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Scott Free.
When a plane carrying Scott O'Toole to a rock concert in Salt Lake City crashes, the resourceful teenager manages to make it to a cabin in the mountains -- and, seemingly, to safety.
360 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2003
36 people are currently reading
355 people want to read
About the author
John Gilstrap
79 books1,218 followersA little bit about my background... I've always been a closet-writer. As a kid, I lived for the opportunity to write short stories. I was the editor of my high school newspaper for a while (the Valor Dictus, Robinson High School, class of 1975), until I quit ("You can't fire me! I quit!") over a lofty First Amendment issue that seemed very important at the time. My goal, in fact, was to become a journalist in the vein of Woodward or Bernstein. Okay, I confess, I wanted to be Woodward; Robert Redford played him in the movie, and chicks really dug Robert Redford.
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
I graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1979, and armed with a degree in American history, I couldn't find a job. I ended up settling for a position with a little-noticed trade journal serving the construction industry. They called me the managing editor and they paid me food stamp wages. I hated it. About this time, I joined the Burke Volunteer Fire Department in Fairfax County, Virginia, if only to find relief from the boredom of my job. Running about a thousand calls my first year with the department, I was hooked, and the volunteer fire service became an important part of my life for the next 15 years. In the early eighties, hating my job, I went the way of all frustrated liberal arts undergrads—back to graduate school. Earning a Master of Science degree in safety engineering from the University of Southern California, I started down a whole new road. For the next decade and a half, I became an expert (don't you hate that word?) on explosives safety and hazardous waste. Meanwhile, I kept writing. I didn't tell anyone, of course, because, well, you just don't share artistic dreams with fellow engineers. They look at you funny.
My first novel, Nathan's Run, was in fact my fourth novel, and when it sold, it sold big. At a time in my life when things were going well—I was president of my own consulting firm—things were suddenly going very well. Warner Bros. bought the movie rights to Nathan's Run two days after the first book rights were sold, and as of this date, the novel has been translated and published in one form or another in over 20 countries. With Nathan's Run in the can, as it were, I thought I might finally be on to something, but I didn't quit my "day job" until after I sold the book and movie rights to my second novel, At All Costs. I figured that while one-in-a-row might be luck, two-in-a-row was a trend. So, I started writing full-time.
More novels followed, and then a few screenplays. I was living the dream.
But I really didn't like it much. I learned pretty quickly that when you're born a Type-A personality, those extrovert tendencies don't go away just because you're practicing a craft you love. In fact, after just a couple of years of dream fulfillment, I was pretty friggin' bored with the company of my imaginary friends, so I did something that I've never heard a full-time artist do before: I went back to a day job. At first, it was just a matter of reactivating my consulting business, but then, in 2004, I was handed my ideal Big-Boy Job (that's what my wife calls it) working as the director of safety for a trade association in Washington, DC.
And I continue to write. In 2006, Six Minutes to Freedom was published to considerable acclaim. My first (and probably last) foray into book-length non-fiction, SixMin tells the story of Kurt Muse, the only civilian of record ever rescued by the super-secret Delta Force. Thanks to Kurt's cooperation (he is co-author), I gained access to people and places that lifelong civilians like me should never see. The heroic warriors I met during that research turned out to be nothing like their movie stereotypes. These were not only gentlemen, but gentle men, who remained free of the kind of boasting and self-aggrandizement that I was expecting. They were supreme professionals, and very nice guys.
