Unreal, yet just real enough to make you think that it possibly could happen. An eco terror attack on the eve of the anniversary of 9/11 sends Manhattan into a deep slumber, with a few exceptions - those wishing to bring harm and those hoping for something more. This book would make an excellent blockbuster and was so easy to visualise events as they unfolded. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this book so much, I really did find myself rooting for the characters and cheering them on. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

Very much a Dan Brown-style, high-concept thriller, Manhattan Down isn't full of political nuance and deep characterisation, but it is a fun, rollicking adventure with a trio of likeable leads, an intriguing premise, and a satisfying payoff.

Excellent twisty storyline.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.
Looking forward to more from Michael Cordy

This is a very interesting thriller, with an unusual premise. The main characters work well together and there are lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed it wasn’t a big fan of the final conspiracy reveal, but overall it was very enjoyable. If you like action and suspense this is one for you.

‘Manhattan Down’ is a familiar story of good guys hunting down the evil wrongdoers before the deadline for disaster and as expected they succeed. I don’t think I’m giving away too much there as I’m sure everyone always expects the heroes to win.
So what makes this book different? The setting is a city where everyone has been instantly put to sleep apart from a mother who is desperate to find her young daughter and a NY police detective who instead of falling asleep has woken from a coma! If you can suspend your disbelief the narrative moves along at a decent pace.
I finished the book, but not really my cup of tea, hence the three stars.

Sounded intriguing but didn't live up to its promise. I found it long winded and hard going. Everything was just so stereotypically American/MAGA and it just didn't connect with me. USA-fantastic, China- evil (again, I suppose it couldn't be Russia now could it). All the characters were straight out of good ol' USA fight the baddies/Chinese are all baddies casting . At least there didn't seem to be anyone with an English accent. Had I not got it as an ARC from Netgalley I wouldn't have finished it (and I think this is a first that's happened)
Not for me

This was an enjoyable read, if a bit cliched with the whole USA=good everyone else=bad narrative.
It would make a good movie, I can already see Zoe Saldana as Samantha and Chris Pratt as Lockwood!!
Definitely worth a read even if just for the ideas of what the super-rich should be doing to do their bit for the world.

Michael Cordy’s Manhattan Down is a riveting, edge-of-your-seat thriller that grips you from the very first page and doesn’t let go. Combining high-stakes drama, a chillingly plausible scenario, and relentless pacing, this novel is both a heart-pounding action story and a thought-provoking commentary on the fragility of our modern world.

Set against the sweltering backdrop of a climate crisis and the weighty symbolism of the 9/11 anniversary, Cordy weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue. The premise is utterly gripping: a mysterious event renders the entire population of Manhattan unconscious, except for two compelling protagonists—Samantha Rossi, a determined single mother, and Nick Lockwood, a damaged yet resilient NYPD detective. Their race against time to uncover the truth and protect what they hold dear is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling.

The atmospheric tension in Manhattan Down is palpable, and the twists keep coming, making it impossible to put the book down. This story feels tailor-made for the big screen or a binge-worthy streaming series.

A must-read for fans of tech thrillers, disaster dramas, and stories that keep you guessing until the very end. Bravo, Michael Cordy!

Despite this thriller taking place over just a day or two, it seemed far too long to me. As a movie in the vein of inflated self-aggrandising American heroics like Independence Day, this would gross well, but as a novel I found it left me rolling my eyes. Naughty China! Go USA!
It was predictable and I only finished it because I feel obliged to write reviews for books I receive as ARCs.

Manhattan Down by Michael Cordy is an action packed thriller set in a Manhattan where almost every resident (almost four million) has just collapsed and fallen into a deep sleep. Or, to their death, depending on where they were at the time.

There are only a handful of people left - Samantha Rossi is fairly sure she knows why she's awake, and is worried for her teenage daughter Zoe.

Nick Lockwood is also fully conscious - ironic, given that he has spent the last week in a coma since his partner was killed on duty. His partner, O'Malley, was knee deep in conspiracy theories at the time of her murder, and now it seems that she wasn't far from discovering the truth.

A group who have identified themselves only by using the names of the Seven Deadly Sins are out for revenge - on everyone.
They have a list of demands, and if they're not granted, they'll destroy Manhattan - and everyone in it.
But are they as close as they've been led to believe?

This was entertaining enough. Reminiscent of books like I Am Pilgrim or Falling, or movies like Die Hard or Carry On. I could see it as a Netflix special, and it'd be really popular. I could imagine it being highly entertaining with someone like Nicolas Cage at the helm. As a book? I'm not sure if it works. There are a lot of questions left unanswered (Samantha and her condition, her mother, and certain characters that almost became caricatures). I didn't LOVE the whole "USA = Great, China = Evil" thing it had going on, but as I said, it's entertaining enough and for people who enjoyed the other books I mentioned, they might also enjoy this.

A fabulously written gripping story that was a pleasure to read. I would absolutely recommend this book, it was brilliant

I'm not a fan of disaster stories, apocalyptic narratives can only go one way.. 'up' .. so I hate the delusion that it won't end 'alright' ... the trek to an ending that delivers that up-beat is tedious for me. Ruminations about her relationship to daughter didn't grab me either .. I think I'm just wrong reader.

This was a fast paced and enjoyable book that kept me hooked to the end. Very easy to visualise, I can see this being made into a film. The storyline was different to anything I’d read before and the characters had good depth and I liked how the concepts of good and evil were intertwined.

Manhattan Down by Michael Cordy is an exhilarating and thought-provoking thriller set in a world on the brink of collapse. The novel opens on the eve of the 9/11 anniversary, as New York swelters under a scorching heatwave. Global leaders at the United Nations, gathered to discuss the climate crisis, are forced to confront the reality that the planet is on the edge of catastrophe. Amidst this mounting tension, an inexplicable event occurs at precisely 5:25 p.m. – every single person on Manhattan Island, from everyday citizens to world leaders, falls unconscious. The only ones unaffected are Samantha Rossi, a single mother reeling from personal tragedy, and Nick Lockwood, an NYPD detective recovering from a coma.

With the city plunged into chaos, Rossi’s first concern is the safety of her daughter, while Lockwood feels the weight of the city’s fate on his shoulders. As the night unfolds, the two must navigate a strange and dangerous new reality, working together to uncover the mystery behind the mass blackout. The novel’s premise is gripping – a world leaderless, vulnerable, and at the mercy of an unknown force – and Cordy wastes no time throwing the characters and the reader into a pulse-pounding race against time.

Cordy’s writing is fast-paced and immersive, making Manhattan Down a thrilling read from start to finish. The characters are relatable and grounded, with Rossi’s maternal instincts and Lockwood’s determination to protect his city driving the narrative forward. The stakes are high, as the novel explores themes of survival, loyalty, and sacrifice in a world that has lost its direction. There’s also an underlying critique of the influence of billionaires and corporate greed, particularly in relation to climate change and the future of the planet.

The plot is filled with twists, audacious heists, and political intrigue, making it a thrilling ride. Yet, it also raises pertinent questions about the direction humanity is heading, both in terms of environmental issues and the unchecked power of the wealthy elite. The action is balanced with moments of introspection, as the characters grapple with the choices they must make in order to save what matters most to them.

Manhattan Down is not just a typical thriller; it is a sobering exploration of how easily the world could fall into chaos and the lengths to which ordinary individuals will go to protect their loved ones and their city. Cordy masterfully combines heart-racing suspense with a powerful message about the urgency of addressing climate change and the societal imbalance of power. The book is an adrenaline-filled journey that will leave readers questioning the future of our world while being entertained by its relentless pace and intrigue.

For fans of high-stakes thrillers with a timely, socially relevant message, Manhattan Down is a must-read. It’s a novel that asks difficult questions, challenges the status quo, and presents a vision of a world teetering on the edge – a world where every decision could have catastrophic consequences.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

An enjoyable apocalyptic sci-fi thriller which felt like it had been inspired in part by The Day of the Triffids and also by Die Hard, with the climate emergency, cryptocurrency and the rise of a Bond-type villain also thrown into the mix. All handled well by a master craftsman.

Wow! this should be made into a film, for sure.
I started this book thinking I wasn't going to enjoy it as it seemed to be a disaster movie like story. How wrong I was. The characters develop so that you become invested in their futures. The story starts with the shutting down of Manhattan and every chapter leads you through the lives of different characters enabling you to build a picture of exactly what is going on - with twists and turns along the way.
Exciting, gripping, sometimes scary, occasionally hopeful, this is a must read.

Not sure about this book for me. It is set on the eve of 9/11 in Manhattan. People start to fall asleep except for the odd few who turn out to have something neurological wrong with them. Samantha has just found out she has some sort of brain issue and stays awake. She then panics as her daughter, Zoe, is in Manhattan with friends. Samantha starts looking for her daughter and notices weird things happening around her. Nick Lockwood is in hospital in a coma and suddenly wakes up and leaves hospital wondering what is going on. The story plots the path of the ones who make everyone fall asleep and the ones who do not succumb to their plot. I am sure there are many people who will love this book but for me I am not keen on books when these things could so easily happen in my lifetime. On saying this I did not struggle to get to the end

Cleverly written fast paced tense thriller set in the near future. What happens when someone disables the whole of Manhatten, and has the means to do an awful lot worse. I loved this book - it kept me totally immersed from start to finish!

I was intrigued by the blurb on this book as it sounded like a plot for a movie and it reads like one too! I was glued to the pages from the first chapter all the way to the last! A wonderfully inventive storyline which makes you not only consider your own place in the world but questions what you would do in tricky situations. Pulse racing reading and twists that I didn’t see coming! A must read for speculative thriller fans and anyone who enjoys high stakes storylines and crazy twists.

The Waking eye, a group of environmental activists, use radio wave technology to make everyone in Manhattan fall asleep, including all the world's political leaders who are at a meeting at the United Nations. They send their ransom demands to the US Vice president who leads the negotiations.
Sam and Nick are not affected by the radio waves and get caught up with the gang, who have more audacious plans than first appears, and it is up to Sam and Nick to try and save Manhattan.
The plot is great, twisty, with lots of surprises.
Recommended.