Jaleesa, Kai, Dani, and Ilya are die-hard fans of the cult sci-fi sensation City of Night. Although they live in different corners of the globe, their online friendship has flourished until an incredible opportunity arises: they get to travel to America to meet their idol, the enigmatic star Alice Temple!

However, things take a thrilling turn when they discover that Alice is entangled in her own troubled existence. Just hours after their long-awaited meeting, these four passionate friends find themselves on the run, chased by relentless police, the ruthless Russian mob, and a menacing right-wing militia. Sure, the plot might be a bit farfetched, but who cares? This isn't highbrow literature—it's a fun, quirky tale with a vibrant LGBTQ flair! Just dive in and enjoy!

As the author of the gripping Killing Eve series—one of my favourites—Luke Jennings crafts a whirlwind of suspense that keeps you riveted. The pace is exhilarating, and the narrative dives headfirst into the cultural conflicts that resonate throughout the US and beyond. It’s clever how Jennings weaves a cult TV show into a narrative that practically begs for its own adaptation!

Although a murder is central to the plot, this isn’t just another whodunit; Panic is an empowering adventure that showcases young adults embracing their identities and fiercely resisting a world that has tried to hold them back. 3.5⭐

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read Panic via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.

As a massive fan of Jennings’ Villanelle series, I was excited to pick up another book from him. This is a very different kind of story as a wee are following a group of people who became friends because they are all fans of the same TV show and there is the mystery of a murder to unravel. The only way that this book is similar to the Villanelle books is that it has the cat-and-mouse element as the group of friends race across the country attempting to evade the law who think they are responsible for the murder; I liked and appreciated this as it shows Jennings’ range and capability as a writer.

Despite the fact that there is a murder at the centre of this story, that isn’t really what this book is about and I really love that that is the case. Jenning explores fandom and the relationship that people might have with the media that they enjoy. This is a book that is having conversations about the way that people can derive meaning from something and make it their own as well as the toxic connection that fans can have to what they idolise. These conversations are at times overt and sometimes they are in the subtext of the story.

I really appreciated that this book contained a very diverse cast of characters and they felt wholly authentic.

The ending gave me a little bit of a whiplash as it moved significantly faster than the rest of the story. I think there is an argument to be made for this being a deliberate writing choice as it creates a deliberate sense of confusion and like you don’t really know who is lying and who is telling the truth.

I read this in one go. It’s very different and it’ll grip you like it did me. The characters will have you rooting but also surprised by that. Got your interest? Absolutely go and buy it 5/5

I couldn't get in to this book, it felt as though it will be a great coming of age type of book for the LGBTQ+ community but not something that I could connect with. The opening of the book was great and really interesting but I then subsequently found it difficult to get into and wasn't able to finish.

Every now and then you need a light book to pass a plane journey at the start of a holiday. Panic is that book.

So there is this TV sci-fi series, City of Night, with two main protagonists, Pandora and Lyric. They have a relationship and it is called #Panic. There is an online community of uber-fans who let their lives revolve around the TV show. They adore Alice Temple who plays Lyric.

This novel features four such fans from around the world who jump at the chance to admit a show-insider to their set. And the insider tells them that Alice is in grave danger.

The structure allows multiple POVs as the four characters interact across time zones and then come together for a fan convention. They are each outsiders in their own community, particularly from an LGBTQI+ perspective. It is amusing to see them being Internet-nice to one another, all terrified of inadvertently offending one another. They attach such meaning to their interactions and to the show - presumably because it offers a better reality to them than their real lives.

Obviously, this tale of obsession and perfection fractures as the cracks in the relationships start to emerge - particularly as the fourth wall of the TV screen is shattered and the fans come into contact with Alice.

This is not high literature, it is fun. It is quirky and fast and light. It is written in hashtags. It is perfect for a plane ride.

Although this isn’t the type of book I usually read I got drawn into the characters and their outlandish dilemmas. Four young people from across the globe manage to meet they’ve wanted to meet for ages but complications arise causing them all to flee.
I’m looking forward to seeing the author at a local book festival and will no doubt want to read more of his books after seeing him.

Ok, this one was a lot!! By a lot I mean a lot of everything, characters, tropes, plot points - just so much going on.

I’ll start with the good points. I liked the premise, it was clever and an interesting look at the whole online community and fandoms. In terms of diversity, the representation was second to none. You couldn’t fault it, very inclusive.

The characters were well written, we got a deep understanding of them and a real feel for them. This is also where my dislikes come into place.

The character introductions were longggg. Wether it’s because there were so many characters, or because they were all so complex with such rich backstories - I don’t know. But I got to 100 odd pages in and we were only just getting through them. It did feel a little bit of a slog.

Once the plot got going, I was really into it. I wanted to know what was happening next, who might be behind everything - it got exciting. Then it lost me somewhere along the way. Things got crazier, a lot more far fetched and there was lots of bouncing around. Making it harder to follow.

I absolutely think this book will appeal to loads of people and be really well received. It just wasn’t my personal cup of tea - and that’s ok. I think it would potentially suit a younger reader better. Definitely one for those who enjoy a LGBTQ+/coming of age story.

