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Free Fall: A Thriller

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2021 Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal WinnerFree Fall is a thriller with a touch of sci-fi.

For ten years they had planned. The terrorists thought they had planned for everything. They didn’t plan on one small-town sheriff, Mathew McKenna.

McKenna will need all his strength and courage to save his niece and the lives of those around him. If he fails, then millions of people will die.

Washington is in crisis. What can they do? Should they implement the Twenty-Fifth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States, making the Vice President the Acting President?

Liberty, the first orbital city, is having its 10-year anniversary party! The President of the United States and his family will be attending. Everyone will be there.

Washington watches in horror as the terrorist attack unfolds. All options for them are gone. All eyes turn to Sheriff McKenna. He is their last hope.

Can Sheriff Mathew McKenna lead a small group of survivors, including his niece, the First Lady of the United States (who did a tour of combat duty as a Navy SEAL), and save the city? Or will they all die, along with millions of other innocent lives?

Buy Free Fall and join Sheriff Mat McKenna and a fantastic cast of characters as they fight to stay alive and save a city.

387 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 5, 2017

198 people are currently reading
88 people want to read

About the author

John Parrish

23 books1 follower

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5 stars
162 (57%)
4 stars
89 (31%)
3 stars
23 (8%)
2 stars
7 (2%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Janet Henderson.
56 reviews1 follower
June 25, 2018
Great read

One of the best thrillers I have read!
I couldn't put it down.
I can't wait to read something else
By the same author.
Profile Image for Maggie Deaton.
753 reviews4 followers
September 4, 2020
Have discovered another great new author! Move over Baldacci, Iles, Child, and so many others of my better known favorites. I predict this gentleman will soon be a household name atop bestseller lists!!!

A very timely topic with the terrorism around the world but set less than a half century in the future when we have a newly orbiting " space city " built on a tubular platform in sectors ( the science here is VERY good without smothering you in jargon... and well explained...) The president, First Lady ( a former Navy seal herself ), and First Family ( a preteen boy and teenaged girl ) along with many very high ranking members of Congress are all present at the space city for a formal christening and speech by the President and other dignitaries - many in direct line for the presidency. ( The Vice President remained in Washington D.C., of course, per protocol.) A small town Florida sheriff ( and former Army vet of several tours in Afghanistan) is also attending the ceremony with his teen- aged niece courteous of gifted tickets. The city is a " gun - free zone" for obvious safety reasons and no one is allowed guns except the President's Secret Service Detail... Even police and security have only non-lethal weapons.... So as the conclusion of the Mayor's introduction is finished, there is only silence and anticipation for the President's speech suddenly interrupted by silenced gun shots from automatic weapons wielded by terrorists of Middle Eastern ethnicity and of both sexes... It quickly becomes evident this is a large well trained, well armed, and very well informed force as they quickly slaughter everyone on stage and almost every Secret Service personnel except two, a man and a woman, sheltering the President and his family with their bodies. From there the pace NEVER slows as the terrorists seal sectors of the city off from where they are largely congregated with the idea of killing the million plus inhabitants of the city by explosively depressurizing the remaining sectors and executing the President on live television... The androids that are on the space city are cutting edge military grade that not only perform all duties from cooking to maintenance in space outside the station... they are also A.I.S that have the ability to reason, think and learn, and move as well as perform duties at unbelievable speeds. They, along with a small town Florida sheriff, a female maintenance engineer, the First Lady, and a host of helpful androids begin trying to plan an intervention and rescue... The book never slows for a moment and includes a space walk by several key personnel, the interception and disarming of plastique explosives, an attempted landing of a rescue force of Marines via Space shuttle which is blown up by the terrorists before it can dock, and more exciting and harrowing moments than I can ever hope to describe or recap! This is one book you simply have to read for yourself and you will have no choice but to enjoy it! I will be searching for more of Mr. Patrick's novels so keep your eyes open for more to come! Wish I could give it 6+ stars as this one has everything IMHO!!! Enjoy!!!

Profile Image for Nancy Silk.
Author 5 books82 followers
March 20, 2018
"A Good Story For Young Adults"

This is a simply written adventure thriller more suitable for teenagers rather than adults. It's high action from beginning to end and is really of the sci-fi genre. It involves the attack on America by a very high large force of terrorists. The president and his family are at high risk and a small town sheriff from Florida, Mathew McKenna, will be the one to save the family, and perhaps the whole country. The story has a wonderful story line and the author, who I presume is young and this is his first novel, has a great action-filled imagination. However, a little better proofreading is needed and better editing. Too many descriptions are often repeated and lessens an adult's interest in the story. It's a great accomplishment for a first-time author, and I'm hoping he'll continue writing and getting aid from others who can help him improve his writing.
172 reviews2 followers
June 13, 2018

Mathew "Mat" McKenna is a sheriff from a small town in Florida. Samantha "Sam" Johnson, a former Navy SEAL, is the wife of the President of the United States. Together they fight off what appears to be Islamic terrorists - in space? Really?

You betcha.

The story begins in the near future on Liberty, a space station inhabited by millions floating above the earth. Mat and his niece, Megan, are attending a gathering with a speech to be given by the president when terrorists attack the stage killing all but the president, his family and Cass, a surviving Secret Service Agent.

Follow Mat, Megan, Cass, and Sam, along with her husband and two kids as they escape the assassins and attempt to stay alive on Liberty. It's an exciting adventure.
Profile Image for Paul Madsen.
510 reviews5 followers
April 20, 2021
A wonderful clean plot

This author has the ability to grab your attention and hold it until the final page. As a space drama I enjoyed the storyline especially because it was well done without any of the usual unnecessary bad language or useless bedroom scenes. The main characters a small town sheriff, a woman Vice President both with military savvy talent and the ability to think quick when it becomes decent. Throw in a learning android and you have a winner worthy of your time. Great Job. 😃
291 reviews1 follower
June 8, 2018
Excellent!

Full of action and suspense from the first pages! Great story line (even based slightly in the future), loved the characters and didn’t want to stop reading to find out what happened next. That is the sign of a good book. Andy was the perfect addition to the story and I love the idea of a First Lady who was formerly a Navy Seal with deadly training. Thanks for a great read.
588 reviews2 followers
April 24, 2021
Mostly Non-Stop SciFi Action Thriller

I was surprised but happy to find this would be a SciFi-environment book. I think The Author packs a lot of whollop into his tale, and it was mostly good writing.
On the other hand — the ‘bad guys’ in this book are both shallow and stupid — for instance, the story barely gives them any effort
into finding and eliminating threats from the good guys, when realistically this shouldn’t have been very much of a problem.
1 review
June 17, 2021
Wow…Prepare for liftoff!

I am not sure my heartbeat has resumed its normal rate. Free Fall is probably the most exhilarating, terrifying thriller ever. And I read constantly. The action is non-stop, characters intriguing…First Lady a Navy Seal? Sheriff Mat is a cool yet highly trained 20- year combat vet…androids?…space world…terrorists at every turn? Yet the good guys overcome. Yes, Wow!
Profile Image for Susan Clair Holt.
1,365 reviews1 follower
December 8, 2017
Free Fall

The orbiting city of Liberty is under siege and the President of the United States is on the run along with his family from the Islam jihad that has taken over. Everything works out in the long run with the help of an engineer a droid and the sheriff of a small town in Florida.
122 reviews1 follower
March 1, 2021
Free Fall is a terrific mixture of sci/fi, terrorism, and edge of your seat action thriller. Grab your copy and buckle up!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Free Fall and highly recommend it. It grabs the reader right off the bat takes you on a thrill ride that keeps you anxiously turning pages to find out what happens next! Guaranteed to please
26 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2021
Hot time in deep space

Pack a lunch, this book doesn’t lay down. Vivid characters you can’t help but cheer for as they undo the best the villains can offer. The story races along as the unlikely troop of heroes and androids find that even in space community matters. Bravo. More!
Profile Image for Tracy Devine.
1 review
January 4, 2018
Fun story

Good book. The story was a little bit unbelievable; but that is what made it a fun quick read. Recommend this to anyone who wants to read a fun book where the good guys win.
106 reviews2 followers
May 19, 2018
Great Series to Look Forward Too

This turned out to be a great exciting book!! I am now looking for more in the series. I will buy them all. Finally I have a whole series to look forward to!!!! GMR
2 reviews
June 23, 2018
Excellent book

This was a excellent read! The story line moved along great and keep you wanting to see what was going to happen next. Loved the characters and hope to read another book with them .
19 reviews1 follower
September 11, 2018
Free Fall

A very good and fast paced read! The technology hinted at here makes for a very imaginative look at where we might be in the future as a society, but also brings to light some of the drawbacks. I thoroughly enjoyed this story....
25 reviews
February 21, 2019
Excellent novel

Parrish has written a really good thriller. The plot is believable, the space station environment realistic (already closer than we think), and importing earth problems to a near earth home colony on target. I liked it lot.
1,087 reviews4 followers
August 25, 2021
New author for me and enjoyed his writing very much.
This is much like a Sci-Fi thriller including the President
of the U.S. and his trip to an outer planet in the future. One
can even find terrorists on other planets, so be careful.
14 reviews1 follower
March 22, 2018
Excellent read

I loved this book! A Science fiction thriller I couldn’t put down. I look forward to what comes next in this series.
Profile Image for BJ Scott.
14 reviews
April 21, 2018
What a ride

Definitely a roller coaster of a ride. Hold your breath and hang on. Read it in a day. Will look for more books by this author.
435 reviews3 followers
August 23, 2018
Outstanding!!!!!

This is an Outstanding Book!!! You should make it into a series!! I would certainly read them I look forward to reading more of your Books.
1 review
October 4, 2018
It's a very well written fact packed sci-fi adventure!

I didn't want to put it down. The characters were very believable and I would like to see them in another book
52 reviews2 followers
November 8, 2018
Great suspense thriller

Very fast paced. Set in the future but very realistic. It added to the interest. I will look for more by this author.
5 reviews
November 17, 2018
Good read!

Loved the characters and story flowed and kept me interested right to the end! Normally not a fan of futuristic stories but this was very good.
2 reviews
December 25, 2018
Free Fall

Great story and well told. Can’t put it down after first page. Hope to see more from this author. Highly recommend.
24 reviews
May 27, 2019
Okay

Okay story line. Nice characters. Not as exciting as I thought it would be. Ending was a little too brief
Profile Image for Di.
200 reviews
June 16, 2019
Fantastic! Grabs you and doesn’t let go. Constant action.
Profile Image for cindy bliss.
103 reviews
March 17, 2021
Great read

You just gotta love a book where the hero in a non assuming man. Just down home country boy that gets things done that needs doing.
12 reviews
March 24, 2021
Great Book!

I enjoyed this book very much. Non-stop action from start to finish. I would highly recommend it. Loved Sheriff McKenna.
Profile Image for Amanda Wells.
1 review
February 4, 2018
This book keeps you wondering what will come next. It jumps back and forth in different perspectives really showing you the back story of the different characters and adding more interest and suspense as you read. I can't wait to hear how the character's lives turn out after their journey in this book is over.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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