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Alex Shanahan #1
Hard Landing: An Alex Shanahan Thriller
At one of the world's busiest airports, the sky is about to fall...
As the new manager of the Majestic Airlines operation at Boston's Logan International Airport, Alex Shanahan expects her fair share of turbulence—but not so much, so soon. Logan Airport is in a state of chaos, with divided loyalties tearing it apart. And hanging over everyone's heads is the mysterious suicide of Alex's predecessor.
There are dark secrets at Logan—especially surrounding a fatal plane crash—that could bring down Majestic Airlines and destroy the careers of everyone involved. Secrets that have already claimed lives. And Alex is next.
As the new manager of the Majestic Airlines operation at Boston's Logan International Airport, Alex Shanahan expects her fair share of turbulence—but not so much, so soon. Logan Airport is in a state of chaos, with divided loyalties tearing it apart. And hanging over everyone's heads is the mysterious suicide of Alex's predecessor.
There are dark secrets at Logan—especially surrounding a fatal plane crash—that could bring down Majestic Airlines and destroy the careers of everyone involved. Secrets that have already claimed lives. And Alex is next.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
150 people are currently reading
455 people want to read
About the author
Lynne Heitman
12 books17 followersLynne Heitman was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She attended Southern Methodist University where she completed her bachelors and masters degrees, both in business administration, and spent one season as a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader.
After graduating, she went to work for a major airline in the finance department. Her career in the airline business spanned fourteen years and included a variety of assignments in finance, operations, and human resources. Her last assignment was as the airline's general manager at Boston's Logan Airport. Logan became the setting for her first novel.
Lynne left the airline and moved to the Pacific Northwest to take a job with a small engineering consulting firm. When the company announced plans to relocate two years later, she chose to stay in Seattle, took a severance package, and used the time off to launch her writing career. She drew upon her experiences in the airline business to create the character of Alex Shanahan, the airline-manager-turned-PI, featured in her four thrillers. The second book in the series, PARTS UNKNOWN (previously TARMAC), was named by Publisher's Weekly as one of the year's best, and her short story EXIT INTERVIEW was published in the BOSTON NOIR anthology.
After six years in Seattle, Lynne moved back to the Boston area where she lives today with her family.
After graduating, she went to work for a major airline in the finance department. Her career in the airline business spanned fourteen years and included a variety of assignments in finance, operations, and human resources. Her last assignment was as the airline's general manager at Boston's Logan Airport. Logan became the setting for her first novel.
Lynne left the airline and moved to the Pacific Northwest to take a job with a small engineering consulting firm. When the company announced plans to relocate two years later, she chose to stay in Seattle, took a severance package, and used the time off to launch her writing career. She drew upon her experiences in the airline business to create the character of Alex Shanahan, the airline-manager-turned-PI, featured in her four thrillers. The second book in the series, PARTS UNKNOWN (previously TARMAC), was named by Publisher's Weekly as one of the year's best, and her short story EXIT INTERVIEW was published in the BOSTON NOIR anthology.
After six years in Seattle, Lynne moved back to the Boston area where she lives today with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
June 22, 2020
As somebody who has been working in an airport for close to 30 years, I could really identify with the story in this book. Indeed, there is a lot of covering-up, intrigue and inhouse politics at the airport. And all this on top of working in a very unpredictable and stressful environment.
Aside from writing with a deep knowledge of airline operations, Ms Heitman has produced a dedicated, courageous and likeable protagonist, Alex Shanahan, who likes to seek the truth and achieve justice in spite of all the odds against her. I will go on to read the rest of the books in the series for sure.
Aside from writing with a deep knowledge of airline operations, Ms Heitman has produced a dedicated, courageous and likeable protagonist, Alex Shanahan, who likes to seek the truth and achieve justice in spite of all the odds against her. I will go on to read the rest of the books in the series for sure.
August 8, 2014
Aviation and airline stories are on the top portion of my favorites list. This one had me captured just by the title. The "hard landing" referred to is an accident that happened some years back, a part of a series of events that led to conspiracies and murders.
The setting is on the airport operations floor, ensuring that the passengers are served well and the flights depart on time. Not exactly what most people would associate to an aviation thriller, but the airport can be as exciting as an inflight setting. The story revolves on Alex's discoveries just a few weeks after she'd assumed the airport operations manager role.
