I think this book was highly entertaining. I did find it to be pretty predictable but still a solid read. The very beginning of this book, drew me in and i felt a sense of dread instantly. The plot moved along pretty fast throughout the book, so pacing was perfect.

Although this is true, this definitely gave popcorn thriller with the way you had to suspend your disbelief with the ending.

Missing in Flight is one of the most stressful books I've ever read. Imagine getting on a plane and having a long flight from Alaska to New York with your 3 month old son. That's what Makayla Rossi had in front of her. Liam was doing well so far sleeping in his carrier by the window. Most of the passengers were sleeping, reading, or watching the in-flight movie. The problem was after a few hours, Makayla had to use the restroom. Liam was sleeping so she didn't want to wake him by taking him with her. Makayla saw that the young woman across the aisle had headphones on and was watching a movie. She gestured to her and pointed to Liam telling the woman that she was going to quickly use the restroom. The woman pointed towards the back of the plane and went back to her movie.

Makayla was only gone for a few minutes, but was nervous leaving her young son. When she got back to her seat she thanked the woman and as she went to sit down she noticed that something was very, very wrong. Liam was no longer in his carrier! Makayla went into a full panic and started searching the plane. She told the flight crew what was going on and that her son had been sleeping in his carrier when she went to the restroom and was now gone! The crew and passengers searched everywhere, but no Liam. Where could he be? Who would take a 3 month old on a plane?
As Makayla's heart raced and her mind pictured all kinds of bad scenarios, the crew tried to get her to stay in her seat as it was a rough flight. The crew agreed to check everyone's luggage to make sure Liam hadn't been put in any carry-on items.

Makayla's mom was a famous actress who had lost her memory due to a rare neurological disorder. She's dead now due to a terrible car crash. Some people on the plane were watching the show about her and what happened to her. Once they find out that Makayla is her daughter they start to wonder if it's hereditary? No one actually saw Liam, they just saw the blanket bulge. Could Makayla be losing her mind like her mother? Could she have left Liam at the airport. She and Liam had been visiting her father in Alaska. He remembers seeing Liam and dropped them at the airport. Makayla's husband, Jack, was recently featured on the cover of Forbes magazine as a very successful banker. He handles millions of dollars on a daily basis. Could this be a kidnapping to get money from them? Jack does very well and they live in a very expensive condo in New York.

I wondered if Missing in Flight was going to be able to hold my attention with the storyline, but oh my goodness did it! This book is fantastic and loaded with suspense and possible suspects. The next time I get on a plane, I'll be thinking of this book! It seemed crazy that a baby could go missing on a plane and no one find him, but trust me, it works. This book will stick with you and you'll enjoy every moment of the thrilling ride! Be sure to buckle up! I rate Missing in Flight 5 stars with my highest recommendation. The book is available now and should be added to your TBR pile immediately! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of Missing in Flight in exchange for a fair review. #MissingInFight

Is there an author you think deserves a little more mentioning in the book world? This is an author that I’m amazed still flies under the radar.

It has a lot going on but never seemed like too much. A little bit locked mystery as a baby goes missing mid flight and seems like it has disappeared into thin air.

There are multiple POVs and just as many suspects. Maybe the Mom is unreliable? The flight attendants, the pilots, the husband…. The only people not on my radar as a suspect were the FBI agents on the ground investigating the disappearance.

I didn’t really connect with the characters but I raced through this because I had to know what happened to that baby. I was obsessed in my pursuit to figure it out. Every few pages changing my mind on who and why.

I hesitate to call this a popcorn thriller because it focuses a little more on the characters than the plot, but it had the twistiness and just at the edge of what could happen that you usually see in the genre. But regardless of the genre, I couldn’t put it down.

And if you like this one, definitely pick up the final hunt series.

Missing in Flight is a claustrophobic, fast-paced action-mystery that whips you around in, well, a turbulent way.

Coming home from a cross-country flight, new mom Makayla can’t bear the thought of disturbing her sleeping baby to use the bathroom. She asks her fellow passenger to keep an eye on things while she quickly takes care of business.

Upon her return, she’s horrified that said fellow passenger didn’t happen to catch that her baby is now missing.

