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The 10:12
Win a free print copy of this book!
7 days and 22:00:50
25 copies available
U.S. only
Bloomsbury presents The 10:12 by Anna Maloney, read by Elaine Claxton, Sarah Thom, Maxim Reston and Dane Williams.
'Thought-provoking and thoroughly compelling' B P WALTER, bestselling author of THE DINNER PARTY
'An excellent twist ... a tribute to tough post-menopausal women everywhere' LITERARY REVIEW
'A twisty, propulsive thrill-ride, and a hero who will keep surprising you' SAM BECKBESSINGER
Claire Fitzroy was just trying to get home when her train from Manchester to London was hijacked by a group of armed men. In one terrifying moment she faced the starkest of to stand back. To fight back. And maybe to die either way.
Claire chose to fight back, and in doing so saved hundreds of lives. But what looks like heroism in the heat of the moment can play out very differently in the courts and the eyes of the public. Especially when you have the blood of two men on your hands.
Selfless and quick-thinking. Attention-seeking vigilante. Unrepentant murderer. Whichever she is, this is Claire's story of what happened that day.
But is it the whole story?
A breathtaking thriller where nothing is as it seems and saving the day is only the beginning, The 10:12 is the perfect read for fans of Sarah Vaughan, Catherine Ryan Howard and Ava Glass.
'Thought-provoking and thoroughly compelling' B P WALTER, bestselling author of THE DINNER PARTY
'An excellent twist ... a tribute to tough post-menopausal women everywhere' LITERARY REVIEW
'A twisty, propulsive thrill-ride, and a hero who will keep surprising you' SAM BECKBESSINGER
Claire Fitzroy was just trying to get home when her train from Manchester to London was hijacked by a group of armed men. In one terrifying moment she faced the starkest of to stand back. To fight back. And maybe to die either way.
Claire chose to fight back, and in doing so saved hundreds of lives. But what looks like heroism in the heat of the moment can play out very differently in the courts and the eyes of the public. Especially when you have the blood of two men on your hands.
Selfless and quick-thinking. Attention-seeking vigilante. Unrepentant murderer. Whichever she is, this is Claire's story of what happened that day.
But is it the whole story?
A breathtaking thriller where nothing is as it seems and saving the day is only the beginning, The 10:12 is the perfect read for fans of Sarah Vaughan, Catherine Ryan Howard and Ava Glass.
Hardcover
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
October 27, 2025
This was such a fantastic premise and it was delivered extremely well.
The 10.12 in question is a train which Claire Fitzroy was on, just trying to get home. However, when the train is hijacked, Claire, alongside other passengers decide to fight back, causing death themselves as they fight to take control of the train.
When it's over, and the trial ensues, it is clear that what happened that day is perceived differently by many people. Did they do the right thing fighting back? Or did their vigilantism go too far? Claire writes her account and is determined to put the story straight however do we really know what happened that day?
Although definitely a page turning thriller, I feel there is more depth to this book that I initially envisioned. The role of Claire, as an older woman, is examined in a level of detail which was interesting compared to the actions of 'macho' men on the train. Definite elements of misogyny come through which made me reflect.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books (UK) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
P.S. I'm taking a star off cause the drunk guy on the train was Scottish. We can live without the stereotype! (joking, couldn't care less, it was a four star read)
The 10.12 in question is a train which Claire Fitzroy was on, just trying to get home. However, when the train is hijacked, Claire, alongside other passengers decide to fight back, causing death themselves as they fight to take control of the train.
When it's over, and the trial ensues, it is clear that what happened that day is perceived differently by many people. Did they do the right thing fighting back? Or did their vigilantism go too far? Claire writes her account and is determined to put the story straight however do we really know what happened that day?
Although definitely a page turning thriller, I feel there is more depth to this book that I initially envisioned. The role of Claire, as an older woman, is examined in a level of detail which was interesting compared to the actions of 'macho' men on the train. Definite elements of misogyny come through which made me reflect.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) | Raven Books (UK) for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
P.S. I'm taking a star off cause the drunk guy on the train was Scottish. We can live without the stereotype! (joking, couldn't care less, it was a four star read)
March 10, 2026
3.0 / 5.0
I liked the first half of the book, the breakdown of events and what happened. But the second half of the book read like a completely different book. The dynamic, the energy, the mood/ vibe completely changed and went very heavy on the radicalization of the Chinese government, deep state, coercion. Ultimately it wasn’t my cup of tea, but the problem was that I was already nearly finishing the book that I just thought let’s finish it.
If you ask me about this book in two weeks. I don’t think I would be able to remember it. It fell flat, and ultimately the change from events to aftermath was too stark that my interest began to fade. Not my cup of tea.
I liked the first half of the book, the breakdown of events and what happened. But the second half of the book read like a completely different book. The dynamic, the energy, the mood/ vibe completely changed and went very heavy on the radicalization of the Chinese government, deep state, coercion. Ultimately it wasn’t my cup of tea, but the problem was that I was already nearly finishing the book that I just thought let’s finish it.
If you ask me about this book in two weeks. I don’t think I would be able to remember it. It fell flat, and ultimately the change from events to aftermath was too stark that my interest began to fade. Not my cup of tea.
September 28, 2026
I thought the premise of this book was fascinating. A group of hijackers on a train to London with lots of threats but no obvious demands and a group of passengers who stood up to them, seemingly led by a most unlikely hero. Claire Fitzroy was a middle-aged art lecturer, a wife and mother. To most she was a hero because she was a woman and killed 2 of the hijackers. To some she was considered a villain – probably because she was a woman and shouldn’t have acted. I listened to the audio, and I loved how Claire telling what happened on the train was interspersed with excerpts of the trial and letters to Claire from the publishers of the book she was writing about what happened on the 10:12.
November 22, 2025
This was a most excellent read.
Tense, edge of seat plot with superb characters and honestly it's as mad as box of frogs but nonetheless perfectly possible and plausible.
The author throws in a classic end stage reveal that puts a great finish on an entertaining novel. Landing an ending is no mean feat these days when readers have seen it all before so extra points for that one.
Should fly off the shelves. Would make fantastic tv. Let's hope someone picks it up for adaptation.
High recommend.
Tense, edge of seat plot with superb characters and honestly it's as mad as box of frogs but nonetheless perfectly possible and plausible.
The author throws in a classic end stage reveal that puts a great finish on an entertaining novel. Landing an ending is no mean feat these days when readers have seen it all before so extra points for that one.
Should fly off the shelves. Would make fantastic tv. Let's hope someone picks it up for adaptation.
High recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a gripping and fascinating read, that gave me chills and kept me on edge throughout.
When Claire boards the 10:12 train from Manchester to London, the last thing she expects is to find herself in the centre of a hijacking situation.
One of the things that I found the most interesting was how other people perceived Claire, a 58 year-old woman, and their assumptions that her age would deem her incapable. I am 51 years old so a little bit younger than Claire, but in my head, I don’t feel any different to how I felt when I was 19! So whilst the younger generation would class me as an oldie, I definitely don’t feel that way!
Claire was dealt a devastating blow in her personal life, just that morning, and she finds herself able to channel her shock, anger, and grief into determination to save herself and her fellow passengers from the horrific situation they find themselves facing. The story is told in three alternating parts; the trial, the communication between Claire and her publisher, as she writes a book about the hijacking, and finally, the events on the train as they unfolded.
What isn’t clear, is the why. I could completely relate to Claire‘s need for answers, as I feel that if I suffered through the same ordeal as she had, I would want to know what the point of it all was. This, coupled with the public’s judgement of her actions on the day, made me feel sympathy for Claire and huge admiration as she refused to accept the unacceptable.
The ending wrapped everything up brilliantly, a great read!
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Anna Maloney and Bloomsbury for an ARC of this book.
When Claire boards the 10:12 train from Manchester to London, the last thing she expects is to find herself in the centre of a hijacking situation.
One of the things that I found the most interesting was how other people perceived Claire, a 58 year-old woman, and their assumptions that her age would deem her incapable. I am 51 years old so a little bit younger than Claire, but in my head, I don’t feel any different to how I felt when I was 19! So whilst the younger generation would class me as an oldie, I definitely don’t feel that way!
Claire was dealt a devastating blow in her personal life, just that morning, and she finds herself able to channel her shock, anger, and grief into determination to save herself and her fellow passengers from the horrific situation they find themselves facing. The story is told in three alternating parts; the trial, the communication between Claire and her publisher, as she writes a book about the hijacking, and finally, the events on the train as they unfolded.
What isn’t clear, is the why. I could completely relate to Claire‘s need for answers, as I feel that if I suffered through the same ordeal as she had, I would want to know what the point of it all was. This, coupled with the public’s judgement of her actions on the day, made me feel sympathy for Claire and huge admiration as she refused to accept the unacceptable.
The ending wrapped everything up brilliantly, a great read!
5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Anna Maloney and Bloomsbury for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
3.5 🌟
I loved the premise of this novel and was immediately drawn in by the train hijacking storyline. The opening section is fast-paced and action-packed, and I could easily imagine it translating into a gripping film. The tension is high from the outset and the sense of urgency on the train is very well done.
However, there are a lot of characters introduced early on, particularly among the passengers and the hijackers, and I found this quite overwhelming at times. I struggled to keep track of the different terrorists’ names and backgrounds, which meant I wasn’t as fully immersed in the story as I wanted to be. I would have liked more depth and clarity around their backstories to help distinguish them and strengthen my emotional investment.
I actually enjoyed the second half of the book more. As Claire begins to investigate the motives behind the attack in preparation for her upcoming book, the narrative takes on a more reflective and investigative tone. I really liked the use of mixed formats: texts, letters from people on the train, and court records are woven into the story, giving it a convincing, almost documentary feel. The inclusion of commentary from Claire’s editor about her book was also a clever and original touch.
Overall, this is a highly original and ambitious thriller with a strong concept and some very effective moments. While I admired its structure and creativity, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested as I’d hoped due to the sheer number of characters involved. Still, it’s an engaging read and one I would recommend to fans of unconventional thrillers.
I loved the premise of this novel and was immediately drawn in by the train hijacking storyline. The opening section is fast-paced and action-packed, and I could easily imagine it translating into a gripping film. The tension is high from the outset and the sense of urgency on the train is very well done.
However, there are a lot of characters introduced early on, particularly among the passengers and the hijackers, and I found this quite overwhelming at times. I struggled to keep track of the different terrorists’ names and backgrounds, which meant I wasn’t as fully immersed in the story as I wanted to be. I would have liked more depth and clarity around their backstories to help distinguish them and strengthen my emotional investment.
I actually enjoyed the second half of the book more. As Claire begins to investigate the motives behind the attack in preparation for her upcoming book, the narrative takes on a more reflective and investigative tone. I really liked the use of mixed formats: texts, letters from people on the train, and court records are woven into the story, giving it a convincing, almost documentary feel. The inclusion of commentary from Claire’s editor about her book was also a clever and original touch.
Overall, this is a highly original and ambitious thriller with a strong concept and some very effective moments. While I admired its structure and creativity, I didn’t feel as emotionally invested as I’d hoped due to the sheer number of characters involved. Still, it’s an engaging read and one I would recommend to fans of unconventional thrillers.
January 25, 2026
Having just received some upsetting news regarding her husband, Claire Fitzroy is not in the best of moods when she boards the 10:12 from Manchester to London. She’s anticipating a quiet journey in first class and is annoyed at the behaviour of the obnoxious man sitting next to her and the obvious cokehead a little further down the carriage.
