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Donovan Nash #2
Code Black
As a blizzard bears down on Chicago's O'Hare airport, a critical air traffic control facility is shut down by a grisly accident. When the radar comes back up—two planes have collided. Crippled by a high altitude mid-air collision, Wayfarer flight 880, half the roof ripped away, flies on. Seated amid dead and dying passengers is Donovan Nash, a pilot who fights decompression and oxygen deprivation to make it to the shattered cockpit. With the help of Audrey Parrish, a woman from his concealed past, and a handful of survivors, Donovan struggles to keep the 737 airborne. Dr. Lauren McKenna waits for Donovan, her fiance, to arrive only to hear that there has been a midair collision. Lauren must convince Henry Parrish, an unlikely ally, to help her save the man she loves. Together, Lauren and Henry have to stay one step ahead of the Airline as well as heightened security, to execute a daring midair solution to save Donovan and the others on flight 880.
300 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2007
582 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Philip Donlay
15 books67 followersAs a young man, Philip Donlay's life was shaped by two distinct events. At the age of seventeen, he earned his pilot's license, and at eighteen was published in a national aviation magazine. The combination of these two passions: flying and writing, has led to successful careers as both a professional pilot and novelist.
He's been a flight instructor, flown a private jet for a Saudi prince, and for twenty-eight years flew a corporate jet for a Fortune 500 company. Licensed to fly six different jets and having logged nearly 14,000 hours, his travels have taken him to over forty countries on five continents. No longer flying, Donlay now divides his time between Minneapolis and the San Juan Islands. He's the author of four novels, Category Five, Code Black, Zero Separation, and his latest: Deadly Echoes.
He's been a flight instructor, flown a private jet for a Saudi prince, and for twenty-eight years flew a corporate jet for a Fortune 500 company. Licensed to fly six different jets and having logged nearly 14,000 hours, his travels have taken him to over forty countries on five continents. No longer flying, Donlay now divides his time between Minneapolis and the San Juan Islands. He's the author of four novels, Category Five, Code Black, Zero Separation, and his latest: Deadly Echoes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
June 10, 2022
I reeeally liked this book and I think it would make a great movie!!
Donovan Nash is a pilot seated in the back of a 737 airplane and is on his way to Chicago. Without warning, the plane is involved in a mid-air collision. It's lost half its roof, the pilot is injured and unconscious, and the instrument panel is no longer working. Nash realizes it's up to him to try to get the plane to Chicago. One more slight problem; the blizzard of the century has hit and O'Hare is completely shut down. I wish I could tell you that things calmed down after that, but nope. It was quite the nail-biting read. I couldn't imagine what was going to happen next!
This is one of those books where I don't want my review to give anything away so I've tried to not share much more than what you'd read in the official description here on Goodreads or on Amazon. I definitely recommend Code Black!!
Donovan Nash is a pilot seated in the back of a 737 airplane and is on his way to Chicago. Without warning, the plane is involved in a mid-air collision. It's lost half its roof, the pilot is injured and unconscious, and the instrument panel is no longer working. Nash realizes it's up to him to try to get the plane to Chicago. One more slight problem; the blizzard of the century has hit and O'Hare is completely shut down. I wish I could tell you that things calmed down after that, but nope. It was quite the nail-biting read. I couldn't imagine what was going to happen next!
This is one of those books where I don't want my review to give anything away so I've tried to not share much more than what you'd read in the official description here on Goodreads or on Amazon. I definitely recommend Code Black!!
May 4, 2024
5 Stars. Two books in and what a GREAT series. This one was as good as any thriller that I have ever read. Always like books set here at home. O’Hare was a great focal point. There weren’t even any flight delays. LOL. Nash and company are great. These books are original and written by someone that really knows the material. I can’t wait to see what Donlay has for us next.
February 19, 2016
I love airplane thrillers. John J. Nuance and Kam Majd are two authors that come to mind. When I ran across Code Black I was hoping for something similar. It far surpassed my expectations. It was a wild ride from start to finish.
Donovan Nash was on a commercial flight to Chicago to reunite with his fiancee. Their wedding was only a week away and he'd flown home to purchase a house for his wife's wedding present. When he first boards, he sees a woman from his past, when he was then a man named Robert Huntington. Only a couple of people besides Lauren, his fiancee, knew he'd faked his own death. It was a dark time in his life and he'd felt he had no choice. Although some plastic surgery helped him disguise his former self, he was afraid Audrey might recognize him. He traded seats with someone in coach in order to avoid her. When a freak occurrence causes a military plane to veer into his plane's airspace, the two collide and suddenly Donovan is in a fight for life and those of the few passengers who remained alive.
Besides the emergency in the air, he has to deal with people from the past that he once worked very closely with. In the meantime, Lauren is on the ground calling in favors from her close contacts high up in the government in order to get the plane and Donovan back safely. When she overhears a plot to crash the plane in order to facilitate a takeover of the airline, she realizes there's more danger involved for the man she loves than what appears on the surface.
Loved the fast pace, the constant twists and turns, and the elements of suspense that kept me quickly turning the pages. A great read from start to finish.
