A dark and atmospheric thriller that explores the complexities of family, trauma, and life, with a shocking ending, fantastic novel.

A lot of books usually either have a super good beginning or an amazing end. It's pretty rare for me to find one that has both but this defiantly had such a great beginning and all the way through pace that kept me wanting to keep reading like crazy and it also had an unforgettable ending.

A fast paced read about two sisters living in Bristol who get a call from their estranged father’s wife - their dad is on death row and only has seven days to live. Can the sisters put the past behind them and come visit their father? The younger sister is optimistic but the older sister isn’t sure and pretty soon finds herself conducting her own investigation…
This was a decent, thrilling read. I will admit it wasn’t my favourite, as I did find myself having to suspend my disbelief at times and wasn’t completely on board with the characters and their motivation. However it did keep my engaged and I was curious to see how things would resolve itself.

I enjoyed the book, liked the plot and the tension but it just wasn’t quite worthy of the 5th start for me

Seven Days is a darkly intense thriller with an unusual, engaging concept - we start off immediately with the deadline until Alice’s dad is executed looming over our heads, each day being counted down slowly so we get that extra dose of anxiety watching the clock run out.

The story moves a little slowly in my opinion, a little too much time between the action and with each day taking up such a large section and several chapters of the book it does make it drag a bit, but the short, snappy chapters help move from scene to scene. When we edge closer to the end, it moves from a simmer to a fiery explosion with over the top action and cinematic drama as the theories and conspiracies swirling around start to come together in a chaotic picture.

The scene setting throughout was so vivid, from the darkest cells to the cosiest living rooms - showing a real contrast from the dark world of death row to the outside world. And in between those worlds are our narrators, although mainly Alice as she jets across continents and crosses police lines — different perspectives, different lives and a deeply complicated relationship; Alice was cold, distant, matter-of-fact in her narration and her attitude but there were moments that vulnerability and fear broke through and real emotions started to show. We learn a lot about Alice and her family through her own memories and thoughts, bit by bit trying to make up our minds if her dad really is guilty or if somehow something worse is going on.

A dark foray into the hidden criminal underbelly of society, and a commentary on the pitfalls of the justice system, on the way crime can grip someone’s life and never let go and how people are more complicated than simply good or bad.

This was a new author for me and I really liked the sound of this one. The book began well with a race against time to save Alice and Fiona's father from being executed on Death Row. His execution date is set for 7 days later, but their father continues to protest his innocence. Alice is the older sister and also a lawyer, and whilst she hasn't had a good relationship with her father, she agrees to look into the case to see if anything has been missed.

The book began well and I enjoyed being introduced to Alice's character. She obviously hasn't had a good father/daughter relationship over the years and I did feel for her in what seemed to be an 'ambush' to get her to look into the case before his execution. The storyline, for me, slowed up a little around the half way mark and I found it didn't hold my interest as much as the first half of the book. It was however well written with a workable plot and I found myself wanting to finish the story to find out whether Alice managed to save her father.