The journey starts - like so many - uneventfully. But it soon becomes the journey that Claire is going to remember for a long time…because the train is hijacked and everyone on board is under threat.
Like so many women of an age, Claire is often overlooked. She finds herself caught up in a truly awful situation, and chooses to try and help those in need. Her decision to help those on board in their attempt to take down the terrorists is not one I fully understand. We follow events through Claire’s perspective, but from a distance as she has - after the trial linked to the attack - decided to write a book about the incident. Her book, with the varying accounts from others who were there or involved, is what we are reading.
From its premise we know that the attack failed. We also know a number of people were injured and some lost their lives. Like Claire, we have questions and want to know why it happened.
Not all our questions are answered. Some are deliberately ignored, and it does become clear later on that there is a conspiracy. The closing stages definitely raise more questions, and help us make sense of some of the elements that didn’t quite gel.
I can see this being a success upon release, and I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review it early.
The journey starts - like so many - uneventfully. But it soon becomes the journey that Claire is going to remember for a long time…because the train is hijacked and everyone on board is under threat.
Like so many women of an age, Claire is often overlooked. She finds herself caught up in a truly awful situation, and chooses to try and help those in need. Her decision to help those on board in their attempt to take down the terrorists is not one I fully understand. We follow events through Claire’s perspective, but from a distance as she has - after the trial linked to the attack - decided to write a book about the incident. Her book, with the varying accounts from others who were there or involved, is what we are reading.
From its premise we know that the attack failed. We also know a number of people were injured and some lost their lives. Like Claire, we have questions and want to know why it happened.
Not all our questions are answered. Some are deliberately ignored, and it does become clear later on that there is a conspiracy. The closing stages definitely raise more questions, and help us make sense of some of the elements that didn’t quite gel.
I can see this being a success upon release, and I’d like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read and review it early.
November 30, 2025
I am writing this review with mixed feelings. As a novel I thought it had a very interesting concept and central character. However, I also found it a little dull.
Claire Fitzroy is a middle-aged woman, who boards a train from Manchester to London. She has been visiting her in-laws who have revealed, by mistake, that her husband, Jim, is thinking of leaving her. As such, she is distracted on the train and, after a visit to the bathroom, emerges to find an armed man in her carriage. For this is a hijacking and, without really meaning to, Claire becomes one of the leaders fighting back.
This is interesting as Claire is a middle-aged woman (rather like myself) and her leadership skills and ability under pressure both help her with trying to extricate herself and others from the events on board but also show how she is represented afterwards. With everyone likely to whip out a phone and record what is going on rather than help, her actions are questioned. This is followed through the actions at the time, the investigation afterwards and how she is perceived. I still found it a bit of a slog. However, I am sure it will be a huge success. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Claire Fitzroy is a middle-aged woman, who boards a train from Manchester to London. She has been visiting her in-laws who have revealed, by mistake, that her husband, Jim, is thinking of leaving her. As such, she is distracted on the train and, after a visit to the bathroom, emerges to find an armed man in her carriage. For this is a hijacking and, without really meaning to, Claire becomes one of the leaders fighting back.
This is interesting as Claire is a middle-aged woman (rather like myself) and her leadership skills and ability under pressure both help her with trying to extricate herself and others from the events on board but also show how she is represented afterwards. With everyone likely to whip out a phone and record what is going on rather than help, her actions are questioned. This is followed through the actions at the time, the investigation afterwards and how she is perceived. I still found it a bit of a slog. However, I am sure it will be a huge success. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
February 24, 2026
Claire Fitzroy is on the 10:12 from Manchester to London. Soon after departing, the train is taken over by Hijackers. Claire doesn’t take this sitting down and decides she will fight back against the terrorists and quickly finds others on the train to help.
The first half of the book follows the train journey and the fight against the terrorists. The pace is quick and the story is pretty high octane as the rebel passengers reclaim the train one carriage at a time. I loved this and consumed this part of the book pretty much in 1-2 days.
The second half of the book follows the Claire and the aftermath and her obsession with WHY the terrorists took over the 10:12. This was a lot slower and way off the pace of the first half.
The book itself was weirdly part of a conversation between Claire and her publishers on her account of the tragic journey, trial and aftermath. I found this a bit weird and not sure it really worked, but I can see why it was done, especially given the ending.
The ending was a decent twist (I think), but it seemed to be a little abrupt and no epilogue. The first half was 5/5 and second 3/5 for me, so have settled with a solid 4/5.
The first half of the book follows the train journey and the fight against the terrorists. The pace is quick and the story is pretty high octane as the rebel passengers reclaim the train one carriage at a time. I loved this and consumed this part of the book pretty much in 1-2 days.
The second half of the book follows the Claire and the aftermath and her obsession with WHY the terrorists took over the 10:12. This was a lot slower and way off the pace of the first half.
The book itself was weirdly part of a conversation between Claire and her publishers on her account of the tragic journey, trial and aftermath. I found this a bit weird and not sure it really worked, but I can see why it was done, especially given the ending.
The ending was a decent twist (I think), but it seemed to be a little abrupt and no epilogue. The first half was 5/5 and second 3/5 for me, so have settled with a solid 4/5.
February 1, 2026
Free courtesy of Netgalley.
First book from me by Anna Maloney and it was a great read. From the start I was drawn in but I truly believed that I was reading a book written by someone who was on the highjacked train, and even googled it to see when it happened, silly me.
There are many twists and turns whilst the story is being told of a group of passengers who fight back. I really enjoyed the story, but was surprised at Claire's inability to let it go, even if it might cost her family and her marriage.
I would recommend this book as it is very well written and like I said at the beginning of this review very believable.
First book from me by Anna Maloney and it was a great read. From the start I was drawn in but I truly believed that I was reading a book written by someone who was on the highjacked train, and even googled it to see when it happened, silly me.