The blurb teased my senses, but the book didn't quite affect me the way I was expecting a highly-charged plot would. For a thriller, it took me some time to finish this. Even amidst a busy work schedule and stuff to deal with at home, a good thriller would last only two days max in my 'currently reading' list.
I'm not saying I didn't like it, I just don't like it enough. So, just ok.
The setting is on the airport operations floor, ensuring that the passengers are served well and the flights depart on time. Not exactly what most people would associate to an aviation thriller, but the airport can be as exciting as an inflight setting. The story revolves on Alex's discoveries just a few weeks after she'd assumed the airport operations manager role.
The blurb teased my senses, but the book didn't quite affect me the way I was expecting a highly-charged plot would. For a thriller, it took me some time to finish this. Even amidst a busy work schedule and stuff to deal with at home, a good thriller would last only two days max in my 'currently reading' list.
I'm not saying I didn't like it, I just don't like it enough. So, just ok.
March 7, 2017
This is the first book I have read by this author. I have to say I really enjoyed it. It was very suspenseful, right to the end. I did not guess who the gang leader was.
Alex Shanahan is an airline executive sent to Logan in Boston to be airport manager. There are a myriad of problems there, not least the one that brought her there in the first place. The previous manager killed herself. The operations manager is convinced she did not kill herself that it was murder. Alex is skeptical at first because she has enough problems and she would rather let sleeping dogs lie. But the more she is dragged into it, the more she thinks Dan might be right, and that her death, is actually the intersection of multiple cover-ups. Should she find out who is behind it all and bring them down, and perhaps risk her own life, or turn away and focus on her career. Well you know what happens, the book wouldn't have been written otherwise... :-)
I enjoyed this story set in an airport, this is different, and I don't think I have ever read anything similar. So its uniqueness also did it for me, so I will definitely look for more stories in this series.
Alex Shanahan is an airline executive sent to Logan in Boston to be airport manager. There are a myriad of problems there, not least the one that brought her there in the first place. The previous manager killed herself. The operations manager is convinced she did not kill herself that it was murder. Alex is skeptical at first because she has enough problems and she would rather let sleeping dogs lie. But the more she is dragged into it, the more she thinks Dan might be right, and that her death, is actually the intersection of multiple cover-ups. Should she find out who is behind it all and bring them down, and perhaps risk her own life, or turn away and focus on her career. Well you know what happens, the book wouldn't have been written otherwise... :-)
I enjoyed this story set in an airport, this is different, and I don't think I have ever read anything similar. So its uniqueness also did it for me, so I will definitely look for more stories in this series.
October 20, 2016
I really enjoyed it. First, because it's well written, second because there's a lot of suspense and third because the leading character is great, not perfect and very human. It was obviously written quite a long time ago so modern geeks may find it obsolete (only a couple of cellphones and no laptops!).
I flew around a lot in my youth, and was fascinated to learn, thanks to the book, how organized (or disorganized) an airline -and an airport- can get, from the inside. I now understand how, quite often in my time, my luggage could have been routed to a wrong destination or why my flight was delayed, LOL!
Undoubtedly, (and hopefully)some events are quite exaggerated as is most often the case in a novel where a knowledgeable author will cram every incident they met in the course of their career in a single book. Sometimes it bogs the mind, however it adds credibility to the story.
I guess at times the reader feels a bit lost in the enormous amount of details given about airlines and how they operate on the ground, though most of the information is quite relevant to the story.
I suppose it will feel more appealing to women as it also deals with discrimination towards female managers and general managers.
All in all, it's a great novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read it in two sittings (only because I had to go to bed) and though I'd guessed about the identity of the culprit, I nevertheless felt compelled to go on reading.
I recommend it to all readers who love a good thriller without too many gory details and graphic sex as the suspense mostly comes from the surroundings and atmosphere.
It reminded me of another excellent thriller featuring planes (my apologies to Ms HEITMAN as I know writers hate being compared to others authors): Airframe, published in 1996 by Michael CRICHTON. This other novel also features a female leading character (Quality manager) investigating a place incident, though it is more about building a plane and flying it.
To conclude, I'm immediately going to buy the next book in the Alex SHANAHAN series.
