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The Board Room
"The board of Wrentham Industries have ninety minutes to decide who takes the blame - or I kill them all!"
Eight People. Eight Secrets. One Sniper.
On a cold Sunday night in Manhattan, the corrupt corporate board of Wrentham Industries are called to an emergency session - but it turns out to be a setup, created by a mysterious sniper across the street, watching them through his night-sight scope. The office is booby-trapped, the door is locked and the board are held hostage, forced to play his games for the next ninety minutes.
With no way to escape, the members of the board need to decide which of them will take the ultimate responsibility for a terrible environmental accident that they caused by the time the clock hits zero – or else all of them will die.
One by one, they argue their case for survival – and as old rivalries and hatreds are revealed, the darkest secrets begin to come out.
By the end, there might not be anyone left to take the blame, as the board start to fight amongst themselves, the clock ticks down, and the police close in on the sniper…
Eight People. Eight Secrets. One Sniper.
On a cold Sunday night in Manhattan, the corrupt corporate board of Wrentham Industries are called to an emergency session - but it turns out to be a setup, created by a mysterious sniper across the street, watching them through his night-sight scope. The office is booby-trapped, the door is locked and the board are held hostage, forced to play his games for the next ninety minutes.
With no way to escape, the members of the board need to decide which of them will take the ultimate responsibility for a terrible environmental accident that they caused by the time the clock hits zero – or else all of them will die.
One by one, they argue their case for survival – and as old rivalries and hatreds are revealed, the darkest secrets begin to come out.
By the end, there might not be anyone left to take the blame, as the board start to fight amongst themselves, the clock ticks down, and the police close in on the sniper…
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 13, 2023
109 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Jack Gatland
59 books240 followersJack Gatland is the pen name of #1 New York Times Bestselling Writer Tony Lee, who has been writing in all medias for over thirty years including comics, graphic novels, middle grade books, audio drama, TV and film for DC, Marvel, BBC, ITV, Random House, Penguin USA, Hachette and a ton of other publishers and broadcasters on licenses such as Doctor Who, Spider Man, X-Men, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctors, Wallace and Gromit and Shrek. As Tony, he’s toured the country talking to reluctant readers with his ‘Change The Channel’ school tours.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
He’s currently a member of the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain, the Society of Authors, The Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers and the Crime Writer’s Association.
As Jack, he’s writing a new series of Crime Thrillers starring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, recently seconded to the City of London Police department known as the Last Chance Saloon.
The first twelve of these, LETTER FROM THE DEAD, MURDER OF ANGELS, HUNTER HUNTED, WHISPER FOR THE REAPER, TO HUNT A MAGPIE, A RITUAL FOR THE DYING, KILLING THE MUSIC, A DINNER TO DIE FOR, BEHIND THE WIRE, HEAVY IS THE CROWN, STALKING THE RIPPER and A QUIVER OF SORROWS are available now, with book thirteen, MURDER BY MISTLETOE released in December 2022 – with further adventures continuing throughout 2023.
In addition to that, the first book in a new series of Adventure Mysteries starring Robin-Hood style con-man forger-turned treasure hunter Damian Lucas, THE LIONHEART CURSE was released in January 2022, and he has both a new series of crime procedurals, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring ