Edgar Award Best Novel Winner

Before the Fall

by Noah Hawley

Summary

A private plane carrying wealthy passengers and a struggling painter crashes into the Atlantic minutes after takeoff, leaving only the artist and a young boy alive. As investigators and a cynical cable news host pick apart the disaster, the narrative moves through each passenger's backstory to ask whether the crash was accident, conspiracy, or something else. Hawley delivers a propulsive thriller that doubles as a sharp critique of media spectacle and wealth.

Historical Context & Significance

Before the Fall won the 2017 Edgar Award for Best Novel and was written by Noah Hawley, the showrunner behind the television series Fargo.