Many thanks to NetGalley, Little Brown & Company, and Hachette Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest thriller by TJ Newman, with the audiobook narrated by Joe Morton. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

When a pilot suffers a heart attack at 35,000 feet, a commercial airliner filled with passengers crashes into a nuclear power plant in the small town of Waketa, Minnesota, which becomes ground zero for a catastrophic national crisis with global implications. The International Nuclear Event Scale tracks nuclear disasters. It has seven levels. Level 7 is a Major Accident, with only two on record: Fukushima and Chernobyl. There has never been a Level 8. Until now.

Wow - TJ Newman has done it again! This book was gripping from beginning to end, tension ratcheting up throughout. We get to see how this event affects the people in town - power plant employees, teachers, firefighters. Each chapter leaves us with a cliffhanger from a different vantage point, and my heart was pounding the entire time. This book showcases how people step up when they need to, becoming heroes for the rest of us. I loved being able to go between both book formats so I didn't have to put this one down, and the audio was fabulous with sound effects making it even more chilling., As with all TJ Newman's books, this is a must read!

Well paced and very smart thriller ... but can be tricky on audio. I had to listen with extreme focus and sometimes still rewind because the book switches gears so frequently. That said, this book reads like a movie and gave me the racing heart moments that I enjoy with thrillers! As a former flight attendant, this hit close to home and was a reflective read in addition to an exciting one.

Quality of Writing 4/5
Pacing 4/5
Plot Development 4/5
Character Development 3/5
Narration 4/5
Overall Enjoyability 4/5

T.J. Newman did it again! The real-life fear that this could actually happen is wild! I listened to the audiobook of this one and I highly recommend! The tension and the worry I felt for this small town was so intense. I loved that it felt so realistic, though I have no real idea what would happen in this happened in real life. The tension and fear keep me listening straight back in my chair just waiting for what would happen next. The thought of a nuclear event is absolutely terrifying and what those in the plant have to try to do to save everyone they can! The small-town community vibes are exactly what I wanted. I love her book because they just make you feel so much. You quickly feel for all the characters and what they have to go through. By the end I had tears in my eyes! I highly recommend! Newman has been and will be an auto buy author for me!


Thank you, Hachette Audio, and Netgalley for my #gifted copy!

3.5 STARS - T.J. Newman has taken her years of experience as a former flight attendant and made a name for herself as an author who can deliver quick moving, action-packed, edge of your seat stories featuring airplane settings that also include poignant, human elements.

Worst Case Scenario, her third novel, strays a little bit from her previous books (Falling and Drowning) because it focuses not on people stuck on plane, but on the aftermath when a commercial airliner hits a nuclear power plant.

This disaster thriller hits the ground running and includes a very large cast and a few side stories t'boot. Narrated by Joe Morton (from TV's Scandal), the story has many characters' POVs, each of whom are trying to survive and/or manage the crisis on the ground.

To be honest, it was hard to keep track of who was who and I could have done without a couple of side stories that interrupt the action. But I appreciated how Newman includes background to her characters which make certain scenes all the more poignant for the reader. There's a lot of research that went into this book so if you enjoy more technical descriptions of nuclear power plants, then you'll enjoy the detail Newman provides.

Vivid descriptions, tension and outlandish scenes, this entertaining and well-researched story reads like a Hollywood disaster movie (enter Ben Affleck and Bruce Willis). I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as the first two, but I look forward to Newman's next book and hope that it strays a bit farther from the disaster stories she's becoming known for.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the digital audiobook which was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

‘Worst Case Scenario’ by T.J. Newman is a fast paced, nervy thriller that explores a scenario suggested to the former flight attendant author by a pilot describing his worst fear… what happens if a huge commercial airliner crashes into a nuclear power facility? The novel largely follows the people of Waketa, Minnesota as they battle against all odds to prevent impending doom for the nation by averting a fiery crisis with potentially cataclysmic consequences.

This book reads quite differently to the author’s first two novels, largely because the action takes place on solid ground rather than thousands of feet in the air or underwater in the shell of a plane. I was captivated by ‘Falling’ and ‘Drowning’ which felt like high octane movies mixed with the technical details of the best episodes of ‘Air Crash Investigation’, and although this novel followed a different pattern, I found it gripping and informative.

