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Night Fall |  | Author: Nelson DeMille
Creator: Scott Brick
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Category: Book
List Price: $39.98
Buy Used: $1.69
as of 9/9/2010 16:25 CDT details
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New (9) Used (22) from $1.69
Seller: bookbuyersonline1
Rating:  374 reviews
Sales Rank: 850,971
Format: Audiobook, Unabridged
Media: Audio Cassette
Edition: Unabridged
Number Of Items: 9
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 6.3 x 4.2 x 2.7
ISBN: 1586217100
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
UPC: 070993471040
EAN: 9781586217105
ASIN: 1586217100
Publication Date: November 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
John Corey, former NYPD homicide detective, assigned to the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force in the pre-millennium 90's, makes a return appearance in a thoughtful novel offering an alternative to the government's "official" position on what really happened to TWA Flight 800, which crashed off the Long Island coast in the summer of 1996. Accompanying his wife Kate to a memorial marking the five-year anniversary of the crash, Corey's curiosity is aroused by what appears to be a concerted effort by Kate's fellow federal agents to keep him--and her--from investigating a case that appears to be closed. Corey's detecting skills lead him to two witnesses to the crash, who were enjoying an adulterous interlude on the beach at the time the plane went down--and videotaping their sexual escapades while what appears to be a terrorist missile attack takes place in the background. What ratchets up the tension in this capably written thriller is what the reader knows but Corey doesn't as he heads for a showdown with those responsible for the official cover-up as the clock ticks down to the morning of September 11, 2001. DeMille's deft touch with a riddle wrapped in an enigma--what really happened to Flight 800--makes his "what if" scenario a more than plausible theory; you don't have to believe in conspiracies or government cover-ups to find his latest engrossing, entertaining, and enlightening. --Jane Adams Amazon.com Exclusive Content Nelson DeMille on Night Fall: An Exclusive Essay
 It was a true story, the explosion of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island in 1996, that inspired Nelson DeMille to write the fictional Night Fall. Read this Amazon.com exclusive essay for insight into the coincidences that made this tragedy a subject DeMille couldn't ignore.
Product Description
It is dusk on July l7, 1996. A man and a woman who are married-but not to each other-make love on a Long Island beach as a video camera records their pleasure...and something more. Out over the ocean, TWA Flight 800 suddenly explodes with 230 victims on board, the terrible blast illuminating the sky. The government's verdict is mechanical failure. But the videotape may tell another story-if it can be found.
Now, on the fifth anniversary of the crash, two members of the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force set out to reopen the case: John Corey, an ex-NYPD detective, and his wife, Kate Mayfield, a career FBI agent. Together, they hunt for the crucial video...and race toward an elusive truth even more horrifying than the crash itself.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 374
 Is This Book Just Fiction or Actually Fact ? December 13, 2004
Tucker Andersen (Wall Street)
165 out of 179 found this review helpful
Nelson DeMille has managed a truly remarkable feat; to write a suspenseful, taut, interesting and engaging novel about the crash into the ocean off Long Island on July 17,1996 of TWA Flight 800. The book is written in memory of the two hundred and thirty passengers and crew members who perished in that midair explosion; in my opinion he uses the flexibility available to the author of a work of fiction to discuss the alternate theories of the crash and perhaps come closer to the truth than any other discussions that I have read.
The supposedly fictional device which Demille uses to allow him to develop a believable storyline is that a couple engaged in adultery were videotaping themselves on a deserted beach near the site of the crash and caught the flash of light streaking towards the plane from the ocean surface that was seen by so many eyewitnesses but discounted by various alternative explanations in the official version of what caused the accident. Of course, the couple immediately flees the scene and as Chapter One ends they are entering their motel room and arguing about whether they should erase the tape or turn it over to the authorities given the huge personal price each of them would undoubtedly pay if their affair was made public in such a sensational fashion. (The X-rated scenes were very explicit and quite lengthy.)
