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Scope #1
Siege
A brilliant race-against-time thriller from #1 internationally bestselling author Simon Kernick about a carefully orchestrated hostage take-over at a prominent London hotel. London is under attack. An unknown number of its citizens are dead. Many more lives hang in the balance as a group of highly trained gunmen storm the luxurious Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane, demanding the government meet their requests within five hours—or they will blow up the building and everyone still inside it.
Shots ring out. Some guests panic. Others text their loved ones. A few try to escape. All are united by their desire to live. And at the center of it all is one man who has information so dangerous that it must be kept safe—at any price.
Darkness falls. The gunmen become increasingly violent. One question is on everyone’s mind: Will any of them survive the night?
“Kernick generates a potent cocktail of thrills” (The Guardian) and calls to mind Robert Ludlum and Lee Child in sheer storytelling power and action. With a plot that travels at breakneck speed and an arsenal of dynamic characters who are at once familiar and full of surprises, Siege will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to its shocking finish.
Shots ring out. Some guests panic. Others text their loved ones. A few try to escape. All are united by their desire to live. And at the center of it all is one man who has information so dangerous that it must be kept safe—at any price.
Darkness falls. The gunmen become increasingly violent. One question is on everyone’s mind: Will any of them survive the night?
“Kernick generates a potent cocktail of thrills” (The Guardian) and calls to mind Robert Ludlum and Lee Child in sheer storytelling power and action. With a plot that travels at breakneck speed and an arsenal of dynamic characters who are at once familiar and full of surprises, Siege will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to its shocking finish.
373 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
122 people are currently reading
1721 people want to read
About the author
Simon Kernick
73 books1,158 followersSimon Kernick (born 1966 in Slough, Berkshire) is a British thriller/crime writer now living in Oxfordshire with his wife and two daughters. He attended Gillotts School, a comprehensive in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire. Whilst he was a student his jobs included fruitpicker and Christmas-tree uprooter. He graduated from Brighton Polytechnic in 1991 with a degree in humanities. Kernick had a passion for crime fiction writing from a young age and produced many short stories during his time at polytechnic. After graduating Kernick joined MMT Computing in London in early 1992, where a relative was the Chairman and Managing Director. Kernick was a key member of the sales team and was very highly regarded. However, he left the company after 4 years in the hope of trying to secure a publishing deal. Despite interest from a number of publishers Kernick was unable to secure a deal, so he joined the sales force of the specialist IT and Business Consultancy Metaskil plc in Aldermaston, Berkshire in 1998 where he remained until he secured his first book deal (The Business of Dying) in September 2001. His novel Relentless was recommended on Richard & Judy's Summer book club 2007. It was the 8th best-selling paperback, and the best-selling thriller in the UK in the same year
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February 13, 2022
"2.5 Stars ^ to 3.0 Stars - It was a bit better than ok"
Siege - Scope #1 - Author: Simon Kernick
Audiobook: 10:11 Hours - Narrator: Paul Thornley
Commenced 5 February 2022 - Finished 11 February 2022
Not the “thriller” I expected it to be - a pretty average "thriller" with pretty average narration.
Not my favourite book of the year so far, but at least I finished it!
Siege - Scope #1 - Author: Simon Kernick
Audiobook: 10:11 Hours - Narrator: Paul Thornley
Commenced 5 February 2022 - Finished 11 February 2022
Not the “thriller” I expected it to be - a pretty average "thriller" with pretty average narration.
Not my favourite book of the year so far, but at least I finished it!
June 19, 2012
I am a huge Kernick fan and love his style of writing. I can only compare reading his books to driving a Ferrari at full speed and no brake pedal in sight! This book was no different for each of the 368 pages. The awful thing about this book is that the world we live in today presents many situations like this one. This situation is where people are held hostage fearing for their lives; while others fight their own war.
From the very beginning of the story we are plunged into the horrific situation that many will find themselves in. You are quickly introduced to quite a lot of characters and in the beginning I wondered why there were so many. However, pretty soon you realise that all these people are going to collide in the most horrific of circumstances.
The short sharp chapters kept me turning the pages until I realised it was past my bedtime and I had demolished over half the book in one sitting! The characters in the book seem to grab at your emotions for one reason or another and there are so many different stories about why people are there you become intrigued to the point of distraction. One character named Scope really caught my eye and I would just love to see him feature in other books, but who knows what My Kernick will bring us next.
There are plot twists and surprises by the bucket load, so you won't be disappointed in that sense. The only un-nerving thing for me is that this is all too much of a reality. Working in any major city on the world you will feel all too easily the reality bursting through the seams of the pages. Simon Kernick has once again released a book that will have you on the edge of your seat and as ever I end up disappointed that I have to wait so long for the next one!
From the very beginning of the story we are plunged into the horrific situation that many will find themselves in. You are quickly introduced to quite a lot of characters and in the beginning I wondered why there were so many. However, pretty soon you realise that all these people are going to collide in the most horrific of circumstances.
The short sharp chapters kept me turning the pages until I realised it was past my bedtime and I had demolished over half the book in one sitting! The characters in the book seem to grab at your emotions for one reason or another and there are so many different stories about why people are there you become intrigued to the point of distraction. One character named Scope really caught my eye and I would just love to see him feature in other books, but who knows what My Kernick will bring us next.
There are plot twists and surprises by the bucket load, so you won't be disappointed in that sense. The only un-nerving thing for me is that this is all too much of a reality. Working in any major city on the world you will feel all too easily the reality bursting through the seams of the pages. Simon Kernick has once again released a book that will have you on the edge of your seat and as ever I end up disappointed that I have to wait so long for the next one!
