I’m convinced this will be one of the books of 2020. It tells the story over three hours of a school siege and shooting, set in an in independent school in South West England.

At the start nobody has any clue who the shooters are and why they are there. Slowly the story is unpicked in such a skillful manner. We see the impact on those inside the school, those trying to save them and those waiting for them. It’s an absolute page turner and one that will really make you think. I read it in one sitting. It will stay with me for a long time.

Wow, what a absolutely fantastic read. I haven't read any other books by Rosamund other than Sister but I was already super excited to get this one started and it didn't disappoint. I couldn't put it down until I'd finished and it was worth it. I felt like I was at Cliff Heights School on the day of the attack, in the command centre, the theatre, the library. I cannot tell you how well this book written, but I was honestly there and crying at the end. I'd recommend this book to everyone!

Unquestionably 5 stars for Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton. This is a gripping, edge-of-your-seat drama from start to finish, with absolutely fantastic characters in a hugely dramatic situation. So much research clearly went into this, making it a collection of rich threads which come together to make a satisfying whole.

I'm really, really impressed with this and think Lupton is an incredible writer. I'll definitely be seeking out more of her novels in future. Highly recommended.

I have ummed and ahhed about this review. Not just what I want to put in it, but whether I should write it at all. Not because I didn't enjoy the book, because I did, and not because I don't think that it's beautifully and very skilfully written, because it is. I'm just not sure if I am entirely the right audience for a book which draws heavily upon the internal fears of every parent - the possibility that they may lose a child.

I am not a parent. Never will be. It's not in my genetic make up. That lack of maternal instinct has meant that I likely read this book in a very different way to most of my fellow bloggers. I read this as a voyeur first, the kind of person who might see the subject of a school siege on the news and think 'how awful' before moving on with my day, as opposed to those who would sit there and think 'that could be my child' who will have an entirely different emotional reaction to what they see, or in this case read, than I would. I have nephews and nieces and I would be devastated if anything were to happen to them, but it's not quite the same thing. And so rather than becoming emotionally invested or immersed in this book in the way a parent would, I was an outsider looking.

And yet ... Rosamund Lupton has done an absolutely stunning job here. She has created an atmosphere and a tension in this book that draws you in as a reader. Not in a necessarily ghoulish or voyeuristic way, but by giving you just enough of a bit of each of the most relevant characters to engage you. To make you care about them and their fates, be it one of the students caught up in the school, the Detective trying to get to the bottom of who is behind the siege, or the parent waiting and praying desperately to hear good news about their child. There is such dramatic tension in each page that you feel compelled to read on but not because you want to hear something awful has happened, because you are hoping it won't.

The characters in this book are diverse, a reflection of the kind of school in which the action is set. A liberal college which embraces diversity - exactly the kind of target you might expect for those who are against diversity in any form. It is a timely story, not because we are necessarily overrun with school sieges - thank god - but because of the growing sense of hatred that is prevalent in our modern society, something which is brought out in the narrative perfectly. For every act of tolerance and inclusion there is a counter, and in this case it is taking its most extreme form.

The are moments of high tension, moments that will make you hold your breath and pause, waiting to see if all will be okay. There is also a strong sense of family, of faith and of hope, in spite of everything. For some, their worlds will be torn apart by those three hours, for others, it will mark a change but one which is for the better. The constant use of Macbeth throughout as a dramatic device, the play that the children are rehearsing at the time of the siege, is very clever and serves to highlight the very nature of evil and darkness, allowing the children to make sense of the carnage in their own way.

The imagery is stark, putting readers at the heart of the action and letting them feel the chill of the snow as it falls all around them, adding another layer of jeopardy to an already impossible situation. The final third of the book is so tense, the pacing increasing with every page turn, that I was glued to the page to the end.

I loved the characters of Rafi and Basi, how the author drew upon their backstory of fleeing Syria. It has a heavy part to play in the story, but the strength and bond between the two brothers who have already lost everything apart from each other, is both heartwarming and thought provoking, forcing you to think about what sacrifices you might make for family. Family is definitely a strong theme in this book and the fragility of those bonds, even genetic ones, are shown in dramatic style.

