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Die junge Strafverteidigerin Alice Logan kann ihrem Vater nicht verzeihen, dass er nie für sie da war und ständig ihre Mutter betrogen hat. Doch ist er auch ein Mörder? Als er für einen viele Jahre zurückliegenden Mordfall zum Tode verurteilt wird, muss sie sich entscheiden. Erst will sie seinen Unschuldsbeteuerungen gar nicht zuhören, doch dann tauchen ähnliche Fälle auf, zwischen denen es einen Zusammenhang zu geben scheint. Ist ihr Vater tatsächlich unschuldig Opfer einer Verschwörung geworden? Alice beschließt, der Sache auf den Grund zu gehen, und so beginnt ein rasanter Wettlauf gegen ihre Widersacher und gegen die Zeit. Denn ihr Vater soll schon in sieben Tagen hingerichtet werden ...
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Published May 30, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 13, 2025
Bizarrely titled Seven Days when most of the book takes place over 4 days (and mostly in Paris, also not mentioned in the blurb), days 5 and 6 are skipped entirely and the final epilogue chapters take place on day 7 and 14... Anyway, a great deal of disbelief needs to be suspended to go with the premise that even an estranged daughter, her sister (and their mother) don't know their father has been on death row for 10 years. There's a plot twist in the middle that will have you rolling your eyes and almost giving up, relying on a huge coincidence that isn't credible. If you don't like similies for every situation, don't read this, because the author loves them, as well as an annoying habit of dropping the pronoun from the start of a sentence, I guess to feel 'edgy'. Nonsense, but light and silly enough to make a passable summer read.
March 25, 2024
This was a fast paced novel of a Lawyers quest to save her estranged Dad from his planned death row execution. The story takes her from England to Paris to America. Along the way she gets involved in the seedy side of criminals and wonders if she can even trust the police.
Seven Days is a dark tense thriller, the story kept me enthralled throughout. I liked Alice's tenacity, despite her doubt about her dad's conviction, for the sake of her sister she wanted to prove one way or the other if he was guilty. The results shocked
Seven Days is a dark tense thriller, the story kept me enthralled throughout. I liked Alice's tenacity, despite her doubt about her dad's conviction, for the sake of her sister she wanted to prove one way or the other if he was guilty. The results shocked
May 1, 2024
Lawyer Alice has been estranged from her father for 14 years. Now, following the revelation that he is not only on Florida’s Death Row but is due to executed in just 7 days, Alice feels a myriad of emotions. Guilt tripped by her younger sister Fiona into trying to find something which could halt the execution she finds herself caught up in a whole load of unexpected trouble which takes from her Whitley Bay home in the north east of England to Paris and to the US.
Each of the shorter (and nicely addictive) chapters leads with a timeline counting down to the execution date which increases the tension and the realisation that Alice only has a limited time in which to save her father. He of course insists that he is innocent but with his shady past there are some that would prefer him to remain guilty as charged.
Alice used to work in the States as an attorney and has some useful contacts. Her trump card is her friend Sofia, an ex FBI agent and a very resourceful private investigator for whom it seems that no task is impossible and one person at least that is clearly on Alice’s side. Unlike Agent Luc Boudreaux now serving with the Paris office of the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE). It was Luc who originally investigated her father’s murder conviction and which led to him being on Death Row. Although he assures Alice he just wants the truth to be known, Alice doubts how much she can trust him and the two share an uneasy working relationship.
The plot is fast paced which pits Alice against the very worst of people with far reaching consequences. Alice was a likeable character and whilst she seemed fearless and at times rather stubborn and even reckless, there was a sadness from her past that she couldn’t escape from.
With surprises and unexpected revelations, Seven Days is a tense and suspenseful thriller which also touches upon complex family relationships and all the emotions, including anger and guilt, that come from a family that has been broken apart. With its underlying themes of justice and forgiveness, this was a book that I very much enjoyed.
Each of the shorter (and nicely addictive) chapters leads with a timeline counting down to the execution date which increases the tension and the realisation that Alice only has a limited time in which to save her father. He of course insists that he is innocent but with his shady past there are some that would prefer him to remain guilty as charged.
Alice used to work in the States as an attorney and has some useful contacts. Her trump card is her friend Sofia, an ex FBI agent and a very resourceful private investigator for whom it seems that no task is impossible and one person at least that is clearly on Alice’s side. Unlike Agent Luc Boudreaux now serving with the Paris office of the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE). It was Luc who originally investigated her father’s murder conviction and which led to him being on Death Row. Although he assures Alice he just wants the truth to be known, Alice doubts how much she can trust him and the two share an uneasy working relationship.
The plot is fast paced which pits Alice against the very worst of people with far reaching consequences. Alice was a likeable character and whilst she seemed fearless and at times rather stubborn and even reckless, there was a sadness from her past that she couldn’t escape from.
With surprises and unexpected revelations, Seven Days is a tense and suspenseful thriller which also touches upon complex family relationships and all the emotions, including anger and guilt, that come from a family that has been broken apart. With its underlying themes of justice and forgiveness, this was a book that I very much enjoyed.
May 7, 2024
“Seven Days” is a cracking debut crime thriller featuring a daughter tasked with finding out if her estranged father is actually guilty of the crime he is accused of and currently awaiting execution in seven days time. I liked how she felt morally obliged to investigate due to her respect for the law but her personal emotions regarding her relationship with her father clouded her desire to do so. But will her actions also have consequences down the line regarding other criminals?
I really couldn’t put this book down and I’m pleased it didn’t take seven days to read or my patience would have been broken. Being so addictive and gripping I could clearly picture every scene as if it was playing out on the big screen, which incidentally would make a fabulous movie, as the twists and turns would keep a theatre audience enthralled. Very cleverly plotted and executed, this fast paced novel raced through North East England to France and ending in America and kept me guessing and on my toes to an explosive finish, that also tugged on my heartstrings.
I have some excellent favourite local authors on my bookshelves; Mari Hannah, Trevor Wood, Howard Linskey and Ann Cleeves, and now I’m adding Robert Rutherford to that list. I do hope he has further ideas in the pipeline as I’d be the first in line to read.
“Seven Days” is an unmissable read for crime readers who like a moral dilemma within a story and this was an easy five star review for this high octane thriller ( - not bad for an author from the wrong side of the Tyne river 😉 )
I really couldn’t put this book down and I’m pleased it didn’t take seven days to read or my patience would have been broken. Being so addictive and gripping I could clearly picture every scene as if it was playing out on the big screen, which incidentally would make a fabulous movie, as the twists and turns would keep a theatre audience enthralled. Very cleverly plotted and executed, this fast paced novel raced through North East England to France and ending in America and kept me guessing and on my toes to an explosive finish, that also tugged on my heartstrings.
I have some excellent favourite local authors on my bookshelves; Mari Hannah, Trevor Wood, Howard Linskey and Ann Cleeves, and now I’m adding Robert Rutherford to that list. I do hope he has further ideas in the pipeline as I’d be the first in line to read.
“Seven Days” is an unmissable read for crime readers who like a moral dilemma within a story and this was an easy five star review for this high octane thriller ( - not bad for an author from the wrong side of the Tyne river 😉 )
November 22, 2025
No me esperaba nada del libro y la verdad que me ha gustado bastante, tanto el ritmo como la resolución de la trama. Quizás me ha parecido un poco lento al principio por eso le resto una estrella.
April 27, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
*advanced copy from netgalley*
This started out with too slow a pace for me. I understand it’s over the space of a week (seven days duh) but 1/3 in and we were only on Tuesday!! The pacing switched up to a bit faster in the last, 3rd maybe? Didn’t have as much suspense/thrill as I’d like and had to push to keep reading unfortunately.
*advanced copy from netgalley*
This started out with too slow a pace for me. I understand it’s over the space of a week (seven days duh) but 1/3 in and we were only on Tuesday!! The pacing switched up to a bit faster in the last, 3rd maybe? Didn’t have as much suspense/thrill as I’d like and had to push to keep reading unfortunately.
May 30, 2025
Anwältin Alice hat ihr Leben in den USA hinter sich gelassen und sich eine Zukunft in England aufgebaut - möglichst weit weg von ihrem Vater, der vor vielen Jahren die Familie für eine neue Frau verließ. Nach all den Jahren ohne Kontakt erfährt Alice, dass ihr Vater wegen Mordes in der Todeszelle sitzt und in sieben Tagen hingerichtet werden soll. Nur ihrer Schwester zuliebe wirft sie widerwillig einen Blick auf den Fall und muss zu ihrer Verwunderung feststellen, dass es einige offenen Fragen gibt. Ist ihr Vater, der schon immer mit dem Gesetz aneinander geraten ist, dieses Mal doch unschuldig?
Dem Titel entsprechend nähern wir uns dem geplanten Todestag mit einem Countdown von sieben Tagen. Wir lesen zunächst aus der Perspektive von Alice, die wahrlich nicht gut auf ihren Vater zu sprechen ist. Es ist einzig dem Drängen ihrer kleinen Schwester zu verdanken, dass sich Alice überhaupt kurz damit befassen möchte. Sie kennt ihren Vater seit jeher als gesetztesuntreu und ist demnach eher abgeneigt seinen Unschuldsbeteuerungen zu glauben. Doch in ihr regt sich ein leiser Zweifel an seiner Schuld, als Alice die Fallakte ihres Vaters prüft. Entgegen ihrer eigenen Abneigung beginnt sie also nachzuforschen, immer mit dem Druck im Nacken, dass sie nur sieben Tage Zeit hat…
Nach kurzer Zeit bekommen wir eine zweite Perspektive dazu - die des damals ermittelten Detectives, der den Vater von Alice verhaftete und damit dessen Weg in den Todestrakt ebnete. Alice und der Detective haben keinen guten Start und es wird lange offen gehalten auf welcher Seite der Detective steht. Dennoch ist Alice auf seine Hilfe angewiesen und so agieren beide zähneknirschend zusammen.
Die Story war durchaus temporeich, allein schon durch den Antrieb der kurzen Zeitspanne. Wir begleiten die beiden Hauptpersonen dabei, wie sie Stück für Stück neue Details aufdecken und damit ein großes Gesamtbild formen. Es scheint, dass der Strom an neuen Hinweisen gar nicht mehr abnimmt und das Ausmaß des Ganzen steigt beiden bald über den Kopf.
Ich fand die Personen ein wenig hölzern und hätte mir gern etwas mehr Tiefe gewünscht. Auch die Dialoge waren mitunter etwas ungelenk, vor allem zwischen den beiden Schwestern. Wie sich dann am Ende alles zusammenfügt war wiederum fast schon zu glatt, als würde man dringend versuchen alles erklären zu wollen. Wer viele solcher Bücher liest, der könnte bei den vermeintlich „unwichtigen Infos“, die eingestreut werden, schon ahnen welche Überraschungen das Buch noch offenbaren möchte. Dennoch mochte ich die Geschichte als Gesamtwerk und fühlte mich recht gut unterhalten. Ich würde definitiv wieder zu einem Buch des Autoren greifen.
Dem Titel entsprechend nähern wir uns dem geplanten Todestag mit einem Countdown von sieben Tagen. Wir lesen zunächst aus der Perspektive von Alice, die wahrlich nicht gut auf ihren Vater zu sprechen ist. Es ist einzig dem Drängen ihrer kleinen Schwester zu verdanken, dass sich Alice überhaupt kurz damit befassen möchte. Sie kennt ihren Vater seit jeher als gesetztesuntreu und ist demnach eher abgeneigt seinen Unschuldsbeteuerungen zu glauben. Doch in ihr regt sich ein leiser Zweifel an seiner Schuld, als Alice die Fallakte ihres Vaters prüft. Entgegen ihrer eigenen Abneigung beginnt sie also nachzuforschen, immer mit dem Druck im Nacken, dass sie nur sieben Tage Zeit hat…
Nach kurzer Zeit bekommen wir eine zweite Perspektive dazu - die des damals ermittelten Detectives, der den Vater von Alice verhaftete und damit dessen Weg in den Todestrakt ebnete. Alice und der Detective haben keinen guten Start und es wird lange offen gehalten auf welcher Seite der Detective steht. Dennoch ist Alice auf seine Hilfe angewiesen und so agieren beide zähneknirschend zusammen.
Die Story war durchaus temporeich, allein schon durch den Antrieb der kurzen Zeitspanne. Wir begleiten die beiden Hauptpersonen dabei, wie sie Stück für Stück neue Details aufdecken und damit ein großes Gesamtbild formen. Es scheint, dass der Strom an neuen Hinweisen gar nicht mehr abnimmt und das Ausmaß des Ganzen steigt beiden bald über den Kopf.
Ich fand die Personen ein wenig hölzern und hätte mir gern etwas mehr Tiefe gewünscht. Auch die Dialoge waren mitunter etwas ungelenk, vor allem zwischen den beiden Schwestern. Wie sich dann am Ende alles zusammenfügt war wiederum fast schon zu glatt, als würde man dringend versuchen alles erklären zu wollen. Wer viele solcher Bücher liest, der könnte bei den vermeintlich „unwichtigen Infos“, die eingestreut werden, schon ahnen welche Überraschungen das Buch noch offenbaren möchte. Dennoch mochte ich die Geschichte als Gesamtwerk und fühlte mich recht gut unterhalten. Ich würde definitiv wieder zu einem Buch des Autoren greifen.
April 6, 2024
Sadly this one is not for me. It started out interesting but soon I became bored by the fact that the pace was way too slow. So many words, not enough action. Usually I like courtroom drama but this one couldn't hold my attention.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.
Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for this review copy.
July 28, 2025
Easily my favourite book I’ve read this year so far! Loved the premise of the plot and how unique it was. Also really enjoyed most of the characters and the plot twist near the end of the book which caught me off guard! Will be recommending to others & continuing to follow Rutherford’s releases 🙏🏻
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 25, 2025
An excellent piece of crime fiction and a pulsating race-against-time thriller. The action spans Florida, Paris and Whitley Bay and never lets up. Robert Rutherford has done a great job here. I’m looking forward to reading more of his stuff.
June 20, 2025
Das Cover ist ein absoluter Hingucker – düster, atmosphärisch und perfekt auf das Genre abgestimmt. Der Farbschnitt rundet den optischen Eindruck toll ab und macht das Buch zu einem Schmuckstück im Regal. Leider konnte der Inhalt für mich mit der äußeren Aufmachung nicht ganz mithalten.
Das Buch hatte für mich einfach zu viele Längen. Oft hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sich Szenen unnötig ziehen, ohne wirklich etwas zur Handlung beizutragen. Besonders im Mittelteil hätte ich mir mehr Tempo und Dramatik gewünscht. Die Spannung, die bei einem so existenziellen Thema fast von allein entstehen könnte, blieb für meinen Geschmack zu oft auf der Strecke.
Auch die Charaktere blieben mir zu blass. Es fiel mir schwer, echte Bindung zu ihnen aufzubauen oder mit ihnen mitzufühlen. Einige Entwicklungen wirkten eher konstruiert als authentisch. Gerade bei einem Roman, der so stark auf Emotionen setzt, ist das natürlich schade.
Das Ende war für mich dann fast ein bisschen zu versöhnlich – fast schon zu „happy“ für das, was zuvor aufgebaut wurde. Ich hätte mir hier einen mutigeren, vielleicht auch offeneren Abschluss gewünscht.
Ein Roman mit starker Idee und wunderschönem Äußeren, der mich inhaltlich aber leider nicht ganz packen konnte. Die Geschichte hätte etwas kompakter und emotional intensiver sein dürfen. Für mich war es kein Highlight, aber auch kein schlechtes Buch – eher ein mittelmäßiges Leseerlebnis mit Luft nach oben.
Ich vergebe für das Buch 3 von 5 Sterne.
Das Buch hatte für mich einfach zu viele Längen. Oft hatte ich das Gefühl, dass sich Szenen unnötig ziehen, ohne wirklich etwas zur Handlung beizutragen. Besonders im Mittelteil hätte ich mir mehr Tempo und Dramatik gewünscht. Die Spannung, die bei einem so existenziellen Thema fast von allein entstehen könnte, blieb für meinen Geschmack zu oft auf der Strecke.
Auch die Charaktere blieben mir zu blass. Es fiel mir schwer, echte Bindung zu ihnen aufzubauen oder mit ihnen mitzufühlen. Einige Entwicklungen wirkten eher konstruiert als authentisch. Gerade bei einem Roman, der so stark auf Emotionen setzt, ist das natürlich schade.
Das Ende war für mich dann fast ein bisschen zu versöhnlich – fast schon zu „happy“ für das, was zuvor aufgebaut wurde. Ich hätte mir hier einen mutigeren, vielleicht auch offeneren Abschluss gewünscht.
Ein Roman mit starker Idee und wunderschönem Äußeren, der mich inhaltlich aber leider nicht ganz packen konnte. Die Geschichte hätte etwas kompakter und emotional intensiver sein dürfen. Für mich war es kein Highlight, aber auch kein schlechtes Buch – eher ein mittelmäßiges Leseerlebnis mit Luft nach oben.
Ich vergebe für das Buch 3 von 5 Sterne.
May 17, 2024
When Alice has the chance to save her father from death row for a murder he may not have committed, she is torn because he abandoned her as a child.
Seven Days has a great premise for a novel and it is brilliantly executed.
I was drawn to this book by the concept because it is so unique and sounded different to anything I've read before. I enjoyed the fast pace and following Alice on her journey as she delved into an investigation to uncover the truth. I thought it was a great twist that Alice had a strained relationship with her father because it added so much depth to the characters involved.
There are some books that just stick with you after you’ve finished reading and this is definitely one of them - a truly memorable story.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Seven Days has a great premise for a novel and it is brilliantly executed.
I was drawn to this book by the concept because it is so unique and sounded different to anything I've read before. I enjoyed the fast pace and following Alice on her journey as she delved into an investigation to uncover the truth. I thought it was a great twist that Alice had a strained relationship with her father because it added so much depth to the characters involved.
There are some books that just stick with you after you’ve finished reading and this is definitely one of them - a truly memorable story.
Thank you Hodder & Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 9, 2024
Oh crap. Really wanted to like this but I just could not. I did not pick this one up myself, it was sent to me from a monthly book subscription I am part of, and it disappointed massively. Which is odd, because all the other picks have been brilliant! Oh well, there is always a first one, yes?
Alice finds out her estranged father is on death row for a murder, and is sentenced to die in a week’s time. He claims he is innocent, so Alice being a lawyer, reluctantly sets out to investigate it further to appease her younger sister Fiona and it starts to unravel quickly.
Now, I gave it two stars because the premise is solid and there a a few good twists here and there. The writing though, sucks big time. It is tediously repetitive! If I am told one more time how much Alice resents her father, my eyeballs will get lost in the back of my head from rolling my eyes so much. Also the similes and comparisons seem written by a 10 year old and they are abundant, so brace yourself.
I mostly blame the editors, because it is their job to reign authors like this, and eventually dump them for lack of talent. Savage, I know, but there is so little time and so many good books to read out there to get stuck in mediocrity like Seven Days.
Skip it, in the name of all that is holy.
Alice finds out her estranged father is on death row for a murder, and is sentenced to die in a week’s time. He claims he is innocent, so Alice being a lawyer, reluctantly sets out to investigate it further to appease her younger sister Fiona and it starts to unravel quickly.
Now, I gave it two stars because the premise is solid and there a a few good twists here and there. The writing though, sucks big time. It is tediously repetitive! If I am told one more time how much Alice resents her father, my eyeballs will get lost in the back of my head from rolling my eyes so much. Also the similes and comparisons seem written by a 10 year old and they are abundant, so brace yourself.
I mostly blame the editors, because it is their job to reign authors like this, and eventually dump them for lack of talent. Savage, I know, but there is so little time and so many good books to read out there to get stuck in mediocrity like Seven Days.
Skip it, in the name of all that is holy.
August 5, 2025
The first page quickly had me hooked and it equally unhooked me just as quick.
The pacing of the story is incredibly slow and boring. I found the sisters so frustrating, annoying and unbelievable.
The plot is interesting and I think it could have been done a lot better by a different author. There was no suspense, no action, no heart in mouth what is going to happen next.
The pacing of the story is incredibly slow and boring. I found the sisters so frustrating, annoying and unbelievable.
The plot is interesting and I think it could have been done a lot better by a different author. There was no suspense, no action, no heart in mouth what is going to happen next.
January 30, 2024
A few months ago, I read a sampler of Robert Rutherford's Seven Days and was instantly hooked. Having now read the entire book, I'm happy to confirm that the rest of the book more than lived up to my expectations. I love a race-against-time thriller and Seven Days is certainly that but it's also a nuanced, engrossing novel about families, hope and forgiveness.
Manny's death in the prologue sets the scene perfectly for all that follows. In his last few moments, it is made clear that he was an armed drug dealer so definitely no angel but nevertheless, the nature of his death is still mercilessly cold and brutal. Alice's introduction in the first chapter immediately reveals her to be a woman with intense commitments and the bittersweet reality of caring for her mother following her stroke is beautifully expressed. Robert Rutherford understands that for a thriller to be truly compulsive, it needs to be about more than the high-octane action scenes; the complicated dynamics of Alice's family are gradually and empathetically explored as the novel progresses. It's obvious throughout that Alice is weighed down by the guilt she feels for her part in the break-up of her family, and the relationship she has with her younger sister, Fiona is particularly interesting. They clearly love one another and yet there is still an underlying tension which sees Fiona able to use Alice's conscience to persuade her to travel to France following a shocking conversation with their estranged father, Jim.