Donovan Nash was on a commercial flight to Chicago to reunite with his fiancee. Their wedding was only a week away and he'd flown home to purchase a house for his wife's wedding present. When he first boards, he sees a woman from his past, when he was then a man named Robert Huntington. Only a couple of people besides Lauren, his fiancee, knew he'd faked his own death. It was a dark time in his life and he'd felt he had no choice. Although some plastic surgery helped him disguise his former self, he was afraid Audrey might recognize him. He traded seats with someone in coach in order to avoid her. When a freak occurrence causes a military plane to veer into his plane's airspace, the two collide and suddenly Donovan is in a fight for life and those of the few passengers who remained alive.
Besides the emergency in the air, he has to deal with people from the past that he once worked very closely with. In the meantime, Lauren is on the ground calling in favors from her close contacts high up in the government in order to get the plane and Donovan back safely. When she overhears a plot to crash the plane in order to facilitate a takeover of the airline, she realizes there's more danger involved for the man she loves than what appears on the surface.
Loved the fast pace, the constant twists and turns, and the elements of suspense that kept me quickly turning the pages. A great read from start to finish.
August 8, 2008
Fast-paced action thriller that takes off from the very first page. You know the kind of story and characters in these situations, but it is told well to keep you thoroughly engaged.
September 26, 2012
A bit cheesy, farfetched, predictable and run of the mill. Not sure I would read any more from this author.
July 12, 2018
Donovan Nash is a man with a secret past. He's on a 737 headed for O'Hare when his plane suffers a mid-air collision that rips a giant hole in the roof, damages the plane and kills or injures almost everyone on board. Since he's a pilot, he takes over the flight and attempts to get the plane landed. Unfortunately, the worst snowstorm in a century is pounding everything within 1,000 miles. Donovan's fiancee, Dr. Lauren McKenna, is on the ground at O'Hare and trying to help. Can Donovan land the plan without revealing his secret identity? Are there really forces at O'Hare working against him?
The flight sequences in the book are amazing. I couldn't put the book down.
Maybe minus a half a star for just too many coincidences. Of course Donovan is rich beyond belief. Of course Lauren has government contacts who can fix any problem. Of course they can find someone at the airport to give them whatever they need at any given time. Of course everyone in the story is interrelated.
The flight sequences in the book are amazing. I couldn't put the book down.
Maybe minus a half a star for just too many coincidences. Of course Donovan is rich beyond belief. Of course Lauren has government contacts who can fix any problem. Of course they can find someone at the airport to give them whatever they need at any given time. Of course everyone in the story is interrelated.
March 2, 2022
This was my second Donavan Nash novel, and overall it was a fun read. The plot has Nash stranded in a damaged plane after a mid air collision, trying to desperately to get the plane on the ground safely while dealing with personal issues and the interference of corporate suits. I don't know much about aircraft, but the author seems to know his stuff. Despite the ridiculousness of something like this happening, the layout of the planes, protocols and pilot behavior all seem authentic enough.
Considering all the action is supposed to take place in a few hours, this dragged a little - one problem after another hits our hero to the point where it's hard to buy into anything here being at all realistic. Still a fun read!
Considering all the action is supposed to take place in a few hours, this dragged a little - one problem after another hits our hero to the point where it's hard to buy into anything here being at all realistic. Still a fun read!
February 21, 2018
This book was absolutely great! I was hooked from the first page. The action begins immediately and just keeps on going. It is very well written, very well edited, the characters are about perfect, and the story line blew me away!
For the past 20+ years I traveled every week. I looked forward to my home bound flight every Thursday because I could relax with a good book. I don't recall ever enjoying a read more than this one!!
For the past 20+ years I traveled every week. I looked forward to my home bound flight every Thursday because I could relax with a good book. I don't recall ever enjoying a read more than this one!!
June 3, 2019
More suspense than romance
This was more suspense than romance. I loved it! I haven't read the first book, but still followed the story alright. Donovan is on a plane involved in a mid air collision. He helps land it. Of course there's people on the ground that want to use the situation to their advantage and want the plane to crash. But, he has help on the ground from his fiance, and friends. Who are willing to break the law to help.
This was more suspense than romance. I loved it! I haven't read the first book, but still followed the story alright. Donovan is on a plane involved in a mid air collision. He helps land it. Of course there's people on the ground that want to use the situation to their advantage and want the plane to crash. But, he has help on the ground from his fiance, and friends. Who are willing to break the law to help.
April 10, 2023
Gripping!
After I read Donlay's novel, Category Five, I felt compelled to read the next one. I figured it was a fluke, no one could write another story as thrilling and intense twice in a row. Nope. This book grabs the reader by the throat from the very beginning and never let's up. It's like Die Hard meets Airport! Couldn't recommend this author, and this book, more emphatically.
After I read Donlay's novel, Category Five, I felt compelled to read the next one. I figured it was a fluke, no one could write another story as thrilling and intense twice in a row. Nope. This book grabs the reader by the throat from the very beginning and never let's up. It's like Die Hard meets Airport! Couldn't recommend this author, and this book, more emphatically.
