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The Arrival: An addictive high-concept edge-of-your-seat thriller
An addictive high-concept edge-of-your seat thriller for fans of Dark Matter and Wrong Place, Wrong Time.
The rules are clear.
Find out where you are.
Try not to die.
A typical Friday night.
Leo and Viv's weekend starts like any a takeaway, a movie and an early night. But when Leo wakes up, he's not in their London flat. He’s naked and alone in an unfamiliar bed, in an anonymous hotel, on the other side of the world.
Until your world turns on its head.
Viv wakes up to a phone ringing. It's Leo and he claims to be in Australia, despite the impossibility of it. An emergency passport is arranged, a return flight to London booked. But before Leo can make it out, there's a flicker in the corner of his vision, and he wakes up in another bed, in another hotel room, in another country.
And now you’re being hunted down . . .
Disoriented, Leo soon discovers he's not alone. Someone with access to groundbreaking technology, and an axe to grind, is beaming a group of people around the globe – stalking them one by one, committing perfect, untraceable murders. As Leo fights to survive, Viv unearths dark secrets from her husband’s past. And the more she learns about Leo, the less she seems to know about him . . .
The Arrival is an unmissable world-hopping high-stakes thriller where you can’t trust anything, even the people you are closest to.
The rules are clear.
Find out where you are.
Try not to die.
A typical Friday night.
Leo and Viv's weekend starts like any a takeaway, a movie and an early night. But when Leo wakes up, he's not in their London flat. He’s naked and alone in an unfamiliar bed, in an anonymous hotel, on the other side of the world.
Until your world turns on its head.
Viv wakes up to a phone ringing. It's Leo and he claims to be in Australia, despite the impossibility of it. An emergency passport is arranged, a return flight to London booked. But before Leo can make it out, there's a flicker in the corner of his vision, and he wakes up in another bed, in another hotel room, in another country.
And now you’re being hunted down . . .
Disoriented, Leo soon discovers he's not alone. Someone with access to groundbreaking technology, and an axe to grind, is beaming a group of people around the globe – stalking them one by one, committing perfect, untraceable murders. As Leo fights to survive, Viv unearths dark secrets from her husband’s past. And the more she learns about Leo, the less she seems to know about him . . .
The Arrival is an unmissable world-hopping high-stakes thriller where you can’t trust anything, even the people you are closest to.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Leo falls asleep next to his wife Viv in their London flat. When he wakes up he finds he is in an unfamiliar bed, on the other side of the world. Disoriented also calls Viv to help but before he can make it back home, he wakes up yet again in a new location in a different country. He soon realises he is not alone and that someone with groundbreaking technology has an axe to grind, committing untraceable murders across the world. As Leo is locked in a battle of survival, Viv starts to discover that maybe she didn’t know her husband as much as she thought she did.
This sounded like such an original, fantastic concept that I knew I had to read. I enjoy thrillers that offer something new and liked that this had a science fiction twist to keep it interesting and unlike anything I had read before. I was drawn into the story straight away and keen to see where it would go. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the concept and the beginning, it started to lose momentum quite early on and didn’t fully draw me in, finding that I struggled slightly with the execution. I found the pacing became quite slow and convoluted, whilst the characters lacked the complexity needed for me to fully connect and care about them.
Even so, this was still a solid story and worth a read for those looking for a fun idea and something different. I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve and could definitely see this as a film. Even though not completely for me, I can see a lot of people getting a lot of enjoyment from this story and I’d be interested to watch it if it does come to the screen. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
This sounded like such an original, fantastic concept that I knew I had to read. I enjoy thrillers that offer something new and liked that this had a science fiction twist to keep it interesting and unlike anything I had read before. I was drawn into the story straight away and keen to see where it would go. Unfortunately, as much as I enjoyed the concept and the beginning, it started to lose momentum quite early on and didn’t fully draw me in, finding that I struggled slightly with the execution. I found the pacing became quite slow and convoluted, whilst the characters lacked the complexity needed for me to fully connect and care about them.
Even so, this was still a solid story and worth a read for those looking for a fun idea and something different. I appreciate what the author was trying to achieve and could definitely see this as a film. Even though not completely for me, I can see a lot of people getting a lot of enjoyment from this story and I’d be interested to watch it if it does come to the screen. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
April 19, 2026
In my journey of wandering through genres, I let myself be drawn in by the description of the story. Not by the genre per se.
