Greg Iles's explosive suspense thriller 24 Hours gets off to a blistering start: the kidnapping of a little boy--in eight breathless pages--that culminates with the child's safe return and the disappearance of the successful kidnappers. That sets the stage for the book's centrepiece, the abduction of little Abby Jennings, daughter of Will, a successful physician and Karen, a slightly dissatisfied suburban woman who's wondering where the passion in her marriage went. The criminals' modus operandi is established early on. They target the progeny of Mississippi doctors, demand a reasonable (to an affluent MD) ransom, release the child after the money's been paid and promise the victim's parents that if they ever breathe a word of the incident to anyone, their child will be taken again and killed. The kidnappings are carefully set up, targeted to take place when one parent is out of town at a medical meeting or convention, thus ensuring the cooperation of the other. And the victim is held by a sweet, slightly retarded but humongous and powerful man whose loyalty to his cousin, the mastermind, is unquestioned.

24 Hours is a version of the locked room school of kidnap mysteries and a very good one indeed, especially when Will turns the tables on the kidnapper and takes control of the situation. Abby's diabetic condition (she needs lifesaving injections on a regular basis) notches the suspense up one last turn. It's a well worked-out plot, the pacing is terrific and the characters likeable and attractive. Iles is a master storyteller and this one has big screen written all over it--with Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer as the Jennings, if we're lucky. --Jane Adams

'Iles's latest brilliantly plotted tale walkes the razor's edge between cinematic excess and bone-chilling suspense'

'A superbly-crafted and clever book that never fails to grab and hold the attention and will undoubtedly confirm Iles' position in the mainstream of big-money thriller writers' (The Times )

'Iles's latest brilliantly plotted tale walks the razor's edge between cinematic excess and bone-chilling suspense' (Publishers Weekly )

'Iles really keeps the heart-pumping suspense in top gear - plus there's an ending you just won't believe, believe me. Iles is a great thriller writer, and with this novel he's done it again' (Independent on Sunday )

'A taut well-constructed thriller.' (Observer )

Will Jennings, his wife and little girl are a happy American family, living in Mississippi. Hickey is a conman and kidnapper. He targets his victims very carefully and takes great pains to make sure no one is ever hurt. He has yet to kill. All his victims have come up with the money and the authorities have never been involved.

His perfect record is down to two things: One, he always stays with the parents or person with the money. Two, he never asks for more than they can afford.

But when he tries to rip Will's family apart, he gets a lot more than he bargained for... All in one fateful day.

Will Jennings, his wife and little girl are a happy American family, living in Mississippi. Hickey is a conman and kidnapper. He targets his victims very carefully and takes great pains to make sure no one is ever hurt. He has yet to kill. All his victims have come up with the money and the authorities have never been involved. His perfect record is down to two things: One, he always stays with the parents or person with the money. Two, he never asks for more than they can afford. But when he tries to rip Will's family apart, he gets a lot more than he bargained for...All in one fateful day.

Greg Iles is the internationally bestselling author of ten highly acclaimed thrillers, including DARK MATTER, BLOOD MEMORY and his latest, TURNING ANGEL. He lives with his family in Natchez, Mississippi.

2008-04-07 Amazing

I loved this book, it is the third I have read by this author (Dead Sleep and Spandau Phoenix) and unlike those it really did keep me gripped. I very nearly read it in one sitting, very captivating. Subtle twists and turns make this book quite an intelligent thriller, and picking up on those and understanding the implications as you move through the book really made it for me. Will definetely be reading more of his books.