Seat 3A: A Christian Stone Thriller

by Eric Sugrue

When Redemption Becomes Obsession

Delaware restaurateur and crime-fiction fanatic Christian Stone isn't generally superstitious, but a simple ritual has helped him overcome his fear of he must always sit in seat 3A. He's traveling from Philadelphia to Miami when, during takeoff, he looks out the window and spots what appears to be a dead body lying on the banks of the Schuylkill River. A childhood memory when Christian was eleven years old, his best friend was murdered, and the killers were never punished. As a child, he was powerless to seek justice‚ but he isn’t a child anymore.

By the time his plane lands in Miami, he’s booked a ticket on the next available return flight. Back in Philadelphia, he heads straight for the banks of the Schuylkill, where he uncovers more questions than answers. Ignoring his daily responsibilities, Christian spends every waking moment following the trail through gambling rings, mysterious fortunes, and rumored mob ties. But when his hunt places him in the crosshairs of a sinister underground crime syndicate, he uncovers a truth that hits closer to home than he could have imagined.

274 pages, Paperback

First published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Lauren Keller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the references to local spots, but found myself often rolling my eyes.

[Nicole Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an easy, fun mystery! I enjoyed that it was set in Delaware and the locations were relatable.

[Mike Garden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this on a whim in my favorite bookstore in Rehoboth, DE, since it was from a "local author". It's a commendable first novel. I liked the premise, and the narrator/main character, though I think some details could have been fleshed out a bit more. It's a quick read, which left me thinking the author was focused on the movie potential, rather than the novel itself. Nothing wrong with that - many successful novelists have made a living with that style - I just keep thinking I wanted a bit more. I don't want to give anything away, but I thought more could have been done to leave the reader torn between reality and conjecture.

It was good enough that I will most likely read the second installation if and when it comes out.

[Kristin Liggan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While it was fun to read a book set where I live, it read like what it is. A rich restaurateur living out his fantasy in a book. It was a little too far-fetched, and felt like reading about a middle-aged man pretending to be a superhero.

ETA: wait! It’s Threat Level Midnight!!!

[Stephanie Coniff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks for my e-ARC of Seat 3A by Eric Sugrue as from Greenleaf Book Group and NetGalley. The opinions here are my own. This book was published on June 25, 2024.

Summary:
Seat 3A is a fast-paced crime thriller following the courageous crime-fighting restraunteur, Christian Stone. After taking off in seat 3A on a flight from Philadelphia to Miami, Christian sees out the window what he is SURE is a dead body laying in a watery swamp area in a Philadelphia Eagles jersey. In a quest to find justice for the deceased, he goes on a vigilante wild goose chase crime investigation to find the victim and the circumstances that brought him to his death.

His investigation of one brings him back to Philly, digging into the town council and higher-ups, and into a gambling and black-mailing scandal that hits close to home. Christian Stone will stop at nothing to see that justice is served... but he is a definite underdog as he has zero police assistance or training that is necessary to size up against some very influential people...

Opinion:
I really loved Christian Stone as the MC in this thriller. He was so determined and willing to go to crazy lengths to see this case through, and it was awesome seeing how to almost accidentally figured his way out of dangerous and sketchy situations. This was the author's first Christian Stone novel and he hopes to continue writing more adventures in the future. Make sure to read the acknowledgments to see the author's inspiration for this book! Can't wait to read his next installment! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stressed out restaurant owner Christian Stone is flying to Miami for a much needed vacation after a breakup. He’s superstitious and only sits in seat 3A on planes. During takeoff he looks out the window and sees what looks like a dead body sprawled out on the ground. He can’t let this go, and decides to head straight back home to investigate it upon landing in Miami.

Is this a very unlikely premise? Yes.
Would/could someone do this in real life? No.
Does it even matter? No. Because this is a well-written propulsive debut thriller that moves at a great pace. Sure, parts are unrealistic, but it’s such an absorbing plot that you find yourself just going along for the ride anyway. There’s a side plot that explains Christian’s personal motivation in figuring out who this body belongs to and what exactly happened to him. I don’t want to say too much for fear of spoilers, but trust me, this is a page turner! Its got some clever twists and turns that loosely connect Christian to his investigation. This book definitely keeps you guessing!

*Thank you @netgalley and @greenleafbookgr for this advanced copy. This book just came out on 6/25.