I originally thought that the story/premise of this book would be exciting and thrilling but unfortunately it did not keep my attention. I felt it jumped around too much which was hard to follow at times and I did not fully engage with any of the characters. Sadly, not a book for me.

“Talking to the other #panic members, all of them thousands of miles apart, Jaleesa feels a sense of possibility. A sense that if she’s brave enough, and imaginative enough, she can break free of the things that press down on her. And she badly needs to break free, because this isn’t life, this is a time-loop.”

My thanks to John Murray Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Panic’ by Luke Jennings.

Well known for his Killing Eve series of quirky spy thrillers, Jennings latest is a character-driven thriller that addresses various modern day issues.

However, it does seem to have attracted a number of lacklustre and negative reviews. At times I have found myself an outlier with respect to popular titles though in this instance it’s in the opposite direction as ‘Panic’ was a winner for me. Maybe it was because I have made a number of deep connections with others via our mutual involvement in various SF/F fandoms so was able to relate to his central foursome.

As for the plot and characters: Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are all super fans of City of Night, a hit science fiction/crime TV show. They broke away from an online fan forum and created their own forum and over time have become online best friends. Their love of the show has provided them with an escape from their troubled lives.

When a newcomer contacts the group with a real world connection to Alice Temple, the show’s star, everything changes. They learn that Alice is in danger and resolve to meet up in real life at a fan convention and save their heroine. What could possibly go wrong? Obviously a lot. They soon find themselves with Alice on the run across America pursued by law enforcement and a group with a sinister agenda.

Jennings latest book is described as a combination of “thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.”

I think that it’s a fair description. Jennings clearly understands fandom and his four protagonists are each outsiders in different ways.

Twenty-one-year-old Jaleesa ives with her parents in Saskatchewan, Canada. She is bookish though is also a boxer. Her plan to become a doctor was ended by a family tragedy that meant she could no longer pay her tuition. She has taken special inspiration from the character of Pandora, portrayed by Hayley, a Black actor. Twenty-five-year-old Dani is a trans woman living in a seaside town in England. Her transition has been accepted by her father and while she is able to pass, she is still harassed by a group of cruel locals.

Then there is eighteen-year-old Ilya, currently enrolled in a Russian military academy. He is the son of a Russian mobster and isn’t at all interested in following in his father’s footsteps. He is very upset when his sister joins the Legion, a far right group. Finally, there is eighteen-year-old Kai living in a small outback town in Australia. His parents are astrophysicists, though his Mum is currently unwell. Kai’s family consider him a ‘tomboy’ and when he announces to his family that he’s trans his only ally is his sister. All four clearly find acceptance with each other as well as in the narrative of the City of Night series, which binds them.

Jennings takes his time in establishing his four leads, before he sets them on their wild adventures. Also, through a number of small incidents, he outlines the sinister agenda of the Legion. During their flight across America the friends encounter a variety of folk, some allies and others adversaries.

Overall, I found ‘Panic’ superb. It ticked all my boxes for a thriller. It wasn’t all nonstop action but had strong characterisations in both main and supporting characters. I could easily imagine it as a film or miniseries.

"I don't trust him, I don't trust her, and I don't trust my fucking husband"

- the words of Alice Temple, world-famous actress and star of TV's popular sapphic sci-fi series "City of Night". Fans of the show adore Alice and her co-star Hayley, and we meet four particularly dedicated fans who have set up a private online forum to discuss the show.

Kai, a trans guy from Australia, has little family support apart from his sister, Robyn.
Ilya, a Russian cadet, hates life at the base where his fellow cadets are abusive. His home life isn't much better, with his sister joining The Legion, a far-right group gaining support worldwide.
Dani, a UK trans girl, works in a fish & chip shop and lives with her Dad, an ageing comedian, and his new partner, who doesn't really understand Dani.
Jaleesa, a boxer from the US, is nursing a crush on a woman she spars with while feeling down about dropping out of med school due to her Dad's opoid addiction.

The four are a tight-knit group, all really supportive of each other, and don't let anyone else in - until Chloe, Alice Temple's personal MUA, asks to join - she claims that Alice needs help. Help from real fans, real supporters.

So begins a worldwide, fast-paced mission to get the four to a convention in the U.S. - but when they do arrive, they realise that things are much, MUCH worse than Chloe suggested - and they quickly decide that the only feasible option is to go on the run - and take Alice with them.

This was bananas. I cannot convey to you accurately enough HOW bananas this was - but I thoroughly enjoyed it, once I just went with it and stopped trying to overthink. I liked the friend group, I liked the storyline, I liked the action aspects - did it all makes sense? Of course not. Was it in ANY way logical or believable? Nope. But I enjoyed the nonsensical chaos of it all the same.

I haven't seen many positive reviews, and I think that's unfortunate, because I really did think it was well crafted. There's a scene involving Ilya and his fellow cadets that really turned my stomach, and I'd question the need for its inclusion at all, but other than that I enjoyed it for what it was. I fully believe that certain fandoms would absolutely take things to this point, and I also (unfortunately) believed the levels that a far-right vigilante group would stoop to.

Fun, fast-paced, don't take it too seriously, just enjoy the chaos of it.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.

I just couldn't get into the storyline of the book. I felt like there was so much going on. but very little character development and depth to the story. It was hard to follow what was happening at any given moment.

Panic is an interesting book not easily classified - part adventure/thriller, part crime and part LGBTQ coming of age. Following the lives of four young adults living on different continents, entwined together by their love/fandom of 'cult' SciFi series 'CIty of Night'..
Jaleesa, Kai, Illya and Dani exist online as #panic but are drawn together in service of favourite actress Alice Temple who seemingly needs their help. However, nothing is as it seems - all four present a version of themselves to their families, only being truthful to each other. Likewise, they gradually realise that in the glitzy world of LA nothing is as it seems, who can be trusted and who is really allowing their true self to be exposed.

Smoke and mirrors, murders and the odd cross-country chase by the mysterious Legion all provide the reader with a gripping rollercoaster of a ride.

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

i was actually enjoying this storyline but have to admit defeat with yet another character...so many characters to get your head around.... were they all really needed for this storyline....

The summary sounded so good, yet the book itself let me down. I loved the diversity of it and don't think it was forced or anything at all, like other reviews are suggesting. Yet the rest of the story was too far-fetched and out there for me to like it.

I had high hopes for this having enjoyed Killing Eve, I enjoyed it but found some of characters a bit generic. I particularly enjoyed the road trip across America which was well described.

I love stories about fandom, and I love a race-against-the-clock heist/rescue story. Unfortunately, I did not encounter either of those things in Panic. Panic features a large ensemble cast, primarily a group of fans who develop a friendship in a chatroom dedicated to their favorite series. According to the blurb, these fans meet in real life to rescue their beloved series' star from an abusive relationship. I cannot say for sure, as it took nearly 100 pages to wrap up the character introductions, at which point, I stopped reading. These backstories were dense and complex, and I struggled to keep track of each of the characters. I found the front loaded exposition to be a slog, especially because the characters' lives feature an astounding checklist of pressing social issues, including, in no particular order: addiction, domestic violence, homophobia/transphobia, racism, poverty, and far-right extremism. Due to their use as plot and character points, the invocation of these topics often feels clunky and heavy-handed.

These issues hindered my investment in the story, even though I stopped reading at a cliffhanger chapter ending in which Alice's makeup artist joins the fans' chatroom to initiate the quest (and, perhaps, the plot). Instead of being hooked to continue, I was relived to stop. Given the author's experience in TV and film, I wonder if this story would have worked better as the basis for a screenplay. The lengthy visual descriptions would pass quicker in a visual medium, which could help with the pacing. I'll wait to find out how this story ends once the adaptation comes.

This story is full of adventure and is intended for a contemporary audience. The diversity of the cast of characters and how they met reflects current society. The unique plot uses sensory imagery that would work well on visual media.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I was intrigued by the blurb for this book, and since I’ve previously read the Killing Eve books from this author and loved them I decided to give it a go but unfortunately Panic just didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe it’s the wrong thing to do but I can’t help but compare it with Killing Eve even though the only thing they have in common is the author. For a start, for me there were too many characters and I felt like Luke Jennings was checking off boxes with them -

A transgender woman ☑️
A transgender man ☑️
Confused about their sexuality ☑️

Throw in victim of bullying and addiction and basically all the politically correct tropes are covered but I just couldn’t connect enough with any of the characters so that I cared what happened to them. The storyline sounded great but on paper reading it, it just felt a bit disjointed and although I did finish this book, I struggled and had to reread parts several times as I just couldn’t take it in and keep the story straight in my head. I’m definitely not an editor but I can’t help but feel maybe if it was streamlined a bit I could’ve enjoyed it more than I did.

Veritable Rollercoaster..
Exactly as billed, this is a veritable rollercoaster ride. The world of television high drama, A list celebrities and fandoms gone to extremes turns frantic adventure come thriller. A cast of deftly drawn characters populate a frenetically ever moving, never still, plot as fantasy as reality come crashing together in a tale of escapism and discovery.

I will admit that I was drawn in by the premise of this novel, and whilst I enjoyed the first half, I suspect that maybe I wasn't really the target audience...

I really struggled with the second half of this novel, and I'm not sure it was believable.

However, I do wonder if it would make a better screenplay, and there was a lot of drama involved. I will say that I have never watched a single episode of Killing Eve, so it's not as if I was comparing the author's previous works either!

Fictional TV show, City Of Night has a huge and obsessive fanbase. To cut a long story short a few of these fans are members of an exclusive online forum where they chat incessantly about the show and its main characters. their idols.

One of the main characters in the show, off screen has an abusive husband who has her make up assistant cover up multiple bruises before she goes on set, regularly...

Chloe seems like a normal reasonable human being, which is why I got confused when I got to the second half of the novel. She supposedly infiltrates the chat, and invites these fans to a fan convention, arranging VIP tickets. And then she disappears ....

Having found themselves in a situation where they must help the shows main character escape her husband, they are more than a little disturbed by Chloe's disappearance. And that is just the beginning!