THE LAST FLIGHT
Two women. Two flights. One last chance to disappear.
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan town house and a staff of ten, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he’s not above using his staff to track Claire’s every move, making sure she’s living up to his impossible standards.
But what he doesn’t know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.
Two women. Two flights. One last chance to disappear.
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan town house and a staff of ten, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he’s not above using his staff to track Claire’s every move, making sure she’s living up to his impossible standards.
But what he doesn’t know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish. A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together, they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets—Claire taking Eva’s flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away.
But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it’s no longer a head start, but a new life. Cut off, out of options, and with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva’s identity, and along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
- Sourcebooks Landmark
- Hardcover
- June 2020
- 320 Pages
- 9781728215723
Buy the Book
$26.99
About Julie Clark
Born and raised in Santa Monica, California, Julie Clark grew up reading books on the beach while everyone else surfed. After attending college at University of the Pacific, she returned home to Santa Monica to teach. She now lives there with her two young sons and a golden doodle with poor impulse control. Her debut novel, The Ones We Choose, was published in 2018, and has been optioned for television by Lionsgate.
Praise
“The moral dilemmas that the multifaceted, realistic characters face in their quest for survival lend weight to this pulse-pounding tale of suspense. Clark is definitely a writer to watch.” – Publishers Weekly, starred review
“A tense and engaging womancentric thriller.” – Kirkus Reviews, starred review
“The Last Flight is everything you want in a book: a gripping story of suspense; haunting, vulnerable characters; and a chilling and surprising ending that stays with you long after the last page.” – Aimee Molloy, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Mother
“I’m a sucker for suspense stories crafted around an airplane crash, and Julie Clark’s The Last Flight lived up to the hype and then some. Clark starts with a bang then keeps the pace at full throttle, deftly weaving two seemingly separate stories into one wild and entertaining ride. The perfect combination of beautiful prose and high suspense, and an ending that I guarantee will catch you off guard.” – Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of Dear Wife and The Marriage Lie
“The Last Flight sweeps you into a thrilling story of two desperate women who will do anything to escape their lives. Both poignant and addictive, you’ll race through the pages to the novel’s chilling end. A must read of the summer!” – Kaira Rouda, internationally bestselling author of Best Day Ever and The Favorite Daughter
Discussion Questions
1. What do Claire and Eva have in common? In what ways are they different?
2. How do you feel about Eva’s decision to manipulate Claire?
3. Put yourself in Claire’s shoes. How would it feel knowing that you’ve traded your life for someone else’s? Would you feel guilty or fortunate? Why?
4. Describe the obstacles Claire faces once she escapes from Rory. Were there any difficulties that surprised you?
5. Compare Claire’s relationships with other women in the book like Eva, Danielle, Petra, and Kelly. Are any of these women similar? In what way?
6. Discuss Eva’s childhood. How does it affect how she behaves as an adult?
7. Identify some of the triggers Claire faces as a result of Rory’s abuse. How do you think she can overcome them?
8. Claire makes the difficult decision to go public with her story, knowing full well that she may be met with criticism and disbelief. Why did she make this decision? Would you have handled the situation differently?
9. Liz is the only person Eva allows to get close to her. Describe their friendship. Why is it important to Eva? What does it mean to her?
10. Eva faces several huge difficulties in her life. Do you think her drug dealing is justified, given her circumstances?
11. Characterize Eva’s relationship with Dex. Why does she feel betrayed when she learns the truth about him?
12. How did you feel after reading Eva’s final chapter? Do you think there was anything different she could have done?
13. What do you think Claire will do next with her life? Will she be happy?