They’re on a plane, so where could her son have gone? Which is what Makayla and the flight crew are asking themselves.

Upon their search, another possible reason floats in - maybe Makayla’s baby was never on the plane to begin with?

Short chapters and taut descriptions move the story forward at breakneck speed with a few action sequences that are the stuff of unrealistic dreams. I was drawn in from start to finish.

I wasn’t all the way swayed by how some things were handled, but I was entertained nonetheless.

LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!!! I honestly couldn't stop reading it! I absolutely loved how you were able to read through many view points to get the full picture of not only what Makayla was going through, but the detectives involved, her husband, and the pilots! The writing was fantastic, and Audrey makes you question every thing you thought to be true! This one kept me on the edge of my seat and I highly recommend it!

Thank you NetGalley! This is my first book by this author and it did not disappoint. What a crazy plot for this book! As a parent myself, I could feel for the main character. It was a nail biting thriller

Thank you to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This thriller based on the classic locked-door trope with a unique twist - as evident in the title, on a long-haul flight - is told in the third person POV, and jumps back and forth between different protagonists both in the air and on the ground. Not always easy to follow, and quite repetitive at times, the narrative chugs along until it gathers steam about 70% in - and then the limits of credulity are stretched a bit too far for my taste. Overall, I found it an okay read, but more of a slowly building mystery rather than a thriller.

Missing in Flight by Audrey J. Cole keeps you hooked till the very end.
A well written suspense filled with twists that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
A quick and fun read that I finished in a few hours.
The characterization was superb, the writing pacey and flowing, and the tension delivered in a series of shocks and twists along the way.
This is a tightly written story, with well developed characters and enough suspense to keep you reading.

Kept me guessing until the end. I appreciated the inside information about airplanes the author provided.
Flying from Alaska to New York is a long trip, made even more difficult with a baby. When Makayla runs to the restroom, while leaving her son with a seat mate, she is worried but only will be gone a few moments.
How has the baby vanished in that short amount of time….and where could he have gone? It’s an airplane, not a park. Even worse, nobody remembers seeing him.

This book captured my attention from the beginning and also terrified me from ever getting on a plane again 😂

This was my first book by Audrey J. Cole and I can easily say it will NOT be my last. From the initial concept of how can a baby suddenly go missing on a plane…I was HOOKED.

Audrey’s knowledge as a pilot’s daughter only contributed to the incredible level of detail this story warranted—and I’ve never read another book that supplied such precision to the process and role of a pilot. There are multiple perspectives shifting throughout the story to add to both the panic and constant search for who could be responsible—especially when everyone is keeping their own secrets…

Then add in the fact that there might be a memory disorder at play? I couldn’t put this book down and was questioning EVERYONE.

You don’t want to miss this phenomenal thriller. Just…don’t read it right before flying 😂

A locked door mystery set on a plane. A mother who loses her baby mid flight while she’s in the restroom. As interesting as this all sounds, the writing was very stiff. None of the characters seemed fully developed, and I felt no compulsion to care about what happened to any of them.
Makayla acted like a complete insane person the whole book. Not to say I wouldn’t be freaking out if I couldn’t find my child but seriously sister you’re on a plane. And how many chances are the crew going to give her? In real life she probably would have been restrained and possibly tasered by the second chapter.
It is a quick easy read. If that’s what you’re looking for this will do it.
I received an ARC of this title, all opinions are my own.

This book definitely had me on edge and wondering how I would feel in this situation, a very intense read.

When Makayla returns from the restroom only minutes later, she is shocked to find her baby is gone. She frantically tries to get the crew to help her find him, but after checking the plane once, the passengers and crew start to wonder if a baby ever even boarded the plane. Feeling helpless, desperate, and alone, Makayla needs to figure out what happened to her son before it’s too late!

From the very start of this book, I was hooked! It is filled with edge of your seat suspense from beginning to end, which made it very hard to put down. Every single person on the plane seemed suspicious to me and I was so invested in finding out what was really going on. Cole does a great job casting doubt on every character in the book….Was the husband involved or was this a planned abduction in exchange for money? I even began questioning whether Liam really did ever get on the plane. I really felt for Makayla and any parent could relate to the emotions and fear that she was experiencing while trying to locate her son, while trying to convince everyone to help her! I also definitely felt frustrated with the flight crew and many times wanted to scream at them to handle things differently!
If you are looking for a fast paced, action packed thriller that will keep you up late turning pages, then give this one a read!

