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#Panic
*The thrilling new novel from the author of the bestselling Killing Eve series*
Escaping online is easy. In real life it won't be so simple.
Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends, and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night . Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat.
When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly overtaken by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on all of them. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian mafia and the Legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process?
#PANIC is a thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.
'A richly imagined, character-driven thriller' Bookseller
'Luke Jennings might just have another cult hit on his hands' Shots Mag
'All the expected high-octane thrills and spills are there' Big Issue ,
Escaping online is easy. In real life it won't be so simple.
Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends, and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night . Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat.
When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly overtaken by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on all of them. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian mafia and the Legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process?
#PANIC is a thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.
'A richly imagined, character-driven thriller' Bookseller
'Luke Jennings might just have another cult hit on his hands' Shots Mag
'All the expected high-octane thrills and spills are there' Big Issue ,
416 pages, Hardcover
Published March 12, 2024
15 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Luke Jennings
28 books660 followersLuke Jennings is an author and the dance critic of The Observer. He trained at the Rambert School and was a dancer for ten years before turning to writing.
As a journalist he has written for Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and Time, as well as for numerous British titles. He is the author of Blood Knots, a memoir, short-listed for the 2010 Samuel Johnson and William Hill prizes, and of three novels: Breach Candy, Beauty Story, and the Booker Prize-nominated Atlantic. With Deborah Bull, he wrote The Faber Guide to Ballet, and with his daughter Laura, the Stars fiction series for Puffin Books, about teenagers at a stage-school.
He is currently writing a follow-up to his 2017 thriller Codename Villanelle (John Murray). The Villanelle titles are the basis for BBC America's upcoming TV series Killing Eve, airing in 2018 and starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer.
As a journalist he has written for Vanity Fair, the New Yorker and Time, as well as for numerous British titles. He is the author of Blood Knots, a memoir, short-listed for the 2010 Samuel Johnson and William Hill prizes, and of three novels: Breach Candy, Beauty Story, and the Booker Prize-nominated Atlantic. With Deborah Bull, he wrote The Faber Guide to Ballet, and with his daughter Laura, the Stars fiction series for Puffin Books, about teenagers at a stage-school.
He is currently writing a follow-up to his 2017 thriller Codename Villanelle (John Murray). The Villanelle titles are the basis for BBC America's upcoming TV series Killing Eve, airing in 2018 and starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 11, 2024
WHAT did i just read LMAO ??? 2 stars
April 17, 2023
2.5 stars rounded up
Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night. Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat. When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger, the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly taken over by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on them all. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian Mafia and the legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process?
When I seen that the author of Killing Eve had a new book out, I just had to request it. To begin with, the book looked like it was going to be really good. But the plotline dragged out and it was far-fetched. There were quite a lot of characters to keep track of. The plotline jumps all over the place. It was confusing. I nearly gave up on it but something was making me read on. I'm sure I will be in the minority and many other readers will enjoy the book. It's not a bad book, it's just weird.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JohnMurrayPress and the author #LukeJennings for my ARC of #Panic in exchange for an honest review.
Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night. Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat. When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger, the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly taken over by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on them all. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian Mafia and the legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process?
When I seen that the author of Killing Eve had a new book out, I just had to request it. To begin with, the book looked like it was going to be really good. But the plotline dragged out and it was far-fetched. There were quite a lot of characters to keep track of. The plotline jumps all over the place. It was confusing. I nearly gave up on it but something was making me read on. I'm sure I will be in the minority and many other readers will enjoy the book. It's not a bad book, it's just weird.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #JohnMurrayPress and the author #LukeJennings for my ARC of #Panic in exchange for an honest review.
April 3, 2023
What was this!!??!!
Too many characters - too many plot points - none that kept me interested.
The book cover and the fact they're highlighting 'killing eve' make out that this book is a dark thriller - it is not. I really couldn't care less what happened to the characters - I even lost track of who they all were, there was so many wishy-washy characters.
Not sure what the point of this book was.
really did not like this - do not judge this book by its cool cover...
Too many characters - too many plot points - none that kept me interested.
The book cover and the fact they're highlighting 'killing eve' make out that this book is a dark thriller - it is not. I really couldn't care less what happened to the characters - I even lost track of who they all were, there was so many wishy-washy characters.
Not sure what the point of this book was.
really did not like this - do not judge this book by its cool cover...
April 2, 2023
#Panic is the name of an online group of fans of the television series 'City Of Night', created by pushing together the two main characters names: Pandora and Lyric. For Ilya, Dani, Jaleesa and Kai, Lyric is everything to them and they all fantasise about being close to the actress who plays her - Alice Temple.
