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Every day, we’re inundated with the latest news: triumphs, tragedies, and loads of gossip. Sometimes, it seems hard to tell the difference. And in Before the Fall by author Noah Hawley, one man survives a great tragedy, only to end up caught up in the drama and gossip of the daily news cycle.
The story begins with disaster. One foggy Sunday night in August, eleven people board a private jet in Martha’s Vineyard and settle in for the short flight to New York. Minutes later, the plane crashes, and only two survive: struggling artist Scott Burroughs and J. J. Bateman, the four-year-old son of a powerful media mogul. Scott manages to rescue the boy, swimming miles through dark, shark-infested waters. But when the two survivors finally make it to shore, they quickly realize that their greatest challenges may just be beginning.
Before the Fall is a tragic tale, told through the interwoven stories of the numerous characters involved. It’s the story of the Batemans—workaholic David and his lonely wife, Maggie—who, together, have already lived through adversity. It’s the story of Ben Kipling, who knows he’ll be arrested for his crooked business deals in the morning. It’s the story of bodyguards and pilots and a young flight attendant. It’s the story of the little boy who survived and the aunt who finds herself rethinking her decisions once she becomes his guardian. And it’s the story of the artist who never lived up to his potential—and who’s given a chance to make up for it.
It’s also the story of the media’s spin on the event. After the crash, David Bateman’s network diligently reports on the story, sensationalizing the news while trying to point fingers and lay blame—blame that generally seems to land on the only adult survivor. Scott becomes the subject of constant speculation. Instead of being seen as a hero, he quickly comes under suspicion, and he’s forced to go into hiding. And it’s during that time that he begins to look back on his life, to relive the accident, and to consider his future.
Meanwhile, as the storytelling frequently flashes back to follow the other characters in the days leading up to the crash, a mystery begins to unfold. Though the media focuses its attention on Scott, there’s obviously more at play here. There’s a media mogul who’s under investigation. There’s the business owner who’s about to be arrested. Both dealt with wealthy and powerful people—people who could have wanted them dead. None of the characters are developed in such great detail that they’ll make for a truly emotional novel—it’s all a little bit hazy—but they do make for an intriguing puzzle.
Admittedly, this isn’t always an easy read. It jumps back and forth through time, and the dialogue is sometimes nearly as choppy as the timeline. But there’s so much going on here—so many fascinating observations about survival, greed, and what makes the news—that it’s a captivating tale.
Part coming-of-middle-age drama, part character-driven thriller, part mystery, Before the Fall is a smart and often absorbing read. It isn’t light and fluffy—and you probably don’t want to read it if you’re going to be flying anywhere in the near future—but if you happen to be driving to your next vacation, it’s worth picking up before you go.
Listen to the review on Shelf Discovery:
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