And through them I got the idea for my new series character, Jonathan Grave. He's fo
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 8, 2017
I really enjoyed this book as it truly is an action-adventure thriller, and is fun to read for the sheer pleasure of escaping the every day routine for a bit. The story has Scott O'Toole, a 16 year old teen, as the center character. Scott has lived through his parents becoming divorced; Scott lives with his father, and his mother is a sort of feminist self-help empowerment life coach. The story begins in February, and Scott's mom wants to have her visitation with Scott at one of the fancier ski resorts in the Utah mountains, since she is giving a presentation there (she herself does not ski). Scott has other ideas; he and one of the ski patrol guys decide to take the friend's Cessna to Salt Lake City so they can go to a Metallica concert. Unfortunately, a huge storm is brewing, and the friend's plane is in pretty poor shape and they get caught up in the storm; the result being that the plane crashes about 40 miles off course, and Scott is the only survivor, basically in the middle of nowhere. He keeps hoping a rescue team will show up; however, since no flight plan was filed, and the airport they left from is located in a fairly small town, it takes about five days before the rescue team gets serious about looking for the wreck. (They have assumed that both boys are probably dead, either from the crash or from exposure by this time and it is only because Scott's father, Brandon, flies out to Utah and doesn't let up on getting the proper help, that they finally get serious about the search). In the meantime, Scott has found an old topographical map in the wreckage of the plane which shows landmarks and he is able to figure approximately the area he is in, and notes that there may be some dwellings a fairly long distance away from the crash site. What horrible hardships this poor kid had to endure! And then he does find an inhabited cabin; however, no one really knows the inhabitant's true identity although he claims he is in the witness protection program. Scott is intelligent enough to finally figure out that this guy is really a paid hit man, and realizes after some horrific scenes, that he needs to get away from this man; the guy is not only sociopathic, it seems he is jealous of Scott's intelligence and pure good luck. During this time, Scott finally makes contact with his father and mother, and the law enforcement community in the small town, and they all become involved in not only getting Scott away from the hit man, but also figuring out a way to either arrest (or if not possible, kill) this very dangerous man. I enjoyed the story very much as it is pure escape fiction, and it also lightly touches on just how deep family ties between parents and child go. I could see this book being made into a movie. since it is a pretty far-fetched and fantasy driven story.
September 27, 2019
This was quite an exciting book. The story moved quickly and was riveting. Some may read and think, that can't happen, but when you are put in a situation, you would hope your survival instincts would kick in and you would be able to keep your wits about you. I found the writing well done enough that I could put myself in the area and even feel the cold, etc. I highly recommend this book.
March 2, 2018
A stranded, rebellious teenager and a vicious killer play cat and mouse. Another heartfelt, family-affirming action novel from an author who, I think, shifted gears after this one.
May 11, 2022
Not my favorite, but finished it anyway.
July 20, 2009
This by far is the most farfetched book I have read in a while. It is the story of a teenager who is the sole survivor of a small plane that crashes in the middle of a snowstorm. He manages to walk miles, and ends up in a cabin in the middle of nowhere where a killer lives. As I kept reading the story gets more unbelievable and bizarre, it had as many twists and turns as the slopes he skis down to meet his killer for the last time.
April 24, 2013
This book was goofy. Decent suspense, but the plot is so far-fetched that it's hard to get past the absurdity of it. Just okay and a quick read. Not worth the time to write more here!
December 24, 2023
I remember reading a Dutch translation of this book as a kid and I think I might've reread it as a teenager so this review is based on my memories because I still think about this book from time to time. It was my dad's book and since he passed away recently I hope I still have it somewhere because I would like to reread it again.
When I read it Scott was like a mythical hero to me with his blue hair that stained his pillow and I was rooting for him every step of the way. His story is a pillar of my childhood that cemented my love for reading (encouraged by my parents, though at the time it frustrated me whenever they came to turn off the light in my room or caught me reading with a flashlight) and will always have a special place in my heart.
The main memories I have from this book, aside from the blue hair, are Salt Lake City (for years the only US city worth knowing about), the plane ride, and the gripping suspense of will Scott make it? Of course my dad wouldn't have let me read this book if Scott died but I didn't know that as a child so it was still very scary.
I think the fact that I remember this book so vividly now that I'm in my late 20s and haven't read it in over a decade is testament to the mark it left on me. Is it good? Would I let my child read it? Would I recommend it? No idea, but I will always look upon it fondly and for that I have to give it 5 stars (subject to change upon reread.)
When I read it Scott was like a mythical hero to me with his blue hair that stained his pillow and I was rooting for him every step of the way. His story is a pillar of my childhood that cemented my love for reading (encouraged by my parents, though at the time it frustrated me whenever they came to turn off the light in my room or caught me reading with a flashlight) and will always have a special place in my heart.
The main memories I have from this book, aside from the blue hair, are Salt Lake City (for years the only US city worth knowing about), the plane ride, and the gripping suspense of will Scott make it? Of course my dad wouldn't have let me read this book if Scott died but I didn't know that as a child so it was still very scary.
I think the fact that I remember this book so vividly now that I'm in my late 20s and haven't read it in over a decade is testament to the mark it left on me. Is it good? Would I let my child read it? Would I recommend it? No idea, but I will always look upon it fondly and for that I have to give it 5 stars (subject to change upon reread.)
May 20, 2023
16 years old and determined to evade his mother's clutches, Scott O'Toole jumps at the chance to join a foolhardy adventure: flying a Cessna through a nighttime storm to Salt Lake City for a Metallica concert. After the plane crashes, Scott is lost and alone in the frozen wilderness, miles from anywhere anyone would search for him.
As his parents revisit the old battles that tore them apart, they have to fight a bureaucracy that wants to abandon the search even as their son struggles to survive impossible odds.
Barely alive, Scott finally finds a cabin for shelter. He thinks his troubles are over. When he discovers the truth about the man who lives there, however, it's clear that his terror has hardly begun.
As his parents revisit the old battles that tore them apart, they have to fight a bureaucracy that wants to abandon the search even as their son struggles to survive impossible odds.
Barely alive, Scott finally finds a cabin for shelter. He thinks his troubles are over. When he discovers the truth about the man who lives there, however, it's clear that his terror has hardly begun.
October 15, 2020
Scott O'Toole is a 16 year old high school student. His parents are divorced and play one against the other. Scott's mom has taken him to an exclusive ski resort in Utah and proceeds to ignore him. So when a ski buddy of Scott's asks if he'd like to fly with him to Denver to see Metallica, he's in.
Weather wasn't so good that night and they ended up crashing in the Utah mountains. Now it's up to Scott to survive until help arrives, and his parents have to get along long enough to see him rescued
Weather wasn't so good that night and they ended up crashing in the Utah mountains. Now it's up to Scott to survive until help arrives, and his parents have to get along long enough to see him rescued
November 23, 2017
Wow. Great book!! I've been away from the thriller genre for a while, and wow was this a heart-racing, page-turner. It jumps right into the action and never stops! I stayed up way too late to finish this book.
Literally couldn't put it down.
The writting was excellent! With so many freelance authors out there now, I almost expect to be annoyed by bad writting at some point, not in this book. I will definitely read more from this author.
Literally couldn't put it down.
The writting was excellent! With so many freelance authors out there now, I almost expect to be annoyed by bad writting at some point, not in this book. I will definitely read more from this author.
January 9, 2021
A prepostorous story about an indestructible teenager who survives a plain crash in the frozen wilderness, scares off a pack of wolves, thwarts an assassin from killing the President, rescues his kidnapped mum from said assassin, brings about some kinda reconciliation between warring parents, all because he took a survival course on the holidays when he was 12. Author needed to attend writing course instead.
March 16, 2021
A smart aleck teenager outwitting a seasoned assassin? Even with that constant element of disbelief I thought it was captivating. You just never know what you are capable of until you are living out the ordeal and not just reading about it. This is one reason for my 4 star rating.
I also liked the relationship bond between father and son. It was a refreshing change from the usual mother/child bond.
I also liked the relationship bond between father and son. It was a refreshing change from the usual mother/child bond.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2018
From the blurb this book was going to go one way or the other and I must say that despite my scepticism, it was a fun action-packed read. Yes it is farfetched and reasonably predictable how each step of the story is going to continue, but I did really enjoy it all the way through and would recommend it to break up heavier books.
January 2, 2021
Gilstrap disappoints this time
Generally I really like Gilstrap. But this book is just too "out there" with phony characters and overdone plot. Honestly it feels like a book written to get his publisher off his back or something. If you read only one Gilstrap novel, don't let it be this one.
Generally I really like Gilstrap. But this book is just too "out there" with phony characters and overdone plot. Honestly it feels like a book written to get his publisher off his back or something. If you read only one Gilstrap novel, don't let it be this one.
May 21, 2022
Wilderness Survival and hostage drama all in one story
Loved the characters. Loved the survival segments. The Isaac character's duplicity was believable. Thought Scott running off alone to save mamma was not consistent with the kids earlier antics that outsmarted Isaac. But it ended predictably well and made for a fun, fast paced read.
Loved the characters. Loved the survival segments. The Isaac character's duplicity was believable. Thought Scott running off alone to save mamma was not consistent with the kids earlier antics that outsmarted Isaac. But it ended predictably well and made for a fun, fast paced read.
April 26, 2023
Gilstrap’s books are always a quick-read action filled page-turner --and this did not disappoint. You can’t help but like his main characters, but this one was all that and more. The main character is a teenager who made a typical bad (male teenage) choice which results in being forced to survive the harshest situations. It is about a strong will and survival.
January 3, 2022
Nach dem Skiurlaub inklusive einer Wanderung, an der ich an der Hütte eines Jägers vorbei gekommen bin, war ich genau in der richtigen Stimmung für dieses Buch. Und das, obwohl ich sonst keine Thriller lese. Hat mir gut gefallen:)
October 30, 2018
Found a new author to follow. Good book.
February 1, 2019
Intricate plot. A series of improbable yet resolved situations. Fast read.
August 14, 2019
Scott FREE
I enjoyed this book about a young man almost as much as Gilstrap's Logan's Run. Even Steven was great too.
I enjoyed this book about a young man almost as much as Gilstrap's Logan's Run. Even Steven was great too.
July 12, 2020
A little slow at the start, but quickly picks up the pace and leads the reader on a merry chase.
May 15, 2022
4.7
I’m definitely looking for more from this writer
I’m definitely looking for more from this writer
June 30, 2024
Hands down one of my favourite ever reads! It had earned its spot on my bookshelf!
October 20, 2021
Another fantastic novel, plenty of action and a well formed character in Scott. Lots of twists and turns .
March 9, 2017
Great character development! His books are never a disappointment!
January 16, 2015
Totally predictable plot about a sixteen year old boy who (1) survives a private plane crash in a blizzard in Utah's Wasatch Mountains; (2) survives an attack by a pack of wolves using a flare gun; (3) despite being injured in that plane crash manages to hike ten miles through continuing bad weather to a cabin in the woods where a psycho hit man/former Navy SEAL has been hiding out waiting for a chance to assassinate the president who's visiting the area.
The boy who, it must be said, attended ONE winter survival training course while in school then proceeds to outwit the hit man numerous times, escape barefoot in the snow, meet up with an ally of the hit man and convince that poor sap the hit man is just using him.
Needless to say the poor sap gets blown away while the kid escapes yet again. Kid gets back to civilization and convinces the authorities of the veracity of his story. Book ends with the president's life being saved, the hit man getting his just reward, and the kid managing to get his feuding parents to reunite.
A very quick read that you will be five steps ahead of the plot before each chapter even begins!
The boy who, it must be said, attended ONE winter survival training course while in school then proceeds to outwit the hit man numerous times, escape barefoot in the snow, meet up with an ally of the hit man and convince that poor sap the hit man is just using him.
Needless to say the poor sap gets blown away while the kid escapes yet again. Kid gets back to civilization and convinces the authorities of the veracity of his story. Book ends with the president's life being saved, the hit man getting his just reward, and the kid managing to get his feuding parents to reunite.
A very quick read that you will be five steps ahead of the plot before each chapter even begins!
December 17, 2012
Top holiday action thriller.
With a quote from Harlan Coban on the cover, you know what you are getting - a no brainer actioner and this does not disappoint.
A blue haired boy and his 21 year old friend who owns a plane crash on the way to a metallica concert. The pilot does not survive and the boy has a fight for survival.
He has a famous agony aunt mother who is a cow and a fantastic dad, who comprise "Team Bachelor". Women get painted in a very poor light in this book and it is the description of misogeny.
His father rouses the local force but they are ineffecient and the boy makes a bid for freedom and stumbles on a hitmans hideout. Its that sort of a book.
He escapes his clutches and as the president is in town (its that sort of book), they assume that this is the hitmans target.
Its not, but this provides a backdrop for the extended family to get in jeopardy and fight to the death.
They win.
Complete bollocks but good, no brain bollocks.
Will take another of his books on holiday.
With a quote from Harlan Coban on the cover, you know what you are getting - a no brainer actioner and this does not disappoint.
A blue haired boy and his 21 year old friend who owns a plane crash on the way to a metallica concert. The pilot does not survive and the boy has a fight for survival.
He has a famous agony aunt mother who is a cow and a fantastic dad, who comprise "Team Bachelor". Women get painted in a very poor light in this book and it is the description of misogeny.
His father rouses the local force but they are ineffecient and the boy makes a bid for freedom and stumbles on a hitmans hideout. Its that sort of a book.
He escapes his clutches and as the president is in town (its that sort of book), they assume that this is the hitmans target.
