Cover Image: 29 Seconds

29 Seconds

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Imagine this. One phone call to make the person you hate most in the world disappear. No consequences, no knowledge of what happened to them...just that you want them gone and they are. That's the opportunity Sarah finds herself presented with after she inadvertently does a good deed for abad man. An opportunity that if she takes it could solve the problem of her sexist boss, who's main hobbies seem to be drinking and attempted rape. He deserves it but if she makes the call?

This was a great book for two reasons. Firstly because it's just a damned good story - I swear super glue leaked out of kindle while reading this. Secondly the premise was very thought provoking. I spoke to my partner about if we would have a name...we were both surprised and gratified to realise we didn't. The climax to the story was also great, and although a bit neat and tidy also wickedly satisfying. It's definitely worth spending more than 29 Seconds with this novel!

Was this review helpful?

Having really enjoyed Lies, the author’s debut novel, I was super keen to read this. 29 Seconds is a very timely and topical novel featuring an odious sexual predator who makes women’s lives a misery.

Our main protagonist, Sarah, is a busy mum with a flaky husband, who is currently out of the picture. She has a job as an academic that she loves and is keen to proceed further with her career however her boss, Professor Alan Lovelock is the only fly in the ointment. Complaints have been made against him previously by other women but have got nowhere. Unfortunately he seems to be Teflon coated and is protected by all senior management. His reputation is such that her female university colleagues have devised a set of ‘Rules’ for dealing with him – don’t be alone with him if you can avoid it, don’t do or say anything to encourage him, don’t get into a car or a lift with him – and never do any of these things when he was drunk! Break any of these rules at your peril.

Whilst driving one day, Sarah bravely intervenes during a rather bizarre incident. This is where all the cloak and dagger stuff then comes in – by way of repayment of a debt, she is given once in a lifetime opportunity to give a name and that person will disappear – forever. However once she gives a name, there is no going back.

“You give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear. For you”

Well, here’s the thing. Whose name would you give in her situation? I love stories that have a moral dilemma element to them. You don’t have to be a genius to work out what Sarah will do but her decision brings her a whole load of problems which she didn’t foresee.

I started off feeling huge sympathy for Sarah having to cope with veiled threats and unwanted advances from her awful boss and I hate to say this as it feels very unsisterly and unsupportive but as the story went on she began to irritate me and I found myself shouting at the pages in frustration (silently of course – not out loud, that would be weird!). I wanted her to stand up to him and to tell the vile creep exactly where to go. And yes, I know that her career was at stake but no-one should have put up with what she did. It’s a sad indictment of our times that this happens at all.

29 Seconds has those addictive short chapters that leave you hanging, just to make sure you keep reading on. So, perhaps the plot was a little far-fetched at times – but I just went along with the story and enjoyed it for the suspenseful read that ensued. My only slight disappointment was with the denouement. Just my personal opinion but I felt the way that it was structured meant that it was all over too quickly and I felt slightly cheated.

29 Seconds is another entertaining and tense read from T M Logan with a thought provoking premise. Would you do something if you thought you could get away with it and with no repercussions? I’m looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next and would definitely recommend 29 Seconds to anyone who enjoys a fast paced and twisted thriller.

Was this review helpful?

This is a modern thriller which has plenty of twists and turns. I felt the storyline could have been tidied up a bit as a lot of it came across as slightly manic, to me. I did however find it a good read.

Was this review helpful?

I read this in two sittings - the first evening I picked it up and the following morning. It’s rare for me to do that and reflects the tremendous pace of this book. The characters are good but not great and the plot occasionally strays into implausibility but none of that really matters when reading such a gripping novel.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book but it was incredibly implausible and at times almost Eastendersesque! That said, the pace was well maintained and you will keep turning pages, guessing who dunnit/arranged it/can be trusted etc
I found myself swinging from sympathy for Sarah to utter frustration at her inability to act and stand up for herself. Alas she is the kind of woman I cannot identify with but I did have acute empathy for her as a mother. Perhaps one reason I can’t understand Sarah is that I have never been career driven and the thought of allowing herself and her children to potentially be in jeopardy for a job?? It doesn’t make sense to someone like me who works purely to get the money each month. That said, I have a friend who is an academic so I do understand how niche it can be and how hard it is to find a comparable role to the one you currently have and also how ‘old boy’ attitudes can be.
We see Sarah at her best when she is with her father; I loved seeing her relationship with him and his wonderful ability to drop everything and be there for his daughter whenever she calls.
I have to say I guessed very early on what was going to happen but got the ‘who’ wrong!

Was this review helpful?

As far as timings go, 29 Seconds hits the nail on the head. A fascinating exploration of sexual abuse in the workplace from a woman’s perspective- made all the more prescient, of course, by the recent #MeToo movement- given an exciting, thriller-y twist, this book raises questions even as it delivers a satisfying, solid story.
29 Seconds is a story about Sarah, a professor in the English department for her local university- which is run by Alan Lovelock, a celebrated scholar and TV presenter- and somebody who uses his power to torment and harass the women in his department. So, straight away, the story hooked me- it’s all the more interesting because it’s so relevant, and … does a fantastic job of establishing Sarah’s position as a normal, likeable woman with two children, who is at the same time trapped due to her boss’s influence and control over whether she keeps her job. The sense of claustrophobia is palpable, from a humiliating boardroom meeting where Lovelock (great name) takes the credit for her idea to the cringe-inducing scenes where he uses blackmail to try and get her to sleep with him in return for her job.
Lovelock is like Professor Umbridge: absolutely loathsome, but all the worse because he’s a representation of a genuine threat that many women do face in the workplace. His attempts to coerce Sarah are genuinely nauseating, so when she saves a little girl’s life, and gains the gratitude of a Russian mafia boss- and the chance to make somebody disappear as a weird thank you- things suddenly get a lot more interesting. Having the chance to kill Lovelock might be wrong- but given that the university turn a blind eye to him, and his harassment, might it be the right thing to do?
The best thing about it is that Sarah is such a sympathetic protagonist. She’s sparky, understandably angry and has already been abandoned by her actor husband, so she has nobody to fall back on. You really feel for her, and though her actions might be questionable they’re always understandable. It’s a really interesting dilemma, and …’s great writing builds up the tension and Sarah’s sense of claustrophobia whilst also keeping the surprises and twists coming, one after the other, as she and Lovelock square up to each other and do battle, each trying to outmanoeuvre the other.
An interesting moral dilemma as well as an exploration of what the ‘right’ thing is- and what to do when those problems come back to haunt you. Though by the end Lovelock is slightly more a caricature than a real character, the threat he represents is very real and this is an exciting, interesting and heart-stopping exploration of that. And the ending is extremely satisfying

Was this review helpful?

A fast paced thriller. Sarah’s boss seems to think he can treat her how he likes, until Sarah is given the choice to make him disappear forever. A very of the times novel, which will leave you questioning what choice you would make.

Was this review helpful?

29 seconds - it's not long is it? But for Sarah, 29 seconds will have the capacity to change her life for ever, and ultimately her boss's too, much to his detriment.

When Sarah saves the life of a little girl, she has no idea that the girl's father is a rich and powerful man who only has to click his fingers to make things happen. The father is indebted to Sarah and he makes her an offer- the opportunity to make someone disappear. He has no scruples when it comes to eliminating obstacles, even if they are human. Sarah is given 72 hours to give him a name, after which the offer will no longer apply, but he's insistent that he repay his debt. What will Sarah do?

Sarah's boss is a sexual predator, who constantly puts pressure on her, under threat of losing her job - a job that she needs even more since her husband walked out leaving her with their two children to look after. Life is really difficult without losing her only income too, so the dilemma that she finds herself in is impossible - should she give her boss's name, or does she give in to his constant demands just to keep her job?

Wow! This was a thrilling read, it literally called to me whenever I put it down. The characters were perfectly at ease in their skins, played their parts to perfection with a deftly constructed narrative. The plot itself presents a darker side of life, whilst demonstrating the mundane alongside it. The reader is taken on a whirlwind of twists and turns making it a truly tense and compelling read. Just brilliant, can't recommend it enough!

This is the second book that I’ve read by T M Logan, and he really is exceptionally good. Give this one a try, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed!

* Thank you to Netgalley, T M Logan, and Bonnier Zaffre for my ARC. I have given an honest review in exchange*

Was this review helpful?

When I first read the book description of ’29 Seconds’ I was immediately really fascinated by this read. I had not heard about this author before but this book just sounded really thrilling. And I loved the cover. So when I received my copy of the book I started reading as fast as I could.

From the moment I started reading this book I was completely hooked. I simply couldn’t put this book down. When main character Sarah rescues a young girl, she doesn’t expect anything for her act of bravery. But her rescue puts a dangerous guys in her debt and debt need to be repaid. Sarah gets a remarkle choice.. All she has to do is give one name.. and he will make that person disappear.

