Thriller Genre Annotation - S524

Spoiler-free Brief Summary -

Chris Bohjalian’s thriller The Flight Attendant opens in a hotel room in Dubai where protagonist Cassie wakes up to find herself in bed with yet another stranger. This isn’t an unusual scenario for Cassie who flies around the world for a living, but this time her drunken escapades have dangerous consequences. This time, someone has died, and she can’t be certain that she didn’t kill them. Combining the detailed psychological profile of a functional alcoholic with a murder investigation, cosmopolitan settings, and potential Russian espionage, NYT bestselling author Bohjalian keeps both his protagonist and reader guessing until the end.  

Thriller Genre Elements (as described by Saricks)  - With Spoilers!

A Flawed Protagonist - Central to the plot of this novel is the main character, Cassie, who is not an altogether unlikable character but certainly a difficult one.  It is hard to look away from the manner in which she continuously sabotages herself. Bohjalian’s candid portrayal does not sugar coat Cassie’s flaws (alcoholism, frequent promiscuity, a curious disregard for her own safety). She struggles to unravel the mystery of how the man she spent the night with wound up brutally murdered next to her in bed.

Pacing - The Flight Attendant is a fast-paced novel that you are bound to finish well after your bedtime.  Just when it seems that nothing more could possibly go wrong, it does. FBI briefing notes are interspersed between chapters, adding to the intrigue. Can Cassie survive the ever-increasing nightmare that her life has become?

Violence - Gritty crime scene detail first comes into the story in Chapter One.  Guns and tasers feature in the action throughout the story, as well. The threat of physical violence is never far from Cassie’s reality.

Framework - Although Cassie is a flight attendant, which is not a stereotypical thriller genre profession, secondary characters are investigating alongside her (FBI agents, a lawyer, a union rep) and serve to fulfill the thriller genre’s element of crime fighting professionals.  The story does give a great deal of insight into the flight attendant profession which helps the reader better understand Cassie’s lifestyle and point of view.

Plot complexity -  The plot takes many twists as Cassie attempts to determine who committed the murder.  It is indeed a “cinematic” plot that takes place over three continents and involves more than one international investigative body.  The Flight Attendant would be easily adapted to the big screen, and a quick Google search finds that the television rights have already been optioned.  Stay tuned!

“Hot topics from the news” - Russian espionage comes into play during this novel. Chemical weapons also play a role as the FBI investigation heats up.

Library Laura’s Top Takeaways - using Saricks’ Rule of 3 and The Secret Language of Books by Novelist

• Character -  The use of a brooding, flawed protagonist is the defining feature of The Flight Attendant.
• Tone - A disturbing tone pervades the story.   
• Pacing - The fast-paced plot takes off immediately and doesn’t land until the epilogue.  

Read-a-likes:

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn  

Both of these titles include flawed characters who may or may not have done something deeply troubling to those close to them.  

References

Saricks, J. G. (2009). The Readers' Advisory Guide to Genre Fiction (2nd ed.). Chicago, IL: ALA.

Saricks, J. (2009, October). Rule of Three. Booklist, 25.

The Secret Language of Books: A Guide to Appeal. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.ebscohost.com/uploads/novelist/pdf/NoveList_Appeal_2018.pdf