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One Second Away
What happens when your worst nightmare becomes your reality?
One sunny day in California, Jessie is hugging her nine-year-old son, Dylan, goodbye at the airport. He's travelling by himself, all the way across the country, to visit his father, Jessie's soon-to-be ex-husband, and his grandparents. Her heart breaks, but she puts on a brave face and gives her son one last wave as a flight attendant leads him away.
Several hours later, Jessie gets a frantic call from Dylan's grandmother in New York. Dylan is missing.
In a second, Jessie's world turns upside down. The AirTag she'd stuck in his backpack says he's still at LAX. The airline insists that he was picked up at JFK by an elderly couple claiming to be his grandparents—but Jessie's in-laws insist they haven't seen him. Dylan has disappeared into thin air.
At the same moment, miles away, in Toronto, a train operator loses control of a subway train, and the fiery crash injures dozens of passengers.
Jessie doesn’t know it yet, but this crash is inextricably linked to Dylan's disappearance. She has to find out how—and where her son is.
Propulsive and binge-worthy, the latest from bestselling author Rick Mofina is a race-against-the-clock global thriller that will leave you breathless.
One sunny day in California, Jessie is hugging her nine-year-old son, Dylan, goodbye at the airport. He's travelling by himself, all the way across the country, to visit his father, Jessie's soon-to-be ex-husband, and his grandparents. Her heart breaks, but she puts on a brave face and gives her son one last wave as a flight attendant leads him away.
Several hours later, Jessie gets a frantic call from Dylan's grandmother in New York. Dylan is missing.
In a second, Jessie's world turns upside down. The AirTag she'd stuck in his backpack says he's still at LAX. The airline insists that he was picked up at JFK by an elderly couple claiming to be his grandparents—but Jessie's in-laws insist they haven't seen him. Dylan has disappeared into thin air.
At the same moment, miles away, in Toronto, a train operator loses control of a subway train, and the fiery crash injures dozens of passengers.
Jessie doesn’t know it yet, but this crash is inextricably linked to Dylan's disappearance. She has to find out how—and where her son is.
Propulsive and binge-worthy, the latest from bestselling author Rick Mofina is a race-against-the-clock global thriller that will leave you breathless.
400 pages, Paperback
First published April 28, 2026
About the author
Rick Mofina
69 books1,401 followersRick Mofina is a former journalist who has interviewed murderers on death row in Montana and Texas, flown over L.A. with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He's also reported from the Caribbean, Africa and Kuwait's border with Iraq. His true-crime freelance work has appeared in The New York Times, The Telegraph (London, U.K.), Reader’s Digest, Penthouse, Marie Claire and The South China Morning Post, (Hong Kong). He has written more than 20 crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly 30 countries.
His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Louise Penny, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Lisa Unger, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.
The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
Series:
* Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski
* Jason Wade
* Jack Gannon
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2003): Blood of Others
His work has been praised by James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Louise Penny, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Lisa Unger, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.
The Crime Writers of Canada, The International Thriller Writers and The Private Eye Writers of America have listed his titles among the best in crime fiction. As a two-time winner of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award, a four-time Thriller Award finalist and a two-time Shamus Award finalist, the Library Journal calls him, “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
Series:
* Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski
* Jason Wade
* Jack Gannon
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2003): Blood of Others
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 130 reviews
July 6, 2026
Action-packed!
Tearfully, Jessie puts her nine-year-old son on a plane at LAX to visit his dad and paternal grandparents in New York. But once the plane landed in NY, she couldn’t reach him. His grandparents were sent to the wrong gate to retrieve him. Now her son is missing.
Meanwhile, we have train accidents across the globe. No one knows why or where it will happen next. And most importantly, who’s behind these attacks?
Could this somehow be related to Jessie’s missing son?
Have your passport ready, because Rick Mofina is going to take you on a whirlwind trip around the world in under 400 pages! From Canada to Brazil, the US to Paris.
Whew, the tension never let up, and I’m exhausted! That was one heck of a thrill ride!🤩
I‘ve read books by this author for over 20 years, and he always remains one of my favorites. Put simply…If he writes it, I’ll read it. Stand-alone or series; they’re all equally as good! I’m already looking forward to his next! (My foot is tapping, Mr.Mofina!)
✍️ Rick Mofina
📄 380 pages
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Thriller, suspense
Tearfully, Jessie puts her nine-year-old son on a plane at LAX to visit his dad and paternal grandparents in New York. But once the plane landed in NY, she couldn’t reach him. His grandparents were sent to the wrong gate to retrieve him. Now her son is missing.
Meanwhile, we have train accidents across the globe. No one knows why or where it will happen next. And most importantly, who’s behind these attacks?
Could this somehow be related to Jessie’s missing son?
Have your passport ready, because Rick Mofina is going to take you on a whirlwind trip around the world in under 400 pages! From Canada to Brazil, the US to Paris.
Whew, the tension never let up, and I’m exhausted! That was one heck of a thrill ride!🤩
I‘ve read books by this author for over 20 years, and he always remains one of my favorites. Put simply…If he writes it, I’ll read it. Stand-alone or series; they’re all equally as good! I’m already looking forward to his next! (My foot is tapping, Mr.Mofina!)
✍️ Rick Mofina
📄 380 pages
🗓️ Available Now
📈 4.5/5🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
👉 Thriller, suspense
July 11, 2026
Jessie's nine-year-old son, Dylan, is travelling across the country alone to visit his father, Jessie's soon-to-be ex-husband, and his grandparents. Several hours later Jessie gets a frantic call from Dylan's grandmother in New York. Dylan is missing. At the same moment, miles away, in Toronto Canada, a train operator loses control of a subway train, and the fiery crash kills five passengers and injures dozens of others. How are these two events connected?
