This is an idea that you also mention in your own book, and there you point out that active listening isn’t just something people can use in a hostage situation, it is just as important in everyday life. Just a short way into the flight, Mina receives a note that she can't ignore, calling on her help to derail the flight, or her much beloved adopted daughter will suffer the consequences. Special thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS LANDMARK for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. But soon after the plane takes off, Mina receives a chilling anonymous note. Someone wants to make sure the plane never reaches its destination. They're demanding her cooperation . . . and they know exactly how to get it.

Hostage tells the story of the world’s first direct flight between London and Sydney, 20 hours in the air with no stops and over 350 passengers and crew on board. The flight is being heralded as the first of the future - what could possibly go wrong? The narrative switches between Mina, in the aeroplane, and her husband at home, with other narrators/passengers in between. I loved how the story built up, and accumulated so many layers - a real onion of a book! Everyone had their own secrets and motives, and I loved how this was explored. The tension ratchets up brilliantly throughout the novel, and makes for a genuinely nail-biting read. And - no spoilers - but THAT ENDING! Another perfectly delivered final twist from the master of them. There were so many brilliant surprises, twists and turns along the way making this a truly unforgettable story. I was constantly evaluating my thoughts on certain characters and felt bad when certain suspicions I had turned out to be entirely misplaced! The final reveal and the final chapter left me speechless! It was so incredibly clever and I just didn’t see it coming! Mina is not the only one held hostage in this novel, neither are the passengers, and I felt it applied to so many people that my chest hurt!Oh.my.goodness.Oh.my.goodness. Oh.my.goodness. This is freaking mind blowing! Breathe in ! Breathe out! This is everything I want from brilliantly delicious, extremely addictive and absolutely smart, twisty, claustrophobic, high tension story with detailed, connectable characterization! It was also really effective having short chapters interspersed from the perspectives of passengers on the flight. I enjoyed getting to see their differing reasons for being on the flight and the experiences they have each had in their lives. They had such a clever relevance as the story developed too which I loved. I also liked getting to learn about other passengers from Mina’s interactions with them throughout the flight. Well, it is very challenging. It is like the suicidal individuals that the police deal with all the time. If someone really is convinced that they are going to kill themselves and they are determined to do that then you are going to be unsuccessful in stopping them. But we try to find a level of ambivalence and that gives us an opportunity to insert our efforts to try to stop them from doing that. And I think the same is true for terrorists.

I wasn't a fan of the author throwing in a few hot button social issues of the day, which did nothing to move the plot forward. I would really urge authors to show restraint and simply focus on telling a good story.We immediately know that the marriage of Mina and Adam is in big trouble. And it's not going to get better without honesty and listening on both sides but they aren't about to be honest with each other and both seem too far gone to listen to the other. The only thing keeping these two connected at all is their adopted daughter, five year old Sophia. Hostage' is just an incredible read and one I do not think I will ever forget. This is exhilarating, emotional and full of danger and secrets. I loved every word and every twist and turn the book took. I cannot recommend this enough, it is just the perfect read.