I flew around a lot in my youth, and was fascinated to learn, thanks to the book, how organized (or disorganized) an airline -and an airport- can get, from the inside. I now understand how, quite often in my time, my luggage could have been routed to a wrong destination or why my flight was delayed, LOL!
Undoubtedly, (and hopefully)some events are quite exaggerated as is most often the case in a novel where a knowledgeable author will cram every incident they met in the course of their career in a single book. Sometimes it bogs the mind, however it adds credibility to the story.
I guess at times the reader feels a bit lost in the enormous amount of details given about airlines and how they operate on the ground, though most of the information is quite relevant to the story.
I suppose it will feel more appealing to women as it also deals with discrimination towards female managers and general managers.
All in all, it's a great novel that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I read it in two sittings (only because I had to go to bed) and though I'd guessed about the identity of the culprit, I nevertheless felt compelled to go on reading.
I recommend it to all readers who love a good thriller without too many gory details and graphic sex as the suspense mostly comes from the surroundings and atmosphere.
It reminded me of another excellent thriller featuring planes (my apologies to Ms HEITMAN as I know writers hate being compared to others authors): Airframe, published in 1996 by Michael CRICHTON. This other novel also features a female leading character (Quality manager) investigating a place incident, though it is more about building a plane and flying it.
To conclude, I'm immediately going to buy the next book in the Alex SHANAHAN series.
August 1, 2018
Recommended to me by someone in the industry, this was a book that combined murder mystery, suspense and who-dun-it with remarkably accurate and interesting descriptions of working at Logan Airport and aviation. I say remarkably accurate as the person who recommended it to me says he's actually been in the many of the rooms that Heitman describes and that her knowledge of the airlines is deeply rooted in her own experience.
It was easy and quick to read. I couldn't wait to get to the end to figure out the mystery and all the twists and turns and ins and outs of what could have been a very convoluted plot was easy to follow and enjoyable.
Would highly recommend if you are looking for a new thriller series to sink your teeth into.
It was easy and quick to read. I couldn't wait to get to the end to figure out the mystery and all the twists and turns and ins and outs of what could have been a very convoluted plot was easy to follow and enjoyable.
Would highly recommend if you are looking for a new thriller series to sink your teeth into.
October 10, 2009
This the second time I have read this novel. Having enjoyed it 5 years ago, I decided to read it again. I did not enjoy it so much this time. The writing style is excellent but the action is minimal. I would say it confined to airline "politics" and union business, with the union abnormally out of hand. Having been in a commercial airline union myself, I can honestly say I have never known a union to get so beligerent that they let off bombs and make death threats. So a little unrealistic. It is, however, entertaining if you do not mind a thriller with very little actual death. The main character, Alex, is very savvy and witty.
June 28, 2015
Slow but good ending
For forty two chapters, its a daunting read that sometimes gets bogged down in details on the day to day operations of the airport. It's well plotted with twists and turns. Just when you think you have all the pieces, a new twist comes. It took 65% of the book for the story to really engage me and the story to really get rolling. If you are impatient or prefer a quick read, pass on this one. If you like slow building suspense, this is for you.
For forty two chapters, its a daunting read that sometimes gets bogged down in details on the day to day operations of the airport. It's well plotted with twists and turns. Just when you think you have all the pieces, a new twist comes. It took 65% of the book for the story to really engage me and the story to really get rolling. If you are impatient or prefer a quick read, pass on this one. If you like slow building suspense, this is for you.
December 28, 2014
Hard Landing is well written and conforms to the suspense genre. Heitman keeps us turning the page, and the tension she builds is nail biting. Her protagonist is the new GM at Logan Airport, a man's world dominated by a group of thugs from the union, the Majestic Airlines owner, and several others. Overall, I gave it three stars for the way Heitman builds and manipulates the tension.
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April 6, 2023half way through it and i like it. Alive . open to much possibilities , and the atmosphere of the air travel services is new for me
The same continues up to the end . Very compelling . Thrilling . And the langage is like the author has no part . It is only the reader and main protagonist and nothing more . Like it simply .
Lynn Heitman is a name to add t my favorites list .
The same continues up to the end . Very compelling . Thrilling . And the langage is like the author has no part . It is only the reader and main protagonist and nothing more . Like it simply .
