I absolutely disliked this book from start to finish and forced myself to finish it. I do not even know where to start with this mess of a book. I liked the idea of a true event turned fiction. I did not like that this book took a catastrophic, traumatizing event of the 9/11 terrorist attack on the U.S. and posed the idea of one of the terrorists surviving. Appalling and not in good taste. IMO.

Another issue is that this book was in need of some major editing. The over use of exclamation points was off-putting and distracting while trying to suffer through the reading experience of this book. Has the author ever heard of a period, question mark, semi-colon and other punctuation marks? Geez, use your copy-writer and editor!!

For these reasons and so many more this book was not for me!!!!!!!!! I cannot and will not recommend this book!

Thanks to Netgalley, LV Pederson and Racounter 888 for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available

"One thing she now knew for sure: She had come close to evil that day—that was as clear as the smile on his face. And now she was even closer."


This one is action-packed and reads like a movie. A historical fiction about 9/11 and a wild goose chase as they try to capture the terrorist responsible. Many years later, they are still on the hunt for this terrorist and we also get to meet Madison as one of the protagonist. His father was one of the 9/11 victims and she finds herself in a close encounter with his father's killer (again). Things start to get messy and interesting and dangerous. This one is a page turner.

I initially enjoyed the first half of “Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds,” but I found it difficult to get into the story as it progressed. The second half didn’t resonate as well with me; it took several turns that felt unnecessary and detracted from the overall coherence of the plot.

L.V. Pedersen’s Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds is a high-octane thriller that pulls readers into the murky world of Silicon Valley, where ambition, power, and deadly secrets collide. With a gripping plot and a protagonist who’s both flawed and relatable, this novel masterfully weaves suspense, intrigue, and a race against time into a story that’s hard to put down.

Madison, the protagonist, is trying to rebuild her life in California after a troubled past in Boston. Her new job as an executive assistant at a tech giant seems like the perfect opportunity to start fresh. But Pedersen wastes no time unraveling her fragile sense of security. The murder of a young employee sets off a cascade of events that plunges Madison into a conspiracy that stretches far beyond her new workplace.

What makes Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds so compelling is the way it immerses readers in the cutthroat environment of Silicon Valley. Madison’s charismatic yet unnerving boss adds an ever-present sense of dread, and her discovery of his deadly secret raises the stakes immeasurably. Pedersen’s portrayal of the tech world isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a key player in the narrative, full of ethical gray areas and hidden agendas.

Madison is a standout character. Her troubled past makes her relatable, while her determination to uncover the truth, even at great personal risk, is admirable. She’s not a perfect hero, but that’s precisely what makes her so engaging. Her vulnerability and resilience shine as she navigates the dark corners of a high-stakes conspiracy and struggles for redemption.

The plot moves at a breakneck pace, with the ticking-clock element adding a palpable sense of urgency. Pedersen keeps readers guessing with unexpected twists and shocking revelations. As Madison pieces together the truth, the story delves into the consequences of unchecked power, the ethics of technology, and the cost of pursuing justice.

The themes in Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds resonate strongly, especially in a world increasingly shaped by tech giants and their influence. Pedersen explores not only corporate corruption but also the lengths individuals will go to for redemption and justice.

Fans of thrillers that combine fast-paced action, psychological depth, and thought-provoking questions will find Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds an exhilarating read. Pedersen’s sharp writing and relentless pacing make it impossible to look away from the explosive ending.

Rating: 4.5/5

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L. V. Pederson is a really great story.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself gripped, turning the pages, not knowing what was to come next.
It was suspenseful, mysterious and unpredictable.

Firstly, hearty congratulations to L.V. Pederson for writing such a blockbuster of a debut thriller. “Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds” is the title of Pederson’s fast- paced novel published in January 2025. Guess what? Pederson worked as a film censor in Canada and a script writer in Hollywood, apart from being an entrepreneur and innovator! He brings all these experiences to bear in this thriller which I enjoyed reading!