There are many twists and turns whilst the story is being told of a group of passengers who fight back. I really enjoyed the story, but was surprised at Claire's inability to let it go, even if it might cost her family and her marriage.
I would recommend this book as it is very well written and like I said at the beginning of this review very believable.
December 31, 2025
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. It had a good blurb and I was expecting a good read from it but as I was reading I found I didn’t care for the main character who seemed to do whatever she wanted. At the beginning to the chapters there were small pieces of texts but there was no way of knowing who they were from.
I really found it hard to follow and struggled to visualise the hijacking of the train. The second half of the book was also too drawn out and I skim read the ending.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.
I really found it hard to follow and struggled to visualise the hijacking of the train. The second half of the book was also too drawn out and I skim read the ending.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.
Read
December 21, 2025I had high hopes for this story, and I was gripped by the premise. But for me personally the action sequences on the train felt were a little farfetched to me. After the trial there was a lot of information on Claire writing a book and her talking to companions that were on the train and sometimes, I wondered what the relevance of it was that I started losing interest at the end. 3 stars from me.
November 26, 2025
3.5 stars
April 15, 2026
I think this should be made into a tv show
May 31, 2026
Promising early start, downhill from there for me. I had no connections with any of the characters and thought it was written rather clunky in my opinion.
Review of advance copy
Claire Fitzroy is travelling home following a family visit during which her brother-in-law has inadvertently revealed that her husband is leaving her. She boards the 10:12 from Manchester to London, still trying to process this news and within minutes of setting off the train is hijacked. The first part of the book is a minute by minute record of the journey, told from Claire's perspective, as she and a group of fellow passengers try to contain the hijackers and reach the front of the train. The story continues in the aftermath of the hijacking as Claire tries to move on from what happened. She feels that there are unanswered questions about the hijacking and is determined to get to the truth.
I absolutely could not put this down! I was reminded of the BBC TV series 'Nightsleeper', and felt as I was reading the first part of the book that it would make an excellent TV series. The second part of the book was equally compelling as Claire tries to investigate what happened, helped by a sympathetic police officer and hindered by a counter terrorism agent. I really liked the way the book was structured. The book is in the form of a book written by Claire but not yet published. There are therefore queries from the editor at various points along the way, showing that this is very much Claire's recollection of events which sometimes does not tally with what others remembered. There are also excerpts from the trial of the hijackers, mainly the defence barrister interrogating Claire and her fellow 'squad' members who tried to fight back. As usual the barrister tries to lead the witness and I was very pleased that Claire more than held her own.
I felt that Claire's reaction to what happened on the train was very authentic. The author describes her inability to concentrate on anything at first and the subsequent benefit that painting brings, even leading to an exhibition. At the same time the nagging doubts about the lack of cohesion amongst the hijackers and the conviction that the whole thing was masterminded by someone outside the group means that Claire cannot rest. Without giving anything away, I was very pleased with the ending.
How clever that this book is in the form of an unpublished book when it is not yet published! I thoroughly enjoyed it, the themes, the characters and the determination to uncover the truth. I hope it does well - it deserves it!
I absolutely could not put this down! I was reminded of the BBC TV series 'Nightsleeper', and felt as I was reading the first part of the book that it would make an excellent TV series. The second part of the book was equally compelling as Claire tries to investigate what happened, helped by a sympathetic police officer and hindered by a counter terrorism agent. I really liked the way the book was structured. The book is in the form of a book written by Claire but not yet published. There are therefore queries from the editor at various points along the way, showing that this is very much Claire's recollection of events which sometimes does not tally with what others remembered. There are also excerpts from the trial of the hijackers, mainly the defence barrister interrogating Claire and her fellow 'squad' members who tried to fight back. As usual the barrister tries to lead the witness and I was very pleased that Claire more than held her own.
I felt that Claire's reaction to what happened on the train was very authentic. The author describes her inability to concentrate on anything at first and the subsequent benefit that painting brings, even leading to an exhibition. At the same time the nagging doubts about the lack of cohesion amongst the hijackers and the conviction that the whole thing was masterminded by someone outside the group means that Claire cannot rest. Without giving anything away, I was very pleased with the ending.
How clever that this book is in the form of an unpublished book when it is not yet published! I thoroughly enjoyed it, the themes, the characters and the determination to uncover the truth. I hope it does well - it deserves it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Title: The 10:12
Author: Anna Maloney
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult|Harper Perennil
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Elaine Claxton, Sarah Thom, Maxim Reston, Dane Williams, and
Hayden Bishop
Genre: Suspense, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
My Rating: 2.4 Stars
Pages: 320
While fifty-eight-year-old art-teacher/lecturer Claire Fitzroy was waiting for the10:12 to take her home to London from Manchester she and hundreds of passengers discovered the train had been delayed. Everyone is upset and willing to vent to anyone who will listen. So, when the train rolls in they are all pleased!!
As Claire looks around at these strangers the last thing on her mind as well as theirs is that the train would be hijacked. However, that is exactly what happened.
She quickly figured out that they were all in danger and had nothing to lose but did try to defend themselves. So she led a group of passengers in overtaking the hijackers. ~ Thus, saved lives.
However, some didn’t see what she did as heroism as two of the men died.
Up until the case went to trial Claire remained silent.
Now, she’s finally speaking out about what happened that morning on the 10:12
As Claire is waiting for the trail to start, she turns to art. Since the train is heavy on her mind she thinks of it. She decides on a train window and since many of the passengers were good to her, she starts with them.
Although I like this idea and was curious about the motivation of the hijackers, I struggled with the delivery of the story. I did like that there were many audiobook performers and thought they did a great job. I did like most characters but had a hard time with Claire - I did like that she took charge and was a hero but her personality just didn’t come across as a sweet kind caring art teacher – wasn’t sure it was Claire or the narrator’s performance of her.
I know Brits love f-bombs and anyone who knows me knows I don’t. So that was a negative for me. I try to ignore it and the enjoy the story but this one wasn’t working for me.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | Harper Perennial for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 20, 2026.
Author: Anna Maloney
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult|Harper Perennil
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Elaine Claxton, Sarah Thom, Maxim Reston, Dane Williams, and
Hayden Bishop
Genre: Suspense, Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: October 20, 2026
My Rating: 2.4 Stars
Pages: 320
While fifty-eight-year-old art-teacher/lecturer Claire Fitzroy was waiting for the10:12 to take her home to London from Manchester she and hundreds of passengers discovered the train had been delayed. Everyone is upset and willing to vent to anyone who will listen. So, when the train rolls in they are all pleased!!
As Claire looks around at these strangers the last thing on her mind as well as theirs is that the train would be hijacked. However, that is exactly what happened.
She quickly figured out that they were all in danger and had nothing to lose but did try to defend themselves. So she led a group of passengers in overtaking the hijackers. ~ Thus, saved lives.
However, some didn’t see what she did as heroism as two of the men died.
Up until the case went to trial Claire remained silent.
Now, she’s finally speaking out about what happened that morning on the 10:12
As Claire is waiting for the trail to start, she turns to art. Since the train is heavy on her mind she thinks of it. She decides on a train window and since many of the passengers were good to her, she starts with them.
Although I like this idea and was curious about the motivation of the hijackers, I struggled with the delivery of the story. I did like that there were many audiobook performers and thought they did a great job. I did like most characters but had a hard time with Claire - I did like that she took charge and was a hero but her personality just didn’t come across as a sweet kind caring art teacher – wasn’t sure it was Claire or the narrator’s performance of her.
I know Brits love f-bombs and anyone who knows me knows I don’t. So that was a negative for me. I try to ignore it and the enjoy the story but this one wasn’t working for me.
I want to thank NetGalley and HarperAudio Adult | Harper Perennial for this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 20, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🌟🌟1/2
Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the free book.
The 10:12 follows Claire Fitzroy, a middle-aged art lecturer travelling home to London when her train is hijacked by a group of armed men. As the situation becomes increasingly dangerous, Claire finds herself fighting back alongside other passengers, and the events of that day later become the subject of a major trial, public debate, and intense scrutiny over whether she was a hero or crossed a line.
This had such a promising premise, and for a while I thought it might really work for me. Claire was a strong lead character, and once the action on the train finally got going, there were some genuinely tense and exciting moments that kept me reading.
Unfortunately, the pacing became my biggest issue. The story is incredibly detailed, sometimes to the point where scenes that should have felt fast and suspenseful moved very slowly. There are also frequent texts, court excerpts, letters from Claire’s editor, and other documents inserted throughout the book. I understood why they were included, especially since Claire is recounting what happened, but many of them interrupted the flow rather than adding to it. Some of the early text messages were particularly confusing because it wasn’t always clear who was sending them or what they were referring to.
The first half, centred around the train, was easily the strongest part for me. The second half kept hinting that something bigger was coming, which kept me curious, but it became increasingly slow and drawn out. I kept waiting for the story to build toward a big payoff, and unfortunately the ending left me very disappointed. After so much buildup, I wanted the answers to unfold naturally through the story rather than in the way they ultimately did.
Claire was definitely the highlight, and I liked the overall concept, but the excessive detail, stop-and-start structure, slow second half, and unsatisfying ending brought this down for me.
A great premise and a good main character, but unfortunately this one was far too slow and didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for.
Thanks to Harper Perennial and NetGalley for the free book.
The 10:12 follows Claire Fitzroy, a middle-aged art lecturer travelling home to London when her train is hijacked by a group of armed men. As the situation becomes increasingly dangerous, Claire finds herself fighting back alongside other passengers, and the events of that day later become the subject of a major trial, public debate, and intense scrutiny over whether she was a hero or crossed a line.
This had such a promising premise, and for a while I thought it might really work for me. Claire was a strong lead character, and once the action on the train finally got going, there were some genuinely tense and exciting moments that kept me reading.
Unfortunately, the pacing became my biggest issue. The story is incredibly detailed, sometimes to the point where scenes that should have felt fast and suspenseful moved very slowly. There are also frequent texts, court excerpts, letters from Claire’s editor, and other documents inserted throughout the book. I understood why they were included, especially since Claire is recounting what happened, but many of them interrupted the flow rather than adding to it. Some of the early text messages were particularly confusing because it wasn’t always clear who was sending them or what they were referring to.
The first half, centred around the train, was easily the strongest part for me. The second half kept hinting that something bigger was coming, which kept me curious, but it became increasingly slow and drawn out. I kept waiting for the story to build toward a big payoff, and unfortunately the ending left me very disappointed. After so much buildup, I wanted the answers to unfold naturally through the story rather than in the way they ultimately did.
Claire was definitely the highlight, and I liked the overall concept, but the excessive detail, stop-and-start structure, slow second half, and unsatisfying ending brought this down for me.
A great premise and a good main character, but unfortunately this one was far too slow and didn’t deliver the payoff I was hoping for.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have been on a bit of a NetGalley run lately. I think this is my third NG fiction book in the last month or so. I struggled a bit with this one. It was interesting in many ways. Traditional thriller plot, terrorist hijack train and passengers decide to fight back, etc. But it also had some twists in terms of form and plot. The novel takes the form of a manuscript submitted by the main character. Included with the narrative are letters, texts, court transcripts, etc. The twist also involved the fact that the main character is both an unreliable narrator and, at least to me, rather unlikeable. The reader is left to question nearly everyone's motives and reliability. This all leads to a final twist at the end.
