I love Rosamund Lupton’s writing so I was thrilled to get a copy of her forthcoming novel Three Hours. I have to be honest and say that I found this book very difficult to read, it’s such an intense subject matter but it is very well-written.

The novel starts off with a small explosion outside a school and from there we find out that there is at least one gunman inside part of the school. The police frantically try to work out what exactly is going on and who is behind this and what their motive is, and inside the school the teachers and students try to find safe places to hide.

The writing is so good that I felt really claustrophobic as the book went on, it was as if I was in the midst of this terror myself. I commend the writing but it meant I had to keep putting the book down because it was making me feel so anxious and tense.

There was a point about halfway through the book as we start to understand more about what is going on in the school and it felt more about trying to figure out who the perpetrator was and this is when the book became something I just couldn’t seem to put down. I was gripped by the investigation and by the way Lupton has woven real life shootings and terrorist attacks within her novel in such a sensitive way that it really made this story feel very real to me.

By the last section of the book I was on the edge of my seat wanting to know if everyone was going to survive this attack. I was convinced that the characters I’d come to really care about were not going to make it out alive and the tension was palpable as I was willing the police on to get to them in time. I was reading this last section right before bed and I couldn’t sleep for ages after I finished reading because of all the adrenaline.

Three Hours isn’t an easy read but it is a book worth reading. It’s a book that really gets under your skin and makes you think!

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

a school in lockdown
two men with guns

oh my word what a book, gripping and moving with acts of heroism...this book has it all..could not put it down...and i had tears at the end

another author on my watch list now..

I've enjoyed other books by Rosamund Lupton and looked forward to reading this new one. The premise was excellent and it began well with a heart pounding situation and what looked like being a gripping story. However, I soon found myself becoming confused by the large number of characters and various storylines and I struggled to keep pace with who was who and where they were located. I didn't engage with any of the people due to the disjointed jumping around of the story and personalities. I really wanted to love this book as I've loved the earlier ones by this author but sadly this one failed to draw me in. I will, nevertheless, look out for future releases from Rosamund based on past enjoyment of her work. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a pre release copy in exchange for my honest review.

The subject of school shootings is always an emotive one and in this dramatic story, we get to see the horror of an active shooting at a school in the UK play out from the perspective of a variety of characters inside and out of the situation which lends itself nicely to exploring a number of issues - the heroic actions of those trying to save a life, those doing all they can to distract younger children from what is going on outside a classroom door, and the desperation of those on the outside who are trying to figure out who is behind the shooting, and the helplessness felt by the parents as they wait for news.

What I liked about this book was the pace of it all - little snapshots of different situations over the three hours that gave you an overview of the scene as it played out. My only gripe was that because those inside the school were doing such a great job of staying calm to distract the children and trying to carry on as normal, it impacted on the tension for me as there were very rarely any moments where I felt they were all in danger, although that did change when it became very edgy as time ticked on and they all began to wonder how they could try and make an escape.

The role of social media was also cleverly used throughout the book - the rumours and speculation all played out through the media which added to the panic created especially for those watching on outside just waiting for news. And one of the most powerful things for me was the reaction of one of the mothers' when she finds out her son is one of the shooters - the disbelief and reluctance to think of her 'little boy' as being capable of doing such a thing, which just goes to show that so much can be hidden from those closest to you.

A dramatic and enjoyable read!

Three hours by Rosamund Lupton
Is the best book of this genre I have read in quite some time! I am horrified, emotional and challenged having read it. It is a sobering account of good and evil, of humanity and anarchy. Extremely well written with well developed characters that you really get to know and care about. I loved the back stories of parents, friend and teachers. Of vision and ideals and the chilling references to political “leaders”, journalists and the accessibility and reach of the web. Amazing book. Would I be brave enough to encourage my kids/grandkids to attend such a broad thinking school? There’s the challenge Full five stars for this one!

I've read several of Rosamund Lupton's previous books; and I really love her writing style, it always makes me think and though the subject matters for her books differs; there is just something there, compelling you to keep reading them - I just adore her writing style and really feel like you can tell it's one of hers.

Three Hours is an absolutely compelling read; I couldn't put it down once I got into it. The story is horrifying, and every parents worst nightmare. I really felt like all of the differing points of view conveyed that horror, whether it was a parent, teacher, police officer or even the pupils themselves.

The setting was so well written and atmospheric; and though the subject matter was emotive, I just wanted to keep reading. I felt that the pacing was really well done and plotted perfectly. I gasped out loud several times and my heart was racing.

Absolutely gripping, and I'd highly recommend it.