Its not, but this provides a backdrop for the extended family to get in jeopardy and fight to the death.
They win.
Complete bollocks but good, no brain bollocks.
Will take another of his books on holiday.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2015
The three family members' characters were very well developed, interesting, and believable. The scene of how Scott escaped from a hired killer was very, very well done because it was imaginable and believable without suspending your disbelief. And the plot was nicely unpredictable because the killer was not in town for the obvious reason that the characters assumed.
One large complaint. The author minimized the struggles Scott would have gone through to survive after the plane crash, especially in not addressing his need for water and warm clothes.
And two small complaints. The middle of the book, after Scott gets to the cabin, really dragged. And the confrontation on the top of the ski run was not believable because everyone recognized Scott, but no one seemed to remember that he was national news for being lost in a plane crash, and yet here he was skiing like nothing happened!
A very good book. This author was recommended to me by GoodReads based on my previous reviews, so score one for GoodReads!
One large complaint. The author minimized the struggles Scott would have gone through to survive after the plane crash, especially in not addressing his need for water and warm clothes.
And two small complaints. The middle of the book, after Scott gets to the cabin, really dragged. And the confrontation on the top of the ski run was not believable because everyone recognized Scott, but no one seemed to remember that he was national news for being lost in a plane crash, and yet here he was skiing like nothing happened!
A very good book. This author was recommended to me by GoodReads based on my previous reviews, so score one for GoodReads!
May 21, 2015
An okay-enough thriller, (I guess?) but suffering from a genetic condition, that of being the annoying younger relative of the "woman in jep" B-movie: The "teen in jep" novel.
Too much in-their-heads stream-of-consciousness stuff for my taste, particularly when the head we're in is a teen-written-by-an-adult that to me came off a bit too after-school-specialish. That's probably over-stating it a bit, but not a lot.
I see that this book reviews well, so maybe it's just not my cup of tea. (I've never read John Gilstrap before) But to me the characters lacked depth and the plot strained believability, particularly in the later stages. It wasn't terrible, just lacking something...sophistication maybe. I suppose the story might be entertaining as a B-movie. (But then the lead character would've had to have been a woman. In jep.)
Two-and-a-half stars. (Hold the tea)
Too much in-their-heads stream-of-consciousness stuff for my taste, particularly when the head we're in is a teen-written-by-an-adult that to me came off a bit too after-school-specialish. That's probably over-stating it a bit, but not a lot.
I see that this book reviews well, so maybe it's just not my cup of tea. (I've never read John Gilstrap before) But to me the characters lacked depth and the plot strained believability, particularly in the later stages. It wasn't terrible, just lacking something...sophistication maybe. I suppose the story might be entertaining as a B-movie. (But then the lead character would've had to have been a woman. In jep.)
Two-and-a-half stars. (Hold the tea)
January 24, 2014
Dr. Sherry Carrigan O'Toole doesn't seem able to make the
prescriptions she offers in her books work for her personally.
Six years after her marriage to Brandon O'Toole they file for
divorce and he gets sole custody of their son Scott. Trying to
win her son back who is now sixteen and loves to ski she takes
him to the plush Sky Top Village Resort in Utah. Scott meets
a group of ski patrollers and determined to evade his mother
he gets a chance to fly in one of the patrollers small
Cessna planes to Salt Lake City for a Metallica concert. The
plane hits a bad snow storm and crashes in the mountains way
off course. Barely alive and with the pilot dead Scott finds a
cabin and thinks that his troubles are over. Little does he
know they have just begun. An older book by John Gilstrap
from 2003. A god story on survival and well worth reading.
prescriptions she offers in her books work for her personally.
Six years after her marriage to Brandon O'Toole they file for
divorce and he gets sole custody of their son Scott. Trying to
win her son back who is now sixteen and loves to ski she takes
him to the plush Sky Top Village Resort in Utah. Scott meets
a group of ski patrollers and determined to evade his mother
he gets a chance to fly in one of the patrollers small
Cessna planes to Salt Lake City for a Metallica concert. The
plane hits a bad snow storm and crashes in the mountains way
off course. Barely alive and with the pilot dead Scott finds a
cabin and thinks that his troubles are over. Little does he
know they have just begun. An older book by John Gilstrap
from 2003. A god story on survival and well worth reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews