Stunningly plotted, surprising, and with a cast of characters I was invested in.

A tense novel that moved me, and keeps me thinking long after the final page. ( )

Wow, what a gripping read "Three Hours" turned out to be! From the first page I was hooked and I found it difficult to put this novel down. When I did, I was thinking about the events that were occurring and couldn't wait to start reading again. Considering what happened in Texas this week when 19 innocent elementary students were killed while at school, "Three Hours" was also a very topical read.

The story centres on a school held hostage by gunmen with murderous intent - every parent and teacher's worst nightmare! Although the story had a huge cast of characters, which took me a while to sort out, they quickly grew on me and I was terrified for their safety. This was Ms Lupton at her best and I loved her atmospheric writing. A sense of menace, from the first page, hung over the school, enhanced by the fierce snowstorm and the remote location, and I was on the edge of my seat throughout most of the novel.

The plot was fast-paced and shocking, the tension nail-biting. There were multiple points of view which kept the reader informed about what was happening in various locations within the school as well as the police investigation the the parents waiting for news of their children. This made "Three Hours' frighteningly real and horrific. Too many times my heart was in my throat, terrified of the outcome. The mention of previous school shootings, such as Columbine as a backdrop, was not only informative but added to the chilling sense of dread. I also loved how the author linked the plot with references from Shakespeare's "Macbeth".

Having worked in schools all my life, I know security has ramped up in recent years and we practise lockdowns and other drills regularly, hoping that a situation such as this never happens. But what if it did? I would like to think that our students and staff would behave in a similar manner to those at Cliff Heights School, Somerset. They displayed love, courage, solidarity, fortitude and hope. I was moved by them all. They were shining lights in the most terrifying of scenarios, a contrast to the men whose hearts burnt with hatred.

A fabulous, psychological thriller! ( )

Be aware that it's about a school shooting in England. It gets to the heart of the matter from so many perspectives...above all else...it's real. You are there...and you don't get to leave until the last page is read and the cover is safely closed. It’s a difficult subject but this author did it so very well drawing together the thoughts and actions of the students...the teachers...the parents...the police...and even the perpetrators. A very atmospheric and heart stopping tale that stays with you long after the final written word ( )

This book just did not work for me... I have read others by the author, liked them... so had high hopes because the subject is interesting.

And since I hardly ever give 1 star ratings, I want to share so that when these reasons bother you, you can avoid the disillusion.

Trying to explain without too much spoilers :
* what is the difference between "normal encryption" and "military encryption"? The first is hacked in 5 minutes, the second takes at least 10
* no idea why criminals use the dark web, everything is readable by the IT researchers
* when you read a post with 3 phrases, you directly see in those 5 common words the reference to previous attacks which leads to the instant conclusion of what will happen next
* all cell phone batteries are 5% from flat, but that does not impact the use of them later in the book (logistics with the chargers is not described in detail).

In short, yes I get that this is fiction, and yes I understand the concept of "suspension of disbelief"... but I found myself only "suspending my disbelief" instead of enjoying the book. ( )

Three hours, one morning a head teacher is shot in a school. From there the story follows the students, the police and a mother.

I read this book but didn't like it. Not liking the book however doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy it.The story is a powerful one especially because of it's content. I found the story very upsetting and disturbing but at the same time very uplifting.

This book has certainly got under my skin especially from a mother's perspective and would never want to be in a position like in the story.

I found myself wanting to know how things were going to turn out and at times holding my breath turning the pages, I certainly was gripped. I didn't like the story however for the hate in it.

There are so many emotions that I felt when reading this story but I wasn't comfortable reading a lot in this book. A story like this is hard to enjoy so difficult to rate. It's one that make you stop and think, knowing that there are people out there in the real world doing exactly what some of the characters are doing. This book is not going to be for everyone. ( )