29 Seconds
4.2
55
5
1
Hardcover
USD
25.19
$25.19
Product Details
| ISBN-13: | 9781250182296 |
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| Publisher: | St. Martin''s Publishing Group |
| Publication date: | 09/10/2019 |
| Pages: | 368 |
| Sales rank: | 68,194 |
| Product dimensions: | 6.50(w) x 9.40(h) x 3.10(d) |
About the Author
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
29 Seconds
4.2 out of 5
based on
0 ratings.
55 reviews.
I received 29 seconds from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
This was my first book by this author, I found it to be well written and a thrilling read. How quickly can your life change in 29 seconds, well in this book it can change pretty quickly. Hawthorne was a first class creep, and just thinking about him makes my skin crawl. Overall i found the storyline to be original and had plenty of twists and turns. I look forward to reading more books by this author. I would certainly recommend it to others.
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We have all had that “special someone” in our lives we would love to make disappear, but how far would you take it?
Sarah saved a young life and now a mysterious and powerful man is in her debt, a debt he has offered to repay without any strings attached, just dial a number, and in 29 SECONDS you can set things in motion that will make your life easier, your career safer and rid the world of one more piece of human vermin.
T.M. Logan presents a psychological thriller about one woman pushed to the brink of sanity when her personal and public world becomes an avalanche of emotional horror. Her boss is a sexual predator, her husband left her, if she doesn’t play the game with her boss, her job is history, her professional reputation in shambles and she has small children to think about.
The journey to the end of the book was marred by Sarah for me. She deserved retribution, she should have been strong enough to stop what was happening to her on her own, even if only to save other potential victims.
A fabulous read that could have used more “heroine” and less “victim.”
I received a complimentary ARC edition from St. Martin's Press! This is my honest and voluntary review.
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I'll be honest...I've never been a big fan of male authors writing from a female perspective. It rarely sounds authentic, and certainly didn't in this case. Sarah, our protagonist, was whiny and not even remotely likable. It's hard to feel sympathy for a person who lets herself be victimized over and over, yet does nothing to remedy the situation. Her actions were endlessly irritating.
While I appreciate the concept and theme here, and believe this novel had the potential to be absolutely amazing (particularly in the era of the #metoo movement), it ultimately missed the mark. Not a single character was well-developed and I felt as though there were a few threads that went absolutely nowhere. The conclusion, while satisfying, was also pretty damn cheesy.
Having said all this, the story is still gripping and a generally quick read. Overall, a pretty average book.
**Many thanks to the publisher for providing me an advance copy.
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Lots of twists and turns and an ending you will never see coming. Fast paced, quick read , thank goodness, with some interesting mostly unlikable characters. It is easy to dislike the main character due to her vascillating point of view in speaking about her boss and her husband. I am not sure there was a purpose for the ever absent husband being mentioned except to show Sara as weak in her dealings with men. The constant bickering of her children was quite realistic but became repetitive and lost the effect for me as did the abusive boss and lack of camaraderie of the women in standing up to the male abuse of power. Friends that weren't really friends and enemies who suddenly became co conspirators just didn't work, it seemed rushed and incomplete in parts. Overall a decent read, but not great,
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Thank you Netgalley for an copy for honest review,
29 seconds by T.M. Logan has a very interesting premise. If you could make someone disappear would you ? Sarah was given that opportunity and she had to reside if she was going to do it. And will she get away with it?
It was a pretty interesting read , but there were parts that seem to drag on. For the most part I enjoyed it.
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29 Seconds was a decent book. Sarah, the protagonist, is a temporary lecturer at Queen Anne University. Standing in the way of a permanent position is Senior Professor Alan Hawthorne, misogynist and sexual predator, who has targeted Sarah. He is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, presenting a likable persona to the outside world and keeping his predatory behavior hidden; it helps that he is famous, with a program on BBC2 and published books to his name, as well as having secured a grant for the English department worth 9.6million British pounds -- no one in university leadership wants to risk offending him and possibly losing the fame and revenue he brings to the university if he decides to leave, and any allegations against him would be easily turned against the accuser.
Sarah's specialty is Christopher Marlowe, the English playwright whose work includes the first dramatized version of the Faust legend, in which a scholar makes a deal with the Devil. After a particularly infuriating day at work, Sarah is taking a different route to her children's school when she witnesses the attempted abduction of a young girl, which she helps stop. In the ensuing days, she is abducted and taken to the offices of James Grosvenor, the father of the girl whose kidnapping she prevented. Mr. Grosvenor explains that he is now in her debt and wants to repay her. He gives her 72 hours to give him the name of one person she would like to see disappear (his specialty) -- a one time offer. This, of course, is her Faustian bargain.