The central characters in the book, although there were perhaps a couple too many, were explored thoroughly - with the gruelling events of the day forcing reflection and contemplation and allowing the reader to delve into each person’s motivations. I especially warmed to two of the strongest female characters - a firefighter determined to save one small boy and an academic activist willing to ruffle feathers and sacrifice everything for the greater good.

I actually think that the author could have ramped up the tension further with a more detailed exploration of the failure scenario, as some key scenes lost impact without that context. Ultimately though, the book serves as an important lesson about the dangers of nuclear waste, the value of human interaction and the need to support small communities. It reinforces the idea that everyone can be a hero.

Read by Joe Morton, the audiobook was a fantastic way to experience this impactful tale, and featured attention-grabbing sound effects. Combining the novel and its narration, giving this 4 stars overall.

I received an Advance Listening Copy of this audiobook from the publisher Little Brown UK Audio via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

T.J. Newman's “Worst Case Scenario” is an electrifying and gut-wrenching thriller that grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go.

This is a masterclass in suspense in my opinion, where each twist tightens the emotional vice, leaving you breathless. The narrative is relentless, weaving a tale so vivid and intense that it’s impossible to put down.
Newman crafts a story that’s not only thrilling but also deeply human. This a must-read for anyone who loves a high-stakes, emotional rollercoaster of a book.

AUDIOBOOK:
The “Worst Case Scenario” audiobook is a thrill ride, with the narrator’s powerful delivery amplifying the tension.
Their performance nails the story’s intensity, making each twist hit harder. Absolutely loved it

Huge thank you to publisher Hackett Audio - Orbit, Little Brown & Company, and author T.J. Newman for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The audiobook production on this book was fantastic! It took me by surprise because you don't see that a lot, but I really enjoyed the attention to detail, and the changes that were made. once example that I thought was a nice touch was the static and sound of walkie talkies every once in a while when people were communicating.

This book was very different than the claustrophobic stories we are used to from this author, and I loved it.

I found it to be so engrossing that it was the first time I finished an audiobook in one day.

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette Audio for the gifted advanced copies. The narration was so perfect for this. The audio kept me fully engaged in the book from the start! I have read both of Newman’s previous books and knew I had to get this one! She writes edge of your seat thrillers that can spike your heart rate like nobody else! I listened to this one in a day and just wanted to sit and binge it. Worst Case Scenario is unlike her previous two books, while this does involve a plane, it’s more about what happens on the ground following a plane crash. I really enjoyed immersing myself in this book and living through these characters while they faced such terrifying moments! It’s one of those books that make you stop and think what you would do in each situation and I love that! It had me going through the emotions! I would say this is my favorite of Newman’s so far and I’m excited to see what she comes out with next!

This is a wonderfully terrifying book. However, I had a hard time with 5e audio version. There was so much technical language, I couldn't keep up just hearing the book read. I ended up switching to the ebook version. The narrators did a fine job; this is just a matter of preference for this particular book.

Thank you Hatchette Audio and Netgalley for an early release of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, T.J. Newman can do no wrong. I was worried that this book would be similar to her others since the covers all look incredibly similar. I couldn't be farther from the truth. This book reads like a movie. The narrator did an incredible job of making you feel the tense and angst between the characters. I was hooked on each plot line up until the end. I got teary-eyed at points and couldn't imagine people making such life-changing decisions.

I cannot wait to see what T.J. Newman comes up with after this great release.

During a normal flight, the pilot suffers a widow maker heart attack. Despite the crew's best efforts, the plane crashes into a nuclear power plant. For the first time, this was deemed a Level 8 event, the only one of its kind. The world now waits with bated breath to see if they will become the next Chernobyl.

In typical T.J. Newman fashion, this is a thriller that grabs you from the beginning. A detailed description of what happened in the plane and what people on the ground saw were fantastic. The time spent inside the plant kept me engaged and interested. There are moments where the story becomes a little slow but it doesn't last long. Newman really knows how to write a thriller that makes you want to keep reading.

