The Flying Circus - by Susan Crandall (Paperback)

About the Book

"Set in the rapidly changing world of 1920s America, this is a story of three people from very different backgrounds ... Set adrift by life-altering circumstances, they find themselves bound together by need and torn apart by blind obsessions and conflicting goals. Each one holds a secret that, if exposed, would destroy their friendship. But their journey of adventure and self-discovery has a price--and one of them won't be able to survive it. As they crisscross the heartland, exploring the rapidly expanding role of aviation from barnstorming to bootlegging, from a flying circus to the dangerous sport of air racing, the three companions form a makeshift family"--

Book Synopsis

The award-winning, national bestselling author of Whistling Past the Graveyard sends an unlikely trio on an exhilarating adventure high above the American Midwest of the 1920s in a spirited, "entertaining surprise" (Publishers Weekly) of a novel in league with Water for Elephants and The Aviator's Wife.

They are barnstormers...the daredevil fliers whose airborne acrobatics are a thrilling spectacle crisscrossing the Heartland skies. Rising above each of their circumstances in their own "flying circus" are Cora Rose Haviland, a privileged young woman left penniless when her father's fortune is lost; Charles "Gil" Gilchrist, a World War I pilot whose traumatic past fuels his death-defying stunts; and eighteen-year-old Henry Schuler, the son of a German immigrant farmer, on the run from shocking accusations. Each holds secrets that could destroy their makeshift family. And, on their adrenaline-charged journey of self-discovery, one of them must pay the price.

With the poignant and powerful storytelling voice that made Whistling Past the Graveyard "a classic, a book people want to pass along for generations to come" (Feathered Quill Book Reviews), Susan Crandall artfully weaves the stories of three unforgettable characters, each searching for salvation that waits just beyond the horizon.

Review Quotes

"The Flying Circus is Susan Crandall at her best--a colorful, rich and historical tale of the early years of flight. Heroes and villains and an achingly sweet romance will pull at the reader's heart long after the last page is turned. I loved this book!"--New York Times bestselling author Karen White

"An engaging road saga."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"An entertaining surprise... this old-fashioned novel plays like a refreshed mash-up of William Faulkner's Pylon and the 1970s Robert Redford vehicle The Great Waldo Pepper."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"An exhilarating, memorable flight into the world of barnstorming in the 1920's, with all the twists and turns of an aerial acrobat. Compelling characters and a fascinating setting make this journey a sheer joyride. Satisfying and delightful!"--Lynn Cullen, national bestselling author of MRS. POE

"Crandall has crafted a wonderfully charming, memorable and thought-provoking read."-- "RT Book Reviews"

"Crandall has written an absorbing and frequently touching story that reminds us of the challenges of forming new communities with different people--and the rewards."-- "USA Today"

"Deeply moving. A richly drawn story of love, loss, and redemption with characters as finely tuned as the planes they fly."--Wendy Wax, USA Today bestselling author of A WEEK AT THE LAKE

"Exciting adventures abound when three unlikely misfits take to the skies. Friendships are challenged, lives are risked, and dark secrets threaten to tear the trio apart as they barnstorm across America's heartland. A spirited, big-hearted tale."--Beth Hoffman, New York Times bestselling author of LOOKING FOR ME

"Historical fiction with appeal to both romance and adventure fans."-- "Booklist"

Praise for THE FLYING CIRCUS

"Susan Crandall's The Flying Circus is a fascinating story of love and loss set against the colorful background of barnstorming 1920s America. Every detail sings, and every character will touch your heart in this rip-roaring tale of three daredevils on the run, each with something to hide, drawn together by a desire to conquer the skies as well as their own demons. Romance, suspense, aerial thrills and spills--what more is there to ask for?"--Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of THE AVIATOR'S WIFE