CRASHERS
Whenever a plane goes down in the U.S., a "Go Team" made up of experts is assembled by the NTSB to investigate. Those people - each of them a leading expert in a specific area - are known as informally as "Crashers."
When a passenger plane, a Vermeer One Eleven, slams into the ground outside Portland, Oregon, a team is quickly assembled to investigate the cause. Under the leadership of the IIC (Investigator in Charge), Leonard "Tommy" Tomzak, a pathologist who recently quit the NTSB who also happened to be in the area when the Vermeer One Eleven went down, the team gets to work as fast as possible. Assembled by Susan Tanaka, the inter-governmental liason from the NTSB on this crash, the team includes: Kathryn "Kiki" Duvall (voice recorder specialist), known as a"sonar witch" who can hear things that others can't and can pinpoint an accent from anywhere in the world; John Roby (Mad Bomber), former cop and bomb expert, who can detect the use of an incendiary device simply by smelling the air; Walter Mulroney (Structures), looks more like a cowboy than an engineer but can rebuild just about any plane from the bolts up; along with Peter Kim (Power Plant) and Isaiah Grey (Operations). Usually the team has months to determine the cause of a crash. But this time it's different. This time, the plane was brought down deliberately, without leaving a trace, and this was only a trial run.
In LA, Daria Gibron - a former Shin Bet agent, now under the protection of the FBI- spots a group of suspicious-looking men. Missing her former life of action, she attaches herself to them only to learn that, somehow, they were responsbie for the plane crash and are preparing for another action. While her FBI handler tries to find her and save her, Daria risks her life to try to get close enough to learn what's going on and thwart the coming terrorist action. But time is running out and her cover story is running thin.
A fresh and utterly compelling thriller, an original mix of action, investigation and a brilliant cast of characters that grabs the reader in the way few novels can and fewer do.
Reviews
“Outstanding! Crashers combines the ferocious action you usually see on a movie screen with a fascinating look at the way a major airline crash is investigated.” ―Phillip Margolin, New York Times bestselling author of Supreme Justice
“You absolutely must read Crashers. I literally couldn't put this book down. Dana Haynes is a gifted writer who grabs you on page one and doesn't let you go until the final page.” ―Nelson DeMille, New York Times bestselling author of The Lion
“Strong characters, gruesome crash details, and the ticking countdown to another attack make this novel an explosive mix of 24 and CSI.” ―USA Today
“Dana Haynes delivers big-time with Crashers, a spectacular, timely, un-put-downable, near-perfect thriller whose every page sizzles with action, intrigue, information, and intelligence. If you're a thriller fan, or even just a lover of fine writing and terrific story-telling, do yourself a big favor and buy this book.” ―John Lescroart, New York Times bestselling author of Damage
“This is a thriller that lands a rare and satisfying hat trick: The action sequences hit hard, the characters are idiosyncratic while still feeling like real people, and the 'snappy' dialogue actually snaps.” ―Kirkus Reviews
“Filled with excitement and knowledge of NTSB procedures and problems. Highly recommended.” ―Library Journal (starred review)
“Haynes's compelling first thriller takes familiar elements--a mysterious airplane crash, a bent FBI agent, a deadly female spy--and mixes them with the world of National Transportation Safety Board aviation disaster investigations…The forensic details fascinate. Haynes nicely integrates several subplots involving terrorism. The slam-bang crash landing of a conclusion will leave readers anxiously awaiting the promised sequel.” ―Publishers Weekly
“Lively and fast moving… generates plenty of tension. A solid debut.” ―Booklist
“A supersonic jet of a thriller, loaded with compelling detail and page-turning suspense and action!” ―Jeff Abbott, New York Times bestselling author of Trust Me
“Imagine an entire season of 24 crammed into a single book. That's what you get with Crashers, a fast-paced, twisty thriller that's just begging to be made into a movie.” ―April Henry, New York Times bestselling co-author of Face of Betrayal and Hand of Fate
“This is a book for adrenaline junkies; it grabs you by the frontal lobes right at the outset, and doesn't let go until the last page.” ―BookPage