Before the Fall

Mortality. Readers who enjoy thrillers with fast paced action and plenty of visual imagery to bring every scene to life are those most likely to enjoy reading Noah Hawley’s novel titled, Before the Fall. The action begins with a dramatic crash of a small plane, and the heroic action of protagonist Scott Burroughs to swim a long distance with a four-year old passenger, saving their lives. Scott is a painter whose presence on the plane was a fluke. The backstory of the other passengers made for interesting exposition, and including a larger than life cable news personality added to the dramatic tension. Hawley also uses the story as a way to reflect on mortality, and I thought the title could also refer to life in the Garden of Eden. Wealthy people, shady dealings, 24-hour news, and a mystery of why the plane crashed combine to produce an exciting story that’s quick to read. Rating: Four-star (I like it) Click here to purchase Before the Fall from amazon.com.