times I could not put it down, no matter how ridiculous I thought it was getting.
And that’s all down to this wonderful author. Bravo Clare, you’ve nailed it.

Mina is a flight attendant and when she chooses to work for the first non stop flight to Australia, she could never think that the unthinkable would happen. Working in Business Class, her daughter's eppi pen appears in the bar. Then there is a note addressed to her stating she must let a stranger into the flight deck, or let her daughter die!
She must choose between saving her daughter or saving everyone on the plane! The Hostage is a gripping read, very cleverly written which had me on the edge of my seat from the first page.

There are plenty of underlying plot details that weave into the story to make it brilliant.

Some really good bits in here,the beginning and end especially.
Also the different voices of the passengers,little glimpses into their life .
I found some of it a little lacking though,not enough tension for me.
I do like Mackintosh and the way she writes,this just wasn't my favourite.

Wow what a story loved this and read in a couple of sittings. I have loved other books by this author and what I love is that each are completely different but equally as compelling. A must read my favourite book of the year so far!

I absolutely couldn’t wait to read this as I love this authors thrillers.
The book starts off brilliantly and follows Adam and Mina separately on their journeys. Mina is on a non stop flight to Sydney, whilst Adam is left at home looking after their young daughter with the help
of a nanny.
The lead up to the Hostage situation is fast paced and so tense as the hours count down to landing in Sydney. Not only does Mina have a huge decision to make on board the flight as an attendant, but Adam is also having major life threatening issues to deal with too.
And then the reasoning for the Hostage situation is revealed, and sadly that is where it kind of fell flat for me. In a thriller, for me personally, I expect something quite sinister or that literally makes me gasp with shock. I felt quite underwhelmed by this “theme”. It was after this point that I felt the storyline dipped and lost my focus.
Once I got to the end of the book, I did like how it was finished off.
I’m giving this book 3 and a half stars because I did enjoy most of the book.

I’ve read all of Clare MacKintosh books and was excited to receive an advance copy of this one. It certainly didn’t disappoint! Fast paced and edge of your seat action! It’s the first non stop 20 hour flight from London to Sydney, and a lot can happen in 20 hours!
My only very slight annoyance was trying to remember all the character names and who was who based on their seat numbers! However, this does not stop me giving it 5 stars!

It’s the first non-stop 20-hour flight from London to Sydney and the atmosphere is electric. Many have paid a lot of money to be part of this history making journey – but it seems it could be making headlines for all the wrong reasons. Mina, a flight attendant, has managed to get on board the plane and is happy to have a few days away from her estranged husband and her five-year-old daughter whose behaviour is challenging to say the least. At least when she’s in the sky, she can look after her business class guests. But when Mina receives an anonymous note shortly after take off, a note that suggests she do everything she can to ensure the plan does not reach Sydney – or there will be consequences – will she agree to co-operate? Meanwhile at home, her family have been pulled into upheaval… You really get the sense of tension throughout the book as you count down the hours that the plane has left before reaching its destination, plus we get an insight into some of the passengers and their reasons for taking the flight. The ending is particularly good and suggests it’s important to never underestimate anyone.

Clare Mackintosh is one of my go to authors and her latest, Hostage, delivers as well as the best of her back catalogue.

Mina is cabin crew on an inaugural non-stop London to Sydney flight. Packed full of the great and good, Mina is working in Business Class when things begin to take a sinister turn. Thoroughly enjoyable and twisty throughout, this will keep you guessing and gasping until the end. I read it in 2 sittings. A thrilling 4.5* and a welcome adventure into big ticket excitement.

Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown for the ARC.

Whilst I did enjoy this book, it didn't have the wow factor from me that I would have expected. I live the premise of the story, but I found there were too many different characters and I lost track of who was who. Especially when you had to remember seat numbers, their real names and then their aliases.

Still a good read, but I felt trying to concentrate distracted me a lot.

