4.5 rounded up.
Had me hooked from the start – fast-paced and fascinating (grab the popcorn).

Energy: Gripping. Bold. Calamitous.

🐕 Howls:
The reasoning behind the plot was ridiculous in an action-adventure movie type of way…the entire scheme relied too much on everything lining up perfectly and was unnecessarily dangerous and complicated, but I had so much fun reading it I didn't rly mind.

🐩 Tail Wags:
Action scenes that read like an action movie because they unfolded quickly as I imagined them happening. Direct, snappy, cinematic writing style that's easy to visualize. Rapidly shifting POVs giving us hints, reveals, and insights. Well-paced, never dragged, everything is relevant to the story. Short chapters and skipping between the three main scenes. Whenever I had a question, one of the characters would ask it too. Near the end there were moments of suspended disbelief, but I didn’t have to turn off my brain entirely.

Scene: 🇺🇸 ✈️ Set on a flight from Anchorage to LaGuardia, and on the ground in the NYC area.
Perspectives (4): The mother of a newborn with a family history. The father of a newborn who works at an investment firm. A co-pilot reconsidering their marriage. An FBI intelligence agent assigned to the case.
Timeline: Current (2010s/before Face ID).
🔥 Fuel: Cliffhangers. Interlocking reveals. Escalating stakes race against time. Did someone take the baby? If so, who and why? How did they manage to do it undetected? Where is it?
📖 Cred: Suspended disbelief realism

Mood Reading Match-Up:
Seatbelt sign. Airplane ambient noise. Turbulence. Laptop. Lightning. Helicopter blades. Warning alarms.
• Psychological action-adventure popcorn thriller
• Locked room mysteries
• Short chapters
• Punchy, cinematic writing
• “Go big or go home” Big Bads
• What-happened whodunnits
• Law & Order style FBI investigation digging up the tea
• Potential unreliable narrator
• Fly-on-the-wall reader gets to know more than the characters
• Fast-paced action and plot driven stories
• Who-took-my-baby parenting horrors

Content Heads-Up: Infertility. Early menopause. Stalking, home invasion (celeb; brief recall off page). Memory loss, confusion (Alzheimers; transient global amnesia). Loss of parent (as child). Abduction. Death. Fraud. Parental abandonment (as child; very brief recall). Migraines. Sexual harassment (workplace; of male). False accusations. Depression, mental illness (brief recall). Plane stuff (see my StoryGraph for more info if needed).

Rep: American. Cis. Hetero. Ambiguous skin tones.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. A mother's worst nightmare plays out in real time when her baby gets abducted mid flight and she has no idea where he is or who took him. Though some parts were slightly unbelievable, I still enjoyed this thriller and think fans of the genre will too!

My first book with this author and there was a lot to love but also a few things that were head scratching. My thriller/suspense novel doesn't have to think through EVERY plot point and make it realistic (although I'd prefer that in most cases because I'm not reading fantasy or magical realism so I tend to prefer an "explanation" for the choices the characters make). With that said, this story is about a missing child on a plane and we get 4 points of view within the storytelling. One of those viewpoints was pretty irrelevant to the plot but served more as a red herring and a voice for the inevitable climax of the story.
So I loved the fast-paced nature of the story. I finished it in one day. There are moments within Makayla Rossi's story that got repetitive and her manic behavior was a device to add drama. Overall, I felt she was a little narrowly drawn for us to get a sense of her as a person.
Jack her husband does a few things that are head scratchers and I'm not sure (I'm not a finance person so this is where I wonder how plausible several of the things he says happened are really possible).
Tina is the FBI agent that seems to have more humanity than anyone of the other voices. I could see her character on a big screen.

I don't want to spoil the plot but go into this story leaving your incredulity at the door because there are quite a few things that just don't seem to add up. That said, it definitely was a fun ride.

Ok I actually loved this book a lot. There’s something about books that take place on planes that immediately suck me in. I felt like I was watching a movie the whole time. Will absolutely be checking out more of this authors books!

Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole is an excellent, exciting thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Makayla and her infant son, Liam are on a flight to New York. When she gets up to use the restroom, she asks someone to watch her son.

When she returns, her son is missing. How is that even possible? Frantic and searching the entire vessel, Liam is nowhere to be found.

This book is INSANELY good. Filled with twists and turns, I absolutely LOVED this book!

This was awesome. A quick paced, action packed read. The plot was engaging and the story was intriguing. This was my first Cole book but it won’t be my last.

I really enjoyed this book and it gave me a mix of air crash investigations and criminal minds it was tense, emotional, dark and made my heart race

[ARC review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

PUBLISH DATE: JANUARY 07, 2025

While on a flight home from Anchorage to New York, Makayla rushes to use the bathroom while her baby son sleeps soundlessly in his bassinet. However, when Makayla returns to her seat, she finds the bassinet empty. Her baby is missing and everyone on the flight is a suspect. Chaos ensues as the flight attendants search the passengers' belongings, Makayla anxiously tries to understand who would take her baby and why, and the pilots attempt to calm things down while flying through difficult weather conditions. Could the kidnapping have something to do with her wealthy husband who was recently featured in Forbes? Did Makayla even get on the flight with her son?

I loved that a majority of the story takes place during the flight - communication is difficult, security is pretty high, everyone is in a tight, enclosed space, and everyone is a suspect. I liked that we go multiple POV's and got a glimpse of what was happening on the ground - FBI analysts making sense of the situation and Makayla's husband trying to pieces the pieces together.

However, I felt that there was SO much repetition and the author worked so hard to lead the reader during a specific path - which made me immediately understand that it couldn't be the answer.

This was a tense and suspenseful read, but it felt like the 'thriller' aspects were forced. This is a great book for anyone in need of a short, fast-paced, not-scary 'thriller'.

#arc #missinginflight #netgalley

Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole delivers a suspenseful premise with an intriguing plot involving a high-stakes disappearance. Cole's writing style is engaging, and the story starts off strong, capturing readers with its mystery and tension. However, the narrative eventually loses some momentum, and certain plot twists feel predictable. The character development could also benefit from more depth to fully invest readers in their fates. While the book provides an entertaining read with its fair share of suspense, it falls short of being a standout thriller.

If you’re a fan of The Pilot’s Daughter, then you’ll love Audrey J Cole’s new title, Missing In Flight. I could not put this book down, and felt like I was sitting along side Makayla, just as panicked as her and hoping for a happy ending! Audrey had me suspecting many (okay, all!) of the characters along the way, and often doubting the truth. And as a bonus, being the actual daughter of a pilot, Audrey’s aircraft knowledge is spot on! 5 stars!

A rollercoaster read for sure! I loved all the twists, they kept me invested from start to finish. Few things that were tough to get past would definitely be how intense Makayla was. It felt like every part she was in was just fighting someone. I understand it being an emotional situation with her son missing, but there was no voice of reason or part where she wasn't fighting someone. It got a bit repetitive in that sense. I also struggled to understand the parts with the pilots because of all the flying terms used, so it ended up being a bit confusing to follow along.
All in all, it was a good read, and the twist at the end was worth the anticipation.

Audrey J. Cole is always a win in my book. I love her writing style and the way she brings her characters to life in her pages.

Missing in Flight gave me a little bit of anxiety as a mother…but the basis is that Makayla’s infant son goes missing mid flight. People begin to question is Makayla is of sound mind and if her child was ever there to begin with, but she never gives up and fights to prove that something sinister has happened to her son.

I was on the edge of my seat as soon as the baby went missing, and I was hooked to see where Cole took the story. We get a few different perspectives, changing POV every few chapters or so. The characters were quite believable and relatable, I really got fully invested in their back stories.

I’d highly recommend Missing in Flight for a fast paced, anxiety inducing thriller!

