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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
72 books1,421 followersRick Mofina is a USA Today, Globe and Mail, and Toronto Star bestselling author of more than 36 crime fiction thrillers that have been published in nearly 30 countries. A former journalist, he has interviewed murderers on death row, flown over Los Angeles with the LAPD and patrolled with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police near the Arctic. He has also reported from the Caribbean, Africa, Kuwait and Qatar.
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. He is a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Excellence Award, a winner of the Barry Award winner, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Award and Shamus Award.
Library Journal calls him “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
The Crime Writers of Canada named him recipient of the 2026 Grand Master Award.
Rick Mofina’s work has been praised by such authors as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Shari Lapena, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Louise Penny, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Lisa Unger, Lisa Gardner, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Freida McFadden, Heather Gudenkauf, Alafair Burke, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.
Series:
* Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski
* Jason Wade
* Jack Gannon
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2003): Blood of Others
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. He is a two-time winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Excellence Award, a winner of the Barry Award winner, and a multiple finalist for the International Thriller Award and Shamus Award.
Library Journal calls him “One of the best thriller writers in the business.”
The Crime Writers of Canada named him recipient of the 2026 Grand Master Award.
Rick Mofina’s work has been praised by such authors as James Patterson, Dean Koontz, Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Shari Lapena, Tess Gerritsen, Jeffery Deaver, Louise Penny, Sandra Brown, James Rollins, Lisa Unger, Lisa Gardner, Brad Thor, Nick Stone, David Morrell, Allison Brennan, Heather Graham, Linwood Barclay, Peter Robinson, Freida McFadden, Heather Gudenkauf, Alafair Burke, Håkan Nesser and Kay Hooper.
Series:
* Tom Reed and Walt Sydowski
* Jason Wade
* Jack Gannon
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2003): Blood of Others
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 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.
July 24, 2026
5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️’s all the way! This was my first Rick Mofina book, and wow, was it good - a real page-turner! I saw several of my GR friends had read it, so I decided to give it a go based on their strong reviews - and I’m so glad I did!! I love it when a book jumps on the accelerator right from the beginning – as this one did - and didn’t let up, until the end! Quite an interesting premise and very current, based on a lot of AI technology. Actually, rather unnerving. I wasn’t sure about this one, since I didn’t see a huge number of reviews yet, so relying on my trusted GR friends’ very favorable reviews, I took the plunge. It’s terrific! If you’re into fast-paced thrillers, I highly recommend you pick this one up. I’ll be looking into some of Rick’s other books soon, if they’re anything like this one. I should mention that I did the audiobook, and the narration was excellent!! Enjoy!!
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.
September 26, 2026
4.5, rounded up
Wow ! It was so nice to have a setting in ottawa/Toronto and i was actually psychologically thrilled for most of the book. I like that the ending wasn't so out of left field and it made me change my mind about multiple pov bc all of them were useful and enjoyable
Wow ! It was so nice to have a setting in ottawa/Toronto and i was actually psychologically thrilled for most of the book. I like that the ending wasn't so out of left field and it made me change my mind about multiple pov bc all of them were useful and enjoyable
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
April 23, 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.
August 15, 2026
4 1/2!
September 18, 2026
The ending had me STRESSED 😪
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! 😂
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
July 17, 2026
4.17438178 stars
Can't wait to read more of Mofina's work!
Can't wait to read more of Mofina's work!
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!!
April 23, 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.
July 5, 2026
I would first like to thank NetGalley for providing this book via Advanced readers copy.
In the blink of an eye, what you thought was the safest way to get your son to your estranged husband and in-laws turns into your worst nightmare! You place your nine year old son, Dylan on an airport, only to receive a call from his grandparents saying he never arrived to them. With the airline insisting the Dylan was handed off to his grandparents, we embark on the journey of finding Dylan and why he was taken.
For my review of this book, I give it a 2.5 stars. Having never read a Rick Mofina book before, I don’t have anything to compare to. However, at times this book was unputdownable and heart wrenching as a mother myself. And then at other times it was slow and boring, making me want to just skip the chapters not involving Dylan’s search, although I know I couldn’t because it was all going to come together eventually. I feel like once everything did come together we got a rushed and disappointing ending. I would have liked this better if maybe half way through things were pulled together so that we could have gotten a better written ending. I don’t think this book was a twisty book, and quite frankly the one twist was predictable. However, I do think people who like infepth writing, backstory’s and slower burn thriller/mystery’s will enjoy this book.
In the blink of an eye, what you thought was the safest way to get your son to your estranged husband and in-laws turns into your worst nightmare! You place your nine year old son, Dylan on an airport, only to receive a call from his grandparents saying he never arrived to them. With the airline insisting the Dylan was handed off to his grandparents, we embark on the journey of finding Dylan and why he was taken.
For my review of this book, I give it a 2.5 stars. Having never read a Rick Mofina book before, I don’t have anything to compare to. However, at times this book was unputdownable and heart wrenching as a mother myself. And then at other times it was slow and boring, making me want to just skip the chapters not involving Dylan’s search, although I know I couldn’t because it was all going to come together eventually. I feel like once everything did come together we got a rushed and disappointing ending. I would have liked this better if maybe half way through things were pulled together so that we could have gotten a better written ending. I don’t think this book was a twisty book, and quite frankly the one twist was predictable. However, I do think people who like infepth writing, backstory’s and slower burn thriller/mystery’s will enjoy this book.
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March 22, 2026Exactly what you expect from Rick Mofina.
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.
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