Breaking Point, the sequel to Dana Haynes’ Crashers, is a graphic and violent adrenaline rush. Featured in our November 2011 Whodunit column, the gripping story of an investigation conducted immediately post-plane-crash is “a compelling page-turner, with ‘cinema adaptation’ written all over it.”
BookPage chatted with Haynes about fears, shoes and books.
Describe your book in one sentence.
A team of government crash investigators must race against the clock, an assassin and a forest fire, after three of their own team are injured in a mystery plane crash.
After writing Crashers and Breaking Point, are you afraid of airplanes?
Not at all. Doing the research for these books convinced me how well-built modern aircraft are, and how well-trained are the crews and pilots. I absolutely love to fly; it’s the drive to the airport that scares the hell out of me.
Readers can learn a lot about your characters just by their shoes. What do your shoes say about you?
Style-over-comfort. I’d rather limp than wear ugly shoes.
Name one book you think everyone should read.
The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. Beautifully crafted, taut and timeless.
What is the best writing advice you’ve ever received?
“Sit down and write.” Seriously. It’s as simple as that. There is no better way to improve your writing than writing.
If you had to be stranded on a desert island with one of the Crashers (crash investigators), who would you want it to be?
The pathologist, Tommy Tomzak, is the funniest, and that’s important when stranded with someone. But the ex-Israeli spy, Daria Gibron, would be most likely to get us rescued.
What’s next for you?
St. Martin’s Press has asked for two more thrillers, starring Daria Gibron. The first is due to my editor in January.