Lynn Heitman is a name to add t my favorites list .
October 6, 2014
When you are waiting in terminals for your next flight, have you ever wondered what all might be happening with all the airport workers? This book might at least give you something to think about and an idea for what to watch for when you are looking at all the activity out the windows.
A new female operations manager arrives in Boston to take over for the previous female manager who hung herself. Between others who might be envious for her job and the union workers who feel contempt for her, she has a tough road to hoe.
The plot kept me guessing as to what would happen and who was behind it all.
A new female operations manager arrives in Boston to take over for the previous female manager who hung herself. Between others who might be envious for her job and the union workers who feel contempt for her, she has a tough road to hoe.
The plot kept me guessing as to what would happen and who was behind it all.
February 10, 2015
3.5 stars. Thriller based in an airport...lots of shady business. I never truly trusted any of the characters....and I have to admit the way it ended surprised me. It's definitely worth the read, the plot is well thought out, and it was a real page turner. HOWEVER I'm not sure I want to continue w the series....while it was interesting, I never really felt like I connected with the characters, at least not enough to want to find out what happens in the next book.
April 21, 2016
Waste of time. Unbelievable characters and one of those irritating books you keep finding more plot holes and things that just don't hold,together afterwards. The best I can say about it is the writing was OK as was the background. But someone ought to,explain to the author about the circulation of the blood and that arteries 'throb', not veins.
August 24, 2025
Hard Landing
What would you do if secrets were revealed? Our main character worked hard to discover what had happened. The hard landing was for her. If you like a thriller you will like this novel. I was hooked from the beginning. I definitely would recommend this book to friends and family
What would you do if secrets were revealed? Our main character worked hard to discover what had happened. The hard landing was for her. If you like a thriller you will like this novel. I was hooked from the beginning. I definitely would recommend this book to friends and family
October 28, 2025
murder and corruption in the airline.corrupt management is stealing funds, bribing staff union workers
Unnerving encounters with union workers and the company owner. The previous manager is killed and hung to suggest suicide. The the current manager faces constant attacks. Faster pace action keeps your attention.
Unnerving encounters with union workers and the company owner. The previous manager is killed and hung to suggest suicide. The the current manager faces constant attacks. Faster pace action keeps your attention.
June 3, 2018
I couldn't stop reading
It had me from the beginning. I couldn't stop thinking about how certain things were connected. Hard Landing was a great read. I can't wait to read more about Alex Shanahan and more from Lynne Heitman.
It had me from the beginning. I couldn't stop thinking about how certain things were connected. Hard Landing was a great read. I can't wait to read more about Alex Shanahan and more from Lynne Heitman.
January 14, 2022
Didn’t Want This Book to End
For the first time in a long time I found a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author is new to me, but I will definitely look for others she’s written. A great read!
For the first time in a long time I found a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author is new to me, but I will definitely look for others she’s written. A great read!
November 10, 2016
Exciting
It moved faster than I expected. I hoped for a romantic hookup with Dan or John
It moved faster than I expected. I hoped for a romantic hookup with Dan or John
April 10, 2017
I couldn't put this novel down. I enjoyed unravelling the mystery along with the protagonist.
June 23, 2018
Interesting heroine
Very readable prose. Interesting characters and situation. Good, fast pacing. Some twists. Would definitely read another book by this author.
Very readable prose. Interesting characters and situation. Good, fast pacing. Some twists. Would definitely read another book by this author.
February 9, 2019
One of the best suspenseful books I’ve read. Kept me entertained throughout. I suspected the culprit but decided I had to be wrong. A surprise ending. Worth the read.
November 21, 2019
A thriller!
I found it very, very thrilling especially the ending! I Can't wait to read book 2. Thanks to the author!
I found it very, very thrilling especially the ending! I Can't wait to read book 2. Thanks to the author!
March 3, 2020
A good thriller set in Logan Airport.
April 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. Definitely worth the read.
July 24, 2025
This is a must read
This is about how a major airport is run.three is intriguing twists a turns that will keep you reading to the end. This book is a five star rating.
This is about how a major airport is run.three is intriguing twists a turns that will keep you reading to the end. This book is a five star rating.
