Tarmac [Paperback]

Lynne Heitman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2002

After her best friend is murdered, airline executive Alex Shanahan inadvertantly uncovers a black market for used airplane parts. But the man behind the scam doesn't want to be found-and he's not about to let Alex cause him any turbulence.

"Heitman melds the maze of today's airline industry with intrigue and mystery." (John J. Nance, bestselling author of Headwind)

"Skillful...she gives us an insider's view." (The Sunday Boston Globe)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An intricate and explosive thriller involving money laundering, murder, drug trafficking and used parts fraud, Heitman's second novel (Hard Landing) finds gutsy airline manager Alex Shanahan in peril and embroiled in a mystery once again. Despite her lack of any formal investigative skills, and only days before beginning a new job in Detroit, Alex heads to Miami following the inexplicable murder of her friend and former coworker, John McTavish. Her only leads are a charred aircraft logbook and a diamond ring, both confiscated from an Ecuadorian plane crash and sent to her by John prior to his death. When she unwisely decides to follow a suspect to a remote salvage yard, she meets and teams up with retired FBI agent Jack Dolan, who is coincidentally there to investigate the deaths of two police officers. Together they discover what John had stumbled upon a black market for used aircraft parts masterminded by a notorious drug lord and a bloodthirsty Vietnam veteran. Heitman pilots this mystery with a sure hand, her airline experience and in-depth knowledge of the multi-million dollar "used parts" business lending it a chilling reality. Her diverse cast of supporting characters including a beautiful money laundress, a power-hungry FBI rookie and a young computer whiz round out this tightly woven, compelling read. (Feb.)Forecast: Heitman's star is poised to take off, but her latest may encounter some turbulence on the way to the bestseller lists due to its timing and sensitive subject matter. Although some readers will be put off by a book involving plane crashes and illegal parts scams, others will be drawn in by John J. Nance's cover quote and become hooked by the author's evocative prose.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

...intricate and explosive... -- Publishers Weekly, starred review, January 21, 2002

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Onyx (February 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451410084
• ISBN-13: 978-0451410085
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #893,439 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you want a fast-paced credible mystery this is it!, May 7, 2002

By 

Kathleen Duffy (Sunnyvale, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarmac (Paperback)

Lynne Heitman has done it again. She has written a story I couldn't put down. Lynne Heitman has a real gift for creating fast paced thrillers that pull you into the lives of her characters. After reading Hard Landing and Tarmac I feel I know Alex Shanahan and care about what happens to her next. The only thing bad about Tarmac was finishing it. I can't wait for her next book to come out. If you are looking to read a fast paced credible mystery this is it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tarmac, April 19, 2002

By 

"luckylax" (Needham, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tarmac (Paperback)

Second in a great mystery series, Tarmac takes you into the realm of stolen aircraft parts, drugs and murder. The lead charater in the series is Alex Shanahan, a airline executive with a nose for business and detective work. In Tarmac, she investigates a friend's murder in Miami. With the assistance of a former FBI agent and a quirky computer hack, the heroine courageously takes on the FBI, drug lords, and the airline 'old boy' system.

The author, a former airline executive, gives you some 'inside' information about the airlines, such as the large blackmarket on airline parts. In Tarmac, you get to know more about Alex and what makes her tick. The other characters in the book are interesting and at the end you hope to see them in future books.

I really loved the book and look forward to reading Lynne Heitman's next installment of Alex Shanahan's adventures.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go, Lynne Heitman!!, December 14, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Tarmac (Paperback)

Love her quick-paced, sharply drawn suspense novels. They really just draw you in!