Synopses & Reviews
Before the Fall begins on a foggy summer night, where ten people-nine privileged, one a down-on-his-luck painter-board a private jet in Martha's Vineyard. The plane never reaches its destination, and the only survivors are Scott Burroughs-the painter-and a six-year-old boy, the last remaining member of a very wealthy media mogul's family.
In chapters that weave between the gripping survival story and its aftermath of Scott and his young companion, with the lives of the passengers and crew members before they board the plane, a picture starts to emerge of the mystery surrounding the crash. As the crimes and intrigues of the passengers begin to unravel, odd coincidences and suggestions of conspiracy arise. Could it be a coincidence that so many influential people died in one plane? Was it mechanical or human error, or could it be that there was something more nefarious at work? And what to make of the fact that Scott had spent years before the crash painting pictures of disasters?
Though quick-paced and suspenseful, at the heart of Before the Fall are the fundamental questions of fate and human nature. How any historical event, when examined in detail, yields suspicious facts. We are pattern-seeking animals seeing faces in clouds. Amidst all the conspiracists and sycophants alike, the book is ultimately about the relationship of Scott and the young boy. As the possibilities for the crash swirl around them, their fragile relationship glows at the heart of the novel, illuminating not only how we are all inextricably linked, family and stranger alike, but also how we seek to find meaning in even the most incomprehensible of tragedies.
Synopsis
WINNER OF THE 2017 EDGAR AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the Emmy, PEN, Peabody, Critics' Choice, and Golden Globe Award-winning creator of the TV show Fargo comes the thriller of the year.
On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are Scott Burroughs--the painter--and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.
With chapters weaving between the aftermath of the crash and the backstories of the passengers and crew members--including a Wall Street titan and his wife, a Texan-born party boy just in from London, a young woman questioning her path in life, and a career pilot--the mystery surrounding the tragedy heightens. As the passengers' intrigues unravel, odd coincidences point to a conspiracy. Was it merely by dumb chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something far more sinister at work? Events soon threaten to spiral out of control in an escalating storm of media outrage and accusations. And while Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage.
Amid pulse-quickening suspense, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.
Synopsis
FROM THE AWARD-WINNING CREATOR OF FARGO COMES "ONE THE YEAR'S BEST SUSPENSE NOVELS" (NEW YORK TIMES).
On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are the painter Scott Burroughs and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.
Was it by chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something more sinister at work? A storm of media attention brings Scott fame that quickly morphs into notoriety and accusations, and he scrambles to salvage truth from the wreckage. Amid trauma and chaos, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy grows and glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, morality, and the inextricable ties that bind us together. Kristin Hannah raves, "Noah Hawley really knows how to keep a reader turning the pages... a complex, compulsively readable thrill ride of a novel."
Synopsis
On a foggy summer night, eleven people--ten privileged, one down-on-his-luck painter--depart Martha's Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Sixteen minutes later, the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are the painter Scott Burroughs and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul's family.
Was it by chance that so many influential people perished? Or was something more sinister at work? A storm of media attention brings Scott fame that quickly morphs into notoriety and accusations, and he scrambles to salvage truth from the wreckage. Amid trauma and chaos, the fragile relationship between Scott and the young boy grows and glows at the heart of this stunning novel, raising questions of fate, morality, and the inextricable ties that bind us together.
Kristin Hannah raves, "Noah Hawley really knows how to keep a reader turning the pages... a complex, compulsively readable thrill ride of a novel."
Winner of the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Novel and the 2017 International Thriller Writers Award For Best Novel
From the Award-Winning Creator of Fargo Comes "One of the Year's Best Suspense Novels" (New York Times).
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About the Author
Noah Hawley is an American film and television producer, screenwriter, composer, and author. He wrote and produced the television series
Bones (2005-present) and also created
The Unusuals (2009) and
My Generation (2010). Hawley also wrote the screenplay for the film
Lies and Alibis (2006) starring Steve Coogan and Rebecca Romijn.
Noah is the author of four novels including A Conspiracy of Tall Men, Other People's Weddings, The Punch, and The Good Father.
Noah began writing as a release from his job at the Legal Aid Society back in New York where he worked with abused and neglected juveniles. He then moved to San Francisco and met critically acclaimed author Po Bronson who invited him to join "The San Francisco Writers' Grotto" an organization where writers, filmmakers and storytellers practice their craft.