An utterly original locked room mystery that kept my eyes riveted to the pages, Missing in Flight had everything I wanted and more. From the multiple distinct POVs to the deftly delivered emotional depth, I was both swept up by the characters and also floored by the plot. After all, it was fast-paced, addictive, and suspenseful beyond belief. Plotted in such a way as to gradually build up the dread and foreboding, I knew in every fiber of my being that this catastrophe in the air could end in heart-rending disaster. So did it you ask? All I’m willing to say is that Ms. Cole nailed it in one by the end of the novel.

I do need to warn you, though, that this book required a definite suspension of ALL disbelief. Once I did that, however, it was one heck of a rollercoaster ride of suspense. From the plane packed with more suspects than allies to the compelling FBI investigation on the ground, the more facts that were revealed, the less I seemed to know. You see, with each ensuing twist, the story shifted a little more until no amount of armchair sleuth sleuthing could’ve figured it out. And IYKYK, but constant, unending surprises are just what I like in a well-played psychological thriller.

All in all, I found this pulse-pounding plot supremely well done. With a premise that has me whispering “Wait, what?!” more times than I could count and in air dynamics that felt decidedly real, I easily got swept up in the drama as I waited to find out what became of this poor baby. And thanks to a cleverly portrayed unreliable narrator, I had no clue who to trust within this gripping new novel. So if you love suspicious characters, palpable tension, and short inhale-able chapters, this book’s for you. Shrewdly plotted and emotionally driven, I had a blast ripping through these 277 pages in no time at all. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Audrey J. Cole, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is the epitome of the locked room trope, and I was intrigued from the first part. I was able to read this fairly quickly, as the page count is just under 300 pages. In terms of pacing, I would say there was a lull in the middle, but then the ending 30% was lightening fast. Despite the lull, the mystery was enough to keep me going. I was happy with the ending as well, although I will say this book to me classifies more of a mystery than a thriller. Would recommend if you are looking for a quick mystery or are new to the genre!

A locked room mystery that takes place on an airplane. Makayla is flying home to New York, with her three month old baby. She goes to the bathroom only to return with an empty bassinet. Where is her baby?

This book is a gripping premise that hooks the reader from the start. Makayla is a strong character that you will be cheering for! Stuff happens along the way, with twists and the story will keep you guessing. This can be very emotional at times and the writing is great! Told in multiple POV, with an intriguing backstory. Enjoy the turbulence!

Popcorn Thriller, Addictive Read and Fast- Paced! 3 stars!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy! This book will be released 3/1/25.

Who doesn’t love a locked room thriller? Missing in Flight is a wonderfully suspenseful book about a mother, who after going to the bathroom on a plane, returns back to her seat to find her infant son gone. Is her son really missing or did Makayla only think she brought him on board? Told from multiple POV and filled with deception and action packed pages this book was an incredibly easy read. The author did an amazing job with telling this story and I look forward to reading whatever this author writes next.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publishers for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Great premise (although not that original) and good characters (although some felt extraneous and unnecessary). But, all in all, Missing in Flight wasn’t as good as I expected it to be.

It started off well enough. A woman with her infant boards a plane bound from Anchorage, Alaska to New York’s LaGuardia airport. During the flight her sleeping baby disappears while she makes a brief visit to the lavatory. Toss in a distraught mother, a brewing thunderstorm, and the unaccounted-for baby, and the tension quickly mounts.

While I enjoyed the beginning of the book, the story began to lose its appeal. Besides just being unbelievable and unrealistic, the rehashing and repeating of the issues and concerns became tedious. The inclusion of the pilots and their personal stories seemed totally unnecessary and detracted from the story as a whole. Even the descriptions of how they were flying the plane and all the technical aspects seemed to be overdone and much too detailed for this book.

Finally, I don’t think some of the actions of the characters were described very well. I like to visualize how a scene is playing out and throughout the book I struggled to do this. Overall, I can only give Missing in Flight 3 *s at the very most. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS!!!!!!! Missing In Flight written by Audrey J. Cole is a twisty thriller that makes me never want to fly on an airplane. As someone that has never flown before, this book scared the heck out of me and has confirmed my suspicions that I will NEVER fly on an airplane in my life, no one can convince me otherwise. With all of the airplane mishaps and close calls up in the air and on the run ways and even mid flight in today's world, Missing In Flight gave me the chills. I have seen so many reviewers saying this book was far fetched at times, which I 100% agree with them, but after watching the news the past month or so with all of the crashes etc, I don't know what to think. Missing In Flight had me hooked from the very first page, all the way to the very last page, I just couldn't put this book down. I will say that you are going to have so many questions while you are reading this book, but don't worry every single question will be answered, just keep reading until the very last page. I have never read book before this one by Audrey J. Cole, but this one certainly won't be my last. I can't recommend this book enough, please mark your calendars for March 1st, 2025 because you won't want to miss this twisty thriller. To anyone that has flown before, please read this book because I want to know if anyone has experienced this before in their life times.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THOMAS & MERCER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!

"You should never feel guilty for taking care of your own needs".

"You never know when your time with someone could be your last".

"People do irrational things when they fear they are about to get caught".

Missing In Flight is told in four POV'S from Anna who is the co-pilot, Makayla Rossi who is the female main character, Jack Rossi who is Makayla's husband and the male main character, and finally Tina Farrar who is an FBI agent. Flight 7038 of Pacific Air Flight is currently thirty thousand feet in the air currently en route from Anchorage Alaska to LaGuardia New York when out of no where panic and fear starts to erupt. Makayla was spending two weeks in Alaska with her father and her three month old son, Liam, but now she's heading home to her husband in New York. When Makayla was in Alaska, she went hiking with her father and son when she fell and hit her head but insisted she was fine. When Flight 7038 is thirty thousand feet in the air, Makayla decides to use the restroom and asks the teenager across the isle to watch her sleeping baby, but when Makayla returns to her seat, the bassinet is empty. Makayla starts causing a ruckus on the plane accusing people of having taken her child and going through everything on the plane looking for her son. Nobody boarding Flight 7038 ever recalls seeing Makayla board the airplane with a baby. So, where is Liam? Was there ever a baby in the first place as passengers were boarding the airplane? You'll have to read this book to have these questions answered.

As Makayla keeps accusing people of stealing her baby, the passengers soon realize that Makayla Rossi is Lydia Banks daughter. Lydia Banks suffered from transient global amnesia. Lydia suffered from an amnesiac episode on live TV before she walked off set angry and soon died in a fatal car accident. As Makayla starts causing more outrage, the passengers and flight attendants start causing Makayla's mental state when they learn that she's related to Lydia Banks. I often felt bad for Makayla for the way she was being treated, but girl, you cannot be running and screaming when an airplane is thirty thousand feet up in the air. Jack Rossi is a Zac Efron look alike, but ladies you soon won't be crushing on him when you learn about all of the secrets he's been keeping from those closest to him. Jack is an account manager at Rothman Securities as an investment banker. As the story and fear begins to escalate even more, Jack is being investigated for a ransom after he was featured in a Forbes article. I felt so bad for Makayla and Jack as they tried to get answers and find their son, but guys come on, you are married, you need to learn to communicate better with each other. I can't even imagine what it's like to lose your child while you are on an airplane because damn, I had chills the entire time. As I was reading this book, my heart was literally beating right out of my chest.

Imagine being on an overnight flight from Alaska to New York, desperate to use the bathroom while your baby is fast asleep in his bassinet. It won’t hurt to leave him for a couple minutes, right? WRONG! Makayla comes back from the bathroom to an empty bassinet, and while she’s in a panic to find her missing baby, it doesn’t seem like everyone else is feeling that way.

This was a good locked room/airplane thriller! The second half of the book had great pacing, and I would have rated this higher if the front half of the book was more fast-paced. The author is a pilot’s daughter, so the official pilot speak to the control tower seemed cool and something I have never seen in a book before.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon/Thomas & Mercer for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!