January 19, 2012
I’ve always enjoyed Simon Kernick’s gritty London based thrillers, and this one was a new direction for the author. Maintaining the London setting Simon Kernick appeared to have deserted his usual character options (until Tina Boyd appears half way through!) for a hotel siege story. A fancy central London hotel is the target for an audacious terrorist plan (the author tries hard to avoid the standard Muslim fundamentalist route here with some interesting dynamics and viewpoints) and becomes the subject of the siege of the books title. I have to confess it took me a while to get into it and I initially felt slightly dis-engaged – it felt like a typical disaster movie where you are introduced to many characters who will be affected, but have minimal emotional engagement with any of them. But then it really kicks in and your perception of some of the characters changes and you finally join the dots that the author has gently been putting in front of you. Once we get into the siege the action really takes off, as do the twists and the characters and, where the book could have slowed down, it actually speeds up.
From my initial slight dis-engagement I ended up spinning the pages late into the night. To date Simon Kernick has never let me down and this book is no exception.
From my initial slight dis-engagement I ended up spinning the pages late into the night. To date Simon Kernick has never let me down and this book is no exception.
December 26, 2024
I wasn't expecting to like this as much as I did, this is very much Dad Fiction (if that's a thing), a little Jack Reacher, James Bond etc. I thought the character work for this one was really well done I was invested in quite a few of them. The 'bad guys' were a little less interesting but Scope made up for it. This is very much one man saves them all, with a little help from some brave people, it's far fetched and reads like a action film.
There wasn't many quiet moments in this book, other than the very fist few chapters where we get to know everyone. I thought the code names would get confusing and I would mix people up but they were unique enough from each other for it not to be a problem.
This book although action packed did focus on the characters and the impact one day had on them all which was a breath of fresh air. I actually own the next in the Scope series, I assume it follows him on different missions/situations and I am looking forward to the next one.
There wasn't many quiet moments in this book, other than the very fist few chapters where we get to know everyone. I thought the code names would get confusing and I would mix people up but they were unique enough from each other for it not to be a problem.
This book although action packed did focus on the characters and the impact one day had on them all which was a breath of fresh air. I actually own the next in the Scope series, I assume it follows him on different missions/situations and I am looking forward to the next one.
July 12, 2014
I really enjoyed this fast exciting thriller. It kept me entertained from the first page and and although the character development never went deep the pace of the story and the sheer excitement of the read was excellent. I will be reading many more books by Simon Kernick in the near future.
July 24, 2013
I was hooked from the beginning. Great book that pulled me in and didn't let go.
September 19, 2019
Beyond brilliant, highly entertaining and would recommend in a heartbeat!
January 17, 2019
WARNING FOR MINOR SPOILERS
London is a city well-versed in dealing with terrorism, but it’s a sheer impossibility to throw steel around all of its major landmarks. So, when an organised and proficient terrorist outfit launches a military-style attack on the ornate Stanhope Hotel, on Park Lane, the metropolis is taken completely by surprise.
Already preoccupied by a series of diversionary bomb attacks, the authorities are not even there to intervene when a man known only as Fox, an embittered former British soldier and combat veteran, leads a heavily-armed group in a disciplined assault, which captures most of the hotel’s staff and guests almost immediately, closes the building off with booby-traps and explosives, and starts laying down impossible political demands.
A lot of people die quickly, in many cases killed merely to make a point. It’s plain from the outset that these terrorists are playing for keeps, and pretty soon almost the entirety of the Metropolitan Police, not to mention a specialist SAS rescue squad, have got them surrounded.
A colossal siege then follows, a wide range of hostages awaiting its outcome fearfully.
Among these, Polish hotel manager, Elena Serenko, is the strongest, a diplomatic but authoritative figure, who never once loses her cool in the midst of the crisis, and becomes their unofficial spokesperson. Martin Dalston is there too, a forlorn character who has come to the hotel to die; recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer, he intended to commit suicide that evening, but now realises that he doesn’t just want to live, he wants to live and help those around him.
And then there is Scope … in his first outing (Simon Kernick has since written at least one more book following his exploits). Another disenfranchised ex-squaddie, Scope came to the Stanhope looking for vengeance regarding matters unconnected to this affair, but soon got caught up in the mayhem. He manages to lie low in one of the upstairs rooms, and is not corralled by the terrorists, but you sense almost from the beginning that he’s going to become their John McClane, their fly in the ointment, their ultimate pain in the ass.
Outside the hotel, meanwhile, it’s equally tense. The police are under the control of the normally efficient Deputy Assistant Commissioner Arley Dale, though her position is far from straightforward. Unbeknown to everyone else, Dale’s own family were kidnapped that morning by the same terrorists, and she is now under orders to assist the gang by providing misinformation to the military and sending the inevitable SAS assault team to its destruction. Naturally, she doesn’t want to do this, but what choice does she have? Things are further complicated for her when news arrives that a senior MI6 officer, possessing vital information, is among the captives, and by Detective Chief Inspector John Cheney of the Counter Terrorist Command, a cool but inscrutable figure (and, inconveniently, a former boyfriend of hers) who constantly hovers in the background.
The strongest card Dale can play is Riz Mohammed, a London cop of Middle Eastern origin and an expert negotiator. He makes many gallant attempts to talk the terrorists ‘down’, but gains little. This is partly because their motives are far from clear. Though two Arabic figures have now emerged from the murderous band to take charge - their overall leader, Wolf, and his fanatical female sidekick, Cat - the rest of the team, like Fox, are westerners at odds with the British establishment, and though they are brutal and violent, we soon get the feeling they are less interested in the Islamist cause than they are the fabulous pay-out they’ve been promised if everything goes to plan.
It’s a hellish scenario, the authorities all but paralysed, the armed-to-the-teeth madmen killing at every opportunity, but Arley Dale doesn’t just sit there and accept her fate. Again in secret, she enlists a disgraced former-detective, Tina Boyd (another of Kernick’s very cool recurring characters) and puts her on the case. Boyd, a loose cannon at the best of times, doesn’t understand why she’s been trusted with such a job, until Dale, who expects to go to prison anyway, says that she must do whatever’s necessary to recover her missing family – there are no rules.
Scope meanwhile, who initially takes time off to protect an ailing American tourist and her young son, finally decides that he too must take the gloves off. These vicious, arrogant killers are not going to have it all their own way …
Well, this is an absolute corker.
It’s also vintage Simon Kernick, surely one of the UK’s best thriller-writers when it comes to high-level conspiracies, espionage and terrorism.
Make no mistake, this is a big, big story, involving a monstrous and complex crime which has the potential not just to snuff out multiple lives, but to endanger national security as well, and yet as always, the author handles every part of it with astonishing attention to detail, delivering the entire catastrophe in completely authentic and convincing fashion. He deals with the emergency services response in the same way, not putting a foot wrong as he pulls the police and military together, co-ordinating their various assets, including their technical resources (which in Siege are absolutely up-to-the-minute) in the most believable style. It’s almost as if he has personally memorised the section of the Major Incident Manual concerning mass terrorist attacks on London.
As I say, vintage Kernick.
And yet … all this stuff is no more, really, than the backdrop.
The most interesting thrillers are always about people, focussing on their conflicting personalities and relationships no matter what degree of chaos is unfolding around them. And Kernick doesn’t skimp on this. In fact, he gives us an ensemble cast, throwing all kinds of individuals into this maelstrom of gunfire and explosions.
At first, I wondered if this was going to prove to be a mistake; there are so many living, breathing individuals in Siege that I worried it might fall victim to what I call ‘Towering Inferno Syndrome’: in other words, the author gives us a bit of everyone, but not enough of anyone. But no, Simon Kernick is too much of an expert in his field to make that kind of error. Once we’ve met the cast, we quickly close in on the key players, two of the most exciting being Scope and Tina Boyd.
Kernick certainly loves his antiheroes.
Yes, his work is often filled with straight bats like Arley Dale, and procedures and protocols hot from the Scotland Yard press. But quite often – and it’s certainly the case here – things are resolved by the smart thinking and raw courage of wayward individuals who, usually through misfortune, find themselves at the sharp end with minimal backup.
Don’t get me wrong. Earlier in this review, I alluded to Die Hard. And yes, there is more than a hint of that in Siege. But the action here, though fast and tough, is not quite so OTT. There are bombs, machine-gun battles and knife fights galore. But in this book, when people get shot and wounded, they are severely incapacitated at the very least. When they get put down by a heavy punch, they don’t get up quickly. Scope is not a man of iron. He is handy and experienced, but his main strength derives from his dogged nature and moral compass, which he engages regardless of the fine print. Likewise, Tina Boyd. She has had it rough; despite often doing the right thing in the past, she’s been on the wrong end of some politically correct but nevertheless harsh decisions – she is another who’s always prepared to risk it for the right result, and who isn’t just able to take a beating, but who can (and will) dish one out, herself, if necessary.
In balance to all this, the non-violent characters in the book – Elena Serenko and Martin Dalston – are intriguing creations, nicely representing ordinary people at their best (and so often, of course, it is ordinary people who must navigate these terrible situations). They may not believe in have-a-go-heroism, but they’ll still do everything in their power to make things easier for those around them.
On top of all that, despite its massive canvas and huge rotation of characters, the novel is done slickly and quickly, the narrative bouncing from scene to scene at breakneck pace, allowing the reader almost no room to breathe – and yet still finding time to surprise us with curveballs. That’s another of Simon Kernick’s strengths. You never know the whole story; there is nearly always something shocking held in reserve, and Siege is no exception to that rule.
A terrific action-thriller, completely credible, totally enthralling and sadly, in our turbulent current age, more relevant now even than when it was first published.
London is a city well-versed in dealing with terrorism, but it’s a sheer impossibility to throw steel around all of its major landmarks. So, when an organised and proficient terrorist outfit launches a military-style attack on the ornate Stanhope Hotel, on Park Lane, the metropolis is taken completely by surprise.
Already preoccupied by a series of diversionary bomb attacks, the authorities are not even there to intervene when a man known only as Fox, an embittered former British soldier and combat veteran, leads a heavily-armed group in a disciplined assault, which captures most of the hotel’s staff and guests almost immediately, closes the building off with booby-traps and explosives, and starts laying down impossible political demands.
A lot of people die quickly, in many cases killed merely to make a point. It’s plain from the outset that these terrorists are playing for keeps, and pretty soon almost the entirety of the Metropolitan Police, not to mention a specialist SAS rescue squad, have got them surrounded.
A colossal siege then follows, a wide range of hostages awaiting its outcome fearfully.
Among these, Polish hotel manager, Elena Serenko, is the strongest, a diplomatic but authoritative figure, who never once loses her cool in the midst of the crisis, and becomes their unofficial spokesperson. Martin Dalston is there too, a forlorn character who has come to the hotel to die; recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer, he intended to commit suicide that evening, but now realises that he doesn’t just want to live, he wants to live and help those around him.
And then there is Scope … in his first outing (Simon Kernick has since written at least one more book following his exploits). Another disenfranchised ex-squaddie, Scope came to the Stanhope looking for vengeance regarding matters unconnected to this affair, but soon got caught up in the mayhem. He manages to lie low in one of the upstairs rooms, and is not corralled by the terrorists, but you sense almost from the beginning that he’s going to become their John McClane, their fly in the ointment, their ultimate pain in the ass.
Outside the hotel, meanwhile, it’s equally tense. The police are under the control of the normally efficient Deputy Assistant Commissioner Arley Dale, though her position is far from straightforward. Unbeknown to everyone else, Dale’s own family were kidnapped that morning by the same terrorists, and she is now under orders to assist the gang by providing misinformation to the military and sending the inevitable SAS assault team to its destruction. Naturally, she doesn’t want to do this, but what choice does she have? Things are further complicated for her when news arrives that a senior MI6 officer, possessing vital information, is among the captives, and by Detective Chief Inspector John Cheney of the Counter Terrorist Command, a cool but inscrutable figure (and, inconveniently, a former boyfriend of hers) who constantly hovers in the background.
The strongest card Dale can play is Riz Mohammed, a London cop of Middle Eastern origin and an expert negotiator. He makes many gallant attempts to talk the terrorists ‘down’, but gains little. This is partly because their motives are far from clear. Though two Arabic figures have now emerged from the murderous band to take charge - their overall leader, Wolf, and his fanatical female sidekick, Cat - the rest of the team, like Fox, are westerners at odds with the British establishment, and though they are brutal and violent, we soon get the feeling they are less interested in the Islamist cause than they are the fabulous pay-out they’ve been promised if everything goes to plan.
It’s a hellish scenario, the authorities all but paralysed, the armed-to-the-teeth madmen killing at every opportunity, but Arley Dale doesn’t just sit there and accept her fate. Again in secret, she enlists a disgraced former-detective, Tina Boyd (another of Kernick’s very cool recurring characters) and puts her on the case. Boyd, a loose cannon at the best of times, doesn’t understand why she’s been trusted with such a job, until Dale, who expects to go to prison anyway, says that she must do whatever’s necessary to recover her missing family – there are no rules.
Scope meanwhile, who initially takes time off to protect an ailing American tourist and her young son, finally decides that he too must take the gloves off. These vicious, arrogant killers are not going to have it all their own way …
Well, this is an absolute corker.
It’s also vintage Simon Kernick, surely one of the UK’s best thriller-writers when it comes to high-level conspiracies, espionage and terrorism.
Make no mistake, this is a big, big story, involving a monstrous and complex crime which has the potential not just to snuff out multiple lives, but to endanger national security as well, and yet as always, the author handles every part of it with astonishing attention to detail, delivering the entire catastrophe in completely authentic and convincing fashion. He deals with the emergency services response in the same way, not putting a foot wrong as he pulls the police and military together, co-ordinating their various assets, including their technical resources (which in Siege are absolutely up-to-the-minute) in the most believable style. It’s almost as if he has personally memorised the section of the Major Incident Manual concerning mass terrorist attacks on London.
As I say, vintage Kernick.
And yet … all this stuff is no more, really, than the backdrop.
The most interesting thrillers are always about people, focussing on their conflicting personalities and relationships no matter what degree of chaos is unfolding around them. And Kernick doesn’t skimp on this. In fact, he gives us an ensemble cast, throwing all kinds of individuals into this maelstrom of gunfire and explosions.
At first, I wondered if this was going to prove to be a mistake; there are so many living, breathing individuals in Siege that I worried it might fall victim to what I call ‘Towering Inferno Syndrome’: in other words, the author gives us a bit of everyone, but not enough of anyone. But no, Simon Kernick is too much of an expert in his field to make that kind of error. Once we’ve met the cast, we quickly close in on the key players, two of the most exciting being Scope and Tina Boyd.
Kernick certainly loves his antiheroes.
Yes, his work is often filled with straight bats like Arley Dale, and procedures and protocols hot from the Scotland Yard press. But quite often – and it’s certainly the case here – things are resolved by the smart thinking and raw courage of wayward individuals who, usually through misfortune, find themselves at the sharp end with minimal backup.
Don’t get me wrong. Earlier in this review, I alluded to Die Hard. And yes, there is more than a hint of that in Siege. But the action here, though fast and tough, is not quite so OTT. There are bombs, machine-gun battles and knife fights galore. But in this book, when people get shot and wounded, they are severely incapacitated at the very least. When they get put down by a heavy punch, they don’t get up quickly. Scope is not a man of iron. He is handy and experienced, but his main strength derives from his dogged nature and moral compass, which he engages regardless of the fine print. Likewise, Tina Boyd. She has had it rough; despite often doing the right thing in the past, she’s been on the wrong end of some politically correct but nevertheless harsh decisions – she is another who’s always prepared to risk it for the right result, and who isn’t just able to take a beating, but who can (and will) dish one out, herself, if necessary.
In balance to all this, the non-violent characters in the book – Elena Serenko and Martin Dalston – are intriguing creations, nicely representing ordinary people at their best (and so often, of course, it is ordinary people who must navigate these terrible situations). They may not believe in have-a-go-heroism, but they’ll still do everything in their power to make things easier for those around them.
On top of all that, despite its massive canvas and huge rotation of characters, the novel is done slickly and quickly, the narrative bouncing from scene to scene at breakneck pace, allowing the reader almost no room to breathe – and yet still finding time to surprise us with curveballs. That’s another of Simon Kernick’s strengths. You never know the whole story; there is nearly always something shocking held in reserve, and Siege is no exception to that rule.
A terrific action-thriller, completely credible, totally enthralling and sadly, in our turbulent current age, more relevant now even than when it was first published.
July 27, 2014
This book got me right from the get go.Of course thou,if you don't like reading stuff like this,dont read it.But me..I loved it!!You know when you watch one of those movies on Tv with a lot of blow ups,terrorists and action?..well,this book was like a movie for me,from page to page to page.I devoured this book and my reward was,a 5/5 great read.Sort of reminded me of Die Hard movie..in a way.
February 17, 2018
This was a fast moving, intense thrill ride. This was my first book from this author but I will definitely be reading more of his books.
January 3, 2019
Siege by Simon Kernick. Complete thrill ride with multiple characters.
●
At first though I wondered why the hell I was supporting a bloody damn terrorist but then I grasped the point that their motive and the perceptions are quite similar to some of us, (come on, aren't we all angry at our government for some crazy valid reasons?) but then the methods are completely disgraceful. ●
Kernick took inspirations from The Siege in Mumbai during 26/11 and fictionalized it brilliantly. ●
I might have felt compassionate for FOX (the damn terrorist i liked)because of his portrayal as unbeatable, coolish, somewhat that bad guy with a good heart vibe. But toward the end he was not so calm and composed anymore, and not to forget he deserved what he got.
●
●
SCOPE, the hero, (who I didn't know was the hero. I should have checked the amazon title of the book which clearly tells Siege: Scope 1), anyway he was brilliant. And at first I didn't encouraged him as I do with other heroes entrys' (like YO! MY MAN!!) for he has his own dark motive hidden under his sleeves. And a dark past as I may say but here is the problem every damn character is not your typical "Good". They all are dark.
●
●
I will give 4.5 stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟⏩ An edge of your seat read with POV of multiple characters. (And I admit I thought FOX to be some secret agent or SPY but boy! was I mistaken!)
●
At first though I wondered why the hell I was supporting a bloody damn terrorist but then I grasped the point that their motive and the perceptions are quite similar to some of us, (come on, aren't we all angry at our government for some crazy valid reasons?) but then the methods are completely disgraceful. ●
Kernick took inspirations from The Siege in Mumbai during 26/11 and fictionalized it brilliantly. ●
I might have felt compassionate for FOX (the damn terrorist i liked)because of his portrayal as unbeatable, coolish, somewhat that bad guy with a good heart vibe. But toward the end he was not so calm and composed anymore, and not to forget he deserved what he got.
●
●
SCOPE, the hero, (who I didn't know was the hero. I should have checked the amazon title of the book which clearly tells Siege: Scope 1), anyway he was brilliant. And at first I didn't encouraged him as I do with other heroes entrys' (like YO! MY MAN!!) for he has his own dark motive hidden under his sleeves. And a dark past as I may say but here is the problem every damn character is not your typical "Good". They all are dark.
●
●
I will give 4.5 stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟⏩ An edge of your seat read with POV of multiple characters. (And I admit I thought FOX to be some secret agent or SPY but boy! was I mistaken!)
January 10, 2019
Read an amazing book after so long. The book was action packed and had me hooked till the end. All the parts of the story were so well planned and tied neatly in the end.
After reading your revelation of the inspiration behind this, I thank Simon Kernick for going through a lot of troubles to make this book. You made all the characters come to life. I loved Scope, I'm glad you based this series on him in the end. And I think I would've really liked Ray Mason too ;)
After reading your revelation of the inspiration behind this, I thank Simon Kernick for going through a lot of troubles to make this book. You made all the characters come to life. I loved Scope, I'm glad you based this series on him in the end. And I think I would've really liked Ray Mason too ;)
October 18, 2023
This book had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through it. It was hard to read but still gripping I couldn't imagine being in a situation like that and feel bad about the real hostage situations that go on out there
December 18, 2020
4.25 Excellent story. Well told, 3rd person, but there were many POVs here all giving different views so at times it felt a bit choppy.
Enjoyed it though and I would recommend it.
Enjoyed it though and I would recommend it.
July 28, 2014
I was very impressed by Simon Kernick's Siege. This was my first Kernick book and it certainly will not be my last. I picked Siege to read first because I am a total "Die Hard" junkie. "Die Hard" is my All-Time Favorite book. I love all the "Die-Hard" movies, except for the last one. That said, to relate Siege to "Die Hard" is not really fair. Siege can stand on it's own in terms of action, excitement, and suspense.
I thought Siege was different enough from "Die Hard" in many different ways. For one thing, no single central character. Simon has several key characters involved in various plots/sub-plots, so we as readers get involved in the story from different points of view. I kept grinning thorough the book as the author kept introducing new plot twists. Just when you think he will follow a formula, the story veers off. Bad-guys as bad guys, bad-guys as good guys (or a killer with a conscience), some folks caught in the wrong place wrong time, and a couple of gritty female characters (one is a disgraced cop (who gets things done) and the other is the Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC), in charge at the site (who is also deeply involved in other plot threads). On and on it goes. I loved the action and the way Simon brought a new approach to the "Die Hard" type storyline.
