It is 1988, on the eve of the G7 Summit in Toronto. In this prequel to Robert Rotenberg’s Ari Greene series, Greene is a young constable with the Toronto Police Force. The Chief of Police gets an anonymous tip that an assassin will cross into Canada at a small town on the border of Vermont and Quebec. The Security Assessment Committee of the G7 countries dismiss the threat. Chief Keon sends Ari Greene to investigate anyway. When two people are murdered in the town, Ari realizes that the tip is real.

Ari pursues the unknown assassin to Montreal and on toward Toronto. It is 75 hours to the summit and the clock is ticking down. The chase is on and Ari is following a string of bodies leading closer and closer to the G7. It will take some solid detective work and a lot of luck to track the lethal assassin down in time to save the world leaders.

It is an understatement to say this novel is action-packed. The suspense ratchets up through every minute of the countdown. It is a thrilling read. I loved all the details that set the stage for what life and policing were like in the 1980s. Unbelievable now that mobile phones were the size of bricks. Rotenberg’s character development is fantastic. You get a great insight into Detective Greene’s early work. The ending was riveting and had a nail-biting conclusion. I didn’t see that twist coming. I highly recommend reading One Minute More. It will keep you up into the night.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for access to a digital ARC on NetGalley.

This is a non-stop, engaging story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats as they follow a young police officer who is in a race against time to catch an assassin before they arrive at their target - the 1988 G7 summit in Toronto where the heads of seven powerful countries in the world are gathering.

This is the epitome of a fast-paced, action-packed story where the momentum does not let up. Complete with short chapters, well-defined characters and multiple POVs (some quite tertiary but who still add a lot to the story), this prequel to Rotenberg's Ari Greene series gives readers a look at Greene's early years as a police officer.

The Gist: When the Toronto police chief receives a mysterious warning that an assassin will be crossing the border into Canada to kill one of the representatives at the G7 summit, he sends young police officer Ari Greene to investigate. What begins in a small Quebec border town turns into a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse as Greene tries to identify and catch the assassin as the body count starts to climb.

Part police procedural, part high-paced action and one helluva tense ride, this unputdownable Canadian-based series will keep people reading just 'one minute more' to find out if Ari Greene will stop an assassination that would impact the world.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for the complimentary digital and paperback copies of this book which were given in exchange for my honest review.

My review was posted on Feb 15, 2025 to my blog, FB, IG, StoryGraph and Indigo.ca.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster Canada for the ARC of One Minute More. What a treat to meet a young Ari Greene. I am a big fan of Robert Rotenberg’s characters, and novel settings. Set in 1988, Ari is pursuing a would-be assassin as they make their way to Toronto and the G7 summit. Short chapters and multiple points of views allowed me to read this book in one sitting. Great job. A solid 4 stars.

This is the eighth book in the series that just keeps getting better.
I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: 1988, Vermont, Montreal, Toronto
Characters: Ari Greene - Toronto police officer, in a prequel to the other stories in his series as a detective – his able and adept assistant, Toronto law enforcement officials, a surprising assassin, and a wonderful, diverse set of supporting characters
Overview: Young officer Greene is dispatched to investigate a rumor of a potential assassin crossing the border in 4th of July parade in a small Vermont town. He cleverly detects obscure clues and begins a complex and harrowing chase through the Canadian countryside to try and thwart the killer before reaching the presumed target at the 1988 G7 Conference in Toronto. Close calls, clever disguises and devices, distinctive characters, and heroic deeds are all part of the action.
Recommendation: I rate this book 5 stars
Extras: The story is reminiscent of “Day of the Jackal” with a different time frame, different continent and surprising, different target. The daunting chase scenes through Vermont to Toronto are particularly unique and exciting, Instead of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles, Rotenberg takes us on an adventure through trains, helicopters, and vans. Additionally, there is a thread left hanging in the story that, hopefully, will be knit into an equally exciting sequel to this prequel.
Thanx to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to provide this candid review.

This is another book that I was fortunate enough to get an advance copy of thanks to the author (Robert Rotenberg), his publisher (Simon and Schuster Canada), and the fine folks at Net Galley in return for an honest review.

First and foremost, this is my first exposure to this author (and after finishing this book, it will not be my last). Rotenberg does well in crafting a solid story and keeps the reader engaged throughout the experience. The narrative delivers a fast-paced depiction of events leading up to the G7 Summit, told in small increments and packed full of detail. Rotenberg does a masterful job at building a strong foundation and injecting needed momentum throughout the story, using short chapters to keep the reader on edge. The use of minute-time advancements also adds a layer of urgency to the story, which provides additional intrigue into the larger storytelling that Rotenberg offers.

This book is the prequel to Robert Rotenberg’s previously released series of novels, including "What We Buried" and "Downfall", and is an excellent introduction to one of Toronto’s favourite detectives, Ari Greene, on his first-ever case.

It's 1988 and things have just become a lot more interesting in Canada's largest city! The G7 (Group of 7 Nations) is having their meeting in the city of Toronto.

For background information, The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental political and economic forum consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. It is organized around shared values of pluralism, liberal democracy, and representative government. The G7 members are major IMF advanced economies. The G7's purpose is to influence global trends and address major issues, such as climate change, trade, and security.

No one thinks much of the information as the Toronto chief of police receives from a mysterious source: a would-be assassin is about to cross the border into Canada to kill the heads of the seven most powerful countries in the world. After receiving word that there may be an assassin headed to Toronto to kill the heads of government of the G7 countries, the Chief of Police dispatches his up-and-coming young officer. Ari Greene has made quite the impact on his chief and within the Toronto PD, which is why he is headed to a small community between the Quebec-Vermont border to assess the threat.

When Greene arrives, he learns that the threat is real, as a US Customs official is dead and someone saw a mysterious woman flee the area. Now, trying to track her down will be Officer Greene's greatest challenge, as there are only a handful of hours left before the leaders emerge in Toronto to begin their meetings.

As Greene makes some headway, he is always one step behind the alleged assassin, who has him in the crosshairs. With little time to waste, both Greene and the assassin make their moves, playing a game of cat and mouse, trying to ensure they do not end up failing their missions. The summit begins and the world is watching, unsure what is going on in the background. Greene knows that he is on borrowed time and must find the assassin, as the bodies pile up along the way. Any of the leaders could be a target, or they could all be on the list. Greene has little time to wonder, as the pressure mounts and there is no room for failure. Robert Rotenberg delivers a great story, told from a number of perspectives, all prepared to entertain the reader throughout the reading journey!

On a five-star rating scale, I would give my first foray into the realm of Robert Rotenberg a solid four stars as I found this prequel to be an enthralling action thriller in the tradition of Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal and Robert Ludlum’s Jason Bourne series. Sure to be a favourite for action aficionados.

As with most of literary ramblings, these are just my five cents worth.

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Robert Rotenberg, and Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Back for another novel in Robert Rotenberg's great police procedural series, I could not get enough of this prequel. Ari Greene is a young officer in the Toronto Police Department with an important job, tracking down a potential assassin ahead of the 1988 G7 Summit. While he tries to follow a fluid lead, Greene soon ends up playing cat and mouse with a determined assassin who has a plan and a means to get things done. The pressure is high and there is no room for mistakes, though Greene and a handful of others will have to act fast as the world is watching, even if they do not know what is going on. A stellar addition to the series that shows Rotenberg is always thinking and developing this Canadian-based series. One that series fans ought not to miss and those new to Rotenberg's work should pick up to begin finding their newest addiction!
It's 1988 and things have just become a lot more interesting in Canada's largest city! After receiving word that there may be an assassin headed to Toronto to kill the heads of government to the G7 countries, the Chief of Police dispatches his up-and-coming young officer. Ari Greene has made quite the impact on his chief and within the Toronto PD, which is why he is headed to a small community between the Quebec-Vermont border to assess the threat.

When Greene arrives, he learns that the threat is real, as a US Customs official is dead and someone saw a mysterious woman flee the area. Now, trying to track her down will be Officer Greene's greatest challenge, as there are only a handful of hours left before the leaders emerge in Toronto to begin their meetings.

As Greene makes some headway, he is always one step behind the alleged assassin, who has him in the crosshairs. With little time to waste, both Greene and the assassin make their moves, playing a game of cat and mouse, trying to ensure they do not end up failing their own missions. The summit begins and the world is watching, unsure what is going on in the background. Greene knows that he is on borrowed time and must find the assassin, as the bodies pile up along the way. Any of the leaders could be a target, or they could all be on the list. Greene has little time to wonder, as the pressure mounts and there is no room for failure. Robert Rotenberg delivers a great story, told from a number of perspectives, all prepared to entertain the reader throughout the reading journey!

I have always enjoyed the writing of Robert Rotenberg, particularly his Ari Greene series. There is something special for me to read a police procedural series dedicated to Canadian perspectives, a rarity in my reading experience. Rotenberg does well to craft a solid story and keeps the reader engaged throughout the experience. The narrative delivers a fast-paced depiction of events leading up to the G7 Summit, told in small increments and packed full of detail. Rotenberg does a masterful job at building a strong foundation and injecting needed momentum throughout the story, using short chapters to keep the reader on edge. The use of minute time advancements also adds a layer of urgency to the story, which provides additional intrigue into the larger storytelling that Rotenberg offers. Many wonderful characters find roles in the story, fulfilling needed roles to keep things edgy and punchy when required. The flavours offered through these perspectives allow Rotenberg to plunge down many rabbit holes as needed. Plot points are plentiful and ever-evolving, another wonderful aspect of this piece. It kept me wanting to learn more in this well-paced novel. I am eager to see what's next for Robert Rotenberg, as well as with this series.

Kudos, Mr. Rotenberg, for a stellar reading experience, sure to impress series fans to no end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "One Minute More", the exciting prequel to Robert Rotenberg's 'Ari Greene' series. Having read all of the books in the series, I was excited to be able to meet Ari Greene prior to his arrival on the Robbery Homicide Squad. And I was not disappointed.
It’s a long-shot mission. No one thinks much of the information the Toronto chief of police receives from a mysterious a would-be assassin is about to cross the border into Canada to kill the heads of the seven most powerful countries in the world. Undeterred, he sends young police officer Ari Greene to a sleepy Quebec–Vermont border town to investigate.

During a festive and colourful July 4th parade, Greene spots his unlikely target and gives chase across borders and boundaries. But as the hours and the minutes until the summit tick down, bodies start to pile up… Travelling to Montreal and then back towards Toronto, the assassin leaves a trail of bodies - anyone they can use, and then kill, to get closer to their prey: the members of the G7 (including the Prime Minister of Canada, the Prime Minister of England, the President of the United States and the emerging power in post-Soviet Russia).

This is a conspiracy long in the making, and no one, not even international heads of state, are safe.

Non stop action, from start to finish. Highly recommended.