Worst Case Scenario was another T.J. Newman hit for me. Her books always have me on the edge of my seat and I can't put them down.

In this fast paced thriller, a pilot suffers a heart attack in the air and the commercial airliner along with all of its passengers crash into a nuclear power plant in Waketa, MN. The people of the small town bravely come together when they are thrown into a catastrophic crisis that can have effects, not only on their small corner of the globe, but on the world.

I loved the way this was told through the eyes of the people and how they all interconnected. T. J. Newman's books always show humanity in a crisis and that's one thing that draws me to them. This one was a little more technical to me than her others but she explained it well. Her books are such an easy sell at the bookstore because they appeal to almost everyone!

Worst Case Scenario
by T.J. Newman
Narrated by Joe Morton
Duration : 8 hours 13 min

Audiobook rating : 4.5 stars
Book rating : 4 stars

<B> None of it, none of us, matter. And once you see it, once you get it, once you’re free from the false belief that you think you have time, you can just enjoy it for what it is. And it is all so, so beautiful.”</b>

I listened to worst case scenario last month and although the whole idea intrigued me, I wasn't in the set of mind to enjoy the audiobook. I finished it, had to force myself to listen to it and rated it 3 stars and moved on.

But it left me with a nagging feeling that I was doing it wrong, I normally don't force myself to finish a book and for the right reasons. The starting was really a bang on, and I was quite invested in the book so what went wrong? I had to give it another chance because this book had the most interesting starting i have ever encountered. It has gripped my attention from the very first line. And how could I just ignore the gut feeling of a reader.

The reason for giving it 3 stars before was although book is quite well written and gripped me yet it introduced lot many characters in a very short span which made the story confusing for me. No matter how much I tried I couldn't understand who's who. So even though it was a good book I found it clustered. My mind wasn't able to make any sense. Too many stories happening gave me a claustrophobic feeling.

I'm so glad that I did listen to the audiobook again because this book made it easily to my favorite list. Even when I tried before I was quite intrigued till about 30-40 % of the book, I just had to try to listen to rest of the book with more patience and I was amazed at in my daze I had missed so much.

I ugly cried throughout the book but mostly in last 30 % of the book was heart breaking. It felt like reading a Hollywood movie. With characters you did not know or care just a few minutes back and now prayed for their dear lives and in some cases the book disappointed and their loss was something I could not get over. This book definitely made me look for other books by author and I came to know that she had first hand experience being a flight attendant and that all her books are this high, adrenaline pumping and heart thumpingly good.

Thank you so much Netgalley and Hachette audio for this wonderful Audiobook ARC. I would also like to say thanks to my unsteady brain for making it look boring at first but making me listen to it again because this thrilling experience I would have missed otherwise.

Whoa. That was intense. This book had me hooked from the first chapter. Great audio. Loved it so much!!

A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant after the pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet. The small town of Waketa, Minnesota, becomes ground zero for an unprecedented nuclear disaster, a catastrophe beyond anything the world has ever experienced. As panic spreads, plant workers, firefighters, and other ordinary people must join forces to save not just their loved ones but humanity itself.

Honestly, if I had to describe it, I’d say it’s like watching an action movie, in both good and bad ways. The tension is non-stop, and her writing is brilliantly immersive, but it’s also filled with highly detailed, action-packed scenes. Every moment feels like a life-or-death situation you don’t want to miss. Even the dialogue can feel a bit cliché at times, with heroic one-liners like the ones Tom Cruise delivers before one of his signature stunts.

But overall, I really enjoyed the book. It’s really well written. You’re not just observing the chaos, you’re feeling the fear, courage, and desperation of each character as they fight to save their loved ones and their town.

If you love fast-paced thrillers that make you feel like you’re right in the action, this one is for you!

A fast-paced thiller that is imaginative and thought provoking. What would happen if a plane crashed into a nuclear power plant? That's the basis of this edge of your seat novel by the queen of the airplane thriller. A small Minnesota town has its life turned upside down when a plane crashes into the power plant that powers its lights and economy. Everyone is affected and the small town rescue force is soon forced to become more than they ever thought they could be. Excellently read by the narrator this audiobook kept me wanting to hear more. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free audiocopy for a honest review.

TJ Newman does it again with her action packed book Worst Case Scenario. As with all of her books this one doesn’t disappoint the reader. Worst Case Scenario follows a plane that crashes near a nuclear power plant. When this all happens the President of the United States is hosting the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the White House. Now not knowing if this situation is another 9/11 the President grounds all air travel. As the President gets more information he learn that the nuclear plant has been compromised. The town will do anything to prevent another Chernobyl catastrophe. I totally loved this audiobook and all of TJ Newman’s books!