[Cheyenne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Greenleaf Book Group | Greenleaf Book Group Press books for this free e-book for review. This was a fun debut Christian Stone thriller. Christian Stone is a Delaware restaurateur and a super nervous flyer. He ALWAYS books seat 3A. On his flight from Philadelphia to Miami to see his brother, he thinks he sees a dead body lying face down on the banks of the Schuylkill River. Christian is kinda hungover though, so did he really see it?? But after Christian's best friend was murdered when was he was 11 years old, he didn't stand up and do anything and the killers were never brought to justice. Christian can't get the body out of his mind and hops on a flight straight back to Philadelphia to investigate. As he investigates more into who the dead body was and what really happened, Christian gets himself catch in the crosshairs. This was a fast and fun thriller that kept me entertained until the end and having lived in Philadelphia and now live in DC, I liked reading about familiar spots. I will be interested to read more Stone adventures.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Sloan if lying to Miami to visit his brother. He has a superstition about flying. He must be in seat 3A. As the plane takes off from Philadelphia, he spots what he is sure is a dead body on the banks of the Schuylkill River. The more he thinks about it, the surer he is of what he saw. Christian decides he needs to fly back to Philadelphia to find out if what he saw is accurate. When he books a ticket, Seat 3A is available. Christian feels this is a sign that he is supposed to go back. When he gets to the spot the body was at, there is no body. As he digs around in the garbage at the site, he discovers a ticket stub from an Eagle game. The body was wearing an Eagle jersey. As Christian digs into the investigation, he finds connections he never expected, nearly losing his life also. I enjoyed the book. I found it fast paced and engaging. Yes, portions were farfetched but, come on guys, this is fiction. A good read.

[Monica Lopez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seat 3A" by Eric Sugrue is a crime thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. Delaware restaurateur Christian Stone, who is an avid crime fiction fan, embarks on a quest for justice after witnessing a chilling sight from his airplane seat— 3A. This discovery brings back memories of his best friend's unsolved murder from childhood. Determined to uncover the truth, Christian dives deep into a world of gambling rings, hidden fortunes, and mob ties, risking everything in his search.
Sugrue weaves a tale filled with suspense and unexpected twists. Christian's character is compelling, and his relentless drive for justice keeps the reader on edge. The narrative is well-paced, with each revelation adding layers to the mystery.
Overall, "Seat 3A" is an exciting read for any crime fiction lover. Its blend of personal vendetta and high-stakes intrigue makes it a standout novel. While some plot points could have been explored further, it remains a great read and engaging book.

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story about a guy who while flying out sees what looks like a dead guy wearing an Eagles jersey. His conscious gets to him and he immediately flies back and starts to check around though the body is gone. So like any other sane person he decides instead of calling the cops he’s going to investigate it on his own. While doing just that he realizes that he actually employed the possible deceased person which then makes him want to find out what happened and catch the killer so much more.

I feel like this was so well written and had me on the edge of my sit throughout, I also hope the ending is the beginning of the next book because that sounded like a great story.

[MidgeB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly a big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

I did enjoy the book - it was quite fast paced and the action never stopped throughout. However what I did not really understand from a character standpoint was why a restaurateur suddenly became a private detective. It was a bit of a jump in believability even though I understand the main character had suffered loss/ guilt himself . Aside from that I would be interested to see where the series goes.

An enjoyable read with some questions .

[Becky | myhyggereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Rounded up from 3.5 stars)

For some reason, this felt as though it was part of a series just because it seemed as though Christian's character had already been explained. Nevertheless, I admired his determination in finding out about the body, later identified as an employee, in the water. Having said that, there were some things that he did that I questioned whether or not the average restauranteur would be capable of. He is much more of an amateur sleuth with a strong sense of empathy. The final twist really shocked me, which I appreciated.

[Michelle Castaneda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seat 3A: A Christian Stone Thriller by Eric Sugrue is an interesting novel. A routine flight begins with the main character taking a flight he regularly goes on and sitting in his normal seat. But nothing is normal when he sees a dead body from the airplane window as they take off. This is just the start of a fascinating novel. The character and his determination to figure out this mystery will keep you hooked throughout this book. It is quite the thriller/mystery. So good! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a great book and I really enjoyed following along as Christian tried to solve this mystery. I thought it was cool to have a restaurant owner turn into a private investigator. It says “A Christian Stone thriller” which leads me to believe this is or will be a series. I hope so! I would definitely read more! The only thing I didn’t like was the mystery almost started getting too complex with too many characters popping up which made it hard to follow. Other than that it was a great book!

[NikyB · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC. Really enjoyed reading the book but I feel there are a lot of questions about the MC’s reasons for pursuing the case that weren’t really explained. However as this is the start of a series maybe that will come. Still an enjoyable fast paced thriller that kept me entertained.

[steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than I expected from a vanity project where the main character is identical to the author in every way down to the names of the restaurants he owns. The references to local places in my city was fun and kept me reading more than the actual story, but this was a serviceable quick read.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

The only thing about the book that was interesting was the locale..written for a young adult? Perhaps? Quite unreal plot, and writing does not flow for me.

[Ellie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

easy to read, hard to put down. absolutely amazing boook, especially if you’re in the wilmy / DE area

[Katarzyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and easy mystery. The pacing was great and there were some twists that kept my interest all the way to the end.

Thank you Greenleaf Book Group Press and the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stella Marchione · Rating 3 out of 5]

This keeps you turning the pages. A fast paced mystery that you will enjoy.

[Becca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, Eric Sugure, and Greenleaf Book Group for the ARC in exchange for my review.

I will say that for a first crime thriller from this author it was decent. Nothing overly memorable but I think there’s good potential for this author.

For a book that’s titled after a seat on an airplane, it’s only the first like 10 pages that has anything to do with it. The title and cover really don’t go with the plot of the book in my opinion.

This was such an unbelievable storyline. So much of it was so far fetched and not likely to happen. It started off very promising and then tapered off. A man who owns restaurants isn’t going to have back stage passes to the morgue. There were too many events that would likely never actually happen for me to enjoy this book as much as someone else might.

The main character wasn’t likeable at all. Christian was annoying and reckless. Not once do you think to contact authorities? Again, not believable at all. The supporting characters were ok. There wasn’t much character development to really become attached to any of them.

The writing was just ok, not good, not awful but mediocre. There’s plenty of grammar and spelling mistakes that hopefully get caught before publication. The formatting of this ARC was poor as well. In my opinion it wasn’t quite ready to go out and the publication date should be pushed back a smidge.

This was a classic who did it kind of book. There wasn’t much for originality. There were plot holes and missing details everywhere. Seemed like the author was on a role and then lost their train of thought and it never came back. As for Jon, what was the purpose of his story? He died when he and Christian were children, and the police fabricated the whole story. It would have been nice for some justice there but his storyline dropped out of nowhere.

I’d say it’s good first go at writing a crime thriller. Definitely room for improvements. I would read more from the author and look forward to seeing this book become a series as intended. Hopefully some plot lines can be straightened out in the next one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fast, entertaining read, but also fairly simple. Sugrue is a competent enough mystery writer (even if the investigation does involve a little too much dumb luck) but the characterization is flat and underdeveloped. There's just no meat here. The story's biggest appeal is the setting - not just Delaware, but also Philadelphia and South Jersey - and though most local readers will enjoy it, I don't see it being of much interest to people from elsewhere.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great debut. The story was inspired by a real experience. Mr. Sugrue is a restauranteur in the same setting as the story and once thought he saw a dead body outside of an airplane window during takeoff. His seat was 3A.
Christian is a relatable main character who is going through a rough patch in his life. On a forced vacation from work, he does indeed believe there to be a dead body in the river below, while on his way to visit his brother in Miami. He quickly returns back to Delaware to see if that was in fact what he saw from his seat. Given recent events in his life, he is unsure if it's his imagination from stress, or if there was a real person. The story chronicles Christian's need to find justice for the person who died while reliving the death of his best friend during childhood. Jon had never received justice for a life ended way too soon.
This book kept me guessing throughout and moved at a great pace. It seemed well researched and the writing was fantastic for a new author. I look forward to reading more from him in the future.

[Jen B · Rating 2 out of 5]

For a first effort, this was OK. The locations draw heavily from the author’s life, which is fun as a Delawarean, but will be lost on most readers. It’s a romp with little character development.

[Cathy Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks Net Galley for my ARC of Seat3A by Eric Sugrue. During a routine flight, Christian Stone glances out the window and sees something below. His unrelenting desire to investigate takes him on a crazy adventure.. A little unrealistic at times, but a great read.

[Nicole Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

entertaining enough but slightly unbelievable & unrealistic. nevertheless I was shocked at the ending