It's Fiona who informs Alice that their Dad is on Death Row in Florida and that he is due to be given a lethal injection in just seven days time. Unbeknown to them, he has been in prison for eleven years, convicted of murder with what seems to be damning and irrefutable evidence. Alice is angry at Jim but not because he is apparently a killer; she is still harbouring resentment at his earlier behaviour when they were children.
The first part of Seven Days sets the scene effectively, setting up a complex and emotional mystery and introducing believable, fascinating characters. Jim has a prison record but nothing approaching the scale of murder. He seems beyond hope and doesn't ask his daughters for help. Nevertheless, he asserts his innocence, despite the evidence to the contrary. Eventually she agrees to Fiona's pleas to look into the case and asks her old friend, FBI agent turned private investigator, Sofia Marquez to look into things. Alice is expecting to have his guilt confirmed but instead, learns the case isn't quite as straightforward as it appears.
Alice is a former attorney and although she has never worked murder cases, she is able to utilise her skills when interviewing people and decoding their responses. When her investigation takes her from Whitley Bay to Paris, she meets Luc Boudreux who is a serving agent with the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE). She isn't sure whether she can trust him but acknowledges that needs his assistance. The shadow of past mistakes are still hanging over him but there is more to this flawed man than first meets the eye. The multi-layered narrative is shared between them and subsequently the dramatic irony created is cleverly intriguing – and frustrating at times. It's also interesting to note that despite their mutual reticence to trust one other, they are similar people; both are rather self-sufficient and lonely, with a need to prove to themselves that they are still good people.
Alice's actions lead to somebody else expecting her help and it becomes horribly evident that they are prepared to be utterly ruthless to ensure it. What was initially a pointless mission to appease her sister ends up becoming something far more sinister and she is in very real danger. The suspenseful cliff hangers would be nerve-racking enough but the ticking clock as the days count down towards Jim's execution exacerbate the tension to unbearable levels.
The creeping sense of foreboding engendered before the breathtaking conclusion is terrifically nail-biting. Alice and Luc face various barriers in their quest to uncover the truth, which turns out to be more terrible than anyone could have imagined, and the exploration of what justice means to different people is particularly impressive. With its first-rate sense of place, Seven Days is a brilliantly engaging, compulsive and fast-paced thriller. It is also a perceptive, compassionate look at disappointment, forgiveness and the importance of family, even those which may not be typical. Twisty, tense and superbly characterised, this global race against time and across the world is a top read. Very highly recommended!
Manny's death in the prologue sets the scene perfectly for all that follows. In his last few moments, it is made clear that he was an armed drug dealer so definitely no angel but nevertheless, the nature of his death is still mercilessly cold and brutal. Alice's introduction in the first chapter immediately reveals her to be a woman with intense commitments and the bittersweet reality of caring for her mother following her stroke is beautifully expressed. Robert Rutherford understands that for a thriller to be truly compulsive, it needs to be about more than the high-octane action scenes; the complicated dynamics of Alice's family are gradually and empathetically explored as the novel progresses. It's obvious throughout that Alice is weighed down by the guilt she feels for her part in the break-up of her family, and the relationship she has with her younger sister, Fiona is particularly interesting. They clearly love one another and yet there is still an underlying tension which sees Fiona able to use Alice's conscience to persuade her to travel to France following a shocking conversation with their estranged father, Jim.
It's Fiona who informs Alice that their Dad is on Death Row in Florida and that he is due to be given a lethal injection in just seven days time. Unbeknown to them, he has been in prison for eleven years, convicted of murder with what seems to be damning and irrefutable evidence. Alice is angry at Jim but not because he is apparently a killer; she is still harbouring resentment at his earlier behaviour when they were children.
The first part of Seven Days sets the scene effectively, setting up a complex and emotional mystery and introducing believable, fascinating characters. Jim has a prison record but nothing approaching the scale of murder. He seems beyond hope and doesn't ask his daughters for help. Nevertheless, he asserts his innocence, despite the evidence to the contrary. Eventually she agrees to Fiona's pleas to look into the case and asks her old friend, FBI agent turned private investigator, Sofia Marquez to look into things. Alice is expecting to have his guilt confirmed but instead, learns the case isn't quite as straightforward as it appears.
Alice is a former attorney and although she has never worked murder cases, she is able to utilise her skills when interviewing people and decoding their responses. When her investigation takes her from Whitley Bay to Paris, she meets Luc Boudreux who is a serving agent with the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE). She isn't sure whether she can trust him but acknowledges that needs his assistance. The shadow of past mistakes are still hanging over him but there is more to this flawed man than first meets the eye. The multi-layered narrative is shared between them and subsequently the dramatic irony created is cleverly intriguing – and frustrating at times. It's also interesting to note that despite their mutual reticence to trust one other, they are similar people; both are rather self-sufficient and lonely, with a need to prove to themselves that they are still good people.
Alice's actions lead to somebody else expecting her help and it becomes horribly evident that they are prepared to be utterly ruthless to ensure it. What was initially a pointless mission to appease her sister ends up becoming something far more sinister and she is in very real danger. The suspenseful cliff hangers would be nerve-racking enough but the ticking clock as the days count down towards Jim's execution exacerbate the tension to unbearable levels.
The creeping sense of foreboding engendered before the breathtaking conclusion is terrifically nail-biting. Alice and Luc face various barriers in their quest to uncover the truth, which turns out to be more terrible than anyone could have imagined, and the exploration of what justice means to different people is particularly impressive. With its first-rate sense of place, Seven Days is a brilliantly engaging, compulsive and fast-paced thriller. It is also a perceptive, compassionate look at disappointment, forgiveness and the importance of family, even those which may not be typical. Twisty, tense and superbly characterised, this global race against time and across the world is a top read. Very highly recommended!
March 28, 2024
Alice Logan hasn’t had contact with her father for fourteen years. Not only is he on a different continent but he’s also on death row for a brutal murder. Her father has always maintained his innocence and when the family receives the news that his execution date has been set for seven days time Alice’s sister begs her to investigate.
Seven Days by Robert Rutherford is an adrenaline-fuelled mix of legal thriller and murder mystery. Protagonist Alice Logan is a solicitor in north-east England. Having lived in the States for a number of years she has recently returned to England to be with her mother and sister who had returned following her parent’s divorce.
Alice has never had the best relationship with her father. She feels she’s responsible for her parent’s divorce having been the one that told her mother about his cheating. Her sister Fiona is much younger and still has a relationship, having been too young to fully understand her father's behaviour. It is Fiona that breaks the news regarding their father’s execution date and puts pressure on Alice.