The story resumes five years later. The investigation has been concluded with an explanation (the explosion of volatile fuel vapors in the nearly empty middle fuel tank) that failed to satisfy not only the usual conspiracy theorists and but the many individuals such as myself who simply remained confused about several elements of the official version of the causes of the crash. John Corey, a former NYC homicide detective is now pursing "the second act of a one act life" as a contract agent on the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force. His second wife, FBI agent Kate Mayfield, who is also a member of the task force, asks John to attend the beachside memorial service for the victims of the crash. After the service, Kate decides to violate specific instructions given to all agents who worked the case never to discuss it with anyone except on a need to know basis and confides to John the reasons for her misgivings about the official conclusion. They discuss the seven major theories regarding the crash (death ray under development at Brookhaven Labs, underwater methane explosion, reflection of burning jet fuel, etc.); then conclude their evening in a manner that reminds John of "that X-Files episode where Mulder and Scully go ....".
Kate and John are obviously conflicted about John conducting his own unofficial investigation regarding the possible existence of a definitive videotape showing the crash; they realize that their discovery may not only ruin their professional careers but could possibly be life threatening if there really has been a cover up involving foreign terrorists and the clandestine operatives of US Government intelligence agencies. Of course, the reader knows that they will pursue the truth whatever the price they pay personally, both because that is the sort of individuals who they are and because otherwise DeMille wouldn't be able to tell his story. And have no doubts, this would have been a wonderful story even if it were totally fiction; the fact that the author did such a marvelous job of never contradicting the known facts concerning the crash makes it absolutely riveting. The discussion of the obvious flaws in many of the wild theories that have been advanced (e.g. a military coverup of a stray missile fired as part of the naval exercises being conducted in the area that night) on occasion added to my knowledge of the events and made the story quite plausible.
The fact that DeMille clearly had done a lot of research on the subject of the TWA 800 crash caused me to wonder how much of the material which he presents as fiction is actually disguised reality (in order to protect his sources). He states in his author's note that he has relied not only on published reports of the events but also on interviews which he has conducted with both investigators who worked on the case and eyewitnesses to the crash. Since the dissatisfaction of many of these individuals is well known, I strongly suspect that the anonymity which the disclaimer accompanying this work of fiction would provide for such individuals led them to be anxious to assist DeMille in writing a book which clearly is meant not only to entertain the reader but also to present an alternative theory of those events on the night of July, 17, 1996. (After all, how often has it been said "If only someone had their video recorder on that night"?)
I want to emphasize that this is not only an interesting speculative examination of the crash, but a really good police procedural. John Corey is an extremely interesting and entertaining character. His interaction with Kate is integral to the story, and some of the conversations with his former partner Dom Fanelli are priceless. (I really enjoyed the humor which Demille interjected into the story, both for the realism which it added to the character development and as a counterweight to the depressing nature of the subject.) As the story raced towards its conclusion (the general outline of which becomes obvious about fifty pages before the end), I was increasingly fascinated by how DeMile could end it without veering from the fidelity to all the publicly known facts which he had maintained throughout. I was not disappointed, although of course saddened both by the course of events and by the ambiguity that I knew would inevitably have to remain.
STRONGLY RECOMMENDED both for readers who just like a good thriller combined with an excellent police procedural and also for those who continue to wonder what caused the midair explosion of TWA Flight 800.
Tucker Andersen
Get Set For a Real Good Roller Coaster Ride! May 24, 2005
Nancy R. Katz (NJ)
20 out of 22 found this review helpful
If you were to ask me to list my favorite authors, the name Nelson DeMille would surely be at the top of the list. Yet, in the past number of years I have only read two of his books, The Gold Coast which I still can remember laughing out loud while reading and Plum Island which introduced the irascible character of John Corey. I'm not sure if instinctively I save DeMille's other books or just needed to be in the mood but I recently picked up Night Fall and gobbled this book down in a matter of days. Never much of a mystery or suspense reader, except for a couple of authors and books, I did wonder as I closed this book why I waited so long to pick up another title by this exceptionally author in this genre. Or why I don't read more of these books in general. Night Fall, for me, was one of the best suspense filled books I've ever read and it literally kept me on the edge of my seat.
Five years after the fatal plane crash of Flight 800 over Morachies Beach in Long Island and after a few well placed hints by his wife, John Corey investigates what really caused the explosion of this plane killing all of its passengers as they headed to Paris. Was it a malfunction as the final report stated or was it a missile, possibly one of our own. What caused the famous streak which was seen by so many before the plane exploded plunging it and the passengers into the sea. But most of all as John Corey unearths more and more information he uncovers an illicit affair, a beach tryst and a missing tape from a camcorder which may show all of the events which once again might lead to some new conclusions. As John continues to investigate all of the angles, he finds himself facing brick walls and stumbling blocks galore not the least of which are higher ups in the government who warn Corey to stay away from snooping around. But by then Corey is knee deep in a grand cover up and he can't and won't let go of finding out the truth. As tensions mount both personally and professionally for Corey and his wife, an even grander tragedy is about to play our which will not only alter the world as we know it but certainly any future investigation of this event.
I thought that Night Fall with all of it twists and turns, revelations and fictional suppositions was a really engrossing read with a solid B+ rating. That was until the end. I never saw the last event coming and as it was a real zinger for me it and the final conclusion of this roller coaster ride, the book became an A rating in my opinion.
I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Now I have all of Nelson DeMille's books on my "to be read" table and plan on reading and savoring them one by one.
Based on a real life event December 6, 2004
A. Christie (Plano, TX United States)
14 out of 15 found this review helpful
The plot of NIGHT FALL revolves around the real life incident of the midair explosion of TWA Flight 800 over Long Island Sound. John Corey, a contract agent with the Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force attends the five-year memorial service for the victims of the tragedy. His wife and task force partner, Kate Mayfield worked on the initial investigation of the explosion, but was pulled off the case. Shortly thereafter, explosion was deemed an accident. Kate unsatisfied by the outcome and still haunted by the tragedy persuades John to reopen the investigation off the clock.
John Corey the protagonist from both THE LION'S GAME and PLUM ISLAND is back and he is as sardonic and sarcastic as ever. He and Kate make an interesting and strong team. After a slightly slow start with the description of the initial investigation, the plot really takes off and becomes a real page-turner. While I might not rate this Nelson Demille's best work, he is such a brilliant writer that it would take a lot to make his books less than a five-star rating in my opinion.
The night has a thousand surprises... November 15, 2004
Frank Betz (Warren, NJ USA)
17 out of 20 found this review helpful
Ever since The Gold Coast I've been a Nelson DeMille addict. In this newest title his old protagonist, retired NY cop John Corey reappears and is dragged reluctantly back into a plausable conspiracy investigation as dangerous as walking barefoot through an acre of broken glass bottles. DeMille inflicts relentless former CIA and FBI operatives (his old enemies) on our aging (like me) "Mike Hammer" kind of hero, whose attitude (like mine) is more "I'm too old for this s**t" than ever. This book is fun because John Corey is fun, and smart, and cynical, a description that probably applies to most of DeMille's loyal readers. It's an easy, compelling read, and ends with a one-two knockout punch that made me gasp for air. Buy it. Read it. You'll gasp too. Then you'll recover and be glad that John Corey will be back again, and you'll hope it will be soon.
A Gift to his Fans December 7, 2004
Barbara McArthur (Scottsdale)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
I couldn't put it down. It was one of the few books that I walked around with - even woke up in the middle of the night to read. It was great to be back with that smartass, John Corey - and it was good to see his softer side - so in love is he with Kate Mayfield. I think DeMille got their feelings and musing just right for two professionals who are trying to keep their eye on the ball and each other at the same time. DeMille tackled a difficult, serious subject - the crash of TWA 800 - one that many of us have wanted to read more about, think more about - and he gave us the reality of the investigation, as well as some intriguing and plausible alternatives. I was with him every step of the way, through the results of what must have been grueling research. His plot did everything a plot should do - grabbed me, pulled me, lured me. It's amazing how he makes the connection with what you know is coming - but you don't know how it will affect the outcome. DeMille delivers a great story, wrapped in his own, inimitably readable style. This was a book worth waiting for!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 374
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