July 30, 2025
I liked the main character & the workings of the airport; plot was good
December 21, 2014
PROTAGONIST: Alex Shanahan, general manager
SETTING: Logan Airport, Boston
SERIES: #1 of 4
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Alex Shanahan has just been named the general manager of Majestic Airlines at Logan Airport in Boston. She replaced a woman who committed suicide. Alex soon finds that the organization is a complete disaster. Her boss always caves to the union, and many of the union members are involved in almost terrorist actions against the airlines, trying to protect their own. Alex suspects her predecessor may have been murdered and works with her assistant to uncover the truth. A riveting behind-the-scenes look at how an airline operates. The suspense was high and the characters interesting. I did find it hard to believe that things were so out of control and there were no consequences for those disrupting the airline. But I couldn't put the book down.
SETTING: Logan Airport, Boston
SERIES: #1 of 4
RATING: 3.75
WHY: Alex Shanahan has just been named the general manager of Majestic Airlines at Logan Airport in Boston. She replaced a woman who committed suicide. Alex soon finds that the organization is a complete disaster. Her boss always caves to the union, and many of the union members are involved in almost terrorist actions against the airlines, trying to protect their own. Alex suspects her predecessor may have been murdered and works with her assistant to uncover the truth. A riveting behind-the-scenes look at how an airline operates. The suspense was high and the characters interesting. I did find it hard to believe that things were so out of control and there were no consequences for those disrupting the airline. But I couldn't put the book down.
April 26, 2015
Published: 08/07/2014 (first published 2001)
Author: Lynne Heitman
Recommended for: fans of thrillers
Edition: Kindle
I found this book on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought I would give it a try. This book is well written and keeps the suspense building making you keep turning the pages.I thought it was a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a fast paced thriller with quite believable characters. I thought that the authors writing style was very good and the pace of the book kept and even flow throughout it. It is one that managed to capture my attention within the first page and it kept it right until the end. The ending was quite a surprise to me, it is a very good read for readers who enjoy thriller mysteries. This is the first book in the Alex Shanahan series.
Author: Lynne Heitman
Recommended for: fans of thrillers
Edition: Kindle
I found this book on the Kindle Store for free and so I thought I would give it a try. This book is well written and keeps the suspense building making you keep turning the pages.I thought it was a good read, I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a fast paced thriller with quite believable characters. I thought that the authors writing style was very good and the pace of the book kept and even flow throughout it. It is one that managed to capture my attention within the first page and it kept it right until the end. The ending was quite a surprise to me, it is a very good read for readers who enjoy thriller mysteries. This is the first book in the Alex Shanahan series.
November 20, 2014
I don't believe it deserves 5 stars, but I loved it. I was interested in the love story -no, more than that, I was fascinated by the mixture of love, attraction and power and the way I could feel it, through the reluctant Alex and the notes left by the dead previous GM.
The suspense was there, constant, with the macho attitude of the guys, the insanity of a few of them and the unexplainable disappearance of the package. Alex is sure her predecessor did not kill herself, therefore there must be an explanation for her death. And she digs and digs until she thinks she has got it... to get to the painful truth after a night of terror and revelations.
The suspense was there, constant, with the macho attitude of the guys, the insanity of a few of them and the unexplainable disappearance of the package. Alex is sure her predecessor did not kill herself, therefore there must be an explanation for her death. And she digs and digs until she thinks she has got it... to get to the painful truth after a night of terror and revelations.
December 18, 2015
I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book - I grabbed it in at an exchange-a-book event. It was a good deal, I'd say, although it is not outstanding, the story is interesting enough, fast-paced, and lots of action. The secrets and hidden plots miss just the last bit of being convincing, and basically everyone is involved in a strange dark plot, which is the reason I only gave it four stars. At some time, I thought it would be a murder mystery, but it turned out that is not the focus. The whole background of the flight industry is interesting and new, so I might just read the further books too.
November 14, 2014
I’d like to have given this novel three and a half stars, rather than just three. Having worked for an int’l airline for twelve years in the cargo and load control area, so I was looking forward to reading this book. Unfortunately I found the earlier part of the book too slow. At around 30% of the way through, it began to pick up and and later on I found that it was a page turner. The union relationship with the employer was, for me, far fetched, but then it is a novel, and not real life. Overall I enjoyed the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews