29 Seconds
by T. M. Logan
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Description
From T.M. Logan, the bestselling author of Lies, comes 29 Seconds, a sensational new thriller that explores what happens when a split second thought of revenge takes on a life of its own. "Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear." Sarah is a young professor struggling to prove herself in a workplace controlled by the charming and manipulative Alan Hawthorne. A renowned scholar and television host, Hawthorne rakes in million-dollar grants for the university where Sarah show more works-so his inappropriate treatment of female colleagues behind closed doors has gone unchallenged for years. And Sarah is his newest target. When Hawthorne's advances become threatening, Sarah is left with nowhere to turn. Until the night she witnesses an attempted kidnapping of a young child on her drive home, and impulsively jumps in to intervene. The child's father turns out to be a successful businessman with dangerous connections-and her act of bravery has put this powerful man in her debt. He gives Sarah a burner phone and an unbelievable offer. A once-in-a-lifetime deal that can make all her problems disappear. No consequences. No traces. All it takes is a 29-second phone call. Because everyone has a name to give. Don't they? show lessTags
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Member Reviews
(I listened to this on audio so quotes and punctuation will not be exact)
(Head of Department and Staff Member)
Did that make your blood boil? Well, it did mine and it made my blood boil in the half-dozen other times in the novel that Professor Alan Hawthorne, Captain of the Old Boys Club and Head of the English Department at a prestigious University, cornered his prey. TML succeeded in creating a high-profile Teflon coated predator with plenty of victims that was so thoroughly slimy I could feel the bile rising inside me every time he opened his mouth to speak.
Then you have Sarah with her PhD, the innocent lamb, bidding for tenure in Hawthorne’s department, and who has to be the absolutely hugest literary dimwit that I have encountered in a long time. Sarah has a husband who has currently left her for his latest squeeze (not for the first time) and still she moons about waiting for his call telling her he is coming home. She should have a brilliant career in front of her – if only she wasn’t under the thumb of a complete douchebag (Dita’s apt description of Hawthorne which I adopt whole-heartedly) who makes sport of dangling fictitious promotions in front of his female staff, in exchange for their indentured sexual servitude (I assure you no one sees a farthing for their efforts). Time after time she keeps stepping up for slaughter, believing against all odds that she will get her promotion and respect due her based on her work performance. Each time, when she resists Hawthorne’s overtures, he applies more and more pressure, passing her up for the tenure spot for the second year in a row, telling her she will be made redundant during proposed budget cuts, informing her that if she tries to complain to HR she will be facing a counter-claim that she has been coming on to him. He is always one step ahead of her, closing in, smacking his lips. The more she resists the more fervent and blatant his threats. Every time he offers her a drink (it seems that all these people do is drink) I’m convinced that it has been spiked with Rohypnol (HUGE irony).
Enter, Kingpin Mafioso, whose daughter Sarah saved in an heroic action. KM doesn’t like to be beholden to anyone and offers to erase the person of her choice from the face of the earth. Things spiral out of control and get even worse – lots of twisty suspense and furious page flipping ensue (I don’t want to spoil) until a perfectly satisfactory and just ending is reached – at least for one of the characters.
