Customer Reviews

Flight

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have read ALL of the novels by Jan Burke, and thought her last book, BONES, was the best until I read THIS one. I think switching the focus to Irene's husband Frank was timely, and I have very much enjoyed getting to know that character better, and seeing Irene and her quirks through his eyes. The reader becomes involved in the plot right away. There are twists and turns, but the book never stalls.......what more could a reader want? Read this one, for sure.

Trent Randolph and his two children went sailing when a pirate suddenly appeared and killed the father and his daughter, but only wounded the son. Phillip Lefebvre comes on board and rescues the lad, who bonds with his savior. At that time, the police believe they finally have the goods on a local crime boss. The department and Phillip agree until Seth hears a do- rei-me of a watch that terorizes the youngster. Lefebvre rethinks the case and illegally takes evidence out of the precinct. He goes flying, but his plane crashes leaving everyone to believe that he killed Seth and absconded with the evidence before vanishing.

Ten years later, the plane is found and the case reopened with Detective Frank Harriman in charge. He does a paradigm shift assuming Lefebvre is innocent. His efforts bring him to the attention of someone who prefers the cop dead than having the law enforcement official learn the truth of what happened over a decade ago.

There have been seven previous books in this series starring Irene Kelly, but this one is different as she plays a minor role and Frank tells the narrative. FLIGHT takes some adjustments for those familiar with Jan Burke's works, but once the reader adapts, the novel gracefully soars. The tale is loaded with suspense, red herrings, and false leads that turn this who-done-it into a powerful reading experience while Ms. Burke deserves kudos for successfully trying something different.

Harriet Klausner

Jan has brought so much more than mystery to this novel. Its extremely well written with layers of intrigue and sub plots throughout. Reading from the perspective of Frank was a nice deviation from her previous novels but it will be nice to catch up with Irene again. This whole series is thoroughly enjoyable. Good on you Jan.

Jan Burke's superior prose, intricate plotting and oh-so-human heroine Irene Kelly, have carried us through her other books, including her romance with and marriage to police detective fRank Harriman, a minor character throughout them. But here Burke turns things around, focusing on Harriman with Irene merely an anjunct in a story which starts slowly but catches your attention and never lets it go. The skeleton of Philip Lefebvre, 10 years gone and in disgrace with his fellow police for supposedly killing a youthful witness for money, is found in his wrecked plane and it's Harriman's case. He quickly decides Lefebvre is innocent, and just as quickly earns the animosity of all his fellow police officers, including his superiors. It isn't any easier for Harriman when he concludes it is someone inside the police circle who must be the true murderer. In the end, he finds the mastermind, givng a boy back his name and, in an ironic twist, setting in motion the freeing of many bad guys in jail. It's a great read, but please bring back Irene, Ms. Burke.

This book is a must for all mystery writers--and Jan Burke is in top form. The story is compelling, the writing tight and the characters jump off the page. It's a quick read and a completely satisfying one too. I like that Burke is looking through the eyes of Irene Kelly's husband, Frank, which offers a fresh perspective. I'd write more, but I don't want to give too much away (the back of the book gives a pretty good description), but it will definately make you go and read Burke's Backlist.

Ten years ago, as Trent Randolph and his two children returned from a weekend sail to Catalina Island, they were ambushed by an unknown assailant who murdered father and daughter and left Randolph's son, Seth, barely clinging to life. Las Piernas Police Detective, Phillip Lefebvre, a loner with a real talent for clearing the toughest cases, is assigned the investigation. All evidence points to Whitey Dane, a small time mobster the department's been trying to put away for years. But as Lefebvre works the case, things just don't add up right and he begins to think that maybe Dane is being framed and the murderer is a little closer to home. When their only witness, Seth, is murdered in his hospital bed and Lefebvre disappears along with all the evidence, the police decide it's the old story of a cop gone bad, and close the case. Now, ten years later, a plane crash site is found in the mountains outside Las Piernas with the remains of Phillip Lefebvre inside the cockpit. These long cold cases are being reopened and Detective Frank Harriman is handling the new investigations. The rest of the police department isn't happy with Harriman's tenacity to actually solve these old cases. Lefebvre was a black eye on the department and Frank's co-workers are outraged when he begins to uncover new evidence that both Lefebvre and Dane were framed and the real killer might still be out there..... Jan Burke is back and better than ever with her latest intricately plotted suspense thriller, Flight. This time out Burke spreads her wings a little as newspaper reporter/detective, Irene Kelly, takes a supporting role and her husband, Frank Harriman gets center stage. This is an intense, dark, compelling mystery, with great, vivid writing, crisp, smart dialogue and riveting scenes that will put you on the edge of your seat and leave you there to the last page. So turn off the phone and lock the door, Flight is about to keep you up all night!