This is a beautifully written book, rich in language and symbolism. The styling may throw some, the narrative moving between characters without warning, capturing all of them in that brief moment in time that makes up those critical three hours. But is is an important book in that it holds up the sense of love against the feeling of hate and gives us hope that love is the stronger emotion, despite everything you might see and hear these days. So whilst my journey in reading this book may not have been the same as that which parents would take, i still recognise this book for the brilliant piece of literature that it is, one that will make you want to hold your loved ones that little bit closer.

This very rarely happens to me but having just finished this wonderful book, I am almost at a loss for words. I don’t think anything I can say will express just how good this book is or how deeply it has affected me. There were times when I was reading that my heart was beating so fast I swear I could hear it, times that I was dreading reading on for fear of what might be revealed but all the time I was unable to stop reading, pushing forward and praying for everyone.

The story is set in an independent school on Somerset which caters for children both primary and secondary age. The school is set in sprawling grounds with separate areas for the Junior School, the Old School, the New School and the Arts. One unassuming day, the school is infiltrated by gunmen and it’s a battle for survival. Told from the perspective of some of the children, teachers, a parent and a Police officer this book is like no other I have ever read. You can almost taste the fear on every page and the battle for survival.

This is the first book of this author’s I have ever read and I can’t wait to read more. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Wow, what an emotional roller coaster this read is. It’s an horrific tale of a school shooting which should be horrible but it’s written so cleverly that you can’t help but be drawn in and keep reading. Likeable, believable characters from the school children, teachers, police and parents. Storyline told from multiple perspectives and with a great deal of current political reference. Highly recommend.

I have loved previous books by Rosamund Lupton and was so excited to get into this. I received the advanced copy a while ago but wanted to wait until near publication before reading it. It’s the kind of book that you just want to binge as you can’t stop thinking about it.

I loved the multiple narrators as it gives you a sense of what is going on in various places during the school shooting/attack. The police woman/forensic psychologist who is trying to get in the mind of the perpetrators, the headmaster, the kids in the theatre, the kids in the library, some of the parents and the two refugee siblings new to the school. Crucially, I loved that we didn’t get the perspective of the attackers as that could ‘glamourise’ their actions and develop empathy for them when it should be all about the victims. I did find the revelation about one attacker a little predictable, and had guessed it way in advance, but it did not affect my enjoyment of the book or the tension that built.

I felt such empathy and involvement in the plight of Basi and Rafi, the two refugee siblings, and I loved that the book was so relevant and contemporary in terms of the current world situation regarding refugees, attitudes to them and how it is impacting on society. The inclusion of Tweets and other social media made the book feel so timely and authentic. Particularly the use of Trump Tweets and news headlines that have contributed towards the events happening in the book. It was actually quite shocking in ways I had not expected and Lupton should be praised for tackling such a difficult topic and doing so in a thought provoking way.

As I was reading it, I increasingly felt like this is an important book to read as it shines a spotlight onto some of the most worrying things in our society today and delves into the reasons behind them.

There are some surprising twists and turns towards the end that I did not anticipate and they kept the tension high.

I will be recommending this book to many friends and family.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publishers for this advanced readers copy.

The most beautiful, profound and moving book I’ve read in such a long time, Three Hours is a masterclass in literature.

I felt every moment of the story, blending all manner of important issues from radicalisation and refugees to everyday courage and Shakespeare, alongside tense plotting and well-drawn characters. There were moments, particularly as I raced toward the end, which caused genuine gasping sobs.

Three Hours should be top of your TBR pile for 2020, I swear that you won’t regret it.

I was sent a copy of Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton to read and review by NetGalley.
What a fabulous book! Totally compelling, thrilling and emotional, this novel deserves the highest praise. Really well written, seamlessly moving between the scenarios and keeping you reading on and on. There wasn’t a moment where I wished the chapter/episode would move on to another more interesting one – the whole book was utterly engrossing! Sensitive and insightful I personally consider this a ‘must read’.