Well.. I was fascinated when I first started this book. I got only more fascinated when reading this book. The writing was thrilling and kept me on the edge of my seat. If you talk about a page-turner, this is definitely the book that fits that bill. Man, it was good. I loved every single page.

Not only was this book very entertaining, it also made me think. What would I do if someone asked me this question? I like to think I would say just to go away and not think about it. But we all have moment when certain people make us kind of crazy. Right? Not that I want them to disappear. But if I was asked at the wrong moment? It definitely kept me thinking.

Character wise I really loved Sarah. I definitely felt like I knew her in real life at times. And she was just a very nice character to read about.

If your looking for a great, fast paced page turner.. Then this book is for you.

Was this review helpful?

Warning: This book may contain triggers.

When Sarah unknowingly saved a young girl from an abduction, she didn't expect that the father of the one she saved Would offer her a possible solution to get rid a source of her problem .

Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear . . . Because everyone has a name to give. Don't they?

And with Sarah's situation, the offer seemed tempting. She has a good job in the Academia and dedicated to it. But her boss isn't making it easy for her as he keeps on advancing to her sexually. And with two young kids and no husband, Sarah needs her job and her disgusting boss really makes it clear that he has all the connection.

To begin, the idea of this story was captivating enough for me to request this book and thankfully it delivered well. The idea of 29 seconds phone call was really intriguing and it was done due to a desperation of a victim, Sarah, who suddenly lose control of the result of what she did. At first I found myself emotionally involved with Sarah because of what she's going through because of her boss, and then after the call, I was flooded with even more emotions. I felt fear for Sarah, frustrated, more desperate. Clearly, I liked Sarah as a character though in reality I might not agree with some things she did, (But this is fiction so let's just pretend it's ok. LOL) and it'sthe reason why I didn't give this one a complete five.

The whole book is a roller coaster ride that promises an interesting intriguing story with few twist and turns making the ride more thrilling. The pace is just fine with me and the way the author handled the plot points was just amazing, making me want to read his first book, Lies.

I personally and wholeheartedly recommend this book to Thriller lovers like me. :) I read this book in just five hours because I really liked it.. :)

Was this review helpful?

More stars needed to award for this book - had me hooked. Totally believable characters who I rooted for and hated appropriately. Plot twists and turns, many a WHAT? moment. This will be a great present for many of my friends and a great book group read. I loved Lies and TM Logan's next book doesn't disappoint. When's the next book published.

Was this review helpful?

Ooh what a great book! Fast paced, chilling and makes you question what you would do in that situation. 4.5 stars

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review

Was this review helpful?

Fantastic book that tackles the issue of sexual harassment. Took a free chapters to get in to it but once I was I couldn't stop reading it!

Was this review helpful?

Sarah's life is not where she thought it would be. Her husband has left her, her boss is a repulsive man who demeans her and her work and things are spiralling out of control. One act of random kindness puts Sarah in a position to change this. But what should she do? Can she get away with it?

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for this exceptional psych thriller.

I’ve become quite addicted to psych thrillers recently which is weird since just a few years ago, I didn’t like them so much.

“How much could you lose in 29 seconds?” All it takes is one name
29 seconds is one of the most captivating and enthralling ones I’ve read. It gripped me from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down! I read it in one day and that ending was wow. I love how everyone was fooled INCLUDING the reader. It was not predictable at all! This also deals with a lot of real issues that we are facing like sexual harassment and how the victims get blamed so I love how the author added that in but showed how much of strength Sarah had amidst all the harassment she was facing that she could stand and fight. Very female empowering! I Highly recommend this!

Was this review helpful?

Overall this is a good story. It tackles the issue of sexual harassment and how people react to it. Sarah justifiably is having problems with her boss. She tries various ways of making him stop harassing her. The overall plot was good but I thought that not all of it was totally believable.

Was this review helpful?

What I enjoyed most about 29 Seconds is the way the author changed the playbook.

As a reader you think you know exactly what kind of read you’re in for after the introduction to Sarah and the predator at her heels, then suddenly the focus changes entirely.

The topic of sexual harassment is on the tip of everyone’s tongue at the moment, due to the revelations about Weinstein and quite a few other Hollywood bigwigs. The #MeToo movement has resulted in a landslide of women and men coming forward to talk about their experiences at the hands of abusers.

Sarah finds herself, like many other women, in a daily struggle to avoid the advances of the man in charge of all of her possible career advancements. Technically it doesn’t mean she can’t get a promotion or be acknowledged for her academic achievements if she is willing to do what he wants and when he wants it. Imagine being blackmailed for sexual favours every single day and trying to fight the systemic abuse our society ignores on a major scale.

How many times are the victims demeaned, destroyed and ridiculed when they try to expose the abusers. To Invalidate and blame the victim is the name of the game. Not really surprising that victims don’t speak out against their abusers.

For me the most intriguing part of the premise was the question. I’ll admit I pondered what my response would be, would have been fifteen years ago and which person I would pick. So the answer for me is a yes, and I wouldn’t worry about it like Sarah or suffer from a guilty conscience either. By the way don’t tell the police I said that.

Logan writes a captivating story, which is driven by the protagonists desperation and fear. It’s a premise, which will make readers think and definitely talk about the book. Both the sexual harassment and the possibility of a crime without repercussions are excellent standalone topics for a story, but together they make an exceptional read.

Logan knows how to capture the heartbeat of public opinion and describe exactly what we wish for in the dark recesses of our minds. The only thing I want to know is, where is my Russian?

Was this review helpful?

Holy sh*t!! This story is phenomenal ! The plot is totally original and it kept me guessing throughout the book.. I was hooked to it from the start and it just kept getting better. Thrilling in the truest sense !!

The book starts with Sarah, a brilliant research assistant to a sleazy perv but famous Oxbridge-educated TV academic Professor Alan Lovelock, who is a big shot at Queen Anne University and beyond approach. Sarah and the other female research assistants have set “Rules” of self preservation while interacting with Prof Lovelock, because he is a repeat sexual harasser who has never been caught in the act. But Prof Lovelock has set his eyes on Sarah and stoops to all levels low to force her to get intimate with him. Sarah, a mother of 2 children, with an absent husband and a mortgage, tries her best to safely maneuver through his maze and keep herself safe yet not offend him, because he can really make it bad for her. But his behavior is getting worse. Sarah is denied a promotion despite her hard work and she pissed at the professor.

On the way to home, Sarah unknowingly stops a child abduction when she stops a man from capturing a child. Little did she know that the child, was the only daughter of a Russian Crime lord. The pressure at the office is relentless and to top it the Russian offers her a one-time chance to get her life back on track. In exchange for saving his daughter, he offers her an option to make any one person in her life disappear. Initially, when she hears the offer, she declines any interference and walks away. But when the pressure is too much, she relents. She makes a 29-second call informing the Russian crime lord of a single name.

What happens after this is epic. She doesn’t know the consequences of this call. What happens when things do not go according to your plan ? What happens when the situation turns to the worst ? What happens when your life and family is at stake ? When you are all alone in a battle against evil, how are you going to get out of it unharmed ? Can she turn around the tables on Prof Lovelock ? Who is going to help her?

I beyond enjoyed this book ! Such a satisfying thriller after a very long time. And while, I am not going to dish out spoilers, I will say this. There was a point in the plot, where I thought Sarah was totally cornered with no way to escape unharmed, not much physically but emotionally, mentally. But that twist in the end !! Wowsaaa !! What a way to end the book !! Shows how the mind works when a victim is cornered and has no other option other than to fight or die (figuratively,not literally).

The characters are well written and the pace is just right. It’s not too rushed, not too dragged.. The book made me feel nervous, tense, confused, angry, heart-broken, unsettled and vindicated as each chapter progressed. It had my complete attention and I couldn’t keep it down ! Work place harassment is a common issue plaguing many women and this book has depicted the different ways a woman tries to cope up with the pressure. It shows how career progress, even with hard work, can be stunted with sexual predators roaming around freely with no fear. It shows how people betray others, offer others as bait, in order to preserve one self. In the end, I also realized that giving up without a fight is unfair to our self. We will find allies in unexpected corners. What I appreciated most was, that Sarah could’ve blindly taken a much more violent yet temporary action, but she put aside her hate, her anger, to have an end which would be acceptable to her conscience. To actually win the war, not just the battle !!

Kudos to the author for penning such a brilliant story. I definitely recommend this book to all book lovers !! Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Zaffre for providing this ARC in exchange of my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I could not put 29 Seconds down.
Another fab book.
Lots of twists and turns that kept me hooked, I loved it.

Was this review helpful?

This thought must cross the mind of many a women. Gave me goosebumps as you realise this sort of thing is going on everywhere. What an easy solution to a problem, but it all unfolds. Powerful read

Was this review helpful?