Altitude of Shadows: Pilot

by Flynn Cooley

A flight to Toronto. Ten hours. Two dead. One ancient mystery.

When former intelligence officer Luke Prescott boards Flight 709, he's expecting a long, uneventful ride above the clouds; not whispers of murder and a body staged like art. As tension erupts thirty thousand feet in the air, Luke is drawn into a deadly game with a faceless killer who leaves behind a strange coin, cryptic messages, and symbols rooted in forgotten history.

Beside him is Evelyn Hart, an enigmatic flight attendant whose calm under pressure raises more questions than answers. Every passenger is a suspect. Every shadow hides a secret. And the plane? It’s a perfect cage.

But this is no random act of violence. And Luke has just taken his seat in something far more dangerous than a midair murder.

The first installment in a chilling thriller series, Altitude of Shadows delivers locked-room suspense, mind games, and a conspiracy that spans centuries, and is only just beginning.

Genres: Mystery

85 pages, Paperback

Published June 27, 2025

Reviews

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altitude of Shadows is a fast paced, action-packed story that will pull you in quickly and will have you working a side Luke a former intelligence officer whom is following the pieces of a puzzle left behind by the killer on the plane. It's a thrilling read w/ deadly consequences.

[Kandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an eerie story. Set on an airplane so nobody can escape when bad things happen. Very suspenseful. Hopefully this short story has a follow-up.

[Cathy Owen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has written a real page-turner thriller. The setting on a plane with a serial murderer made it hard to put the book down. The action starts on the first page and ends with a cliffhanger. A definite must read book if you like thrillers!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Virginia Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella is a good introduction for Flynn Cooley's The Legacy Protocol Series. Altitude of Shadows: Pilot is a serial-killer mystery set in the sky aboard an airplane. Luke (MMC) helps an airline attendant, Evelyn, try to keep passengers calm and solve a murder. Luke and Evelyn discover strange clues, like a denarius and other ancient or archaic symbols. Luke knows he has seen these symbols, but he has a hard time placing them. This is a good short story. I am interested to see where this series will continue to evolve.

Thank you #FlynnCooley and #BookSpout for my free ARC; this review is my honest opinion.

[DianaRaven · Rating 3 out of 5]

ALTITUDE OF SHADOWS: Pilot is the first installment in The Legacy Protocol series by Flynn Cooley. This short story takes place 39,000 feet in the air with a serial-killer on board.

Flight 709 has a faceless killer  quietly, leaving bodies artfully arranged with cryptic messages and archaic symbols, even an ancient  Roman coin, all of which are rooted in forgotten history.

Passenger, former intelligence officer Luke Prescott, joins forces with the cool and calm Steward Evelyn Hart to keep  passengers calm and discover what is going on. Throughout the flight, the killer describes his actions while the main characters try to locate him. The suspense builds until the very end.

Also, neither Luke nor Evelyn have been able to get any response from the cockpit crew. Is anyone at the controls?

Then, at the end, you’re left hanging, needing to read the next book CIPHER OF BONES for answers. 

I had some difficulty getting into this story, but after the first  murder the story started to pick up. Other readers obviously found this story more interesting than I did 

I received a free copy of this book from the author, and the above is my  voluntary and honest review.

[Hampton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altitude of Shadows is a gripping, high-altitude thriller that hooked me from the very first page. I love how Flynn Cooley takes something as routine as a flight and turns it into a chilling locked-room mystery in the sky.

The atmosphere was tense and cinematic every passenger felt like a suspect, and every detail made me want to read faster. Luke Prescott is a fascinating lead, and Evelyn Hart adds just the right amount of mystery. The strange coin, cryptic symbols, and historical clues gave the story an unexpected depth that made it more than just a murder mystery it felt like the start of something much bigger.

Even though it’s a shorter read, it never felt rushed. Instead, it was sharp, suspenseful, and left me wanting more. I’m really looking forward to the next part of the series.

If you enjoy locked-room mysteries, conspiracies, and thrillers with smart twists, this book is definitely worth reading.

[Earth Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Flynn and I will definitely be reading more of this authors books.
This Thriller is very well written it flows nicely. The characters are well developed. And it held my attention. Lots of suspense and mystery involved.
Our FMC who is Evelyn Hart and what is her role in this murder mystery. She is a little to calm and and in control to just be a flight attendant.
Luke our MMC is ex-military and happens to be on a plane that a killer is leaving clues with and around his victim's. And the game doesn't end with this flight. Luke has been trying to put the pieces together. Feeling the cold chill run down his spine when he suddenly realizes he is now somehow part of the killer's game.
Very excellent read. I enjoyed it very very much. I'm looking forward to reading the next book

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The story begins with Luke arriving on a plane to travel to London. He settles in for the long ride, but things change later. After in-flight for a while, a body is discovered in the seat of the victim. In Luke's examination of it Luke discovers an ancient coin. It brings back old memories and it seems that the body has been staged. Later on, a second body is discovered and this time there are ancient symbols displayed, again something that Luke has scene. More events happen and it seems someone is leaving a message involving Luke. Finally the flight lands, but is in Toronto, not London. The passengers are then interviewed.

The story ends and because there appears to me more to come, then you will need to wait for the next book to come. I know I am and looking forward to it!

[Matt Egan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast paced thrill ride in the sky!
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2025
Altitude of shadows by Flynn Cooley is a short, excellent thriller about a former spec ops agent, Luke, who is the target of an inexplicable plot that unravels on an airplane. First one man is killed, then another, with little in the way of answers. The writing can be best described as riveting, with a likeable protagonist, A killer who is smart and cunning, and tertiary characters whose motives one is left to question. I don't normally give books this short a 5 star review, but Cooley truly earned it with Altitude of Shadows! It jumps right off the page starting with page one and ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the reader eagerly awaiting the next installment! 5/5 stars!