January 28, 2018
A blizzard suspense! I loved this book. I loved reading another adventure/mystery with Donovan Nash and I really loved that it featured a blizzard. I'm writing this review a few years after I read the book, but the story of the blizzard has stuck with me the whole time. It's gripping and entertaining, a great mix!
May 3, 2018
Wow. Code black is an action packed, page turning, suspenseful thriller. The Author's writing is descriptive and detailed, allowing the reader to fully experience not only the situations occurring but the actions/emotions of the characters as the story of the plane collision aftermath unfolds.
Recommended 4.5 star read.
Recommended 4.5 star read.
October 29, 2020
Code Black a thoroughly engrossing thriller guaranteed to please
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Code Black and highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading action-packed suspense thrillers! It’s definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read in some time! It’s well written with exciting edge of your seat action!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Code Black and highly recommend it to anyone who loves reading action-packed suspense thrillers! It’s definitely one of the best thrillers I’ve read in some time! It’s well written with exciting edge of your seat action!
April 2, 2022
Code Black: A Donovan Nash Thriller
This second book in the series kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I got so stressed out I had to put the book aside for a while numerous times and then pick it up a little bit later to continue. I couldn’t stop reading it! I am so looking forward to the third book.
This second book in the series kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I got so stressed out I had to put the book aside for a while numerous times and then pick it up a little bit later to continue. I couldn’t stop reading it! I am so looking forward to the third book.
July 9, 2022
This thriller was more scientific rather than the first in the series. Still under extreme weather, now the main character need to survive after the plane he ride was crashed in the middle of flight with a military plane. One more hour before the destination without proper engine and in the extreme weather.
February 23, 2018
Suspend your disbelief and dive into this wonderful, non-stop action thriller. I haven't read many books that immediately captured me and carried me on a wave of suspense that left me hanging until the last page - literally.
November 30, 2018
Code Black
Another winner full of suspense from Alfred writer. Keeps you on edge and wondering how the planes would land safely a lot of feeling of different people involved with co.passionate ending
Another winner full of suspense from Alfred writer. Keeps you on edge and wondering how the planes would land safely a lot of feeling of different people involved with co.passionate ending
February 13, 2019
Tension filled, if a little too technical at times
This a tense thriller with constant twists although at times the "tension building" turned into boring, detailed tech speak. His style is clearly developing across the series.
This a tense thriller with constant twists although at times the "tension building" turned into boring, detailed tech speak. His style is clearly developing across the series.
June 13, 2020
A taut thriller...
...that will have you at the edge of your seat. Plot moves along at a breakneck speed. Characters are incredible. I really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
...that will have you at the edge of your seat. Plot moves along at a breakneck speed. Characters are incredible. I really enjoyed this book. Can’t wait to read the next one in the series.
July 1, 2020
Some exciting moments in this book, but could be better. The author definitely seems to know his way around jets. The plot just seemed off balance, with the big climax coming too soon. I liked the addition of the snowstorm to the challenges thrown at both sets of protagonists.
May 25, 2021
It is hard to rate a book when it has everything.
A outstanding story—-a fabulous cast of characters..Action that never stops page after page.
Emotional love, heartbreaking exposure..and an education into weather,airplanes.and all methods of communication.Just a wonderful book.
A outstanding story—-a fabulous cast of characters..Action that never stops page after page.
Emotional love, heartbreaking exposure..and an education into weather,airplanes.and all methods of communication.Just a wonderful book.
May 27, 2021
Good story. Fast read.
Read some of the negative reviews and I do not fully agree. This was a good fast read. A couple places it felt like it was stretching out too far but in general it was a good read to escape from the day.
Read some of the negative reviews and I do not fully agree. This was a good fast read. A couple places it felt like it was stretching out too far but in general it was a good read to escape from the day.
October 13, 2021
A little dissapointiny
Too much detail. The story is quite interesting but the suspense isk diminishing after about after completing approximately one half of the book. I recommend reading to people who have more knowledge about airplanes and fluke
Too much detail. The story is quite interesting but the suspense isk diminishing after about after completing approximately one half of the book. I recommend reading to people who have more knowledge about airplanes and fluke
July 27, 2022
Not sure I would want to read this, on a flight, but I found comfort in reading it. I love that the author includes a strong female character, one with connections and credentials that make men take notice.
May 1, 2018
This a great read. I was hooked, I read the whole book in one Sunday afternoon and evening.
Looking forward to the rest of the Donovan series.
Looking forward to the rest of the Donovan series.
May 20, 2018
Code Black
A thrilling adventure and great read kept my attention the whole time. I was able to follow the the individual people with ease the book was hard to put down.
A thrilling adventure and great read kept my attention the whole time. I was able to follow the the individual people with ease the book was hard to put down.
February 8, 2019
Tense, intense, a great read!
May 7, 2020
I started reading this book at 7:00PM and couldn't put it down. I kept reading until I finished it at 12:30! Wow! Will wait until the weekend before I start book 3.
June 26, 2020
I love these books. Great characters and so fast paced I can't put them down.
August 24, 2020
One outstanding read, really a wonderful read👍👍
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews