Another face paced thriller from Alex! I love how I just cannot calm what his twists are going to be.
Highly recommend this and all of his books

This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, the writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
Really enjoyable

Absolutely nothing is like it seems in this book. You feel its going into one direction, and then the author surprises you and you are gripped once again.
TB

This is a follow on book to After Anna, which I hadn't read until I started this one so went back and read it so I could get the full backstory of the characters before reading this one.

I have to say both were fairly average reads. Here One Minute sees Anna, now as a teenager, go missing again but this time her half brother Oakley goes missing at the same time.

The book just felt flat to me. I never felt connected enough to really care about Anna or Oakley and all the parents are frustrating characters. I didn't ever have a strong urge to pick it up, the plot just plodded along and there were no stand out shocking moments.

Unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this one and wouldn't recommend it personally.

Wow. As I have come to expect from Alex Lake this was unputdownable. I literally could barely be parted from my kindle as I was reading this.

And although I had half a suspicion about one bit of this, the overall picture totally shocked me.

To say there is a whole lot more to this than the blurb implies is an understatement. It's layer on layer of deviousness, and shocks.

And it's only just now as I'm writing this review I've realised that this is a follow on story from the only one of Alex Lake's books that I haven't read (although I do have a copy sitting in my bedroom), but it does mean I can safely say this is definitely a standalone and I didn't even get the feeling while reading that I was missing out on what I'm guessing is another cracking book.

Back to Here One Minute and that is literally the case with 15 year old Anna - she definitely gets onto a plane, footage sees her getting off, but then she disappears into thin air from Manchester airport. I mean with all the security at an airport how can someone just disappear.

The writing style was fabulous. Lots of short chapters with a quick headline of sorts as to whet your appetite of just one more chapter syndrome, and these chapters were often separated into two or three sub parts all related. It made it incredibly easy to read, and impossibly to put down.

This was addictive, compelling and shocking and just totally brilliant. I couldn't have enjoyed it more. Just wow!

Thank you to Harper Collins and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Another fantastic book by Alex Lake. I genuinely could not put it down.

Fans of Alex Lake will remember After Anna when Julia and Brian Crowne’s 5 year old daughter goes missing from her school.

While this book can be read as a standalone story it features Julia, Brian and Anna. The book takes place some years later when Julia puts her teenage daughter on a plane to go visit her father but when the plane lands Anna is nowhere to be seen, having seemingly vanished. How is that even possible? Not only that but how can it have happened again?

This story grabs you from the first page and is the perfect winter read to while away the afternoon. It’s fast paced with plenty of twists and turns and made me gasp out loud more than once.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Highly recommended - you will not be disappointed.

A totally absorbing and gripping read!

I’d not read a book by this author before but I was really intrigued by the synopsis. I’m so glad that I chose it, whilst it took me an age to finish (Christmas got in the way!) I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the way in which it was written. It was a bit like ‘Jonathon Creek’ or the more recent ‘Ludwig’. Whereby a crime presumably has been committed but it is a mystery as to how.

I’d definitely check out more by this author and would highly recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery.

Thank to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Great loved it. Sorry I missed the cut off.
I wish I knew it was a second book but I do enjoy this author.
Thank you

God this had me on edge!!! I was hooked from the first page. The story was dark, scary and suspenseful, with twists that kept me guessing until the final pages, what a fantastic thriller.

I found the story easy to read and kept my focus. I did find a number of the characters hard to like; including willow, who appeared to be self-centred and only caring about what impacted upon herself and not others. I found it to be fairly fast paced and the dual timeline didn’t detract from the story. Overall a solid 4 stars!

This book really did keep me up at night! Read over three nights I could not put it down… just one more chapter… and then another. I’m relieved to finish it just so I can catch up on sleep!

Interesting characters with a strong story, full of red herrings and plenty going on but easy to follow. I did feel it was slightly let down by a rather rushed ending.

The first thing I did after finishing was to look up further books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollinsUK for an eARC of this book.

This is an excellent, gripping read, that grabs you from page one, and does not let go for one minute. My first read by this author, I had not read the previous book in the series. This did not affect my reading experience at all, there was enough explanation woven into the early story to bring me up to speed.
An ingenious plot, interesting characters, well drawn, though not always likeable- especially Edna! I flew through this book. There are a few places where it’s a bit implausible, but forgiven because it’s such a great read.
Definitely an author to look out for.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book. Highly recommended.

Another absolutely gripping read from Alex.Lake. Had me gripped from the beginning and kept me gripped by its fast pace and great characters. I hadn't read the previous book but still enjoyed the story as plenty of background information linking the past. This is a book I will definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

Wow, just wow! One of those books that rarely come along and you seriously wish that you didn’t have to go to work today because you really need to finish this all in one go. The plot was absolutely riveting and cliche alert, unputdownable I really did need to know how it was all going to pan out.
The premise is that two children go missing from the same family on the same day. One of them is a 15 year old girl who simply vanishes into thin air after disembarking from a flight and one is her 6 year old stepbrother. The catch is that this has happened before to the girl when she was 5 and the perpetrator in that instance was her grandmother, who is now dead, so why is history repeating itself?
The plot is clever, ingenious and definitely kept me on my toes. The family dynamics are fascinating and in places sinister and lines greyed about what defines helping someone you love and your motives thence connected.
Seriously riveting and an amazing read, you won’t be disappointed.

A fabulously fast paced high tension crime thriller , which flew past in just a couple of sittings. Julia Miller’s teenage daughter is on a flight to visit her dad for the weekend. She gets on the flight-but she doesn’t emerge at the other end. Her stepmother is waiting to pick her up but after 15, 20 and then 30 minutes, there’s still no sign.
She’s also due to pick up her 6 year old son Oakley from his football practice: the longer Anna takes, the more stressed she is feeling.
As time ticks on and there’s still no Anna, her parents can’t help but think, where is she and why is this happening to us again?!

A good read
This ties to the book After Anna but you don’t have to have read it to read this book
It was a real page turner and you will not want to put it down
Thanks NetGalley

I throughly enjoyed this book. I found it enthralling with all the twists and turns that 90% of the time I didn't see coming. I found the charecters relatable and true to the situation which is always pleasing and I feel its more engaging.

I enjoyed the pace and the glimpses into the past and how it all intertwined.

I didnt realise this book was part of a series, and even though I hadnt read "After Anna" I was till able to follow and enjoy this story . Lots of twists in it and it became compulsive reading as it came to the climax. This is a book I will definitely recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review

is the second instalment in a trilogy, yet it possesses the strength to stand independently. This quality ensures that readers unfamiliar with the first book can easily engage with the storyline, allowing them to immerse themselves without feeling disoriented or lost.

The narrative is structured as a fast-paced thriller, brimming with suspense and intricate plot twists. Lake demonstrates a remarkable ability to create tension by skilfully interweaving multiple surprises and red herrings throughout the plot. These unexpected developments genuinely challenge readers, keeping them on their toes and uncertain about what could happen next.

While some readers might interpret the depiction of Anna's parents as overly nagging or excessively protective, this characterization contributes significantly to the complexity of the family's dynamics. It highlights the varied dimensions of parental concern and its impact on Anna's life. Furthermore, the grandmother’s motives remain enigmatic, leading readers to contemplate her intentions, past actions, and the secrets that may surround her character.

Overall, "Here One Minute" presents a rich tapestry of mystery and drama, making it an engaging and worthwhile read. The book is particularly appealing to those who have a passion for thrillers that capture their attention and keep them eagerly anticipating each new revelation. The blend of suspense, familial relationships, and unresolved questions ensures that readers are not only entertained but also engaged in a deeper exploration of character motivations and narrative intricacies.

Recommended reading for fans or this author or genre!

Fifteen year old Anna's mum puts her on a plane at Heathrow to travel to Manchester where her step mother will be waiting to collect her. Anna boarded the plane however never comes through Arrivals at Manchester. Consequently her step mother is then late to collect Anna's young half brother from his football training. When she arrives at the pitch, expecting to see her son waiting with the coach, there is just one car in the car park and no sign of Oakley. So begins a nightmare! This isn't the first time Anna has gone missing. Ten years previously she was abducted, only to be returned a week later. Is there a connection between the disappearances of both children?

This is the second book about Anna. The first, 'After Anna', tells the tale of Anna's abduction when she was five, and the subsequent events following her return to her family. Whilst 'Here One Minute' can be read as a stand alone thriller to get the most enjoyment from the book, I would recommend reading 'After Anna' first.

There is much tension, plenty of twists, turns and red herrings in this cleverly crafted thriller. I particularly liked the detail and time given to the anomaly of how a person can board a plane and then not arrive at their destination. The characterisation of DI Wynne, the lead detective in Anna's first abduction, and her dogged determination to solve this riddle is well written. Whilst I had an idea of who and why, it didn't detract from my enjoyment due to a number of misleading clues which I fell for. My only criticism is the similarities of the finale in both books.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for my advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review