The Other Pilot by Ed Baldwin

The Other Pilot Reviews

• 
  Martin Pingree

  This was a fun ride. Modern day fighter pilot unearths a conspiracy involving the military and president. He ultimately ends up resolving the issue in a way he never imagined. Lots of action, great characters and a intriguing story line. Highly recommend.
• 
  Carl Brookins

  The Other Pilot
  by Ed Baldwin
  ISBN: 9780615673226
  A 2012 release from Brasfield Books,
  trade cover, 391 pages.
  
  The problem with carefully constructed conspiracies—and elaborate lies—is that unforeseen events, happenings that cannot possibly be anticipated or provided for, will inevitably open windows and let in the fresh air of truth. Politicians ought to remember that.
  Four star Air Force General Trusten Polk is on his way to Washington D.C. to testify before the Armed Services Committee of the United States Senate. He’s flying there with his aide, Kevin Barnes in a spanking new Falcon F-16. The plane is barely airborne when its engine explodes, disintegrates on impact, thus killing its two pilots in a horrendous fireball.
  Enter Air Force Reserve Captain Boyd Chailland. He’s assigned to the accident investigation board along with the usual specialists. That’s fine until it’s discovered that General Polk isn’t real. Who was he and what was his real mission? Where did he come from? A number of people are suddenly eager to help Captain Chailland discover truthful answers to those questions. Others are just as eager to help the captain stumble off on the wrong trail and if he tries to right himself, kill him too.
  There are a number of interesting characters floating around this action adventure, some are interesting in their own right, like teacher and gun aficionado Colleen Chamorrow, who brings along a load of forthright sexiness, a couple of cropdusters and some assorted aircraft history buffs. They all add to the mix and extend the novel, perhaps a little more than necessary.
  The story is presented in a pretty straight from the shoulder manner. Style-wise the novel is competently written, moves forward at an ever increasing pace and while we are never in any real doubt as to the outcome, the manner in which the mastermind behind the main plot is finally apprehended is eminently satisfying. The motivating plot is well-constructed, logical and close enough to reality to give readers pause.
  The author has the experience and background to give this novel the ring of real authenticity. There are a few places where the author indulges hyperbole and skirts the edges of unbelievability, but they are rare. I enjoyed the novel, especially the political conspiracy, and recommend it to aviation buffs, conspiracy theorists, those who enjoy military history and indeed anybody who wonders from time to time if our government isn’t just a little too unwieldy.
  It is a good read, though not quite up to four stars, in my opinion.
  
  
• 
  Ed Baldwin

  The Other Pilot is a political action thriller with a military aviation background and a Southern Fiction style. It introduces Boyd Chailland, a journeyman Air Force fighter pilot caught up in a national crisis when he's assigned to be the pilot member of an accident board after a four star general dies in a mysterious plane crash.
  
  Boyd is not the scarred, jaded, been there done that action hero of most thrillers; he's everyman experiencing the crisis as it happens. But, when the ass kicking starts... well, he's the one still standing at the end.
  
  Southern Fiction? That means long circuitous plot, odd gothic characters, southern locations, and a nostalgia for things past. But, I'm a student of white collar crime, and the villain in this story is brilliant, complex, and his scheme is so current it will be making headlines next year. Hot stuff! Get one.
• 
  Donald Reavis

  I enjoyed "The Other Pilot" from the beginning through the end. As a retired air traffic controller and pilot I found a few situations a little unbelievable, but it is a novel. Ed did a great job with the story line and I will be watching for the sequel. More time spent on the climax would have greatly enhanced this book.
  
  Donald L Reavis
  ZLA and ZMA ARTCC (Retired)
  Private Pilot
  Author
• 
  Catherine Alhinc

  A good book, though with too much politics for my taste. An entertaining story, leading to a fascinating fight. Well written, except for that typing /spelling mistake that spoils it a bit: planes aren't stored in hangers (a hanger is a piece of wire or plastic used to hang clothes from)! Planes are stored in hangars! Same pronunciation, different spelling. I know it may sound trivial yet it keeps bursting the bubble and giving the story a slightly ridiculous slant. It's the third novel on planes I've found the error in. Please Mr Baldwin, correct it. It's too good a book to leave it like that.
• 
  Patti Jarrell

  Best I’ve read! Love the WWII battle in the air!
  
  I chose this book because it looked interesting. It was well written with lots of plot change. Loved reading it, couldn’t put it down!
• 
  Daniel Diaz

  amazing book! i love the action and the details. it gets so indepth with action unlike other fiction books.
• 
  Jeff Dawson

  Need to tighten up the controls.
  
