This novel started off really interesting. A woman wakes up next to a dead body and has no idea how it died and only a vague idea of how the vodka-fueled hookup could have ended so poorly. I was hooked for the first few chapters as we followed Cassie's drunken memories and reactions to this unexpected chain of events. I found myself wondering what I would have done in that situation and how it was going to play out.

Then the middle of the book happened. We know who killed the dude so there is no mystery of "did she or didn't she", a good 30% of the dialogue centered around Cassie's alcoholism. People admonishing her for drinking too much, her admonishing herself about drinking too much. Even total strangers telling her she drinks too much.

The final third redeemed itself somewhat by providing a slight twist that I didn't really predict but seemed to fit. Skip the epilogue though...it was unnecessary and kind of made me angry.

So - on my rating scale it ended up a solid three. I didn't hate it but I didn't love it, but I think there is an audience for it so definitely give it a try.

I'd like to thank Chris Bohjalian, NetGalley, and Doubleday publishing for providing me a Kindle copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What an unlikable main character. Made it hard to enjoy the book with such a mess of a character and the constant horrible choices she made. I did enjoy learning about flight attendants in general however. Secondary characters were much better written.

The first book I reviewed on Girl Who Reads was by Chris Bohjalian. I loved that book so much that I had to start the blog. I felt the same way about his latest novel The Flight Attendant. It was so good.

Bohjalian has created two female characters that are in turns sympathetic. Though you probably wouldn't be best friends with either one of them.

Cassie is a self-destructive flight attendant. She is spiraling out of control and even though when she hits what would be rock bottom for most people, waking beside a slain man, she still continues to find new lows. Even before she is wholly convinced she didn't kill him, the reader somehow knows that she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Perhaps it is my strong affinity to the underdog, but I was rooting for Cassie from the start. This created a great amount of anxiety for me - waiting for the shoe to drop. First, it was waking beside a dead man who wasn't her husband while in Dubai - they imprison women just for having sex out of wedlock what do they do if one is found guilty of murder? Then it was her unease and failure to take steps she had promised herself - get a lawyer, stop drinking, etc.

It wasn't until about the middle of the book when it became clear what everyone was looking for that the trepidation eased. I still wasn't sure Cassie wasn't going to jail because she seemed incapable of helping herself - it was more than that. It was like she wanted to be found guilty as she seemed to do everything that could hurt her. Good thing she had some good people looking out for her.

Then there is the other female character Elena. Elena seemed to be shrouded in shadow so it took a little longer to feel sympathy for her. In the end, I was hoping both could have a happy ending.

Bohjalian's careful attention to detail made this story and the people feel so realistic. I loved how he subtlely wove details of everyday life as well as technical details of the various characters' occupation into the story. It really showed off Bohjalian's mastery of storytelling.

I loved every aspect of The Flight Attendant. Even though it didn't end quite the way I had hoped - my version was more wishful thinking rather than a realistic conclusion given the situation.

If you are looking for a well-written thriller where you figure enough out that you think you know how everything is going to be only to be surprised by an unseen twist, then this is the book to pick up. It is truly a delicious thriller.

This book was a definite page turned with twists and turns along the ride. I did think it could be a tad bit faster paced, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I would definitely read more work by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Chris Bohjalian for the book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this one! Read it fast. I needed to know what was going to happen! I was thrown at first because I assumed the book would be about whether she did it or not, but it wasn't, you find out right away and then it's about so much more than that! There's a side story line consisting of nasty scary Russian underground! Loved it! Twists and turns. Things I didn't see coming, which isn't super easy to do anymore!

Only crazy thing was the epilogue was a BIT confusing as far as what actually happened. I wish that was a little clearer. But overall my first Bohjalian read and it was an A+!

The Flight Attendant is a fantastic slow-burn of a mystery filled with espionage and adventure. The plot is complex and full of twists. If you're looking for a fresh take on the espionage thriller, be sure to check out The Flight Attendant today!

This was actually my first Chris Bohjalian novel. The story was full of a slow-burning tension and it sucked me right in. I was not too excited about the ending, but otherwise I really enjoyed this one!

Cassie Bowden, the flight attendant in Chris Bohjalian's latest novel, leads such a dissolute life that it's hard to imagine how she can manage her job. Every chance she gets, she drinks to a blackout state, sleeps with whatever man happens to be handy, and makes disastrous decisions. At the start of this book, her latest disastrous decision results in her waking up covered with the blood of the dead man beside her and with no memory of how he died. Was she responsible for his death – she doesn't think so, but she really couldn't say for certain. Her decision about how to react to this situation is true to character, as she avoids doing anything other than running from the posh hotel room in Dubai and back to her plane to the U.S.