I plan to pick up his next book coming out on Jul 29th, "Stay Alive: A Thriller". And then have plans to pick up another new title in September, "Ultimatum: A Thriller". I'll get both of these books via my Entitle subscription service and read them on my 1st Gen Kindle Fire and/or HTC-One (and save a few bucks as well). I found two more Kendrick older books available at my digital library that I will add to my "Wish List". I also plan to order at least two more Kernick books from Amazon: "Relentless: A Thriller" and "The Last 10 Seconds: A Thriller".
He still has several more books I will get to if I break down and spent over $7 a book( like "The Business of Dying: A Novel (Dennis Milne Series)". Sigh, I probably will because I can tell I will want to read all of his books. Just picked up "The Debt" today, a free 32-page digital book. I think I skimmed over his titles in the past, but this time I slowed down enough to give Siege a serious look. Been awhile since I got this excited about an author, kind of like reading your first Matt Reilly action thriller ("Ice Station (Shane Schofield Book 1)" for me). 5-Stars easy.
I thought Siege was different enough from "Die Hard" in many different ways. For one thing, no single central character. Simon has several key characters involved in various plots/sub-plots, so we as readers get involved in the story from different points of view. I kept grinning thorough the book as the author kept introducing new plot twists. Just when you think he will follow a formula, the story veers off. Bad-guys as bad guys, bad-guys as good guys (or a killer with a conscience), some folks caught in the wrong place wrong time, and a couple of gritty female characters (one is a disgraced cop (who gets things done) and the other is the Deputy Assistant Commissioner (DAC), in charge at the site (who is also deeply involved in other plot threads). On and on it goes. I loved the action and the way Simon brought a new approach to the "Die Hard" type storyline.
I plan to pick up his next book coming out on Jul 29th, "Stay Alive: A Thriller". And then have plans to pick up another new title in September, "Ultimatum: A Thriller". I'll get both of these books via my Entitle subscription service and read them on my 1st Gen Kindle Fire and/or HTC-One (and save a few bucks as well). I found two more Kendrick older books available at my digital library that I will add to my "Wish List". I also plan to order at least two more Kernick books from Amazon: "Relentless: A Thriller" and "The Last 10 Seconds: A Thriller".
He still has several more books I will get to if I break down and spent over $7 a book( like "The Business of Dying: A Novel (Dennis Milne Series)". Sigh, I probably will because I can tell I will want to read all of his books. Just picked up "The Debt" today, a free 32-page digital book. I think I skimmed over his titles in the past, but this time I slowed down enough to give Siege a serious look. Been awhile since I got this excited about an author, kind of like reading your first Matt Reilly action thriller ("Ice Station (Shane Schofield Book 1)" for me). 5-Stars easy.
July 26, 2016
This is the story of a terrorist attack on an upmarket London hotel. The action takes place over the course of one day, kicking off with a violent attack on a family one morning. This seems unconnected to the following action but does eventually tie in. We are then introduced to various disparate characters, working at, staying in or visiting the hotel, who are about to get involved in the attack. The book starts off a little slowly, but the pace builds continuously until it becomes one of those books that you simply can't put down. Whilst it bears many of the hallmarks of Simon Kernick's other books - the relentless pace, the flawed hero with a violent past, lots of twists, policemen dealing with threats to their loved ones - it also marks a change from the usual cast of characters. Only one familiar face turns up halfway through (and we are left hanging as to exactly what becomes of them). Having read most of Kernick's books, I know that he has no compunction about killing off his major characters, which added to the tension throughout.
All in all, an exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable read. Not perfect - I would have like to see a couple of loose ends tied up and the ending felt a little rushed. But for sheer entertainment value this delivers in spades.
All in all, an exhilarating and thoroughly enjoyable read. Not perfect - I would have like to see a couple of loose ends tied up and the ending felt a little rushed. But for sheer entertainment value this delivers in spades.
January 30, 2013
I’ve read all of Simon Kernick’s previous books and have enjoyed each one. Some have hit the spot more than others and it sounds a bit of a clique but this one is a real page turner. The action starts with a cold blooded murder on the first page and the tension doesn’t let up.
The main action takes place over several hours at the fictional Stanhope Hotel in London but there are other simultaneous distraction events taking place all over the capital – the terrorists’ planning has been meticulous.
The newly engaged hotel manager about to hand in her notice and emigrate, the man dying of a terminal illness, these are just two of the characters who find themselves caught up in the siege. Some of the finer detail may have been a bit far fetched but that didn’t really matter, it all adds to the tension.
I was pleased to see the return of Tina Boyd, albeit in a more minor role. She is a strong character and whenever she’s involved in a storyline there is always action. The various sub-plots all eventually come together to reach an exciting climax.
The chapters are short, each told with alternating viewpoints – from the hostages, terrorists and the police. I really couldn’t put this book down and would highly recommend it.
The main action takes place over several hours at the fictional Stanhope Hotel in London but there are other simultaneous distraction events taking place all over the capital – the terrorists’ planning has been meticulous.
The newly engaged hotel manager about to hand in her notice and emigrate, the man dying of a terminal illness, these are just two of the characters who find themselves caught up in the siege. Some of the finer detail may have been a bit far fetched but that didn’t really matter, it all adds to the tension.
