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Geheimprogramm Skyhook
John Nance's reputation for nail-biting suspense has grown steadily with bestsellers like Headwind , Blackout , and Pandora's Clock . "A roller-coaster ride" ( New York Post ), "a humdinger" ( Los Angeles Times ), and "so compelling it's tough to look away" (People), sang critics nationwide. In Skyhook , Nance crafts another winner. The "boomerang box," a high-tech computer program designed to save a plane experiencing flight trouble, is Dr. Ben Coles's baby. After a test run over the Gulf of Alaska goes awry, he suspects someone has sabotaged the plane's computer systems. And mysteriously, and almost simultaneously, April Rosen is horrified to learn that her father's plane has narrowly escaped a midair collision over the same patch of sea. While Dr. Coles considers the uncomfortable notion that someone within his own company might wish him harm, Rosen begins her search for the cause of her father's hair-raising "near miss." But what both don't know is their fears have a common source. They are being watched by people in the Pentagon, who believe that the two might stumble upon the secret that will destroy them all before Skyhook has a chance to succeed. What is Skyhook's real purpose? Is it commercial or military? And will its early implementation compromise the safety of fliers everywhere? In the hands of the talented John Nance, the race for the answers will leave you hanging on to your seat.
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First published March 12, 2003
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About the author
John J. Nance
66 books226 followersJohn J. Nance is an American pilot, aviation safety expert, and author. He served in the USAF during the Vietnam War and also as a Lt. Colonel in Operation Desert Storm.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
December 14, 2012
During the top-secret testing of a new remote flight control box, something goes horribly wrong, and a Gulfstream nearly crashes. At the same time and, obviously in the same airspace, 747 captain Arlie Rosen flies his Albatross into trouble. Arlie, using visual flight control, flies into a cloud bank where he throws a propeller blade and crashes. He and his wife Rachel are rescued, but Arlie gets his pilot’s license revoked by an overzealous FAA inspector. This sends his daughter April and family friend Gracie on a campaign to clear Arlie’s name. They are met with the usual stonewall of bureaucracy, with a behind-the-scenes cover-up at work, as well.
Even though we were aboard the Gulfstream when we know it took Arlie Rosen’s Albatross out of the sky, with the added bonus of sitting in with the head software engineer while he worried over the failing program that caused the crash, the book goes round and round, after round, between the government brass, the Rosen clan, and the software engineer as they slowly and laboriously figure out what was obvious to us by the end of Chapter One. When the resolution finally drags itself to the party, everything gets tidily tied up, all the nice guys win and get promoted, and there are smiles all around.
With some fun, likeable characters, snappy dialogue, and a believable story line, this could have been a decent book. As it was, I couldn’t make myself warm to anybody. The Rosens lived a cushy existence and April had obviously never had a bad day in her charmed life. At 25, she’s a high-paid vice president at a cruise line and can just walk away from her job without a thought. Nobody at work minds, though, because she’s such an asset to the company. She lives in a high-rise condo. Gracie, her surrogate sister, is close to the family, though everyone is always quick to point out, not actually a part of it. Gracie has secured a position at Jantzen and Pruzan, a high-buck law firm that values her so much, they hand her the moon when she drops what must surely be a crushing workload to work on her personal issues, using her employer as a front, instead. She also has the amazing ability to never need to speak to a judge during business hours and instead chooses to bother them at home, where they let her in, hear her out, lecture her on impropriety, and then give her her way. She lives on a yacht and drives a Corvette.
Dialogue is stilted and more often than not used as a forum for the author to complain about his dislike of slang. This only serves to put these self-righteous characters one plane further away from anywhere I want to be. Added to that is the utterly ludicrous plot that goes nowhere, circling the obvious around and around. We got it already. Why can’t any of these Pleasantville characters figure it out? This had to be the sloppiest government cover-up in history, which all could have been avoided if someone high up had told the FAA to back down and give Arlie his license back. But then there would have been no story.
There wasn’t one anyway. This book was just plain unrealistic from start to finish, starred unlikeable characters reminiscent of a preachy 1950’s TV show, and had horrible dialogue.
Even though we were aboard the Gulfstream when we know it took Arlie Rosen’s Albatross out of the sky, with the added bonus of sitting in with the head software engineer while he worried over the failing program that caused the crash, the book goes round and round, after round, between the government brass, the Rosen clan, and the software engineer as they slowly and laboriously figure out what was obvious to us by the end of Chapter One. When the resolution finally drags itself to the party, everything gets tidily tied up, all the nice guys win and get promoted, and there are smiles all around.
With some fun, likeable characters, snappy dialogue, and a believable story line, this could have been a decent book. As it was, I couldn’t make myself warm to anybody. The Rosens lived a cushy existence and April had obviously never had a bad day in her charmed life. At 25, she’s a high-paid vice president at a cruise line and can just walk away from her job without a thought. Nobody at work minds, though, because she’s such an asset to the company. She lives in a high-rise condo. Gracie, her surrogate sister, is close to the family, though everyone is always quick to point out, not actually a part of it. Gracie has secured a position at Jantzen and Pruzan, a high-buck law firm that values her so much, they hand her the moon when she drops what must surely be a crushing workload to work on her personal issues, using her employer as a front, instead. She also has the amazing ability to never need to speak to a judge during business hours and instead chooses to bother them at home, where they let her in, hear her out, lecture her on impropriety, and then give her her way. She lives on a yacht and drives a Corvette.
Dialogue is stilted and more often than not used as a forum for the author to complain about his dislike of slang. This only serves to put these self-righteous characters one plane further away from anywhere I want to be. Added to that is the utterly ludicrous plot that goes nowhere, circling the obvious around and around. We got it already. Why can’t any of these Pleasantville characters figure it out? This had to be the sloppiest government cover-up in history, which all could have been avoided if someone high up had told the FAA to back down and give Arlie his license back. But then there would have been no story.
There wasn’t one anyway. This book was just plain unrealistic from start to finish, starred unlikeable characters reminiscent of a preachy 1950’s TV show, and had horrible dialogue.
July 28, 2009
Nance turns out another cool aviation thriller. What does a top secret military experiment have to do with the railroading of a professional pilot who crashed his plane in Alaskan waters? Why is the government seeking to immediately (without any investigation) place the blame for his crash on pilot error?
Nance turns out a good thriller with interesting aviation background and delivers an interesting cast of characters, a clever plot, and a page turner of a novel. Not nearly as good as "Turbulence" but another good book with an interesting theme.
Nance turns out a good thriller with interesting aviation background and delivers an interesting cast of characters, a clever plot, and a page turner of a novel. Not nearly as good as "Turbulence" but another good book with an interesting theme.
September 25, 2024
Yikes. After finishing most of Crichton's novels, I was looking for another author with similar subject matter. This author is definitely not my guy. This little boy wish-fulfillment of this book has turned me off to any other thing he may have written. Two main reasons:
1) Almost every chapter has either a man (or woman) engaging in male gaze: a coworker moves in close and "pretends" to be intimately kissing the male protagonist so they can discuss a secret in a public setting without "possible" cameras/spies being able to read their lips; a military officer wonders to himself if his secretary thinks as sexually about him as he does about her; a guy berates a lady for being a "hot young thang flouncing in the door [wearing heels and an overpriced jacket"]; every other chapter, the two female protagonists comment on/compliment each other's bodies in completely unnatural ways. All of this is presented as the acceptable and even desired norm–the women in book (and obviously the author) are mostly shown to appreciate the creepy attention.
2) What took me over the edge was the silly hero worship. There's a retired pilot in this book, a supporting character, that the author makes abundantly clear is worshipped by every other character. His wive LOVES having constant sex with him, his daughter ADORES him, his daughter's best friend considers him more like a father than her own, and everyone he works with thinks he is awesome, professional, and a complete expert. The only people who don't like him are a couple of FAA agents, who are demonized as draconian, malicious, and completely irrational people, lol. The author of this novel had a career as a pilot before he began writing, and in his author photo on the back page he's wearing a leather jacket standing in front of a plane. Need I say more? Too silly.
So dumb! Not worth finishing.
1) Almost every chapter has either a man (or woman) engaging in male gaze: a coworker moves in close and "pretends" to be intimately kissing the male protagonist so they can discuss a secret in a public setting without "possible" cameras/spies being able to read their lips; a military officer wonders to himself if his secretary thinks as sexually about him as he does about her; a guy berates a lady for being a "hot young thang flouncing in the door [wearing heels and an overpriced jacket"]; every other chapter, the two female protagonists comment on/compliment each other's bodies in completely unnatural ways. All of this is presented as the acceptable and even desired norm–the women in book (and obviously the author) are mostly shown to appreciate the creepy attention.
2) What took me over the edge was the silly hero worship. There's a retired pilot in this book, a supporting character, that the author makes abundantly clear is worshipped by every other character. His wive LOVES having constant sex with him, his daughter ADORES him, his daughter's best friend considers him more like a father than her own, and everyone he works with thinks he is awesome, professional, and a complete expert. The only people who don't like him are a couple of FAA agents, who are demonized as draconian, malicious, and completely irrational people, lol. The author of this novel had a career as a pilot before he began writing, and in his author photo on the back page he's wearing a leather jacket standing in front of a plane. Need I say more? Too silly.
So dumb! Not worth finishing.
August 19, 2023
Another home run…
Rarely has someone ever so consistently & concisely explained the FAA. In this book there was some fiction added, but the by the book, we will be consistent, we will not be rushed or controlled by anyone description war right on. Sadly, showing the government as “doing the right thing” was not very believable. The story was awesome, as always the aviation aspect dead on. Loved the character development and plot twists and highly recommend this read. The concept of the government lying to the public to protect them was easy to believe-after COVID, when we finally learned that masks didn’t work, the vaccine didn’t prevent you from getting COVID, shutdowns ruined the economy and closing schools didn’t protect our kids, it is clear they will always lie, even when it isn’t necessary.
Rarely has someone ever so consistently & concisely explained the FAA. In this book there was some fiction added, but the by the book, we will be consistent, we will not be rushed or controlled by anyone description war right on. Sadly, showing the government as “doing the right thing” was not very believable. The story was awesome, as always the aviation aspect dead on. Loved the character development and plot twists and highly recommend this read. The concept of the government lying to the public to protect them was easy to believe-after COVID, when we finally learned that masks didn’t work, the vaccine didn’t prevent you from getting COVID, shutdowns ruined the economy and closing schools didn’t protect our kids, it is clear they will always lie, even when it isn’t necessary.
March 6, 2024
While not my favorite Nance book (that would be "Blackout"), "Skyhook" was very good, even if there seemed to be more filler than usual. The plot was a solid - a black ops project involving the installation of software onto military planes in order to return them to a base if their crew has become incapacitated or unable to fly the plane normally.
Nance does his usual good work with character creation and development. The protagonists are all good people who are easy to like and root for. Again, as with other Nance novels, there are a number of plot twists that will keep readers moving forward - especially near the end of the book, so keep with it.
Nance does his usual good work with character creation and development. The protagonists are all good people who are easy to like and root for. Again, as with other Nance novels, there are a number of plot twists that will keep readers moving forward - especially near the end of the book, so keep with it.
January 19, 2025
This was just okay. I have read 12 books by John Nance and this was my least favorite. It seemed like it didn't know if it wanted to be a legal thriller or an aviation thriller. If I had never read anything by Mr. Nance, I would have rated this higher but it just did not really do it for me.
One big thing I really did not like was towards the end of the book where some civilians are told top secret information as long as they promise not to tell! Really, I've known people who actually have top secret clearance and they denied that they even had this level of clearance...let alone tell me what projects they were working on!
One big thing I really did not like was towards the end of the book where some civilians are told top secret information as long as they promise not to tell! Really, I've known people who actually have top secret clearance and they denied that they even had this level of clearance...let alone tell me what projects they were working on!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2025
I've read a few other books by this author, and thought they were enjoyable, fast-paced, aviation-themed thrillers. This one, however, was garbage.
I was a little concerned that reading a book written in 2003, the outdated nature of life, technology, terminology, etc. would make the book unenjoyable. In fact, what made it unenjoyable was the overt misogyny and chauvinism, along with characters (including women) objectifying women and treating them like little more than sexual beings. It's hard to believe that was "acceptable" in 2003 -- but it's even more gross to read it now.
This was a DNF for me on page 90.
I was a little concerned that reading a book written in 2003, the outdated nature of life, technology, terminology, etc. would make the book unenjoyable. In fact, what made it unenjoyable was the overt misogyny and chauvinism, along with characters (including women) objectifying women and treating them like little more than sexual beings. It's hard to believe that was "acceptable" in 2003 -- but it's even more gross to read it now.
This was a DNF for me on page 90.
June 20, 2023
‘Skyhook’ was a secret government program designed to improve airplane safety. But ‘top secret’ is just that, and when Capt. Arlee Rosen’s plane accidentally blundered into the test site, both his life and his career were put in jeopardy. His daughter April found roadblocks in every direction when she tried to learn what had happened on that fateful day, despite receiving help from an unexpected source.
Though perhaps not the white-knuckled suspense of some of the author’s other books (ORBIT, TURBULENCE), SKYHOOK is still evidence that aviation expert Nance can still tell a good story.
Though perhaps not the white-knuckled suspense of some of the author’s other books (ORBIT, TURBULENCE), SKYHOOK is still evidence that aviation expert Nance can still tell a good story.
February 12, 2023
Skyhook
A great read. As a pilot for 38 years military and airline I can empathize with the characters in the story. I was a check Air man for my airline and military instructed so I interacted with the FAA on a regular basis. Most were gentlemen and fair, but there was a small few who were a**holes like Mr Harris. Mr Nance is a superb aviation writer and I will continue to follow him.
A great read. As a pilot for 38 years military and airline I can empathize with the characters in the story. I was a check Air man for my airline and military instructed so I interacted with the FAA on a regular basis. Most were gentlemen and fair, but there was a small few who were a**holes like Mr Harris. Mr Nance is a superb aviation writer and I will continue to follow him.
November 26, 2023
At one time many years ago, I read all of John Nance’s books and enjoyed them all. When this one came up as a daily deal, I thought I’d read it again. I still loved it…..mostly. One thing that didn’t age well was the sexual innuendos about the women in the book. There even were two women kidding about wearing a bikini to sway a judge. Why did we ever think that was allowable? Ignore those parts as ancient history and you’re good to go.
February 23, 2020
On vacation and I ran out of books! Went to the local library and bought this for 50 cents. Story is about a secret government project to take over control of airplanes that have been hijacked. Unfortunately the system isn’t quite perfected and an airlines pilot flying with his wife in their private seaplane in Alaska are in the same airspace as the testing......
October 13, 2017
Outstanding book - extremely complex with so many layers of deception and secrecy - could not wait to see if the Rosen's would succeed with their hunt and what was really going on with the government. Be on your toes to follow all the twists and turns and plot changes.
April 1, 2019
wonderful writing
i hae now read five of Mr nance's books...each one difficult to put down. i will. be sad when there are no more to read. it is now four thirty am and have been reading all night. i give the author easily five stars.
i hae now read five of Mr nance's books...each one difficult to put down. i will. be sad when there are no more to read. it is now four thirty am and have been reading all night. i give the author easily five stars.
September 9, 2019
A little tightly packed, but not a bad book.
It's a page turner,but all the perils of the author tend to take major explanations so that the reader keeps from getting lost deeper than the old seaplane, much less the old readers. Good effort!
It's a page turner,but all the perils of the author tend to take major explanations so that the reader keeps from getting lost deeper than the old seaplane, much less the old readers. Good effort!
September 22, 2020
Skyhook was thrilling to read. It was well written; a real page turner. The ending however, left me wanting a bit more after a solid ride. To me, it felt rushed and left a few loose ends. The first four hundred and forty pages were worthy of five stars.
February 5, 2023
A riveting read
Well researched, captivating and unpredictable story line.
Characters come across as sincere and "real".
The author successfully and refreshingly steer away from over romantic drivel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel
Well researched, captivating and unpredictable story line.
Characters come across as sincere and "real".
The author successfully and refreshingly steer away from over romantic drivel.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel
April 4, 2023
WOW. What an enjoyable read
Never read anything by Dance With this novel he is my top five authors. Would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a page turner and a good time that doesn't disappoint
Never read anything by Dance With this novel he is my top five authors. Would recommend this book to anyone that is looking for a page turner and a good time that doesn't disappoint
October 14, 2023
Another great read from John J. Nance! Well written with great characters, an interesting story with excitement on every page, what more can be said? Loved it and being a NW native, I particularly loved the locales.
December 12, 2023
Keeps you guessing... as usual.
Having read a few of his other books I was prepared to see if I could figure out what was going on. But no I couldn't. Interesting and exciting story I think you will enjoy.
Having read a few of his other books I was prepared to see if I could figure out what was going on. But no I couldn't. Interesting and exciting story I think you will enjoy.
September 1, 2024
I have read one of John J. Nance's other books & he is a brilliant author, so when I purchased the Kindle version & found out it came with the Audible version for free I decided I would read the Kindle whilst listening to the audio at the same time - I was suffering with a migraine & in bed so reading was a bit challenging, therefore having the narration to accompany me was a winner as the book was fantastic.
The story is quite fast-paced & at times I'm pretty sure my heart rate increased - the fact that I am an aviation enthusiast & understand a lot of the technical aviation speak made this story quite poignant, the fact that the technology featured in this story has been discussed in aeronautical circles makes it all the more believable, because who's to know - this could potentially happen one day.
It is quite difficult to analyse the story without creating spoilers, therefore I will stick to opinions rather than analysis; as a reader who seeks out aviation stories (fiction & non-fiction) I have come across some absolute bangers & absolute flops - this one is a banger!
The characters work well together, they are all believable & I found myself feeling sorry for Dr. Ben Cole - he was put into an impossible position & had everything to lose, but if he doesn't speak up, then innocent people will lose everything, so what was he to do ... ?
I found myself reading the Kindle chapters faster because the storyline was fast-paced, but when I was listening & reading along it slowed me down, being taken along with the narrator.
I loved how John gave us an insight into how organisations such as the FAA interact with airlines & the politics involved in running an airline, especially how complicated it can get when an organisation is trying to keep secrets to save face at the cost of the humans that they employ.
All in all a good read, the author has a lot of technical knowledge & the authenticity in his writing is a pure pleasure to read.
The story is quite fast-paced & at times I'm pretty sure my heart rate increased - the fact that I am an aviation enthusiast & understand a lot of the technical aviation speak made this story quite poignant, the fact that the technology featured in this story has been discussed in aeronautical circles makes it all the more believable, because who's to know - this could potentially happen one day.
It is quite difficult to analyse the story without creating spoilers, therefore I will stick to opinions rather than analysis; as a reader who seeks out aviation stories (fiction & non-fiction) I have come across some absolute bangers & absolute flops - this one is a banger!
The characters work well together, they are all believable & I found myself feeling sorry for Dr. Ben Cole - he was put into an impossible position & had everything to lose, but if he doesn't speak up, then innocent people will lose everything, so what was he to do ... ?
I found myself reading the Kindle chapters faster because the storyline was fast-paced, but when I was listening & reading along it slowed me down, being taken along with the narrator.
I loved how John gave us an insight into how organisations such as the FAA interact with airlines & the politics involved in running an airline, especially how complicated it can get when an organisation is trying to keep secrets to save face at the cost of the humans that they employ.
All in all a good read, the author has a lot of technical knowledge & the authenticity in his writing is a pure pleasure to read.
December 10, 2024
Hated to put it down. Relished each time I could continue reading it!
A thoroughly believable story line with plenty of action, intrigue, and believable characters. And the flying parts were well placed and played.
A thoroughly believable story line with plenty of action, intrigue, and believable characters. And the flying parts were well placed and played.
May 31, 2025
Well crafted and intriguing story
I was hooked 40 pages in and could not stop reading until the end. Great characters, good background on the location, planes, law and so on. I will be looking for my next read from this talented author now!
I was hooked 40 pages in and could not stop reading until the end. Great characters, good background on the location, planes, law and so on. I will be looking for my next read from this talented author now!
March 18, 2020
Up all night again!
Typically great. John knows how to keep the suspense up so much that we lose a lot of sleep. Love it.
Typically great. John knows how to keep the suspense up so much that we lose a lot of sleep. Love it.
February 12, 2023
Excellent
Delightfully excellent work enough technical detail and legal maneuvers to keep up interest while containing delightful romantic innuendos for human interest.
Delightfully excellent work enough technical detail and legal maneuvers to keep up interest while containing delightful romantic innuendos for human interest.
February 16, 2023
great thriller
Solid aviation thriller, with lots of legal maneuvering added. Best of all, it was believable from a pilots perspective. Recommend
Solid aviation thriller, with lots of legal maneuvering added. Best of all, it was believable from a pilots perspective. Recommend
February 20, 2023
Great read.
John J. Nance is one of my favorite Authors. He always brings us the best possible scenario with each of his many books.
John J. Nance is one of my favorite Authors. He always brings us the best possible scenario with each of his many books.
November 26, 2023
Good read for aviation fans
This story had lots of tech and legal twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. it moved along at a good pace and the Alaska setting added interest.
This story had lots of tech and legal twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. it moved along at a good pace and the Alaska setting added interest.
November 28, 2023
John Nance is an author whom I read the I want a true thriller. I always read his books in one or two days.
June 3, 2024
Skyhook is the 3rd book I've read by John J. Nance. This is where I confess that I stayed up all night reading until I reached the very end.
June 22, 2024
Got me hooked
This was really un-put-down-able.
Good storyline and good characters.
Now I need to check what else this author has published.
This was really un-put-down-able.
Good storyline and good characters.
Now I need to check what else this author has published.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews