The premise of a story of a police negotiator trying to secure the release of hostages safely pulled me in to read this book. I really liked the character-driven nature of this book. The three characters' viewpoints are distinct from the beginning. With Lee, the hostage taker, you can feel his anger at the world. With Grace, a hostage, can feel her fear of what is ahead. With Alex, the hostage negotiator, can feel his fear of what may happen to the hostages but also his confidence to resolve the situation. The pace builds and then slows, builds and then slows. Tension is maintained throughout.

What a read. Talk about your ticking clock thriller. Could not be more apt a description for this fast paced, attention grabbing hostage thriller which takes place over the course of one night. Focused largely on three main protagonists - hostage taker, Lee, one of the hostages, single mother, Grace, and the hostage negotiator, Alex, the story is packed with tension, authenticity, and pulse-thumping scenes which kept me completely hooked. I devoured this book in a single sitting. John Sutherland has really captured the pressure of the situation, that sense that if you turn away for even a moment, something bad could, and will happen, and it certainly worked to keep me riveted.

I have read the author's two non-fiction titles, one a memoir, the other a look into the challenges and issues facing modern policing. Both showed how much John Sutherland cared for his former role, for his colleagues and for the community that he served, but also that his focus was as much on understanding the reasons for crime and how and why people end up breaking the law, every bit as much ensuring that criminals are caught and that justice is seen to be done. In his memoir, Blue, we also see how much the day to day toll of policing had on his own mental health, the impacts of seeing so much violence leaving an indelible mark. All of this is reflected perfectly in The Siege and in the characters that he has brought to life. this, and his own experience as a hostage negotiator, is what gives the book so much authenticity, what makes it so compelling.

There is no simple condemnation of the aggressor, Lee, nor hero like status of Alex as the negotiator. Both are far more nuanced characters, multi-faceted in a way that gets under your skin. While we are first introduced to Lee James Connor in a way that leaves no doubt as to his malicious intent, the longer we spend with him, the more sympathy it is possible to feel for his position. His is not a simple case of terrorism disguised as misguided patriotism, his anger towards ethnic minorities and immigrants driven by far more than simple hate that has been exacerbated by online facism and extreme right wing sites on the dark web. Whilst it is not possible to completely forgive his actions, the clear message we are presented with is that understanding the root cause is the key to changing his attitude, and perhaps his actions.

Superintendent Alex Lewis, as lead hostage negotiator, has a very complicated life. Haunted by the outcome of his last negotiation, and with a family life that is far from welcoming or especially loving, you can feel the tension and apprehension that sits within him as he faces one of the biggest and most intense negotiations of his career. In spite of his inner self doubt, he is calm, and, backed up by the team of negotiators, determined to see a positive outcome for all involved. On the other side of the police line, caught in the increasingly intense and unpredictable hostage situation, Grace is a bit of a revelation. She is strong, calm, and her thoughts, whilst with the other hostages, also include concern for Lee too. Although this could just be an attempt to leave the situation with everyone safe, there is a real sense of Grace caring about what the cause of Lee's aggression is, a desire to understand him as more than a terrorist but as a damaged and hurt man. Her motherly instincts come to the fore in a way which feels believable and heartening in the midst of such tension. I warmed to both Alex and Grace very quickly, making me more determined to read on in the hope of a positive outcome.

This book is paced perfectly, the action switching between the characters seamlessly, ensuring that the action is kept taught and the sense of urgency never dips. There are moments of great threat, the kind that have you leaning forward in your seat, and Lee's unpredictability, exaggerated and enhanced by his use of drugs, adds a layer of fear to everything that we witness. Chapters are punctuated by a time stamp which gives you the sense of a realtime countdown, the way in which the clock ticks onwards, adding exhaustion to anger and frustration and making quite the heady mix. Learning more about each of the characters as we move through the book kept me completely on my toes, challenging any preconceptions I may have had, just as I am certain the author intended. I am certainly glad there is a second book just around the corner as this one really his the spot and was everything I wanted in a thriller.

Pacy, thought provoking, tense and sometimes emotional, this book is most definitely recommended for crime fiction fans. An absolute winner.

When 9 hostages are taken in a church in London, it’s down to hostage negotiator Superintendent Alex Lewis to use his skills to ensure the safe release of the hostages, and find out why this is happening, the situation brings back memories for Alex as during his last job, the outcome left him traumatised. The man who has started all this is Lee James Connor, a far-right extremist, who is angry that his leader Nicholas Farmer has recently been jailed, and wants him released. He storms a local church immigrant support group and takes them hostage. Grace is one of the hostages, having lost her husband and son, she seeks solace in the church and relishes in being able to help with the group, until everything changes, and she realises the only way out is to start talking to this man who clearly has a lot of issues. Can Grace and Alex prevent an atrocity happening, and will everyone leave safely?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s written in the POV of the three main characters, Alex, Connor and Grace. The story flows well between the characters, and it’s easy to follow what is going on. The plot was very well thought out, and the characters were very relatable, and you felt genuine empathy for all three in different ways. There were multiple layers to each character, and as the story progresses you learn more about them and how different their lives are. The conclusion comes together beautifully in the end, leaving no loose ends and unanswered questions. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I would definitely recommend it. I found it fascinating to see what goes on in a situation like this, and all the different parts that people play, as well as seeing it from 3 different viewpoints.

Thank you very much to the author and NetGalley for letting me read this! It was brilliant!

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

I felt engaged with this story from the first page - Lee James Connor is a complicated character who obviously has his demons. We follow him in his preparation and his journey to the church where he will begin his siege. Next we meet Grace Wheatley who is a hostage in the siege. She is frightened, worries for her son, feels responsible for the other hostages and plays a large part in the action. Finally, we meet Alex who is a hostage negotiator who takes his responsibilities very much to heart.
Learning that the author is a serving police officer and hostage negotiator explains why this story is so engaging and believable.
Many thanks to Netgalley/John Sutherland/Orion Publishing Group for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

THE SIEGE is the story of a hostage situation in south London. When Lee James Connor, a loner, inspired by an anti-immigrant, firebrand right-wing extremest leader, takes a community church centre and its nine attendees hostage, we see the events of an entire night play out through the viewpoints of Connor, Grace, one of his hostages, and Alex, the lead hostage negotiator assigned to the incident. 

As might be expected from a former police negotiator, John Sutherland writes from experience and that experience makes the novel very realistic. Sutherland writes in a very mannered, ‘correct’ way which initially feels documentary-like, almost reportage, but that ultimately is the novel’s strength. We are taken through the events minute by minute, hour by hour, in the heads of the negotiator, the hostage, and the hostage-taker, all of whom, even the latter, treated as real people, people with their own flaws and issues. 

In less experienced, more bombastic, hands, Lee Connor would be a monster, Alex Lewis, a maverick who would save the day through some risky, heroic strategy, Grace the terrified hostage needing rescue. Here the drama is created through realistic characters and, unfortunately, all too realistic situations. I was drawn in completely; it is a very emotional read, the tension heightening with every chapter. The protagonists are good, ordinary people, trying to do the right thing in a frightening situation; the antagonist, a troubled young man whose actions, while not in any way condoned by the author, can be understood, given the society in which we live today. Sutherland subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, points the finger at those in politics and the media who thrive on division with no heed to the consequences of their words.

I would be really interested in going back the John Sutherland’s non fiction work about his life in the police service, and I look forward to his next novel.

I read and reviewed The Siege on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. This crime/police procedural novel made really thrilling reading. I like reading cleverly written thrillers and this didn’t disappoint. It was like reading a true crime book or watching a documentary about policing. I read that the author worked as a policeman and hostage negotiator and this book seemed very factual.
I was gripped from page one and this book held my interest throughout. It was a fascinating read and while it was a first book I’ve read by this author I’m hoping to read more in the future. I like the author’s writing style and the attendees to detail.

Nine hostages. Ten hours. One chance to save them all.
Lee James Connor has found his purpose in life: to follow the teachings of far-right extremist leader, Nicholas Farmer. So when his idol is jailed, he comes up with the perfect plan: take a local immigrant support group hostage until Farmer is released.
Grace Wheatley is no stranger to loneliness having weathered the passing of her husband, whilst being left to raise her son alone. The local support group is her only source of comfort. Until the day Lee James Connor walks in and threatens the existence of everything she's ever known.
Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there's no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor - and save his nine hostages - before it's too late?

This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuously.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.

I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my own honest voluntary review.

