'59 Minutes' is a unique premise for a book that makes you ask yourself 'What would I do?' in the same circumstances. The tension as the countdown begins for the 3 main characters is palpable. I think I read a big chunk of this book with my heart in my mouth. It's well written with some likeable characters. Many thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for an arc of this well researched thought provoking novel.

On phones, i pads, computers, radio and tv there is a National alert! A thought provoking story and I can well remember the shock I got when the test emergency alarm went off on my phone in April 2023 (UK). A nuclear strike is due to hit Southern England in 59 minutes. Everyone is warned to stay indoors, make sure they have ample food and water and not to travel. All communication devices go dead apart from the message. Told from the POVs of three very different women, Carrie, Frankie, and Mrs Dabb in alternating chapters this is scary look at what a nuclear threat could look like.

Briefly, in London and Dartmoor we follow the fortunes of these three women desperate to get home to be with their loved ones, to get food for their holiday home or just praying their child will come home in time.

The extremes of humankind are shown from love and kindness to selfishness and inhumanity as each of the people involved struggle in situations never encountered before. As we follow their stories we also learn how each of their lives intertwine with each other. The question is will they all survive or will there be anything left to survive after the missile strike? The countdown intensifies the sense of emergency as the clock ticks down to possible annihilation. A tense and emotional read.

In one hour’s time a nuclear bomb will destroy the south of England. Carrie is desperate to get across London and home to her partner Emma and their daughter Clementine; Frankie, who is pregnant, and her partner Otis need to get food before holing up in their holiday rental in Devon and Mrs Dabb is terrified her daughter Bunny won’t make it home in time.

The narrative alternates between the points of view of these three women and the tension mounts with each chapter.

I thought the premise was a good one and it was a fast-paced thriller. The twist was well executed, but a little confusing.

One of the most devastating stories I have ever read, and I couldn't put it down. I've been thinking a lot about it since I finished, and it will stay with me.

I live in a city built on three faultlines, where experts tell us all the time that we're overdue for a massive earthquake, so the premise appealed to me in a ghoulish kind of way. I understood the terror and frustration of trying to get home to loved ones and the panic buying in shops reminiscent of just before the Covid lockdown announcements, so the first half of the story was almost familiar—I have a plan for this scenario.

Things turned really ugly, though, and then came the massive twist. I did not see that coming, and for that alone I will be seeking out Seddon's other books. With everything happening in the US this week, too, I can totally believe how the whole 59-minute alert came to pass. And that is the truly terrifying part.

Huge kudos to Holly Seddon for her research and perfect execution. The references in the back just added to the potential realism of something like this happening in the near future. I highly recommend this book.

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

A nuclear bomb is just an hour away and people on the the streets of London and south England are panicking. Armageddon brings out the best and worst in folk, including our protagonists, Carrie, who needs desperately to get home to her partner Emma and daughter, Clementine; Frankie, newly pregnant and facing more danger in the intervening hour before the bomb, and Mrs Dabb, desperately searching for her daughter, Bunny.
I really liked the premise of this book - I love a good dystopian novel and I thought the paceworked well, as chapters toggled between the three protagonists, counting down the minutes till Doomsday.
I think it will engage readers and make them question just how they'd react in such a situation.
I found myself caring deeply for the characters, and hoping against hope the bomb would fail to detonate.
But before we reach the final countdown, events unfold that ultimately confuse and alter the course of the story, and I feel as a reader that I was rather misled in the first half of the story.
It's a shame, but I think the plotting of the story and the confusing timeline let down what might otherwise have been an excellent and thought-provoking read.
I'd give it four stars for the theme and characters, but mark it down to three stars otherwise.

What would you do if you received a bone-chilling phone message announcing that missiles were heading your way, giving you only 59 minutes to prepare?

59 Minutes is a so well written that takes you on a fast-paced journey of survival, resilience, and the fragile threads of humanity.

This story is told through several points of view, Carrie, Frankie, and the enigmatic Mrs Dabb, as they race against the clock. Frankie and her partner trying to secure food, water, and shelter, Carrie trying to get home to her family and infant child and Mrs Dabb desperately holding on to hope for her 13 year old daughter Bunny to return. The shifting perspectives add depth to the narrative, allowing readers to witness the turmoil, fear, and determination of each character during the looming catastrophe.

The author’s realistic descriptions paint a vivid picture of an unravelling world. The countdown to zero hour adds an unrelenting sense of urgency that keeps you glued to the pages, your heart pounding as the minutes tick away.

And then comes the twist—an extraordinary, mind-bending revelation that completely redefines the story. It’s so unexpected and brilliantly executed that I found myself rereading those pages several times, just to fully absorb its impact. Wow. It’s rare to encounter a twist that not only surprises but feels so perfectly integrated into the narrative.

59 Minutes isn’t just an apocalyptic thriller; its realism, emotional intensity, and unpredictability make it a standout in its genre. If you're looking for a novel that will leave you breathless and pondering long after the final page, this is the one. Highly recommended!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

Wow, this is a really well written story about an event that could actually happen, it brings to mind a host of questions hit the main one of course, is what would you do with your last 59 minutes?
I enjoyed the different POVs of the main characters and learning a little of their back stories, the only con for me was a confusing little twist that came to light towards the end of the story in regards to a then and now situation that I couldn’t get my head around at first.
It all made sense by the end though and I urge everyone to give this dramatic thriller a go.

59 Minutes by Holly Seddon is a gripping, fast-paced apocalyptic thriller that hooks you from the very first page. As someone who loves this genre, I was immediately drawn into the escalating tension and high-stakes scenario, and Seddon delivers a narrative that feels both urgent and unsettlingly plausible.

The story unfolds through individual chapters dedicated to each main character, which worked brilliantly in building both tension and emotional connection. Each character’s voice felt distinct and authentic, and as the clock ticks down, their lives begin to entwine in compelling and often unexpected ways.

Seddon captures the chaos of catastrophe and the human instinct to survive with striking clarity. The tension is palpable throughout and ramps up steadily, making it hard to put down. While the pace occasionally meant some moments could have been explored more deeply, the momentum never lets up, and the finale is satisfying.

A smart, taut thriller that fans of the genre will devour in a single sitting. A strong 4 stars from me — and I’ll definitely be reading more from Holly Seddon.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Well this was a unique book ! I found it thrilling and terrifying at the same time, living in the UK I often don’t watch the news as it’s too awful and this book really confronts you with what could actually happen.

The book is told from the POV of three different women all trying to survive and get to the people they love. Two in Devon and one in London. Initially I was hooked on each of their stories / situations. About halfway through I started to skim a bit as it felt like it was dragging towards the point of the collision and was wondering whether their stories were related or not. WELL at about 70% it all got very interesting, a few twists I didn’t see coming and it all made sense. I really enjoyed the ending.

I only give this one 4 stars because I did find it dragged a little bit in the middle but otherwise I loved it (even though it terrified me 😳 maybe don’t read if the thought of nuclear war scares you!) and would highly recommend when this is released 25 Sep 25.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Orion for an advanced e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

59 Minutes had a really gripping and unique premise, the idea of the world ending in under an hour is instantly tense and thought-provoking. I was drawn in by the concept and liked how it explored different perspectives in such a high-stakes moment. However, the execution didn’t quite live up to the potential for me. Some of the characters and plot threads felt underdeveloped, and I struggled at times to fully connect with their choices or feel the emotional weight I was expecting. That said, it was still a fast-paced and readable story, and there were definitely moments of tension that kept me turning the pages. A solid read, just not as impactful as I’d hoped.

All I can say is WOW!! What a fantastic book. Easy premise - what would you do if you had 59 minutes left till a missile hit.? How would you get back to your family? Brilliantly written and the twists when they came were clever and made total sense. Highly recommended

✶ PRE-READING ✶
I was drawn to 59 Minutes because the premise immediately grabbed me - what would you do with such little time, especially when everything you know and love is at risk? The clock ticking down in real time creates instant tension, and I was curious to see how the author would build the emotional stakes with multiple POVs. I hadn’t read Holly Seddon before, but I’ve heard good things about her writing and was excited to dive in. I was looking for a fast-paced thriller with high emotional stakes, and I hoped it would offer a compelling look at how people would react under pressure.

✶ POST-READING ✶
As I thought... The writing is strong, and the tension throughout the story is palpable. The stakes feel real, and there’s a lot of urgency in the actions of the characters. The three different POVs offer insight into different experiences, and the emotional stakes for each character are high, which kept me invested. The concept of the impending missile strike creates a ticking clock that amplifies the pressure on each decision.

It surprised me by... While the book kept me hooked with the sense of urgency and suspense, the twist at the end was a bit of a letdown. The author led me down a path with one of the characters, and I felt like I was being intentionally misled with information that later turned out to be false. I prefer twists that reveal themselves in a way that feels earned - when you can look back and see how the clues pointed to the truth all along. This one felt more like a trick, which undermined the satisfaction of the reveal. That said, the overall concept of facing the end of the world with only an hour left was still powerful, and the writing really captured the emotional complexity of the characters.

✦ RECOMMENDATIONS ✦
Book Recommendation:
If you enjoyed 59 Minutes, you might like The Silent Stars Go By by James S.A. Corey. While more sci-fi than thriller, it also deals with urgent, high-stakes situations and how characters make life-changing decisions when time is running out.

TV or Movie Recommendation:
The film Seeking a Friend for the End of the World could be a great companion. It's not as fast-paced, but it shares that sense of looming catastrophe and explores how people find meaning and connection in their final moments.

I've enjoyed Holly Seddon's previous thrillers but this one sees her reach a new level. I find that high-concept books can disappoint in the execution but if anything this one exceeded expectations. It's a masterclass in real-time suspense but suffused with humanity. My favourite thing as a reader is to be suspended in that sweet spot where you're compelled to turn the pages but you also want to linger over every page because there are so many beautiful sentences, and 59 Minutes does just that.

I’m afraid I’m breaking from the overwhelming 5 star reviews on his book to say this one wasn’t for me. Totally sold on the premise. An hour till a missile attack hits Britain.., an hour to be with your family. A desperate countdown. I just didn’t gel with this one and found the twist 2/3 way through a bit mind boggling if I’m honest. I could have gone back over it to check if the clues were there all along but I had no desire to. Sorry! I just wasn’t the target audience on this one

I don’t even know where to begin with this one. I think this has to be one of the best books I’ve ever read. I actually devoured it! Wish I could give more than 5 stars, it deserves them all!
There’s nothing to not like, incredible writing, and somehow realistic, which makes it even more disturbing. I can somehow imagine this happening, and that in itself is terrifying.
I don’t have a bad word to say about it. Go out, get this book and read it, that’s all!

Before I start, there’s dark themes covering in the one (as you’d expect given the premise), but check out at the end for more details.

I’ve been seeing this a lot on the socials - Seddon is doing a great job at promoting this. And when I read the blurb - wow! Talk about a hook (although given the state of the world at the moment, it can feel a little too real!) Needless to say this one pulled me in from the start. If fast paced and tense as you follow our 3 main characters: Carrie, Frankie and Mrs Dabb, desperate to get home to their loved ones when the alert of an incoming missile. But there’s lots of questions - why are we following these 3 characters? What makes them so special? Of course all becomes clear in time. But I really enjoyed this (the pacing slipped a bit for my about 2/3 of the way in) but I was desperate to know what happens at the end, to our main characters, and of course why we’re following them. I will say - I did not see that reveal coming, but all I will say is it left me questioning all I’d read.

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Orion Publishing, and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.

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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: there’s reference to suicide, rape, sexual assault, and murder.

I have never read a book quite like this one and I have to say I loved it! It's terrifying yet thought provoking and utterly, utterly compelling-I really could not put it down and my heart was pounding along with the fast paced plot.

It's also expertly crafted, clever and one of twists completely blew my mind, I never ever would have seen that one coming in a million years, all I can say is wow!

I know this book is going to stay with me forever and I have been talking about it to everyone I know.

The question I'm left with now is how would I spend my 59 minutes? I'm sure to be asking others this as well-I've a feeling I'll carry on talking about this book for a long time to come-highly recommend from me!

Thanks as ever to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

59 Minutes is an absolutely gripping read from start to finish. Holly Seddon has done a brilliant job creating a high-stakes thriller that’s not only suspenseful but deeply emotional. The countdown structure added real urgency, and I found myself completely invested in the characters’ journeys. It made me think about what really matters when everything is at risk. Highly recommend to anyone who loves thought-provoking, character-driven thrillers!

An absolute whirlwind - I can see this being made into a movie and absolutely stunning audiences. Highly recommendations

Wow! Just WOW. This is my first book by this author and let me tell you it won’t be my last! I was completely blown away it was sheer brilliance. I didn’t want to put the book down but life kept getting in the way it was pure awesomeness!

I was hooked from the start and couldn’t stop turning pages long into the night. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep me holding on… truly wonderful. Once you pick this book up, you won’t want to put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ stars!