  I received a free copy
  What does one say about a thriller that never reaches its full potential? Back to the drawing board? No. This is much better than, “Bismark: 2013,” but it still has issues.
  There is a solid plot trying to unveil itself. I know some of the reviewers made mention of too many references to modern day politics and the mayhem from the housing crash. I didn’t find these stifling at all. In fact, they were necessary to drive the story forward. I’ve read some books that absolutely revolve around politics and forget to tell their story. This is not the path the book travels. It provides just enough information to keep the reader interested. For that, I commend the author.
  Now, let’s talk about the flaws. This book needs a serious re-edit. Not in the sense of grammar and spelling many like to lash out about, but flow and believability. These are my main interests in a story and there are way too many areas where sentence structure is garbled. When did the topic of a sentence become a cursor at the end? When one has to keep re-reading a sentence in order to understand the thought process, it becomes aggravating.
  Believability: Granted, this is a novel and all things are possible, but this isn’t James Bond where “the stars are the limit.” This story is based on something that could happen, thus, the action scenes should follow the same formula. Sadly, this isn’t always the case. How does a man handcuffed to a chair bolt out the door? In another scene the P-51 is engaged in a deadly dance of death with one problem, the cockpit is covered in oil and flames. How was the pilot seeing his prey? There are a few others, but I’ll pass on them.
  Overall, this isn’t a bad work nor is it a great one. It needs a lot of dressing-up and re-analyzation.
  This is a three star push
  
• 
  Lynn

  This was another goodreads win. I enjoyed the book immensely. It's basically as story of new meets old and how just because something is modern it doesn't necessarily mean that the new is better. The intrigue between a high functioning sociopath and a fighter pilot play well together. The only negative thing I would say about the book is that I'm not sure if there were publishing errors or if the author got lost a bit. There were a couple of places where the characters were in one place and the next line they were somewhere totally different or talking to some one else and it would be in the middle of a whole new conversation without my being able to figure out how they got there. Even after reading the part 2 or 3 times.
  
  But on wards and upwards (no pun intended) Mr Baldwin did a great job of bringing the story together and tying everything in a nice bow at the end. I would definitely mark this as a good read for everyone. It even had a smiggin of sex in it that was great and not over powering enough to distract from the story which so often happens. It was just right.
  
  GOOD JOB
• 
  Susan

  2.5 stars. The Other Pilot is the first book in the Boyd Chailland series. You can read this as a standalone. There is violence. While the book is worth reading, the storyline is average and the pace varies from fast action to slow and boring. I have enjoyed other books by this author and this was not as good as some of his other books. Not sure if I will read more in this series or not...guess it depends on the price.
• 
  Wayne

  I received this book as a First Reads winner from Goodreads. I highly recommend this book. Very good "can't put it down" experience. This book is a great blend of mystery and conspiracy theory themes. Of course, it isn't always a theory!
  Well written,good building of characters, good level of technical detail to keep interest in the planes as well as the characters.
• 
  Mary Rowe

  A slow stately dignified thriller
  
  Carefully paced and written with care and attention to detail by someone who has lived and breathed adventure. Might be a bit languid for someone looking for a Clive Cussler or Tom Clancy or Randy Wayne White bombastic thrill-a-minute story, but well-done and enjoyable.
• 
  Tearsa

  I received this book free to read and review. I rather enjoyed reading, "The Other Pilot". Lots of twists and turns, a thriller with a great story line. If you are into aviation than this is the book for you!
  
  
• 
  Wayne

  A was more than a bit diasappointed that I purchased this novel. Initially I thought it might get into some detail regarding the crash of an F-16, but that petered out. At that point it just got silly with frequent diversions from the main plot line.
• 
  Rick Colburn

  Thought provoking
  
  This is an excellent read grabs and keeps your interest. Also makes you think and wonder if something like this story could really happen. ( I wouldn't be surprised )
• 
  James

  Not done yet but I.need to make a point. this author is NOT a pilot. on page 47 he says for the pilot to squawk one two zero. if my memory serves me, you need 4 numbers to squawk. then he turns if off. not a good idea
• 
  Barbara Chandler

  I like a good military thriller
  
  I found this to be a very good book. I live outside of Boston so I enjoyed the references, and as I read this, Bulger was back in the news. I liked Boyd as a character and I look forward to hanging out with him on another adventure.
• 
  Dorothy Divito

  I won this book from Goodreads. I like political conspiracy thrillers and this book fit the bill. I look forward to reading other books from Ed Baldwin.