I was pleased to see the return of Tina Boyd, albeit in a more minor role. She is a strong character and whenever she’s involved in a storyline there is always action. The various sub-plots all eventually come together to reach an exciting climax.
The chapters are short, each told with alternating viewpoints – from the hostages, terrorists and the police. I really couldn’t put this book down and would highly recommend it.
November 17, 2025
I have mixed emotions re Simon Kernick novels, this one I have to say I throughly enjoyed. DAC Arly Dale is suddenly tasked with being the Bronze Command of a terrorist incident in Central London. Little does she realise the impact it is about to have on her life. Great writing, with the reader kept on the edge of your seat until the culmination. Thd inside story of some of those affected by the terrorist incident, both good and bad, are also great stories in themselves. The appearance of Tina Boyd, an earlier Simon Kernick character, provides an interesting link. Brilliantly written.
August 7, 2021
Another great read from author Simon Kernick.
Short sharp chapters that are not unlike James Patterson, keep the story running at a considerable pace.
Synopsis:
London is under attack.
People are dead. Many more lives hang in the balance as a group of highly trained gunmen storm the historic Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane.
The gunmen have given the government just five hours to meet their demands before they blow up the building.
Shots ring out. Some guests panic. Others text their loved ones. Still more try to escape. All are united by one thing: fear for their lives. All - except one man who has information so dangerous that it must be kept safe - at any price.
Darkness falls. The gunmen become increasingly violent. One question is in everybody's minds.
Will they survive the night?
Short sharp chapters that are not unlike James Patterson, keep the story running at a considerable pace.
Synopsis:
London is under attack.
People are dead. Many more lives hang in the balance as a group of highly trained gunmen storm the historic Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane.
The gunmen have given the government just five hours to meet their demands before they blow up the building.
Shots ring out. Some guests panic. Others text their loved ones. Still more try to escape. All are united by one thing: fear for their lives. All - except one man who has information so dangerous that it must be kept safe - at any price.
Darkness falls. The gunmen become increasingly violent. One question is in everybody's minds.
Will they survive the night?
September 4, 2023
A brilliant highly recommended book to read
I love Simon Kernick books as I am on a reading spread to reread all his books once again. As ever his books gets better each time. This is an enjoyable rollor coster ride of a read and I couldn't put it down.
Overall a great read of a book and throughly recommended it for you on your travels.
Best wishes Sean
I love Simon Kernick books as I am on a reading spread to reread all his books once again. As ever his books gets better each time. This is an enjoyable rollor coster ride of a read and I couldn't put it down.
Overall a great read of a book and throughly recommended it for you on your travels.
Best wishes Sean
November 16, 2016
If you like thrillers, this is for you It's the best book I've read for months. A lot of strangers stuck in a hotel taken hostage by a bunch of terrorists. What are they all doing there and who will get out alive.
August 12, 2022
Yet another brilliant book from Simon Kernick. So gripping I didn't want to put it down........kept reading whilst trying to shave, clean my teeth and tie my shoelaces!!
February 28, 2013
Seriously considered leaving this on the train.
September 28, 2016
A brilliant thriller with a relentless pace. A real page turner. I loved it!
October 5, 2016
Started off with action and continued with action all the way through, couldn't put it down!
December 11, 2016
Really enjoyed this. Fast paced and characters the reader cared about. A situation one could see happening in reality.
June 6, 2017
Reading a Simon Kernick makes me remember that he is one of my favourite thriller writers. I always want to read more books by him after I finish one.
This book was no exception...I loved it from the first page to the last. It was fast paced,always something happening whether in the hotel with the hostages and terrorists or outside with the police and SAS. I flew through the book so quickly,I just wanted to keep reading.
There were a lot of characters from the hotel and the siege, I liked that we got to know them all a little bit before it all kicked off. I liked them all a bit but especially Elena and Martin who became a much larger part of it than even he thought possible. I enjoyed the part of Scope who found himself in the middle of a hostage situation whilst doing something underhand himself and then becoming a bit of a vigilante for the other side.
Naturally I didn't like any of the terrorists, they all seemed rather evil and lacking in any human traits,Bear was perhaps the most decent of the lot and even then he'd give Ted Bundy a run for his money!
On the police side things take an unexpected twist for DCI Arley Dale and the whole plot. I kinda liked her but didn't at the same time,nothing that I could put my finger on other than there were a lot more interesting characters than her around.
I liked the way it played out,with no idea who would make it out alive. I would have liked to see Elena reunited with her fiancé Rod,I know they obviously did but there was no mention of him or Elena straight after and we know he would have been out there waiting on her to hopefully come out alive.
Otherwise a brilliant engaging read that I'd highly recommend.
This book was no exception...I loved it from the first page to the last. It was fast paced,always something happening whether in the hotel with the hostages and terrorists or outside with the police and SAS. I flew through the book so quickly,I just wanted to keep reading.
There were a lot of characters from the hotel and the siege, I liked that we got to know them all a little bit before it all kicked off. I liked them all a bit but especially Elena and Martin who became a much larger part of it than even he thought possible. I enjoyed the part of Scope who found himself in the middle of a hostage situation whilst doing something underhand himself and then becoming a bit of a vigilante for the other side.
Naturally I didn't like any of the terrorists, they all seemed rather evil and lacking in any human traits,Bear was perhaps the most decent of the lot and even then he'd give Ted Bundy a run for his money!
On the police side things take an unexpected twist for DCI Arley Dale and the whole plot. I kinda liked her but didn't at the same time,nothing that I could put my finger on other than there were a lot more interesting characters than her around.
