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Amazon.co.uk Review
Greg Iles's explosive suspense thriller 24 Hours gets off to a blistering start: the kidnapping of a little boy--in eight breathless pages--that culminates with the child's safe return and the disappearance of the successful kidnappers. That sets the stage for the book's centrepiece, the abduction of little Abby Jennings, daughter of Will, a successful physician and Karen, a slightly dissatisfied suburban woman who's wondering where the passion in her marriage went. The criminals' modus operandi is established early on. They target the progeny of Mississippi doctors, demand a reasonable (to an affluent MD) ransom, release the child after the money's been paid and promise the victim's parents that if they ever breathe a word of the incident to anyone, their child will be taken again and killed. The kidnappings are carefully set up, targeted to take place when one parent is out of town at a medical meeting or convention, thus ensuring the cooperation of the other. And the victim is held by a sweet, slightly retarded but humongous and powerful man whose loyalty to his cousin, the mastermind, is unquestioned.
24 Hours is a version of the locked room school of kidnap mysteries and a very good one indeed, especially when Will turns the tables on the kidnapper and takes control of the situation. Abby's diabetic condition (she needs lifesaving injections on a regular basis) notches the suspense up one last turn. It's a well worked-out plot, the pacing is terrific and the characters likeable and attractive. Iles is a master storyteller and this one has big screen written all over it--with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as the Jennings, if we're lucky. --Jane Adams
Review
'A superbly-crafted and clever book that never fails to grab and hold the attention and will undoubtedly confirm Iles' position in the mainstream of big-money thriller writers' (The Times )
'Iles's latest brilliantly plotted tale walks the razor's edge between cinematic excess and bone-chilling suspense' (Publishers Weekly )
'Iles really keeps the heart-pumping suspense in top gear - plus there's an ending you just won't believe, believe me. Iles is a great thriller writer, and with this novel he's done it again' (Independent on Sunday )
'A taut well-constructed thriller.' (Observer )
'Iles's latest brilliantly plotted tale walks the razor's edge between cinematic excess and bone-chilling suspense' (Publishers Weekly )
'Iles really keeps the heart-pumping suspense in top gear - plus there's an ending you just won't believe, believe me. Iles is a great thriller writer, and with this novel he's done it again' (Independent on Sunday )
'A taut well-constructed thriller.' (Observer )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is one of the few books that have lived up to the publisher's promises. I literally was hard pressed to stop reading after the action started. The plot is relatively simple but it is fantastic how the author manages to keep the reader guessing and trying to find ways to outsmart the villains. The sense of empathy with the victimized family is overwhelming. I tried this book because his former book "The Quiet Game" was equally captivating.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Joe Hickey has figured out how to pull off the perfect kidnapping for ransom. He knows that the problem with kidnapping is the drop...you always get caught at the drop. Therefore, he has devised a plan where each family member, mother, father and child are all held in seperate locations for 24 hours where each kidnapper then places a check in call every half hour to make sure that everything is going according to plan. There is no drop, no confusion and most importantly no one gets hurt. They have pulled this off numerous times before and have yet to be caught, however, Joe didn't anticipate running into a family who refused to keep with his plan!
'24 HOURS' is an enjoyabe thriller by Iles and while I cannot say that it exactaly kept me on the edge of my seat, I can say that it was well written, well thought out and because everything was done just right I decided to give it 3 1/2 stars. While others raved about this book I didn't find that I was kept in suspence at all, I could pretty much figure out how the book was going to end from the begining, but hey, at least it kept me entertained for a day or two.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Joe Hickey is one smart sadist. Like your more successful gamblers, he knows that walking away from the table when you're ahead is usually the best policy. For five years he has supported himself and his collaborators with his patiently-won earnings, the produce from his kidnappings--only one perfectly planned abduction per year--of the young children of well-to-do doctors. His crimes are so well thought out that Hickey knows his victims will neither attack him nor call the police, either during the kidnapping or after their children's safe return. He is confident enough in his planning that he uses his real name--rubbing his victims' noses in their impotence--and is unconcerned if they happen to have access to firearms. The distraught parents of Hickey's targeted children bend to his will--a rather unpleasant business given his demands--because they have to.
Hickey's sixth kidnapping, of five-year-old juvenile diabetic Abby Jennings, is the subject of Greg Iles' taut, perfectly plotted, utterly gripping 24 Hours. The Jenningses may be having the worst day of their lives in the book, but you'll have a great one as you neglect your responsibilities, lock yourself in your bedroom, and read Iles' novel from cover to cover.
Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The eponymous tells you all!
Having read The Devil's Punchbowl I decided to read 24 Hours. Interestingly it was also made into a film called Trapped. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by Jonathan Clark
Not to be missed
24 Hours
A brilliant read which keeps your intrested all the way through.Would recomend this book and this author as one of my favourite writers
A brilliant read which keeps your intrested all the way through.Would recomend this book and this author as one of my favourite writers
Published on 30 April 2009 by Mrs. V. A. Holden
Have not yet received
Please note that I have still not received this book and also haven't received the Frankie Boyle DVD (order placed at the same time). Read more
Published on 9 Feb 2009 by Ceri E. Macwilliams
An enjoyable thriller
I enjoyed this novel, it was easy to read and well written, though it was fairly predictable as in the eventual outcome. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2008 by crime reader
Amazing
I loved this book, it is the third I have read by this author (Dead Sleep and Spandau Phoenix) and unlike those it really did keep me gripped. Read more
Published on 7 April 2008 by J. Bodman
Grips tight
This is a novel you can rely on to grip you tightly from the beginning. Although personally it took me a few pages, once the tension starts racking up it doesn't let go. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2008 by Bryony Hamilton
A good, tense thriller!
This book starts off with lightning speed and tears away into the action relentlessly. As said by numerous reviews, the plot is cleverly crafted and very enjoyable. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2007 by Mr. W. D. Backman
Average Hostage Thriller
Abduct the 6 year old child. Hold each of the parents separately and collect the ransom money. Then reunite the family. The kidnapers had done this before 5 times. Read more
Published on 1 Nov 2006 by Scottish Dave
Very Readable ,Great Holiday Book
Fast paced , well written , full of tension , sympathetic characters , exciting ending , well plotted . What else can I say. A great read . Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2001
A book not to put down.
This is the first novel I have read by this author, not only is it gripping reading but also excellent writing, very descriptive and imaginative. I must buy the others.
Published on 7 Aug 2001
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