Irene Foster. The name was synonymous with many things, glamour, aviatrix, role model. She's a female pioneer, piloting (literally) the way for the females who come after her. And then, she's gone. During an around-the-world race, Irene's plane goes missing.

In an alternating timeline we meet Janey Everett a photojournalist on a mission. She's writing THE book on Irene Foster's teacher, Sam Mallory, a daring and accomplished pilot the world seems to have forgotten. As she tracks down a silver a lead, she hits pay-dirt and finds herself looking up an Irene Lindquist in Hanelei, Hawaii.

But sometimes when people are "lost" it's intentional. It's that they don't want to be found. Irene Foster had been viewed under a magnifying glass of celebrity. The world was fascinated with this woman aviatrix. Her accomplishments, her speeches, her looks. And she's more than happy to stay hidden.

Janey won't settle for that though because Irene is the person who knew Sam Mallory best and Janey is determined to hear her account of what happened to him.

As these two story lines unravel, we uncover the whole truth.

What I found to be quite clever about this novel's set up is that though there are alternating narratives, they're both really from Janey. First, we hear from Janey herself as she unravels the mystery of Sam Mallory and Irene Foster (now Lindquist).

The two women compliment and contrast each other nicely. Irene seems to be the picture of composure. A woman who isn't easily rattled and has learned to hide her emotions from her face. A result of years in the spotlight where a picture can capture feelings you aren't eager to share. After years hiding in plain sight, Irene has hardened, making her harder to figure out. Janey seems to be out to prove something. It's clear she tries to prove she doesn't need anyone, particularly a man, to have fulfillment. Oddly these two stubborn women have a grudging respect for each other and you can see a friendship forming.

Williams is careful to explain that this novel isn't a take on Amelia Earhart. There surely is some inspiration from the flying phenomenon, like her famous hair. But, this is a book that came to fruition after wondering about the pilots of early aviation. The risks they took, the thrills they sought, and the disasters they often met.

I was not able to get into this book so I am going to DNF it. I thought the writing was okay and I liked the plot of the story but I had a hard time staying engaged while reading. I think at another time this book might work for me just not right now. I am also not a huge fan of dual timelines as it can get confusing and this one had that element to the story. Thank you for the opportunity to review it.

Inspired by the legend of Amelia Earhart, Beatriz Williams imagines the lives of two pioneering aviators, Irene Foster and Sam Mallory. Their stories are uncovered by a young photojournalist, Janey Everrett, who purports to be writing a book on Sam, an MIA Spanish war pilot. Janey is a live wire of a character with an interesting story of her own, which is revealed as she gets closer to Irene and others who knew and loved Sam.

Set in Hawaii, the book has dual timelines, 1929 when Sam and Irene chased their aviation dreams and 1947 as Janey uncovers the mysteries surrounding their lives and disappearances. The book seamlessly moves between these two timelines, weaving their stories together as one. Along with strong leading character, there are fascinating supporting characters, like publishing giant George Morrow, and the cat!

Readers who like historical fiction and like the idea of returning to the time where brave men and courageous women were pushing the bounds of what was possible in flight will enjoy this book. While I enjoyed the story, it moved slowly at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Her Last Flight in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoy reading Beatrice Williams books. I enjoyed the historical drama but couldn’t quite get into this book..

Beatriz Williams is an auto-buy author for me and I really enjoyed this one, as usual. I love how she can draw you into a historical setting and make the characters feel modern. The aviation details were obviously so well researched and it was overall an emotional, beautiful read.

I usually love Ms. Williams ' work, but this one left me wanting. I found the storyline boring and unbelievable.

From my blog: Always With a Book:

It's no big secret that I am a huge fan of Beatriz Williams' books. I love nothing more than getting lost in her stories. There is just something about her books - they are the perfect blend of historical fiction, compelling characters and fantastic writing that bring me back time and again. I just can't get enough of this perfect combination!!!

With each book I read by this author, I realize just how talented she really is and with this latest book, she really shines here. The way this book is crafted, and how it all comes together at the end - just pure brilliance! While I know that most historical fiction tends to be more of a slower burn - and I am all for that and enjoy it all the more because of that - this one kept me glued to the pages right from the start and never let up. Yes, it was still on the slow side, but the story captivated me to keep reading so that I felt like I flew through it.

I loved how the book moved back and forth between Janey's book about Sam Mallory and Janey's firsthand view. It kept it so interesting and I loved all the characters that we meet along the way - they were all so dynamic and well-drawn, as I have come to expect from a Beatriz Williams novel.

This book slowly reveals all it's secrets at just the right moments and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by some of them. But even more than that are the two strong women that this book showcases. This was probably my favorite part of the book. These two women were so similar, working in male dominated fields, not willing to cower to their counterpoints. I loved that message.

I loved this book, as I have all of Beatriz Williams' books and I'm always so bummed when I finish them because I have to wait so long until the next one. If you haven't read anything by this author, you are definitely missing out.

Beatriz Williams is one of those authors that I stick with because I loved her older books, but her last couple of books were pretty disappointing. When I read the premise of this book and that it was loosely based on Amelia Earhart and the mystery surrounding her disappearance I was definitely intrigued and thought I would give it a try.

You could tell that Williams did a lot of research for this one and it ended up being one of my favorites. To be honest, I have been struggling with the historical fiction genre during this pandemic because I just haven't had the attention span. This ended up being a captivating read and I look forward to what Williams writes next. 

Thank you to William Morrow for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Janey Everett, a photojournalist, is focusing her work on writing a biography about the famous aviator, Sam Mallory. In order to write a complete story she travels to Hawaii to meet Irene Lindquist who Everett believes is really Irene Foster. In the 1920s Sam Mallory and Irene Foster were a tag team in a historic flight from Los Angeles, Californis to Sydney, Australia. Since 1937 both Foster and Mallory have been missing, both presumed dead.

