Accidental Heroes: A Novel
by Danielle Steel
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Fiction. Literature. A decorated former Air Force pilot. A pregnant flight attendant. A dedicated TSA agent. The fates of these three, and many others, converge in Danielle Steel's gripping new novel-a heart-stopping thriller that engages ordinary men and women in the fight of their lives during a flight from New York to San Francisco. On a beautiful May morning at New York's John F. Kennedy airport, two planes have just departed for San Francisco-one a 757, another a smaller Airbus A321. At show more a security checkpoint, TSA agent Bernice Adams finds a postcard of the Golden Gate Bridge bearing an ambiguous-perhaps ominous-message. Her supervisor dismisses her concerns, but Bernice calls security and soon Ben Waterman arrives. A senior Homeland Security agent, still grappling with guilt after a disastrous operation in which hostages were killed, Ben too becomes suspicious. Who left the postcard behind, which flight is that person on, and what exactly does the message mean? As Ben scans the passenger manifests, his focus turns to the A321, with Helen Smith as its senior pilot. Helen's military service and her tenure with the airline have been exemplary. But her husband's savage death in Iraq was more than anyone should bear, leaving her widowed with three children. A major film star is on board. So is an off-duty pilot who has just lost his forty-year career. So is a distraught father, traveling with the baby son he has abducted from his estranged wife. Sifting through data and relying on instinct, Ben becomes convinced that someone on Helen's plane is planning something terrible. And he's right. Passengers, crew, and experts on the ground become heroes out of necessity to try to avert tragedy at the eleventh hour. In her stunning novel Danielle Steel combines intense action with stories of emotionally rich, intertwined lives. As the jet bears down on its destination of San Francisco, strangers are united, desperate choices are made, and futures will be changed forever by a handful of accidental heroes. show lessTags
Recommendations
Member Reviews
It was heart wrenching for a while and I think her most emotional one for me.
As everyone knows, I'm a big Danielle Steel fan and most are romances but this one was totally different from her usual. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. My heart was pounding especially halfway through the book when it started to get dicey. I had to put the book down and catch my breath.
I was an emotional wreck by the end of the book believe me and I needed tissues. It all turned out okay!
As everyone knows, I'm a big Danielle Steel fan and most are romances but this one was totally different from her usual. I was at the edge of my seat the whole time. My heart was pounding especially halfway through the book when it started to get dicey. I had to put the book down and catch my breath.
I was an emotional wreck by the end of the book believe me and I needed tissues. It all turned out okay!
I read this book as it was pulled out as the months suggestion at book club. Truth be told, I did not have high expectations going into it; Danielle Steel has always been an author I have associated with older readers than myself, and with chick-lit which I am usually not that interested in. But I tried to have an open mind!
I found the plot quite dull; although there was a LOT of unnecessary information thrown at the reader in the beginning (honestly, pages of a characters background for ever character upon first meeting seems completely excessive to me), there wasn’t enough build up or suspense as to the actual ‘thriller’ aspect of the book. I felt that they figured out who the perpetrator was in a rushed manner that didn’t show more really allow the reader to think for themselves at all; a good thriller has the reader second guessing themselves and wondering who the perpetrator is, but this book was entirely too obvious in my eyes.
The characters themselves and the reactions they had etc all seemed quite 2D and superficial to me; simplistic and sugar coated with little depth.
It dragged on, for me, in the aftermath. The numerous chapters after the event showing countless ‘happy endings’ were bland, gratuitous and added little to the story overall.
The story itself was interesting, if not executed that well. I found that after a slow start, it was fairly easy to get into. In all, a simple, easy read, and not something I would recommend. show less
I found the plot quite dull; although there was a LOT of unnecessary information thrown at the reader in the beginning (honestly, pages of a characters background for ever character upon first meeting seems completely excessive to me), there wasn’t enough build up or suspense as to the actual ‘thriller’ aspect of the book. I felt that they figured out who the perpetrator was in a rushed manner that didn’t show more really allow the reader to think for themselves at all; a good thriller has the reader second guessing themselves and wondering who the perpetrator is, but this book was entirely too obvious in my eyes.
The characters themselves and the reactions they had etc all seemed quite 2D and superficial to me; simplistic and sugar coated with little depth.
It dragged on, for me, in the aftermath. The numerous chapters after the event showing countless ‘happy endings’ were bland, gratuitous and added little to the story overall.
The story itself was interesting, if not executed that well. I found that after a slow start, it was fairly easy to get into. In all, a simple, easy read, and not something I would recommend. show less
Typical Danielle Steel book, good enough story line, but very predictable and kind of bland. It's good if you are looking for a mindless read with an airline story background.
Intrigue and get ooze out of this plot like jelly out of a sandwich. Nicely narrated and written. Loved the draw in…
Some LGBA references.
Some LGBA references.
Enjoyable book. Typical Danielle Steele with happy, almost too perfect, endings.
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Author Information
303+ Works 105,318 Members
Danielle Steel was born in New York City on August 14, 1947. She studied literature, design, and fashion design - first at Parsons School of Design and later at New York University. Her first novel, Going Home, was published in 1972. Her other books include The House on Hope Street, The Wedding, Irresistible Forces, Granny Dan, Bittersweet, Mirror show more Image, The Klone and I, The Long Road Home, The Ghost, Special Delivery, The Ranch, His Bright Light, Southern Lights, Blue, Country, The Apartment, Property of a Noble Woman, The Mistress, Dangerous Games, Against All Odds, The Duchess, Fairytale, Fall From Grace, The Cast, The Good Fight, and Turning Point. A number of her novels have made major bestseller lists and have also been adapted into TV movies or miniseries. She also writes children's books including the Max and Martha series. In 2002, she was decorated by the French government as an Officer of the Order des Arts et des Letters for her contributions to world culture. (Bowker Author Biography) show less
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 2018
- People/Characters
- Bernice Adams; Ben Waterman
Classifications
Statistics
- Members
- 406
- Popularity
- 76,449
- Reviews
- 5
- Rating
- (3.49)
- Languages
- Dutch, English, French, Korean
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 30
- ASINs
- 5