That’s the reason I requested to read and review this arc, and I’m happy I did.
It’s a fast paced story told from a third person point of view. Two main characters open the book, a husband and wife having a good evening together.
Yet within instants the story shifts into third gear and you find yourself unable to put the book down.
You just need to find out what’s going on and why, unable to rest until you do.
The author did a very good job at keeping the story interesting, adding other characters as it goes on.
Do you ever stop to think about the impact our actions, how insignificant they might seem, have on others? Strangers even?
Well, I assure you that after reading this book you’ll pay far more attention to it. As we should, really.
I enjoyed this and I recommend it to my audience. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me this opportunity.
That’s the reason I requested to read and review this arc, and I’m happy I did.
It’s a fast paced story told from a third person point of view. Two main characters open the book, a husband and wife having a good evening together.
Yet within instants the story shifts into third gear and you find yourself unable to put the book down.
You just need to find out what’s going on and why, unable to rest until you do.
The author did a very good job at keeping the story interesting, adding other characters as it goes on.
Do you ever stop to think about the impact our actions, how insignificant they might seem, have on others? Strangers even?
Well, I assure you that after reading this book you’ll pay far more attention to it. As we should, really.
I enjoyed this and I recommend it to my audience. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me this opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Occasionally a book comes along that you just know will consume you while you are reading it,you are not just reading it you are it and every scene is frantically playing out in your mind as you become a part of it
This book is it and so far by far my favourite book of the year,it is no surprise it is currently in production in Hollywood
Leo goes to sleep at home with his wife in London and wakes in Australia…..he thinks he is dreaming,or high or on a reality Tv show….if only it were that simple….every time he then ‘nods off’he wakes in other places,most notably North Korea where he realises this phenomenon is also happening to other people,but why and how?…
And why are snakes falling through the ceiling trying to attack him (shudder) amongst other nasty things happening to him
It just gets more and more interesting and involving and who is the mystery woman who seems to be behind it all…..and how can she be….
Just wonderfully awesome writing and story that had me considering starting it again as soon as finished,yep its that good(roll on the film)….
Loved every word of this brilliant unique novel errr novel
This book is it and so far by far my favourite book of the year,it is no surprise it is currently in production in Hollywood
Leo goes to sleep at home with his wife in London and wakes in Australia…..he thinks he is dreaming,or high or on a reality Tv show….if only it were that simple….every time he then ‘nods off’he wakes in other places,most notably North Korea where he realises this phenomenon is also happening to other people,but why and how?…
And why are snakes falling through the ceiling trying to attack him (shudder) amongst other nasty things happening to him
It just gets more and more interesting and involving and who is the mystery woman who seems to be behind it all…..and how can she be….
Just wonderfully awesome writing and story that had me considering starting it again as soon as finished,yep its that good(roll on the film)….
Loved every word of this brilliant unique novel errr novel
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK Vintage for an advance reader copy. If you want a synopsis, click on the book.
This is an outstanding novel. The plot is highly original, clever and well-crafted. In this type of story, it's the author's job to make the impossible seem possible. Robin Brookes does that very well. Add to that the satisfying twists at the end and you get an easy 5 stars. This story is a film waiting to be made.
This is an outstanding novel. The plot is highly original, clever and well-crafted. In this type of story, it's the author's job to make the impossible seem possible. Robin Brookes does that very well. Add to that the satisfying twists at the end and you get an easy 5 stars. This story is a film waiting to be made.
May 9, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of The Arrival.
Every so often, I find a book that is not my usual genre, that I really enjoy. The Arrival is definitely in that bracket.
I would say it is more science fiction than thriller, but it keeps you guessing with enough confusion about what is happening to Leo as the main character.
Definitely worth a look if you are happy to suspend belief for the sake of a great read.
Every so often, I find a book that is not my usual genre, that I really enjoy. The Arrival is definitely in that bracket.
I would say it is more science fiction than thriller, but it keeps you guessing with enough confusion about what is happening to Leo as the main character.
Definitely worth a look if you are happy to suspend belief for the sake of a great read.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews