The premise of this book is that suddenly everyone in Manhattan falls asleep, apart from three people affected by various brain disorders or injuries. However, the phenomenon is not natural, but an attack by an eco group who want to force the world to review its policies and make it a better place.

As a plot it was reminiscent of a number of TV series and other books, and whilst the story flowed along quite well, it didn't really grip me. The characters were fairly one dimensional, put there to 'do' things rather than develop. Sam Rossi finds herself in the city and recruited by the team to help, even though her priority is to reunite with her daughter and escape. Lockwood is a policeman, who begins to realise the terrorists (lets call them what they are) are linked to the group who killed his partner and put him in a coma.

There's little sense of drama as deadlines approach, and over all the final pages are more of an anticlimax. I wasn't sure if the author was trying to make a plea for the world to turn back from the brink and tackle climate change, or if he just wanted to write a thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a brilliantly executed story. It’s full of drama suspense, uncertainties and fear. I love the relationship between Samantha Rossi, her daughter and the people they meet on their journey through Manhattan. There’s plenty of intrigue, drama and death. It’s quite gripping and with a lot of twists and turns leaves you guessing to the end.
Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to have read this ahead of publication in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting premise of a book. Pandemic fear, a fear of sleeping, a city under siege, conspiracy theories.
I recall reading a book years ago by Matthew Reilly - high concept, 24 hour time limit, unlikely hero - that book moved at a clip and a pace that was unrivalled.
This book however, I found to be a slog. A lot of pontificating by characters meant things did not happen as quickly as it should have

Literally, in the blink of an eye, at 5:25pm on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary the entire island of Manhattan goes to sleep. Four million people fall, and remain where they fell, be that on the pavement or at their desk in an office block or whilst walking in the street and as Manhattan goes eerily silent there are only a handful of eco-warriors who know precisely what is going on and they are about to put their ambitious plan into action.

The story hits the ground running and doesn’t let up pace until the whole of this clever plot is revealed. With a real sense of time and place Manhattan, lost in time, becomes another fascinating character in this daring story and I followed with a real sense of trepidation watching as the plot unfolded and the perpetrators started to reveal their true personalities. There’s a real sense of disquiet, rather like the deserted streets of our towns and cities during the recent global pandemic, an otherworldliness starts to evolve, with streets and building littered with bodies, there’s a glimpse of a futuristic world which could, however frightening it seems, be just around the corner.

This is a really accomplished thriller, from its scarily realistic setting, to the well thought out characters particularly those of the terrorists and also Samantha Rossi and Nick Lockwood who become real champions and who under normal circumstances would never have met and interacted. I flew through the story in a couple of sittings, reluctant to leave the sleeping Manhattan to its own devices and fascinated to see what would happen next in this fast action thriller.

Beautifully written, with such incredible and believable detail, I can well imagine Manhattan Down being picked up and made into a movie, it really is that good.

Lots of books require willing suspension of disbelief to enjoy them; this is not one of them. Why not, it is obviously fiction you may say and my answer has to be that I can see something similar actually happening as much of the technology already exists.

This book manages to avoid Armageddon but I urge you to discover for yourself how very well written this tale is and, whilst reading it, to consider the likelihood that it is soon coming to a capital city near you!

This was a really interesting and gripping thriller that had some truly surprising twists and more emotion than I expected. The premise - Manhattan Island sleeping while the world watches in terror - was vivid and immersive and the final quarter was pulse-racing!

This gets four stars from me. I received a digital review copy from the publisher via NetGalley for review consideration. Opinions my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK for this eCopy to review

I just finished Manhattan Down by Michael Cordy, and wow—what a ride. This book is a high-stakes thriller that grips you from the first page and refuses to let go. Cordy has crafted a pulse-pounding narrative that blends disaster, mystery, and human resilience into one unforgettable story.

Set in New York City on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary, the novel plunges Manhattan into chaos when, at precisely 5:25 p.m., every single person on the island suddenly falls unconscious—except for two: Samantha Rossi, a single mother facing devastating personal news, and Nick Lockwood, an NYPD detective who wakes from a coma just as the city collapses into eerie silence.

The premise alone is chilling. The idea of an entire city—millions of people—suddenly rendered helpless is terrifying, and Cordy masterfully builds tension as Rossi and Lockwood scramble to uncover the truth. Their motivations are deeply personal: Rossi is desperate to find her daughter, while Lockwood is determined to protect his city. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and as the mystery unfolds, the novel forces its characters—and readers—to confront unsettling questions about power, survival, and sacrifice.

Cordy’s writing is sharp and cinematic, making it easy to visualize the eerie emptiness of Manhattan and the growing desperation of the protagonists. The pacing is relentless, keeping me hooked until the final pages. While the book delivers plenty of action and suspense, it also explores deeper themes, particularly the fragility of leadership and the consequences of global crises.

Manhattan Down is a gripping, thought-provoking thriller that dares to imagine the unimaginable. If you’re a fan of high-concept disaster novels with strong characters and relentless tension, this one is definitely worth picking up. Just be prepared to lose sleep over it.

✶ PRE-READING ✶
The premise is what grabbed me immediately: an entire city suddenly unconscious? That felt eerie, cinematic, and urgent. I love a survival story, especially one with an unusual kind of problem. I was also intrigued by the climate backdrop and the emotional stakes hinted at for the two main characters. I hadn’t read Michael Cordy before, but I was expecting a mix of thriller pacing with emotional undertones.

✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought...
This had a big-concept hook and delivered on the action and tension I hoped for. The alternating stakes - personal and global - kept things moving, and I liked the contrast between the emotional intensity of the leads and the larger, surreal chaos of a silenced New York. Samantha's medical condition and her worry about her daughter added personal stakes to the story.

It surprised me by...
...being more character-driven than I expected. For all its high-concept premise, this wasn’t just about spectacle - it was about what people cling to in the face of incomprehensible crisis. Samantha and Nick’s motivations were grounded and believable, and their moral lines were tested in compelling ways. I found the outcome really pleasing, but I don't want to spoil why.

✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
Book Recommendation: Blackout by Marc Elsberg – another urgent, citywide catastrophe with escalating consequences and a ticking-clock narrative.
TV or Movie Recommendation: I Am Legend (2007) – for its empty New York atmosphere, survival elements, and emotional tension as one person navigates a sleeping city.


See the full review at https://readandreviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/manhattan-down-by-michael-cordy.html

The premise of this book really drew me in. it's the kind of plot I love for a movie and the kind of thing that keeps me engaged and not scrolling through my phone while 'watching'. (So let's make this in to a movie yeah?) I really enjoy a plot where there is a time pressure put on a external body, let's be honest it's usually a government, to meet some demands before a catastrophic event takes place if the demands aren't met. We all know how its going to end, but it's the 'will they, won't they' in the middle that I can't get enough of.

Manhattan Down has all of this, I don't want to spoil too much, but I was really invested in the characters, even the ones that are designed to be the ones you love to hate. I did have it sussed pretty quickly who was behind it all, but that could well have been intentional, and if it wasn't, for me, it didn't detract from the story at all. I liked the involvement of the accidental 'wakers' and the fact that they were dragged along and embroiled in the plot to take down the 'fat cats' and I also really loved the involvement of a child in the whole story. The perspective of the goings on from a child and even her role in some of the events was a really great addition. Normally, with this kind of plot, it's all adults that are involved. Having a child in there really added to the dynamic and played on my emotions, too.

Look, i could say loads about this book. But the bottom line is that I have run out of space. I really enjoyed it and I've already passed it on to Mr S who i know will like it too, and because we don't read that many books that are the same, that's really special to me.

She will apprehend the girl and let the let the others decide her fate.
SMALL MISTAKE ....
At the end of Chapter 29

REVIEW DONE ...

Goodreads.com/ajrxii


Excellent story of 'activists' shutting down and sleeping the whole of Manhatten for the good of the world. However there are twists and turns throughout the story where it is gripping and eye opening. If only is all I can say. Well worth a read. Coming soon. I have just read the ARC copy with no incentive to give a good review.

I can envisage this as a film or TV series, with a few nips and tucks. The premise is truly scary – what I learned about computers and security makes me trust them even less! For every IT genius, there is an IT criminal mind that can hack and bypass every security measure … and when governments are behind a plan to obtain world governance under the guise of saving the world, the risks are all too plausible. The action is well-paced, the characters engaging, and the events frightening. Perhaps the resolution was a little too cosy and predictable, but it was a really good read. The pages kept turning at a lick.

3.5 stars, not quite a 4, for me.

Manhattan Down is exactly what it says on the tin - an action thriller about Manhattanites being put to sleep, along with all world leaders at the UN, by terrorists/climate activists. All excluding a notable few who are exempt owing to head trauma or insomnia. These include Nick Lockwood, police detective; Samantha Rossi, insomniac IT genius; Zoe, her daughter and Hank Kowalski, Marine veteran.