It was interesting to think about all the personalities, histories, and different ethical and moral approaches to violence, authority, etc. everyone involved. Would you fight back if someone hijacked a train you were on? Would you listen to the authorities if they told you to stand down and let them handle it even if that mean passively accepting a potentially devastating outcome? Is it possible to truly move on from such a life altering event? All of these questions and more are raised as you follow along.
But it also wasn't always smooth. There is a pretty significant change in tension from the events of the actual train ride and the events after. The second half of the book felt rather haphazard and disconnected at times. As Claire refused to let things go and kept digging the various facts and characters seemed jumbled and disjointed. I get part of the point was to show the difficulty of trying to truly get to the bottom what happened, but it disrupted the narrative flow. I enjoyed the ending and it wrapped things up well, but it felt a little too clever.
An interesting approach for sure, and I think some readers will really enjoy it. But for me it didn't quite all come together.
It was interesting to think about all the personalities, histories, and different ethical and moral approaches to violence, authority, etc. everyone involved. Would you fight back if someone hijacked a train you were on? Would you listen to the authorities if they told you to stand down and let them handle it even if that mean passively accepting a potentially devastating outcome? Is it possible to truly move on from such a life altering event? All of these questions and more are raised as you follow along.
But it also wasn't always smooth. There is a pretty significant change in tension from the events of the actual train ride and the events after. The second half of the book felt rather haphazard and disconnected at times. As Claire refused to let things go and kept digging the various facts and characters seemed jumbled and disjointed. I get part of the point was to show the difficulty of trying to truly get to the bottom what happened, but it disrupted the narrative flow. I enjoyed the ending and it wrapped things up well, but it felt a little too clever.
An interesting approach for sure, and I think some readers will really enjoy it. But for me it didn't quite all come together.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.25 stars. A twisty “high-stakes” thriller positing questions about justice and truth.
Claire Fitzroy is an art lecturer, a middle-aged unassuming woman, who boards a London train to visit her sister in Manchester. Claire is a people watcher so she begins to assess her fellow passengers some of whom will help her in resisting the hijackers who attempt to take over the train. In the ensuing struggle Claire kills someone but she’s not charged with murder. Two years after the event, during the trial of the hijackers, Claire is a witness and is attacked for having caused the event itself! Feeling she needs to vindicate herself by writing a book giving details not known at the trial.
The book is very nonlinear - which is okay but can get a bit jumbled. It’s told through tests, emails, excerpts, interviews and court documents - again okay but switching the narrative up means a more tedious read and less atmosphere, in my opinion. Claire is a strong character - I liked that and that she was an older character (books today gravitate toward younger protagonists so this was refreshing). But I go back to the plot line and its pacing which with all the switches in the storyteller noted above did not increase my enjoyment of what in its premise is a great story.
The book had two halves - the incident and then the trial. This creates almost two stories almost. There is lots of tension in both and I thought it was awful Claire got attacked for what she did, but having watched too many British crime shows and read too many British books about their trials that’s a defense strategy that works really well over there, or so it seems to me. So I would have preferred Claire fighting a murder accusation in the beginning rather than the end as that seems more original to me.
I think readers who love twisty thrillers and having an older protagonist should enjoy this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial to granting me access to this ARC.
Claire Fitzroy is an art lecturer, a middle-aged unassuming woman, who boards a London train to visit her sister in Manchester. Claire is a people watcher so she begins to assess her fellow passengers some of whom will help her in resisting the hijackers who attempt to take over the train. In the ensuing struggle Claire kills someone but she’s not charged with murder. Two years after the event, during the trial of the hijackers, Claire is a witness and is attacked for having caused the event itself! Feeling she needs to vindicate herself by writing a book giving details not known at the trial.
The book is very nonlinear - which is okay but can get a bit jumbled. It’s told through tests, emails, excerpts, interviews and court documents - again okay but switching the narrative up means a more tedious read and less atmosphere, in my opinion. Claire is a strong character - I liked that and that she was an older character (books today gravitate toward younger protagonists so this was refreshing). But I go back to the plot line and its pacing which with all the switches in the storyteller noted above did not increase my enjoyment of what in its premise is a great story.
The book had two halves - the incident and then the trial. This creates almost two stories almost. There is lots of tension in both and I thought it was awful Claire got attacked for what she did, but having watched too many British crime shows and read too many British books about their trials that’s a defense strategy that works really well over there, or so it seems to me. So I would have preferred Claire fighting a murder accusation in the beginning rather than the end as that seems more original to me.
I think readers who love twisty thrillers and having an older protagonist should enjoy this one.
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial to granting me access to this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Imagine boarding your usual morning commute, only for it to turn into a complete nightmare. That is the terrifying premise of The 10:12, a high-stakes thriller that follows Claire Fitzroy after the train she is traveling on gets hijacked.
The first half of this book is absolutely gripping and fast-paced. Claire finds herself right in the thick of the action when the train suddenly jerks, a hijacker stumbles towards her, and she accidentally plunges a knife into him! From that moment on, she is working with a handful of other passengers in a desperate, race-against-time bid to stop the train before it reaches Euston station, where a bomb is supposedly set to detonate. I absolutely loved this first section—the tension was sky-high and it really kept me on the edge of my seat.
After the main event clears, the second part of the story slows down quite a bit. Personally, I didn't find it quite as gripping as the breathless action of the opening half, but Anna Maloney keeps things interesting by introducing a clever second narrative. We get to see Claire discussing a book she is writing about the hijacking with her publisher. This was a fantastic addition, as the publisher starts asking pointed questions about what really happened on that train, adding a whole new layer of intrigue to the plot.
It all builds to a neat little twist right at the end. It’s one of those satisfying moments where the pieces fall into place and you think, “Ah, okay, I get it now!”