The fact that I loathed both of the main characters is a credit to the author. It’s not easy to create such thoroughly unlikable characters – I enjoyed this novel immensely! show less
(Head of Department and Staff Member)
“….she tried to edge further away but she was already hard up against the door…the door handle was digging into her thigh. The inside of the taxi was intensely claustrophobic, a temporary prison she couldn’t escape…he shifted up a little closer…[They’re on their way they’re in a taxi behind us.] But we shall be there first. Just the two of us and I’ve got a surprise for you. He tapped her leg just above her knee letting it rest there. His fingers felt heavy on her thigh. I do like these stockings. You should wear skirts more often. Your legs are fabulous. Please, don’t do that, she said in a small voice,show more
twisting her wedding ring around her finger. Do, what? Touch my leg. Oh? I thought you liked it. No, I’d pefer it if you didn’t. I love you playing hard to get. You’re such a tease Sarah. He pressed himself closer again. ... He moved his fingers a few inches higher, stroking her thigh. Carefully and deliberately she lifted his hand up with hers and moved it away aware of her heart thudding painfully in her chest. Then he was stroking the back of her head caressing her long dark hair. She flinched away sitting forward against the seatbelt and shooting him a look. He ignored her, cupping his right hand around his nose. Eyelids fluttering closed for a second. I love your smell Sarah. You’re intoxicating. Do you wear that perfume just for me. Her skin crawling, she tried desperately to think of a way to stop this happening again…..I am nice to you aren’t I? he said again. You can be nice to me too. Once in a while at least. Why don’t you try it? …Now I’m going to treat you to a very special nightcap. Don’t you dare go anywhere…”
Did that make your blood boil? Well, it did mine and it made my blood boil in the half-dozen other times in the novel that Professor Alan Hawthorne, Captain of the Old Boys Club and Head of the English Department at a prestigious University, cornered his prey. TML succeeded in creating a high-profile Teflon coated predator with plenty of victims that was so thoroughly slimy I could feel the bile rising inside me every time he opened his mouth to speak.
Then you have Sarah with her PhD, the innocent lamb, bidding for tenure in Hawthorne’s department, and who has to be the absolutely hugest literary dimwit that I have encountered in a long time. Sarah has a husband who has currently left her for his latest squeeze (not for the first time) and still she moons about waiting for his call telling her he is coming home. She should have a brilliant career in front of her – if only she wasn’t under the thumb of a complete douchebag (Dita’s apt description of Hawthorne which I adopt whole-heartedly) who makes sport of dangling fictitious promotions in front of his female staff, in exchange for their indentured sexual servitude (I assure you no one sees a farthing for their efforts). Time after time she keeps stepping up for slaughter, believing against all odds that she will get her promotion and respect due her based on her work performance. Each time, when she resists Hawthorne’s overtures, he applies more and more pressure, passing her up for the tenure spot for the second year in a row, telling her she will be made redundant during proposed budget cuts, informing her that if she tries to complain to HR she will be facing a counter-claim that she has been coming on to him. He is always one step ahead of her, closing in, smacking his lips. The more she resists the more fervent and blatant his threats. Every time he offers her a drink (it seems that all these people do is drink) I’m convinced that it has been spiked with Rohypnol (HUGE irony).
“It's just not your time Sarah. You’re not quite ready yet. Almost, but not quite…..believe me when I say this is not easy for me either. It wouldn’t be in your best interest to put you up for a permanent post at this stage. I know it’s tough now but in the long run you’ll thank me……I know you really want this but you need to commit yourself to the discipline. You’ve already got two little children…how do I know you’re not going to be disappearing after, popping out more babies as soon as you get that permanent contract, leaving your colleagues in a lurch while you go on for a nice maternity holiday and we don’t see you for another year. He gave her a lascivious smile. More to the point. I don’t see you for a year. …I do love to see you angry Sarah… You’re so sexy when you’re angry. Why do you think you can say that? Why do you think it’s okay? He shrugged. It’s true you are…[she went to leave] but he was blocking her way, leaning against the door with his hands crossed…Let me out. It doesn’t have to be like this. You can still make the promotions list. You just have to show me your commitment to this department…. So show me. His eyes flickered. Show me how committed you are. No, Sarah said quietly. He moved toward her dropping his hands to his sides. Show me….”
Enter, Kingpin Mafioso, whose daughter Sarah saved in an heroic action. KM doesn’t like to be beholden to anyone and offers to erase the person of her choice from the face of the earth. Things spiral out of control and get even worse – lots of twisty suspense and furious page flipping ensue (I don’t want to spoil) until a perfectly satisfactory and just ending is reached – at least for one of the characters.
The fact that I loathed both of the main characters is a credit to the author. It’s not easy to create such thoroughly unlikable characters – I enjoyed this novel immensely! show less
(I listened to this on audio so quotes and punctuation will not be exact)
(Head of Department and Staff Member)
Did that make your blood boil? Well, it did mine and it made my blood boil in the half-dozen other times in the novel that Professor Alan Hawthorne, Captain of the Old Boys Club and Head of the English Department at a prestigious University, cornered his prey. TML succeeded in creating a high-profile Teflon coated predator with plenty of victims that was so thoroughly slimy I could feel the bile rising inside me every time he opened his mouth to speak.
