My first read of this author and it will not be my last.

I really enjoyed the multi-narrative with our main character(s) Mina and Adam's perspectives supplemented by different passengers on the plane that Mina is on.
It was pacey and intriguing as a result.

There were a lovely few twists at the end (one of which I thought was super obvious but it's probably because I read so much in this genre!) that helped to keep the book firmly in the "page turner" category, right up until the very end.

I started it in hardback and finished it in audiobook. The audiobook narrator is good and kept me listening (although I get irritated when adults do kids voices in audiobooks and this was no different).

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

From the first page you are part of Mina's story. You see all the characters through Mina's eyes. She has 20 hrs to try and figure out how to save all the passengers on the flight and the person she loves most in the world, her daughter. Full of surprise reveals and gobsmacking plot twists. The creepy plot twist at the end sent my blood cold and then Clare turns it on it's head. Loved the multiple POVs and quick chapters. Kept me reading well past bedtime.

This was such an excellent read. So many surprises to keep me trying to figure out the next move and then.....well let's just say.....I've not seen a movie as good as this book in many years.

When I heard the premise of this story I knew I had to pick it up - especially since I had never read a book like it before. That being said, I was ultimately disappointed with the end result of the motive. I just expected more.

The majority of the book was definitely a fun experience. It was thrilling and had some unexpected twists that I enjoyed. The characters were all pretty interesting and fun to follow too - so that was a plus!

I love Hostage, I want more readers to know about it and I want more readers to know about Claire Mackintosh! Hopefully with each book, her readership will grow because she deserves it!

This was suspenseful and captivating, a unique storyline with lots of different moving parts. The ending was surprising

I think I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. I wasn't really invested in Mina's story and it seemed a little out there. All the secrets being kept was kind of annoying... like if these two could communicate, some of the issues would be resolved. I also don't quite understand how Mina was targeted on the flight... among other issues.

I wanted to keep reading to see what happened but by the end I was still kind of confused on who was who. I read this on my Kindle, so I couldn't go back to keep checking which passenger was which. And obviously I didn't remember. The format was confusing, and I don't think that helped the storyline.

Overall, a decent thriller, but parts of it were definitely a hard sell.

Loved the dual story line in this one! The switch of POV is my favorite and both were equally as atmospheric and attention grabbing. Definitely a go to author and great book to place in your carry on!

First off, let’s be clear about one thing. I’m no fan of flying–-the smell, the noise, the claustrophobia of being locked in a sardine can with strangers. I do, however, love the Biscoff cookies Delta Airlines hands out by the millions on their flights. Since I can buy those, it’s not much of a draw.

But I digress… As someone who suffers from aerophobia, I was a wee bit concerned about reading a novel set over twenty hours on an airplane. Here’s what Hostage is about.

Flight attendant Mina Holbrook trades shifts to join the crew of World Airways inaugural 20-hour flight from London to Sydney to escape the tension of her home life. She’s sure her husband has been sleeping with their au pair, who suddenly quits. The plane has barely taken off when Mina receives a chilling note from an anonymous passenger. If she doesn’t divert the flight, her five-year-old daughter will die. A lot happens in twenty hours. A LOT.

Clare Mackintosh wrote a pulse-pounding, propulsive thriller ripe with surprises. She executed multiple narratives with ease and finished up with a twisty climax I didn’t see coming! Although I was annoyed with the tidy resolutions of all the narratives, it wasn’t enough to affect my rating too much. 4 stars.

P.S. This probably isn’t the best book to read while on your way to Australia.

I am a big fan of Clare Mackintosh's previous titles so was quite anxious to get into this one. It was a different experience for me - compelling beginning, draggy in the middle, crazy good end. This will be an easy one to recommend to anyone wanting a female-centered thriller.

SYNOPSIS: Mina is trying to leave her problems back home as she focuses on her job as a flight attendant on a non-stop flight from London to Sydney. She is bombarded with a terrifying host of problems on the plane, however, when she receives an anonymous note advising that no one is meant to make it to their destination alive.

REVIEW: It has taken me a while to read this, but I'm so glad I did! I was already terrified of flying, but let's just say this fear has increased a bit after reading this book! This locked (airplane) room mystery was completely anxiety producing and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. It did start out a tiny bit slow, but the rest of the book absolutely made up for it. I also appreciated the alternating POVs which I felt helped you better get into the mind of each character. This took me on so many twists and turns I couldn't predict, which I feel is a tribute to the writing. Definitely sign me up for whatever Mackintosh writes in the future!