While the change of pace in the middle flattened the urgency slightly, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable, clever thriller with a unique structure. If you love a tense, "what would you do?" scenario, this one is definitely worth a read when it hits the shelves.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half of this book is absolutely gripping and fast-paced. Claire finds herself right in the thick of the action when the train suddenly jerks, a hijacker stumbles towards her, and she accidentally plunges a knife into him! From that moment on, she is working with a handful of other passengers in a desperate, race-against-time bid to stop the train before it reaches Euston station, where a bomb is supposedly set to detonate. I absolutely loved this first section—the tension was sky-high and it really kept me on the edge of my seat.
After the main event clears, the second part of the story slows down quite a bit. Personally, I didn't find it quite as gripping as the breathless action of the opening half, but Anna Maloney keeps things interesting by introducing a clever second narrative. We get to see Claire discussing a book she is writing about the hijacking with her publisher. This was a fantastic addition, as the publisher starts asking pointed questions about what really happened on that train, adding a whole new layer of intrigue to the plot.
It all builds to a neat little twist right at the end. It’s one of those satisfying moments where the pieces fall into place and you think, “Ah, okay, I get it now!”
While the change of pace in the middle flattened the urgency slightly, it’s still a thoroughly enjoyable, clever thriller with a unique structure. If you love a tense, "what would you do?" scenario, this one is definitely worth a read when it hits the shelves.
Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an ARC of this book from Harper Perennial via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. It was definitely a unique concept, written in the format of Claire's manuscript about her experience. Reading the synopsis, I did not actually realize that we would experience the hijacking itself; I thought we were only going to hear about the aftermath. However, the first half occurred on the train, and this was definitely the most intriguing part with the most action. My main issue with the portion taking place on the train was that I absolutely could not keep the characters straight. It seemed to me that the author introduced them once quickly and we right away needed to remember everything about them to identify who was who in later action. I also found it confusing with all the carriage letters and moving this way and hiding in that one and this one is closed, etc. The text messages at the beginning of each chapter also confused me. Were we supposed to know who was sending them? It occurred to me after a while that the texts might be about the character most prominently featured in that chapter, but I am still unsure if that was true.
The second half of the book moved a lot more slowly. A lot of repetition, Claire being nervous. I also can't imagine why anyone who defended a train against hijackers would be considered guilty for injuring one of said hijackers? Isn't it clearly self-defense?
I was expecting and waiting for a twist, but it came very, very late. And it was not satisfying in the way it was done and which characters don't actually find out.
The second half of the book moved a lot more slowly. A lot of repetition, Claire being nervous. I also can't imagine why anyone who defended a train against hijackers would be considered guilty for injuring one of said hijackers? Isn't it clearly self-defense?
I was expecting and waiting for a twist, but it came very, very late. And it was not satisfying in the way it was done and which characters don't actually find out.
September 25, 2026
This is an intriguing and well-written first novel. I gave it the following SCORE:
Setting: Present day, Manchester to London, England
Characters: Claire Fitzroy, a 58-year-old professor with family problems, a superb, diverse cast of passengers on the train, a motley gang of terrorists, and the authorities
Overview of plot: Terrorists have taken over the 10:12 train to London. Claire, almost by accident, becomes the default leader of the resistance, thinking the high-speed train can only lead to disaster as it approaches London. But the gang seems disorganized, with no clear motivations, leaving the passengers who choose to fight opportunities to stop the takeover. Throughout the story, the disagreements between Claire and her cohorts to resist versus the authorities and other passengers’ belief that they will only cause more death are key. Readers must pay close attention to the multiple players in action and carefully examine the interspersed comments, official letters, and notes about Claire’s presumed book of the event to enjoy the story the most, including hints of the solution to the mysteries.
Recommendation: 4 stars
Extras: The story is actually in two distinct parts – the thrilling journey of the train with the attempts of the passengers to avert tragedy and follow-up stories, explaining what happened to the lead characters and clearing up some mysteries. The book concludes with all the loose ends tied up neatly and somewhat surprisingly.
Thanx to NetGalley and Raven Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
Setting: Present day, Manchester to London, England
Characters: Claire Fitzroy, a 58-year-old professor with family problems, a superb, diverse cast of passengers on the train, a motley gang of terrorists, and the authorities
Overview of plot: Terrorists have taken over the 10:12 train to London. Claire, almost by accident, becomes the default leader of the resistance, thinking the high-speed train can only lead to disaster as it approaches London. But the gang seems disorganized, with no clear motivations, leaving the passengers who choose to fight opportunities to stop the takeover. Throughout the story, the disagreements between Claire and her cohorts to resist versus the authorities and other passengers’ belief that they will only cause more death are key. Readers must pay close attention to the multiple players in action and carefully examine the interspersed comments, official letters, and notes about Claire’s presumed book of the event to enjoy the story the most, including hints of the solution to the mysteries.
Recommendation: 4 stars
Extras: The story is actually in two distinct parts – the thrilling journey of the train with the attempts of the passengers to avert tragedy and follow-up stories, explaining what happened to the lead characters and clearing up some mysteries. The book concludes with all the loose ends tied up neatly and somewhat surprisingly.
Thanx to NetGalley and Raven Books for the opportunity to provide this candid review.
September 8, 2026
Well, first of all, let's hear it for a kick-a**, 50+ female main character! WHOOT! WHOOT! But anyway.....about the actual book. DEBUT?? No way!! Well, yes way. It IS a debut, and a VERY good one! Claire has just received some crappy news and is riding back home on the 10:12 when it is hi-jacked. We are right there in the thick of it, like watching a movie! The detailing is that good! Claire hooks up with some fellow passengers to try and help get everyone off alive. What goes down then is the topic of Claire's later book. But is that how it all really went down? We see how Claire deals with the aftermath, including the hijacker's trials. The characterization is really good here, which is not always the case when there is this much action. Claire is not always a very likeable person. I liked that. I appreciated the funny bits also. There were a few draggy parts, but the story would always pick back up quickly. The ending is very well done, and I look to forward to what is hopefully a long career for Anna Maloney!
