Final Descent
After suffering a breakdown from her brutal divorce, airline pilot Claire Winslow is rebuilding her life with her five-year-old daughter, while fighting for custody of her with her ex, Steven. Just as she’s finding her footing, an online romance spirals into a chilling nightmare. Her first date with Evan goes terribly wrong, and he soon begins stalking her, showing up outside her home and even her daughter’s school.
After nearly a week of no sightings of him, Claire dares to believe maybe he’s moved on. Relieved, she puts her focus on her upcoming flight—the first chance she’s had to prove herself since she was put on leave. Then, on a layover in Boston, Claire spots Evan at her hotel. She goes to the police, but with no real name and nothing traceable online, they say there’s nothing they can do.
When Evan boards her flight wearing a pilot uniform and takes the jump seat just before takeoff, Claire is convinced he’s there to kill her—or take the plane down. But after her recent breakdown, the question becomes: is she right…or unraveling all over again?
- Claire - Airline pilot
- Olivia - Claire’s daughter, 5
- Steven - Claire’s ex-husband, Olivia’s father
- Becca - Claire’s best friend, flight attendant
- Evan (Real name Mitch) - Claire’s date
- Rob - Claire’s co-pilot
- Claire goes on a first date with Evan who she met on a dating app, but when he shows his bad temper she decides not to see him again.
- Shortly after the failed date Evan starts stalking Claire but Becca talks her out of calling the police.
- Four nights later after taking a flight, Claire heads to her hotel to sleep before another flight the next morning and is shocked to see Evan at the hotel.
- The next day Rob tells Claire they have a jump seater for their return flight named Mitch.
- When Mitch boards the plane at the last minute Claire sees that it is Evan.
- Rob leaves the flight deck to use the bathroom and has a seizure.
- A doctor onboard says he thinks Rob was poisoned with cyanide.
- Claire starts to descend for an emergency landing.
- Claire accuses Mitch of poisoning Rob's coffee, but he insists the only person who could’ve done it is Becca, who made the coffee.
- Claire calls Becca to the flight deck and confronts her.
- Becca says she did drug Rob but only because Steven told her to and she thought it was just a sedative, not poison.
- Becca also confesses that Steven was the one who told her to get Claire on the dating app and to match with Mitch.
- Steven knew that years ago Becca was involved in the hit-and-run death of a cyclist and he was blackmailing her with this information.
- Mitch tells Claire he had been stalking her because Steven hired him to do so to make her look unstable so he could get full custody of Olivia.
- Mitch hits Becca over the head with a fire extinguisher and tries to choke Claire so he can look like a hero who saved the flight after Claire had a mental break and tried to crash the plane.
- Mitch and Claire fight until Claire manages to hit Mitch with the escape ax from the cockpit.
- Claire lands the plane safely and everyone lives.
- A few days later Mitch wakes up in the hospital and admits to everything he and Steven did.
- Mitch, Steven and Becca all end up in prison.
- Claire is happy to have full custody of Olivia.
Even though I could guess where the story was going, I still really enjoyed the story. I found myself really sympathizing with Claire and the tough situation she found herself in.
The predictable plot makes this story work well as a novella. If it had been a full-length novel, the lack of any real surprises would have made the story drag on. As a novella, though, it's a quick and satisfying read. The straightforward story lets you focus on Claire's emotional journey without getting bogged down in a complicated plot.
Overall, while I wasn't surprised by how things turned out, I still thoroughly enjoyed the read and it was my sympathy for Claire that kept me engaged in the story. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a quick, character-driven story.
- Claire - Alive - Happy to treasure every day with Olivia
- Olivia - Alive - Still a happy little girl
- Steven - Alive - In prison for life
- Becca - Alive - In prison for twelve years
- Mitch - Alive - In prison for life
- Rob - Dead - Poisoned by Becca
- Alcohol
- Car accident
- Death
- Gaslighting
- Infidelity
Publisher: BookGoSocial
ISBN: 9798218783853
Publication Date: November 4, 2025
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.Contribute Your Spoils
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