First Class Killing [Paperback]

Lynne Heitman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 5, 2005

Majestic Airlines believes that some of its staff are abusing the company's databases and facilities. And they are right. They have their suspicions as to the reasons, but they need facts and evidence. Enter Alexandra Shanahan, once the general manager of their operations in Boston and now a fledgling private investigator. She goes undercover as an air hostess and in the gossip-laden atmosphere of the crew rooms and the lay-overs, she very quickly learns that a group of her female colleagues are running an 'escort' service for Majestic's customers. To Alex it seems as though one business is merely ripping off another one, but as she gets closer to the heart of the prostitution racket she realises it also embraces extortion - violent extortion - and she finds herself investigating murder as well as fraud.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Lisa Gardner New York Times bestselling author of The Killing Hour Thoroughly engrossing suspense. -- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Lynne Heitman worked for American Airlines for 14 years, latterly as their General Manager at Logan Airport, Boston. Born in Dallas in 1957 she mistakenly became a cheer-leader for a year before graduating as an MBA.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Time Warner Paperbacks* (May 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075153322X
• ISBN-13: 978-0751533224
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,409,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great storytelling, March 30, 2004

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: First Class Killing (Mass Market Paperback)

For fourteen years she was the vice president of operations at Majestic Airlines based at Boston's Logan Airport. Needing a career change, she tendered her resignation and went to work as an apprentice to private investigator Harvey Baltimore who is suffering from multiple sclerosis. Alex Shanahan does most of the leg work while Harvey does the research; together they make a great team. Right now Alex is undercover as a flight attendant for Orange Air trying to get close to Angela Velesco, a senior flight attendant.

The chief of security at Orange Air wants Angela's prostitution operation disbanded and that takes proof. Alex believes that Angela might have killed a competitor but that doesn't stop her from trying to get Angela to hire her as a business consultant. Since Angela has major trust issues, Alex must pretend to pass the test that is set for her. As Alex gets a closer look at the operation, she finds that Angela uses blackmail to get what she wants, making the private detective even more determined to stop her even though she has to put her own life in danger to do it.

It is a long time (too long) since readers had a chance to read something new about Alexandra Shanahan but it was well worth the wait. The well written storyline is plausible leading to the audience eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next. There is a lot of action in FIRST CLASS KILLING especially the scenes when the heroine comes very close to getting caught in her masquerade. Lynn Heitman tells a very compelling crime thriller complete with blackmail, murder, and an internet run prostitute ring.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What about the plane?, April 13, 2004

By 

Tina "Tina" (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: First Class Killing (Mass Market Paperback)

I am a fan of Lynn Heitmann and had been waiting a long time for this one. I read this author because her thrillers usually take place at airports or in a plane (I love airplane disaster/thriller books). THIS IS WHAT MAKES HER BOOKS DIFFERENT!!!

However, this time around, although mention of planes and flying is made in passing, the crux of the action takes place on the ground - turning this thriller into yet another standard, average book.

The writing was excellent and the lead character is fun. But, I was extremely disappointed by the fact that only about 15% of the book takes place in the sky.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Pages Just Fly By, April 21, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: First Class Killing (Mass Market Paperback)

Lynne Heitman's latest mystery is yet another fast, absorbing read, and she proves once again just how well she knows the innerworkings of the airline industry. She has built a fascinating, believable story around flight attendants turned prostitutes whose customers always travel in first class. And, with this saga, she takes her main character, Alex Shanahan, through the difficult first steps necessary to become a real private detective, though Shanahan seems lucky to be alive after this physically brutal adventure. It's also clear that one of Heitman's favorite new characters is a hired thug with a penchant for wildly colorful sports coats. I hope he returns for her next book.