What an incredible book. It blew me away.The suspense in this book is extremely intense. I was riveted to the pages. It’s an extremely emotional and angsty book. There’s one scene in the book that was a shocker and I wasn’t expecting it. It’s a gripping thriller that left me so absorbed I had no idea what was going on around me. I was sitting forward holding tightly to my IPad hardly breathing through the anxiety of the story. One of the best books I’ve read this year. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Makayla Rossi is on a flight from Anchorage to New York when she briefly leaves her seat and returns to find her baby, Liam, missing from his bassinet. Despite searching the plane, no one remembers seeing her with a baby, leading to suspicions about her mental state. Makayla must find her son before it's too late, without the support of her husband, Jack.

This novel started off a bit slow, but it quickly became a suspenseful and engaging read. It's disturbing to think that people could be so unaware of the situation unfolding on that plane. The author skillfully creates doubt surrounding the main character and her reliability, adding an intriguing layer to the story. Despite any initial skepticism, the plot captivates readers with unexpected twists and emotional depth.

The protagonist is relatable and somewhat strong, making it easy for readers to cheer her on throughout the suspenseful narrative. While the book may lack in character development and encounter some pacing issues, it ultimately delivers a thrilling experience with an ending that leaves room for interpretation. Could there be a sequel in the works?

I found myself unable to put the book down, staying up until 2am to ensure the safety of the characters within its pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Audrey J. Cole’s latest thriller centers around an infant who goes missing on board a Pacific Air flight en route to La Guardia from Anchorage.

Wait. An in-flight abduction?!

Yes, buckle up.

Makayla Rossi soon regretted leaving her three-month-old baby for the few minutes it took to use the lavatory. When she returned to her seat, Liam was not in his bulkhead bassinet. A ground-to-air FBI investigation occurs when a thorough search of the plane reveals that Liam is not on the flight.

This emotionally driven, intense story was in equal parts full of despair and hope. It captivated me. Cole effortlessly drew me into Makayla’s heartache and helplessness and had me experiencing every parent’s worst nightmare. The deep dive into the scrutiny and heartache Makayla faces is gripping and the questions Makayla starts asking herself had me on the edge of my seat as the frenzied search aboard PA7038 continued.

I think the most powerful part of Cole’s storytelling was making me question what I thought I knew. Suddenly, I wondered if there really was a child. Was Liam accidentally left in Anchorage? Is the grandfather or father responsible? Is this a well-planned abduction?

Cole writes fantastic thrillers. You need to clear your schedule for this one. You won’t be able to put it down.

I was gifted this copy by Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Ultimate popcorn thriller! I read this in one day because I felt like I needed to know what happened. I questioned every character and if they were involved. The rational side of my brain is like HUH how did they get out of the plane?!? But it's so unbelievable that it's entertaining. I loved the short chapters and multiple POVs. Thank you for this e-ARC!

I really enjoyed this thriller and highly recommend. I couldn't figure out what was going on or who actually took this baby. The ending was well paced and had me on the edge of my seat. I will be looking forward to other books from this author.

Missing in Flight by Audrey J Cole is a fascinating airplane mystery. Most of the book takes place on an airplane. Aviation enthusiasts will love the books use of some aviation terminology as the pilots discuss the flight. The mystery on board I truly terrifying and will keep you reading and guessing until the very last page. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Makayla Rossi is on a flight with her infant son, nips to the toilet while the baby is asleep and when she returns, to her horror, the baby is missing.
A search of the plane comes to naught, the baby is missing and Makayla is frantic.

The first half of this book is a slow burn, but the second half is totally absorbing, tense, emotional and thrilling. You can feel the mother's desperation, and then finding out who was behind the kidnap was a total shock.
I know it is a novel, (and depicted a mother's distress and anguish) but Makayla constantly undoing her seatbelt during the terrible turbulence and wandering around the plane irritated me.

All in all, I do recommend this nail biter and 4/5 stars from me.

I really enjoy Cole's books, maybe because they're airplane thrillers and I love that sub-trope, or maybe her story lines just really draw me in.

Either way this was a FUN and wild read. You definitely had to suspend reality a smidge, but I loved the story, the wild elements, the airplane thrilling moments, it all came together and worked really well for me!