Will Janey get to the heart of the true story behind Sam Mallory and Irene Foster's suspected romantic relationship? Is is just coincidence that they both disappeared the same year?

Beatriz Williams is a gifted story teller. In this book she brilliantly tells the story of two women, Irene Foster and Janey Everett. The stories are told in mutiple timelines which are easily followed. Not only are the main characters well-developed but the supporting characters are key in building our understanding of the main characters and how their lives became intertwined.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Classic Beatriz Williams. Engaging story line. Well developed characters. Beautifully written. Read it on your front porch...or back deck. You will not be disappointed. Five stars.

Irene Foster, an early and famous female pilot, goes missing in the 1930s. After the war, Janey tries to find her in order to tell her story and that of her flight instructor and mentor, Sam Mallory. The story moved between 1947 and the 1930s, between Janey and Irene. Good story, good characters, a few great twists!

Absolutely loved this novel. I didn't want it to end. Excellent character development. Many twists and turns in the plot. Loved the setting - can't beat Hawaii. Fun fiction merging with history. As all good historical fiction should do - this novel made me want to devel into aviation history and research the facts surrounding Amelia Earhart's life. There are secrets revealed that I didn't see coming. There is romance and lost love. There are strong characters with human flaws. Compelling and captivating. I already want to read it again. Would love to see it on the big screen.

This book was Awesome!!! I loved the mystery and intrigue if this book. The whole time I kept wondering if this is really based on a true story. I still believe it is!!

Janey Everett, a young photojournalist, is traveling around the world, trying to uncover the story of a well-known pilot who disappeared, Sam Mallory. When she meets Irene Lindquist, Sam's past flying partner, you start to see the story become clear through two plot paths - one post-World War 2, and another starting with Irene and Sam's first encounter.

Beatriz Williams' writing keeps you engaged as you learn more about the risk and reward of flight, expectations of people, and the impact of war. I look forward to reading more of her books.

I received an ARC courtesy of Netgalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.

#HerLastFlight #NetGalley #BeatrizWilliams #historicalfiction #earlyflight

Once again, Beatriz Williams knocked my socks off. Her writing is beautiful and this story, like the others, is amazing. I love that she continues to have little details that tie the characters in each book to each other - even though they are not a series - while letting each story be complete and wonderful on its own. As always, I devoured this one and can't wait for her next release.

When photojournalist Janey set out to write a biography about famous pilot, Sam Mallory, she didn't realize she was embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! After years of frantic searching, an unexpected source leads Janey to Sam's remains in a Spanish desert. Determined to learn more about his mysterious disappearance and his last moments, Janey relentlessly tracks down Sam's missing co-pilot (and rumored lover), Irene.

"Minding your own beeswax goes against basic human nature, and besides, I've made a pretty decent living so far off of other people's beeswax."

What started out as a slow burn soon turned riveting as I learned about the history of aviation in this suspenseful, heartbreaking, and hopeful mystery. It was definitely the opposite of a “crack up,” the term aviators use for an airplane crash. In fact, I'd call it a soaring success!

If you'd like to learn more about female aviators, then I'd recommend The Huntress (5 stars) by Kate Quinn and Daughters of the Night Sky (4 stars) by Aimie K. Runyan. If you'd like to learn more about Spain's history, then I'd recommend The Fountains of Silence (4 stars) by Ruta Sepetys.

Location: Spain, California, and Hawaii

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

A wonderful story about Irene Foster who learns to fly like she surfs in California. Soon she and her teacher, Sam Mallory are off racing in flight derbies which were a big source of income in the 1920's. But this story is more than that when in the late 1940's a photographer shows up at Irene's home in Hawaii wanting to know everything about Sam since she is writing a book on his life. Definitely read this fascination tale by Beatriz Williams.

Promising an adventure of a lifetime: this book will take you on a flight giving you a glimpse of navigating this one precious life.

I really enjoyed this book! The historical details were interesting, and the book is so well-written it flew by as I read. The story of the early years of flight, and all the risks the pilots took, was so interesting and I learned a lot. Beatriz Williams knows how to write unforgettable, multi-dimensional characters that really draw you in.

I highly recommend this book, 4 stars.

Thanks to Harper Collins Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I see that, so far, I am odd person out in regards to this book. I'll say it was pretty good. The beginning was intriguing, the end mostly compelling, but the middle lagged and I had definite issues with parts of it. The story is in two parts - the first takes place in 1936-37 and is the story of Irene Foster, a female aviator, and Sam Mallory, one of the best pilots in the world. They meet surfing and somehow Sam just knows Irene will make a great pilot, even though there are very few female pilots at the time. They become world famous for their daring flight to Australia. The second part (told in alternating chapters) is the story of Janey Everett in 1947, a photographer who was on the beach in Normandy and took famous photos for the AP through World War II. She discovers Irene in Hawaii who had disappeared 10 years earlier without a trace. The denouement is gripping in parts, a mystery being unraveled where characters themselves do not know the answers, and the women are fierce.
Some issues I have are the women themselves, both strong but surprising uninteresting considering their stories. They didn't feel real. In fact, the book felt like a book, not as immersive as I would have expected. There was some melodrama that was unnecessary, and then the ending was concerning. (view spoiler) Also, all of the seemingly random connections were just too coincidental to be believable. The more I think about it the more it felt like a pretty entirely unbelievable story. Oh well. I enjoyed reading most of it, the flying aspects were interesting and educational, but I have too many issues with it to recommend. Again, though, I seem to be odd person out as so far it's getting very good reviews otherwise.