This is book number 3 in the series and as the other 2 were both 5 star reads I was really looking forward to reading this one and it didn't disappoint another 5 star read a brilliant book that I would definitely recommend I'm so excited for book number 4

I read and enjoyed the previous book about investigative journalist Ben Harper so I was excited to receive a review copy of “ Ten Seconds”.
When out for a birthday celebration with her father, Sam and colleague, Ben, Madeleine steps into a car to go home and promptly disappears.
Ben teams up with Sam to look for Madeleine when it becomes clear she has been kidnapped and they are in a race against time to find her before something worse happens.
Told not to involve the police, Ben cannot even tell his girlfriend Dani who works for the local Haddley police force. This makes for a difficult period in their relationship.
The tension ratchets up as time passes and Madeleine is not found. There are clues about the perpetrator who is linked to a former case Madeleine worked on. The man convicted, Billy, has recently been released from prison.
I enjoyed returning to Haddley and reading more about the characters who featured in earlier books in the series.
I liked Ben- he works well with retired reporter, Sam, an interesting character who really came to life in the course of the novel. He is desparate to find his daughter, even calling up his ex wife to help in the search.
There were many twists and turns as the plot moved along and the author managed to keep me guessing until the very last page. The last section was edge of your seat exciting!
I definitely recommend this book and the whole series set in Haddley by Robert Gold. I’m now looking forward to catching up with Ben and his friends in the next instalment and certainly hope I don’t have to wait too long.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

Delighted to receive this invitation from NetGalley to review this book.
Ten Seconds by Robert Gold is the third and latest book in the excellent series featuring the journalist Ben Harper. I certainly lapped up the previous books in the series so was so looking forward to this.
And what an amazing read it is. If I could sit Mr Gold down in front of me, I’d love to ask him how he consistently manages to push out such an intricate plot and brilliant characters.
This time round the action revolves around Ben Harper’s boss and friend, Madeline Wilson. After a birthday celebration, Ben witnesses Madeline getting into a car that she has supposedly arranged to come and collect her. Then the next morning he finds that she has completely disappeared without a trace. What was the reason for her abduction? To find out, Ben has to join forces with some of the familiar characters from the previous books, plus Sam who is Madeline’s father. Sam is a superb character and a perfect foil for Ben. Together, they must delve into Madeline’s past which involves her journalistic involvement in an infamous murder case. There is danger for both of them in this course of action with warnings not to involve the police.
The tension builds to fever pitch and there are twists and turns all over the place. I didn’t get the culprit and the reasoning behind it before Robert Gold revealed it to me…..so clever. Ben Harper is a superb lead, maybe a little flawed with his traumatic past and given to impetuosity, but his motives are just right.
A very well-deserved 5 stars for this one and a recommendation to read this series from the very beginning if you haven’t already done so.
My thanks to NetGalley, Robert Gold, and particularly Little Brown Book Group for the much-appreciated ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

This is the latest in Robert Gold's thrilling series featuring journalist Ben Harper with his traumatic background, we become reacquainted with a number of familiar characters living in the Haddley Common community. Harper sees his ambitious boss and friend, Madeline Wilson, get into a car that comes to collect her after birthday celebrations, prior to making his way home, only to find she is missing the following morning. For the ambitious Madeline, the past has reared its head to haunt her, placing her in serious danger as she is abducted, this all goes back some time ago, and a notorious murder case that established her career, with more complexities and nuances than were initially apparent.

It takes some time for me to become immersed in a story with numerous threads that take some time to set up and establish. Ben, who has no qualms about rushing in and stepping into territory where angels fear to tread, is partnering with Sam, Madeline's father, when it becomes clear she has been taken, working well together in a dangerous and urgent investigation that includes murder, and are explicityly warned not to contact the police. We are given a glimpse into motives and the mind and past of the main adversary, which allows us to more able to understand and feel for them. In the meantime there is heightened fear and terror in the community, particularly for women, as an intruder breaks into their homes.

As the pace quickens, the tension and suspense builds to sky high levels, and there are secrets, twists and turns galore, we encounter the memorable Annabel, Madeline's mother, and are presented with a host of suspects to mull over. I raced my through the short chapters and multiple perspectives, right up to the final explosive conclusion. This was a smart, a real emotional rollercoaster of a jam packed read, that includes Dani's investigation and her relationship with Ben. This is a great series, and I look forward with great anticipation with what the author comes up with next! Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

When news editor Madeline Wilson is kidnapped, her family is in a race against time to rescue her. The only clue they have is a cryptic link to a twelve-year-old murder.

I have enjoyed all three of the books in the Ben Harper series by Robert Gold, however, I think Ten Seconds is the best to date. The book works well as a stand-alone story, however reading the previous two books in the series gives a greater understanding of the characters involved in Ten Seconds.

Investigative journalist Ben Harper lives on the outskirts of London in the town of Haddley, a town where everyone seems to be harbouring a secret. Fans of the series will know that Ben is the type of character who never gives up when he has a story in his sights, even if his own life is put at risk. The situation is no different in Ten Seconds.

Madeline Wilson is Ben’s boss, she’s also the daughter of Sam Hardy, Ben’s old mentor. Sam is now retired but Ben still turns to him for advice, there is almost a father-and-son style relationship between the pair. With this in mind, Ben is determined to help find Madeline. The kidnappers have stressed that the police are not to be contacted so the pair have to use the skills they have developed as journalists. This also puts Ben in a difficult position as his girlfriend is a police officer.

Ben and Sam realise that the kidnapping is linked to an old murder case. Years ago the police had given up trying to solve the case, but Madeline refused to give up and through dogged determination and relentless reporting an arrest and conviction was finally brought about. As Ben and Sam investigate they travel the country looking for clues, learning that people close to home may be hiding secrets linked to the original murder.

Set over a short window of time means that the pace never lets up. The description of the kidnap fills you with trepidation, fearful that there will not be a successful conclusion to the story. The deeper Ben digs, the more you suspect everyone. A secondary storyline also adds confusion for the reader. I was deeply worried about Ben and Dani’s fledgling relationship. Time constraints, along with the kidnapper’s warning, meant that Ben didn’t confide in Dani. Dani felt that there was a lack of trust.

The finale was filled with tension as a number of lives were at risk. As all the loose ends are tied up there is a sense of relief but the conclusion is tinged with sadness.

A chilling and suspenseful read that will leave you questioning the motives of everyone involved. This thriller is a must-read and not to be missed.

I’ve given this book a 5 but it’s more a 4.75 if that were possible. It is absolutely brilliant as crime thrillers go. I hate the cliche but I literally couldn’t put it down. I consumed it in 4 big chunks punctuated only by having to work, sleep and do stuff with my kids!

It is so well plotted, revisits lots of familiar characters from past books in the series (I’d say you should definitely go back the first - it doesn’t work as a standalone).

I love how that as the series has developed I feel like I know the characters and can picture Haddley in my mind like somewhere I’ve really been.

It’s got lovely digestible, pacy short chapters that keep you longing for more. Lots of suspense, lots of cliff hangers, a few red herrings but ultimately solvable.

So why did I mark it down? There was one small thing that irked me and it was the lightness of the conversation and quips between Ben, Sam and Annabelle. Without wanting to spoil anything, I just don’t think i’d have been quipping in their shoes… i don’t think anyone would?

On the whole FABULOUS, loved it, give me more.

Ten seconds is the third book in the Ben harper series. I enjoyed the first two books, so I was looking forward to reading this one.
After a Birthday celebration Ben Harper’s boss Madeline gets into a carto go home. But the next morning he finds out that she has gone missing.
Ben must go back to his past to find the clues to what happened to Madeline. In doing so he finds out that she has been kidnapped. Who has kidnapped her and why?
This is another interesting read that continues from the previous two books. There is lots of twists and turns in this and a lot of characters, so because of this I struggled to connect to this story and it sometimes left me confused. Personally, I didn’t enjoy it as much as the first two books. 3 stars.

Ten Seconds is the third book in the Ben Harper series. It's well-written and fast-paced. Like the previous two books, there is plenty of action, along with lots of twists and turns.

While reading previous books, I was able to work out the perpetrators, but this one had me guessing till the end, thanks to all the red herrings.

This time, the plot unravels through multiple perspectives, which worked well as you get to know the complex character better. Also, as this is the third book, I really enjoyed seeing the character development of the main character, Ben.

Ten Seconds can be read as a standalone, but it does reference back to previous books and cases, so I would recommend you read the books in order.

Another great read, and I can't wait to continue with the series. I'm assuming there will be more as the titles are counting down from twelve!

A big thank you to NetGalley and the publishers Sphere, Little, Brown Book Group (UK) for my digital review copy (eARC). These are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I am sharing them voluntarily.

I'm a big fan of the Ben Harper series, but I have to admit that I initially struggled quite a bit with this third book. It felt somewhat slow to me and as if very little was happening. Obviously, the reader knows these characters by now and it seems only normal to get an insight into their lives. While much of what was done and said in the early chapters seemed irrelevant to me, it turned out it was anything but. But for me, things really didn't pick up the until moment Ben realised Madeline had gone missing.

Who would take Madeline and why? The answers are somewhere in the past, with an infamous murder case Madeline reported on, which made her career. A case that ends up being far more complicated than it at first seems, involving characters you may not expect it from, and one that will ultimately have devastating consequences.

I would say the first couple of chapters are a build up to things that are about to come. Will and his husband are struggling, especially after Nathan's introduction to the family. Nathan, too, is having issues stemming from his origins, and also his love life. Ben and Dani just can't seem to find the time to spend together and work out where their future lies. There are niggling doubts about those in command in the police force. Something Dani wants to tread carefully about, which is hard with Ben being a journalist. There's a dash of romance for one of the characters. The community is on high alert as an intruder keeps entering houses of women when they're home alone at night. And somehow, so many of these seemingly unremarkable (bar the intruder, which obviously is a remarkable event)) events, are connected in ways I never saw coming.

Along the way, I discovered my new favourite sleuthing due in the form of Ben and Madeline's dad, Sam. They set out on their own investigation into Madeline's disappearance. Being a journalist isn't that much different from being a detective, I suppose. And these two are pretty good at snooping around and digging for clues. But are they putting Madeline in more danger? Or even themselves?

Throughout, there is an unknown character sharing their life's story. It's quite a sad tale that emerges from the pages. In a clever sort of way, it feels as if the author is leaving it up to you, the reader, to determine if this character's past in any way excuses their actions. It definitely made me think, especially after reading the final chapter.

Despite my wobble at the beginning of the book, I ended up really enjoying 'Ten Seconds'. I had a bit of an inkling as to who was responsible for certain things, but this is such a sticky web of secrets and manipulation that it was near impossible to unravel completely. 'Ten Seconds' is a gripping, tense read with a clever plot, and ultimately a great addition to the series. Even if I found the ending a tad upsetting. I'm very much looking forward to seeing how the characters deal with the aftermath.

I just reviewed Ten Seconds by Robert Gold. #TenSeconds #NetGalley

This book was excellent. I have read the previous 2 books in this series and Robert Gold just gets better every year with his story telling. I read this book in 2 sittings as I did with the previous book as they just pull he in and have to know what is happening.with the characters. I really hope there is a 4th book next year as I can't wait to find out what is happening next for Ben Harper.

Thanks to #NetGallery for allowing me to read this book.

In the third installment in the Ben Harper series, Robert Gold didn't fail to deliver. With incredible plot twists that keep you from putting the book down, to relatable characters you can't help but love.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's gripping, twisty storyline kept me drawn in right to the very end.

When Ben Harper’s boss is kidnapped he needs to go back to what happened years ago in the area. With a host or varied characters this is an interesting read.
Thanks to Netgalley for a digital copy of this book

I didn’t realise this was the 3rd in the series but my fault for presuming it was a stand alone
Nonetheless I enjoyed the book and the character of Ben and was soon immersed into the story
Well told and would read more by this author inc the previous 2

Ten Seconds is the third book in this series featuring Journalist Ben harper. Yet again Robert Gold has devised an intricate plot, with red herrings aplenty, and perfectly paced twists for good measure. Like a fine wine, this series just keeps improving. After a night out with his boss Madeline, she disappears without a trace. The mystery centres around the Who took Madeline and why? To find Madeline, Ben will have to dig deep into a now infamous murder case that made her journalism career over a decade ago. What follows is an addictive read with thrills galore.

What I like about this series is Ben is a journalist rather than a Detective so he’s able to push the ‘legal’ boundaries. He’s more of a “act first, think later” kind of guy, which often finds him in some dangerous situations. Another strength of this series is the emphasis lies on the characters who live in Haddley Common, and the entangled lives they share. This means you’re never short of ‘suspects’ and undoubtedly adds to the suspense tenfold.

Bonus points to Robert Gold for the chapters that are told from the principal antagonist POV, as they add an extra dimension. They give the reader a valuable insight into their motivations and the events that have led them to a life of crime. As Ten Seconds comes to its conclusion, I raced through the pages, eager to see how everything fitted together. I guessed one outcome, but this in no way distracted from my enjoyment of this book. The publishers describe this series as “Broadchurch meets Harlan Coben” although I agree with this I think Gold is fast becoming a name to be recognised in his own right..

This review will be published on my blog nearer to publication day

I didn’t realise this was book 3.. I hadn’t read book 1 and 2 so I struggled a little with the characters and back story. HOWEVER… the book was a fast paced one with plenty of action and grit to keep me reading! Anyone who has read the other would happily get cracking straight away and feel right at home with this!

I hadn’t realised that this book was third in a series when I started reading so I was very confused with the myriad of characters who all seemed interlinked (in London …. Really?). I felt like I had joined a film half way through and was constantly playing catch up. The characters were obviously developed in the previous two books, so there was no depth to them given in book 3 and whilst those people who had read the previous two books would hit the ground running with this one, I wasn’t able to connect in a satisfactory manner. I’m sure that for those who loved books 1 and 2 this one will be another best seller but I strongly feel more effort should have been made to embrace the first time readers.

This was a fantastic read. A third in the series featuring Ben Harper, whom I adore. A brilliant main character. As always the story is full of mystery and secrets, with plenty of what the?? Moments. Highly recommended xx

I really do enjoy this series. Ben Harper is a great lead character, if somewhat gung ho when it comes to his personal safety. Each of the cases he has worked on have held a kind of personal connection for him, but this time it is his friend and boss, Madeline Wilson, who is in grave danger. The problem is that nobody knows, at least not to begin with. And when Ben and Madeline's father, Sam, learn the truth, they decide to take matters into their own hands. With all good intention of course, but, as with all good thrillers, listening to someone who tells you 'don't contact the police or else' never really ends well, does it?

Well, you'll need to read Ten Seconds to learn the consequences of that particular decision, but then I'd say you'd want to be doing that anyway as it's a fast paced, suspense and mystery laden thriller that I just ate up. Lot's going on - not just Madeline's disappearance, but a stalker/housebreaker on the loose who is terrorising the women of Haddley, including someone very close to home for Ben. Perhaps that should serve as a warning for anyone in his circle of friends - this guy is a danger magnet! All joking aside, he's a journalist, and one who happens to be in the right place at the right time - for one of the women in his life anyway. He is a character I grew to like very quickly. He has a troubled past, and apparently a danger filled present, but there isn't anything he wouldn't do for the people he cares about, even if he's not always good at expressing that or demonstrating it.

The books are framed in such a way that each one provides not only the perspective of Ben and the main investigation, but that we also get the point of view of the main antagonist. As we gradually count from one to ten, we learn more about their background which seeks to both inform and, in some cases, potentially misdirect. It definitely left me with mixed feelings this time around, as there are aspects of their past which elicit sympathy, if forgiveness, for their actions. I think this is one of the key aspects of the book which works for me - the way in which the author makes it clear that they are more than just their actions, and that even in the worst of cases, it is not always even as simple as nature verses nurture.

This is pretty fast paced book, and I read it in just a couple of sittings. Although we are present with Madeline at the time of her 'disappearance', and elements of that can be quite hard to read, this book is not about perceived violence, nor is it gratuitous in nature. That said it is a book about abduction and murder, so it is not all sweetness and light either. But the lion's share of the story is focused on Ben and Sam's attempts to find Madeline, and the police's attempts to catch the attacker, in this case mainly focused on the investigation by Dani Cash. Dani is another great character in the books, also Ben's lover, and plays a key part in all of the cases in the books. She is determined and straight as an arrow, which is interesting given there is a trail of corruption and misconduct that feeds through the whole series. Speaking of great characters, we get to meet Annabel, Madeline's mother, and it is easy to see where she gets her tenacity and stubborn streak from.

This is a classic crime mystery, with a lot of back story and secrets to be revealed. It kept me hooked and invested in not only the fate of Madeline, but of those around her. There are plenty of suspects, and with the possible exception of Sam, Ben and Dani, you'l likely find yourself wondering about the innocence of each of them in turn. Elements of the story I did second guess, but that wasn't anything that affected my enjoyment of the story, as those revelatory moments came just pages before it was all made abundantly clear to us anyway. There are some heart in the throat moments, scenes that will stick in the craw, and some very emotional moments too. The story really starts to ramp up as we move towards the shocking and climatic showdown, leaving me with a touch of sadness but plenty of satisfaction. And then that final moment ... well, that I did not see coming.

If you love this series, this is another winner. Definitely recommended.

Ben Harper is back in the third book of this series and this time is helping to investigate the disappearance of his boss, Madeline. Soon he realises this case isn’t as simple as it first seemed.

I have read all the books in this series and enjoyed them and liked reconnecting with all the characters. Although it is useful to read the others in the series before this one, it can be read as a standalone - although you may discover some of the twists and turns from the previous books doing so. There are a lot of characters to get your head around but they are all written well and I liked the general writing style. Although I appreciate this was a good storyline, I found that I didn’t connect as fully with this one as I did with the previous two and found some conversations slightly irritating, however it was most likely due to my current frame of mind while reading. I would say it is still worth a read and I would enjoy carrying on with the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.