This book is not due for publication for a wee while and my usual rule is to wait til nearer that date to read/review but my interest in the story was piqued so much that I really couldn't wait. But, it was not without trepidation as I started it as my journey with this author has been a bit hit and miss. But it appeared on face value to be more like The One, which I absolutely loved rather than some of his other books which fell a bit short for me personally. Happily, and obviously from my star rating, I was right and I devoured this book in only a couple of sittings as it gripped me so much, right from the off in fact.
With technology moving at a rate of knots, sometimes scarily so, and with more things being automated and, as such, more open to abuse, the events depicted within this book could indeed happen. Although, having said that, I am not wholly convinced that manual overrides would disappear completely and total control given over to AI and the programmers behind them but then again, I won't even let an AI turn a light on for me; I'm a bit of a Luddite in that respect. But, I was willing to accept that this has happened and sat back and just enjoyed the ride that followed.
As already mentioned, cars are now fully automated and, apart from programming the destination, require absolutely no further interaction from their passenger. They are free to sit back, relax and enjoy the ride, or work, or watch a film, or pretty much anything else it is possible to do in a confined space as the car safely takes them to their desired destination. I say safely, that's a bit of a bone of contention, so much so that there is actually a panel who sits and passes judgement whenever there is an accident. Analysing what happened and determining whether the car took appropriate action. It is during the sitting of one of these panels that word comes in that 8 such fully-automated cars have been hacked and are on a fatal collision course. The hacker then turns the tables again and instigates a public vote to determine who to save. But there are rules... Can the powers that be intervene in time to save the passengers before time runs out?
Oh my days, this was a wild ride indeed. And such an original idea which, believe me, is so refreshing these days! But as well as that, it was the characters that really were the icing on an already delicious cake. Especially the 8 passengers who all have to plead their case for survival and then, once time ran out, up popped the Hacker to add a little bit more information that they may have omitted which, shall we just say, added a little something into the mix!
There is so much more that I could say about the wonderful story that the author has created in this book but, having tried and deleted, I am reluctant to add much more for fear of spoilers and there is so much to discover along the way in this book that it's better to go in blind. Believe me, the thrills keep coming and you will have your heart in your mouth many times along the way.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I SO enjoyed this book! I loved the concept, I loved the way that the characters were gradually unveiled and misunderstood, I loved the drama, I loved the twists and turns, I loved the nod to a previous novel - basically, I loved it!
This book had me hooked and I was very cross with real life for getting in the way of reading it in one sitting. The whole premise behind it was fascinating and really made me think, it felt very current and disturbingly plausible.
Great.

What a rollercoaster ride again with John! Loved his previous novel "The One" and smiled at the little references in this book to its predecessor.
John Marrs is a brilliant concept creator - and I can absolutely see this one following in the TV adaptation footsteps of The One, as it would make an excellent visual feast for viewers, and completely lends itself to TV. The premise.... in an age of driverless cars, The Hacker has hacked into the driving systems and taken control of a number of passengers vehicles and is sending them on a fatal collision course. It is all played out across live streaming on TV and on social media. It soon becomes clear that these passengers have not been selected at random, and as a secretive jury are told to choose which one they can save, or send to their deaths, this is a big brother type concept of nightmares!
Short punchy compelling chapters, with a hook in every one to keep you turning those damn pages!

With thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Bloody brilliant as always! This is creepy, unsetting and thrilling all in one. I loved the callbacks to The One and that final twist is magnificently crafted. Impressive storytelling once again!

Firstly I’d like to thank Ebury Publishing for the ARC of this novel. Also thanks to NetGalley for facilitating. And a huuuuuuge thank you to John Marrs, who provided me with a real edge-of-the-seat page turner! John, you are a genius!!!

So, as usual there will be no spoilers in this review - trust me - you wouldn’t want them anyway, this book will thrill you all the more if you go in blind!

Having read John Marrs’ previous book, The One, I was expecting a lot from this book and my god did it deliver! I loved the little references to The One littered throughout the pages as it added to the understanding of the world that I (as the reader) had found myself in.

I have to admit that from the synopsis I was thinking it would be an “OK” book (automobile themed books don’t really get me excited) but I gave it the benefit of the doubt because I knew John Marrs had written one of my favourite books of last year and I thought the concept may be quite interesting. This book was far more than OK... it kept me hooked, it made me think, it was startlingly similar to real life and easy to see how we may well end up exactly there in the coming years. I loved the little news briefs and polls at the start of each chapter (especially the one that was written in the exact style of one of the trashiest newspapers I know! Lol!)

I am a consumer of books and have usually just read the final page whilst picking up the next, and there are very few that I will talk to my husband about - he’s not a reader at all. But this one I was talking to him about in depth because I needed to get my thoughts out. He was quite surprised because he said I never tell him what I’m reading but he also enjoyed our debates and conversations around how much of this could ACTUALLY happen in real life.

I am thrilled to hear that The One has been picked up for a TV series and think it would be an absolute travesty if this weren’t season 2. John Marrs has created a world that would (in my opinion) completely eclipse Black Mirror - because it’s so believable as our future and not a very distant one either.

I cannot praise this book enough. There aren’t enough words to describe how brilliant and intelligent this book is. It HAS to be the one to beat in 2019. It just has to be. And I will eagerly await Johns next book, and the TV series with hopefully multiple seasons!

⭐️ 4 stars

I will start my review as I always do with John Marr’s books, by saying I have read all his books and a couple of them are in my list of favourite books ever!

So I was very very excited to read this next one and I wasn’t disappointed! This was a different style of book, set way in the future in a world of technology and driverless cars. The premise is what happens and why, when a hacker takes control over a number of these cars and their passengers.

It has all the characteristics of a great John Marrs book; well written characters, dark story lines, twists and a few shock moments. This man is not afraid to write the unthinkable!

Recommended

Wow he's done it again! Every time I read a John Marrs book I'm gripped from page one right until the very end, reading until the early hours as I couldn't put it down.
He always creates very visual characters, I loved Libby and what she stood for, what a situation to be in as a juror in cases where a driverless car is involved in an accident. Libby doesn't agree with the process and neither does someone else, the Hacker!! Taking over several cars the jurors and the public must decide who lives who dies!!
Tense and gripping right until the last page. Yet again would make a great movie!!

I had read an ok book before this one and had given up on 2 other books,so I massively bumped this book up my reading list thinking I need to be in a reliable pair of hands,so to speak! One thing I love is the way this author makes the characters come alive and real and then puts them in completely unreal situations, but makes them believable. This was another page turner ,and I loved it.I did manage to work out a little part of the plot but was completely mystified by the rest.It was a page turner ,I love books like this, and I love this man's imagination and writing,can't ask for more really.No spoilers but if like me you have no self control when it comes to certain authors, read this book, and read it now,you won't be disappointed I really enjoyed it ,thanks so much to the publishers and netgalley for an ARC. .

Hi, well fans, old and new, of John Marr’s know that a new book will be good but you are never quite sure what the book will hold as they are all so different....one of my favourite books and the book that started me reviewing ‘The One’ is about to be turned into a 10 part Netflix series ( will be brill ) and it was good to see this book’s story referenced a few times ( albeit briefly ) in relation to characters in this book...........
So, this book....The world now has driverless cars, full on 100% driverless where the person needs do nothing except sit, its perfect and unhackable....until one day the system IS hacked....8 ‘passengers’ are on their way to various locations when suddenly they are told their car has been taken over......social media and a jury already sitting for another purpose ( related to driverless cars ) are to judge who lives....and who doesn’t
Its fascinating stuff as the 8 are revealed ( and their lives ) and asked to speak about themselves and why they should be saved
People decide
But do they know the truth behind the 8.....and how will peoples choices change as secrets are unearthed
The book cleverly weaves you into the same web as the voters are being led and I was sorry and scared for them, then horrified by them, then once again back on their side, well some of them....really this book changed my view on the 8 that many times and you never knew what was coming next, I felt I was part of the jury and got very involved in the plot, the characters and their outcomes
The book is so well written, enjoyable, scary, full on, exciting, terrifying, your emotions are all over the place
The outcome and final part of the book takes unexpected turn after turn and the ending had me cheering 😃
Its easy to say ‘unputdownable’ but this book is just that
Like ‘The One’ ‘The Passengers’ will stay with me and will you too
Just superb
10/10 5 Stars