Then you have Sarah with her PhD, the innocent lamb, bidding for tenure in Hawthorne’s department, and who has to be the absolutely hugest literary dimwit that I have encountered in a long time. Sarah has a husband who has currently left her for his latest squeeze (not for the first time) and still she moons about waiting for his call telling her he is coming home. She should have a brilliant career in front of her – if only she wasn’t under the thumb of a complete douchebag (Dita’s apt description of Hawthorne which I adopt whole-heartedly) who makes sport of dangling fictitious promotions in front of his female staff, in exchange for their indentured sexual servitude (I assure you no one sees a farthing for their efforts). Time after time she keeps stepping up for slaughter, believing against all odds that she will get her promotion and respect due her based on her work performance. Each time, when she resists Hawthorne’s overtures, he applies more and more pressure, passing her up for the tenure spot for the second year in a row, telling her she will be made redundant during proposed budget cuts, informing her that if she tries to complain to HR she will be facing a counter-claim that she has been coming on to him. He is always one step ahead of her, closing in, smacking his lips. The more she resists the more fervent and blatant his threats. Every time he offers her a drink (it seems that all these people do is drink) I’m convinced that it has been spiked with Rohypnol (HUGE irony).
Enter, Kingpin Mafioso, whose daughter Sarah saved in an heroic action. KM doesn’t like to be beholden to anyone and offers to erase the person of her choice from the face of the earth. Things spiral out of control and get even worse – lots of twisty suspense and furious page flipping ensue (I don’t want to spoil) until a perfectly satisfactory and just ending is reached – at least for one of the characters.
The fact that I loathed both of the main characters is a credit to the author. It’s not easy to create such thoroughly unlikable characters – I enjoyed this novel immensely! show less
(Head of Department and Staff Member)
“….she tried to edge further away but she was already hard up against the door…the door handle was digging into her thigh. The inside of the taxi was intensely claustrophobic, a temporary prison she couldn’t escape…he shifted up a little closer…[They’re on their way they’re in a taxi behind us.] But we shall be there first. Just the two of us and I’ve got a surprise for you. He tapped her leg just above her knee letting it rest there. His fingers felt heavy on her thigh. I do like these stockings. You should wear skirts more often. Your legs are fabulous. Please, don’t do that, she said in a small voice,show more
twisting her wedding ring around her finger. Do, what? Touch my leg. Oh? I thought you liked it. No, I’d pefer it if you didn’t. I love you playing hard to get. You’re such a tease Sarah. He pressed himself closer again. ... He moved his fingers a few inches higher, stroking her thigh. Carefully and deliberately she lifted his hand up with hers and moved it away aware of her heart thudding painfully in her chest. Then he was stroking the back of her head caressing her long dark hair. She flinched away sitting forward against the seatbelt and shooting him a look. He ignored her, cupping his right hand around his nose. Eyelids fluttering closed for a second. I love your smell Sarah. You’re intoxicating. Do you wear that perfume just for me. Her skin crawling, she tried desperately to think of a way to stop this happening again…..I am nice to you aren’t I? he said again. You can be nice to me too. Once in a while at least. Why don’t you try it? …Now I’m going to treat you to a very special nightcap. Don’t you dare go anywhere…”
Did that make your blood boil? Well, it did mine and it made my blood boil in the half-dozen other times in the novel that Professor Alan Hawthorne, Captain of the Old Boys Club and Head of the English Department at a prestigious University, cornered his prey. TML succeeded in creating a high-profile Teflon coated predator with plenty of victims that was so thoroughly slimy I could feel the bile rising inside me every time he opened his mouth to speak.
Then you have Sarah with her PhD, the innocent lamb, bidding for tenure in Hawthorne’s department, and who has to be the absolutely hugest literary dimwit that I have encountered in a long time. Sarah has a husband who has currently left her for his latest squeeze (not for the first time) and still she moons about waiting for his call telling her he is coming home. She should have a brilliant career in front of her – if only she wasn’t under the thumb of a complete douchebag (Dita’s apt description of Hawthorne which I adopt whole-heartedly) who makes sport of dangling fictitious promotions in front of his female staff, in exchange for their indentured sexual servitude (I assure you no one sees a farthing for their efforts). Time after time she keeps stepping up for slaughter, believing against all odds that she will get her promotion and respect due her based on her work performance. Each time, when she resists Hawthorne’s overtures, he applies more and more pressure, passing her up for the tenure spot for the second year in a row, telling her she will be made redundant during proposed budget cuts, informing her that if she tries to complain to HR she will be facing a counter-claim that she has been coming on to him. He is always one step ahead of her, closing in, smacking his lips. The more she resists the more fervent and blatant his threats. Every time he offers her a drink (it seems that all these people do is drink) I’m convinced that it has been spiked with Rohypnol (HUGE irony).
“It's just not your time Sarah. You’re not quite ready yet. Almost, but not quite…..believe me when I say this is not easy for me either. It wouldn’t be in your best interest to put you up for a permanent post at this stage. I know it’s tough now but in the long run you’ll thank me……I know you really want this but you need to commit yourself to the discipline. You’ve already got two little children…how do I know you’re not going to be disappearing after, popping out more babies as soon as you get that permanent contract, leaving your colleagues in a lurch while you go on for a nice maternity holiday and we don’t see you for another year. He gave her a lascivious smile. More to the point. I don’t see you for a year. …I do love to see you angry Sarah… You’re so sexy when you’re angry. Why do you think you can say that? Why do you think it’s okay? He shrugged. It’s true you are…[she went to leave] but he was blocking her way, leaning against the door with his hands crossed…Let me out. It doesn’t have to be like this. You can still make the promotions list. You just have to show me your commitment to this department…. So show me. His eyes flickered. Show me how committed you are. No, Sarah said quietly. He moved toward her dropping his hands to his sides. Show me….”
Enter, Kingpin Mafioso, whose daughter Sarah saved in an heroic action. KM doesn’t like to be beholden to anyone and offers to erase the person of her choice from the face of the earth. Things spiral out of control and get even worse – lots of twisty suspense and furious page flipping ensue (I don’t want to spoil) until a perfectly satisfactory and just ending is reached – at least for one of the characters.
The fact that I loathed both of the main characters is a credit to the author. It’s not easy to create such thoroughly unlikable characters – I enjoyed this novel immensely! show less
29 Seconds is a book that can be read on multiple levels.
First, the plot level
As a suspense novel, this is excellent. Logan surprised me at several points, which is a bit difficult to do, and the plot takes us to several unexpected places. If you’re looking for a riveting, tension-filled suspense novel to devour, here you go. But if you dive deeper, there’s more than simply a rollercoaster plot.
Second, the emotional level.
I don’t have a doctorate, but I do have a master’s degree and seriously considered getting my doctorate in English literature. (I had two kids instead!) I’ve also spent a fair amount of time around people with Ph.Ds in the so-called “impractical” liberal arts. I’ve watched professors spend countless show more hours teaching, grading, planning, researching, writing, submitting, and cross-their-fingers hoping to get another publication. All in hopes of getting a position. Getting tenure. Getting some semblance of job security. Because, let’s face it, if you have a doctoral degree specializing in literature from several centuries ago, what can you do with that degree besides teach? Not much.
Here’s what I’m getting at: Sarah had my sympathy. She’s highly educated and a hard worker. She’s struggling to maintain a balance between being a single mom to two young kids and her job, where coworkers believe her priorities are wrong. Then Hawthorne, the powerful and popular professor, sexually harasses her. Repeatedly. Relentlessly.
Logan did an excellent job laying out all the available options, then tearing them apart. Every time she thinks (and we think, too) that oh, yay! an escape route, he rips it apart. Every. Single. Time. I could feel Sarah’s desperation grow. Tension mounts.
Logan nails the dynamics between abuser and abused. Hawthorne whittles away at Sarah’s world, narrowing it down until he is the world and there is no escape. He is all that she can see. He consumes all her thoughts. I’ve been there, as have countless other people. Under those circumstances, Grosvenor’s offer looks like salvation.
I said that this story can be read on multiple levels. There’s the external plot. There’s the emotional arc. But if you dive even deeper, this book has an ethical, possibly even spiritual, level.
Finally, the ethical level
This isn’t a story about revenge. No matter what anyone else might say, I can’t read this as a revenge story. It’s much more than that. Revenge is petty and vindictive and unnecessary. That’s not the case here. She’s trying to protect those she loves and her achievements.
Don’t discount how difficult it is to work that hard, for that long, sacrificing, dreaming, striving, persevering in the face of opposition–only to watch a powerful, heartless man threaten to tear apart that dream and one’s family overnight. Fighting back isn’t revenge. It’s protecting this achievement against the threat. But if the weapon of protection is evil, then what?
This is a Faustian tale; it’s about a battle for the soul. I thoroughly enjoyed the references to Marlowe and his most famous (infamous?) work. Faust and his devil haunt this story.
This is a story about ethical choices. There’s the choice that Grosvenor gives her. Give him a name, or not. What does “disappear” mean? He doesn’t say it. But it’s understood that to disappear in Grosvenor’s world is to die. It’s also understood that, by us and Sarah, this man is powerful enough to make it happen. He’s devilish, if not an actual devil.
She understands what this means for her ethically. She’s a Marlowe scholar; she knows how Faust’s bargain ends. Like Dr. Faustus, she’ll be apart from everyone else who has not made a bargain with the devil. She knows she is slipping closer and closer to selling her integrity and her soul. It frightens her.
But there’s also the choice that Hawthorne gives her. He’s made it clear that she’ll have to sleep with him (also selling her integrity) or else she’ll never get a permanent contract, leaving her unemployed and unemployable.
Damned if she does. Damned if she doesn’t.
This is a universal story. It could take place in many fields. Law. Politics. Business. Entertainment. Religion. I’ve heard stories like this in all these fields. Many of these fields are dominated by the good old boys network. Harassment and assault are common. Complaints are ignored or dismissed. People turn a blind eye, either refusing to believe the truth or too afraid of the negative ramifications for themselves to speak out. Outsiders are blissfully ignorant. Meanwhile, those with power gain power and those without power have even what little they have stripped away.
How many people have lived this story? How many are living it now?
29 Seconds is haunting, deeply disturbing, and compelling. I couldn’t stop reading it. I highly recommend it.
Thanks again to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read 29 Seconds in exchange for an honest review. show less
First, the plot level
As a suspense novel, this is excellent. Logan surprised me at several points, which is a bit difficult to do, and the plot takes us to several unexpected places. If you’re looking for a riveting, tension-filled suspense novel to devour, here you go. But if you dive deeper, there’s more than simply a rollercoaster plot.
Second, the emotional level.
I don’t have a doctorate, but I do have a master’s degree and seriously considered getting my doctorate in English literature. (I had two kids instead!) I’ve also spent a fair amount of time around people with Ph.Ds in the so-called “impractical” liberal arts. I’ve watched professors spend countless show more hours teaching, grading, planning, researching, writing, submitting, and cross-their-fingers hoping to get another publication. All in hopes of getting a position. Getting tenure. Getting some semblance of job security. Because, let’s face it, if you have a doctoral degree specializing in literature from several centuries ago, what can you do with that degree besides teach? Not much.
Here’s what I’m getting at: Sarah had my sympathy. She’s highly educated and a hard worker. She’s struggling to maintain a balance between being a single mom to two young kids and her job, where coworkers believe her priorities are wrong. Then Hawthorne, the powerful and popular professor, sexually harasses her. Repeatedly. Relentlessly.
Logan did an excellent job laying out all the available options, then tearing them apart. Every time she thinks (and we think, too) that oh, yay! an escape route, he rips it apart. Every. Single. Time. I could feel Sarah’s desperation grow. Tension mounts.
Logan nails the dynamics between abuser and abused. Hawthorne whittles away at Sarah’s world, narrowing it down until he is the world and there is no escape. He is all that she can see. He consumes all her thoughts. I’ve been there, as have countless other people. Under those circumstances, Grosvenor’s offer looks like salvation.
I said that this story can be read on multiple levels. There’s the external plot. There’s the emotional arc. But if you dive even deeper, this book has an ethical, possibly even spiritual, level.
Finally, the ethical level
This isn’t a story about revenge. No matter what anyone else might say, I can’t read this as a revenge story. It’s much more than that. Revenge is petty and vindictive and unnecessary. That’s not the case here. She’s trying to protect those she loves and her achievements.
Don’t discount how difficult it is to work that hard, for that long, sacrificing, dreaming, striving, persevering in the face of opposition–only to watch a powerful, heartless man threaten to tear apart that dream and one’s family overnight. Fighting back isn’t revenge. It’s protecting this achievement against the threat. But if the weapon of protection is evil, then what?
This is a Faustian tale; it’s about a battle for the soul. I thoroughly enjoyed the references to Marlowe and his most famous (infamous?) work. Faust and his devil haunt this story.
This is a story about ethical choices. There’s the choice that Grosvenor gives her. Give him a name, or not. What does “disappear” mean? He doesn’t say it. But it’s understood that to disappear in Grosvenor’s world is to die. It’s also understood that, by us and Sarah, this man is powerful enough to make it happen. He’s devilish, if not an actual devil.
She understands what this means for her ethically. She’s a Marlowe scholar; she knows how Faust’s bargain ends. Like Dr. Faustus, she’ll be apart from everyone else who has not made a bargain with the devil. She knows she is slipping closer and closer to selling her integrity and her soul. It frightens her.
But there’s also the choice that Hawthorne gives her. He’s made it clear that she’ll have to sleep with him (also selling her integrity) or else she’ll never get a permanent contract, leaving her unemployed and unemployable.
Damned if she does. Damned if she doesn’t.
This is a universal story. It could take place in many fields. Law. Politics. Business. Entertainment. Religion. I’ve heard stories like this in all these fields. Many of these fields are dominated by the good old boys network. Harassment and assault are common. Complaints are ignored or dismissed. People turn a blind eye, either refusing to believe the truth or too afraid of the negative ramifications for themselves to speak out. Outsiders are blissfully ignorant. Meanwhile, those with power gain power and those without power have even what little they have stripped away.
How many people have lived this story? How many are living it now?
29 Seconds is haunting, deeply disturbing, and compelling. I couldn’t stop reading it. I highly recommend it.
Thanks again to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read 29 Seconds in exchange for an honest review. show less
Londoner Dr. Sarah Haywood is an English literature professor who specializes in the works of Christopher Marlowe. Her head of department, Alan Hawthorne, is a highly-respected scholar and celebrity, thanks to his impressive academic credentials, a starring role in a BBC2 series, "Undiscovered History," and his ability to attract large grants for his university. The dirty secret that is hidden from outsiders is that the fifty-six-year-old Hawthorne preys on young and attractive women who work for him. If a subordinate refuses to accede to his demands, Hawthorne threatens to send her packing. He gets away with his deplorable behavior because the potential complainants know that, if they come forward, they will likely be accused of lying. show more
There are other issues that trouble Sarah. She is separated from her husband, Nick, who left her for another woman. Furthermore, she must complete many time-consuming professional tasks while taking care of her two children, Grace, who is about to turn eight, and five-year-old Harry. When Alan informs Sarah that her future employment hinges on her willingness to become intimate with him, she is crestfallen. One day, she sees a young girl in distress and steps in to help her. In gratitude, the girl's father, a rich and powerful businessman, makes an offer that could solve Sarah's dilemma. How far is the heroine willing to go to be free of her nemesis?
"29 Seconds," by T. M. Logan is a fast-paced psychological thriller in which a hard-working educator and devoted mum tries to fend off her boss's unwanted advances without committing career suicide. Although the author inserts some far-fetched and melodramatic elements into the plot, on the whole, the story is engrossing, smoothly written, timely, and entertaining. The provocative conclusion makes us wonder what we would do if an egotistical and power-hungry predator tried to rob us of our dignity and livelihood. show less
There are other issues that trouble Sarah. She is separated from her husband, Nick, who left her for another woman. Furthermore, she must complete many time-consuming professional tasks while taking care of her two children, Grace, who is about to turn eight, and five-year-old Harry. When Alan informs Sarah that her future employment hinges on her willingness to become intimate with him, she is crestfallen. One day, she sees a young girl in distress and steps in to help her. In gratitude, the girl's father, a rich and powerful businessman, makes an offer that could solve Sarah's dilemma. How far is the heroine willing to go to be free of her nemesis?
"29 Seconds," by T. M. Logan is a fast-paced psychological thriller in which a hard-working educator and devoted mum tries to fend off her boss's unwanted advances without committing career suicide. Although the author inserts some far-fetched and melodramatic elements into the plot, on the whole, the story is engrossing, smoothly written, timely, and entertaining. The provocative conclusion makes us wonder what we would do if an egotistical and power-hungry predator tried to rob us of our dignity and livelihood. show less
Ever have someone you wish you could just make disappear? Someone that for one phone call that person would be gone and it could not be traced back to you.
Single-parent Sarah sees a side of her boss that few have. Professor and television host Alan Hawthorne is charming and manipulative. But to the women that work for him he is a misogynist, sexually abusive pig who demands “favors” in exchange for a promotion. As Hawthorne turns up the pressure on Sarah, she struggles with the reality that she could lose her job unless she gives in.
But then one afternoon as she is rushing to pick up her children from school, she witnesses an attempted kidnapping of a young girl. Sarah throws caution to the wind and intervenes to stop the show more kidnapper. Turns out the child’s father is a powerful man with ties to the syndicate. In appreciation, she offers Sarah a one-time deal. Within the next 72 hours she can call him on the burner phone he provides her – "Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear.” He assures her that it would not trace back to her. No one would know. One 29-second phone call and someone would be gone from her life.
I enjoyed T.M.Logan’s book LIES, but I love 29 SECONDS. Intense. Breath-taking. Thrilling. By the last portion of the book I absolutely could not put it down. Sleep just had to wait. I was on that rollercoaster with Sarah as she struggled to keep her job while dealing with threats from Hawthorne. She tries to remain ethical but everyone has their limit. I was kept guessing as to the outcome of the book and DID NOT see that ending coming. I am staying vague because I really do not want to give anything away. It is worth the wait to experience it for yourself. This is the best thriller I have read so far for 2019.
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance e-copy. show less
Single-parent Sarah sees a side of her boss that few have. Professor and television host Alan Hawthorne is charming and manipulative. But to the women that work for him he is a misogynist, sexually abusive pig who demands “favors” in exchange for a promotion. As Hawthorne turns up the pressure on Sarah, she struggles with the reality that she could lose her job unless she gives in.
But then one afternoon as she is rushing to pick up her children from school, she witnesses an attempted kidnapping of a young girl. Sarah throws caution to the wind and intervenes to stop the show more kidnapper. Turns out the child’s father is a powerful man with ties to the syndicate. In appreciation, she offers Sarah a one-time deal. Within the next 72 hours she can call him on the burner phone he provides her – "Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear.” He assures her that it would not trace back to her. No one would know. One 29-second phone call and someone would be gone from her life.
I enjoyed T.M.Logan’s book LIES, but I love 29 SECONDS. Intense. Breath-taking. Thrilling. By the last portion of the book I absolutely could not put it down. Sleep just had to wait. I was on that rollercoaster with Sarah as she struggled to keep her job while dealing with threats from Hawthorne. She tries to remain ethical but everyone has their limit. I was kept guessing as to the outcome of the book and DID NOT see that ending coming. I am staying vague because I really do not want to give anything away. It is worth the wait to experience it for yourself. This is the best thriller I have read so far for 2019.
Thank you to Jordan Hanley at St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance e-copy. show less
T. M. Logan sure knows how to ratchet up the suspense and did he ever in 29 Seconds – the length of a life-changing phone call. Sarah is a university professor in the U.K. in what we would call a tenure-track position. However, her way is blocked by a lascivious and powerful professor Alan Hawthorne. Hawthorne is a popular and successful professor who narrates a BBC history documentary, leveraging that to extraordinary power over his department and impunity from the administration and human resources.
He is pressuring Sarah to sleep with him when Sarah earns the gratitude of a powerful man who offers to make someone, anyone she names, disappear. After all, we all have someone, right?
If that were not enough, something goes awry and show more suddenly the sense of real jeopardy kicks in and the suspense is read-until-the-wee-hours intense. Read this book, but start it when you can sleep in the next day.
29 Seconds will be released on September 3rd. I received an ARC through Shelf Awareness.
29 Seconds at St. Martin's Press Macmillan
T. M. Logan author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/9781250182319/ show less
He is pressuring Sarah to sleep with him when Sarah earns the gratitude of a powerful man who offers to make someone, anyone she names, disappear. After all, we all have someone, right?
If that were not enough, something goes awry and show more suddenly the sense of real jeopardy kicks in and the suspense is read-until-the-wee-hours intense. Read this book, but start it when you can sleep in the next day.
29 Seconds will be released on September 3rd. I received an ARC through Shelf Awareness.
29 Seconds at St. Martin's Press Macmillan
T. M. Logan author site
https://tonstantweaderreviews.wordpress.com/2019/08/23/9781250182319/ show less
Alan Hawthorne is a college professor, television personality...and a reprehensible human being. He
treats the female professors he works with abominably. Sexual harassment is just the tip of the ice
berg. It makes Sarah's job a living hell....but she has to endure it or face annihilation of her career. One afternoon she sees a little girl in danger and takes action to protect her. Turns out the little girl is the daughter of a very dangerous man. That man offers her a burner phone and 72 hours to think things over. Then she can pick one person. And he will make them disappear. Forever. Poof. Gone.
Just a few seconds. One decision that could change her whole life......and would definitely change the life of whoever she chooses. Yes......or show more no.
Holy crap this book was one hell of a ride! I've read one other book by T. M. Logan, so I expected this to be suspenseful and twisted. And I was right! The story sucked me in from the start. I cannot even imagine working for the pig that Sarah had to put up with day in and day out.....but on the other hand, I couldn't imagine facing the choice that Sarah has thrust in her lap either. And she only has 72 hours to decide if she accepts the offer.....or declines.
I thought I had things figured out.....and then the ending hit me upside the head. Nicely done! I love it when a story has a fun last snap or two!
Another great read from T. M. Logan! Lies was good.....29 Seconds, in my opinion, is even better!
I'm definitely looking forward to more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less
treats the female professors he works with abominably. Sexual harassment is just the tip of the ice
berg. It makes Sarah's job a living hell....but she has to endure it or face annihilation of her career. One afternoon she sees a little girl in danger and takes action to protect her. Turns out the little girl is the daughter of a very dangerous man. That man offers her a burner phone and 72 hours to think things over. Then she can pick one person. And he will make them disappear. Forever. Poof. Gone.
Just a few seconds. One decision that could change her whole life......and would definitely change the life of whoever she chooses. Yes......or show more no.
Holy crap this book was one hell of a ride! I've read one other book by T. M. Logan, so I expected this to be suspenseful and twisted. And I was right! The story sucked me in from the start. I cannot even imagine working for the pig that Sarah had to put up with day in and day out.....but on the other hand, I couldn't imagine facing the choice that Sarah has thrust in her lap either. And she only has 72 hours to decide if she accepts the offer.....or declines.
I thought I had things figured out.....and then the ending hit me upside the head. Nicely done! I love it when a story has a fun last snap or two!
Another great read from T. M. Logan! Lies was good.....29 Seconds, in my opinion, is even better!
I'm definitely looking forward to more by this author!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.** show less
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