The book begins at 16.57 hours with Lee James Connor. He is 22, lives in a first-floor bedsit in south-west London and is a follower of Nicholas Farmer, self-proclaimed leader of right-wing group Home Front, whose slogan is “Make Britain Great Again.”
The story is told from three viewpoints – Connor, Grace and Alex. Grace Wheatley is in her late thirties and a daughter of the Windrush generation. She lives about seven miles away from Lee, with her teenage son Isaiah. She’s a single mum, a teaching assistant at the local primary school and a regular at her local church.
Superintendent Alex Lewis of Kentish Town Police Station is unhappily married to Kathy and they have two teenage sons (Luke – 16 and Jack – 14). He is on the Hostage Negotiation rota that week.
The novel follows the siege that ensues. Connor’s choice of place to attack is Grace’s local church with its Refugees Welcome sign. When he goes in, armed and with a plan, there are nine people inside – Grace, the vicar Rosie Phillips, Syrian refugees Mariam and her daughter Rahel (12) and son Ittack (14), Alan and Jean Richardson (who are in their early seventies, Alan had a heart bypass six months earlier), Helen (a local youth worker of Gambian descent) and her boyfriend Jack.
We follow what happens from the three viewpoints of Connor, Grace and Lee.
It is an interesting novel, fast-paced with short chapters that make you want to read on and find out what happens. The characters are believable and I especially loved Grace, she is absolutely amazing. It’s written in real time, so holds your interest as you are following the events “as they happen” which makes you invested in it all.
One minor criticism is that the title of the novel isn’t the most inspiring. Nine Lives may have been a more interesting title than The Siege! Also I felt we didn’t really get to know Alan, Jean and Helen.
But overall, it’s a great book!
9 out of 10

This was a thrilling book and kept me interested all the way through. This would make a great film, it’s dark, brooding and exciting. I enjoyed this book enormously. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

The Siege by John Sutherland was a gripping fast paced, disturbing and violent read. I was gripped from the very beginning till the end. I could not turn the pages of my kindle fast enough! This book is about a young lad called Lee, who is the the Hostage taker, Grace a hostage and Alex the negotiator. The ending of this book was just perfect and surprising that just put the lid on this book.

I highly recommend this book especially as you felt you were there when Lee too people hostage!

Big thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

If you are looking for a tense, page-turning read that you won’t want to put down, then look no further than The Siege. Sutherland’s background is in the police force and his experience and knowledge is put to good use to create a believable and thoroughly engrossing story about a hostage situation, told from three points of view – the hostage taker, one of the hostages and the police negotiator.

Lee James Connor is a disaffected young man, a loner who has been radicalised online. When his idol, far-right extremist leader Nicholas Famer is sent to prison, he decides to take action, taking 9 people at a local immigrant support group hostage and demanding Farmer’s release. He has planned the whole scenario, but what he hasn’t taken into account are the human interactions as the siege progresses, in particular with Alex, the negotiator, and Grace, one of the hostages, who attempts to connect with him.

The alternating viewpoints ensure that the reader really gets to know all 3 main characters. Alex is carrying the burden of a recent failed negotiation as well as struggling to balance work and family life; Grace, a daughter of the Windrush generation, was widowed young and is battling loneliness but proves to have a strength of character that shines through as she tries to diffuse the situation. And we get to understand more about Lee and where his hatred has come from - making it understandable if not forgivable.

It is a book that feels very real – the complexity of the situation shines through as we see very clearly the impact on all those involved, and the weight of responsibility that lies with the police is very clear. It is a book that surprised me in many ways – a hostage situation that begins with some brutal violence then becomes a tense and psychological exploration of the power of compassion and human connection – and I struggled to put it down as it headed to its climax. It is an impressive debut and I look forward to reading more by Sutherland.

This book was not for me unfortunately, it is too dark, disturbing and violent for my taste, and not what I want to read on my holidays. It is well written, and will appeal to many people who have a higher tolerance level for violence and dark writing. This was a DNF for me.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this title.

The Siege is a straightforward story, well told. It is the story of a hostage situation and it focuses in on three characters: the policeman, Superintendent Alex Lewis who is the Chief Negotiator, Grace Wheatley, a woman who is being held hostage and Lee James Connor, the hostage taker.

The first part of John Sutherland’s novel is spent grounding us in the everyday lives of these characters. He shows us that they are individuals with their own stories and preoccupations and this helps to ground the book and the situation it deals with, in reality.

Lee James Connor is a troubled young man. He is typical of the many young people who have been pulled into the terrible online culture of hate and poison. A culture that distorts the truth and pulls the angry, hurt and disaffected into a group, ready to be groomed.

For James Lee Connors it could have easily been the Incel movement, but this young man has been captured by the online radical-right extremists whose violent, homicidal actions are focused on racist ideology.