I liked the way it played out,with no idea who would make it out alive. I would have liked to see Elena reunited with her fiancé Rod,I know they obviously did but there was no mention of him or Elena straight after and we know he would have been out there waiting on her to hopefully come out alive.
Otherwise a brilliant engaging read that I'd highly recommend.
March 27, 2021
In this book, we follow multiple people's perspectives during a hotel siege in London. In the lead up to this and to scatter the police force multiple bombs are set off in West London.
This book is super fast-paced and there is no dead space, which is something I have always liked about Simon Kernicks writing. We focus on a few main characters as they try to stay safe and away from the terrorist's radar.
We also follow DAC Arely Dale as she is in command on the ground outside the hotel during the events, however, as time ticks on she finds out that she has to betray her comrades and put people's lives in more danger. Her kids have been kidnaped by the same group that has taken the hotel and if she doesn't give them some vital information they will kill her children.
I really enjoyed all of the perspectives we get in this book and I really commend Kernick for being able to set this up and have it come across really well. And I couldn't have been more thrilled when Tina Boyd was introduced. I absolutely love her as a character she is morally grey but I have always loved her in all of Kernicks books.
I really appreciate that this is a sensitive subject but I was so glad that not all of the terrorists were people of colour, that really made a difference for me. I will always say that anyone, no matter their race or religion, who incites fear is a terrorist.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and Simon Kernick will always be one of my go-to authors.
This book is super fast-paced and there is no dead space, which is something I have always liked about Simon Kernicks writing. We focus on a few main characters as they try to stay safe and away from the terrorist's radar.
We also follow DAC Arely Dale as she is in command on the ground outside the hotel during the events, however, as time ticks on she finds out that she has to betray her comrades and put people's lives in more danger. Her kids have been kidnaped by the same group that has taken the hotel and if she doesn't give them some vital information they will kill her children.
I really enjoyed all of the perspectives we get in this book and I really commend Kernick for being able to set this up and have it come across really well. And I couldn't have been more thrilled when Tina Boyd was introduced. I absolutely love her as a character she is morally grey but I have always loved her in all of Kernicks books.
I really appreciate that this is a sensitive subject but I was so glad that not all of the terrorists were people of colour, that really made a difference for me. I will always say that anyone, no matter their race or religion, who incites fear is a terrorist.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and Simon Kernick will always be one of my go-to authors.
February 6, 2021
A decent story, everything tied up nicely.
However there's one major issue and it almost made me give up on trying to finish it and that's the horribly innacurate potrayel of type 1 diabetes.
The character is described as having high blood sugars but their symptoms imply the opposite.
If the character's blood sugars are reasonably well controlled under normal circumstances then high blood sugars would not be an immediate cause for concern. The characters says that a few hours without insulin will cause their levels to spike to the point that they could/would start fitting which just isn't true at all.
Giving someone with low blood sugars insulin can kill them, I think the author got confused and the character was supposed to be suffering from low blood sugars and the "insulin" they seek is actually a fast acting glucose shot.
Type 1 diabetes is rare and a lot of people that don't have it or know someone that does would probably never try to learn about it. Instead they'll pick things up from media which makes an innacurate portayel like this harmful.
Source: I have type 1 diabetes.
However there's one major issue and it almost made me give up on trying to finish it and that's the horribly innacurate potrayel of type 1 diabetes.
The character is described as having high blood sugars but their symptoms imply the opposite.
If the character's blood sugars are reasonably well controlled under normal circumstances then high blood sugars would not be an immediate cause for concern. The characters says that a few hours without insulin will cause their levels to spike to the point that they could/would start fitting which just isn't true at all.
Giving someone with low blood sugars insulin can kill them, I think the author got confused and the character was supposed to be suffering from low blood sugars and the "insulin" they seek is actually a fast acting glucose shot.
Type 1 diabetes is rare and a lot of people that don't have it or know someone that does would probably never try to learn about it. Instead they'll pick things up from media which makes an innacurate portayel like this harmful.
Source: I have type 1 diabetes.
July 24, 2023
Loved it! I was in the mood for a fast paced thriller for a really long time and this was exactly what I needed. The action starts from the very first line and keeps accelerating till the last twenty pages. It was exhilarating. The plot is so deliciously complicated. There are a lot of perspectives in this novel and a LOT is going on.
So there are some terrorists that occupy the Stanhope hotel in London and take all the residents hostage. Now they want the British government to fulfill their 'demands' or they will start killing the hostages. There was plenty of blood and violence in this book, which is all the better for me. And just the excitement of different things going on in different parts of the hotel with different characters, was so hooking. The only reason I am keeping a star is because of the ending.
Now, personally I like thrillers to have a surprising ending. For me, the ending of a thriller means everything and here there just was not the excitement I wanted. Not to mention that I was always hoping that the bad guys would win. But I would still always recommend this book. It was a WILD RIDE.
So there are some terrorists that occupy the Stanhope hotel in London and take all the residents hostage. Now they want the British government to fulfill their 'demands' or they will start killing the hostages. There was plenty of blood and violence in this book, which is all the better for me. And just the excitement of different things going on in different parts of the hotel with different characters, was so hooking. The only reason I am keeping a star is because of the ending.
Now, personally I like thrillers to have a surprising ending. For me, the ending of a thriller means everything and here there just was not the excitement I wanted. Not to mention that I was always hoping that the bad guys would win. But I would still always recommend this book. It was a WILD RIDE.
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