Ilya is stuck in a Russian military school where he is teased and abused by his fellow students. His parents have separated and don't seem to care what happens to him as long as he stays at the school.
Dani works in a fish and chip shop on the pier in a seaside town in the UK. As a transgender woman she faces strange looks and verbal abuse, though her dad is very supportive of her.
Kai is a transgender man from Australia who just longs to be accepted as a guy. Finding it difficult to fit in with the other guys he too dreams of getting away from the outback where everyone knows him and to start afresh somewhere new.
Jaleesa has had to give up her dreams of becoming a doctor following her fathers addiction battles. She has left university and moved with her parents to the small town of Auburn, Canada where she works in her aunties hotel. Confused about her sexuality, Jaleesa longs to find a way back to the life she had before.
One day, their fan group is contacted by Chloe, Alice's make up artist, who claims that Alice is being beaten up and abused by her husband, Don Firestone, who also happens to be the producer of the series. Chloe promises them all VIP tickets if they can come to the Con Of Night festival and says she will guarantee them a meeting with Alice as long as they help her escape her husband.
Finding the money via Ilya's gangster father, the foursome head to the Con where they get to meet Alice....while she is standing in her dressing room holding the blood soaked knife that has been plunged into the chest of her husband who lies dead on the floor. In the handful of seconds that pass after the group come across Alice, they decide that she needs protecting so spirit her away from the convention centre and off into hiding.
What follows is a chase across the country, with seemingly no plan or point, as a means of 'protecting' Alice (unless they were planning to run forever, this was a pointless trip as they have nowhere to go and no means of leaving the country). Chased by the police, the Russian mafia and a hate group called 'The Legion', the gang steal a car, plant a fake trail, ride the rails, join a circus (briefly) and hide in the mountains with a Veteran called Snake.
Honestly, I was so confused I was so close to giving up - the only thing keeping me reading was wondering if my theory was correct. The story jumps around erratically between people and places leaving me confused as to who I was reading about - I think the author had imagined these scenes in a movie but, on paper, they just don't work.
I didn't like the characters - there isn't enough flesh to them to feel real or even like they have any evolution at all.
Some will like it - I really really did not.
Thanks to the Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2024
decent enough entertainment i guess, but WAYYYY too much going on.
May 14, 2023
“Talking to the other #panic members, all of them thousands of miles apart, Jaleesa feels a sense of possibility. A sense that if she’s brave enough, and imaginative enough, she can break free of the things that press down on her. And she badly needs to break free, because this isn’t life, this is a time-loop.”
My thanks to John Murray Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Panic’ by Luke Jennings.
Well known for his Killing Eve series of quirky spy thrillers, Jennings latest is a character-driven thriller that addresses various modern day issues.
However, it does seem to have attracted a number of lacklustre and negative reviews. At times I have found myself an outlier with respect to popular titles though in this instance it’s in the opposite direction as ‘Panic’ was a winner for me. Maybe it was because I have made a number of deep connections with others via our mutual involvement in various SF/F fandoms so was able to relate to his central foursome.
As for the plot and characters: Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are all super fans of City of Night, a hit science fiction/crime TV show. They broke away from an online fan forum and created their own forum and over time have become online best friends. Their love of the show has provided them with an escape from their troubled lives.
When a newcomer contacts the group with a real world connection to Alice Temple, the show’s star, everything changes. They learn that Alice is in danger and resolve to meet up in real life at a fan convention and save their heroine. What could possibly go wrong? Obviously a lot. They soon find themselves with Alice on the run across America pursued by law enforcement and a group with a sinister agenda.
Jennings latest book is described as a combination of “thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.”
I think that it’s a fair description. Jennings clearly understands fandom and his four protagonists are each outsiders in different ways.
Twenty-one-year-old Jaleesa ives with her parents in Saskatchewan, Canada. She is bookish though is also a boxer. Her plan to become a doctor was ended by a family tragedy that meant she could no longer pay her tuition. She has taken special inspiration from the character of Pandora, portrayed by Hayley, a Black actor. Twenty-five-year-old Dani is a trans woman living in a seaside town in England. Her transition has been accepted by her father and while she is able to pass, she is still harassed by a group of cruel locals.
Then there is eighteen-year-old Ilya, currently enrolled in a Russian military academy. He is the son of a Russian mobster and isn’t at all interested in following in his father’s footsteps. He is very upset when his sister joins the Legion, a far right group. Finally, there is eighteen-year-old Kai living in a small outback town in Australia. His parents are astrophysicists, though his Mum is currently unwell. Kai’s family consider him a ‘tomboy’ and when he announces to his family that he’s trans his only ally is his sister. All four clearly find acceptance with each other as well as in the narrative of the City of Night series, which binds them.
