This was quite the thriller. The narrator was very good and I couldn't stop listening to it because of all the action in it. Some parts were very sad but there were also several heroes in this story.

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of this book.

What a great book to start my year with!

At first glance, you might think this novel will focus on a plane crash, but it actually focuses on the aftermath as experienced by the people on the ground. While this was my first time reading a T.J. Newman book, it wasn't my first time reading about nuclear disasters (Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham, Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobsen). Newman does a great job of imagining the unimaginable and emerging the reader in it. She provides fully developed subplots that play out in the midst of the disaster, each of which is full of its own tension and adrenaline, emotions and decisions.
Joe Morton's audiobook narration was well done, his voice well-matched to the novel. And the included sounds effects made it all come together even more effectively, turning this novel into an experience for the reader.

Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for allowing me early access to the ARC audiobook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

In a season of not wanting to read many thrillers, TJ Newman is an exception to the rule! This one is another plane based thriller, but most of the action is from people on the ground. I think this is the hardest of all of Newman's thrillers to read as a parent. There are several parent and child pairs here that are tested and I was emotional more than once listening.

Newman hits the right balance once again of tension, action, and human groundedness that define her books and will keep me as a loyal reader.

Content Warnings: Language, death, serious radiation sickness

Thanks to Hachette Audio for my audio copy of this book! All opinions are my own.

Heart pumping adrenaline inducing read much like the authors other books. There are some heart wrenching moments and it was such a meaningful conclusion.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman was an adrenaline-fueled experience from start to finish. Newman masterfully crafts a narrative that plunges readers into a catastrophic event with relentless pacing and vivid detail.

The story begins with a commercial airliner en route to Minnesota, where the pilot suffers a fatal heart attack at 35,000 feet. With the co-pilot trapped in the lavatory, the aircraft tragically crashes into the Clover Hill Nuclear Power Plant near the small town of Waketa. This unprecedented disaster sets off a chain reaction, threatening a Level 8 nuclear event—an escalation beyond even the infamous Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.

Newman’s portrayal of the ensuing chaos is both terrifying and compelling. She delves into the lives of ordinary individuals—power plant employees, firefighters, and local residents—who are thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Their courage and determination to avert a global catastrophe are depicted with authenticity and emotional depth.

What sets this novel apart is Newman’s attention to detail and her ability to humanize large-scale disaster. The technical aspects of nuclear power plant operations are presented clearly, enhancing the story’s plausibility without overwhelming the reader. The personal stories interwoven throughout the crisis add layers of emotional resonance, making the stakes feel intensely real.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a digital ALC in exchange for an honest review.

What is a worst case scenario? A plane crashing in to a nuclear power plant would definitely be a worst case scenario, which is exactly what happens in this tense, suspenseful novel. T.J. Newman keeps the reader on edge as firefighters, plant employees and ordinary citizens work to save victims and prevent a nuclear meltdown. I was given an ARC of this audiobook by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I highly recommend this exciting book by T.J. Newman.

#worstcasescenario
#tjnewman
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#nuclearaccident
#suspense

T.J. Newman delivers another gripping, high-stakes thriller in Worst Case Scenario. This time, the unimaginable happens: a jetliner crashes into the most perilous location possible—a nuclear power plant—creating a crisis of unprecedented magnitude. With the disaster escalating to the first-ever Level 8 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale, Newman thrusts readers into a relentless race against time.

As in her previous works, Newman’s talent for crafting heart-pounding, fast-paced stories shines. The characters are incredibly likable and relatable, from power plant employees to firefighters and everyday citizens forced to rise to the occasion. Their courage, humanity, and critical thinking brought depth and realism to the story, making it impossible not to root for them.

The book evokes a whirlwind of emotions—anxiety, compassion, and hope—while keeping readers glued to the pages with its tension and action. It reminded me of an episode of Chicago Fire—packed with bravery, teamwork, and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

Newman’s ability to reimagine aviation-related catastrophes in new and compelling ways is impressive. If you’re a fan of her previous work or enjoy thrillers that blend adrenaline-pumping action with heartfelt humanity, Worst Case Scenario is a must-read.

If you just want a well paced thriller to pass the time, anything TJ Newman works will probably do the job. But if, like me, you’re not huge on thoughtless thrillers and are only here hoping to recapture the excitement and originality of Falling, this one just never gets there.

Maybe we just don’t need a whole series of thrillers about plane crashes that all seem to have the same voice and be populated by the same stock characters. While I loved Falling, I didn’t think this or Drowning really brought anything new to the table, and the cleverness of the detail and setting in Falling (the Yankee stadium scene, for example) has been absent from Newman’s last two books.

Newman writes well enough that I think she might successfully pivot to thrillers tackling a different subject, but these have more than run their course. The nuclear threat in this one really only adds stress to the reader experience, rather than any sense of something different. If Newman keeps writing (and I still hope she does), I hope she tries her hand at a slightly different subject.

T.J. Newman's Worst Case Scenario is a gripping thriller that plunges readers into a catastrophic event when a commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. The novel masterfully intertwines the lives of ordinary individuals—power plant employees, firefighters, and local residents—as they confront an unprecedented crisis with global implications. Newman's meticulous research and vivid storytelling create a palpable sense of urgency, making it hard to put the book down. If you're a fan of high-stakes, fast-paced narratives that explore human resilience in the face of disaster, this one is definitely worth a read.

TJ Newman delivers yet another intense, action packed thrill of a novel that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout! The audio narration by Joe Morton is very well done and the added sound effects for things like megaphones, intercoms, and cb radios added to the intensity for me.

T.J. Newman has a way of writing books that keep you on the edge of your seat. When a plane crashes into a nuclear plant in Minnesota a chain reaction disaster begins. What I loved about this book is it was told in real time. At first people didn’t know what happened. Then they realized what happened and had to get to safety or to the plant to prevent further disaster. The story not only focuses on the plant but things happening because the plane crashed such as a family stuck on a bridge because the wing of the plane broke off.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an amazing job. Radio transmissions sounded like radio transmissions. A story filled with nonstop action, heros, and heartbreak.

I have been wanting to read TJ Newman for quite a while and I can honestly say this book did not disappoint. I was on the edge of my seat and stressed in the best possible way from start to finish. The audiobook was fantastic and I was completely engrossed in this book

I was unsure about giving this author another chance after feeling just ok about her first book, but the premise of this one really intrigued me. While all of T.J. Newman's books revolve around plane crashes/accidents, this one felt different because it wasn't super focused on the accident itself, and was more about the aftermath of a terrible plane crash. I don't know much about nuclear incidents more than the surface level but I did not feel like I needed more than that to understand what's going on and what's at stake in this book. I had a pretty good time but I never felt connected to any of the characters and I didn't really care about what happened to them. They all felt very 2D and it was hard to figure out who was who at some points. I'm not sure if this author will ever be for me, despite exclusively writing about a topic that absolutely scares me. Maybe the third time's the charm?

The audiobook was pretty easy to follow as well. Even though we were following different character, I felt super confused about what was happening even though the characters all blended together for me. The narration wasn't anything to write home about but it was overall a good experience! The narrator's voice fit the story pretty well and it was never annoying to listen to it.

I absolutely love anything T.J. Newman writes. She has the ability to captivate you from the very beginning. This one was no different. Highly recommend anything by TJ Newman.

If you like disaster films this book is for you. My favorite part was the high pace throughout the entire book. Newman does this so well in this book and her others, Drowning and Falling. I do feel there were too many characters to keep track of who just end up dying. There were a few things that were very accurate and others that weren't that may have been better if edited better. The overall idea and thriller aspect were excellent though. Don't overthink it just read and enjoy the rollercoaster ride.

BUCKLE UP AND HANG ON!!!! Audiobook has live elements, and it tosses you right into the story. Be ready to binge this in one sitting. Be ready for an edge of your seat thriller. When you have it figured out another thing happens.

Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman is a wild ride! It is action packed from page one and doesn’t let up to the end. I couldn’t put this book down. I will definitely be reading her first two books.

🛩️Thanks @littlebrown and @netgalley for gifting me this wonderful audio book 🛩️

What a crazy and exciting ride this book was, very interesting and informative. Thank you for the arc.

Thank you to Netgalley, T. J. Newman, Hachette Audio and Little Brown & Company for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

What an electrifying thriller!

Chernobyl and Fukushima are both considered Level 7 incidents on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Now, imagine a situation with an even worse outcome!

When a pilot suffers a myocardial infarction while his co-pilot is in the restroom, you know things are going to end badly for everyone on that flight. To make matters worse, the plane crashes into the nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota, unleashing a terrifying disaster that could have global consequences.

Worst Case Scenario features multiple points of view and a wide range of characters. I found that listening to the audio version, narrated by Joe Morton, helped me keep track of everyone more easily.

The novel is fast-paced and full of suspense. It was easy to like most of the main characters and root for their survival.

I can't wait for this to be adapted into a movie.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Little, Brown & Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.