Tense!
But then the story cant not be.....
A thriving tolerant and liberal independent school in Somerset set within its own forest land with various out buildings comes under attack via a bomb and ‘terrorists with guns’ and as the title would imply there is ‘3 Hours’ to ‘sort it’ and save lives

Its very difficult to say what is good, what is bad, which parts were thrilling and which parts were not so without giving any of the plot away and thus ruining the element(s) of surprise throughout the book! ( a cop out anno but there you go!) however what I will say is that the book is ( as maybe you would expect via the subject ) political and at times this becomes a bit overpowering!

But as a thriller it is as said tense, nail bitingly so and the sense of mixed claustrophobia with terror that the hostages feel is very real and very raw and powerfully described

The use of previous school sieges and shootings as a backdrop to the story is chilling as well as informative

At tines it felt a long 3 hours and at other times it sped past

Worth saying the ‘thoughts’ of one of the gunman’s Mum’s is emotive
as she tries to come to terms with what she is experiencing, I really felt for her and what she was living through

The ‘police procedural’ side of things did not daunt the reader and held some fascinating insights into what happens in these situations

There was an ongoing theme of a ‘mystery’ gunman and after reading the ending 4 times I cant seem to figure out who it was or if we were ever actually told who it was, anyone who has read it and worked it out please let me know

On the whole I did enjoy it and hope I haven’t given too much away in my review! I am pretty sure anyone reading it will enjoy it

8/10
4 Stars

*3.5 stars rounded up*

This book follows a group of people, students and teachers alike, trapped in a school during a school shooting. As the situation begins to escalate, and the wounded head teacher loses more and more blood, the plot winds towards its ultimate climax

This book reminded me a lot of Beartown in it's tone, partly, and it's multi-povs. Also in the presence of snow and the small town vibes in both

I did enjoy this book, but I think there are people who would get more out of it and enjoy it more (perhaps people who enjoyed Beartown). I do appreciate the concept of the novel being set across three hours, but I think for me that made it drag a little. The tension was maintained throughout, but perhaps I just prefer frequent scene changes to keep me interested

Breathtaking. Intense and gripping and I’m not sure I’ll ever recover. Amazing amazing. Very much a book for today. Superb.

Absolutely phenomenal, I was crying as I finished reading the last page. It's been a while since a book has affected me so deeply, and it's going to stay with me.
A emotional fraught and tightly paced thriller, with the most amazing characters, this really will make you think. I felt so much love, compassion, and so much positivity radiating from our heroes and other hand I could see the insidious power of darkness that is being spread by terror groups and politicians alike.

This certainly isn't a book you have to 'get into'. From page one the reader is thrown into the action. It opens with 'a moment of stillness', then a gun is fired and the world is instantly a different place for the staff and pupils of Cliff Heights School.

'Three Hours' follows the progress of a school siege. Although the reader can guess from the title that the siege will end after three hours, the book is so cleverly written that the reader, like the hostages, is aware that every second can become agonisingly long. I found myself holding my breath with the characters at some moments.

The story follows the fate of several groups of pupils who have become isolated in different parts of the school as well as the progress made by the emergency response team. It also follows the parents, anxiously waiting, united in their fear, but then divided as some children are evacuated and while for some the ordeal is over, for others it becomes a nightmare as the reality of the situation dawns.

As the story unfolds, we also learn the story of Rafi and Basi, two refugees from Syria. Their bravery in escaping is extremely moving and Rafi's immense love for his younger brother, and the imagination he uses to find something for Basi to focus on other than their terror, is extraordinary. For example, when inadequately wrapped against the cold in foil blankets he says 'Basi, we're a box of chocolates'. Rafi's character is a tribute to the bravery of many who have suffered to escape horrors.

Rosamund Lupton brilliantly creates an atmosphere of panic as pupils, staff and parents text each other. But alongside this there is an underlying strength, calm and bravery. The emergency team know their job and work methodically; the art teacher calmly invites her young class to make pretend houses under the desks and to create clay pets; the pupils in the theatre continue to rehearse Macbeth; the pupils in the library barricade the door with books; and outside the snow continues to fall, blanketing the school and those trapped inside.

In one way the book also shocked me. When I was at school we had an annual fire alarm test which I suppose was considered a bit of a bonus as we would miss half a lesson as a result. But I was struck in this story by the 'normality' of a school having a lockdown procedure and emergency messages going to smart boards and WhatsApp groups. How tragic that this part of the story really was drawn from reality..

This is a gripping read and I highly recommend it. Although the subject is shocking, it has left me with a deep feeling of the strength of human love and resilience. Acts of terrorism may continue, but people, as individuals, are incredibly strong and will never give in.

My thanks to NewGalley and to the publisher for a review copy of the book.

You follow the characters, that stay with you due to the detail and care they’re written with, through the twists and turns of the novel as they face one of our biggest fears in society. The pace isn’t rushed and there were at least two occasions when I held my breath or gasped as events unfolded.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. This is the first book I’ve read by the author and really enjoyed it. The pages kept turning and the suspense was great. Definitely recommend

I have tried to write a review without giving too much away, so apologies if something doesn't quite sit right!
Three Hours is a page-turning thriller that has a real heart and serious messages, all combined seamlessly in an enjoyable read.

The main thread of the story is a three hour "real-time" narrative of a school siege by gunmen, not in America but the UK. The story is told though multiple perspectives and gives us an immersive connection with what is taking place. I especially liked the empathy shared with parent, Beth.
The plot gradually reveals the reason for the siege and the identity of the gunmen, as well as having several roller-coaster twists.

The school has taken in two young Syrian refugees, Rafi and Basi, and through flashbacks we hear about their dangerous and traumatic journey to England. What Lupton highlights, much like Rafi's laser-light pen shining into the black night while on their dinghy, is what hope does the Prevent scheme have in schools and workplaces, when radicalisation for white supremacy and anti-muslim is mainstream. She highlights this with a whole page of headlines from newspapers, and tweets from the likes of Trump and Katy Hopkins.

The other message I took from Three Hours was the author's belief that words, books and art can transcend cultures. Rafi's flashbacks show how his father enjoyed quoting Shakespeare and the pupils' rehearsal of Macbeth helps them to understand and work through what is happening. The library becomes a safe refuge from the gunman and books are piled up at the door as a barrier to entry - stories as a literal means to prevent violence.

The Macbeth quote that cleverly summarises the whole situation about immigration in the UK at the moment - "All is the fear and nothing is the love"

Masterfully Done!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I devoured this book in less than a day, it was one of those books where I couldn't put it down and needed to know what happened next in it.

The book is set in rural Somerset and takes place over a 3 hour period. I found this to be a compelling and thrilling read. I was willing the Police to find out who the gunmen were, why the school was targeted, and to get all the children out safely. There were so many twists and turns in the plot, which kept me on the edge of my seat. The story told of courage, racism, love, poverty and hope. I was drawn in and hooked from the first page to the last, and felt the narrative was told so well through different characters who I had so much empathy for. A cracking read. 5 stars.

I was lucky enough to be sent this title by Netgalley for review.

As a great fan of Rosmund Lupton I was very excited to read this book and it did not disappoint. It’s very hard to describe too much of the plot without giving away one of the amazing twists and turns that you are taken on in this story.

The book begins in a rural school in Somerset. Unbelievably, the school is taken under siege by gunmen and the story that unfolds describes the next 180 minutes from the perspective of the head teacher who lies wounded in the library, the girl who is desperately trying to stop the flow of blood from his wound, the teenage boy who has arrived from Syria and desperately wants to find his little brother, the police and psychologist who are trying against the clock to figure out who the gunmen are and why they have chosen to attack the school.

This is a more raw thriller than we are used to from Rosamund Lupton and it deals with some uncomfortable truths. Social deprivation, the British class system, gender stereotyping and sexuality, but all without any kind of ‘soap box’ perspective, which makes the book hit home even more.

An outstanding story, which like all good stories, makes you think long after you have reached the end.

For a long time Rosamund Lupton has been my go-to author for thrillers written in a sparse poetic voice that make you think. She specialises in putting real everyday characters in tense, claustrophobic situations and this tale of a school in lockdown besieged by an unknown gunman is no exception.

There’s the wounded headmaster, trapped in the library; the terrified cast of Macbeth hiding in the theatre; separated lovers and the survivors of a far-off war who found refuge in the school and who are fighting for their lives again. And outside, the anxious parents and police are waiting, trying to put together what’s really going on behind the school gates.

There are twists and turns aplenty to keep thriller readers satisfied although the challenge of ratcheting up the tension while keeping the focus tight on a three-hour time period is huge and there are a few lags. Still, the story sweeps you along. I loved the plot and characters and the writing is exceptional.

Full review to appear on my website closer to publication.

Three Hours is a powerful, emotional, highly realistic book that will take you on a rollercoaster ride. To say this book will make you feel is an understatement. Lupton's writing is outstanding, atmospheric, and has this poetic quality to it. This is certainly a book to be on the lookout for. Highly recommended to anyone looking for the next big thriller that will have a lasting impact on them.

Fantastic read, I was gripped throughout with so many revelations and tense moments. Thought provoking and cleverly written around contemporary themes as well as the play Macbeth, I completely loved this adventure

Wow!
This is definitely in my top reads of the year. It was an exhausting experience, but in a positive way that only a great book can provide.
Rosamund Lupton painted a picture of humanity and bravery and characters I was rooting for. When I started the book I felt drawn in immediately, it read like a ghost story, only when I got further in the reality became stark.
Highly recommended.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and review.