Jennings takes his time in establishing his four leads, before he sets them on their wild adventures. Also, through a number of small incidents, he outlines the sinister agenda of the Legion. During their flight across America the friends encounter a variety of folk, some allies and others adversaries.
Overall, I found ‘Panic’ superb. It ticked all my boxes for a thriller. It wasn’t all nonstop action but had strong characterisations in both main and supporting characters. I could easily imagine it as a film or miniseries.
My thanks to John Murray Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Panic’ by Luke Jennings.
Well known for his Killing Eve series of quirky spy thrillers, Jennings latest is a character-driven thriller that addresses various modern day issues.
However, it does seem to have attracted a number of lacklustre and negative reviews. At times I have found myself an outlier with respect to popular titles though in this instance it’s in the opposite direction as ‘Panic’ was a winner for me. Maybe it was because I have made a number of deep connections with others via our mutual involvement in various SF/F fandoms so was able to relate to his central foursome.
As for the plot and characters: Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are all super fans of City of Night, a hit science fiction/crime TV show. They broke away from an online fan forum and created their own forum and over time have become online best friends. Their love of the show has provided them with an escape from their troubled lives.
When a newcomer contacts the group with a real world connection to Alice Temple, the show’s star, everything changes. They learn that Alice is in danger and resolve to meet up in real life at a fan convention and save their heroine. What could possibly go wrong? Obviously a lot. They soon find themselves with Alice on the run across America pursued by law enforcement and a group with a sinister agenda.
Jennings latest book is described as a combination of “thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.”
I think that it’s a fair description. Jennings clearly understands fandom and his four protagonists are each outsiders in different ways.
Twenty-one-year-old Jaleesa ives with her parents in Saskatchewan, Canada. She is bookish though is also a boxer. Her plan to become a doctor was ended by a family tragedy that meant she could no longer pay her tuition. She has taken special inspiration from the character of Pandora, portrayed by Hayley, a Black actor. Twenty-five-year-old Dani is a trans woman living in a seaside town in England. Her transition has been accepted by her father and while she is able to pass, she is still harassed by a group of cruel locals.
Then there is eighteen-year-old Ilya, currently enrolled in a Russian military academy. He is the son of a Russian mobster and isn’t at all interested in following in his father’s footsteps. He is very upset when his sister joins the Legion, a far right group. Finally, there is eighteen-year-old Kai living in a small outback town in Australia. His parents are astrophysicists, though his Mum is currently unwell. Kai’s family consider him a ‘tomboy’ and when he announces to his family that he’s trans his only ally is his sister. All four clearly find acceptance with each other as well as in the narrative of the City of Night series, which binds them.
Jennings takes his time in establishing his four leads, before he sets them on their wild adventures. Also, through a number of small incidents, he outlines the sinister agenda of the Legion. During their flight across America the friends encounter a variety of folk, some allies and others adversaries.
Overall, I found ‘Panic’ superb. It ticked all my boxes for a thriller. It wasn’t all nonstop action but had strong characterisations in both main and supporting characters. I could easily imagine it as a film or miniseries.
April 16, 2023
#Panic is about a group of 4 individuals who meet in an online fan group for a fantasy TV show, City of Night. They are all huge fans of one of the main characters who is played by an actress called Alice.
One day they are contacted by Chloe, Alice's make-up artist. She drops a huge truth bomb on them and this gets the wheels in motion for an in person meet-up at the City of Night con.
Once the 4 meet, everything goes t*** up and they end up going on the run.
What worked for me:
✨The diversity of the cast
What didn't work for me:
✨ Literally everything else
The book was so drawn out, it felt almost immature in its delivery and extremely far-fetched.
Apparently this is very different to the author's other books so I'm not writing him off. I'm 100% writing this book off though. In case that wasn't clear.
One day they are contacted by Chloe, Alice's make-up artist. She drops a huge truth bomb on them and this gets the wheels in motion for an in person meet-up at the City of Night con.
Once the 4 meet, everything goes t*** up and they end up going on the run.
What worked for me:
✨The diversity of the cast
What didn't work for me:
✨ Literally everything else
The book was so drawn out, it felt almost immature in its delivery and extremely far-fetched.
Apparently this is very different to the author's other books so I'm not writing him off. I'm 100% writing this book off though. In case that wasn't clear.
June 17, 2025
All hope was lost when in the second chapter, Saskatchewan was referred to as a state. If you’re going to write a novel about people from different countries all over the world, you should do the barest minimum of research. Nothing is more frustrating or offensive to a Canadian reader than being associated with the US even accidentally. It didn’t really improve from there to be honest. The plot was erratic and did not come to any sort of satisfying conclusion. The character felt like poorly developed caricatures that were trying to be edgy without quite landing. The diversity felt like it was there just so it could be marketed as inclusive without any real understanding of those lived experiences
May 23, 2023
First a little bit of blurb :
The novel follows Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya, and Dani, four friends who are all struggling to find their place in the world.
Fantasising about their favourite show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat. When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly overtaken by reality.
Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on all of them.
This was a no for me. I went into the story very hopeful, I really wanted to enjoy it but the plot just didn’t work and there really isn’t a way for me to sugarcoat it sadly.
Most of the time I would DNF half way through when a story isn’t working but
I hoped the plot would develop. Sadly it just became more and more ludicrous and unbelievable.
The characters themselves could have held their own and I would have been able to read a book based on their lives , but runaway celebrities, mafia, an underground far right group… what?… no.
As I say the opening was really intriguing, it set the characters and their backstory up and showed promise and I was eager to read more about the challenges the four were each going through in their lives but from the moment they met it just fell apart for me. The writing was confusing at times as the plot would jump around and I honestly couldn’t understand what the end goal of the characters was?
I’m sure I’m in the minority and lots will enjoy this story but far fetched is the only way I can sum this books plot up unfortunately.
The novel follows Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya, and Dani, four friends who are all struggling to find their place in the world.
Fantasising about their favourite show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat. When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly overtaken by reality.
Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on all of them.
This was a no for me. I went into the story very hopeful, I really wanted to enjoy it but the plot just didn’t work and there really isn’t a way for me to sugarcoat it sadly.
Most of the time I would DNF half way through when a story isn’t working but
I hoped the plot would develop. Sadly it just became more and more ludicrous and unbelievable.
The characters themselves could have held their own and I would have been able to read a book based on their lives , but runaway celebrities, mafia, an underground far right group… what?… no.
As I say the opening was really intriguing, it set the characters and their backstory up and showed promise and I was eager to read more about the challenges the four were each going through in their lives but from the moment they met it just fell apart for me. The writing was confusing at times as the plot would jump around and I honestly couldn’t understand what the end goal of the characters was?
I’m sure I’m in the minority and lots will enjoy this story but far fetched is the only way I can sum this books plot up unfortunately.
April 11, 2023
this book had me hooked at the start but i must admit, it really started to lose me in the middle and by the end i found myself skimming it because i was losing interest, i felt as though it was perhaps a bit too rushed as if the author built up this epic storyline but didn’t quite know how to finish it off. it’s a shame because it would have been a solid 3 star read for me if if wasn’t for the ending, but nevertheless i mostly had a fun time reading this. thanks to netgalley, the author and publisher for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2023
Didnt like it, Didn't like the characters too. Loved the Killing Eve books so was very disappointed that this one was so unenjoyable. Only finished it as I can't leave a book unfinished.
May 10, 2023
"I don't trust him, I don't trust her, and I don't trust my fucking husband"
- the words of Alice Temple, world-famous actress and star of TV's popular sapphic sci-fi series "City of Night". Fans of the show adore Alice and her co-star Hayley, and we meet four particularly dedicated fans who have set up a private online forum to discuss the show.
Kai, a trans guy from Australia, has little family support apart from his sister, Robyn.
Ilya, a Russian cadet, hates life at the base where his fellow cadets are abusive. His home life isn't much better, with his sister joining The Legion, a far-right group gaining support worldwide.
Dani, a UK trans girl, works in a fish & chip shop and lives with her Dad, an ageing comedian, and his new partner, who doesn't really understand Dani.
Jaleesa, a boxer from the US, is nursing a crush on a woman she spars with while feeling down about dropping out of med school due to her Dad's opoid addiction.
The four are a tight-knit group, all really supportive of each other, and don't let anyone else in - until Chloe, Alice Temple's personal MUA, asks to join - she claims that Alice needs help. Help from real fans, real supporters.
So begins a worldwide, fast-paced mission to get the four to a convention in the U.S. - but when they do arrive, they realise that things are much, MUCH worse than Chloe suggested - and they quickly decide that the only feasible option is to go on the run - and take Alice with them.
This was bananas. I cannot convey to you accurately enough HOW bananas this was - but I thoroughly enjoyed it, once I just went with it and stopped trying to overthink. I liked the friend group, I liked the storyline, I liked the action aspects - did it all makes sense? Of course not. Was it in ANY way logical or believable? Nope. But I enjoyed the nonsensical chaos of it all the same.
I haven't seen many positive reviews, and I think that's unfortunate, because I really did think it was well crafted. There's a scene involving Ilya and his fellow cadets that really turned my stomach, and I'd question the need for its inclusion at all, but other than that I enjoyed it for what it was. I fully believe that certain fandoms would absolutely take things to this point, and I also (unfortunately) believed the levels that a far-right vigilante group would stoop to.
Fun, fast-paced, don't take it too seriously, just enjoy the chaos of it.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
- the words of Alice Temple, world-famous actress and star of TV's popular sapphic sci-fi series "City of Night". Fans of the show adore Alice and her co-star Hayley, and we meet four particularly dedicated fans who have set up a private online forum to discuss the show.
Kai, a trans guy from Australia, has little family support apart from his sister, Robyn.
Ilya, a Russian cadet, hates life at the base where his fellow cadets are abusive. His home life isn't much better, with his sister joining The Legion, a far-right group gaining support worldwide.
Dani, a UK trans girl, works in a fish & chip shop and lives with her Dad, an ageing comedian, and his new partner, who doesn't really understand Dani.
Jaleesa, a boxer from the US, is nursing a crush on a woman she spars with while feeling down about dropping out of med school due to her Dad's opoid addiction.
The four are a tight-knit group, all really supportive of each other, and don't let anyone else in - until Chloe, Alice Temple's personal MUA, asks to join - she claims that Alice needs help. Help from real fans, real supporters.
So begins a worldwide, fast-paced mission to get the four to a convention in the U.S. - but when they do arrive, they realise that things are much, MUCH worse than Chloe suggested - and they quickly decide that the only feasible option is to go on the run - and take Alice with them.
This was bananas. I cannot convey to you accurately enough HOW bananas this was - but I thoroughly enjoyed it, once I just went with it and stopped trying to overthink. I liked the friend group, I liked the storyline, I liked the action aspects - did it all makes sense? Of course not. Was it in ANY way logical or believable? Nope. But I enjoyed the nonsensical chaos of it all the same.
I haven't seen many positive reviews, and I think that's unfortunate, because I really did think it was well crafted. There's a scene involving Ilya and his fellow cadets that really turned my stomach, and I'd question the need for its inclusion at all, but other than that I enjoyed it for what it was. I fully believe that certain fandoms would absolutely take things to this point, and I also (unfortunately) believed the levels that a far-right vigilante group would stoop to.
Fun, fast-paced, don't take it too seriously, just enjoy the chaos of it.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.
April 30, 2023
I love stories about fandom, and I love a race-against-the-clock heist/rescue story. Unfortunately, I did not encounter either of those things in Panic. Panic features a large ensemble cast, primarily a group of fans who develop a friendship in a chatroom dedicated to their favorite series. According to the blurb, these fans meet in real life to rescue their beloved series' star from an abusive relationship. I cannot say for sure, as it took nearly 100 pages to wrap up the character introductions, at which point, I stopped reading. These backstories were dense and complex, and I struggled to keep track of each of the characters. I found the front loaded exposition to be a slog, especially because the characters' lives feature an astounding checklist of pressing social issues, including, in no particular order: addiction, domestic violence, homophobia/transphobia, racism, poverty, and far-right extremism. Due to their use as plot and character points, the invocation of these topics often feels clunky and heavy-handed.
These issues hindered my investment in the story, even though I stopped reading at a cliffhanger chapter ending in which Alice's makeup artist joins the fans' chatroom to initiate the quest (and, perhaps, the plot). Instead of being hooked to continue, I was relived to stop. Given the author's experience in TV and film, I wonder if this story would have worked better as the basis for a screenplay. The lengthy visual descriptions would pass quicker in a visual medium, which could help with the pacing. I'll wait to find out how this story ends once the adaptation comes.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
These issues hindered my investment in the story, even though I stopped reading at a cliffhanger chapter ending in which Alice's makeup artist joins the fans' chatroom to initiate the quest (and, perhaps, the plot). Instead of being hooked to continue, I was relived to stop. Given the author's experience in TV and film, I wonder if this story would have worked better as the basis for a screenplay. The lengthy visual descriptions would pass quicker in a visual medium, which could help with the pacing. I'll wait to find out how this story ends once the adaptation comes.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 11, 2023
Luke Jennings is the author of the phenomenon that is the Villanelle series, he takes a rather different direction with this, his latest. For me this was a mixed bag of a read, there were aspects that I didn't like or did not work for me, and parts that I enjoyed. It features a group of 4 young diverse obsessive fans of the City of Night TV series, Ilya, Jaleesa, Dani and Kai, from different parts of the world, who have become online friends, escaping from their grim and depressive real life realities. They dream of getting close to Alice Temple, the fan group is contacted by Chloe, a make up artist on the show, who tells them the actress faces dire problems in her personal life, promising them tickets for the show festival. With one of the group managing to secure funding for the trip, the group arrive, only to find themselves facing a horrifying sight that has them taking off with Alice, wanting to protect her, but being followed by a number of parties, including the worrying far right Legion.