Having practiced law in America gives Alice the connections and understanding of the legal system she needs when she caves into her sister’s request to help. Rather than waste time on transatlantic flights, the author has placed one of the police officers involved in her father’s arrest in France. I felt that all of this kept the story grounded and well within the realms of possibility. Upon arriving in Paris, Alice forms an uneasy alliance with the police officer concerned, Luc Boudreaux, but it is obvious he’s not going to change his opinion that the right man was arrested.
Digging through past crimes brings up a case almost identical to her father’s. This puts Alice and Luc at loggerheads, with neither willing to give an inch or accept that there may be some merit in what the other person is saying. Trying to find out more about the new case puts Alice at risk in a strange city where she knows no one. You can feel her fear as she begins to wonder if she is being watched constantly. Can she trust anyone, even Luc? This also raises a number of moral issues. Firstly, how do you defend someone you know is guilty? Secondly, if someone is acquitted or released from prison (on appeal or conviction overturned) and they go on to commit a worse crime, how do you square that with your conscience? I do enjoy it when a book makes you think and question events.
Eventually, the investigation means that Alice has to head to New York. It’s in this last quarter of the book that the action really ramps up. I was holding my breath as we got closer and closer to answers. Robert Rutherford plays his cards close to his chest, giving nothing away, as we race to the nail-biting conclusion.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
Seven Days by Robert Rutherford is an adrenaline-fuelled mix of legal thriller and murder mystery. Protagonist Alice Logan is a solicitor in north-east England. Having lived in the States for a number of years she has recently returned to England to be with her mother and sister who had returned following her parent’s divorce.
Alice has never had the best relationship with her father. She feels she’s responsible for her parent’s divorce having been the one that told her mother about his cheating. Her sister Fiona is much younger and still has a relationship, having been too young to fully understand her father's behaviour. It is Fiona that breaks the news regarding their father’s execution date and puts pressure on Alice.
Having practiced law in America gives Alice the connections and understanding of the legal system she needs when she caves into her sister’s request to help. Rather than waste time on transatlantic flights, the author has placed one of the police officers involved in her father’s arrest in France. I felt that all of this kept the story grounded and well within the realms of possibility. Upon arriving in Paris, Alice forms an uneasy alliance with the police officer concerned, Luc Boudreaux, but it is obvious he’s not going to change his opinion that the right man was arrested.
Digging through past crimes brings up a case almost identical to her father’s. This puts Alice and Luc at loggerheads, with neither willing to give an inch or accept that there may be some merit in what the other person is saying. Trying to find out more about the new case puts Alice at risk in a strange city where she knows no one. You can feel her fear as she begins to wonder if she is being watched constantly. Can she trust anyone, even Luc? This also raises a number of moral issues. Firstly, how do you defend someone you know is guilty? Secondly, if someone is acquitted or released from prison (on appeal or conviction overturned) and they go on to commit a worse crime, how do you square that with your conscience? I do enjoy it when a book makes you think and question events.
Eventually, the investigation means that Alice has to head to New York. It’s in this last quarter of the book that the action really ramps up. I was holding my breath as we got closer and closer to answers. Robert Rutherford plays his cards close to his chest, giving nothing away, as we race to the nail-biting conclusion.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Threads
@debbiehartuk
March 10, 2024
Seven Days by Robert Rutherford has an intriguingly irresistible premise that promises the reader sky high levels of tension and suspense in the countdown of 7 days to an execution by lethal injection. In reality, this is an examination of a dysfunctional family, and the flawed, complex relationships within it, moral ambiguities, love, legal issues, forgiveness, and more, with shifting global locations. A lawyer, Alice currently faces the challenging life of caring for her mother who has suffered a stroke. Estranged from her father for years, Alice learns that her father has been in prison for years, in fact he is on death row in Florida, on the cusp of being executed. It is to please her sister, Fiona, that she promises to look into his case and his conviction for murder.
Her father is far from being an angel, with his dark background and prison record, he betrayed her mother, abandoned her and the family, but is he guilty of murder? He claims to be innocent, but he would say that, wouldn't he? The evidence against him is pretty damning. In a narrative where the prologue sets the scene perfectly, we are given a picture of the nature of the family, there are those who would help Alice's father and have him freed, others, powerful, are more than happy to have him remain in the situation he faces, will Alice be able to save him? There are surprising twists and turns as Alice digs deep into whether her father is guilty of murder, unaware of just how much danger she will find herself in and she is helped by Luc.
The pacing shifts from slow to fast, leading to an explosive finale that might require you to suspend your sense of disbelief and question the author's skills in plotting on occasion, but I raced through the short chapters. There is much that had me gripped through this thrilling storytelling, the characters and the internal complicated family dynamics and developments, and the engaging central mystery itself, but overall it was a emotionally intense mixed bag that I did mostly enjoy. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Her father is far from being an angel, with his dark background and prison record, he betrayed her mother, abandoned her and the family, but is he guilty of murder? He claims to be innocent, but he would say that, wouldn't he? The evidence against him is pretty damning. In a narrative where the prologue sets the scene perfectly, we are given a picture of the nature of the family, there are those who would help Alice's father and have him freed, others, powerful, are more than happy to have him remain in the situation he faces, will Alice be able to save him? There are surprising twists and turns as Alice digs deep into whether her father is guilty of murder, unaware of just how much danger she will find herself in and she is helped by Luc.
The pacing shifts from slow to fast, leading to an explosive finale that might require you to suspend your sense of disbelief and question the author's skills in plotting on occasion, but I raced through the short chapters. There is much that had me gripped through this thrilling storytelling, the characters and the internal complicated family dynamics and developments, and the engaging central mystery itself, but overall it was a emotionally intense mixed bag that I did mostly enjoy. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
April 25, 2024
'Seven Days' is a high octane adrenalin fuelled international race against time where every second counts.
Lawyer Alice is completely shocked to find that her estranged father Jim is on death row in America for murdering a drug dealer. He will be dead in seven days time. Alice and her sister Fiona haven't heard from him for years; Alice was happy never to hear from him again after discovering his marital affair when she was a child. Alice, Fiona and their mother stayed in the UK after the break up, whilst Jim moved back to his native America, never to be heard from again until now. Alice has remained angry at him for his actions and for the life-changing impact it had on their lives, not least how badly it affected their mother. She's hugely loyal to her family, but has had to cut Jim out.
Jim is adamant that's he's innocent of the crime, but the evidence against him seems clear cut, finger prints, blood samples, video footage - the prosecution had it all. Fiona begs Alice to see if there's anything that she can do to stall their father's death or commute it to a life sentence instead. Alice eventually offers to use her contacts across the world and her extensive legal knowledge to see if there's anything that was missed by his previous lawyers. She's deeply sceptical that they'll find anything, given the weight of evidence against her father, but the thought of letting her sister down is more than she can bear.
Alice's contacts quickly find some evidence of a similar case in France. Coincidentally, the police officer from her father's case Luc Boudreux is now working on an international team in Paris. He's been unwilling to talk before but agrees to speak to Alice this time. He is stand-offish and defensive, sure that his original case was rock-solid but Alice convinces him to look again. As the two of them delve deeper into Jim's case and the other that she's found, there are more and more coincidences that can't be explained away. Their investigations take them across the world, chasing clues and evidence as quickly as possible, all the time being very aware that there is a very limited time to help Jim before its too late. The tension rachets up to an almost unbearable level as the hours and days pass, you could feel the suspense in the air.
Robert Rutherford clearly knows how to tell a gripping story; the plot was well considered and captivating reading. I usually read more psychological drama so it was a refreshing change to read something so physical and visceral as well as mentally challenging.
Lawyer Alice is completely shocked to find that her estranged father Jim is on death row in America for murdering a drug dealer. He will be dead in seven days time. Alice and her sister Fiona haven't heard from him for years; Alice was happy never to hear from him again after discovering his marital affair when she was a child. Alice, Fiona and their mother stayed in the UK after the break up, whilst Jim moved back to his native America, never to be heard from again until now. Alice has remained angry at him for his actions and for the life-changing impact it had on their lives, not least how badly it affected their mother. She's hugely loyal to her family, but has had to cut Jim out.
Jim is adamant that's he's innocent of the crime, but the evidence against him seems clear cut, finger prints, blood samples, video footage - the prosecution had it all. Fiona begs Alice to see if there's anything that she can do to stall their father's death or commute it to a life sentence instead. Alice eventually offers to use her contacts across the world and her extensive legal knowledge to see if there's anything that was missed by his previous lawyers. She's deeply sceptical that they'll find anything, given the weight of evidence against her father, but the thought of letting her sister down is more than she can bear.
Alice's contacts quickly find some evidence of a similar case in France. Coincidentally, the police officer from her father's case Luc Boudreux is now working on an international team in Paris. He's been unwilling to talk before but agrees to speak to Alice this time. He is stand-offish and defensive, sure that his original case was rock-solid but Alice convinces him to look again. As the two of them delve deeper into Jim's case and the other that she's found, there are more and more coincidences that can't be explained away. Their investigations take them across the world, chasing clues and evidence as quickly as possible, all the time being very aware that there is a very limited time to help Jim before its too late. The tension rachets up to an almost unbearable level as the hours and days pass, you could feel the suspense in the air.
Robert Rutherford clearly knows how to tell a gripping story; the plot was well considered and captivating reading. I usually read more psychological drama so it was a refreshing change to read something so physical and visceral as well as mentally challenging.
April 21, 2024
What a brilliant read. I normally read on my kindle in bed but I had to finish this so physical book in bed it was. 2.30am I finally turned the last page and turned off the light. The prologue opens the book with the murder of drug dealer Manny. When Alice Logan’s younger sister Fiona tells her that their father is on death row in Florida and has just 7 days to live she feels nothing. He was a complete waste of space, a petty criminal convicted of murder eleven years ago (which they had been unaware of) who left them and their mother for another woman. But Fiona is determined that her sister help her in a last ditch attempt to rescue their father. This is a gripping fast paced read, a crime drama that explores the complex family relationship.
Briefly, after speaking to their father Alice contacts her friend former FBI agent now private investigator, Sofia Marquez who finds out enough to pique her interest. As a result Alice goes to Paris to meet with Luc Boudreux who works for the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE) but was also involved in her fathers case. Although not sure she trusts him they join forces to investigate further. Six days and counting…
Alice is a great character. She gave up her high flying job as an attorney in New York to come home and look after her mother. However, her caring side doesn’t extend to her father or even to her sister with whom she has a fractious relationship. I did find Fiona a lot less likeable, prone to throwing her toys out of the pram if she didn’t get her own way. It’s clear they love each other but Alice is harbouring massive guilt about her parents breakup and Fiona uses that to manipulate her. Luc is another complex character. Driven by a mistake he feels he made in the past that cost a woman her life. I liked him. I felt that he cared about doing the right thing but Alice has her doubts. I thought the narrative and plot were perfect, the pacing good and some excellent twists. A really good engaging crime thriller.
Briefly, after speaking to their father Alice contacts her friend former FBI agent now private investigator, Sofia Marquez who finds out enough to pique her interest. As a result Alice goes to Paris to meet with Luc Boudreux who works for the Global Agency for Law Enforcement (GALE) but was also involved in her fathers case. Although not sure she trusts him they join forces to investigate further. Six days and counting…
Alice is a great character. She gave up her high flying job as an attorney in New York to come home and look after her mother. However, her caring side doesn’t extend to her father or even to her sister with whom she has a fractious relationship. I did find Fiona a lot less likeable, prone to throwing her toys out of the pram if she didn’t get her own way. It’s clear they love each other but Alice is harbouring massive guilt about her parents breakup and Fiona uses that to manipulate her. Luc is another complex character. Driven by a mistake he feels he made in the past that cost a woman her life. I liked him. I felt that he cared about doing the right thing but Alice has her doubts. I thought the narrative and plot were perfect, the pacing good and some excellent twists. A really good engaging crime thriller.
June 6, 2025
This book, (being my second ever proper read) has blown my mind.
The twists and turns of emotions and betrayal and loyalty really strings you along to see what happens next. I have never read a book like this before and my god am i glad i have now. I felt sucked in the entire time, granted it took me a while to read, but that was due to other plans just getting in the way (poor from me I know I'm sorry).
the entire time i couldn't help but route for Alice and try to work out her train of thought, what she had to go through in the week to her fathers execution and there was so much of me wondering if she'd ever live to tell the tale or not... so much happened within a week, but bloody hell Tuesday and Wednesday were long days. At the end of every chapter something happened that meant you just had to find out what happened next.
When Gail was mentioned to begin with never did i ever think she'd become such a heavy character emotionally.
I love how she came through for her old man regardless of what he has done. I wish it had gone on maybe a couple more chapters, Yano to the part where big Jimbo thanks his daughter for everything she's done but ok ill just gaslight myself into thinking he did when the book finished.
It ended in a good way nonetheless. Alice going to meet her brother for the first time and is going in open headed is the kind of character development we love to see. Talking of character development don't even get me started on Luc OMG at one point i didn't know if they were going to fuck or fight (thankfully neither, just a squabble)
IT's crazy to me just how quickly the story can change and different suspects pop up out of nowhere.
This is a book that'll stay with me for a long time i recon.
would highly recommend to anyone wanting a pure page tuner and thriller.
The twists and turns of emotions and betrayal and loyalty really strings you along to see what happens next. I have never read a book like this before and my god am i glad i have now. I felt sucked in the entire time, granted it took me a while to read, but that was due to other plans just getting in the way (poor from me I know I'm sorry).
the entire time i couldn't help but route for Alice and try to work out her train of thought, what she had to go through in the week to her fathers execution and there was so much of me wondering if she'd ever live to tell the tale or not... so much happened within a week, but bloody hell Tuesday and Wednesday were long days. At the end of every chapter something happened that meant you just had to find out what happened next.
When Gail was mentioned to begin with never did i ever think she'd become such a heavy character emotionally.
I love how she came through for her old man regardless of what he has done. I wish it had gone on maybe a couple more chapters, Yano to the part where big Jimbo thanks his daughter for everything she's done but ok ill just gaslight myself into thinking he did when the book finished.
It ended in a good way nonetheless. Alice going to meet her brother for the first time and is going in open headed is the kind of character development we love to see. Talking of character development don't even get me started on Luc OMG at one point i didn't know if they were going to fuck or fight (thankfully neither, just a squabble)
IT's crazy to me just how quickly the story can change and different suspects pop up out of nowhere.
