Flight to St Antony
by Tony Blackman
Published by Blackman Associates
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Reviewed by Barbara L. Fielder
Aviation and mystery enthusiasts will discover a fast-paced compelling story that delivers both the human and technical side of tragedy.
Our main character is a highly sought after aviation insurance expert, Peter Talbert. Peter’s investigative assignment takes him to the small island of St. Antony near Barbados.
Following the disastrous night-time ditching of Alpha Delta Airlines flight from London, Gatwick, and then to Barbados, Peter is called into service by Hull Claims Insurance Company. Hull Claims may be liable for a vast sum if the airline’s fuselage was, in anyway, the cause of the ditching. Peter’s assignment is to determine if this is the case.
Of course, Peter’s straightforward claims investigation is anything but. Woven nicely into the story, Peter discovers romance. The romance is more than a page-filler–it is relevant to, and captures, the story’s human side. As Peter finds himself unraveling the truth about the reason for the flight ditching, he puts himself and his paramour’s life in danger.
There are ample aeronautical terms and language to satisfy aviation buffs, which complements a well-crafted story of intrigue for mystery fans.
The author takes you from the airliner’s perilous ditching and the passenger’s panic for survival to the forty-second day when the mystery is ultimately solved.
In order to keep the numerous story characters straight, the author provides you with dramatis personae and a description of their responsibilities. This proves to be extremely helpful as you are constantly introduced to different and reoccurring characters throughout the story.
A table of aeronautical acronyms and definitions prove useful; this will maximize your enjoyment of the mystery and minimize confusion as the terms are liberally used to create a realistic aviation mystery investigation.
Author Tony Blackman is a noted aviation authority. As such, his mystery is incredibly convincing. This is the fourth mystery written by Tony with his central character, Peter Talbert, deeply involved in the investigation. There is no doubt that you will find yourself equally engaged in seeking a solution to the mystery. Enjoy.
Armchair Interviews says: Factual woven with fiction to make a very good read.