Mina is quite excited to be selected for the cabin crew for the inaugural non-stop flight from London to Sydney. Yes, it is a long flight of twenty hours, but it is a chance for her to get away from her husband, Adam, and their daughter, Sophie. Life at home hasn't been that great recently. Mina is convinced that Adam cheated on her with their previous nanny. And Sophie, with her behavioral issues, makes for a rocky home life. The flight is fairly uneventful until Mina receives a note. She has to let a passenger into the cockpit or risk her daughter being killed. The plane is being hijacked. Meanwhile, in London, Adam and Sophie discover that their new nanny is not who they thought she was when they hired her. They are being held hostage. Will they be able to survive this terrifying event?


Hostage can be a very terrifying book if you are a frequent flyer. We think that flying is safer than ever since all the protocols were put into place after 9/11. Hostage is proof enough that there still could be terrorists flying the airs. Mina and Adam were nice enough, but the biggest flaw in their marriage was a lack of communication. So many of their issues could have been avoided if they had just talked to each other. There was a bit of a twist at the end that was a surprise, but for the most part, Hostage was fairly predictable. - CLICK HERE FOR SPOILERS


Bottom Line - While Hostage was not as good as I had hoped, I didn't let the predictable nature of the book keep me from reading it until the very end. That is where the only twist could be found.

Details:
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
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Pages: 368
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
Publication Date: 6/22/2021
Buy it Here!
Thank you to NetGalley for the book in exchange for a review.

This book was very suspenseful, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I absolutely loved the ending, I thought it was very well done!! I felt the book was a bit too long for the story but overall a very good thriller. I’ll read anything this author publishes, she’s really an amazing writer!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The beginning drew me in, but ultimately, it was a little convoluted. I had to suspend disbelief and that was difficult to do. However, I was invested and continued reading.

This book came out at the same time as another high-profile book with a similar theme, Falling, and I preferred this one. To be fair, I also am slightly biased to Clare Mackintosh's writing, having loved her previous books.

This book takes a turn from those deeply emotional tales into a thriller category, which didn't appeal to me quite as much, but I know will delight many readers. I'll keep Mackintosh as a "must-read" author.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

This book sometimes was a little unbelievable but most of the time it was a rollercoaster. It had me turning pages quickly. My only complaint is that I was afraid to fly for a little while after I read it’s and the ending just wasn’t plausible too me. All around it was a quick and decent read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Source Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

I think that it was just my mood when reading this, but I didn’t connect with it at all. I have loved all of Clare’s previous books but this one seems like too much of a standard thriller anyone could have written. It wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t a good as the marketing led me to hope for.

Mina and Adam have problems with their marriage and with their daughter but they had no idea that their problems were nothing compared to what they will have to endure over 24 hours. Mina is a flight attendant on a flight to Sidney. Someone passes her a note threatening her daughter if she doesn’t help them take over the plane. Adam is at home with Molly and no idea that his and Molly’s lives are in danger.

There are many twists and turns to this story. A marriage surviving on lies and distrust…leads to so many questions about why this is happening to their family. Will their family come out if this alive.

I really liked all of the different perspectives that we are shown throughout the book. The pacing was really well done.

I received this book for free in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy - all opinions are my own.

This was definitely a fast and totally absorbing read! I'm a huge Clare Mackintosh fan, so I was really curious to see what she would bring to the table with this one, and she didn't disappoint.

I loved the fast pace of the story and the claustrophobic sense of impending doom, as you KNOW things will come to a head because a flight can only be so long. I loved the messy complexity of the characters, especially Mina and the impossible choices she was faced with making. I love that the story moved from the present to various passenger perspectives from their past and what had brought them to the flight.

The only part I didn't completely love was the fast ramp up to political grandstanding in the last third of the book. While I appreciate the connection to tying the story together, it almost felt too rushed, or disconnected from the story build up to that point.

Overall a excellent escapism read to spend a day with!

This was a quick read that kept me on the edge of my seat! I loved how this went back and forth between Mia’s earlier years, before the plane, then the the time on the plane. This gave readers a lot of background about the main characters. Would highly recommend for thriller readers! 4/5 stars