A few months ago, I read a sampler of Robert Rutherford's Seven Days and was instantly hooked. Having now read the entire book, I'm happy to confirm that the rest of the book more than lived up to my expectations. I love a race-against-time thriller and Seven Days is certainly that but it's also a nuanced, engrossing novel about families, hope and forgiveness.
Manny's death in the prologue sets the scene perfectly for all that follows. In his last few moments, it is made clear that he was an armed drug dealer so definitely no angel but nevertheless, the nature of his death is still mercilessly cold and brutal. Alice's introduction in the first chapter immediately reveals her to be a woman with intense commitments and the bittersweet reality of caring for her mother following her stroke is beautifully expressed. Robert Rutherford understands that for a thriller to be truly compulsive, it needs to be about more than the high-octane action scenes; the complicated dynamics of Alice's family are gradually and empathetically explored as the novel progresses. It's obvious throughout that Alice is weighed down by the guilt she feels for her part in the break-up of her family, and the relationship she has with her younger sister, Fiona is particularly interesting. They clearly love one another and yet there is still an underlying tension which sees Fiona able to use Alice's conscience to persuade her to travel to France following a shocking conversation with their estranged father, Jim.
It's Fiona who informs Alice that their Dad is on Death Row in Florida and that he is due to be given a lethal injection in just seven days time. Unbeknown to them, he has been in prison for eleven years, convicted of murder with what seems to be damning and irrefutable evidence. Alice is angry at Jim but not because he is apparently a killer; she is still harbouring resentment at his earlier behaviour when they were children.
The first part of Seven Days sets the scene effectively, setting up a complex and emotional mystery and introducing believable, fascinating characters. Jim has a prison record but nothing approaching the scale of murder. He seems beyond hope and doesn't ask his daughters for help. Nevertheless, he asserts his innocence, despite the evidence to the contrary. Eventually she agrees to Fiona's pleas to look into the case and asks her old friend, FBI agent turned private investigator, Sofia Marquez to look into things. Alice is expecting to have his guilt confirmed but instead, learns the case isn't quite as straightforward as it appears.
Alice is a former attorney and although she has never worked murder cases, she is able to utilise her skills when interviewing people and decoding their responses. When her investigation takes her from Whitley Bay to Paris, she meets Luc Boudreux who is a serving agent with the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE). She isn't sure whether she can trust him but acknowledges that needs his assistance. The shadow of past mistakes are still hanging over him but there is more to this flawed man than first meets the eye. The multi-layered narrative is shared between them and subsequently the dramatic irony created is cleverly intriguing – and frustrating at times. It's also interesting to note that despite their mutual reticence to trust one other, they are similar people; both are rather self-sufficient and lonely, with a need to prove to themselves that they are still good people.
Alice's actions lead to somebody else expecting her help and it becomes horribly evident that they are prepared to be utterly ruthless to ensure it. What was initially a pointless mission to appease her sister ends up becoming something far more sinister and she is in very real danger. The suspenseful cliff hangers would be nerve-racking enough but the ticking clock as the days count down towards Jim's execution exacerbate the tension to unbearable levels.
The creeping sense of foreboding engendered before the breathtaking conclusion is terrifically nail-biting. Alice and Luc face various barriers in their quest to uncover the truth, which turns out to be more terrible than anyone could have imagined, and the exploration of what justice means to different people is particularly impressive. With its first-rate sense of place, Seven Days is a brilliantly engaging, compulsive and fast-paced thriller. It is also a perceptive, compassionate look at disappointment, forgiveness and the importance of family, even those which may not be typical. Twisty, tense and superbly characterised, this global race against time and across the world is a top read. Very highly recommended!

Seven Days" by Robert Rutherford is a gripping tale that plunges readers into a moral dilemma, forcing them to confront the complexities of justice, family ties, and personal convictions. The narrative revolves around Alice, faced with the imminent execution of her father, a man burdened by guilt on various fronts.

The story skillfully weaves a tapestry of emotions, as Alice grapples with her father's abandonment, infidelity, and the haunting question of whether he committed murder. Rutherford crafts characters with depth, making them relatable and flawed, adding layers to the story's emotional intensity. The author's exploration of familial relationships is poignant, delving into the intricate web of love, betrayal, and forgiveness.

As the countdown to the execution ticks away, the plot unfolds with suspense and tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats. The dichotomy between those advocating for her father's release and those willing to go to extreme lengths to ensure his punishment adds a thrilling element to the narrative. Rutherford cleverly intertwines legal and moral quandaries, presenting a narrative that prompts readers to question their own beliefs about justice and redemption.

The central question lingers throughout the book: Should Alice save her father? The moral ambiguity embedded in this dilemma is the novel's strength, creating a thought-provoking experience for readers. The author navigates these complexities with finesse, avoiding clichés and offering a nuanced portrayal of the human condition.

Additionally, "Seven Days" is a commentary on the flaws within the justice system and the blurred lines between right and wrong. The novel raises pertinent questions about the nature of guilt and the pursuit of truth, challenging readers to reconsider their preconceived notions.

In conclusion, Robert Rutherford's "Seven Days" is a masterfully crafted exploration of morality, justice, and the intricate dynamics

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for this ARC. A fast paced story that follows Alice, who finds out her estranged dad is due to be executed in 7 days. He maintains his innocence and Alice uses her skills to find out what truly happened on the night in question.
I loved the ‘days to go’ chapters as they really build suspense and you have to carry on reading to find out what happens! A great story that I really enjoyed and would like to read more from this author.

I liked the premise of this novel, a daughter discovers her estranged father is awaiting execution. However, the narrative pace was a little slow and I struggled with the multiple threads and a subplot that was unecessary.

Seven Days is a fast paced read following Alice who hasn’t seen her dad since he left her mother for another woman, with whom he lives in Florida. She finds out that her estranged father has a week to live and reluctantly finds herself using her lawyer skills to uncover the truth about what happened the night of the crime.
This was high octane read. A bit different from my taste, as I prefer slow-burning and more psychological reads, nonetheless Seven Days was fast moving and high in action. I just wish the characters had a bit more depth and that the chapter breaks weren’t so short. On the whole a fun, thriller read.

This was wild! Really enjoyed this. Good characters, good story line and it kept me guessing. My first time reading this author and will look for more books!

You have 7 days to save the life of a man on death row who despite his admittance of his undoubtable shady past misdemeanours, is adamant he did not do what has had him sentenced to death. Not an uncommon assertion when being found guilty. However, Alice has been tasked with at least trying to prove his innocence, after all it is her job to defend the indefensible, everyone deserves a fair trial. Despite Alice knowing his past is deplorable and he at least guilty of something. He’s also her dad.
But while battling with moral dilemmas of duty, who you can and can’t trust and surprises popping up all over the place, sometimes we have to accept that both good and bad people make mistakes they regret. And we have to navigate this while trying not to get killed.

A new author to me. I’m intrigued by a book which has a limited time scenario. Seven Days certainly didn’t disappoint. A prisoner on death row is to be executed in seven days time. Can his estranged daughter help or save him as he claims he is innocent. A good plot with revelations and discoveries which makes this a hard to put down read. The “ days to go” headed chapters added a gripping , intriguing race against time aspect.

Seven Days is a highly original and expertly crafted thriller, an exciting and intriguing premise and, straightaway, one which the author is promising us has a plot that will be resolved in a given timeframe. No pressure, then!

Seamlessly spanning multiple locations, the pace is fast, the dialogue is snappy and the story carries the reader along as the days tick down. I found myself constantly checking there were enough days left for this mission to be successful each time I arrived at a new chapter - the pacing is that good!

Seven Days is the first standalone thriller from Robert Scragg and he has really hit the ground running with this. Absolutely one of the the best thrillers I've read in 2023, it deserves every success as an outstanding thiller of 2024.

The premise for this book is great - a man on death row for a crime he swears he didn’t commit. It’s a great premise because it’s so real. After a while the plot becomes a bit more like something from CSI but it is still enjoyable.

The characters in this are relatively distinctive & likeable, the prose easy to read (though it does seem to get bogged down in places). I did enjoy this book & wanted to come back to it though it didn’t strike me as an unputdownable page turner. A solid effort & nice easy read. Certainly a book I’d pick up off the shelf at somewhere like The Works & pass round my reading circle.

A very good plot and I was gripped at the start. Howver, a few stupid actions by the main character, some petty and unbelievable falling out and this exciting crime thriller lost a bit of its edge I enjoyed Seven Days.

Alice hasn’t had the best relationship with her dad after not only abandoning her when she was a child but her mother too. So, when she finds out from her sister that he is on death row for murder and in seven days he is going to be given a lethal injection. At first, she has no problems with it. Ut her sister claims that he is innocent and asking her if she can help him. Alice was a lawyer in New York but not practising and looking after her mother in Whitely Bay.
She is a hesitant at first but, she agrees to go and help him. Which leads her on a perilous journey to find out the truth. Even putting her own life in danger.
Thank you, Hodder and Stoughton, for a copy of Seven days by Robert Rutherford. This is a great fast paced thriller, and it has an interesting storyline and characters. I enjoyed it for the most part but started losing interest towards the end. 4 stars from me.

This story started off strong. Giving just enough that you wonder what the truth is. Could an innocent man be on death row.
While I found the pacing a little slow. With the days feeling a little dragging at times. I think the first 60% or so was more enjoyable. Trying to figure out if the other deaths were connected in some way.
But the last 40% something changed. I suddenly lost a little bit of interest. Maybe because by this point I had figured out a big part of the "twist" or maybe the direction it went just didn't work for me.
But I found myself just wanting it over by the end.

A very enjoyable read. Alice and her sister have been estranged from their father for years. They now find out that he is on death row for a crime he says he didn’t commit and will be executed in 7 days. Alice is persuaded by her sister to look into his case and try to help him. She is reluctant as she hasn’t spoken to her father for years and at this moment in time, she doesn’t even like him. To keep the peace between her and her sister, Alice agrees to look into the case for a day or two to see what she can uncover. This is tightly plotted and well written with interesting characters that are layered and well-drawn. Alice is a likeable and relatable character.
Overall, this had a sound plot and excellent premise.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.