The Flying Circus -- Book Review

I still haven't had a chance to read Susan Crandall's novel Whistling Past the Graveyard. It got rave reviews and all my friends who read it loved it and I put it at the top of my to read list. So I was super excited for the opportunity to read and review her newest novel The Flying Circus.

From the cover :

Set in the rapidly changing world of 1920s America, this is a story of three people from very different backgrounds: Henry “Schuler” Jefferson, son of German immigrants from Midwestern farm country; Cora Rose Haviland, a young woman of privilege whose family has lost their fortune; and Charles “Gil” Gilchrist, an emotionally damaged WWI veteran pilot. Set adrift by life-altering circumstances, they find themselves bound together by need and torn apart by blind obsessions and conflicting goals. Each one holds a secret that, if exposed, would destroy their friendship. But their journey of adventure and self-discovery has a price—and one of them won’t be able to survive it.

As they crisscross the heartland, exploring the rapidly expanding role of aviation from barnstorming to bootlegging, from a flying circus to the dangerous sport of air racing, the three companions form a makeshift family. It’s a one-of-a-kind family, with members as adventurous as they are vulnerable, and as fascinating as they are flawed. But whatever adventure—worldly or private—they find themselves on, they’re guaranteed to be a family you won’t forget.

My thoughts : 

Susan Crandall has a light writing style that I can only describe as fun. With a fast pace, I almost felt like I was flying across the country in a Jenny biplane. She fully captures the nostalgia of the 1920's and the country's fascination with early aviation. The characters are interesting and though they held back their own secrets and didn't reveal too much initially, they were intriguing and just so much fun. Cora is the most flamboyant and most daring of the characters in the novel and I just couldn't get enough of her. She would play fabulously on the screen. This book is meant for the screen.

In the midst of all the flying and action, the character's pasts and secrets threaten to destroy the makeshift family and their dreams. There are plenty of twists and some surprises and of course some romance to keep the reader guessing and constantly wondering what daring feat will happen next. 

Mixing some historical fiction, some mystery, some action and some romance, The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall is one fun summer read. 

The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall is published by Gallery Books and releases in July 2015.

**I received a complimentary copy of The Flying Circus. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own.**