As always, the book immediately starts with action. It is super fast paced, exciting, tense, and would make a great movie. I didn't like this one nearly as much as Drowning, but I think it was because there were so many characters that we didn't get to connect with any one particular plot line.

It is a fun read. Make sure you really pay attention because it switches POVs/storylines very quickly. This kept me engaged and I flew through the book.

The narration was really clunky with choppy breaks between words. Sometimes you can fix this by speeding it up but that did not really help. I've never had that issue with this narrator before. It made the narration feel slightly robotic at parts so that was distracting. Something about the cadence felt very unnatural even though I know this narrator - maybe the emphasis being put on the wrong words or wrong parts of words ?

This is not reaaaaally a plane crash book. And don't expect to get emotionally attached to any of the characters because the story moves too fast for that. However there are definitely moments that pull at your heart strings. You know with TJs books there is going to be a sacrificial hero, and that definitely delivered.

T.J. Newman’s first book Falling was instantly one of my favorite books of 2021. Now with Worst Case Scenario, I have the same statement to make for 2024.

Worst Case Scenario unlocked a new fear for me with how the opening scene was described. A plane crashes into a nuclear power plant setting off a chain reaction of events. Without getting into detail the way the plane crashes was not something I ever thought of before but now it has me afraid to fly, well done.

This story is truly unique. There is no central character that the story follows. This is a cast of regular people who become heroes. Multiple stories are going on at once each having their own characters that you will be rooting for a following.

A story like this makes you think, what would you sacrifice for the greater good? Do you have what it takes in you to be a hero? Seeing the sacrifice made by others I question my own morals and actions. This story stayed with me after I closed the book.

This story is not for everyone but I recommend it highly. You won’t have a main character and it may scare the hell out of you but the messaging of everyday heroes is just so powerful.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Worst Case Scenario by T.J. Newman, an audiobook narrated by Joe Morton is an intense, nerve-wracking, nail-baiting, heart-pounding action thriller where you pray for chances to survive!
If you ever read any T.J. Newman book you know the style! There is a catastrophe and they need to find a way to survive! Not everyone can survive, and this is where a lot of emotions come in!
There are always sacrifices, there will be someone to lose.
This thriller is not different but the tragedy is completely unexpected!
I could feel how much research the author had done as I read a lot about historical tragedy and so many facts felt accurate!
It is heartbreaking just to imagine that this fiction could be a real-life tragedy!

This audiobook is recorded with effects that will make you feel the reality of the tragedy!
It felt like I was witnessing the event by listening to the radio conversations, and being there with people who had no idea how massive tragedy they were facing!

This is what I love about T.J. Newman, her book feels so real and so connected with the reader!

It's coming out in a couple of days so just grab a copy, you know it will be a good read!

Thank you, NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Little, Brown & Company for the privilege to have this copy early!

ALL THE STARS!! I could not get enough of the audio version of this captivating, propulsive, edge of your seat thriller!

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I really cannot say too much about the story itself without creating spoilers, BUT I can tell you that Newman brought the one thing I look for in all my thrillers: that kind of jaw clenching suspense that gets your heart pounding…or in my case white knuckle gripping the steering wheel while listening in the car! The tension in this action-packed story was nonstop, and I was so engaged that I found myself talking back to the characters.

I also loved how even during all the fear and tension in this survival story there was a story about courage, friendship, community, teamwork, love, and sacrifice.

How was the audio narration?

Anytime Joe Morton narrates a thriller and/or mystery, I know it is going to be riveting. He has a way of bringing characters to life with their own personal accents, inflections, and you can really feel the individuality in each character as he tells the story. Not to mention that he has a true gift for ramping up the suspense and tension in any thriller to the point where you are holding your breath and feeling like you are almost able to play a role in the story yourself.

What to expect:

Multiple POV
Suspense
Twists
Community
High stakes tension

How was the pace?

Fast! Warp speed! Did I mention I could not stop listening to this book!?!

Do you recommend this book?

Worst Case Scenario is an absolute must read/listen thriller, and I recommend you grab a copy pronto!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Little Brown, for this gifted audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you @tj_author @hachetteaudio @littlebrown for the E-ARC & ALC!