I felt that this book is not really meant for me, but for much younger readers, and it required a little more suspension of disbelief than I was comfortable with, whilst the characterisation felt a little thin. What I liked was that the thrilling adventures and chase offered the group opportunities to come to terms with who they were and provides evidence that they are more able than they imagined. I think there are likely to be other readers for whom the book will work out much better than it did for me. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
I felt that this book is not really meant for me, but for much younger readers, and it required a little more suspension of disbelief than I was comfortable with, whilst the characterisation felt a little thin. What I liked was that the thrilling adventures and chase offered the group opportunities to come to terms with who they were and provides evidence that they are more able than they imagined. I think there are likely to be other readers for whom the book will work out much better than it did for me. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
October 10, 2023
Four "misfits" have their own very private chat group about their favourite programme where an alien comes to earth and helps a misfit girl realise she has her own superpower. The Panic in the title is a portmanteau of the two main characters in the programme's names who the fans love to ship and also the adventure that ensues later for the gang of four. The group's dearest wish is to attend the Con in San Francisco for the programme and to meet up, especially when the apparent "personal make up artist" of Alice , the Alien actor, contacts them offering to comp their convention tickets and hotel if they can pay for the trip. One of the group manages to get the money and they head off from their miserable real lives to the U.S. However, when they are invited to meet Alice privately they witness a crime and try to spirit Alice away and go on the run with her traversing the U.S. Through their adventure they also discover their own resourcefulness, strength and "super powers."
This rolled along really well. I had to totally and utterly suspend my disbelief at how the group reacted to witnessing a crime but went along with it. I really enjoyed the on the run caper and how the group discover their hidden depths and that they aren't so useless as they have always felt. The tension was kept up nicely. The weak point was the conclusion. I felt all the story strands didn't quite coalesce. It seemed a bit like the writer thought he needed to wrap things up and it all was just a bit of a let down for me after the epic chase around the country. Still well worth reading.
This rolled along really well. I had to totally and utterly suspend my disbelief at how the group reacted to witnessing a crime but went along with it. I really enjoyed the on the run caper and how the group discover their hidden depths and that they aren't so useless as they have always felt. The tension was kept up nicely. The weak point was the conclusion. I felt all the story strands didn't quite coalesce. It seemed a bit like the writer thought he needed to wrap things up and it all was just a bit of a let down for me after the epic chase around the country. Still well worth reading.
November 20, 2024
Jaleesa, Kai, Dani, and Ilya are die-hard fans of the cult sci-fi sensation City of Night. Although they live in different corners of the globe, their online friendship has flourished until an incredible opportunity arises: they get to travel to America to meet their idol, the enigmatic star Alice Temple!
However, things take a thrilling turn when they discover that Alice is entangled in her own troubled existence. Just hours after their long-awaited meeting, these four passionate friends find themselves on the run, chased by relentless police, the ruthless Russian mob, and a menacing right-wing militia. Sure, the plot might be a bit farfetched, but who cares? This isn’t highbrow literature—it’s a fun, quirky tale with a vibrant LGBTQ flair! Just dive in and enjoy!
As the author of the gripping Killing Eve series—one of my favourites—Luke Jennings crafts a whirlwind of suspense that keeps you riveted. The pace is exhilarating, and the narrative dives headfirst into the cultural conflicts that resonate throughout the US and beyond. It’s clever how Jennings weaves a cult TV show into a narrative that practically begs for its own adaptation!
Although a murder is central to the plot, this isn’t just another whodunit; Panic is an empowering adventure that showcases young adults embracing their identities and fiercely resisting a world that has tried to hold them back. 3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read Panic via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.
However, things take a thrilling turn when they discover that Alice is entangled in her own troubled existence. Just hours after their long-awaited meeting, these four passionate friends find themselves on the run, chased by relentless police, the ruthless Russian mob, and a menacing right-wing militia. Sure, the plot might be a bit farfetched, but who cares? This isn’t highbrow literature—it’s a fun, quirky tale with a vibrant LGBTQ flair! Just dive in and enjoy!
As the author of the gripping Killing Eve series—one of my favourites—Luke Jennings crafts a whirlwind of suspense that keeps you riveted. The pace is exhilarating, and the narrative dives headfirst into the cultural conflicts that resonate throughout the US and beyond. It’s clever how Jennings weaves a cult TV show into a narrative that practically begs for its own adaptation!
Although a murder is central to the plot, this isn’t just another whodunit; Panic is an empowering adventure that showcases young adults embracing their identities and fiercely resisting a world that has tried to hold them back. 3.5⭐
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read Panic via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.
Read
June 10, 2023Every now and then you need a light book to pass a plane journey at the start of a holiday. Panic is that book.
So there is this TV sci-fi series, City of Night, with two main protagonists, Pandora and Lyric. They have a relationship and it is called #Panic. There is an online community of uber-fans who let their lives revolve around the TV show. They adore Alice Temple who plays Lyric.
This novel features four such fans from around the world who jump at the chance to admit a show-insider to their set. And the insider tells them that Alice is in grave danger.
The structure allows multiple POVs as the four characters interact across time zones and then come together for a fan convention. They are each outsiders in their own community, particularly from an LGBTQI+ perspective. It is amusing to see them being Internet-nice to one another, all terrified of inadvertently offending one another. They attach such meaning to their interactions and to the show - presumably because it offers a better reality to them than their real lives.
Obviously, this tale of obsession and perfection fractures as the cracks in the relationships start to emerge - particularly as the fourth wall of the TV screen is shattered and the fans come into contact with Alice.
This is not high literature, it is fun. It is quirky and fast and light. It is written in hashtags. It is perfect for a plane ride.
So there is this TV sci-fi series, City of Night, with two main protagonists, Pandora and Lyric. They have a relationship and it is called #Panic. There is an online community of uber-fans who let their lives revolve around the TV show. They adore Alice Temple who plays Lyric.
This novel features four such fans from around the world who jump at the chance to admit a show-insider to their set. And the insider tells them that Alice is in grave danger.
The structure allows multiple POVs as the four characters interact across time zones and then come together for a fan convention. They are each outsiders in their own community, particularly from an LGBTQI+ perspective. It is amusing to see them being Internet-nice to one another, all terrified of inadvertently offending one another. They attach such meaning to their interactions and to the show - presumably because it offers a better reality to them than their real lives.
Obviously, this tale of obsession and perfection fractures as the cracks in the relationships start to emerge - particularly as the fourth wall of the TV screen is shattered and the fans come into contact with Alice.
This is not high literature, it is fun. It is quirky and fast and light. It is written in hashtags. It is perfect for a plane ride.
April 22, 2023
I was intrigued by the blurb for this book, and since I’ve previously read the Killing Eve books from this author and loved them I decided to give it a go but unfortunately Panic just didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe it’s the wrong thing to do but I can’t help but compare it with Killing Eve even though the only thing they have in common is the author. For a start, for me there were too many characters and I felt like Luke Jennings was checking off boxes with them -
A transgender woman ☑️
A transgender man ☑️
Confused about their sexuality ☑️
Throw in victim of bullying and addiction and basically all the politically correct tropes are covered but I just couldn’t connect enough with any of the characters so that I cared what happened to them. The storyline sounded great but on paper reading it, it just felt a bit disjointed and although I did finish this book, I struggled and had to reread parts several times as I just couldn’t take it in and keep the story straight in my head. I’m definitely not an editor but I can’t help but feel maybe if it was streamlined a bit I could’ve enjoyed it more than I did.
A transgender woman ☑️
A transgender man ☑️
Confused about their sexuality ☑️
Throw in victim of bullying and addiction and basically all the politically correct tropes are covered but I just couldn’t connect enough with any of the characters so that I cared what happened to them. The storyline sounded great but on paper reading it, it just felt a bit disjointed and although I did finish this book, I struggled and had to reread parts several times as I just couldn’t take it in and keep the story straight in my head. I’m definitely not an editor but I can’t help but feel maybe if it was streamlined a bit I could’ve enjoyed it more than I did.
May 8, 2023
Panic is an interesting book not easily classified - part adventure/thriller, part crime and part LGBTQ coming of age. Following the lives of four young adults living on different continents, entwined together by their love/fandom of 'cult' SciFi series 'CIty of Night'..
Jaleesa, Kai, Illya and Dani exist online as #panic but are drawn together in service of favourite actress Alice Temple who seemingly needs their help. However, nothing is as it seems - all four present a version of themselves to their families, only being truthful to each other. Likewise, they gradually realise that in the glitzy world of LA nothing is as it seems, who can be trusted and who is really allowing their true self to be exposed.
Smoke and mirrors, murders and the odd cross-country chase by the mysterious Legion all provide the reader with a gripping rollercoaster of a ride.