At 35,000 feet the pilot of a commercial airplane has a heart attack, causing the plane to crash and killing everyone on board. While this is a tragic event for all involved and their families, the situation is made exponentially worse thanks to where the plane crashes: a nuclear power plant. Now the small town of Waketa, Minnesota is the center of a crisis that could have far reaching consequences, not just for the town but for the entire planet. Now the ordinary citizens of Waketa must come together to try to avert disaster that could rival, if not surpass, the devastation that occurred in Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Worst Case Scenario is another fast-paced, edge-of-you-seat novel by the amazing T.J. Newman; I’m not sure I ever want to fly in a plane again after having read her novels. The cast of characters are simply phenomenal. They are all everyday people doing whatever is necessary to save those whom they love and the planet as a whole; I could really connect with all of them and feel their terror as they navigate an unimaginable situation, as well as their bravery and selflessness. Newman’s writing puts the reader right in the middle of the events, and the cliffhangers at the ends of the chapters made this a novel that I could not put down. It is an adrenaline-filled, emotional novel that shows the resiliency and bravery that many are capable of when facing the dangerous unknown.

The audiobook was amazing as well. Morton does a great job delivering the events in intense, emotional and suspenseful ways thanks to his pacing and inflection. I also loved the addition of sound effects and voice modification during the CB radio and intercom sections; they helped to pull me into the story more than I already was courtesy of Newman’s writing.

4.5 stars. I will read anything T.J. Newman writes! All 3 of her novels have completely hooked me, full of action, thrills and emotions. This was no exception, with higher stakes than her last two. The only reason for a .5 star reduction was towards the end it was very much "one things after another" where it became just a bit too much suspend disbelief or frustration even. Either way, I enjoyed it, could not put it down and highly recommend. A very special, talented author in my opinion. Thanks for the audioARC, the narrator was perfect for this and helped keep me focussed.

As always, T.J. Newman's writing is both passionate and insightful. The story moves at a gripping pace, filled with raw emotion and a deep sense of humanity. It's an adrenaline rush from start to finish, keeps you interested and on the edge of your seat. If you loved her other books, this is not going to disappoint. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, I enjoyed seeing the perspectives from the White House and the power plant. I did listen to the audio book and enjoyed the narrators and the sounds of the air traffic controls; it added to the intensity of the story. If you like a jolt of adrenaline with a nail-biting premise, this is your book! 3.5 stars rounded up for the audiobook.

TJ Newman does it again - the book is an interesting plot and I could not stop listening. The audiobook is well done, and the narrator does such a good job of keeping the books pacing and storytelling. I really enjoyed it. Overall, it was fast-paced and suspenseful, I felt like I was listening to a movie. I would recommend to anyone who likes Newman's other works!

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Hachette Audio for providing a copy to review.

Most of the book I was listening while doing my daily morning runs, and boy, these were some of my fastest 5Ks. From the first minute the tension is tangible, events are happening at breakneck speed, everything at the same time, and suddenly you realize that you're holding your breath. The next thing you notice is that the book is over and you cried your eyes out.
Joe Morton's narration was absolutely brilliant.

This is as tense a thriller as the author's earlier books but I didn't like it as much. Maybe partly because it wasn't the same claustrophobic environment as the last two, which took place inside a plane rather than after a plane crash. I also was just not in the mood to be this stressed out and emotionally manipulated. Lastly, I resented a plot point that I won't detail here but is under a spoiler tag on my Goodreads review.

(Minor quibble that won't bother anyone not familiar with Minnesota geography but how is this power plant on the Mississippi and I-35 is the highway ruining through the town?)

This was such a suspenseful read! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and loved it! The narrator did a fantastic job too. Definitely recommend this one to anyone looking for an edge-of-your-seat read.

TJ does it again! The narration was absolutely top notch, as I’ve come to expect with TJ’s books. I really liked that this was less airplane centered like her first two and instead what happens after an airplane event. It shows TJ can step a bit outside her comfort zone. Loved it!

Thank you to Hachette Audio for the ALC to review.

A quick listen on audio, this starts off right from the beginning and is fast paced all the way until the end. Newman’s books are known to be intense and heart pumping reads, and this was no different. I love how her books read like movies, and this one was the same, and was informative as well as far as the International Nuclear Event Scale and its level system. If that gives you an implication of where we are headed, you are right, but I will end it there. I enjoyed this one, still liked Drowning a tad better but her books are always a good time and best via audio in my opinion. Oh and you probably don’t want to be flying when reading this. Just saying.

Former flight attendant TJ Newman showed a great knack for taking readers on white-knuckle thrill rides with her first two novels, Falling and Drowning, and now presses all the alarm bells with an even more terrifying premise: what if a commercial airliner crashed into a nuclear power plant? As the Arizona author recently discussed with former ESPN anchor Rich Eisen, while such a situation is extremely unlikely, it’s those type of ‘low probability, high consequence’ events she writes about in her novels that pilots truly fear. Despite all the well-drilled safety procedures both airliners and power plants have to prevent, mitigate, or contain accidents, there are chains of events, however unlikely, that could lead to disaster.

Worst Case Scenario delivers exactly that: when a pilot suffers a widow-maker heart attack at 35,000 feet while his co-pilot is in the bathroom, a commercial airliner crashes into the Clover Hill nuclear power plant in Waketa, Minnesota. The two worst nuclear accidents on record are Fukushima and Chernobyl; now Clover Hill roars past them. As the world watches on, its up to ordinary people – power plant employees, firefighters, local teachers – to try to deal with an unimaginable crisis that threatens not only their town, but the world at large.