Rick Mofina is a name I've seen pop up on Goodreads from time to time but this is the first book by him that I've read. Even though the story contains a lot of characters and varied locations, I found it fairly easy to read and the subject matter very current. As I said, there are many many characters, maybe too many, plus new ones being introduced right up to nearly the end, some of whom don't seem to be absolutely necessary to the story.
I have a couple of other Rick Mofina titles on my towering TBR and I hope to get to them in the not-too-distant future.
Thank you to Doubleday Canada, via Netgalley, for providing a DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Rick Mofina is a name I've seen pop up on Goodreads from time to time but this is the first book by him that I've read. Even though the story contains a lot of characters and varied locations, I found it fairly easy to read and the subject matter very current. As I said, there are many many characters, maybe too many, plus new ones being introduced right up to nearly the end, some of whom don't seem to be absolutely necessary to the story.
I have a couple of other Rick Mofina titles on my towering TBR and I hope to get to them in the not-too-distant future.
Thank you to Doubleday Canada, via Netgalley, for providing a DRC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: April 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rick Mofina’s exhilarating cyber thriller raises the alarm about how tech companies can invade privacy and dismantle security to further their invasion.
We are only a few months into 2026, but I’m becoming increasingly aware that this is definitely the era of AI, data breaches, online privacy issues, hacking, and tracking. The fact that this pacey suspense spotlights all those insecurities (and then some) makes this a novel that will resonate with many. Mofina has given us the perfect blend of bingable thriller and a warning about cybersecurity threats.
Filled with surprises up to the final paragraph, and with no halt to the breathless action, this propulsive and addictive novel needs to be on every thriller’s reading list. I’d previously enjoyed ‘Someone Saw Something’ and with this 5-star novel, Mofina has quickly placed himself on my auto-read list. I’m coming for your back list!
Check your heart rate before reading! Do not attempt if you’ve already bitten your nails to the quick!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
We are only a few months into 2026, but I’m becoming increasingly aware that this is definitely the era of AI, data breaches, online privacy issues, hacking, and tracking. The fact that this pacey suspense spotlights all those insecurities (and then some) makes this a novel that will resonate with many. Mofina has given us the perfect blend of bingable thriller and a warning about cybersecurity threats.
Filled with surprises up to the final paragraph, and with no halt to the breathless action, this propulsive and addictive novel needs to be on every thriller’s reading list. I’d previously enjoyed ‘Someone Saw Something’ and with this 5-star novel, Mofina has quickly placed himself on my auto-read list. I’m coming for your back list!
Check your heart rate before reading! Do not attempt if you’ve already bitten your nails to the quick!
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
May 13, 2026
Rick Mofina never fails to give us a pulse-racing read and in One Second Away he does just that.
In California Jessie hugs her 9 yr old son Dylan goodbye at the airport. He is traveling alone to visit his Dad and grandparents in New York. Several hours later Jessie receives a call that Dylan is missing.
At the same time, miles away in Toronto a subway train operator loses control of his train causing it to crash, killing multiple passengers. Across the globe more cyberattacks are causing trains to lose control and the death toll is rising.
The clock is ticking not only to find Dylan but to stop whomever is hacking into the train systems around the world.
And how are these stories connected?
This edge of your seat thriller was unputdownable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
In California Jessie hugs her 9 yr old son Dylan goodbye at the airport. He is traveling alone to visit his Dad and grandparents in New York. Several hours later Jessie receives a call that Dylan is missing.
At the same time, miles away in Toronto a subway train operator loses control of his train causing it to crash, killing multiple passengers. Across the globe more cyberattacks are causing trains to lose control and the death toll is rising.
The clock is ticking not only to find Dylan but to stop whomever is hacking into the train systems around the world.
And how are these stories connected?
This edge of your seat thriller was unputdownable.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2026
4.25
Rick Mofina's thrillers are full of suspense with sympathetic characters and dilemmas. Of course the situations are more intense than most people experience, but the heart of the story is relatable, such as balancing career with family. In this book, a mother going through a divorce is terrified when her young son goes missing. Since Jessie Ward owns a cyber security company with top secret government contracts and her estranged husband is a prominent journalist uncovering cybersecurity schemes, dark forces may be involved in young Dylan's abduction.
In addition to Dylan going missing after Jessie puts him on a flight from Los Angeles to New York to spend time with his father and grandparents, there is also a storyline about malfunctioning train controls, beginning with a subway train crash in Toronto and moving on to other incidents around the world. There are a lot of moving pieces in the story and some move faster than others. There are some high-stakes, action-packed scenes in the book but there are some pacing issues with parts of the plot advancing more slowly.
Overall, I enjoyed this complex and sometimes scary thriller. I figured out who was behind many of the crimes and why, but the final scenes are still very suspenseful with a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
Rick Mofina's thrillers are full of suspense with sympathetic characters and dilemmas. Of course the situations are more intense than most people experience, but the heart of the story is relatable, such as balancing career with family. In this book, a mother going through a divorce is terrified when her young son goes missing. Since Jessie Ward owns a cyber security company with top secret government contracts and her estranged husband is a prominent journalist uncovering cybersecurity schemes, dark forces may be involved in young Dylan's abduction.
In addition to Dylan going missing after Jessie puts him on a flight from Los Angeles to New York to spend time with his father and grandparents, there is also a storyline about malfunctioning train controls, beginning with a subway train crash in Toronto and moving on to other incidents around the world. There are a lot of moving pieces in the story and some move faster than others. There are some high-stakes, action-packed scenes in the book but there are some pacing issues with parts of the plot advancing more slowly.
Overall, I enjoyed this complex and sometimes scary thriller. I figured out who was behind many of the crimes and why, but the final scenes are still very suspenseful with a satisfying conclusion.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.
April 24, 2026
Tense, twisty, and relentlessly suspenseful!
ONE SECOND AWAY is a sharply executed, menacing thriller that draws readers deep into the lives of Jessica Ward, a cybersecurity expert who will stop at nothing to find her kidnapped son, and Claire Brenner, an investigator convinced that a recent Toronto subway crash was caused by something far more sinister than mere driver error.
The prose is brisk and precise. The characters are intelligent, resourceful, and flawed. And the plot unfolds as a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, packed with twists, turns, action, intrigue, power, duplicity, jealousy, manipulation, and cybercrime.
Overall, ONE SECOND AWAY is a dark, edgy, intricately crafted page-turner by Mofina that was satisfying, thoroughly entertaining, and a story I absolutely loved.
ONE SECOND AWAY is a sharply executed, menacing thriller that draws readers deep into the lives of Jessica Ward, a cybersecurity expert who will stop at nothing to find her kidnapped son, and Claire Brenner, an investigator convinced that a recent Toronto subway crash was caused by something far more sinister than mere driver error.
The prose is brisk and precise. The characters are intelligent, resourceful, and flawed. And the plot unfolds as a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game, packed with twists, turns, action, intrigue, power, duplicity, jealousy, manipulation, and cybercrime.
Overall, ONE SECOND AWAY is a dark, edgy, intricately crafted page-turner by Mofina that was satisfying, thoroughly entertaining, and a story I absolutely loved.
May 14, 2026
Oh this was good!
May 5, 2026
It was interesting but it was longer than I expected
April 5, 2026
Review as an advance from Netgalley
Received this book before publication date… and thrillers are not usually what I read.
I couldn’t put it down! Captivated from the first page!
But… won’t ever ride a transit system ever again without thinking about these characters! 😂
Received this book before publication date… and thrillers are not usually what I read.
I couldn’t put it down! Captivated from the first page!
But… won’t ever ride a transit system ever again without thinking about these characters! 😂
May 1, 2026
Rick Mofina writes solid thrillers but his last couple haven’t been my favourites. However, with this new one, he returns to form. This is a good one.
One Second Away was a fast-paced, gripping action thriller about a missing 10-year-old boy, his frantic mother, and a murder, all happening against the backdrop of AI-empowered cyberattacks turning trains into runaway deathtraps.
This one started off quickly and the pace kept up. I could feel the mother’s worry and fear as she experienced every parents’ nightmare. The short chapters and alternating POVs kept my interest, eager to see what was going to happen next. There were red herrings, twists and turns, clues scattered throughout, and a tense, satisfying ending.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
One Second Away was a fast-paced, gripping action thriller about a missing 10-year-old boy, his frantic mother, and a murder, all happening against the backdrop of AI-empowered cyberattacks turning trains into runaway deathtraps.
This one started off quickly and the pace kept up. I could feel the mother’s worry and fear as she experienced every parents’ nightmare. The short chapters and alternating POVs kept my interest, eager to see what was going to happen next. There were red herrings, twists and turns, clues scattered throughout, and a tense, satisfying ending.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
July 6, 2026
*3.75 Stars*
One Second Away is one of those books that I read with a lot of trepidation as it took several of my fears and put them into one book: one, the fear of losing a child; two, the fear of being in train/plane collision; and three, having no control over any of it. This author grabbed your attention with a train crash right at the beginning of the book and pretty much never let up on the tension from that point on.
While I enjoyed this quite a bit, I did struggle with Jessie as a main character. I could certainly forgive her abrasiveness when wanting to know more information from the police about her missing child, but it irks me to no end when a person thinks they have a right to know everything and even barges in on a scene that is being criminally investigated and could compromise evidence. This was Jessie. Don't be Jessie. While brilliant when it comes to computers (something I'll come back to in a moment), she was not very good with personal relationships. While I understood her being abrasive with the police as they thought she was a suspect, she was like that with her friends as well. And for such a brilliant computer coder/designer, she spent most of her time running around the country like a chicken with her head cut off rather than doing any of her brilliant computer stuff. I know she had a team to help her, but why wouldn't she help them too? Why wouldn't she at least try to take some of the information herself and try to figure it out? She kept hinting at how it could be personal, so why share everything she had with others when they may not be trustworthy? I just didn't get it.
Where this book really shines however, is the plot. This is not a character-driven story by any means, so the fast, tension-filled plot redeems the lack of character development. This is one of those books I kept picturing as a movie as it moved pretty quickly and the tension never let up. And I kept thinking of the movie Speed, how fun it was, but how silly some of the scenes were because you had to suspend belief for a lot of the movie. This is exactly the way it was in this book. Great action scenes, but you just had to go with it. I didn't find it difficult to figure out the culprit(s) in this book, but as I mentioned the character development was one-dimensional, at best.
One Second Away was a fun, propulsive thriller that was heavy on tension and plot, but light on character and character development. You had to suspend belief quite a few times and just go with it, but that was okay, although I am sure those with more technological know-how might have different thoughts about this. I liked how the author managed to pull all the threads together even if I thought the reason was flimsy in the end. If you like fast-paced thrillers, this one might be for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
One Second Away is one of those books that I read with a lot of trepidation as it took several of my fears and put them into one book: one, the fear of losing a child; two, the fear of being in train/plane collision; and three, having no control over any of it. This author grabbed your attention with a train crash right at the beginning of the book and pretty much never let up on the tension from that point on.
While I enjoyed this quite a bit, I did struggle with Jessie as a main character. I could certainly forgive her abrasiveness when wanting to know more information from the police about her missing child, but it irks me to no end when a person thinks they have a right to know everything and even barges in on a scene that is being criminally investigated and could compromise evidence. This was Jessie. Don't be Jessie. While brilliant when it comes to computers (something I'll come back to in a moment), she was not very good with personal relationships. While I understood her being abrasive with the police as they thought she was a suspect, she was like that with her friends as well. And for such a brilliant computer coder/designer, she spent most of her time running around the country like a chicken with her head cut off rather than doing any of her brilliant computer stuff. I know she had a team to help her, but why wouldn't she help them too? Why wouldn't she at least try to take some of the information herself and try to figure it out? She kept hinting at how it could be personal, so why share everything she had with others when they may not be trustworthy? I just didn't get it.
Where this book really shines however, is the plot. This is not a character-driven story by any means, so the fast, tension-filled plot redeems the lack of character development. This is one of those books I kept picturing as a movie as it moved pretty quickly and the tension never let up. And I kept thinking of the movie Speed, how fun it was, but how silly some of the scenes were because you had to suspend belief for a lot of the movie. This is exactly the way it was in this book. Great action scenes, but you just had to go with it. I didn't find it difficult to figure out the culprit(s) in this book, but as I mentioned the character development was one-dimensional, at best.
One Second Away was a fun, propulsive thriller that was heavy on tension and plot, but light on character and character development. You had to suspend belief quite a few times and just go with it, but that was okay, although I am sure those with more technological know-how might have different thoughts about this. I liked how the author managed to pull all the threads together even if I thought the reason was flimsy in the end. If you like fast-paced thrillers, this one might be for you.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
June 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ #OneSecondAway by Rick Mofina
My first Rick Mofina novel, and wow... what a ride! This high-octane thriller had me flying through the pages and guessing until the very end.
When a mother puts her 9-year-old son on a plane to visit his father and grandparents, she never expects him to vanish without a trace. What follows is a chilling cat-and-mouse chase involving AI, deepfakes, cybercrime, corruption, and technology gone dangerously wrong.
Mofina perfectly blends a binge-worthy thriller with a timely warning about privacy, hacking, and how vulnerable our digital world can be. The relentless pace, shocking twists, and race-against-time tension kept me hooked from start to finish.
This book both thrilled and freaked me out. The way AI can manipulate situations felt unsettlingly realistic, making the story even more gripping.
If you love fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thrillers with plenty of twists, put this one on your TBR immediately. Rick Mofina is officially on my auto-buy list!.
My first Rick Mofina novel, and wow... what a ride! This high-octane thriller had me flying through the pages and guessing until the very end.
When a mother puts her 9-year-old son on a plane to visit his father and grandparents, she never expects him to vanish without a trace. What follows is a chilling cat-and-mouse chase involving AI, deepfakes, cybercrime, corruption, and technology gone dangerously wrong.
Mofina perfectly blends a binge-worthy thriller with a timely warning about privacy, hacking, and how vulnerable our digital world can be. The relentless pace, shocking twists, and race-against-time tension kept me hooked from start to finish.
This book both thrilled and freaked me out. The way AI can manipulate situations felt unsettlingly realistic, making the story even more gripping.
If you love fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled thrillers with plenty of twists, put this one on your TBR immediately. Rick Mofina is officially on my auto-buy list!.
July 8, 2026
Won’t be getting on a subway again any time soon but great summer thriller. Even though I think the twist here could be spotted a country mile away, the plot was so evenly paced and suspenseful in and of itself that the twist wasn’t left to do all of the heavy lifting. I think my only complaint was the use of exclamation marks haha.
June 11, 2026
My initial experience with one of R. Mofina's books was an exceptionally thrilling and enjoyable journey. The story skillfully weaves together numerous subplots, including the disappearance of a child, guiding the reader through diverse settings and into the intricate realm of cybersecurity.
It will prompt deep thought regarding the potential disruptions that could arise from a single misstep, potentially affecting the world on numerous fronts.
It will prompt deep thought regarding the potential disruptions that could arise from a single misstep, potentially affecting the world on numerous fronts.
June 17, 2026
Overall, I found One Second Away to be a fast-paced, entertaining thriller with high stakes, plenty of twists, and enough emotional depth to make me care about the outcome.
It’s a fast read with short chapters. I will be reading more of Rick Mofina’s novels going forwards !!
It’s a fast read with short chapters. I will be reading more of Rick Mofina’s novels going forwards !!
July 5, 2026
This book reads like an action movie and is paced well. I didn’t feel emotionally connected to any characters and did not find them well developed. The plot moves quickly and has interesting and current elements with a fun twist.
May 16, 2026
There were lots of twists and turns but in the end, there were too many characters, some components were too technical and some storylines were unnecessary.
May 10, 2026
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
One Second Away is a fictional thriller centered on cyber security; critical systems overrides that caused catastrophic events; murder and child abduction. While the premise was interesting, I found the story a bit too drawn out, with too many characters and side plots that distracted from the main storyline. The ending was also fairly predictable. Overall, it had a strong concept but didn’t fully hold my attention.
One Second Away is a fictional thriller centered on cyber security; critical systems overrides that caused catastrophic events; murder and child abduction. While the premise was interesting, I found the story a bit too drawn out, with too many characters and side plots that distracted from the main storyline. The ending was also fairly predictable. Overall, it had a strong concept but didn’t fully hold my attention.
April 19, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!
What a rollercoaster rush of a book this was! I whizzed through the book so quickly
This is what you call a thriller! I hope this books a movie coz wow 🤯
This is the first book I’ve read of Ricky and I can’t wait to pick up more now. It was exhilarating reading the events unfold and it felt like race against time. The use of deepfake, AI, control of trains, my god..
I will say i guessed the twist and the reasoning felt cliche but didnt falter me to finishing the book. It was a quick read but so so good!!
