A brilliant and gripping read that had me hooked from the start a real page turner with some disturbing scenes and plenty of twits

Thank you netgalley for a copy for an honest review

This is one of those books that you are so scared of giving something away when putting down your thoughts.
Manchester to London. A mix if characters on a train. All heading towards their different days.
No one knows what surprises your day will have but for the passengers on this train things are going to be very different from a normal day.

A great storyline with some tense moments.
Very well written.

Hits on subjects we’ve all become familiar with but what no one wants to hear about.

This was a brilliant and gripping read, if at time’s uncomfortable reading, I started and finished it in one day it was so addictive,

In this horribly realistic and harrowing tale. The tension builds as the 10:35 Manchester to Euston train speeds to disaster as one of the passengers has a bomb in his rucksack. Will have you second guessing your fellow travellers on you daily commute

The Silence Between Breaths by Cath Staincliffe is perhaps one of the hardest books that I’ve ever had to review, something which is largely due to its subject matter. With so much time having lapsed since I first downloaded this book, I went into it with very little idea what to expect but have to say that it truly did pull me in and have me hooked from the very first page. Whilst I can’t say that it was a particularly happy or uplifting read, one thing that can definitely be said is that it was extremely powerful and emotive.

Within this particular novel, eight passengers board coach B of the 10.35 train from Manchester to London Euston and settle into their seats for what will be an almighty journey. All with different reasons for boarding the train, whether to attend a job interview, family wedding or little holiday, many begin their journey full of hope for the future with little to burden them. That is all except for Saheel, a man with terrible intentions who unbeknown to the other passengers has a bomb concealed in his rucksack which he intends to wreak havok with and destroy innocent lives, hopes and dreams in the process.

The Silence Between Breaths is told from the perspective of the eight different people who are on board the train in addition to Saheel’s sister who is at home when the atrocity takes place. As such it did take me a little while to get into the swing of the novel and remember who everyone was. However, this didn’t last long and I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed by how fabulously developed each of the characters were. As we got to know more and more about the lives of each of those on board the train, I found it harder to read without wondering who would survive.

Cath Staincliffe has created a novel that was extremely powerful, moving and thought-provoking that really highlights the importance of making the most of each and every moment you get to share with those you love. Despite being rather gripping to the point where I struggled to put it down, it certainly wasn’t a pleasant or easy read but was extremely topical in nature. With events such as what took place within this novel, being reported far too frequently, I couldn’t help but be filled with a sense of sadness that this book is not purely a figment of an author’s imagination. I think Cath is to be commended for how superbly she has pulled this novel off, with a vast amount of sensitivity and tact throughout.

The sort of book that made me want to hug all those that are dear to me, The Silence Between Breaths was a book that has had an incredible impact on me and is a book that I will not be able to forget for a long time to come. This was the first of Cath Staincliffe’s novels that I have ever read before and I can guarantee that it will not be the last as I’m now looking forward to discovering more of what she has written.

Passengers boarding the 10.35 train from Manchester Piccadilly to London Euston are bound for work, assignations, reunions, holidays or new starts, with no idea that their journey is about to be brutally curtailed. Holly has just landed her dream job, which should make life a lot easier than it has been, and Jeff is heading for his first ever work interview after months of unemployment. They end up sitting next to each other. Onboard customer service assistant, Naz, dreams of better things as he collects rubbish from the passengers. And in the middle of the carriage sits Saheel, carrying a deadly rucksack . . .

With The Silence Between Breaths, Cath Staincliffe takes on the mammoth task of sectioning off each chapter to different characters. And there are a lot of characters; as well as the previously mentioned Holly, Jeff, Naz and Saheel, we also have the bigoted Nick, travelling with his family; Caroline, on her way to meet an old university friend; single mum Rhona, who is travelling for work but just wants to be at home with her daughter, and Meg, heading off on holiday with her partner Diana, and their dog, Boss. It’s a pretty big task, and it might be hard to keep track of them all, but for the fact that Staincliffe’s characterisation makes each one feel distinct and entirely real.

Chief amongst the characters are Jeff and Holly, who find themselves sitting next to each other on the packed train and allow an initially terse and confrontational introduction develop into something a little more flirtatious, and packed with potential for the future. Of course this future is set to be brutally interrupted by the actions of Saheel, a young chemistry student who has made the decision that radicalised people all over the world make on what seems like a daily basis; to sacrifice his life and those of others to draw attention to his cause.

We get to learn more about Saheel through his own sections, but also from the perspective of the only character given her own perspective who isn’t on the train – his sister Kulsoom. Through her, we learn not only exactly what Saheel is planning to do, but how the actions of terrorists like this affect the family they leave behind; a family who isn’t committed to such a radical way of life, and who also have to come to terms with the devastating loss of a family member.

It is of course, a very timely story, with this kind of brutal act being in the forefront of everyone’s minds, given the global events we are exposed to so frequently. References to the 2015 election, the upcoming (at the time) EU Referendum, and other topical events, help to place this very firmly in and of its time.

But the characters are the story’s true accomplishment. Keeping a cast of characters this big straight, interesting and sympathetic (in most cases) is not an easy task, but Staincliffe manages it, and left me regretting that I had to say goodbye to them.

This is an exceptionally brilliant book, that does not come along very often. Because the writing was so descriptive I think this story would be a great movie. The author introduces us to all the characters, even the would be bomber and his family. The tension builds and I couldn't put the book down. Would the bomber blow up the train? Who would live? Who would die? Its a rollercoaster of excitement ! A must read.

Wow!!! I have never ever read a book in one sitting, in one day. This book was absolutely outstanding and i don't say that lightly. The way the author makes you feel as if you are actually present, in the traumatic event, is an absolute gift. This makes for uncomfortable reading, but the characters are fleshed out so well, that you feel like you're reading about your actual friends and family. Highly highly highly recommended!

Great read and easy to follow story line. Look forward to reading more from this author .