On one of the hottest nights ever recorded in New York City, two major events take place: a city-wide power outage, and a woman is shot dead in an empty pool in Astoria Park. She’s a fellow NYPD detective and close friend of Sam Archer. It turns out the rest of her police team have disappeared and a call comes into the Counter-Terrorism Bureau the following morning. The three detectives have been kidnapped and a high ransom demand is made.
The missing three are all members of Sergeant Jake Hendricks’ team, a colleague of Archer’s with a bruising approach to policework. Working with his detective partner, the rest of his team out of town, Archer offers to deliver the ransom, but then discovers what the kidnappers want isn’t that straightforward. While being run around the sweltering city, doing all he can to obey instructions to keep his colleagues alive, Archer must try to find out why Hendricks’ team has been targeted. There are certain clues, linking back to incidents in the past. A dead police officer, killed in his home in August 2001. A firefighter who committed suicide a few weeks later, on the morning of 9/11. And a woman who knows more, but has been intimidated into remaining silent. Archer is determined to find who killed his friend and what the connection is between these events.
But in the stifling heat of the city, there are people who are equally determined to stop him.
Born in Sydney, Australia and raised in England and Brunei, Tom Barber has always had a passion for writing and story-telling. It took him to Nottingham University, England, where he graduated in 2009 with a 2:1 BA Hons in English Studies. Post-graduation, Tom moved to New York City and completed the 2 Year Meisner Acting training programme at The William Esper Studio, furthering his love of acting and screen-writing.
Upon his return to the UK in late 2011, Tom set to work on his debut novel, Nine Lives, which has since become a five-star rated Amazon UK Kindle hit. The following books in the series have been equally successful, garnering five-star reviews in the US, UK, France, Australia and Canada. The Sam Archer series has had over a million books downloaded worldwide and each title is currently being adapted into audiobook format.
Tom spends most of his time back and forth between the US and the UK. He can be contacted at http://www.tom-barber.co.uk/
Complicated premise which starts with the kidnap of four cops after a power outage. There were enough twists in every chapter and many characters who were weaved together in the complex plot. The story was brought together in the end well. Liked it.
How much trouble can you cope with in just one day? To start with it is way too hot in New York, when one of the teams with which Sam Archer is associated has all its members kidnapped, with one shot to demonstrate the seriousness of the kidnapping. At first it all appears to be for money, but there is a deeper underlying plot that moves extremely quickly, presenting Archer and his remaining colleagues with a series of very difficult situations, which each require a great deal of speed. The tension is ramped up throughout the book, the storyline involving two murders shortly after 9/11, taking advantage of the chaos at the time, and only now coming to light. Archer and his team really do not know who to trust apart from each other and, surprisingly, the wife of one of the team members who has already tried to find someone who assaulted her as a warning to her husband. A very fast-paced read, and one which takes some putting down once you get involved.
Even the author lost track of who his characters were. Screwing up their names. A nice try at weaving a bunch of characters and plots, but just came up too contrived and coincidence ridden. This author usually does a great job explaining away coincidences, but not this time. I rolled my eyes so many times I nearly induced a seizure . Too many mistakes. A car rolls over only to have the occupants drive away later?? How? One character attacks a female, yet she looks up and stares at a character not even in the scene? And way too many grammatical errors. He needs a better editor. Much better. I really like this author and this series. A lot. So this all highly critical. And it should be. Gave three stars. Despite being painful at times, was still enjoyable. Just not nearly as enjoyable as the other books in the series.
The power is out in NYC. People are doing what they have to to survive the heat. Then the Counter Terrorism Bureau discovers that one of their members has been murdered and 3 others are missing. The team is headed by Sargeant Jake Hendricks who narrowly escapes a car bomb right in front of his teenage daughter. Meanwhile Sam's team along with Hendrick's team are being investigated by IA and they are not being nice about it!
As Sam and his partner Josh try to find and rescue those who are missing they find themselves in the cross hairs of the people who are to blame and the culprits are much closer than anyone would have thought.
An amazing, fast paced, edge of your seat, can't put down read.
Tom Barber is a master story teller who holds your attention chapter after chapter. His fast paced action packed story of the police corruption of a group officers and the level they would go to cover it up while Sam Archer chases them down. Couldn't put it down, I am ready for the next Archer book. I would recommend this series for anyone who enjoys a great thriller
I just love this series. The detail given the Characters in this must have been exhausting. I just loved the back forth of the book keeping up with everything. Do yourself a favor and enjoy this book and tell all you readers they’ll arriviste you for it. GMR
Tom Barber continues to impress with his tenth Sam Archer novel. Barber does a great job of keeping you on the edge of your seat and that’s often difficult for a book to inspire that level of tension in me. I am greatly looking forward to number eleven.
I’ve read them all and this is the best. Heart thumping action from page 1 till the end. Great concept and well told and super fast paced. Loved it. Can’t wait for next
So many things happening in Manhatten! Sam may not follow the book when solving cases and that's a GOOD thing!! The deceit and craziness that befalls Sam and his team keep you on the edge of your seat.
This is, by far, my favorite story. Yes, they are becoming repetitive and unlikely. But I keep coming back. I’m not going to offer any constructive criticism or complaints. It’s not a perfect read, simply one that I became emotionally vested in.
Similar ( many of the people we already know), but different pulse pounding storyline. Same action packed pace, always easy to read and one of my favorite authors!
Another great read but don't like the way people who help out Archer get killed and don't see how someone can get a shot at a tall building from a car !!
This series is amazingly so good! Very fast paced and action packed. I nail bitter. I am so enjoying every book in this series. The author is a master story teller!