What a rollercoaster rush of a book this was! I whizzed through the book so quickly
This is what you call a thriller! I hope this books a movie coz wow 🤯
This is the first book I’ve read of Ricky and I can’t wait to pick up more now. It was exhilarating reading the events unfold and it felt like race against time. The use of deepfake, AI, control of trains, my god..
I will say i guessed the twist and the reasoning felt cliche but didnt falter me to finishing the book. It was a quick read but so so good!!
May 3, 2026
This story leans hard into every parent’s worst fear the idea that life can change in a single secondand it delivers. The pacing is FAST, the chapters are addictive, and the tension just keeps building.
For me, this was less about a shocking twist (to be frank I knew right away) and more about the anxiety of it all. That constant feeling of “something is about to go very wrong” never really lets up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me get my hands on another great Rick Mofina book!!
For me, this was less about a shocking twist (to be frank I knew right away) and more about the anxiety of it all. That constant feeling of “something is about to go very wrong” never really lets up.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for letting me get my hands on another great Rick Mofina book!!
April 28, 2026
I received this book as an arc from Netgalley. This book was really 3.5 stars. I guessed who was behind everything from the very beginning. While I found the it jarring to jump timelines of events, I did find the book really quick to read.
Read
March 22, 2026Exactly what you expect from Rick Mofina.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finished reading: April 26th 2026
"Jessie's fears intensified. The FBI and now the press were involved, and that put everything into overdrive."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Doubleday Canada in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Runaway Trains 🍁
A review of the Doubleday Canada eBook ARC provided by NetGalley for the Doubleday Canada paperback/eBook/audiobook to be published April 28 2026.
One Second Away puts its foot on the gas right from the get-go and doesn't let up at any point in its 400 page thrill ride. We start with POVs from cybersecurity tech-whiz Jessica Ward seeing off her 9-year-old son Dylan on a seemingly risk-free unaccompanied-child plane trip across country to his dad and in-laws, and then to crashes and near-misses of subway trains under inexplicable circumstances.
As international safety and security experts delve into the mystery of how trains are being apparently cyber-hijacked, Jessie is horrified to hear that Dylan was never met by his grandparents and has apparently been kidnapped.
Inexplicably there are no ransom demands for either the boy or for the threats to rail travel. Jessie herself comes under suspicion as she was in the middle of a custody battle with journalist husband Vaughn Ward. Gradually it becomes clear that the kidnapping & terror threat motives must somehow overlap due to either attempts to obtain Jessie's confidential cybersecurity information or to prevent Vaughn's exposé of a cyberterrorist organization.
One Second Away races through various international settings as Jessie crosses the country seeking clues to the kidnappers and the location of her son. It all comes to a thrilling close when the roots of the conspiracy are revealed and she has only seconds to prevent a final fatal train collision.
This was a compulsive read which kept you turning the pages faster and faster towards its satisfying conclusion. Maybe it is a 4.5 rating, as I would have had more satisfaction from more details on the unveiling and apprehension of the culprits, but I do not hesitate in bumping this up to a Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars.
My thanks to Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of the eBook, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
After I settled on my lede header, I immediately thought of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers same-titled song from the Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) (1987) album. You can listen to the track Runaway Trains on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
Trivia and Links
Canadian author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who now writes crime and suspense thrillers which often use series characters. His most popular novel (based on current GR reviews and ratings) is Cold Fear (2001) which is part of the Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski (2000-2004) series. See further information at his website here.
A review of the Doubleday Canada eBook ARC provided by NetGalley for the Doubleday Canada paperback/eBook/audiobook to be published April 28 2026.
One Second Away puts its foot on the gas right from the get-go and doesn't let up at any point in its 400 page thrill ride. We start with POVs from cybersecurity tech-whiz Jessica Ward seeing off her 9-year-old son Dylan on a seemingly risk-free unaccompanied-child plane trip across country to his dad and in-laws, and then to crashes and near-misses of subway trains under inexplicable circumstances.
As international safety and security experts delve into the mystery of how trains are being apparently cyber-hijacked, Jessie is horrified to hear that Dylan was never met by his grandparents and has apparently been kidnapped.
Inexplicably there are no ransom demands for either the boy or for the threats to rail travel. Jessie herself comes under suspicion as she was in the middle of a custody battle with journalist husband Vaughn Ward. Gradually it becomes clear that the kidnapping & terror threat motives must somehow overlap due to either attempts to obtain Jessie's confidential cybersecurity information or to prevent Vaughn's exposé of a cyberterrorist organization.
One Second Away races through various international settings as Jessie crosses the country seeking clues to the kidnappers and the location of her son. It all comes to a thrilling close when the roots of the conspiracy are revealed and she has only seconds to prevent a final fatal train collision.
This was a compulsive read which kept you turning the pages faster and faster towards its satisfying conclusion. Maybe it is a 4.5 rating, as I would have had more satisfaction from more details on the unveiling and apprehension of the culprits, but I do not hesitate in bumping this up to a Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ stars.
My thanks to Doubleday Canada and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC copy of the eBook, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.
Soundtrack
After I settled on my lede header, I immediately thought of the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers same-titled song from the Let Me Up (I've Had Enough) (1987) album. You can listen to the track Runaway Trains on YouTube here or on Spotify here.
Trivia and Links
Canadian author Rick Mofina is a former journalist who now writes crime and suspense thrillers which often use series characters. His most popular novel (based on current GR reviews and ratings) is Cold Fear (2001) which is part of the Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski (2000-2004) series. See further information at his website here.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
One Second Away by Rick Mofina is a very highly recommended complex thriller where the stakes are high and the pace is fast.