Jan Burke, who is best known for her Irene Kelly mysteries, decides to put her main character as a secondary to let her husband, Las Piernas Police Detective Frank Harriman take the lead in this novel. It was nice of the author to lead one of the supporting characters to take the limelight in order to expand their literary universes. Most of the time the only thing we learn about the secondary characters is what the series hero let us know about them.

Ten years ago someone who wanted to frame Whitey Dane, the local crime boss, killed the Randolph family in their yacht. The Looking Glass Man (as the readers know him) failed in killing Seth Randolph and made a crucial mistake in framing Dane. The boy is in the hospital being watched by his mother, who was divorced from Mr. Randolph, and by Detective Phillip Lefebvre who has made it his mission to save the boy. The two have made a friendship and confide in each other. When Lefebvre learns about a crucial mistake the Looking Glass Man made, he is left wondering if someone from his own police department could have been the murderer. Crucial evidence disappears and Seth is found murdered in his hospital bed. The police suspects Lefebvre was involved but he has now disappeared.

A decade has passed and a Cessna plane has been found in the forest. It contains the body of Phillip Lefebvre who apparently was killed by a tampered airplane. Frank Harriman gets the case and learns about the resentment the police force had on this disgraced officer. Dane is also interested in learning what has been going on. He is not happy that someone framed him for a murder he did not commit and wants to learn the truth.

Harriman is relentless in his investigation and his wife Irene lends him a helping hand. Frank learns about people who had a connection to Lefebvre and will help him in the investigation. The Looking Glass Man is panicking and he will do what it takes to prevent the truth from coming out even if it includes murder.

This book pales in comparison to Ms. Burke's previous novel, BONES, which one the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel. The book is a good read and it provides something new to Irene Kelly fans. The story told through a different point of view.

As a fan of Jan Burke's Irene Kelly novels (most recently, Bones), I was quite prepared to take a chance on her with a new primary character, Detective Frank Harriman. This isn't quite the leap of faith that those who aren't familiar with the Irene Kelly works might imagine; Detective Harriman certainly played important roles in those previous novels. This time, however, the story was almost all his, and any concerns I might have had about the change in lineup were allayed in the opening pages.

Detective Frank Harriman is stuck with a hell of a case, actually, a hell of a set of cases. The Las Piernas Police Department is convinced as to the long-borne guilt of one of their own in a heinous case of murder and betrayal, and nobody is interested in hearing other theories, until Harriman won't let them ignore the growing pile of evidence. Harriman's doggedness doesn't win him any friends, on the force or in the shadowy recesses of some of the darker elements of the city. But even Harriman wasn't prepared for where his investigations would take him or the degree to which a madman would go to fulfill his destiny.

Like the rest of Burke's works, Flight combines compellling characters with an attention to detail that is to be admired. It is fairly rare to be left feeling like you've been left with a pile of loose ends after a Burke denouement. In fact, my main gripe with Flight was the departure fairly on in the novel of a pair of characters I would have like to have had a chance to get to know better.

As always, Burke presents an exceptional "who done it" procedural mystery.

this was my first Jan Burke novel, but not my last. I coulnd't put the book down. It got me hooked from the first page. Great writing, great characters and great plot. Hope that her other books are just as good. A must read.

I have enjoyed quite a few of the Irene Kelly novels and this one was no exception...although it is not really Irene but her husband Frank Harriman that takes the spotlight.

Most writers have difficulty chnaging the main characters and have the previous ones only in cameo appearances. Not so Mrs Burke.

From the first page the novel takes off in a long prologue which could have been a story in itself. Ten years later, Harriman is picking up the pieces of a trail which is still as hot and contentious as it was 10 years ago.

Deft writing and excellent plotting keep us glued to the pages of the story.

I am looking forward to read more of Mr ( and I guess Mrs) Harrimans adventures.
Harriman