Hostage: The emotional 'what would you do?' thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller

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The back stories (scarily realistic) are revealed glimpse by glimpse, adding real depth to both your understanding and the development of the plot. Adam’s life as a cop and a father, passengers on board sharing their backstories… We get a sense of what is going on up and down, and all sides are equally tense, perfectly written, and absolutely addictive.

Jim’s stories are based out of the Los Angeles office of the FBI, where he worked on a number of very interesting and high-profile cases. Mackintosh keeps up the momentum to the very end too, with a final jaw-dropping twist that I’m certain you won’t see coming so I advise you not to leave your seat until the warning lights go off.Neuroscientist Usha Goswami, chair of the 2023 judging panel, explains why it is important to get children excited about science via books, and introduces us to the fabulous titles that made this year’s shortlist. Gary Noesner retired from the FBI in 2003 following a 30-year career as an investigator, instructor and negotiator. I was gripped from the start (after being in a bit of a reading dry spot) and despite a lull at the start of part 2, the tension didn't let up, with twists and turns woven right through to the end.

But these fictional characters take it up a level, one small step at a time, until the lies build and they end up in a web of deceit with no way out. He was a hostage negotiator for 23 years, spending the last ten years as the FBI’s Chief Negotiator.Numerous celebrities are rumoured to be among the passengers in business class and journalists will be waiting on the ground to greet the plane. When Mina, an air hostess, bags her way on the exciting new non-stop flight to Sydney, Adam is frustrated that she's chosen to go so close to Christmas instead of spending time with their daughter and hopefully repairing their relationship but also annoyed that she arranged for a babysitter to collect their daughter from work. It was interesting to see their differing experiences; Mina thousands of feet up in the air, and Adam on the ground looking after their daughter Sophia back at home. My thanks go out to netgalley and Little Brown Books for the chance to read and review an ARC of this.

Huge thanks to Vanessa and her publisher for giving us this early sneak peek—I can’t wait to read BLOOD SISTERS this fall!It is difficult to say more without any plot spoilers so let’s just say - it was a brilliant, gripping, pacy read and (unusually for me) one I will reread soon!

Central to the story’s tension is a cast of characters whose murky motivations and ever-shifting alliances will keep you on your toes, never quite sure who to trust—and who might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This book is brilliant, Mina is interesting, Adam is someone I want to dislike but I just dont and as for their daughter Sophia - whilst I can appriciate her behavious is maddening she is just brilliant. The book doesn't just deal with the narrative of a group of people held hostage on a plane, but is also about how people are forced to deal with issues and trauma in their lives, in particular parenthood and how this affects women and relationships when people find themselves struggling to have children of their own. There are lovely twists throughout some of which you'll guess but others which will undoubtedly take you by surprise. He is a police detective, she’s a flight attendant, and as we meet the couple their marriage is strained to near breaking point.

In addition, she has included bits of smart social commentary on prejudice and discrimination, extremism, and the assumptions we make about those around us.