A very interesting story as I live in the UK and what happens in the book it’s not quite a monthly occurrence as in the states but very on point and remarkably telling. Everyone has a voice here, from the shooters to the victims and even us, the readers can get a say in how much a news story like this can make a preconception view oF a similar situation in our mind.

Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about a school shooting in rural Somerset, UK, which is somewhat surreal, but the story telling is anything but. we are led through the thoughts, feeling and actions of all of those caught up in this terrible tragedy - victims and attackers - from the very first shots ringing out, to its conclusion, 3 hours later,

I'm a big fan Rosamund Lupton and this didn't disappoint. As always, well researched, thought provoking and atmospheric. I really enjoyed the multiple narrations and the story being built up in layers and layers, with each voice giving another bit of the puzzle.

This is a very timely story and does a good job at making us question our assumptions and prejudices, but also how the media we consume can fuel unjust hatred. I highly recommend this

I was given a copy of Three Hours by Rosalind Lupton in exchange for an honest review. I have read other books by the same author which I have always enjoyed.

This book is about a school which is attacked by gunmen. At the beginning the headmaster is shot and the children hide in different areas of the school. The story is told from many different people, those hiding in the theatre, a mother, the detective and a ýoung migrant who goes to the school. At first I found it confusing until I got to know the characters. The book is told over three hours.
It's an interesting story, especially when you get to some of the themes which are addressed at the end of the story. A good book

Wow, I haven't read a book so fast in ages, I really couldn't put this one down. Equally uplifting and disturbing, the balance is just right to make sure you don't totally despair at the horror of the events as they unfold. As a parent of teenage boys I found some of this totally terrifying but also recognised how amazingly resilient, brave and inventive they can be.
Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is an extraordinary novel and I feel like any review I write can’t possible capture the essence of the experience of reading it. Start to finish it took me two weeks and that’s because I was fearful of what might be coming and was only reading in short bursts. The rural setting and blizzard conditions add to the tension and sense of isolation as the characters live out the three hours of the siege. It’s a tense, emotional tale and a great illustration of the power of love. A masterpiece of plotting and most highly recommended.

I enjoyed this book. But for some reason I cant quite put my finger on why. It kept me reading although I didnt feel completely hooked. I found it quite confusing with how it jumped between characters and not specifying who's point of view the story was from.

I have literally just finished reading this book, I am sat here my heart is pounding, and a single tear runs down my cheek, what a read, despite this not being out until the beginning of January I have to put it in my top reads of 2019. This is most definitely a book to look out for early 2020.

Gripping, engrossing, thrilling, heart pounding, exhilarating, terrifying.

When the pupils of Cliff Heights School arrive for their daily lessons little did they know that the next three hours, 180 minutes or 10,800 seconds. Would possibly be the longest three hours of the pupils lives, the most scariest, and life changing.

When their school is under siege, the headmaster Matthew Marr is injured and two pupils Hannah and David who have undergone first aid are battling to do what they can to save him, until emergency services can get to him. The pupils are in several different locations, with a gunman walking up and down a corridor outside where some of them are situated, another one in the woods outside, but is there a third one? With snow falling, the weather is hampering a rescue.

Rafi Bukhari and his younger brother are refugees from Syria the headmaster has brought them to Somerset, and they are with a good foster family and have just settled into school life, after seeing atrocities in their young lives that no one should have to see, there are flashbacks given in the story as to what they went through to escape Syria, to get to the UK. Never to see their parents again.

Beth Alton is desperate to find where her son is, as he is not in any of the places the other pupils are, she goes over everything they have been through over the previous few months, from being bullied, to finding and reading his diary. She desperately keeps calling Jamie’s mobile wondering if he is dead or alive.

Det Inspector Rose Polstein is in charge of trying to work out who and why the school is being attacked and by who, she is a Forensic Psychologist assigned to her are three officers she has never worked with DS Thandie Simmonds, DS Amal Ayari, and DC George Hail they have their work cut out trying to find out any information they can, anyone with a grudge, ex employee’s or ex pupils from the school.

Simon Letwynd Bronze Commander in charge of the armed men on the ground, once the know what they are dealing with, relying on information gathered by DI Polstein.

The parents all anxiously waiting for news about their children, all sitting in a hall together, sometimes silent, sometimes trying to guess who is to blame.

How brave can some people be when under this situation?

This book literally grabs you from the first page until that last word literally, if you buy one book in 2o20 I highly recommend this one you will not be disappointed. The characters are all relatable, likeable, except for the ones responsible for the siege of course. A read of the times we live in, with racial tension, political uproar, social media.

I love Rosamund Lupton’s writing so I was thrilled to get a copy of her forthcoming novel Three Hours. I have to be honest and say that I found this book very difficult to read, it’s such an intense subject matter but it is very well-written.

The novel starts off with a small explosion outside a school and from there we find out that there is at least one gunman inside part of the school. The police frantically try to work out what exactly is going on and who is behind this and what their motive is, and inside the school the teachers and students try to find safe places to hide.

The writing is so good that I felt really claustrophobic as the book went on, it was as if I was in the midst of this terror myself. I commend the writing but it meant I had to keep putting the book down because it was making me feel so anxious and tense.

There was a point about halfway through the book as we start to understand more about what is going on in the school and it felt more about trying to figure out who the perpetrator was and this is when the book became something I just couldn’t seem to put down. I was gripped by the investigation and by the way Lupton has woven real life shootings and terrorist attacks within her novel in such a sensitive way that it really made this story feel very real to me.

By the last section of the book I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know if everyone was going to survive this attack. I was convinced that the characters I’d come to really care about were not going to make it out alive and the tension was palpable as I was willing the police on to get to them in time. I was reading this last section right before bed and I couldn’t sleep for ages after I finished reading because of all the adrenaline.

Three Hours isn’t an easy read but it is a book worth reading. It’s a book that really gets under your skin and makes you think!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

a school in lockdown
two men with guns

oh my word what a book, gripping and moving with acts of heroism...this book has it all..could not put it down...and i had tears at the end

another author on my watch list now..

I've enjoyed other books by Rosamund Lupton and looked forward to reading this new one. The premise was excellent and it began well with a heart pounding situation and what looked like being a gripping story. However, I soon found myself becoming confused by the large number of characters and various storylines and I struggled to keep pace with who was who and where they were located. I didn't engage with any of the people due to the disjointed jumping around of the story and personalities. I really wanted to love this book as I've loved the earlier ones by this author but sadly this one failed to draw me in. I will, nevertheless, look out for future releases from Rosamund based on past enjoyment of her work. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a pre release copy in exchange for my honest review.

The subject of school shootings is always an emotive one and in this dramatic story, we get to see the horror of an active shooting at a school in the UK play out from the perspective of a variety of characters inside and out of the situation which lends itself nicely to exploring a number of issues - the heroic actions of those trying to save a life, those doing all they can to distract younger children from what is going on outside a classroom door, and the desperation of those on the outside who are trying to figure out who is behind the shooting, and the helplessness felt by the parents as they wait for news.

What I liked about this book was the pace of it all - little snapshots of different situations over the three hours that gave you an overview of the scene as it played out. My only gripe was that because those inside the school were doing such a great job of staying calm to distract the children and trying to carry on as normal, it impacted on the tension for me as there were very rarely any moments where I felt they were all in danger, although that did change when it became very edgy as time ticked on and they all began to wonder how they could try and make an escape.

The role of social media was also cleverly used throughout the book - the rumours and speculation all played out through the media which added to the panic created especially for those watching on outside just waiting for news. And one of the most powerful things for me was the reaction of one of the mothers' when she finds out her son is one of the shooters - the disbelief and reluctance to think of her 'little boy' as being capable of doing such a thing, which just goes to show that so much can be hidden from those closest to you.

A dramatic and enjoyable read!