Jaleesa, Kai, Illya and Dani exist online as #panic but are drawn together in service of favourite actress Alice Temple who seemingly needs their help. However, nothing is as it seems - all four present a version of themselves to their families, only being truthful to each other. Likewise, they gradually realise that in the glitzy world of LA nothing is as it seems, who can be trusted and who is really allowing their true self to be exposed.
Smoke and mirrors, murders and the odd cross-country chase by the mysterious Legion all provide the reader with a gripping rollercoaster of a ride.
May 30, 2024
After all the hype over Killing Eve I expected more from this author. I was disappointed. This reads like a YA novel about teenagers with all the usual teenage dramas who get together on social media, travel overseas, hook up with a superstar, then go on the run from the FBI, the Russian mob and a local terrorist group. It's ridiculous firstly because 2 of the 4 teenagers are transgender which is overdoing it a bit. One would have had a bigger impact. Next they go on the run with no planning but seem to have food to cook, all the medication they need and plenty of water. It's also unbelievable that the Russian mob and the terrorists are all tracking the kids, but the FBI can't seem to find them. Yeah sure! So many things to complain about but I read the whole book and thought the story could have been a good one had someone else had written it.
April 26, 2023
The premise for #Panic is really good but unfortunately I really struggled with it.
There is alot of moving around in the book which I think would be great in a movie but for me it just made my head spin and not in a good way.
The book revolves around four people who are huge fans of the TV show City Of Night.
One of the main characters in the show is Alice who has an abusive husband Don who also is Alice's husband and it's up to her makeup artist Chloe to hid the bruises before going on set.
Now this is where I loose the book as Chloe gets in touch with the super fans and arranges VIP tickets to a Con night festival including meeting Alice but there is one condition, they must help Alice escape from her husband.
But after arriving there is a bloody twist and things start to go wrong from there.
It's a shame that I didn't overly enjoy the book but I think if the bouncing around constantly was toned down it would be a far better book.
There is alot of moving around in the book which I think would be great in a movie but for me it just made my head spin and not in a good way.
The book revolves around four people who are huge fans of the TV show City Of Night.
One of the main characters in the show is Alice who has an abusive husband Don who also is Alice's husband and it's up to her makeup artist Chloe to hid the bruises before going on set.
Now this is where I loose the book as Chloe gets in touch with the super fans and arranges VIP tickets to a Con night festival including meeting Alice but there is one condition, they must help Alice escape from her husband.
But after arriving there is a bloody twist and things start to go wrong from there.
It's a shame that I didn't overly enjoy the book but I think if the bouncing around constantly was toned down it would be a far better book.
September 1, 2023
I loved the Killing Eve trilogy, (so much better than TV series!) so was looking forward to checking out #Panic. I really enjoyed the story and was gripped up until the last few pages. I felt the ending was a bit of a cop out! Not sure if this is the start of another trilogy but not sure where he can take this story but may be able to spin off the individual characters, will be interesting to see.
May 13, 2023
This book started off strong, and whilst I struggled to keep up with who the characters were, I found myself enjoying the story. Then I’m not sure what happened, but the story got very strange, unbelievable and ridiculous. There is a cinematic quality to it, almost like it was written to preface a movie, but sadly not a good one.
May 6, 2024
I know (only based on the TV show Killing Eve) that Luke Jennings' thing is over the top thriller. Kind of like a "Last Action Hero" making fun of itself. But #panic missed the mark a bit. I did enjoy reading it, there's a lot here to enjoy, but in the end my suspension of belief bell was louder than some of the prose.
July 14, 2024
A wild ride, I'm not really sure any of it was even remotely grounded in reality, but then I don't go to the author of Killing Eve for hard-hitting realism. I would easily read another book exploring what on earth these characters would be going through after all that and how their lives would look.
April 29, 2023
This story is full of adventure and is intended for a contemporary audience. The diversity of the cast of characters and how they met reflects current society. The unique plot uses sensory imagery that would work well on visual media.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
May 7, 2023
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book
i was actually enjoying this storyline but have to admit defeat with yet another character...so many characters to get your head around.... were they all really needed for this storyline....
i was actually enjoying this storyline but have to admit defeat with yet another character...so many characters to get your head around.... were they all really needed for this storyline....
May 9, 2023
I just couldn't get into the storyline of the book. I felt like there was so much going on. but very little character development and depth to the story. It was hard to follow what was happening at any given moment.
July 5, 2023
I feel bad for rating this so low but I just didn’t understand this book. There were so many plot holes, and too much going on that it was so hard to follow. I came very close to giving up on this completely.
May 26, 2024
It was my first read in years. I've had trouble getting hooked on a plot, but Panic and its characters drew me in immediately! It was a fun read with many twists and turns with a positive portrayal of internet friendships. My only note; Canada has provinces, not states!!!!!
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