Connors, could he but see it, has been caught up in digital hate culture and his ideology has been formed through his online interactions. Like so many, his confused and angry frustrations are channelled into hate and aggression and his constant use of skunk only helps to fuel his paranoia.

Grace Wheatley is mum to Isaiah and is herself no stranger to violence. A daughter of the Windrush generation she is a committed church-goer and on this fateful occasion is in church to assist with welcoming a young Syrian refugee family, recently arrived in the country.

Alex Lewis is overworked and exhausted. He’s also suffering from PTSD but in typical male fashion his remedy consists of completely ignoring this and assuming it will go away. A father of two boys, he feels he is failing as a husband and as a father and he is troubled over his last negotiating mission which ended badly, through no fault of his, or anyone’s.

Nicely written with a tight plot and steady pacing, I found it easy to become engrossed in these lives and the storyline. I had no trouble believing the scenario and Sutherland’s own experience as a hostage negotiator shines through with authenticity on every page. He deals so well with the impact of what it means to be taken hostage and on the on the psychological impact on both the hostages and the hostage taker as well as on the police negotiating team and lead negotiator.

Interestingly the whole novel is kept low key but remarkably intense from the dialogue to the action. Everything in the police operation feels thought through and very well planned (reassuringly!). But what no-one can take into account are the unpredictable elements. The impact of the heavy duty cannabis combined with the mental strain on Connors as he negotiates his demands with the police. Then there is the bravery and sheer humanity of Grace, who sees a young man in pain and connects with him in that level.

Sutherland shows us the complexity of a hostage scenario and the weight that rests on the shoulders of the police in such situations. It is tense and atmospheric and the drama feels very real.

Verdict: A riveting story of the power of compassion and human connection that helps the reader to connect with each of the principal characters. The dangers of online radicalism and the manipulation of social media to create division and hate are clearly set out. I really got caught up in this powerful story and found myself willing a successful outcome for all the characters.

Wow what a book!!!!! So far I’d say this is without question my book of the year so far. I loved the originality of this thriller it was so different to any other I’ve read and trust me I’ve read hundreds.

Lee James Connor is a far right extremist. When his idol Nicholas Farmer is sent to prison Lee Connor makes it his mission to carry on his work but more importantly to get Farmer released. How does Connor go about this by taking 9 people at a local immigrant group hostage and vowing not to release them until Farmer has been freed.

Alex Lewis is called to the scene where the hostages are held and makes a base for himself and his team in a nearby local house. As a senior hostage negotiator it is Alex’s job to try and get through to Lee Connor and convince him to let everyone go; however things are not as easy for Alex with a complex task on his hands at the present and being haunted by a previous case that hadn’t gone to plan will Alex be able to talk Connor round?

Amongst those held hostage is Grace who somehow manages to talk to Connor although she is incredibly careful not to provoke him or get a reaction from him she somehow manages to connect with him and through their connection we learn what has driven Lee Connor to become the man he is today. In Lee Grace sees a lonely man who has lost his way and Grace knows how it feels to be alone having lost her husband many years ago.

A massive thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for this review. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller but also fancies something a bit different. It’s a must have for 2022 in my opinion. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ all the way. If I could give it more I think I would.

The story of a young far right wing extremist who takes a church group that welcome refugees hostage, demanding the release from prison of the leader of a far right wing group(with hopefully intentionally funny initials!).

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would when I started it. I say that because it gets going very quickly and once the siege starts I was wondering how this could possibly bee stretched out into a full novel. I shouldnt have worried as the pages fly by in this fast past read.

Quite violent in places with dark subject matters, ironically at times it skirts on being overly sentimental and sickly sweet. It manages to stay the right side of it, just, and overall this is an excellent read. A real page turner that is a quite simple story but keeps you wanting to read that one more chapter to see what happens.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

Very very tense,fast paced and involving read
There is a hostage situation at a church in London and we meet all the characters,most not knowing they are going to be involved,before the act of terror starts,like in a disaster movie I was willing the innocents to ‘turn back’ and ‘ not to go into the church’ but of course the die is cast and they do and the horror begins
A very stark contrast of violence ( at times brutal ) and kindness is given by the author to the main players throughout the siege with a fair indepth look at the hostage taker and the victims,especially one,Grace, and how this dreadful turn of events has been planned as the hatred festered,a not fully sympathetic but realistic look at the perp from Grace and a basic understanding of why he was doing what he was after he ‘confides’ in her turns the readers thoughts and views slightly,very well done by the author,I still hated the terrorist but there was human reaction to his life,will make sense when read it
The negotiator played a second fiddle for me compared to Grace although was a big part of the story
An unexpected ending and although I read it quickly,you can’t not as it develops it was a read I wont forget…….

8/10
4 Stars

Lee James Connor is a disaffected young man, still haunted by the death of his mother, who exists in a twilight world of the internet and skunk cannabis, cut off from society.

Lee researches and makes detailed plans to take hostages. He’s run through the plans so many times in his head, he done visualisation exercises and even a dry run. He’s convinced nothing can go wrong.

Despite all his planning there is one thing he didn’t bargain for, the effects of personal interactions during the evening. Lee tries to keep himself apart, but negotiator Alex is determined to talk him out of the siege and hostage Grace tries to befriend him on a human level and make him question his motives.

This is a tight and tense novel concentrating on the psychological effects of close confinement in a hostage situation on the hostages, the hostage taker and those in law enforcement who battle to contain the situation and resolve it. As a police procedural it is convincingly put together, as one would expect from an author writing from experience.

The plot is straightforward, a hostage situation covered from the start to the finish with no deviation, so it remains focussed throughout. The pacing is steady as befits a real-life situation, only taking on a degree of urgency as matters come to a head. The dialogue itself is on the whole low key as befits people trying to control a situation, though there are some standout exchanges between Grace and Lee which cut the heart of the matter.

Concentrating on three main characters keeps the storyline tight and allows for a detailed inspection of their motivations. We see how Lee is radicalised online, becomes consumed with hate, mainly directed at immigrants, but also the deep-seated catalyst for this. Alex has just returned from a negotiation that didn’t work out how he wanted, the hostage taker resorting to ‘suicide by cop’ at the end. Although not fault of Alex he carries the burden of this heavily. The most interesting character of all is that of Grace who became widowed at a young age and is battling with loneliness. In trying to understand and empathise with people, even Lee the hostage taker, we can see how she finds her inner strength and fortitude in adversity.

The central theme is not allowing hate to triumph over good. It is easy to fall into a default mode of hate rather than taking time to understand people and situations. We see this as Grace tries to reach Lee using the words of Martin Luther King, expressing that if she was to meet Lee’s hatred for her with more hate then they would get nowhere. We also have the warning of online radicalisation and that it is just as likely to affect disaffected white youths as Muslim religious extremists. There is also the issue of super strong cannabis which can damage the psyche of users. This is considerably different to the cannabis establishment members may have dabbled with in their youth, much more potent and dangerous.

The Siege is a tightly plotted intense read that also demonstrates people have the capacity for great compassion.

I've watched my share of Criminal Minds in my day, and this would fit in perfectly. Scenes with the characters learning about online grooming or right wings extremists could have been lifted from that series. (To be clear, I'm complimenting the book!)

I haven't read much in this genre, but this was a fantastic one. The action starts early and doesn't stop - with the exception of an epilogue, which I loved, all the action takes place over about twelve hours, and most of it happens within a few hundred yards. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it.

I thought it was interesting to see things from the point of view of the hostage taker, and although it naturally didn't excuse his actions, we did understand them a little more.

Spoiler:















I am a bit baffled as to why none of the police or SWAT stopped his final actions. They were all there in the room, he had no weapons, but they just watched and let him go ahead

Also, I know adrenaline is a factor, but the middle of a hostage negotiation seemed like a weird time for Alex to realise he was attracted to another memeber of the team!?

Overall a fantastic, really tense read, full of accurate details from John's years of policing. I'll be looking out for more by him.

The Siege was a decent read. A bit repetitive in that the characters kept saying and doing the same things in each “chapter”. If you don’t like reading about fictional hate crime, maybe give this one a miss.
One of our main characters Lee hates anyone who isn’t white. He is all about white supremacy and making Britain great again. He doesn’t think immigrants should be allowed to live here, they are stealing all the jobs and all become terrorists. He decides to enter a church that has a plaque that reads “All refugees welcome” and take hostages. Grace, one of the hostages, is also a main character, a black woman who we connect with through her thoughts and memories. Then there is Alex, a hostage negotiator who is given the task of trying to free the hostages.
Alex and Grace are very likeable and easy to connect with. Lee, although a punk you want to dislike immediately, is a character who grows throughout the story. I can’t say we grow to like him, but maybe understand him a bit more.
I’m giving this book 3*** because although I enjoyed the story and it kept interested enough to wonder “what will happen?”, it’s a bit predictable.