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Buck Reilly Adventure #6

Free Fall to Black

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Travel back to 2006 and the penultimate moment of Buck Reilly's former success when he discovers the crypt of the Mayan Serpent King and royal treasury in Guatemala, then marries top super model Heather Drake, and bask in his fifteen minutes of fame--before it suddenly blows apart. By 2008, with the world economy on the brink of collapse, Buck and Jack Dodson's company is already under siege due to fraud, backstabbing and greed that turns their friends and family alike into adversaries. Hubris and hasty decisions lead to irreversible consequences, and when a business partner turns up dead, business as usual isn't business any more. For fans of the Buck Reilly series, buckle up for the turbulent ride that led him to Last Resort Charter and Salvage in Key West, and for new readers, this prequel will launch you into the six book series with your eyes wide open, and Buck's scars still fresh.

227 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 25, 2017

194 people are currently reading
186 people want to read

About the author

John H. Cunningham

23 books258 followers
John H. Cunningham, outdoorsman, world traveler, and aviation enthusiast, is a commercial real estate professional and former editor. He splits his time between Virginia, New York and Key West with his wife and two daughters. His books include RED RIGHT RETURN, GREEN TO GO, CRYSTAL BLUE, SECOND CHANCE GOLD, MAROON RISING, FREE FALL TO BLACK, SILVER GOODBYE, WHITE KNIGHT, and THE LAST RAFT.

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Community Reviews

5 stars
363 (58%)
4 stars
186 (29%)
3 stars
50 (8%)
2 stars
17 (2%)
1 star
6 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Erin Seidemann.
Author 1 book14 followers
April 12, 2017
It’s always a pleasure to get back to the guy I call my “fictional boyfriend”, Buck Reilly! The action starts right away in Free Fall to Black. It gives the backstory to things that have been mentioned in all the previous books, which makes me want to re-read all those knowing what I know now, and has the enjoyable mix of romance, danger, international intrigue, and suspense that we’ve all come to expect from the Buck Reilly series. As with all the books in the series before this one, I get annoyed when I get interrupted from reading! I’m also always sad when the book ends because I know it’ll be another year until I can hear more about my fictional boyfriend. Author John Cunningham did another great job with this one! I’m already looking forward to the next book!
Profile Image for Russ.
303 reviews7 followers
June 28, 2020
Another Buck Reilly adventure. It's the 6th book in the series, but turns out it's a prequel. Answered a lot of questions.
Profile Image for Eric.
32 reviews3 followers
May 7, 2022
This is book 6 in the Buck Reilly series but it’s actually a prequel. You could read it first or in order.

This book gives some backstory to how king buck got his nickname. It shows e-antiquity’s rise and fall along with the aftermath Buck had to deal with. We see multiple reoccurring characters backstories and how their relationships were in the past.

I really enjoyed this book. I was a little disappointed going into it knowing it was a prequel but ended up being glad it was. I loved learning more about the past of these characters that we’ve gotten small tidbits about in the previous books.
489 reviews6 followers
July 24, 2017
Free Fall to Black (Buck Reilly series #6)

Finally we find out how Buck Reilly ended up in the Florida keys with "Betty" and the Last Charter and Salvage operation. The first five books deal with Buck's adventures after he and BETTY settled down in the Florida keys. John Cunningham weaves quite a few tales about Buck, his partner and mechanic plus the other associates who help him to regain his self respect and financial assets. Thanks for letting me know Buck and his associates.
30 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2020
Sad to have finished this romping wild ride

Saved this one for last

I am a bit sad to finish the last buck Reilly adventure even though I discovered him by reading the very last first. That book hooked me as I have a large part of my own past sailing for a living in the Caribbean.now none are left to spur the imagination with the master tale weaver John h cunnigham.All I can hope for is he keeps those great story's in his mind coming as I relished each page! Many thanks to this series holding out hope that there is more to come!
Profile Image for Joe Sopcich.
63 reviews1 follower
May 26, 2017
Really liked this

I have enjoyed all the other Buck Reilly adventures and was really looking forward to this one. It was fantastic, and provided a lot of background details that really cement who Buck is. There is also some alluding done to parent and friend connections that I can see leading into a spin-off of the Buck Reilly series. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to see whats next!
13 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2019
Great part if the series.

I'm a sucker for anything that combines flying, sailing and diving with a little adventure and mystery in warm waters. Buck Reilly is a believable character and his treasure hunting is the perfect setting for adventure. John Cunningham tells a great story and mixes in all the right ingredients of great characters, plausible stories, a woman or two and a couple of planes to quickly move the setting. Great writing.
Profile Image for Michael DiPinto.
Author 5 books20 followers
May 9, 2017
Great beach book

This book is a great addition to the Buck Reilly series. It's a fast paced reading with great writing that will keep turning the next page until your done. The author does a great job at sucking you into the story with characters that you can relate with. I would recommend this book only after you read all of the others. Can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Joe.
431 reviews
February 22, 2024
The back story that makes the story

This is one of those books that you pick up and u cant put down till you get to "about the author", and you say I WANT MORE! Then immediately dive into the next book with desire. Bravo to the author on making a back story that fills a fan of the previous books with oohs and ahhhs and "so that explains it"
495 reviews1 follower
May 9, 2017
Another great one.

Good to see how Buck got his start. What a terror ride he went through to get back to Key West. I would love to see Betty. If you have ANY fondness of flying, go with Buck!!
25 reviews
June 14, 2017
Great fast read

I couldn't put the book down! It was intriguing, facts were shown to be researched fully and having read his other books it answered a lot of questions. I will recommend it to anyone.
Profile Image for Chris Hall.
7 reviews
November 20, 2018
One thing I love about the way John H Cunningham writes is the way we get to know Buck Reilly; this book amplifies that. We get to know Buck and his back story in a way that really helps bios on what we already know and I feel will be important moving forward. As always loved the book!
Profile Image for Dave.
747 reviews7 followers
November 22, 2019
You have to have bad times to appreciate the good.
Not fighting action, but lots of active story and intrigue. Great story that kept me up late to finish it. I will be reading more of John's stories of Buck.
36 reviews
April 15, 2021
The Beginning

This book tells the story of how King Buck came to be. It's nice to read the whole story at one time. Even though throughout the previous five books bits and pieces of the story have been told, this clears up any questions.
Profile Image for Janet.
6 reviews2 followers
July 23, 2022
Good plot and pace of the buildup of the reputation and lots of money leading to his whirlwind courtship with supermodel Heather and the brief time he returned to work before
Buck fell from Glory to his current life in Key West.
468 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2024
Not sure

Me thinks this should have been the first one I read but
I guess It a!l comes out in the wash good story life is a bitch loss of family a hear ache been thru it ..ciao me amigos puts vida..
Profile Image for Glen Galloway.
28 reviews
February 9, 2018
Enjoyed

Good read, exciting story line, most enjoyable. Willing to spend more time with Cunningham s novels. Hope to see more soon.
Profile Image for Jeff H.
38 reviews1 follower
April 28, 2022
Another Great Book

I love this series.I wish the series had began with this book. When I finish the one, I'll have to start from the beginning again.
8 reviews
May 20, 2025
I feel that this should have been book one not 6. It went over items covered in the first books
623 reviews4 followers
August 7, 2025
Intense and sad!

The true beginning of King Buck and his adventures and new birth. What new adventure comes next for King Buck?
5 reviews
February 13, 2020
Another amazing book

This is a series you can't stop reading. Actually disappointed if I finish before the next one is done and out.😊❤
Profile Image for Jeff Benham.
1,723 reviews12 followers
May 1, 2017
This started out being a 4 star review and quickly moved to 5 stars. Buck Reilly is an Antiquities hunter. A regular Indiana Jones, so if you like that kind of action, you will probably like this book. Buck is the co-owner of a very successful company that finds artifacts and valuable treasure. They have gained notoriety as halving a more than 50% success rate. This time they hit the mother load! He becomes famous and rich. Buck even marries a top of the line super model. The problem with being on top of the world is that there is only one direction to go from there. Soon enough his world comes crashing down on him and he has the F.B.I. and even Interpol watching his every move. This is #6 in the series, but it is a prequel, which means it is a good place to start if you have not read any Buck Reilly Adventures yet. This is true in my case, but I will surely be reading the first 5!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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