Product Description

Joe Carpenter’s wife and two children perished with more than three hundred others in the crash of United Airlines Flight 353. But one year later, haunted by the loss of his family and desperate to find purpose in life, he discovers that the official story of Flight 353 is a treacherous lie.

They say it was an accident. It was not. They say there were no survivors: that the crash was too devastating for anyone to live through it.  But incredibly, Joe discovers one woman walked away unhurt from the disaster, with a secret that will change the world ...

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139422 in Books
• Published on: 1997-10-09
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 448 pages

About the Author
Dean Koontz’s novels have sold over 200 million copies worldwide and more than 30 have appeared on national and international bestseller lists. He lives in southern California with his wife, Gerda.

Customer Reviews

Addictive, gripping, unusual and totally brilliant!
I read this book last week in about 2 days (I stopped because I had to be polite to my host!). I found this book completely amazing - I love most Koontz books I have read. I wouldn't describe it as horror, but not all his work is. If you've read this book, you'll think it's strange when I say I thought it was true to life. The descriptions of the main character's feelings of grief I felt were spot on, and made me sympathise immensely with him. The only explaination for the bizarre events has to be something out of the ordinary, which I don't think is a bad thing, because I personally believe such things could happen. I can't find fault with the plot. The only thing that stops me from giving it the last star was that I got bored just before the end. After the mystery was revealed it was obvious how it was going to end, and that was a little disappointing. Having said that, I can't think of a better way he could have finished it. Three cheers for Dean!

sole survivor: plenty of soul
The blurb was instantly gripping. A plane crash - a serious one - everyone instantly killed. but then the husband / father of a lost family on flight 353 meets someone who was on that flight. everything he was led to believe in the past year since the event is thrown into turmoil and he embarques in a gripping tale to discover the truth, why it was covered up, why he now is in danger and if one person made it out alive - could others?

I have only read one other of dean koontz's novels (although I will be sure to check out many more now) and both I must say had this incredible way of being so descriptive and convincing that I was reading at every available moment. the first novel (phantoms as reference) I got halfway - and I would say its one of the only novels where have felt similar feelings to watching a gripping / scary horror movie. the suspense was amazing. it then, in my opinion went totally lame-o and once the reasoning behind the grizzly killings was revealed - it was no longer gripping nor scary... just well, weak. Sole survivor got 2/3 way through. around about the page 310 mark I believe, before I thought it was going down the same path. What had started off, and continued to be the amazing tale of what seemed to be a fascinating government conspiracy suddenly hinted that it was in fact paranormal. My heart sunk and for the next few chapters dreaded finding out that it was a ghost, ghoulie or a goblin or something similarly inexcusable. thank goodness for mercy. the book turned itself around nicely and what could have become another 'squidgy' ending actually threw a few surprises into the mix. its good to be surprised now and again. these surprises actually crafted a great, if slightly rushed and X-men-esque finale.

written before 9/11, it is a unique novel in the sense that it is doubtful where the subject of a huge plane crash could be explored so deeply in the near future at least without having to avoid sensitive issues. Although Dean Koontz has written many a novel since this one, as one of his first for me I enjoyed it immensely. the main character is not a rugged flawless hero. he is a grumpy, pale, depressed widow. this in itself makes a change and a refreshing read. Plus with not even a whiff of a romance to water it down (again thank goodness) this makes a great read.

Gripping and unusual
I agree with an earlier reviewer, the only possible outcome for this story has to be something out of the ordinary and that it certainly is!
I could empathise with Joe Carpenter, who a year ago (in the story) lost his wife and two young daughters in a horrific plane crash. He has panic attacks where he relives over and over again what he believes would have been their last moments. He feels there is no reason for living and is just drifting...when a bizarre turn of events see him participate in life once more with his main aim to discover what actually happened on Flight 353...against the odds!!

This was a fast paced story which was exciting, thought provoking and had just the right amount of science in it to not get bogged down...and just the right amount of supernaturalis to give questioning humans more to wonder about.