Note: read as an ARC reader

[Judith Worthington · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be released July 18, 2025

This is a quick read, not only because it's a short novella, but also because it engages you immediately and doesn't let go even when it's over. I need to know another book follows with more of the story!

I have QUESTIONS HAHA! But those questions feel like they have answers beyond my own imagination.

No, I didn't pick this book because of the airplane cover - I was offered an opportunity to receive and read an Advance Copy not knowing much at all about the premise.

The story is an action thriller with a seemingly good guy, a mysterious woman and a mastermind bad guy. Or a future book may show the bad guy was just following directions from an unknown mastermind. I don't know yet!!

[Tina Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is it random or planned
This flight to Toronto should have been a nice, long nap, but it was anything but!
Luke was an intelligence officer, so he was used to collecting data and information, and seeing where it took him. But this airplane ride has 2 dead people now, and they are staged, not just left. This story will have you really paying attention to find out exactly who is where and doing what... and what if, it has nothing to do with who is on board? The mind games is definitely onboard this flight!
Thank you, Flynn Cooley, for a great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Luke boards the plane for a 10 hour flight to Toronto, no one especially him could envision what happened. Dead bodies are discovered then items that just don't make sense. Historical items, symbols that seem to indicate something more is at play. Who is responsible and why? Luke is on the trail trying to figure it out. Will he solve this puzzle before the plane lands? Will the plane land? The reader is taken on a journey with many twists and turns puzzling things out along with Luke.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altitude of Shadows: Pilot (The Legacy Protocol Book 1), my seventh enjoyable read from author Flynn Cooley. It's been 4 months since I last read a Flynn Cooley book, entirely too long A two hour conspiracy thriller, I look forward too Cipher of Bones: The Past Was Never Buried (The Legacy Protocol Book 2), the next book in the duology . “I received a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. I look forward to reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018.

[Visionary Impart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Altitude of Shadows completely blew me away! What starts as a simple flight quickly spirals into a gripping, high-altitude mystery packed with tension, clever twists, and a touch of ancient intrigue. Luke Prescott is a sharp and relatable hero, and the chemistry between him and Evelyn Hart adds just the right emotional spark. Flynn Cooley masterfully blends locked-room suspense, historical secrets, and psychological mind games into a story that kept me guessing to the very last page. I couldn’t stop turning pages now I’m counting the days until Book 2 lands!

[Jaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the plot of the book was pretty interesting but the writing style kind of threw me off a bit. I’m also disappointed that this was so short. I feel like the author should just have made it an entire novel without making it a novella. It leaves you on a bit of a cliffhanger. Honestly I wouldn’t recommend reading it until more of the series comes out.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melba · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book, and it was a most exhilarating & interesting read. I enjoyed the edge of your seat happenings, and the quest to figure out what was going on & where it would lead. This a great start to a new series, so I am looking forward to Book #2 and beyond. This one was kind of like a Hitchcock cliffhanger ending, leaving you craving even more.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love the premise of murders happening in an enclosed space like an airplane in flight, and I feel like the rest of the series will make it even more interesting. But so much of the character building is skipped, and I couldn't bring myself to care about Luke or the killer.

[Trina Gomez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Altitude of Shadows and really liked it. It was a tense, fast-moving thriller set on a flight. The pages flew by, the suspense built quickly and it kept me guessing. If you want an quick, and gripping thriller you can dive into and finish in one sitting, this one really does it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Adedo Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Altitude of Shadows is a gripping locked-room thriller that blends midair murder with ancient mystery. Tense, claustrophobic, and packed with cryptic clues, it reads like Dan Brown trapped on a plane with Lee Child. Smart, chilling, and impossible to put down…this is the start of a series you won’t want to miss.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really wonderful intense read! Interesting complex characters and a real page turner. I was on the edge of my seat and cannot wait for the next book in this series! A suspenseful, locked in a room mind game will keep you turning the pages! A must read!

[Lori Albertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read. I enjoyed the characters of Luke and Evelyn. This ended with a cliffhanger so be forewarned. Hoping to read the next installment soon.

This was an arc read shared with me from the author Flynn Cooley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

[Rebecca Bass · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC, it has great character development and lots of action. This a great start to a new series, so I am looking forward to Book 2 and beyond. This book reminded me of a Hitchcock cliffhanger making you want to continue reading to find out what happens.

[Terry M · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good murder thriller. Luke finds himself involved in random murders, staged to draw his attention with well placed clues. He races to put the pieces together before they land, leaving us with an unexpected cliff hanger.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a fast paced and thrilling story but I would've liked more info re the characters and the ending seemed to just spring up on you although it did leave me saying "what?" so I look forward to reading book 2.

[L.a.l · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if deaths happened on a plane going from one destination to another? This scary tale not only has this element involved but other strange things that all come together for a wild and exciting book.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am intrigued ..

.. However ,there seemed to be problems keeping track of precise locations being described within the aircraft. Also seemed like the cabin crew should have had more control over passengers .

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to what seems to be an interesting series. The events take place in a plane where the main protagonist is being mocked by a serial murderer. The series promises to be a historical fiction mystery/thriller. The characters are outlined well and the story is fast paced.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty, suspenseful mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what is going to happen next. It also makes you wonder who the good guys and bad guys are.
Intriguing storyline and characters.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mystery bordering on supernatural, all on a plane

[Katie Dolotko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced, thrilling read! There were a few consistency errors, but didn’t detract too much. Intrigued to read more!