Thank you to #NetGalley, Anna Maloney and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Anna Maloney and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks | Harper Perennial for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I received this uncorrected proof book via a Goodreads Giveaway. It is well written. I would recommend sharing who wrote the text messages within the book.
This book is a good, historical read…sad with some violence.
“I started the morning as someone upset that her marriage might be over. And now I was someone who had accidentally killed a man.”
“Had someone told them there would be fewer coaches - or made sure there would be - and knocked out the electrics in the end coach? Did the hijackers have someone on the inside, with NorthRail, or even on the train?”
“it wasn’t like a train in an old film where passengers could uncouple the carriages they were on and drift safely to a gentle stop while the engines chuffed away with the baddies on board”
“You know that old World War Two acronym, TINA?’
‘There is no alternative”
“Krav MAGA, which means ‘contact combat’ in Hebrew, is a defense system which uses techniques from boxing, martial arts, and street fighting. Its purpose is to finish a fight quickly and aggressively.”
This book is a good, historical read…sad with some violence.
“I started the morning as someone upset that her marriage might be over. And now I was someone who had accidentally killed a man.”
“Had someone told them there would be fewer coaches - or made sure there would be - and knocked out the electrics in the end coach? Did the hijackers have someone on the inside, with NorthRail, or even on the train?”
“it wasn’t like a train in an old film where passengers could uncouple the carriages they were on and drift safely to a gentle stop while the engines chuffed away with the baddies on board”
“You know that old World War Two acronym, TINA?’
‘There is no alternative”
“Krav MAGA, which means ‘contact combat’ in Hebrew, is a defense system which uses techniques from boxing, martial arts, and street fighting. Its purpose is to finish a fight quickly and aggressively.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is presented in such an interesting way! It Is written as an early draft of a book manuscript where the author is discussing her experience as a passenger on a hijacked train, the 10:12 to London. All throughout the book are comments from her and her editor, email drafts, text transcripts, etc. It is a very compelling way to read the story. The story itself is also fascinating, as we the readers are taken step by step through the author, named Claire, experience of arriving to catch her train and then everything that plays out afterward. By having that front row seat, every reader can see how they would have handled the same situation, because an everyday, normal moment turned into a terrifying crisis situation that demanded a response. I really enjoyed this story very much and will look forward to future books by this author, who is truly an emerging talent.
September 27, 2026
This was SO GOOD. I was unable to put it down. I love the older protagonist and seeing events unfold from her perspective. I can relate to her age, so maybe that contributed to my enjoyment. I imagined myself as one of the passengers on the train, and trying to figure out exactly what was going on. I can't wait to read more from this author. I had the audiobook ARC from NetGalley, and before the book had even ended, I had preordered it for our library and recommended it to several friends. In a world where thrillers can sometimes feel tired and overdone, this was fresh and interesting. When I went to submit my rating on Goodreads, I was shocked to see it rated lower than I expected. I would encourage you to just jump in and give it a try. I am a reader who tends to just go along with the story, and I encourage you to do the same and just enjoy it. 5 stars from me. I enjoyed this more than a lot of things I've read lately, and hope she will keep writing in this style.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Often reading thrillers that fall short, "The 10:12" by Anna Maloney is filled with life and death suspense that keeps a reader engaged like a bullet train. (I couldn't resist.) When readers meet our heroine, Claire Fitzroy, we know the her essential details of her backstory, wife, mother, occupation, etc., but as the story unfolds so does Claire. Like the multi-layered narrative, Claire is revealed to readers using narratives, letters, texts, and other communication methods. My only quibble, which I sat with for two days, was how readers learn the final details of this story. Upon reflection it is one of the strongest endings to a thriller I've read in years. The communication method fits perfectly with how this story unfolds. Anna Maloney goes to my "must read" authors list.
Thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and NetGalley for the the opportunity to read this ARC in return for a review.
Thank you Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and NetGalley for the the opportunity to read this ARC in return for a review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Free courtesy of Netgalley.
First book from me by Anna Maloney and it was a great read. From the start I was drawn in but I truly believed that I was reading a book written by someone who was on the hijacked train, and even googled it to see when it happened, silly me.
There are many twists and turns whilst the story is being told of a group of passengers who fight back. I really enjoyed the story, but was surprised at Claire's inability to let it go, even if it might cost her family and her marriage.
I would recommend this book as it is very well written and like I said at the beginning of this review very believable.
First book from me by Anna Maloney and it was a great read. From the start I was drawn in but I truly believed that I was reading a book written by someone who was on the hijacked train, and even googled it to see when it happened, silly me.
There are many twists and turns whilst the story is being told of a group of passengers who fight back. I really enjoyed the story, but was surprised at Claire's inability to let it go, even if it might cost her family and her marriage.
I would recommend this book as it is very well written and like I said at the beginning of this review very believable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The writing in this book is fantastic. I appreciate an author who knows how to craft sentences that pull you in right away, and this one did.
The 10:12: A Novel is about a woman in her fifties named Claire who is taking a train home. Things are not going well for Claire already. When hijackers take over the train, she responds in a way that made my antennae go up. She and other passengers have to come together to survive this situation.
There is more to this woman than I first thought. In fact, I found her to be kind of ruthless and somewhat unlikeable.
The story is Claire's manuscript, a report of what happened.
This is a tense and suspenseful novel!
The 10:12: A Novel is about a woman in her fifties named Claire who is taking a train home. Things are not going well for Claire already. When hijackers take over the train, she responds in a way that made my antennae go up. She and other passengers have to come together to survive this situation.
There is more to this woman than I first thought. In fact, I found her to be kind of ruthless and somewhat unlikeable.
The story is Claire's manuscript, a report of what happened.
This is a tense and suspenseful novel!
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