This is a book that'll stay with me for a long time i recon.
would highly recommend to anyone wanting a pure page tuner and thriller.
February 4, 2024
Seven Days is a darkly intense thriller with an unusual, engaging concept - we start off immediately with the deadline until Alice’s dad is executed looming over our heads, each day being counted down slowly so we get that extra dose of anxiety watching the clock run out.
The story moves a little slowly in my opinion, a little too much time between the action and with each day taking up such a large section and several chapters of the book it does make it drag a bit, but the short, snappy chapters help move from scene to scene. When we edge closer to the end, it moves from a simmer to a fiery explosion with over the top action and cinematic drama as the theories and conspiracies swirling around start to come together in a chaotic picture.
The scene setting throughout was so vivid, from the darkest cells to the cosiest living rooms - showing a real contrast from the dark world of death row to the outside world. And in between those worlds are our narrators, although mainly Alice as she jets across continents and crosses police lines — different perspectives, different lives and a deeply complicated relationship; Alice was cold, distant, matter-of-fact in her narration and her attitude but there were moments that vulnerability and fear broke through and real emotions started to show. We learn a lot about Alice and her family through her own memories and thoughts, bit by bit trying to make up our minds if her dad really is guilty or if somehow something worse is going on.
A dark foray into the hidden criminal underbelly of society, and a commentary on the pitfalls of the justice system, on the way crime can grip someone’s life and never let go and how people are more complicated than simply good or bad.
The story moves a little slowly in my opinion, a little too much time between the action and with each day taking up such a large section and several chapters of the book it does make it drag a bit, but the short, snappy chapters help move from scene to scene. When we edge closer to the end, it moves from a simmer to a fiery explosion with over the top action and cinematic drama as the theories and conspiracies swirling around start to come together in a chaotic picture.
The scene setting throughout was so vivid, from the darkest cells to the cosiest living rooms - showing a real contrast from the dark world of death row to the outside world. And in between those worlds are our narrators, although mainly Alice as she jets across continents and crosses police lines — different perspectives, different lives and a deeply complicated relationship; Alice was cold, distant, matter-of-fact in her narration and her attitude but there were moments that vulnerability and fear broke through and real emotions started to show. We learn a lot about Alice and her family through her own memories and thoughts, bit by bit trying to make up our minds if her dad really is guilty or if somehow something worse is going on.
A dark foray into the hidden criminal underbelly of society, and a commentary on the pitfalls of the justice system, on the way crime can grip someone’s life and never let go and how people are more complicated than simply good or bad.
April 24, 2024
4.5⭐️ rounded up. This was a great thriller by a new to me author. Alice and Fiona’s estranged father is on death row and they find out with only 7 days left until his execution. Fiona convinces Alice, a lawyer, to look into his case and try to prove his innocence before it is too late. Alice goes on a search encompassing multiple countries, getting favors from insiders in the UN and figuring out who to trust, over her 7 day race to find answers.
I found this book to be a fast page turner, that I finished in 2 days. I stayed up too late reading it because I didn’t want to put it down. There were short chapters and tons of twists and turns. The twists were unexpected and I didn’t predict any of them.
There were 2 factors that kept this from being a full 5⭐️ read for me. First, I hated how gullible and naive the female main character was. Alice was an attorney, and strong enough woman to travel to foreign countries looking for information about her dad’s case, but never seemed to be looking out for herself on the street. Secondly, as much as I love the premise, the majority of the book took place in 4 days and there is just no way all of that could have happened in that time frame. Putting those 2 things aside, I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
I found this book to be a fast page turner, that I finished in 2 days. I stayed up too late reading it because I didn’t want to put it down. There were short chapters and tons of twists and turns. The twists were unexpected and I didn’t predict any of them.
There were 2 factors that kept this from being a full 5⭐️ read for me. First, I hated how gullible and naive the female main character was. Alice was an attorney, and strong enough woman to travel to foreign countries looking for information about her dad’s case, but never seemed to be looking out for herself on the street. Secondly, as much as I love the premise, the majority of the book took place in 4 days and there is just no way all of that could have happened in that time frame. Putting those 2 things aside, I loved this book and look forward to reading more from this author.
May 5, 2024
Seven Days is a clever combination - a heart in mouth race against time thriller that counts down the seven days left to prove a prisoner’s innocence prior to a scheduled Death Row execution and some complicated family dynamics that add an added layer of emotion and intrigue to the story. Together it makes for a compelling read.
Alice is a solicitor living in the North of England who learns that her estranged father is on Death Row in Florida, due to die in seven days. Persuaded by her younger sister Fiona to get involved, Alice finds herself desperately trying to prove his innocence whilst at the same time dealing with her feelings of resentment toward a man who abandoned her, her mother and her sister. In a matter of days it takes her from the UK to Paris and then to the US as the truth proves to be far more complex than she could ever have imagined.
With short chapters and the limited time frame, this is a book where inevitably the tension builds as the day of reckoning approaches and as a reader you find yourself holding your breath as the days tick by and the case seems to get ever more complex. Add to that an interesting exploration of the nature of guilt and of justice, and some thought-provoking questions around familial bonds and if they are ever truly broken, and it all makes for an intriguing and page-turning read that I raced through.
Alice is a solicitor living in the North of England who learns that her estranged father is on Death Row in Florida, due to die in seven days. Persuaded by her younger sister Fiona to get involved, Alice finds herself desperately trying to prove his innocence whilst at the same time dealing with her feelings of resentment toward a man who abandoned her, her mother and her sister. In a matter of days it takes her from the UK to Paris and then to the US as the truth proves to be far more complex than she could ever have imagined.
With short chapters and the limited time frame, this is a book where inevitably the tension builds as the day of reckoning approaches and as a reader you find yourself holding your breath as the days tick by and the case seems to get ever more complex. Add to that an interesting exploration of the nature of guilt and of justice, and some thought-provoking questions around familial bonds and if they are ever truly broken, and it all makes for an intriguing and page-turning read that I raced through.
December 31, 2024
This was a stay up and read all night thriller which has the time frame set from the outset-British based lawyer, Alice, has the not so devastating news that her biological father , based in the U.S, is due to be put to death for murder in one week.
No love lost between them after he abandoned Alice, her mother and younger sister, she feels no emotional connection to this fate or any reason why she should care.
But younger sister Fiona, who doesn't have the memories that Alice has, begs and cajoles Alice into investigating.
Finding her Achilles heel in the presence of a half brother she never knew she had, Alice is spurred on to reach out to her U.S connections to see what can be done.
So begins a worldwide chase for the truth as various details come to light that throw doubt not just on Alice's dad, but other killers who are either on death row , or have been handed down the ultimate punishment for their crimes.
But if Alice unravels her dad's crime and he is found innocent, there are many evil men out there who might be let loose in the world to commit further offences...
The ethics and morality of right versus wrong are explored at breakneck speed in this thriller which explores generational trauma , what family is and means to you versus your obligation to society at large.
No love lost between them after he abandoned Alice, her mother and younger sister, she feels no emotional connection to this fate or any reason why she should care.
But younger sister Fiona, who doesn't have the memories that Alice has, begs and cajoles Alice into investigating.
