Worst Case Scenario: A Novel

The fate of Coastal Airways Flight 235 and its passengers is sealed when a fatal heart attack befalls the pilot. Despite the co-pilot’s attempts to seize control, the plane crashes into the town of Waketa, Minnesota. However, the tragedy is not confined to the crash. Debris is scattered over the town and claims more casualties. Emergency crews are alerted, but a larger emergency looms.

Officials at the Clover Hill Nuclear Plant conduct a damage assessment in the aftermath of the accident. They are alarmed to discover that there has been damage to a building housing fuel rods and water has been leaking from the pool. The likelihood of a meltdown exceeding Chernobyl and Fukushima spurs calls to Washington and emergency protocols to be enacted. People will need to be evacuated while the remaining residents fight to save the town and parts of the country.

T.J. Newman has burst into the literary scene with her breathtaking thrillers (Drowning, Falling) and her latest novel exceeds her previous work. Newman’s proficiency is in conveying the best of humanity operating under the worst of circumstances. The characters are genuine and the reader feels a greater attachment to their fates as the story moves on. This is a must-read for 2024.