Since she met the dead man, Alex, when he was very much alive and a passenger on the plane to Dubai, she is interviewed by FBI agents who seem much more concerned about what he might have discussed with her than they are about his death. Cassie has a brother-in-law who is involved in the top-secret destruction of nerve gas, and since there is some sort of concern that Alex may have been involved in Russian spying, this makes Cassie a person of interest. And, of course, flying all over the world puts her in a perfect profession to be a courier. But whatever Alex might have been, Cassie is no spy. She is just a woman who makes poor decisions with great frequency.

Much of the book is told from Cassie's confused perspective, while other sections are told from the perspective of Alex's killer. These sections fill in the gaps as to why the FBI (or is it CIA, Cassie is not so sure) is so interested in the case. Cassie's lifestyle is captivatingly fascinating, and it is hard to put the book down because of the potential train wreck that seems to be just around every corner. Bohjalian has created a character in Cassie that is compelling, if not sympathetic. The killer is equally gripping, but likewise not anyone you'd truly like to spend time with. The twists that tie the plot together are classic Bohjalian, and the descriptions of the locations to which Cassie travels add to the reading experience.

In the end, everything comes together in a nice neat package. Perhaps it happens too quickly and is a bit too neat, but it does make sense and the reader will come away from the book with a reassuring sense of closure.

Amazing, amazing read!! Hooked me right from the start and I couldn't put it down! I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this and have been recommending it to my customers non stop!!

FABULOUS!!! I can’t say enough good things about this book. 5 star suspense for me.

Bohjalian is a master of the slow, beautifully-written build up, but sometimes his endings need work. This latest novel is definite proof of that. It's good, but the abrupt ending kind of ruined it for me.

Thx to Netgalley, Doubleday, and Chris Bohjalian for this ARC. One of my favorite books this year.!
There are so many intricate weaving of storylines here. Each new chapter brought me one step closer to adventure, mystery, espionage, and even a seemingly kind of friendship for me of all these characters. I even found that I felt sorry for, but started liking the female enemy. There are a few endings in this book, and I saw none of them coming. I would love to see “The Flight Attendant” as a series. This book was so good ! !

Cassie is a flight attendant who also happens to be an alcoholic – severe alcoholic to the extent that she gets black-out drunk on a regular basis. On a flight to Dubai, she hits it off with Alex, a handsome first class passenger. After Alex takes her to dinner, she spends the night in his hotel room instead of the room provided by the airline. They have one drink, then another, then another…Then Alex’s friend Miranda stops by with a full bottle of vodka and they drink even more.

In the morning, Cassie wakes up in bed next to Alex. There’s a problem – Alex is dead. His throat has been slit and there is blood everywhere. Unfortunately, Cassie drank so much that she can’t remember a thing after Miranda left. What happened? Did she do it? Could she really have killed a man and not remember it? And why would she do that in the first place? She and Alex had a great time. Just in case, she wipes down the hotel room and destroys as much of the evidence as she can.

As you can probably tell from my summary, Cassie is a VERY frustrating character who makes VERY bad choices. She fully admits she has a drinking problem but even waking up beside a dead man isn’t enough to make her quit. She continually ignores the advice of the lawyer she retains just in case she’s charged with Alex’s murder to the point that I wanted to shake her silly.

Obviously, whether or not Cassie or someone else killed Alex is a mystery but there are other mysteries (that I can’t tell you about because they would be spoilers) on top of mysteries. And I was continually surprised by the many twists and turns the story took. I truly did not see them coming, especially the ending. Which, by the way, ties everything up in a neat little bow, which I loved! All mysteries are solved.

I recommend The Flight Attendant to everyone but especially to fans of crime novels and thrillers. You will not be disappointed. Also, Kaley Cuoco, of The Big Bang Theory, has optioned The Flight Attendant and will produce and star in a limited series based on the book.

As a side note, the only other book of Bohjalian’s I’ve read is The Sandcastle Girls, which was also great but could not have been more different from this book. I’m impressed with Bohjalian’s range and will definitely be reading more by him.

I was completely engrossed right up until the very end. For some reason, the ending felt rushed and not quite consistent with the rest of the story. Still a good read, and I would recommend to others.

The very beginning of the book definitely grabbed my attention. But of course it's because that's because she woke up with a body. And so it begins!

Just as Cassie has that rush of adrenaline coursing through out her body upon discovering that body, I was also in a rush of adrenaline and kept at a fast pace reading this story. But it didn't last that long. That urge to keep moving without stopping. The plot slowed down and now it was just knowing what exactly happened tot hat person she woke up to. 
This story carries two point of views from two characters. Cassie, the flight attendant, and someone named Miranda (not going to talk about Miranda).
So let me explain the main character, Cassie. She's a self- destructive alcoholic who keeps making more mess of what she's already into. She can't even function one night without a drink and sadly that's her life. Drinking and sleeping with men. What led her to this point was witnessing her father so bear in mind this may open some wounds for people who are recovering alcoholics or may have witnessed a loved one who suffered with this addiction. Because this story indeed kept bringing up that. Truth be told, I kind of wanted to have a taste of something while reading this book. But I think that's how all books are. Anyways, Cassie seemed like someone who was clearly out of it. I didn't see myself attached to this character. Felt more like a bystander just witnessing her acting like a fool. She wasn't someone to hate. She seemed nice and genuine but pretty foolish. 
I enjoyed a bit of a mystery but it wasn't all a mystery because the author tells you who it was and from their it was mainly why and what will happen next. The story kind lacked more of suspense. The ending wasn't what I expected but hey to be honest, it could have had alternate endings. It was a good entertainment and a good read so I give it 3.5 out of 5.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT BY CHRIS BOHJALIAN BOOK REVIEW
Cassandra is a binge-drinking, fly by the seat of her pants international flight attendant. While on a flight to Dubai, she meets Alexander Sokolov. He’s a fancy hedge fund manager from Virginia & they hit it off. Throughout the flight, they flirt & wind up staying at the same hotel. Naturally, Cassandra gets super wasted & they have a late night hook-up. No matter, she’s flying back to the US tomorrow, so she heads back to her room.



Except she doesn’t. The next morning, she wakes up in Alexander’s room. Quietly, she tries to leave, but her head is throbbing & she can’t make sense of why she is there. Things get really tense when she looks over & sees that Alexander is dead. Surely she didn’t kill him, right?

Cassandra goes into a tailspin. Her history of poor decisions comes flooding back to her & she cannot be certain she didn’t have something to do with his death. Scared, totally freaked out & on edge, she cleans up the room & leaves. She takes perhaps the longest flight of her life back to the US & things just get worse for her. The FBI gets involved, her crew members talk to the police & she can’t stop drinking. She’s just a hot mess.

THE VERDICT
I am Really Into This book. The beginning started off really strong, super suspenseful & much like Cassandra, I was on edge. Throughout the middle, the story slows down a bit to allow the elements to build. Overall, this is an enjoyable read. Chris Bohjalian is a gifted writer that builds suspense & I love that. I’ve got a copy of The Guest Room on my TBR shelf & I’m hoping to get to it soon. Have you read any of Chris Bohjalian’s other books?

If you’re Really Into suspense, check out Kathleen Barber’s Are You Sleeping, it just released in paperback.

Special thanks to Chris Bohjalian, Doubleday Books & NetGalley for providing my copy in exchange for an honest & fair review.

Cassie, a flight attendant, is working on a flight to Dubai when she meets Alex. They flirt on the flight, and spend the night together in Dubai. When Cassie wakes the next morning, Alex is dead. She has no recollection of him being killed. She has two options, call the police or leave.

This story is told from Cassie's point of view, with occasional chapters from the mysterious Elena. Cassie is a self-loathing, black-out drunk. She wasn't really likable, and her decision making was sometimes frustratingly bizarre.

A well-written suspense with a slow build. We know what happened to Alex very early in the book. Like, chapter two. What we don't know is how things will play out with Cassie.

A premise that will draw you in for sure - Cassie, the flight attendant - an unreliable narrator awakes beside a dead body while in Dubai. I was thoroughly entertained. For Chris Bohjalian readers, you'll feel the familiarity of his style and cadence.
There were a few gratuitous moments of commentary in which the author shares his world view unrelated to the story.

Cassie is a flight attendant who is known for her partying and drinking. So after an evening indulging in what she does best, she wakes up next to a man she met the night before, a hedge fund manager who is now dead.  Her blackouts are getting worse, but could she really have anything to do with this?  Surely she would know if she killed someone, right?  And as she leaves the hotel room, she makes a choice to run, and find a way to prove her innocence to the Dubai police and to the American investigators with the FBI.  But even her own flight crew is questioning who she really is.

The story was fast-paced and I loved the descriptions of where she would stay during her fights. I liked the book, as I do enjoy flight travel, and the author does give real life examples of what it's like to be a flight attendant.  Cassie gets to continue working, even during the investigation, so it was interesting to learn the patterns of flying, staying in hotels, finding things to do before flying back to base, all of that.

I also enjoyed the perspective shifts from Cassie to another woman whom Cassie met the night the murder happened.  The main character is believable, yet I will admit a few times that I didn't agree with her decisions, and was beginning to lose hope.  She has a history of alcoholism attributed to her relationship with her father, and it's almost annoying how much she thinks about drinking.  However, the ending did tie things up nicely and has a nice touch.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Doubleday through NetGalley.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”