After the Crash

A Novel

By: Michel Bussi

Narrated by: Daniel Philpott

"Wonderfully ingenious and altogether satisfying."---Marilyn Stasio, New York Times Book Review

Just after midnight on December 23, 1980, a night flight bound for Paris plummets toward the Swiss Alps, crashing into a snowy mountainside. Within seconds flames engulf the plane, which is filled with holiday travelers. Of the 169 passengers, all but one perish.

The sole survivor is a three-month-old girl--thrown from the airliner before fire consumes the cabin. But two infants were on board. Is "the Miracle Child of Mont Terri" Lyse-Rose or Emilie? The families of both girls step forward to claim the child. Dogged by bad luck, the Vitrals live a simple life, selling snacks from a van on the beaches of northern France. In contrast, the de Carvilles, who amassed a fortune in the oil business, are powerful-and dangerous.

Eighteen years later, a private detective tasked with solving the mystery of the girl known as "Lylie" is on the verge of giving up. As he contemplates taking his own life, Crédule Grand-Duc suddenly discovers a secret hidden in plain view. Will he live to tell it?

Meanwhile, Lylie, now a beautiful university student, entrusts a secret notebook into the hands of Marc, the brooding young man who loves her, and then vanishes. After Marc reads the notebook's contents, he embarks on a frantic search for Lylie.

But he is not the only one looking for her.

Critic reviews

"A novel so extraordinary that it reminded me of reading Stieg Larsson for the very first time...I doubt I'll read a more brilliant crime novel this year."—Sunday Times (UK)

"You find yourself quite frantic to know the truth, before this cleverly constructed, smart mystery concludes by delivering a delicious sting in the tail."—Sunday Express (UK)

"A richly satisfying story...a hugely enjoyable ride."—Irish Independent

"[Bussi] is a new master of the genre: I guarantee sleepless nights."—Avantages (France)

"Bussi has crafted a suspenseful tale that takes complete hold of you, where the characters are marionettes at the tip of his pen."—Quotidien du médecin (France)

I Was a Sucker for the Stieg Larsson Comparison

I fell for it. Even though I thought the summary of this story was more strange than interesting, I plunged forward thinking I would get a "Stieg Larsson" like experience. Nope, didn't happen.

An 18 year investigation into the true family bloodline of a miracle baby that survived a devastating plane crash was interminable. Two families are fighting to raise the child as their granddaughter. How about a DNA test during that 18 year period where the results are published? I proceeded more from persistence than curiosity.

Stieg Larsson gave us complex, fascinating storylines and the best modern character ever written with Lisbeth Salandar. Nothing like that with this book.

I will say the the author writes well and the narrator was good. That's the best I can say.

Interesting Story

Although somewhat slow, I thought the plot was intriguing and character development was done well. Three converging paths continually intersect and there are some decent twists. Overall I liked it.

Narration was really good with the French accent and change of characters.

Boring

Way too long and slow. After awhile I didn’t even care who the baby really was.

Not for Me

I did not enjoy the half of this book I listened to. Marketed as similar to Steig Larson. I didn't see it.

Easy to read & interesting

Where does After the Crash rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

3, this book was easy to rad and full of suspense

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Good ending

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Writer keeps the readers in suspense till the end

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes

Any additional comments?

No