Newman delivers a tense, terrifying read that is threaded with humanity. A high-concept thriller that would likely translate well to the big screen, Worst Case Scenario also has plenty of heart, as we see the human impact of unfolding events through the eyes of various characters from workers and first responders to local children to the US President.

[This review was first published in the New Zealand Listener magazine]

For those looking for another gripping plane story, you might need to pivot a little. A plane sets up the plot for this one, but it all unfolds on the ground in the aftermath of an event.

I was on the edge of my seat and more than once I was yelling at the book. I really connected and felt protective of one of the characters.

There is tension from the start and the action just kept going, but I would say the characters, their actions and their character really stole the show for me. There is no shortage of characters and I had moments where I had to step back and take a moment to get them straight, but over all I really was entertained by this one. A true summer blockbuster read.

I struggled a little with the narration on this one, but it was really me. Joe Morton narrated the audiobook and with every word he said, it was Papa Pope talking. I was a huge Scandal fan and not a fan of his character. So I was a little tense listening to this for a reason other than the story and it was due to my uncanny ability to remember voices and not getting his previous character out of my mind.

📚✨ TJ Newman is back with another heart-pounding thrill ride! 🚀 From the very first page, I was glued to my seat, and the pacing? Perfection! The character development is absolutely top-notch, pulling you right into the story and hitting you with ALL the feels. Seriously, keep some tissues handy—you might need them! 😭💔 Joe Morton’s narration in the audiobook is a game changer; he brings every character to life in a way that just makes you *feel* everything. I couldn’t stop listening!
This book is a MUST for all you action thriller fans out there. If you’ve been trying to get your husband to dive into a good read or listen, this is the one! It’s packed with suspense, action, and so much emotion—it really has something for everyone. 🔥
Overall, I’m giving it a resounding 5 stars!

T.J. Newman opened the book by saying that he asked pilots what they feared the most and one replied crashing into a nuclear power plant, thus this book was born. When a pilot has a heart attack while flying a commercial airliner, it crashed into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, This becomes ground zero and the setting of this story. As firefighters and nuclear safety personnel work together, their goal is to prevent a world wide disaster. If they can not prevent a melt down or explosion, this would be a Level 8 nuclear disaster, worse than Fukushima and Chernobyl.

Oh my goodness, this book had me on the edge of my seat all the way through. This is a book that you have to go in cold. I am not going to share anymore about the story itself, just how it made me feel. With my limited knowledge of what a nuclear disaster could do to the world, I am now wondering why we have nuclear power points, knowing that this type of thing could happen. I was frightened for the people in the story, especially the children. There are heroes in this story, some that were willing to give their lives to save everyone. The main characters were well developed throughout the story, as we learn about their pasts and what brought them to where they are. The townsfolk pull together to help people in need, and ordinary people take charge to keep everyone informed. It reminded me a bit of what happened during 9-11. This is a jaw dropping, can't put down story that I highly recommend. I have enjoyed each of the thrillers written by T.J. Newman and this was her finest. I can't imagine what she could follow this up with. I had planned on doing a read/listen, but once I started listening, I couldn't stop. Joe Morton has the perfect voice to narrate this book with a newscaster sound, but one that pulls you into the story. If you enjoy audiobooks, then I suggest you listen to this one.

I have very quickly become a fan of T.J, Newman. A friend recently recommended Drowning, which was edge of my seat, heart pounding and riveting and when I saw that Worst Case Scenario was available, I jumped at the chance to read it. I have to say T.J Newman didn’t disappoint. I think that it was a very different premise from the other book I read, with less emphasis on the passengers and more on the impending doom that is created when a “worst case scenario” situation arises. I was hooked from the first chapter of Worst Case Scenario. I hate flying, so it doesn’t do anything for my anxiety…but T.J. Newman captivates you from the first sentence. There is a lot going on when the worst thing that can happen on a plane is not only the pilot having a heart attack but the plane ends up crashing into a nuclear plant in the heart of America. It seems like such a far fetched concept, but is it really? This could impact not only the passengers on the plane, those in the town but also catastrophically impact the entire world.

T.J. Newman has created a world that you are simply a part of, and the character development is so well done that you will be crying by the end of the book (no spoilers - it’s just big emotions all around…you know, worst case scenarios and all). This was a quick, well narrated thriller that not only focuses on the personal disasters and stories of those affected by this catastrophe but also the impact that one seemingly small event has on the rest of the world. The way this was written, and narrated had me invested and stopping everything in order to find out what was going to happen next. As sad as a catastrophe is, this was a well written and entertaining disaster, that seemed to be very well researched and explained.

Thank you to NetGalley, T.J. Newman, Little, Brown & Company and Hackett Audio for the ARC audiobook of Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman. Publication date for Worst Case Scenario was 13 August 2024. If you haven’t already, grab your copy today…audiobook or print - both compelling and heart pounding.