Alan Wilcox, an investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, races against time to discover who has been sabotaging airplanes manufactured by Airtech. By the author of Higher Than Eagles.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Sadly lacking in tension and credibility, Wills's debut technothriller is set in the contemporary U.S., where disasters and near-misses plague the history of a new plane. Are the problems due to pilot error, material flaws--or something more sinister? Alan Wilcox, a crack investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, suspects sabotage. He uncovers two possible suspects: the vice-president of an aircraft manufacturer on the brink of bankruptcy, and a psychotic computer genius. Working madly to identify the saboteur, Wilcox must also deal with skeptical superiors, a son involved with drugs and a wife resentful of his devotion to his career. Wills's descriptions of crash-investigation procedures are informative. But the characters are two-dimensional, the corporate and bureaucratic backgrounds vital to the story are neither clear nor convincing, and the plot never rises above the level of melodrama informed by pop-psychology. The novel's domestic scenes are more compelling than Wilcox's search for the villain--a fatal flaw in a book that purports to be an adventure.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
The title of this taut tale of post-crash investigations refers to an airplane wreckage site. When the National Transportation Safety Board's Alan Wilcox becomes suspicious of unlikely coincidences in several air accidents and near-disasters, he follows clues that provide intriguing behind-the-scenes details about the aviation industry. Deftly probing the economic, political, and technical realities of airplane manufacturing and operation, he races against time to determine whether material defects, assembly shortcuts, or criminal sabotage are to blame. Several fascinating subplots intertwine with Wilcox's mission before converging in a breathtaking denouement. This winner is all the more spellbinding because it's so believable. Highly recommended for public libraries.
- Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
- Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo Libs.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
Maralys Wills is the author of 12 books, scattered like birdseed over six different genres. But she can never say which work she likes best. "It's always the last one I wrote."
However, she freely admits that a highlight of her writing career was the critique she received from author Sidney Sheldon. In one of his last letters, he wrote of her writing book, "Damn the Rejections, Full Speed Ahead:" "Maralys Wills, genre-hopper exraordinaire, will make you laugh and cry and laugh again in this gripping, how-to handbook for writers everywhere. She is clearly a force to be reckoned with."
Among Maralys' three memoirs is the recently re-published "Higher Than Eagles," which gathered five movie options (including from Disney),a review in the Los Angeles Times, (reprinted in 56 newspapers), and a visit from the newsmagazine 20/20. "Eagles" is once more in the hands of a Hollywood producer.
Her light-hearted memoir, "A Circus Without Elephants" won a top award from Writer's Digest. It's sequel, "A Clown in the Trunk" was an Indie Awards finalist.
Among her other books are "Manbirds: Hang Gliders & Hang Gliding (Prentice-Hall), a techno-thriller, "Scatterpath" (Presidio Press), "Fun Games for Great Parties" (Price/Stern/Sloan), a book on addiction, "Save My Son" (Hazelden), and four Harlequin romances.
Married to a lawyer, and the mother of six energetic children (five boys and a girl), Maralys has never lacked for book material. She says of her life, "The things you never expected--six children and a thousand re-writes--turn out to be your treasures."
However, she freely admits that a highlight of her writing career was the critique she received from author Sidney Sheldon. In one of his last letters, he wrote of her writing book, "Damn the Rejections, Full Speed Ahead:" "Maralys Wills, genre-hopper exraordinaire, will make you laugh and cry and laugh again in this gripping, how-to handbook for writers everywhere. She is clearly a force to be reckoned with."
Among Maralys' three memoirs is the recently re-published "Higher Than Eagles," which gathered five movie options (including from Disney),a review in the Los Angeles Times, (reprinted in 56 newspapers), and a visit from the newsmagazine 20/20. "Eagles" is once more in the hands of a Hollywood producer.
Her light-hearted memoir, "A Circus Without Elephants" won a top award from Writer's Digest. It's sequel, "A Clown in the Trunk" was an Indie Awards finalist.
Among her other books are "Manbirds: Hang Gliders & Hang Gliding (Prentice-Hall), a techno-thriller, "Scatterpath" (Presidio Press), "Fun Games for Great Parties" (Price/Stern/Sloan), a book on addiction, "Save My Son" (Hazelden), and four Harlequin romances.
Married to a lawyer, and the mother of six energetic children (five boys and a girl), Maralys has never lacked for book material. She says of her life, "The things you never expected--six children and a thousand re-writes--turn out to be your treasures."
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
An Honorable Mention,
By Rob C. (United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Scatterpath: A Novel (Hardcover)
The yarn of the investigation of an airliner disaster, this novel introduces the reader to some rather unbelievable characters and a sometimes less than credible plot.Though fairly accurate and enlightening in tthe depiction of the formal investigation of such a disaster, the wooden and often very stereotypical characters detract from the best part of the work. Many of the people depicted walks out of a romanc novel and are porly suited for where they have found themselves. At times it seems like they are aware of this and they act accordingly. Easy to read and worth at points, the lack of character develoment and tendency toward the over-dramatic sink a novel with a good deal of potential. I wouldn't read "Scatterpath" on a flight, nor in an airport terminal, but it won't keep you white knuckled when you next fly, either. Disappointing but not awful, this book does have a lot to offer, just not the thrill it promises in the beginning.
2.0 out of 5 stars
Weak and not very believable,
By
This review is from: Scatterpath: A Novel (Hardcover)
I purchased the book after hearing the author speak at a journalism conference. Despite her enthusiasm and reported attention to details, the book fell far less than what I'd hoped for.My biggest disappointment: That nearly brand-new copies aren't going for more than a buck on Amazon Marketplace. Anyone wanna buy mine -- I didn't read it completely?
1.0 out of 5 stars
It realy was not the page turner it promised to be.,
This review is from: Scatterpath: A Novel (Hardcover)
March 1, 2002Scatterpath by Maralys Wills My overall opinion of the book 1 out of 5 Stars. My opinion of the plot 2 out of 5 because the plot only came in half way through the book. My opinion of how credible the book was 1 out of 5 stars. You would think that the characters in the book would be smarter. The book was to predictabble and not very plausible. At the end of the book I felt like I had wasted my time. There was no part in the book that I really enjoyed.
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