Literally another heart pounding, engrossing read from T.J. Newman. I really enjoyed her other two books and this one most definitely did not disappoint. I felt like the suspense had me the entire time. The action never stopped. We got to see the insight from several characters and it flowed so well seeing all their accounts of the situation. On top of that the way she describes the scenes is just phenomenal. I felt like I was watching a movie play out before me. I absolutely loved it and paired with the audio is was such an experience! Highly recommend her books! You can't go wrong.

Thank you @netgalley @hachetteaudio and @littlebrown for this advance audiobook.
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This is T.J. Newman’s third airplane thriller, but the first I have read. It had all the elements I expected - drama from the first page and lots of heart pounding action scenes. But it also unexpectedly had so much emotion in the relationships between the characters. I think that’s what sets Newman’s books apart from the traditional action filled books of this genre. I also really enjoyed narrator Joe Morton and the special effects used throughout the story.

The audiobook of this novel is an exceptional experience from start to finish. The narration draws you in immediately, and as the story unfolds, you become even more engrossed. The voice acting is compelling, bringing the characters and their emotions to life in a way that adds a new dimension to the already gripping plot.

Even if you aren’t familiar with the technical aspects of the story, the narrator’s clear and engaging delivery makes it easy to follow and understand. The level of research and detail is evident, and it’s impressive how the book captures the magnitude of the catastrophe and the urgency of the situation.

The portrayal of solidarity and quick action among the characters resonates strongly. The narrator's ability to convey the depth and complexity of each character enhances the emotional impact of their journey. This audiobook is not only a thrilling listen but also a moving exploration of human resilience and cooperation in the face of disaster.

3.5 / 5 stars, rounded down

Worst Case Scenario is a fast-paced action thriller following the unthinkable aftermath of a commercial airline accident at a nuclear power plant. T.J. Newman has established a reputation for writing page disaster thrillers, but this is the first that I've read. Honestly, the premises of her other books sound like they would be uncomfortably tense for me.

I have actually lived within view of a nuclear power plant for most of my life. The clouds of steam from the cooling towers are an everyday sight, and I don't even register the monthly test of the emergency sirens anymore. After watching HBO's Chernobyl miniseries and reading Midnight in Chernobyl, I know how dangerous these plants can be. But these types of emergencies are extremely rare.

I appreciated that the author avoided hand-wringing hysteria about nuclear reactors. Her implied critique of how spent nuclear rods are stored is a valid one and an issue which needs a better solution. However, I did think that the details of insurance companies refusing to insure farmland near the plant and a couple's hesitance to start a family for fear of a nuclear disaster did border on that hysteria. As I said, I've lived near a plant my entire life. There's never been an issue with insurance in our region.

Ok, my nitpicking aside, this is a tense thriller that unfortunately suffers from having an ensemble cast of characters that are drawn too broadly. Including fewer characters with more depth and stories on the day of the disaster would have made for a tighter, more tense narrative. Likewise, many chapters are dedicated to the rescue of a child in peril. The prose is tight and pulse-pounding, but despite being compelling, this plotline does not contribute to the overall narrative about the unfolding disaster. It was well-written, but unnecessary and detracted from keeping the tension focused on the characters at the plant.

The narrator of the audiobook (actor Joe Morton) has a wonderful voice, but he did not differentiate between different character voices. With such a large cast of characters, I do wish that more attention had been paid to this aspect of production.

Worst Case Scenario is a compelling thriller, on par with a Hollywood blockbuster. Fans of the genre or readers looking for a rollercoaster ride of excitement will not be disappointed. While the narrator gives a decent performance, I might recommend the print book over the audiobook, especially if you are like me and find it difficult to keep track of all of the ensemble characters.

This review week be posted to Goodreads on August 11, 2024 and Instagram (@goodquietkitty) on August 15, 2024.

Here’s another winner from T.J. Newman! She has a way of writing thrillers that is cinematic, and I’m not surprised to hear that her books are being adapted into film. There are a lot of technical elements in this book, but they’re broken down that make it easy for an ordinary person to follow. I eagerly await the author’s next book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ALC in exchange for an honest review.