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!

This is going to be a best seller for 2025. Nonstop action from start to finish when a woman’s baby goes missing on a flight to New York. What happened to the baby? Was there even a baby to begin with? Just read this one! You won’t regret it.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to read in advance! I’ll definitely be recommending for preorders!

A solid thriller/suspense novel. I love the premise of a child vanishing thousands of feet in the air. This book kept my interest and had me at the edge of my seat. I started second guessing everything I believed I knew about this story. Definitely kept me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer publishing, and Audrey J. Cole for the ARC!

This was a first read for me from this author and I will definitely be reading more! I was hesitant to read this at first because the missing child story is so overdone, HOWEVER, this was not a typical missing person story. This was a fantastic suspenseful thriller. I was immediately hooked and could not put it down.

I appreciated the setting of this book taking place on a plane. There’s something about catastrophe thousands of feet in the air that really grabs your attention. This book has several character perspectives clearly defined at the beginning of each chapter. The chapters are short making it a quick and easy read.

Would have liked to see more character development and backstory. There was quite a bit of dialogue between the cockpit and air traffic control which I found to be unnecessary. It was quite technical in some parts which creates authenticity. While I appreciate the effort, it didn’t add to the story, in my opinion. There was too much aviation jargon that the average person probably doesn’t understand or really care about. Additionally, there was some repetition that I found to be mildly annoying. For those reasons I deducted one star.

This was a really well written and thrilling story, there was plenty of “omg” moments and twists that kept me hooked to the very end. I will be adding more of this authors books to the TBR!

4⭐️

What better thing to do when you're on an 11 hour flight than read? I found myself thinking it would be a good idea to read this while on a plane to enhance my experience. It definitely made me second guess that choice as the creepiness set in. This is fast paced and a quick read. I definitely thought the story was going to go one way, but it ended up taking a thrilling turn. I'm a huge fan of Audrey J. Cole and this did not disappoint!

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ah, the thrilling whirlwind of "Missing In Flight" This gripping tale is indeed a rollercoaster of emotions and suspense that will have you clutching the edge of your seat. Picture this: you're 30,000 feet in the air, cruising home from a well-deserved vacation with your baby in tow, and in the blink of an eye, your world turns upside down. Your little one vanishes without a trace, and the very people you've entrusted with your safety become eerily uncooperative, even denying the existence of your child. The plot is as chilling as the cabin air, leaving you questioning reality and desperately searching for answers amidst the turbulence of doubt and fear.

The storyline is a masterful blend of psychological thriller and mystery, with a sprinkle of the supernatural to keep things interesting. It's like someone took a page out of "The Twilight Zone" and mixed it with the intensity of "Gone Girl," all while keeping you in the confined space of an airplane. The claustrophobic setting amplifies the tension, making every twist and turn feel like it's happening in real-time, right beside you.

The protagonist's descent into madness is portrayed with such raw authenticity that you can't help but feel their desperation as they grapple with the inexplicable. You're drawn into their mind, experiencing their every doubt, their every hope, and their every heart-wrenching moment of despair. It's a wild ride through the human psyche, as the line between what's real and what's not becomes as blurry as the horizon outside the aircraft window.

The author's ability to weave a narrative that's both plausible and utterly bizarre is nothing short of genius. You'll find yourself second-guessing every character, every motive, and every theory that pops into your head. The plot twists are as unpredictable as a sudden drop in air pressure, leaving you gasping for air as you try to piece together the puzzle of what's really happening on this fateful flight.

The pacing is relentless, keeping you on the edge as the story unfolds at a breakneck speed. It's like being on a runaway train, hurtling towards an unknown destination with no brakes in sight. The supporting cast adds layers of intrigue, each with their own secrets that could either help or hinder the search for the truth.

But what truly sets "Missing In Flight" apart is its unique and original concept. It's not every day you come across a story that combines the horror of losing a child with the confined terror of a missing person on a plane. It's a fresh take on the missing person trope, one that's as exhilarating as it is unsettling.

This is a tale that will stick with you long after you've reached your final destination. It's a story that makes you question the very fabric of reality, all while keeping you entertained with its sheer audacity. So, buckle up, because "Missing In Flight" is a literary adventure you won't soon forget!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my DRC!

I find all books having to do with flights and planes and travel so I went into this one with high expectations and it did not disappoint. I’m looking forward to sharing this recommendation with other people to see if they have the experience I had.

A nerve tingling read! I can't imagine the horror of your baby going missing on a plane and not being able to find him. I would burn that plane down (figuratively not literally of course) because babies don't just get up and disappear. The how was obvious to me pretty early because I've learned in reading so many thrillers that characters and situations that seem to be haphazardly or casually mentioned usually are done so for a reason, but I didn't know the why. There were definitely a couple surprises sprinkled in and it was a nail biter right until the very end.

Another one I powered through as I had to keep going to discover what happened. Makayla and her infant, Liam are returning to New York and to meet husband, Jack when Makayla goes to the restroom on the plane and when she gets back to her seat, the bassinet is empty! One would think it would be impossible to hide an infant on a flight, but these people are master-minds! Back at home, we see Jack who is a financier dealing in lots of money as he wonders if his boss is on the level or not. Vacillating in time, the novel reveals the machinations of the company Jack works for as well as what is happening in the present as greedy investors will stop at nothing to get what they want!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

I didn't know how this one was going to end and I enjoyed the ride (no pun intended).

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down
This is a pretty good popcorn thriller. Theres good character development and it keeps you guessing on whether or not the child actually exists. But here’s my problems with the book. Theres only so many times you can read “transient global amnesia” in a book before you think you’re losing your mind yourself!! The repetition is beyond annoying. And Makayla is insufferable. Like yeah lady we get it. Your child is missing. But do you have to argue with EVERY SINGLE PERSON on the plane!? Like sit down and be quiet already lol. This is probably a good book for someone who’s just dipping their toes in the thriller genre. But for someone who reads nothing but thriller, this was very mid.

Makayla left her infant son sleeping alone in the bassinet just long enough to dash to the airplane's restroom, afraid that if she took him with her he'd take ages to settle back down. She asked the girl in the pink headphones to keep an eye on him and was as quick as she could possibly be, but when she returned to her seat Liam was gone. I wasn't sure how this one was going to work -- how long could it take to search a plane? The author manages to stretch the concept into a full length thriller, partially by switching point of view back and forth between every possible character including Makayla, her husband, the pilot, and the officers investigating the case. At first the premise made sense, but things got less and less plausible as the book progressed.