Review: Freefall by Jessica Barry

Title: Freefall by Jessica Barry
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 368 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

A propulsive debut novel with the intensity of Luckiest Girl Alive and Before the Fall, about a young woman determined to survive and a mother determined to find her.

When your life is a lie, the truth can kill you

When her fiancé’s private plane crashes in the Colorado Rockies, Allison Carpenter miraculously survives. But the fight for her life is just beginning. Allison has been living with a terrible secret, a shocking truth that powerful men will kill to keep buried. If they know she’s alive, they will come for her. She must make it home.

In the small community of Owl Creek, Maine, Maggie Carpenter learns that her only child is presumed dead. But authorities have not recovered her body—giving Maggie a shred of hope. She, too, harbors a shameful secret: she hasn’t communicated with her daughter in two years, since a family tragedy drove Allison away. Maggie doesn’t know anything about her daughter’s life now—not even that she was engaged to wealthy pharmaceutical CEO Ben Gardner, or why she was on a private plane.

As Allison struggles across the treacherous mountain wilderness, Maggie embarks on a desperate search for answers. Immersing herself in Allison’s life, she discovers a sleek socialite hiding dark secrets. What was Allison running from—and can Maggie uncover the truth in time to save her?

Told from the perspectives of a mother and daughter separated by distance but united by an unbreakable bond, Freefall is a riveting debut novel about two tenacious women overcoming unimaginable obstacles to protect themselves and those they love.

Review:

Freefall is a riveting and suspenseful debut mystery by Jessica Barry.

Maggie Carpenter is heartbroken at the news that her estranged thirty-one year old daughter, Allison, has been in a fatal airplane crash. Unable to understand the stunning revelations in the wake of Allison’s and her fiancé Ben Gardener’s deaths, Maggie begins digging into her daughter’s life.  How did Ally go from working at an upstart magazine to her engagement to the wealthy CEO of  pharmaceutical company Prexilane Industries? The more she uncovers about her daughter’s life, the more certain she becomes that Allison might still be alive.

Maggie’s instincts are spot on since Allison has, against all odds, survived the crash but Ben is not as fortunate. Frightened that she will be found by someone who wants to harm her, Allison gathers as many supplies as she can and heads off into the wilderness. Badly injured, her survival instinct keeps her going when she is in danger of giving up. Somehow managing to beat the elements, Allison’s concern for her own safety quickly diminishes when she learns her mother is in grave danger.

Interspersed with Maggie’s investigation and Allison’s flight to safety are chapters from an unknown person who makes it very clear that he will not stop until he locates Allison.  Despite suffering from serious injuries, Allison manages to stay a few steps ahead of her pursuer. Unfortunately, her luck might about to be run out, but Allison refuses to go down without a fight.

Allison’s life during her estrangement from Maggie is revealed through a series of flashbacks.  While her life is in a downward spiral, she crosses paths with Ben. She is grateful for his willingness to overlook the circumstances of how they met and Allison is happy with Ben. Never quite fitting in with his wealthy friends and business associates, she is often at loose ends while he is working. Approached by a stranger, Allison’s fears her past is catching up with her are laid to rest by some very shocking disclosures that she finds virtually impossible to believe.

Freefall is a well-written mystery that is absolutely spellbinding. Maggie and Allison are well-drawn, three dimensional characters with all too human frailties and admirable strengths. The plot is engaging and the short chapters create a sense of urgency that keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. Jessica Barry’s debut is a thrilling adventure that I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend to fans of the genre.