The novel opens with a train operator in Toronto notices a few glitches in the automated while traveling his route. Then his worst nightmare comes true. He has the green light to proceed along the track when he sees a stopped train in front of him. The resulting crash kills five passengers and injures dozens of others. Was this human error or is something more nefarious in the works.
During this same time period, Jessie Ward nine-year-old son, Dylan, is flying to see his dad, Vaughn, in NYC. Jessie and Vaughn are separated. Vaughn's parent's, Dylan's grandparents, Lillian and Miller, will be picking him up at JFK. Jessie has several ways to track Dylan and he has made this trip once before, so they both know the procedures. Then, several hours later Dylan is missing. His grandparents claim to have received a message sending them to another gate. The airline claims that Dylan was picked up by an elderly couple with the ID of Lillian and Miller. Vaughn says he is working up in Canada, but will immediately head back to NYC. Jessie's worst nightmare is unfolding before her eyes.
Jessie's company Instinct Nine-99 specializes in the creation of classified advanced network security systems, with many big, private and government contracts. Two of her exceptional programmers, Bobby and Serita, use their specialized skills to help Jessie try to find Dylan. At the same time, Vaughn's actions are odd and the police are suspecting Jessie of plotting something to keep Dylan away from his father. Jessie and her team have to actually help the FBI and police with information they uncover, including pictures of the elderly couple who did take Dylan.
There is a whole lot of action and intrigue happening in this well-written thriller with events that could be ripped from headlines today (but hopefully never happen). The pace is fast through both the investigation of Dylan's disappearance and the inquiry into the glitches resulting in crashes of trains in major cities across the globe. There are several other things going on that make it clear the stakes are high and the danger is very real. Both story lines are interesting, although Jessie's search for her son will be the most frightening one for any parent.
Expect an intricate plot in both of the complicated cases along with several heart-stopping incidents during the investigations. The short chapters help to keep the tension building and the suspense high throughout the novel. Once you start reading, it will be hard to set this thriller aside.
One Second Away is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy complex, fast-paced thrillers and everyone following Rick Mofina's novels. Thanks to Doubleday Canada for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
The novel opens with a train operator in Toronto notices a few glitches in the automated while traveling his route. Then his worst nightmare comes true. He has the green light to proceed along the track when he sees a stopped train in front of him. The resulting crash kills five passengers and injures dozens of others. Was this human error or is something more nefarious in the works.
During this same time period, Jessie Ward nine-year-old son, Dylan, is flying to see his dad, Vaughn, in NYC. Jessie and Vaughn are separated. Vaughn's parent's, Dylan's grandparents, Lillian and Miller, will be picking him up at JFK. Jessie has several ways to track Dylan and he has made this trip once before, so they both know the procedures. Then, several hours later Dylan is missing. His grandparents claim to have received a message sending them to another gate. The airline claims that Dylan was picked up by an elderly couple with the ID of Lillian and Miller. Vaughn says he is working up in Canada, but will immediately head back to NYC. Jessie's worst nightmare is unfolding before her eyes.
Jessie's company Instinct Nine-99 specializes in the creation of classified advanced network security systems, with many big, private and government contracts. Two of her exceptional programmers, Bobby and Serita, use their specialized skills to help Jessie try to find Dylan. At the same time, Vaughn's actions are odd and the police are suspecting Jessie of plotting something to keep Dylan away from his father. Jessie and her team have to actually help the FBI and police with information they uncover, including pictures of the elderly couple who did take Dylan.
There is a whole lot of action and intrigue happening in this well-written thriller with events that could be ripped from headlines today (but hopefully never happen). The pace is fast through both the investigation of Dylan's disappearance and the inquiry into the glitches resulting in crashes of trains in major cities across the globe. There are several other things going on that make it clear the stakes are high and the danger is very real. Both story lines are interesting, although Jessie's search for her son will be the most frightening one for any parent.
Expect an intricate plot in both of the complicated cases along with several heart-stopping incidents during the investigations. The short chapters help to keep the tension building and the suspense high throughout the novel. Once you start reading, it will be hard to set this thriller aside.
One Second Away is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy complex, fast-paced thrillers and everyone following Rick Mofina's novels. Thanks to Doubleday Canada for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...
April 29, 2026
Rick Mofina knows exactly how to weaponise ordinary fears, and in “One Second Away,” he takes every parent’s worst nightmare and turns it into a relentless, pulse-pounding thriller.
What begins with a child travelling alone across the country quickly spirals into something far darker and far more complex. A missing boy, conflicting stories, an abandoned AirTag, and a devastating subway crash in another city—none of it should connect, and yet somehow it does. That uneasy sense of scale is what makes this story so gripping. It starts personal, intimate even, before widening into something far more sinister.
Mofina’s strength has always been his pacing, and here he keeps the tension high from the very first pages. The chapters move quickly, revelations arrive at just the right moments, and there’s a genuine urgency that makes it difficult to put down. He understands how to structure suspense so that every thread feels meaningful.
What worked particularly well was the emotional undercurrent. Beneath the action and conspiracy is a mother’s desperation, and that grounding gives the novel real weight. Jessie’s fear and determination anchor the story, ensuring it never becomes just another procedural puzzle.
The plot occasionally asks for a little suspension of disbelief, and some of the twists lean into cinematic territory, but the sheer momentum carries it through. This is one of those books where you happily go along for the ride because the storytelling is so assured.
“One Second Away” delivers exactly what thriller readers want: high stakes, fast pacing, and enough tension to keep you second-guessing until the end. A gripping, edge-of-your-seat read from an author who knows precisely how to keep readers hooked.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and may be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the DRC of “One Second Away” by Rick Mofina. “One Second Away” is published and available from 28 April 2026.