The story begins with a young, attractive lady called Madison Maxwell joining Know Inc, one of the most renowned tech firms in the world. This, of course, is situated in the Silicon Valley. Madison wants to put her past life at Boston behind her- to make a fresh start in a place which seems so promising. She feels this firm and her position as Executive Assistant to the Vice President would fulfil her career dreams. The plot of the story that unravels is crisply woven together with apt back stories. This makes for very exciting reading.

Shortly into the job, Madison comes across people who are totally different from who they at first appear to be. She comes across several mysteries in that firm which folks don’t talk about. Circumstances force her into situations which test her endurance to the limits. To complicate matters further, there is a deeply personal angle from her past which resurfaces to haunt her.

The story brings back to the reader memories of that unforgettable tragedy- the 9/11 terror attacks on the United States. It is a gripping story which you must read for yourself! Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book!!! My biggest complaint would be an opinion more than anything which is I love a first person narrative and this book was written almost like a movie!

"Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds" by L.V. Pederson is a nail-biting thriller that pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go until the jaw-dropping finale. It’s the kind of book that grips you tightly, leaving your heart pounding and your mind racing as you try to piece together its tangled web of intrigue.

The story centers on Madison, a young woman seeking a fresh start as an executive assistant at a Silicon Valley tech company. But what begins as a promising opportunity quickly morphs into something far more sinister. Madison stumbles upon a dangerous secret about her charming boss, thrusting her into a world of conspiracy and danger that stretches far beyond the confines of corporate boardrooms. It’s a ticking time bomb, with each chapter counting down toward an explosive climax.

Be prepared for relentless tension. The plot races forward with the urgency of a stopwatch, and just when you think you’ve figured out where it’s heading, Pederson veers into unexpected territory. The twists are shocking, yet they don’t feel cheap or contrived—they’re the kind that make you pause, re-read a passage, and mutter, “I did not see that coming.”

Pederson’s writing style also deserves applause. She has a knack for crafting vivid, cinematic scenes that immerse you completely—whether it’s the sterile, high-stakes atmosphere of Silicon Valley or the darker, shadowy corners where secrets lurk. The dialogue is sharp and believable, and the pacing is good, always propelling the story forward without feeling rushed.

This is a genuinely fun book. It hooks you with suspense, keeps you guessing with twists, and leaves you breathless by the end. Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds is a fantastic debut that promises big things for L.V. Pederson. If you’re a fan of high-stakes thrillers that keep you on edge, this one deserves a spot on your shelf.

I really enjoyed this book. Lots of twists and turns and changing timelines keeps you engaged in the story.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds
by L. V. Pederson
Pub Date: Jan 28 2025

Welcome to "Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds" an absolute must read conspiracy thriller! I found it to be very well written, it kept me on the edge of my seat. A book I definitely could not put down until I finished it! I highly recommend this 5 star thriller!

Synopsis: EVERYONE HAS SECRETS... SOME ARE JUST MORE DEADLY THAN OTHERS. When Madison starts her first real job as an executive assistant at a Silicon Valley AI Giant, she has hopes to start afresh and put her troubled life in Boston behind her. But it is not to be. A young employee out for an evening jog turns up dead. Her charismatic VP boss fills her with unease. And when Madison uncovers her boss's deadly secret, her ordinary life is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy the FBI is desperate to crack.

Many thanks to #nineminuteselevenseconds #NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this 5 star thriller!

Nine Minutes is a thriller that pulls you right in at the beginning when an executive assistant at a prominent tech firm is murdered in what was disguised as a hit and run, in the very first chapter. We are then introduced to her replacement, Madison, as she enters the firm for the first date of work. As Maddy meets her boss and co-workers, there are hints of her boss's nefarious past.

I wish the description of the book gave a little more detail on what the book was about. I assumed the thriller would have been about company secrets and conspiracy and it was more of an action-based novel. I gave the book three stars because it did move the story along and I liked the author's style, and some characters, but that was rounding up as this book had way too many farfetched coincidences as part of the plot. Madison is connected to her boss thought incidents that happened when she was very young, yet they still both remembered very detailed components of their engagement and the second half of the book felt like an action movie. Before I knew who Madison's boss was, I hated his style as he entered work every day looking for his minions to blatantly worship him, and it seemed sexual harassment and blurring boss/employee relationships was the norm. So, the stereotypical tech company on an exaggerated scale.

I probably would have passed on this book if I knew it about catching terrorists, but I think someone who likes the subgenre of this thriller would enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I thought this would be a thriller based in a Silicon Valley tech firm. I didn't grasp that the book's title refers to the 9/11 WTC terrorist attacks. This may be triggering to relatives and friends of the victims. Others may consider this uncomfortable reading and wish to avoid it. The book includes fictional characters who lost close family members in the attack, and they are described with sympathy and sensitivity. The author is a screenwriter, and the story is well-written and emotional, with intriguing characters and attention to detail. I envision it as a TV series or movie.

A leading character, Maddie, has moved from Boston to Silicon Valley to escape a past that has left her distraught. She has suffered from anxiety since childhood. She has been offered her dream job as an executive assistant in a tech firm, Know Inc. She lost her father in a plane that crashed into the Twin Towers at the time of her 6th birthday. She has never overcome her grief and blames herself for not insisting on a later flight so he could be present for her birthday. She remembers very little about what happened at the airport that fateful day. Her ongoing anxiety made her an unsettling subject, and she failed to calm down in her new surroundings. She learns that she is replacing a female worker killed in a hit-and-run. Her new boss, T. J. Khan, is popular, charismatic, and supportive of all the employees, but she is warned that he is a womanizer and that it is best not to be alone with him. Her unease is compounded when he reminds her of someone from her past. Maddie fears that she is developing paranoia because she notices the same man on her bus each day. Is he following her, and why?

Due to frequent disturbing dreams, she attends a Support group for those who lost family members on 9/11. There, she meets Will, who lost his parents. They quickly develop a friendship. His humour and presence calms her, and she feels he is the only person she can trust. They confide in each other, and she tells him about her growing fear that her boss reminds her of somebody. Will works as an expert hacker to protect companies and compares Khan's photo with that of Mohammed Atta, director of the 9/11 attacks. He was thought to be sitting beside Maddie's father when the plane crashed. The results are inconclusive. Maddie was obsessed with learning about M. Atta and wrote a thesis about him at university.

Will next hacks into a highly secret and protected CIA website, and the result proves that TJ Kahn and M. Atta are the same person following Kahn's extensive plastic surgery. Proof that Atta left the airport and was never on the plane has arrived from Germany, and the sender is murdered. More deaths follow.

The FBI, CIA, and National Security have joined forces to track down Mohammed Atta. They have examined the attacks' trauma, aftermath, and chaos, and Maddie has come to their attention due to the intrusion into the CIA website. They suspect a deadly plan to attack the critical infrastructure of electricity and water with the terrorists already in place. Niles, from that group, has been working on the case for years. He sets up Maddie in a dangerous plan to entrap Atta. She is brave in her determination to bring him down. She is very observant but easily manipulated.

The story is tension-packed and suspenseful. It kept me engaged throughout. Recommended for readers who enjoy a fast-paced story and are not disturbed by the premise and conspiracy theories based on a factual background. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the much-appreciated ARC. The date of publication is January 28, 2025.

Madison moves to California to start anew and maybe try to overcome her losses. Little she knows that her life will turn upside down in view of the challenges she will have to face. Her new boss does not put her at ease and estrange things start to happen at her new home; her work environment is also not welcoming, the only positive is getting to meet Will at the Survivor's Meeting. All intelligence agencies and the Army are looking for a terrorist that might not have died on the attack of 9/11, it's necessary to understand what he's doing and planning and Madison will play an important role in discovering the truth. Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds is a rollercoster of emotions, fast-paced, well-written, it grabs the reader's attention from the beginning. Highly recommended!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book started off as a fast paced adventure. As it went on I realized that every single character annoyed me. Every single one. And there were a lot of cringy moments, as well. There were a lot of racist and sexist remarks throughout to make you really dislike a lot of the characters. Then, the ending was dragged out over far too many pages.

Good book for
fast-paced (except the end).
people who like crime thrillers.
people who want to read more about 9/11.

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds
LV Pederson
01/28/2025
Raconteur 888

If this book doesn’t become a movie, I will be highly disappointed.

Madison, Agent Niles, Mohamed Farraq Attar and Will are connected by a common thread – the terrorist attacks on 9/11. Will and Madison lost loved ones during the attacks. Special Agent Niles is working with the NSA, FBI and CIA as part of a counter terrorism unit and Mohamed Farraq Attar is an unaccounted for terrorist during the 9/11 attacks.

This book is sprinkled with true facts, people, agencies and places with the perfect amount of realistic fiction that can easily been found in today’s society that brings this book screaming off the pages. Nine Minutes, Eleven Seconds charges ahead with relentless energy, ramping up the action and escalating the stakes as a complex conspiracy unfolds. The rapid pace keeps you on edge, while the short chapters expertly navigate through the tangled web of characters and plotlines, driving the story toward its heart-pounding, explosive conclusion.

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds. (9/11 -- hmmm). Sounded good. Like my kind of thriller...started slow, and I never really got buried in it like I wanted to. Kept being conscious of how much was left to read -- in the end, I confess I skimmed the last third or so of this one. I expect it might make a decent movie or TV series/miniseries. With thanks to Raconteur 888 and NetGalley for providing a copy of this in exchange for my honest review, I can only give it two stars. (Confession: my students said for years I was MUCH too easy in my grading of their work, so I decided to work on that and be more critical). As George Costanza would say, "It's not you, it's me!" I expect to hear more from this author and appreciate the opportunity to comment on this book.

Riveting, fast-paced, page-turner! Everything I expect when I pick up a thriller.

A well written story that had me gasping and staying up late to binge read. Bits of historical fiction as it intertwines the attack on 9/11 with a fictional planned attack. The story follows the CIA and FBI as they work to stop one of the largest terrorists attacks America has ever seen. I felt the author handled the sensitive subject of 9/11 well and respectfully. The events read in real time for the second half of the book making it unputdownable.

Thanks to NetGalley, L.V. Pederson, and Raconteur 888 Press for the ARC and chance to give my honest opinion

Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds by L. V. Pederson is a very highly recommended action/suspense thriller for the right reader. This is a great choice for those who like big conspiracies, can suspend a large dose of disbelief, and won't be bothered by the tie-in to 9/11.

The opening scene will grab your attention as a young woman is killed in a hit and run accident. Then the action follows Madison on her first day as an executive assistant at Know, Inc., a Silicon Valley tech giant. She is full of anxiety today and from her past, but co-worker Nicole offers to help her. Madison's father was a passenger on one of the two planes that crashed into the World Trade Center and died on 9/11. Now, her new boss, T.J. Khan, reminds her of someone and her anxiety rises.

She meets Will at a support group and shares her concerns. She is sure her new boss, is Mohamed Attar, a 9/11 conspirator. Through Will's computer and hacking skills, the two figure out that she may be right and he has likely had extensive cosmetic surgery​. Just as Madison and Will are setting their plan into motion to expose him, the FBI, CIA, and NSA jump in, stop the two, and explain that their large scale, ongoing operation and surveillance involving Khan is bigger and wide spread. Lead Special Agent Niles recruits Madison to assist the operation.

After the opening, the plot slows down to set the pieces into place and you need to start setting the disbelief aside. Madison is a complicated, fully realized character who struggles with guilt, trauma, and the impact of her father's death on her life. The other characters are not as well-developed, but follow a standard type. Basically, the protagonists are all good and the antagonists are all evil.

Once the action begins to take off, Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds sets a lightning-fast pace, the action is relentless, the danger increases, and all the complicated pieces of the conspiracy and the operation begin to fall into place. The short chapters help keep track of all the players and help propel the compelling narrative to it's heart-stopping conclusion.

Actually, the start of the novel turned me off, but once the action starts, it gets exponentially better with each page and becomes impossible to put down. It's not a perfect novel, but it certainly is an action/suspense thriller. 4.5 stars. Thanks to Raconteur 888 for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Amazon.

Wow, this book was amazing! The main characters were really well developed which made them more sympathetic. There was a lot of suspense, action and twists! The plot was very cleverly crafted. This is a read that can't be missed!

I love a good crime thriller and this does not disappoint! This read kept me interested the entire time and I read in only a couple days. I really enjoyed this read