The 2009 "Miracle on the Hudson" saved 150 airline passengers from almost certain death, making instant heroes out of the captain who landed the crippled jetliner in an icy river as well as the crew that guided every passenger to safety. But for Martin Wilkes, whose wife Keira and two sons were aboard that flight, the miracle has a hollow although he and the boys reunite that same day, no one can locate their mother. Keira Wilkes has survived only to disappear.
The ensuing search takes her husband far into an Arctic he never knew existed, a breathtaking landscape veiled in a sunless winter. As he struggles through the forbidding cold and suffocating gloom, he begins to understand that it is Keira's emotional darkness--one she kept hidden for years--that has led her there. And he knows also he must now find her before that darkness consumes them both.
Cindy's Rating 5 Stars While browsing the Kindle new releases I was attracted to the cover of Dark Time, a novel by Chuck Radda. I'll admit to judging books by their covers...a little. It's always nice to find gems from small independent publishers, and this book from Lefora Publishing is one of them. The author crafts an unsettling scene in the introduction titled "Fear". I simply had to know what would become of 10 year old Keira Eason in the aftermath of such an incident, after being told by her parents to bury the events of that day as if they had never occurred. Chapter One opens to a scene that may be familiar to alot of readers, the 2009 crash landing of a US Air jet into the Hudson River. The "Miracle on the Hudson" as it was called, all aboard survived and were safely rescued from the floating aircraft, but not in this work of fiction. Keira (Eason) Wilkes and her 2 sons were on that flight, looking forward to a family vacation. Her husband Martin Wilkes, detained at work, is making plans to catch up with them on a later flight. When he arrives at LaGuardia expecting to be reunited with his family, only his sons await him. After the initial airport chaos subsides and everyone on the plane has been accounted for, Keira is the only one missing...but what exactly happened to her? As Martin Wilkes begins the search for his wife, each chapter takes him further away from the safe, predictable upper middle class life he knows, and sometimes hates. This is a compelling story with colorful characters and wry humor. Dark Time explores relationships, the layers and secrets we all have. It is also a well written mystery full of detours and discoveries as the story unfolds. How Keira Wilkes chooses to resolve that dark event in her past and the fear she has lived with all her life will change her family forever. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.
Just received this giveaway copy... looking forward to digging in!
I've finished the book.... it took awhile. This book went on my nightstand as a 'read a bit before going to sleep' book. While the writing and editing were well done, and the story was interesting, it moved very slowly. A 'good' book is one where I find myself reading two or three or four chapters, instead of one... where I find myself getting the book to read some more in the evening, even thought it's my 'nightstand' book.
The beginning felt a bit more like a documentary -- which I understand. After all, it starts with an actual incident, and then moves forward (or sideways!) from there. And once it moved beyond the factual, it was much easier to connect with the characters.
All in all, it leaves me with mixed feelings as to what I should put for a rating. At least for me, this was not an exciting, can't-put-it-down book. But in the end, an interesting story and good writing/editing carries a lot of weight.
This book was received free, as a Goodreads Giveaway.