A significant part of the book focuses on the next 72 hours, as she struggles with what choice to make, and then the aftermath of her choice, as things do not go as planned and she begins to breakdown under the strain of her decision. There is a plot twist that occurs after her decision is made that I really did not like and thought would ruin the book. However, the author redeems himself with the ending, which was quite fitting and quite devious. Yet, the overall quality of the book is harmed by the character of Sarah. While the author does a good job of portraying the stress and strain Sarah is under due to the behavior of Hawthorne and other people in her life, and does a good job of portraying her anger, rage, and disgust at what Hawthorne does and what he is able to get away with, Sarah comes across at times as whiny and self-pitying. Furthermore, the author has Sarah draw the analogy with Dr. Faust and his bargain with the Devil and the offer she receives from Grosvenor, but while Sarah contemplates whether she can make the deal and what kind of person that would make her and while she poses the hypothetical to a friend of what would you do if you could perform an evil act without detection or onsequences, Sarah never engages in the deep moral and philosophical internal debate that her expertise on Marlowe and Faust would suggest suggest she should [granted, that might not make for the most exciting reading for some readers] and Sarah does not fully consider the the potential ramifications on her children and other family and friends if she accepts the offer, especially if things go wrong.
My overall opinion of the book would be better if the author had utilized the Faustian bargain aspect more fully and if Sarah was portrayed a little differently at times. However, it was still a decent read.
I received an advance digital galley via NetGalley in exchange for a review.
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Sometimes things are not what they seem.
Sara rescues a little girl in trouble. Gives it no second thought. She goes about her days as usual, and right now her days do not seem to be in a real good place.
One thing leads to another, and Sara finds herself in a position to make a choice concerning her future that few will ever have. No one will ever know.
Can't tell you any more than that. You'll just have to read it. You'll be glad you did. It will have you questioning things you think you know about human nature and things you don't know about human nature, and, well, things. It will have you questioning things.
Well written story with great characters, good and bad. A book you will not want to put down.
This is my second T.M. Logan novel, and it won't be the last. New name on my favorite authors list!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy!
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This book was so good! I was entranced from the first page onward and it never slowed its pace or lost its appeal. The short chapters were compulsively readable and fast-paced, and the nature of the writing and plot itself was nothing short of addictive.
There were admittedly a few times that I felt that one of the characters’ behavior screamed guilty and I wanted this person to keep their cool and stop acting so obvious and cliched. But never having been in a similar situation myself, I can’t honestly say I would behave any differently...though after all the mysteries I’ve read, I would sure hope not!
I also had no idea how things would wrap up, but wrap up nicely they did with a few delicious surprises.
29 Seconds was a clever, thoughtful, heart-pounding, fast-paced story and I’m so glad I had a chance to read it. It enraged me, but also moved me and made me think. It had characters I wanted to pummel, and others I could cheer for. It was an absolute winner in my book!
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I didn’t realize that when I picked up 29 Seconds, it would start with a scene concerning sexual harassment. Having just finished The Whisper Network, I felt caught in a loop. But this one deals with being offered a way out of the predicament.
You see, single mom Sarah happens to save a young girl from a kidnapping. Not just any young girl, but the daughter of a very bad man. Who as a way of saying thank you, offers Sarah the opportunity to make one person disappear from her life. She’s got 72 hours to decide. What a dilemma. We would all like to think we’re too good to take up an offer like that. But I know there are a lot of days I’d be popping off a name without thinking twice. Hell, there are days when I have my own version of The Mikado’s “I’ve Got a Little List” going on in my head.
This is a fun, nerve wracking read. Logan does a great job of keeping the tension ramped up. I just wanted to see how it would play out. I couldn’t read fast enough. It definitely took me places I didn’t foresee. Sarah was a very realistic main character.
My thanks to netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
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Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC. I do not want to include any spoilers, so I will be as brief as possible, while sharing my honest opinion. Let’s talk about Sarah. Her vocabulary, as a PhD professor, and I have known many, is pitiful. Her expression of “wow” upon hearing something surprising, is rueful. And that’s only one example. She is not depicted as a bright woman though her credentials would indicate quite the opposite. I thought the author, while trying to capitalize on the me too movement, overemphasized the despicable character of Sarah’s boss. His actions were too ridiculous for me to embrace as reality and I am not the least bit naive to the ways of this world. Sarah’s coworker Marie......if she said “are you OK” one more time, I was going to scream. The plot was very far fetched and impossible for me to embrace as plausible. The dialogue in this book was unnecessarily repetitive. I found myself, on more than one occasion, wishing for the end of the read.