Finding her Achilles heel in the presence of a half brother she never knew she had, Alice is spurred on to reach out to her U.S connections to see what can be done.
So begins a worldwide chase for the truth as various details come to light that throw doubt not just on Alice's dad, but other killers who are either on death row , or have been handed down the ultimate punishment for their crimes.
But if Alice unravels her dad's crime and he is found innocent, there are many evil men out there who might be let loose in the world to commit further offences...
The ethics and morality of right versus wrong are explored at breakneck speed in this thriller which explores generational trauma , what family is and means to you versus your obligation to society at large.
November 21, 2023
Lawyer Alice's estranged father is due to be executed on death row in seven days, and despite her reservations and years of hurt, she investigates the case when he claims to be innocent.
This thriller started off well, but it lost me a bit around mid-way. I found it became repetitive and was recapping the same info we already knew by this point. I also found the random chapters in a different POV confusing and they could have been clearly demarcated to prevent this, especially as it's written in third-person. I also found that beginning each chapter with how many days til execution actually slowed the pace and any sense of urgency/tension for me, when you’re several chapters in and still on day 1 The intensity picks up around 80% but felt a bit silly, and I feel the action could've been described a little clearer. The ending was quite over-dramatic and we got a fairly obvious outcome, tied with a convenient killer bow
I think this was a cool premise, but it wasn't gripping me. I think there was too much going to ask x person then y person and reviewing what we know, plus police incompetence/failure. I'd say it was an average thriller/mystery on the whole. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
This thriller started off well, but it lost me a bit around mid-way. I found it became repetitive and was recapping the same info we already knew by this point. I also found the random chapters in a different POV confusing and they could have been clearly demarcated to prevent this, especially as it's written in third-person. I also found that beginning each chapter with how many days til execution actually slowed the pace and any sense of urgency/tension for me, when you’re several chapters in and still on day 1 The intensity picks up around 80% but felt a bit silly, and I feel the action could've been described a little clearer. The ending was quite over-dramatic and we got a fairly obvious outcome, tied with a convenient killer bow
I think this was a cool premise, but it wasn't gripping me. I think there was too much going to ask x person then y person and reviewing what we know, plus police incompetence/failure. I'd say it was an average thriller/mystery on the whole. Thank you to netgalley for the arc.
June 23, 2025
3.5⭐
I loved the premise of this book, it drew me in, it's my favourite kind of storyline in a book / show / film.
I enjoyed it for the most part, it followed two POVs, Alice - whose dad is on death row and Luc, a detective, who is trying to find out the reasoning of whether Alice's estranged dad killed someone, resulting in him being on death row - but only has seven days to do so.
I felt at times the book was very repetitive, saying the same things over but in different ways and it got tiresome and kept rolling my eyes, saying, "again??🙄", BUT, it was an enjoyable read overall.
It made me want to read on and know more, as soon as a certain part in the book happened, I knew rightly who the killer was (all I'm saying, IYKYK) 👀
I felt Luc got a bad rap, I quite enjoyed his character tbh ! and Sofia ?! Sheesh what a friend to be doing all of that for Alice !! I felt Eva was kind of forgotten about. As well as the fact that she was a big Solicitor in England but was able to go off no problem to deal with this, surely her clients wouldn't be happy ? 🫣
I'd recommend the read, it's not the fastest pace but it was fun nonetheless ! 😁
I loved the premise of this book, it drew me in, it's my favourite kind of storyline in a book / show / film.
I enjoyed it for the most part, it followed two POVs, Alice - whose dad is on death row and Luc, a detective, who is trying to find out the reasoning of whether Alice's estranged dad killed someone, resulting in him being on death row - but only has seven days to do so.
I felt at times the book was very repetitive, saying the same things over but in different ways and it got tiresome and kept rolling my eyes, saying, "again??🙄", BUT, it was an enjoyable read overall.
It made me want to read on and know more, as soon as a certain part in the book happened, I knew rightly who the killer was (all I'm saying, IYKYK) 👀
I felt Luc got a bad rap, I quite enjoyed his character tbh ! and Sofia ?! Sheesh what a friend to be doing all of that for Alice !! I felt Eva was kind of forgotten about. As well as the fact that she was a big Solicitor in England but was able to go off no problem to deal with this, surely her clients wouldn't be happy ? 🫣
I'd recommend the read, it's not the fastest pace but it was fun nonetheless ! 😁
November 4, 2023
Alice's relationship with her father is complicated, to say the least. She hasn't entirely forgiven him for abandoning her, or for his failures as a husband, which caused so much suffering for their family.
But now she is in a situation sufficiently bizarre to render those issues somewhat less front and centre. Because Alice's father is on death row and he has only 7 days to leave. unless she can save him.
The question is, how badly does she even want to?
Not to mention, there are powerful interests that want to see Alice's father go down. So even if she is compelled to do so, saving his life will not be a straight forward thing...
This is an interesting story which holds the reader's attention effortlessly. Alice is a relatable character, with all her concerns over what's on her plate, and you do feel for her. In this book, you find a sound plot delivered in the form of a gripping read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
But now she is in a situation sufficiently bizarre to render those issues somewhat less front and centre. Because Alice's father is on death row and he has only 7 days to leave. unless she can save him.
The question is, how badly does she even want to?
Not to mention, there are powerful interests that want to see Alice's father go down. So even if she is compelled to do so, saving his life will not be a straight forward thing...
This is an interesting story which holds the reader's attention effortlessly. Alice is a relatable character, with all her concerns over what's on her plate, and you do feel for her. In this book, you find a sound plot delivered in the form of a gripping read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 26, 2024
Your father is on death row and you have seven days to save him but the question is, do you want to? Alice doesn’t have the best relationship with her father as he’s guilty of abandoning her as a child when he was unfaithful to her mother, but does that mean he’s guilty of murder? Having been convicted of this offence and facing the death penalty the case suddenly doesn’t seem as clear cut as it was first thought, some are fighting to get him released whilst others will literally kill to keep him exactly where he is. Alice has one chance to save him but the question is, should she?
So firstly, any book which mentions my name (not commonly used after all!) has my attention from the start - however brief the mention! This is a book that has a lot of legal information discussed but that is needed to keep the case flowing and the suspense building. The countdown across the seven days is very clever, increasing the urgency of each action undertaken by the characters, never able to forget about the ticking deadline looming over them.
With the case taking Alice from the UK to France to the US, the seven days are frantic and the writing style carries you along with the urgency. What is discovered is very impactful and unexpected, some very shocking twists along the way to keep you guessing - no spoilers! A thrilling crime read that will have you releasing a very deep breath at the end!
So firstly, any book which mentions my name (not commonly used after all!) has my attention from the start - however brief the mention! This is a book that has a lot of legal information discussed but that is needed to keep the case flowing and the suspense building. The countdown across the seven days is very clever, increasing the urgency of each action undertaken by the characters, never able to forget about the ticking deadline looming over them.
With the case taking Alice from the UK to France to the US, the seven days are frantic and the writing style carries you along with the urgency. What is discovered is very impactful and unexpected, some very shocking twists along the way to keep you guessing - no spoilers! A thrilling crime read that will have you releasing a very deep breath at the end!
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