This was a stay up and read all night thriller which has the time frame set from the outset-British based lawyer, Alice, has the not so devastating news that her biological father , based in the U.S, is due to be put to death for murder in one week.
No love lost between them after he abandoned Alice, her mother and younger sister, she feels no emotional connection to this fate or any reason why she should care.
But younger sister Fiona, who doesn't have the memories that Alice has, begs and cajoles Alice into investigating.
Finding her Achilles heel in the presence of a half brother she never knew she had, Alice is spurred on to reach out to her U.S connections to see what can be done.
So begins a worldwide chase for the truth as various details come to light that throw doubt not just on Alice's dad, but other killers who are either on death row , or have been handed down the ultimate punishment for their crimes.
But if Alice unravels her dad's crime and he is found innocent, there are many evil men out there who might be let loose in the world to commit further offences...
The ethics and morality of right versus wrong are explored at breakneck speed in this thriller which explores generational trauma , what family is and means to you versus your obligation to society at large.

Robert Rutherford’s “Seven Days” is a gripping legal thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The story follows Alice, a solicitor who discovers her estranged father is on death row with only a week left to live. As she reluctantly investigates his case, she uncovers startling similarities to another murder, leading her on a whirlwind journey from England to Paris and beyond.
Rutherford masterfully weaves together themes of family dysfunction, moral ambiguity, and the complexities of the justice system. The ticking clock adds palpable tension to every page, making it nearly impossible to put down. Alice is a compelling protagonist, her internal struggle between resentment and duty adding depth to the narrative.
With its short chapters and well-paced plot, “Seven Days” is a page-turner that will appeal to fans of both legal dramas and murder mysteries. It’s a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a finished copy of this book
This was a book that instantly gripped me from the moment I picked up. We are introduced to two sisters who have just found out that their estranged father is on death row and will face execution in the next seven days
Alice is a lawyer, and after much persuasion from her sister, she sets out on the journey of trying to save her dad
The book was an excellent court room drama. I really enjoyed the legal aspect of the book
Whilst the book was a bit of a slow burner I loved the action in the middle and would highly recommend to anyone looking for a legal thriller to keep them guessing

I have never wished that there was a half star for ratings more than I do right now. This book was a solid 3.5 stars, but it feels harsh to give it 3, so I have gone with 4!

The story is well crafted, the tension builds over the course of the book and hits a crescendo with its conclusion. It would make an exceptional thriller short series told over maybe 4 hours, with the twists being the basis of the end to each episode.

After Alice feels guilted by her sister Fiona she has to go and visit her father on death row and she begins to investigate further into his supposed crime, before she ends up pulling on a thread that causes her to confront her sense of reality and to question it for what it really is. Which is conceivable just a big mistake and a complete misunderstanding.

The story demonstrates how hard it can be for us to revisit parts of our past that we view as foundational for our character and leads to us not wanting to see what is right in front of us leading to a pause and inability to make amendments based on the new facts or information that may come to light.

My only issues really were the pacing and the feats that are completed by Alice, it did lead to on occasion a suspension of belief that I was unable to fully get on board with. While the premise follows something similar to the tv show 24, it didn't provide enough time to each day separately, which would have been helpful for the pacing which is something a show would be able to improve upon.

It felt like a slow burn but it sped up, remembering that the book is set over 7 days helps 🤣 I would love to see what a second book would bring as feel her story isn't finished. I love a good mystery book and this delivered

This is my first read by author Robert Rutherford and I loved the blurb on this book and could not wait to get reading.

I loved this novel, really gripping and I read it within a few days which for me is really good.

We meet Alice, her father is on death row and coming up to his execution and Alice is very realistic about her father - not the best man and he has made many wrongs in his life but Alice feels that she is not completely sure he committed the crime that put him on death row and so Alice's journey begins.

I loved the quick/short chapters and each chapter kept my attention fully - no drifting off on this novel.

I will be keeping an eye out for more of Robert Rutherfords novels and will devour them.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was such a great thriller! A dark and gripping read full of twists! The characters were well written and I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended for thriller fans!

Seven Days is an engrossing and unputdownable novel that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The premise may seem straightforward at first: can Alice save her estranged father from execution for a murder within just seven days? However, the narrative quickly reveals layers of complexity in both plot and character development, elevating the story to a new level of literary sophistication.

Alice is a relatable and compelling protagonist, grappling with the intricacies of her strained relationship with her parents. Her journey is not just about solving a mystery, but also about navigating the emotional turmoil of reconnecting with a father she has been distant from for years. This emotional depth adds a profound dimension to the suspenseful storyline.

The plot is meticulously crafted, filled with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end. Each chapter builds on the tension, unravelling secrets and revealing new facets of the characters that challenge initial perceptions. The author skillfully balances the urgency of the ticking clock with the slow, deliberate unveiling of personal histories and motivations, creating a rich tapestry of intrigue and human drama.

Absolutely amazing. Emotional and gripping. I felt so drawn to so many of the different characters. The ending left a lite to be desired but I loved it

Sadly i had to dnf this book as it was just wasn't for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

When Alice has the chance to save her father from death row for a murder he may not have committed, she is torn because he abandoned her as a child.

Seven Days has a great premise for a novel and it is brilliantly executed.

I was drawn to this book by the concept because it is so unique and sounded different to anything I've read before. I enjoyed the fast pace and following Alice on her journey as she delved into an investigation to uncover the truth. I thought it was a great twist that Alice had a strained relationship with her father because it added so much depth to the characters involved.

There are some books that just stick with you after you’ve finished reading and this is definitely one of them - a truly memorable story.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Alice and Fiona's Father has just Seven Days left to 'live' on Death Row before his imminent execution, for a crime he swears he did not commit.

But he has always been unreliable.

Fiona wants Alice, who is a lawyer to help their Father. But she can't.

Even if she wanted to (which she doesn't), she cannot practice law in the State of Florida where their Father is incarcerated.

Instead she enlists the help of one of her Best Friend's Sofia, who still resides Stateside to see if there really is more to the that fateful night.

Luc Bordeaux, from GALE is assigned to help.

Fiona and Luc are mistrustful of each other from the start, each sure that the other has a hidden agenda. That is until they realise that there really is more to this case than meets the eye... and Luc's whole career may depend on it.

It is both of their interests to work together to find out the truth, and they only have Seven days to do it!

By it's very nature this is a fast paced thriller of a novel, and I loved it.

With a title of Seven Days you know it is going to be fast paced and it was. However, it was not just a predictable race against time for a daughter to save her father from execution, it was far more intricately plotted and emotionally engaging. The characters were well drawn and it was easy to relate to them. The relationships moved this story to a different level. It was also intriguing and fast paced but never predictable.

Sounded like a great idea for a plot but never managed to pull off any sense of urgency. The main character failed to convince too

This was an interesting read, I liked the addictive short chapters and found the pacing worked well. It lived up to the blurb.

Will definitely be looking for more by this author as like the style and plot

Having less than a week to save your father from execution is a great premise. To add to the pressure, you've been estranged for years and first have to decide if you even want to take on the responsibility. In the end you decide to do it, if no other reasons than for your little sister and to satisfy your own curiosity. It was an interesting concept and I liked the international element but for some reason however, this book didn't quite land the way I hoped it would. It was almost as if the days just kept passing and the main character felt no sense of urgency - so I too lacked it as the reader.

What a fantastically engaging book. I really enjoyed the way the story was told and I really felt for Alice #SevenDays #Netgalley

Seven Days is a clever combination - a heart in mouth race against time thriller that counts down the seven days left to prove a prisoner’s innocence prior to a scheduled Death Row execution and some complicated family dynamics that add an added layer of emotion and intrigue to the story. Together it makes for a compelling read.

Alice is a solicitor living in the North of England who learns that her estranged father is on Death Row in Florida, due to die in seven days. Persuaded by her younger sister Fiona to get involved, Alice finds herself desperately trying to prove his innocence whilst at the same time dealing with her feelings of resentment toward a man who abandoned her, her mother and her sister. In a matter of days it takes her from the UK to Paris and then to the US as the truth proves to be far more complex than she could ever have imagined.

With short chapters and the limited time frame, this is a book where inevitably the tension builds as the day of reckoning approaches and as a reader you find yourself holding your breath as the days tick by and the case seems to get ever more complex. Add to that an interesting exploration of the nature of guilt and of justice, and some thought-provoking questions around familial bonds and if they are ever truly broken, and it all makes for an intriguing and page-turning read that I raced through.

A great premise that spans the UK and US. A daughter with a legal background finds out her father is on death row in the US and will be executed in 7 days. Although the idea is orginal, I found it just too fantastical and the fentanyl/midazolam doesn’t work as anyone with a medical background will know.

2.5/5

The first 2/3 of the book were super slow paced. It picked up around the final 3rd but the reveal wasn’t as thrilling/suspense as I’d have liked. I had to push reading and it didn’t grip me like I’d have hoped unfortunately.