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Sarah saves a little girls life. As a reward, she is given a one time deal to eliminate someone (I kid you not!). She insists there is no one. But, the situation with her boss just keeps getting worse and worse. So in a rash decision she calls in the favor. Takes all of 29 seconds. And…oh wow!
Sarah is a hard-working mom with a job that just never gets better. Her boss is harassing her in more ways than one. Finally, the last straw is all it takes for her to make that one phone call. I have to be careful what I say from here…I do not want to give anything away.
This is over the top good! I flew through this book. It is non stop! Just when you think…you don’t…it twists again. This story just keeps getting better and better as you go along. It is so intense and intriguing you do not want to put this book down. (I hate that cliché, but in this case…it is true!). DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!
I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.
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Would you make a 29-second phone call that will completely change your life? Sarah, the protagonist of T.M. Logan’s latest novel, struggles to answer this question. She is a 30-something academic, a Christopher Marlow scholar, with a contract position at a small university. Her husband has recently “separated” from her, leaving her to deal with all of the hassles and problems that a single working mother faces.
One of her biggest problems, however, is her boss Alan Hawthorne and the “old boys club” atmosphere that engulfs her university. Hawthorne, a renowned scholar and very popular TV host, successfully raises so much grant money for the university that he can virtually get away with anything. And “anything” means that he is allowed to sexually harass his female colleagues with no fear of any repercussion. All of the women there, including Sarah, seem know it but are helpless to do anything about it. The last to complain to HR about Hawthorne lost her job soon thereafter. The most the women have been able to do is to institute “The Rules” (e.g., never be alone with Hawthorne in his office) in an attempt to protect themselves.
Sarah luckily has been able to avoid Hawthorne’s advances until she is up for a well-deserved promotion to a permanent tenured position, which she is denied. She is then faced with either submitting to Hawthorne’s desires or losing not only and chance at tenure but perhaps her job entirely.
While caught in this moral dilemma, Sarah is presented with a once-in-a-lifetime deal that can make all of her problems — or any one person — disappear. All she needs to do is make a 29-second phone call, and her life will change forever. What will Sarah do?
This novel fits perfectly into the current “me, too” era, and the reader is able to become emotionally involved with Sarah and her plight. However, her story proceeds at a somewhat plodding pace and seemed far too formulaic — until some twists and turns gave it new life and propelled it along to the finish. I was engrossed in Sarah’s story for the most part, but I found that the novel lacked pizzazz or snap or something and that its conclusion seemed a bit too abrupt.
I very much enjoyed Logan’s previous novel “Lies,” and although I did enjoy this one, I found it lacking in comparison. Nonetheless, I look forward to Logan’s next endeavor.
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“You give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear. For you.”—from the pulse-pounding new thriller, 29 Seconds.
Sarah is having a bad year. Her husband has run off with another woman and won’t answer her phone calls. Her kids constantly fight. Her boss is refusing to give her tenure and could even fire her because she won’t sleep with him. The only positive thing happening in her life is when she stops a potential child kidnapper by hitting him with her car. The child is the daughter of a mafia kingpin who offers her a one-time deal to make any person she selects permanently disappear. She has only seventy-two hours to decide if she will accept.
I would like to think everyone who hears the offer quoted in the first paragraph of this review immediately pictures the person that they would choose. It’s not just me, right? RIGHT? Ahem, so the novel does feel genuine even with the absurd offer. The cat-and-mouse game with Sarah and her boss is exhilarating. The story effectively propels the reader forward just to see who will win and, more importantly, how. Fast-paced thriller fans will be entranced by this mesmerizing page-turner. 4 stars!
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
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The subject matter is sexual harrasment in the work place. Sarah works for a university. She's worked hard to get up the ladder and promoted but her immediate superior, revered by many, stands in her way. She won't get what she wants unless he gets what he wants, that being Sarah in bed or on her knees. He's a real piece of work, manipulative and cunning.
When Sarah rescues a little girl from a kidnapping, the girls wealthy father offers her a favor... a "pay it back" option. One good deed for another. A 29-second phone call is all it will take. When circumstances at work deteriorate to the point that Sarah is desperate, she finds herself at a breaking point and makes a deal with the devil... or is it?
I found the pacing good, the story original and we’ll crafted. Potential readers would do well to remember this is a work of fiction, a stretch at times, but it keeps your attention. Sarah is in such a pickle one wonders how in the world it could ever end well, but surprises and twists are coming. The ending was genius and leaves the reader satisfied with its conclusion.
