Rating: 
Summary: Complex Plot Lines with a Surprise Ending.
Review: 'Terminal Event' by James Stewart Thayer, Large Print, Beeler Large Print, Hampton Falls, NH, 2000.This book opens with a horrific scene: former NTSB investigator, Joe Durant, is running towards an airplane crash and encountering parts of human bodies. As a former National Transportation Safety Board investigator, Durant has seen many crashes, but this one is different: he knows that his wife was on Emerald Airlines plane called' Sacajawea'. Author James Thayer then develops three major plot lines in the investigation into the cause(s) of the crash and each plot line depends upon the kind of people, the characters, involved. The first centers on Joe Durant, the NTSB engineer, who develops an engineering theory based upon improper design or, perhaps, incorrect maintenance. The second revolves around the FBI and ATF agents, who scour the Northwest part of the Untied States for skinhead groups who are anti-government enough to shoot down commercial airliners. The third plot line introduces a Saudi Arabian prince, in the United States for treatment of alcoholism. His presence on the crashed plane is ascertained from identification of those attending funerals and memorial services, and determining why those individuals would be at these events. All three plots compete and it seems, to the reader, that each competing cause is plausible: engineering failure, or terrorist attacks or assassination of the Saudi. But then, not to give away the surprise ending, the main protagonist , Joe Durant, discovers the one important clue that leads to the actual killer. The discussion of technology is appropriate to this type of mystery, and the hint of romance, with the hotshot FBI agent, Linda Dillon, serves to lighten the book. Author James Thayer does know the Northwest part of the country. Read the book to find out 'who dun it'.
Rating:
Summary: Complex Plot Lines with a Surprise Ending.
Review: ???Terminal Event??? by James Stewart Thayer, Large Print, Beeler Large Print, Hampton Falls, NH, 2000. This book opens with a horrific scene: former NTSB investigator, Joe Durant, is running towards an airplane crash and encountering parts of human bodies. As a former National Transportation Safety Board investigator, Durant has seen many crashes, but this one is different: he knows that his wife was on Emerald Airlines plane called??? Sacajawea???. Author James Thayer then develops three major plot lines in the investigation into the cause(s) of the crash and each plot line depends upon the kind of people, the characters, involved. The first centers on Joe Durant, the NTSB engineer, who develops an engineering theory based upon improper design or, perhaps, incorrect maintenance. The second revolves around the FBI and ATF agents, who scour the Northwest part of the Untied States for skinhead groups who are anti-government enough to shoot down commercial airliners. The third plot line introduces a Saudi Arabian prince, in the United States for treatment of alcoholism. His presence on the crashed plane is ascertained from identification of those attending funerals and memorial services, and determining why those individuals would be at these events. All three plots compete and it seems, to the reader, that each competing cause is plausible: engineering failure, or terrorist attacks or assassination of the Saudi. But then, not to give away the surprise ending, the main protagonist , Joe Durant, discovers the one important clue that leads to the actual killer. The discussion of technology is appropriate to this type of mystery, and the hint of romance, with the hotshot FBI agent, Linda Dillon, serves to lighten the book. Author James Thayer does know the Northwest part of the country. Read the book to find out ???who dun it???.
Rating: 
Summary: A good summer read
Review: A real page-turner! Believable characters, and a plot whose twists and turns held my interest throughout. Be warned though... it's pretty gory! The author is skillful enough to move things along so fast that you don't stop to notice the gaping holes in logic (reservation tapes on a 2-week backup cycle that are erased in less than 10 days, and an FBI-sponsored burglary that makes no sense if you stop to think about it). And the retired teacher in me was appalled at the errors in grammar and spelling: "pouring" over reports... clothes on "hangars" ... wounds full of "puss" ... computer tapes are "overridden". Sigh! Spellcheckers aren't enough, folks!
Rating: 
Summary: Better than I expected
Review: After reading the reviews,I almost quit reading this book after just a few pages. I was glad I finished it. Maybe the terminalogy wasn't perfect, but it didn't make a difference to me. I enjoyed the trails that were taken to find the cause of the plane crash and where they ended up. The hero and his daughter were real to me and I suffered with them. I'm really glad I wasn't swayed by some of the reviews!
Rating: 
Summary: Pulp Techno Fiction
Review: As a pilot, an engineer and a lover of fine writing, I found TERMINAL EVENT to be not much more than hack writing aimed at a mass market. There were numerous technical flaws (incorrect air traffic control phraseology and dubious science regarding volatile gases and the progression of damage through the aircraft), the dialog was laughably bad and the ending was obvious from about the half-way point of the book. If James Thayer was intent on writing a techno-novel, then he should have couched everything in realistic science (the descriptions of the CGI reconstructions had me rolling my eyes in disbelief). If he wanted to write a character-driven story, then he should have developed distinct personalities for each of the characters and tried to elevate the dialog above the afternoon soap opera level. The book wasn't all bad. At least there were only a couple of spelling errors.
Rating:
Summary: A Mystery for the New Millenium
Review: As up to data as Internet gambling and the Militia. A Suicide in the Air? More mystery than "Pilot's Wife". The scenario presented in this book CAN happen in real life. There is no indication of the guilt from the collection of the many suspects until the very last. A very good bonding of the main character with his daughter, having lost his wife in the tragedy. A surprise ending, that is really two surprises for the price of one. Just the right length, no words are wasted. If you were left empty with the "Pilot's Wife" as I was, this will more than make up for it.
Rating:
Summary: excellent procedural
Review: fascinating look at how a plane crash is investgated. the characters are believable and sympathetic, particularly in the way things don't work out between the main characters. the only disturbing fact is that the publisher completely misrepresents the plot on the jacket.
Rating:
Summary: Thayer has become a great writer now
Review: Have read all of Mr. Thayer's books and I sincerely consider that he has become a great writer. He might have given you an impression that he's only a two-dimensional writer before his "White Star," but definitely not afterwards. Now he's a multi-dimensional and a more interesting writer. I appreated his in-depth research for his books, and it has really taught me a lot by reading his books. His books still got some inevitable flaws but those could be and would be improved if his editor(s) knew where to cut (less, mostly) or add more (not so often needed), especially in the middle of all his books. But all in all, Mr. Thayer is an endearing writer to me.
Rating:
Summary: WOW!!! GLAD THAYER QUIT HIS DAY JOB! THIS IS GREAT!
Review: have you ever wondered exactly what goes on behind the scenes of an airplane crash??? ever think about the actual investigations and who are the investigators??? wellllllll, this is the book for you because it goes into all of the sordid details that's totallly fascinating....if you thrive on minutiae, then this is it! thayer breathes life into his investigators on top of it....i just hope that we get to read more about joe, sarah and linda.........please......?
Rating:
Summary: Thayer has become a great writer now
Review: I loved this book! I delayed making dinner so I could finish a few more chapters. Also, I disagree with Larry about the descriptions of the topography. I enjoyed them. I felt like I was there. In my mind's eye I could see the terrain and the conditions under which the investigators were operating. An enjoyable read!
| 
