The Siege

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Conveys with compassion and hard-won understanding the unvarnished reality of police work today.” James Owen, The Times (Best New Thrillers for June 2022) Grace Wheatley is mum to Isaiah and is herself no stranger to violence. A daughter of the Windrush generation she is a committed church-goer and on this fateful occasion is in church to assist with welcoming a young Syrian refugee family, recently arrived in the country.

The Siege By John Sutherland | Used | 9781398707566 | World The Siege By John Sutherland | Used | 9781398707566 | World

Buy from our bookstore and 25% of the cover price will be given to a school of your choice to buy more books. *15% of eBooks. Home >Each of the characters is introduced, and their individual stories are expanded on throughout the book. As a reader, it is great to see into the minds and lives of people in situations and also into their beliefs. This does have race and immigration at its core, but there is something that is much deeper to this story. It is a story of manipulation and of false or fake news, and how easy it is for people to believe in unsubstantiated facts. One minor criticism is that the title of the novel isn’t the most inspiring. Nine Lives ma So impressed by this debut thriller from the author of Blue. Sutherland is a former police officer who knows the criminal world inside out. I inhaled The Siege…and strongly recommend it.” (Charles Cumming)

John Sutherland – ‘The Siege’ review - Entertainment Focus John Sutherland – ‘The Siege’ review - Entertainment Focus

I am a bit baffled as to why none of the police or SWAT stopped his final actions. They were all there in the room, he had no weapons, but they just watched and let him go ahead I really enjoyed it. The writing style was easy and kept a steady pace with alternating which character was the focus at any point. I have read the author's two non-fiction titles, one a memoir, the other a look into the challenges and issues facing modern policing. Both showed how much John Sutherland cared for his former role, for his colleagues and for the community that he served, but also that his focus was as much on understanding the reasons for crime and how and why people end up breaking the law, every bit as much ensuring that criminals are caught and that justice is seen to be done. In his memoir, Blue, we also see how much the day to day toll of policing had on his own mental health, the impacts of seeing so much violence leaving an indelible mark. All of this is reflected perfectly in The Siege and in the characters that he has brought to life. this, and his own experience as a hostage negotiator, is what gives the book so much authenticity, what makes it so compelling. Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there’s no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor – and save his nine hostages – before it’s too late? Over the years, I have read many police procedure and crime novels, but I can honestly say this book not only hits the spot as far as a thrilling read goes, but also provides a strong element of realism that breathes life into a terrifying situation.The author's police experience is obviously evident which lends an extra level of credence to what is going on. This is like no other thriller you'll ever read. Sutherland immerses you into a nightmare where life or death hangs on his main character's every word. Before you know it you are not only empathising with a hostage and cop but the kidnapper too. Few can write drama and characters as skilfully as this. * Graham Bartlett *

The Siege: The fast-paced thriller from a former Met Police The Siege: The fast-paced thriller from a former Met Police

The chapters are set at varying times through the night, with each part split in to the various characters throughout. Lee Cooper started out as a character that you could not like. Having been radicalised online into believing that all immigrants were bad and had to be removed by whatever means necessary, he had targeted the church hall due to their group that helped refugees. From the start nothing went the way he anticipated, despite his meticulous planning yet he was determined to see his plan through to the end, either gaining freedom for the person he looked up to or with the death of himself and all the hostages. Throughout he was plagued with self-doubt and paranoia but what he hadn’t counted on was Grace. Targeting a church hall in Herne Hill, south London – which openly welcomes refugees – Lee enters the hall under the pretext of taking part in a prayer meeting. However, instead of joining the group, when the curate gets up to greet him, he pulls out a gun and commands her to sit down. Unfortunately, the curate is not about to be intimidated and stands her ground, so he strikes her across the face with the gun, causing her to fall to the ground and bang her head on a chair. It is told from the points of view of Lee James Connor - a supporter of far-right organisation Home Front which is led by Nicholas Farmer, Grace Wheatley - widow and mum to a teenage boy, Isaiah, and Superintendent Alex Lewis who is also a hostage negotiator. This is such a well-written novel and it is obvious that Sutherland has both taken from his own experience but also done a lot of research as well. I didn't expect it to be as emotional as it is. We understand just how easy it is for someone who is a bit of a loner to become radicalised.

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I haven't read much in this genre, but this was a fantastic one. The action starts early and doesn't stop - with the exception of an epilogue, which I loved, all the action takes place over about twelve hours, and most of it happens within a few hundred yards. I didn't want to put it down once I started reading it.

The Siege by John Sutherland (9781398707573/Paperback

Grace Wheatley is no stranger to loneliness having weathered the passing of her husband, whilst being left to raise her son alone. The local support group is her only source of comfort. Until the day Lee James Connor walks in and threatens the existence of everything she's ever known. I've watched my share of Criminal Minds in my day, and this would fit in perfectly. Scenes with the characters learning about online grooming or right wings extremists could have been lifted from that series. (To be clear, I'm complimenting the book!) Alex Lewis is overworked and exhausted. He’s also suffering from PTSD but in typical male fashion his remedy consists of completely ignoring this and assuming it will go away. A father of two boys, he feels he is failing as a husband and as a father and he is troubled over his last negotiating mission which ended badly, through no fault of his, or anyone’s. I thought it was interesting to see things from the point of view of the hostage taker, and although it naturally didn't excuse his actions, we did understand them a little more. Following a dramatic hostage scenario in London, Sutherland delivers a spine tingling tale of hate, compassion, patience and individuality.It is an interesting novel, fast-paced with short chapters that make you want to read on and find out what happens. The characters are believable and I especially loved Grace, she is absolutely amazing. It’s written in real time, so holds your interest as you are following the events “as they happen” which makes you invested in it all. Alex Lewis is the credible and haunted police negotiator called to the scene. Both of them are caught within the confining positions they have chosen: Connor as terrorist, Lewis as part of a team.