Three Hours

Wow, what a gripping read "Three Hours" turned out to be! From the first page I was hooked and I found it difficult to put this novel down. When I did, I was thinking about the events that were occurring and couldn't wait to start reading again. Considering what happened in Texas this week when 19 innocent elementary students were killed while at school, "Three Hours" was also a very topical read.

The story centres on a school held hostage by gunmen with murderous intent - every parent and teacher's worst nightmare! Although the story had a huge cast of characters, which took me a while to sort out, they quickly grew on me and I was terrified for their safety. This was Ms Lupton at her best and I loved her atmospheric writing. A sense of show more menace, from the first page, hung over the school, enhanced by the fierce snowstorm and the remote location, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the novel.

The plot was fast-paced and shocking, the tension nail-biting. There were multiple points of view which kept the reader informed about what was happening in various locations within the school as well as the police investigation the the parents waiting for news of their children. This made "Three Hours' frighteningly real and horrific. Too many times my heart was in my throat, terrified of the outcome. The mention of previous school shootings, such as Columbine as a backdrop, was not only informative but added to the chilling sense of dread. I also loved how the author linked the plot with references from Shakespeare's "Macbeth".

Having worked in schools all my life, I know security has ramped up in recent years and we practise lockdowns and other drills regularly, hoping that a situation such as this never happens. But what if it did? I would like to think that our students and staff would behave in a similar manner to those at Cliff Heights School, Somerset. They displayed love, courage, solidarity, fortitude and hope. I was moved by them all. They were shining lights in the most terrifying of scenarios, a contrast to the men whose hearts burnt with hatred.

A fabulous, psychological thriller! show less

"Three Hours" is a gripping and thought-provoking novel that will kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. The story takes place over the course of three hours, during which a school in rural England is under siege by gunmen. As the clock ticks down, the students and staff must work together to survive and protect each other.

Lupton's writing is superb, with a taut and fast-paced narrative that expertly ratchets up the tension. The characters are richly drawn and feel like real people, with their flaws and strengths on full display. The book is also expertly researched, and Lupton's attention to detail is impressive.

What sets "Three Hours" apart, however, is the way it explores themes of courage, sacrifice, and the show more resilience of the human spirit. The book is both harrowing and uplifting, and it offers a powerful reminder of the importance of community and empathy in times of crisis.

Overall, "Three Hours" is a masterful work of suspense fiction that will kept me engaged and I will be thinking about this long after reading. Lupton has crafted a story that is both entertaining and meaningful, and it's a testament to her skill as a writer. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers and suspense. show less

omg this book gave me all kinds of feelings. It is an emotional rollercoaster that takes your breath away all the way to the last sentence, which is a heartbreaker, btw.
This is the story of an English school that is being attacked by gunmen. The whole story unfolds in three hours and keeps you tightly wound the whole time. I swear I even started to feel cold because those freezing snow descriptions were spot on.
You feel you know every single character and the author writes in such a way that it places you right there in the middle of it all with them.
My heart broke with Beth and Jamie. Oh my god I am still feeling that knot in my stomach thinking about them. So terribly sad I do not know what I would have done.
A whirlwind of emotions show more that holds your attention relentlessly right until the end. Do not miss this one. show less

A snowy November morning and the students at Cliff Heights school are about to have their world turned upside down. There's an explosion in the woods and the headteacher has been shot. The police believe that two recent arrivals from Syria are leading a terrorist attack but the real terrorists are much closer to home. As students and staff inside the school try to survive, police try to sort things out, parents worry and social media goes crazy.

This is a brilliant book. The start is incredibly disquieting and then the story unfolds into a scarier and scarier narrative. Taking place over a mere three hours the lives of the protagonists are dissected and laid bare but with such skill that it seems all part of the tale. The Final twist show more regarding the third shooter was almost glossed over and this was the only thing that could have been developed more but otherwise this is a clever reflection of Far Right versus liberalism and the insidious nature of hate versus love show less

Be aware that it's about a school shooting in England. It gets to the heart of the matter from so many perspectives...above all else...it's real. You are there...and you don't get to leave until the last page is read and the cover is safely closed. It’s a difficult subject but this author did it so very well drawing together the thoughts and actions of the students...the teachers...the parents...the police...and even the perpetrators. A very atmospheric and heart stopping tale that stays with you long after the final written word

Three hours, one morning a head teacher is shot in a school. From there the story follows the students, the police and a mother.

I read this book but didn't like it. Not liking the book however doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it.The story is a powerful one especially because of it's content. I found the story very upsetting and disturbing but at the same time very uplifting.

This book has certainly got under my skin especially from a mother's perspective and would never want to be in a position like in the story.

I found myself wanting to know how things were going to turn out and at times holding my breath turning the pages, I certainly was gripped. I didn't like the story however for the hate in it.

There are so many emotions that I show more felt when reading this story but I wasn't comfortable reading a lot in this book. A story like this is hard to enjoy so difficult to rate. It's one that make you stop and think, knowing that there are people out there in the real world doing exactly what some of the characters are doing. This book is not going to be for everyone. show less

Tense, gripping read, with a few flaws which stopped me giving this 5 stars. The author has obviously done a lot of research into the psychology of psychopaths and white supremacist mass murderers. Some of the details of guns and encryption technology, etc. were a bit much for me. Admittedly, I skimmed those parts. I didn't like the way the narrator's voice kept changing throughout the book. At times, it was very unclear who was thinking what: a structural weakness an editor should have picked up. Overall, I didn't really care about any of the characters very much. The love interest was pretty unnecessary, in my opinion. I found the story of the mother of one of the gunmen to be the most interesting and believable aspect of the story. show more (How horrendous to have your child brainwashed by any cult, whatever its stripes. What a nightmare.) Definitely a topical novel and lots to digest here, so kudos to Lupton, and I will look out for her other books. show less