3.5*

Mina and her husband, Adam, are going through a separation and trying to care for their daughter, Sophie, with Mina wanting minimal contact with him. When Mina is working as an air hostess on a world breaking non stop flight to Australia she leaves Adam to care for Sophie but she feel uneasy about the flight. When one of the passengers leaves her a note telling her to meet their demands or her daughter will die. She must risk the plane’s passengers and crew for her own family.
What a read! I could not put this down and sat up until 2 reading it as I was so engrossed! Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A fast-paced read, filled with twists and turns I didn’t see coming. The best book I’ve read this year so far. Mina volunteers for the inaugural first direct flight from London to Sydney. Twenty hours in the air. The story weaves from Mina in the air to her husband Adam at home with their daughter Sophia. The point of view varies to reflect various passengers leaving the reader guessing just who is involved.
The storyline is original and leaves the reader questioning what you would do in their situation. Believable characters told in a fast-paced story that hooks you in from the start and keeps the reader enthralled to the last line. I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
#Hostage #NetGalley

I’m a big fan of Clare Mackintosh’s books and have read all her novels so far. I was very excited for this book and had high expectations.

This story centres around Mina and Adam, a married couple, and their adopted daughter Sophia. Sophia has behavioural difficulties due to childhood trauma and this has affected Adam’s ability to bond with her. Adam and Mina have separated as Mina suspects he’s been cheating on her.

Mina is a flight attendant and is part of the crew for the inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney. Normally confident about flying, Mina has a niggling sense of unease before boarding. During the flight, things start to go wrong and Mina finds she’s been targeted. She’s left facing an impossible decision and the clock is ticking. Trapped on a plane, who can she trust?

Meanwhile, Adam finds that his deception is catching up with him, and it’s not only Mina who’s being targeted.

‘A lot can happen in twenty hours.’

The story is mainly told from Mina and Adam’s point of view, and also certain passengers on the plane.
I liked this technique as it leaves you on a cliffhanger with what’s going on with each character. The insights into the passengers lives were varied and interesting, but not intrusive and didn’t detract from the story.

Mina, Adam and Sophia are all well-developed characters and you feel like you can just picture them. For some reason, I couldn’t warm to Mina and I can’t put my finger on why. I did eventually like Adam and ended up feeling sorry for him. My favourite character was Sophia which surprised me as I’m not a fan of children. I liked the fact she was much wiser than her years and so perceptive and bright.

The idea for the plot is great and shows how a range of people from all walks of life can be radicalised and brainwashed online.
The fear and mass hysteria of hundreds of passengers trapped on a plane is palpable. I can’t imagine what I would do if I was in Mina’s shoes, or even on the plane.
I enjoyed the different strands to the story - Mina’s past, Adam’s deception, their relationship and struggles. As the characters were so defined I didn’t find this confusing and felt it explained a lot of their decisions.
It was good to see the family dynamic change and strengthen after such a traumatic time.

Clare has clearly put a lot of effort into researching the book yet it didn’t feel jargon heavy or inauthentic.

I read this book in a couple of days as I just had to find out what was going to happen!

For the first half I was curious as to what was going to happen and then I raced through the second half as the thrill and tension really ramped up.

The conclusion of the incident on the plane was satisfying and I expected the story to wind down after that. Of course, I was wrong and the ending was clever and very fitting.

I stayed up late to finish this book and I highly recommend it, particularly if you’re a fan of thrillers.

Big thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for an advance copy for review.

Wow! I am a huge fan of Clare Mackintosh’s books and had high hopes for this one. I wasn’t disappointed. This is an extremely well researched, gripping thriller and is definitely not predictable! Highly recommended. And if you haven’t read Clare’s other books, read those too as you’re missing out!

I am a big fan of Clare MacKintosh, I really like her style of writing. But this one for me was a little bit off and not quite up to her usual standard.

For me I felt that there were too many stories going on at the same time.

The ending was almost a little rushed and far fetched but it did grip me and keep me reading to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for my ARC in return for an honest review.

Brilliant book, told from the viewpoints of several characters. There is Mina, the air hostess who receives a threat to her daughter while she is on board the first ever non-stop flight to Australia which has a lot of public interest and Adam, her estranged husband who has his own problems. Then we get the back story of some of the passengers on the flight.
I loved this book. It was realistic, tense and exciting. I have read and loved all of Clare’s books, but I feel this is her best yet. Absolutely brilliant!