What begins with a child travelling alone across the country quickly spirals into something far darker and far more complex. A missing boy, conflicting stories, an abandoned AirTag, and a devastating subway crash in another city—none of it should connect, and yet somehow it does. That uneasy sense of scale is what makes this story so gripping. It starts personal, intimate even, before widening into something far more sinister.
Mofina’s strength has always been his pacing, and here he keeps the tension high from the very first pages. The chapters move quickly, revelations arrive at just the right moments, and there’s a genuine urgency that makes it difficult to put down. He understands how to structure suspense so that every thread feels meaningful.
What worked particularly well was the emotional undercurrent. Beneath the action and conspiracy is a mother’s desperation, and that grounding gives the novel real weight. Jessie’s fear and determination anchor the story, ensuring it never becomes just another procedural puzzle.
The plot occasionally asks for a little suspension of disbelief, and some of the twists lean into cinematic territory, but the sheer momentum carries it through. This is one of those books where you happily go along for the ride because the storytelling is so assured.
“One Second Away” delivers exactly what thriller readers want: high stakes, fast pacing, and enough tension to keep you second-guessing until the end. A gripping, edge-of-your-seat read from an author who knows precisely how to keep readers hooked.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and may be found on Goodreads, Amazon, and NetGalley.
My thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the DRC of “One Second Away” by Rick Mofina. “One Second Away” is published and available from 28 April 2026.
July 6, 2026
3.25
Not going to lie, I chose this book because the main character is named Jessie. Bad choice, turns out her name is just short for Jessica.
A critique I wrote for a previous thriller was that there weren’t enough characters. Well, Rick Mofina, did you deliver! So many characters, i.e. so many suspects, and loads of intersecting storylines made this book a super fun read.
However, why make the culprit that obvious? If you look at my progress updates, you’ll see that I sussed out the antagonist pretty early on. From that point on, I was mostly just trying to understand how all the characters’ fates were relevant to, and intertwined with, the main abduction storyline.
Spoilers ahead:
This quote pretty much summarizes my main issue with the book:
“I could’ve stolen your laptop at any time, but I worked with Tarantula, channelling my vengeance, orchestrating spectacular attacks, like this one.”
First of all, Dahlia basically admits that all of her work and her murders were for nothing; that everything could have been avoided, including the entire plot of the story, by just stealing the laptop. I hate this kind of writing, as it makes most of the author’s work feel random rather than part of a planned storyline where the sequence of events is actually meaningful.
Second of all, “channelling my vengeance” has been said by no villain ever. That is the weakest motivator for this story, because what is she even vengeful about? She seems mad that Vaughn still cared for Jessica, but wouldn’t a better vengeance plan have been to murder Jessica so she could be with Vaughn? She was quite evidently jealous of Jessica’s intellectual ability, but killing loads of people on trains doesn’t quite seem like an effective way to level with Jessica smarts-wise.
This kind of ending is making me quite apprehensive about reading another one of this author’s books… but who knows, maybe I’ve just got to try another one.
Not going to lie, I chose this book because the main character is named Jessie. Bad choice, turns out her name is just short for Jessica.
A critique I wrote for a previous thriller was that there weren’t enough characters. Well, Rick Mofina, did you deliver! So many characters, i.e. so many suspects, and loads of intersecting storylines made this book a super fun read.
However, why make the culprit that obvious? If you look at my progress updates, you’ll see that I sussed out the antagonist pretty early on. From that point on, I was mostly just trying to understand how all the characters’ fates were relevant to, and intertwined with, the main abduction storyline.
Spoilers ahead:
This quote pretty much summarizes my main issue with the book:
“I could’ve stolen your laptop at any time, but I worked with Tarantula, channelling my vengeance, orchestrating spectacular attacks, like this one.”
First of all, Dahlia basically admits that all of her work and her murders were for nothing; that everything could have been avoided, including the entire plot of the story, by just stealing the laptop. I hate this kind of writing, as it makes most of the author’s work feel random rather than part of a planned storyline where the sequence of events is actually meaningful.
Second of all, “channelling my vengeance” has been said by no villain ever. That is the weakest motivator for this story, because what is she even vengeful about? She seems mad that Vaughn still cared for Jessica, but wouldn’t a better vengeance plan have been to murder Jessica so she could be with Vaughn? She was quite evidently jealous of Jessica’s intellectual ability, but killing loads of people on trains doesn’t quite seem like an effective way to level with Jessica smarts-wise.
This kind of ending is making me quite apprehensive about reading another one of this author’s books… but who knows, maybe I’ve just got to try another one.
May 13, 2026
4.5 stars
Published on Peeking Between the Pages (https://peekingbetweenthepages.com/20...)
One Second Away is a fast paced and suspenseful thriller and is exactly what I look for when I read one of Rick Mofina’s books. What could be more tense than a ten-year-old boy gone missing, his mother mad with worry, a murder, and cyber attacks linking it all. This was such a rollercoaster of a ride and I flew through the pages!
Jessie drops her son Dylan off at the airport. He’s travelling by himself to visit his father and grandparents. While Jessie is apprehensive, Dylan did travel alone just a month ago. Hours later though Dylan’s grandmother phones in hysterics to say that Dylan has gone missing. The airline says an elderly couple looking like Dylan’s grandparents picked him up but they insist it wasn’t them and Dylan’s AirTag shows him still being at the airport. Where has he gone and who took him? With Jessie being a cybersecurity expert and her ex-husband a prominent journalist suspicions fall on them but Jessie is determined to uncover every clue to find her son and she has the resources to do so. Meanwhile in Toronto there is a subway crash that kills and injures many. As the story unfolds we learn that there are many sinister forces at work and seemingly unrelated events are coming together in a much bigger, scarier conspiracy.
