The Last Straw

"The Last Straw" by William J. Smith is a gripping mystery set in the early 1960s that unpacks a perplexing aviation accident through an intense investigation. The story centers on the determined Investigator Kessler, who wrestles with the inexplicable details of a devastating plane crash, specifically the oddities of the passengers and crew on that flight. In conversations with people like Senator Brogan, Kessler reviews the backgrounds of those on board, slowly revealing details of their lives and concerns before the flight; despite diligent investigation and interviews, Kessler discovers a disturbing trend of shared weaknesses and accident-prone traits among the victims. He is driven by a need to find the truth and attempts to tie it all together, suggesting the bizarre notion that these shared vulnerabilities may have been the tipping point of the tragedy.