I read "Lies" by this author some months ago, my review is posted on GoodReads. It was a great read. This one was also quite good, though I liked "Lies" better. Fans of Logan's work should find this a satisfying and entertaining experience.
3+ stars from this reader, rounding up to 4. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to review the ARC. Release date is Sept 10, 2019.
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**I received a digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I read Lies, thanks to St. Martin's Press and was instantly hooked to this author. When I saw this story, I couldn't wait to read it.
And yes, it was still fantastic! The twists and turns. Just when you think you know what is going to happen, it shifts and all bets are off!
The main character is a woman, a hopeful college professor. She is trying to get a permanent contract, and she has a boss who is an awful, awful man!
I thought that was the way this was going, until she saw a little girl being kidnapped.
Wait, what??? What about that boss?
Seriously, a truly exciting story. Way to go, Mr. Logan!
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I loved Logan's book LIES so I was highly anticipating this one, and once I started the first chapter I knew I was hooked and wouldn't be doing much but reading yesterday! It's a fascinating thriller about Sarah, an up-and-coming young professor who is constantly harassed by her boss, Alan who threatens her at every step until she is at her wit's end. But when one random good deed produces a promise: "I can make anyone in your life disappear," her life seems hopeful again. Nothing, of course, is as it seems though and this novel is so relevant in this era of the MeToo movement. Revenge? Redemption? Yes, please! I loved it all!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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Stunning, amazing, addictive, not just a thriller but a THRILLER! This is definitely one of the best I have read in years! Sarah works in academia in the U.K. She is extremely bright and has a PHD. She has two young children but her husband has deserted her, possibly temporarily but she is not sure. Sarah’s boss, Alan, is a professor and valued by the university as he pulls in extensive funding. But, not only is he a misogynist, but possibly also a sociopath. He makes it known to Sarah that she can advance in her career if she is “nice” to him. One day, Sarah saves the life of a little girl and the girl’s father finds her and makes her a life-changing offer. He is obviously wealthy, powerful and very grateful to her. He tells her that, within the next three days, she can make a call, speak a name and that person will disappear forever. Can she? Will she? Does she? Many times I thought I had it worked out, then along comes a twist. Terrific, original story!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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A woman's solutions to her worst nightmares leaves her scrambling to change events when the "fix" is worst than the nightmare. I really loved this book, especially the ending. There are very few clues that will let the reader get to that ending before TM Logan launches it. What you'll think is a straight forward march to murder is anything but!
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29 Seconds by T.M. Logan sounded like a book I would devour from the moment I read the blurb. I was expecting a fast paced, suspenseful, addicting thriller.
Unfortunately, this one fell a bit flat for me. I felt like there were more slow moments in the story than not. There were several moments that felt fast paced and suspenseful, but they were only short moments sprinkled throughout the book. Sarah's inner monologues were a huge part of what slowed this book down and made me lose interest a few times. I frequently felt like her thoughts were rambling more than necessary.
29 Seconds was overall a thriller with an interesting concept that just fell a bit short of the mark for me.
I voluntarily received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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After completing some other books, I curled up with this book. I was instantly immersed in the struggle between her difficult relationship with her superior. Throughout the book he is referred to be three different names (nicknames among her friends and his actual name). Part of this book is based on the plight many women (majority) confront in the workplace by men. Lesser pay, less flexibility due to childcare, and sexual advances "advancing your career." This was almost overdone at times. But it also sets up her situation and shows the growth by the end of the book.
The pace of the book really picks up when an unfortunate accident occurs which drives her ambition to make a decision on how she wants to a) be perceived, and b) moral fluctuations on how to live. This part is what got me hooked.
Pro/Con #1: I found the reading difficult at times because it is written using English (not American English) phrases. But the writing is consistent in more UK-type phrases.
Pro-Con #2:: This writer is adept at fleshing out characters. It is if you are sitting across them at high tea. But this was also overdone at times. It appeared the author could have left some of the repetitiveness out. It may have had a bit more zing to it.
Pro-Con #3:: The end of the book finally reveals how she pulls off the elaborate plan which is crucial. You also see how she has taken charge of her life. But there are several questions left, and this may have been deliberate on the part of the author. 1) Nick? 2) Kids 3) Status at work?
It is an engaging story with many instances when I found myself holding my breath. I wondered how she was going to get out of many frightening instances. Her character becomes stronger and, based on the beginning, she has "grown up." She takes the bull by the horn and becomes self-actualized. Yet I wonder if she has difficulty now. Her father gave her 3 options on how to live her life. However, I still wonder if she is at peace given the choices she made.
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Just So-So
Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for a copy of an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It took a while for me to get into this book. Once I did, it went pretty quickly. I don't like to leave negative reviews, so I won't...I'll just say this book didn't do much for me.
It was suspenseful in parts, but to me, just ok overall...
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A suspense that will have you clenching your fists in rage as you root for Sarah to get rid of her harassing boss and dial that "special"phone!
However, things did not quite work out as they were supposed to and hence my heart began to pound until the final chapter of this novel!
Definitely a clever plot with details to actually make you feel as if you are in the pages with these characters and cannot run fast enough to get out!
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29 Seconds is a slow starter with a considerable amount of time spent on setting the stage. In fact, I almost set this one aside as I kept waiting for Sarah to be presented with the choice that is described in the blurb. After a little more of the mundane than I thought absolutely necessary, we do eventually get there, and by this time the author has achieved the goal of making us really hate Hawthorne. The only problem is I didn't much like Sarah either. She comes across as weak and incapable of taking action against her despicable boss. But, yes, there is a but, take action, she does, in a moment of desperation? Exasperation? Infuriation? Whatever 'ation' she feels in that moment, it was enough to finally do something. This is where the story took a turn for the better for me. Sarah is still whiney to the point of tedium, but she does have reason for some of it. Anyone with a shred of morals would have at least had second thoughts. But the twists and the way things play out saved this one for me. I can usually see the twists coming, and there were a couple that didn't take me by surprise, but they were still done excellently. That said, there were also a couple of twists that snuck right up on me and had me sitting up in my chair and paying attention, and the conclusion was perfect for this crazy, twisted story. Looking back and thinking about it all, I would say this book really starts at almost halfway through, but from there, it has a steadily rising tension and explosive twists that kept those pages turning.
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Sarah is a young professor working hard to become permanent. Unfortunately, her boss is Alan Hawthorne (or Lovelock?) and he's made it plain there is only one way for her to achieve that goal. The thing is, she doesn't try to get a movement going against him.
He's brilliant, manipulative, charming, successful, and powerful. Sarah's been successful at rebuking his advances but he's getting more worse. When a chance presents itself to DO something--ANYTHING (see synopsis), she saves a young girl from an apparent kidnapping. The girl's father is even more powerful than Hawthorne--and very grateful. "You give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear. For you." The reader is positive she'd take the opportunity but suddenly she's impotent again.
She has 72 hours to give them a name and within that time things get worse. Now she's really, thoroughly, pissed, and makes the call. Then wakes the next morning wondering "what have I done?" It was explained--there is no going back. But now it's killing her. In the meantime, her two young'un's are still fighting and squabbling, her father is still patiently there for her and hubby isn't in the picture as he'd had to go "find himself" (with someone else). She's totally not playing this with a full deck. You'd have to wonder how she's gotten this far.
Sarah's isn't the brightest and comes too close to telling. Telling??!! (Seriously?) But then the super baddies mess up and Hawthorne is rescued. (Uh huh, it's a CF.) And now on top of everything else, he can blackmail her because of course, he knows. HE's not stupid.
Sarah develops a plan to take care of him once and for all and it's also looking like a groaner. There is a twist at the end--a pretty good one--and I'll assume she didn't work that one out. Dialogue works well, but the reader is still shaking her/his head. Harassment is not new. Neat twist at the end, but in the meantime you have had to choke back disbelief.
I received this digital download from the publisher and NetGalley and always appreciate the opportunity to read and review a topical contemporary fiction. 3.5/5
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This is a pretty good psychological thriller. If a woman was sexually harassed in her workplace by her direct supervisor and the upper management turned their heads, how far would you go to get revenge and save your dignity? Would you go as far as agreeing to having them disappear or would you take it on yourself? Read this story and see if you still have the same opinion.
The book starts out great, but about half way through, I was beginning to wonder, then it takes off again and goes out with a bang. The author has a talent for discussing something that you think you know what he is talking about, but really, you know nothing. He has you going down one road but he is really way over so far ahead of you on the other route. I loved that, made the story so good, very well written.
I completely despised Alan, he was the worst of the worst, and his co-workers were no better. Was wondering if Sarah was going to pull her big girl panties on and take him out, I’ll let you read this one and decide for yourself if she did. This is a 5-star read.
I was very pleased to have been given the opportunity to receive this book from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This one gets the 5*****’s.
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