Wow this was one of those books that gripped me from page one and didn’t slow down until the last page. More than once I thought I had things figured out only to find pages later I didn’t. One Second Away is a tense, action packed thriller and showcases Rick Mofina at his best. Highly recommended!
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Published on Peeking Between the Pages (https://peekingbetweenthepages.com/20...)
One Second Away is a fast paced and suspenseful thriller and is exactly what I look for when I read one of Rick Mofina’s books. What could be more tense than a ten-year-old boy gone missing, his mother mad with worry, a murder, and cyber attacks linking it all. This was such a rollercoaster of a ride and I flew through the pages!
Jessie drops her son Dylan off at the airport. He’s travelling by himself to visit his father and grandparents. While Jessie is apprehensive, Dylan did travel alone just a month ago. Hours later though Dylan’s grandmother phones in hysterics to say that Dylan has gone missing. The airline says an elderly couple looking like Dylan’s grandparents picked him up but they insist it wasn’t them and Dylan’s AirTag shows him still being at the airport. Where has he gone and who took him? With Jessie being a cybersecurity expert and her ex-husband a prominent journalist suspicions fall on them but Jessie is determined to uncover every clue to find her son and she has the resources to do so. Meanwhile in Toronto there is a subway crash that kills and injures many. As the story unfolds we learn that there are many sinister forces at work and seemingly unrelated events are coming together in a much bigger, scarier conspiracy.
Wow this was one of those books that gripped me from page one and didn’t slow down until the last page. More than once I thought I had things figured out only to find pages later I didn’t. One Second Away is a tense, action packed thriller and showcases Rick Mofina at his best. Highly recommended!
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
One Second Away launches straight into panic as Jessie watches her young son board a plane alone, believing he’ll be safely reunited with his father on the other side of the country. Hours later, her world implodes, Dylan never arrives. The airline insists he was collected by relatives who were never there, while the tracker Jessie hid in his bag shows he never even left Los Angeles. At the same time, a catastrophic subway disaster in Toronto sends shockwaves through the news cycle. What Jessie doesn’t yet realise is that these two events are threads of the same chilling conspiracy, one rooted in digital sabotage, hidden networks, and the terrifying reach of modern technology. As she races to uncover what happened to her son, every new clue raises more suspicion, and every person around her becomes a potential threat.
Rick Mofina propels the story forward with relentless momentum. The short, sharp chapters, shifting perspectives, and a sense of urgency that never lets up. The novel blends emotional stakes with high‑tech intrigue, creating a thriller that feels disturbingly plausible in today’s world of cyberattacks and AI‑driven manipulation. The tension builds beautifully, with twists that land at just the right moment and a cast of characters who keep you guessing about their true motives. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in from page one and refuses to let go, perfect for readers who crave n.‑paced suspense, global stakes, and a mother’s desperate fight to bring her child home. As always loved it!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Rick Mofina propels the story forward with relentless momentum. The short, sharp chapters, shifting perspectives, and a sense of urgency that never lets up. The novel blends emotional stakes with high‑tech intrigue, creating a thriller that feels disturbingly plausible in today’s world of cyberattacks and AI‑driven manipulation. The tension builds beautifully, with twists that land at just the right moment and a cast of characters who keep you guessing about their true motives. It’s the kind of book that pulls you in from page one and refuses to let go, perfect for readers who crave n.‑paced suspense, global stakes, and a mother’s desperate fight to bring her child home. As always loved it!!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Jessie hugs her 9-year-old son Dylan goodbye at LAX as he prepares to board the plane to NYC, to spend the next month with his dad & grandparents. A few hours later she gets a frantic call from her former in-laws, saying that Dylan isn't there. Jessie checks the air tag she put in his bag and it still shows LAX as the location, and when she facetimes with the police at the airport in New York, they show that an elderly couple, looking a lot like his grandparents, picked up Dylan. When they try to reach Dylan's father, no one is able to contact him. At the same moment, miles away, in Toronto, a train operator loses control of a subway train, and the fiery crash kills five passengers and injures dozens of others. Was this a fatal human error or something more sinister? And how exactly is it connected to the disappearance of Dylan? Because, somehow, it is.....
I always enjoy this author's books. This one was definitely a thrill ride. Probably not the best idea for me to finish this right before bedtime because I am going to be too keyed up for hours now. I always thought that taking a train might be a good way to take a take a trip, but I have changed my mind. You couldn't pay me to get on one now. There were two high stakes storylines that were going on at the same time that you knew were somehow connected, but it took awhile before the pieces started to fall into place. It had a twist at the end, and then ended in a heart-stopping finish. I highly recommend this one!
Jessie hugs her 9-year-old son Dylan goodbye at LAX as he prepares to board the plane to NYC, to spend the next month with his dad & grandparents. A few hours later she gets a frantic call from her former in-laws, saying that Dylan isn't there. Jessie checks the air tag she put in his bag and it still shows LAX as the location, and when she facetimes with the police at the airport in New York, they show that an elderly couple, looking a lot like his grandparents, picked up Dylan. When they try to reach Dylan's father, no one is able to contact him. At the same moment, miles away, in Toronto, a train operator loses control of a subway train, and the fiery crash kills five passengers and injures dozens of others. Was this a fatal human error or something more sinister? And how exactly is it connected to the disappearance of Dylan? Because, somehow, it is.....
I always enjoy this author's books. This one was definitely a thrill ride. Probably not the best idea for me to finish this right before bedtime because I am going to be too keyed up for hours now. I always thought that taking a train might be a good way to take a take a trip, but I have changed my mind. You couldn't pay me to get on one now. There were two high stakes storylines that were going on at the same time that you knew were somehow connected, but it took awhile before the pieces started to fall into place. It had a twist at the end, and then ended in a heart-stopping finish. I highly recommend this one!
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