On the whole it was a great premise that delivered well thought through peril and consequences of a city whose inhabitants drop unconscious regardless of what they may be doing. There's a lot of tech jargon that came across as plausible and the sense of threat packed a hefty punch, at times. The characters we get know are all likeable but on a shallow level. Though there is backstory provided for each, they felt ever so flimsy and two dimensional. Quite a lot happens as we visit five banks in one night repeating the same sequence. That process could have been whittled down with a good edit. I did enjoy the arch of the story but it seemed slightly formulaic and foreseeable. Bad events occurring didn't cause much anxiety for the reader as there was always confidence it would all work out. A bit too safe. A lack of emotional investment on my part.

It would be ideal for this to be adapted for tv. In the right hands this could be amazing to watch and characters could become three dimensional in a way the book wasn't. On the whole, a good distraction that I wouldn't mind seeing occur in real life.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

Wow! What a page turner! I loved this book..
In a modern world full of technology, humans often have trouble unwinding enough to sleep, which is why one woman comes up with an idea that can control how people fall asleep. This was meant to do good, but in the wrong hands.......
On the anniversary eve of the 9/11 terror attack, the whole of Manhattan falls asleep, including many world leaders who are attending a UN meeting. People just drop where they are, vehicles crash, planes fall out of the sky and the whole city falls silent. All except for Samantha Rossi, her daughter Zoe, Nick who is a hospitalised NYPD cop, and veteran Hank. What sets these people apart? Why are they still awake, and why has everyone else fallen asleep?
We soon discover that an elite team of activists/terrorists are behind the act that put a city to sleep. How was it done? What are their goals? Are they targeting the UN, or is the motive something as simple as theft?
Read to find out....
For anyone who loves a good thriller, this will be right up your street!
Thank you to #NetGallery #RandomHouseUk #TransworldPublishers for an arc of #ManhattanDown in exchange for my honest review.

A good riveting start but then seemed to slow way down and I lost interest in it which is a shame as the premise was good and as say the start exciting and pacy,would make a brilliant film!

What a rollercoaster ride of a thriller! My first time reading @michaelcordy and I wasn’t disappointed. This book is just brilliant. It’s fast paced, gripping, atmospheric, tense, emotive and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s cleverly written, with short chapters and told through the different characters POV’s, making the story flow really well. There’s plenty of twists and turns keeping you turning the pages. I was totally captivated from start to finish. I couldn’t put it down.
I really enjoyed the varied and intriguing characters that all had good depth.
A enjoyable and thought provoking read. Definitely recommend if you enjoy pulse pounding contemporary thrillers. It’s well worth a read.
With thanks to #NetGallery #RandomHouseUk #TransworldPublishers for an arc of #ManhattanDown in exchange for a honest review.
Book publishes 8 May 2025.

An extremely enjoyable story of saving the world. A group of climate and economic activists acquire a sleep machine that puts all of Manhattan asleep including every world leader in New York for a climate conference. They make demands not only on climate change but also economic reforms. But not everyone falls asleep. Both Samantha and her daughter Zoe have neurological problems so are unaffected. Nick, a cop and Hank, a war veteran both have suffered brain trauma so remain awake. Together they must save not just New York but the world as the activist seem to have no respect for human life. The book is fast paced with a little twist in the end. It would definitely make a good film.

A gripping fast paced read. Manhattan is being held to ransom Almost all of the population are sleeping but a few are immune. Full of interesting and well drawn characters. This edge of you seat thriller. Looking forward to more from this author. Thanks to Random house/Transworld publishers and Netgalley for this review ARC.

This was a fun exciting read. It wasn't quite what I expected but I really enjoyed it. It was an interesting concept and I liked the pacing.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

Not quite a 4 but a strong 3.5.

This is a quite exciting read. Our two main characters unwittingly get embroiled with a mysterious group of idealists who are trying to (yawn) save the planet from climate change. As the story enfolds we wonder if the group's motives are all that they seem

The characters are good and the plot is intriguing, leaving you guessing at almost every turn. The ending is a little bit pat but I know nothing about brain function so I suppose it could work out like it did. There are a lot of modern day must haves - a cop and his maverick partner; a brave but troubled veteran with a tragic past; a computer expert with an interesting illness; a precocious child; an ethnically diverse group of activists; a Big Bad hiding in almost plain sight; a cabal almost of ruthless, heartless money men. The only thing I could see that was missing was someone gender fluid.

The book is none the worse for this, if you just read and don't overthink it is a good story.

I did feel however that it could have been trimmed a bit - we visit 5 banks and hear 3 times in detail about the hacking of the mainframe, the selection of the correct colours hard drive etc and the insertion of the files - once would have been enough. There is a bit of technical detail about computers, explosives and brain functions which I think could have been omitted with no loss.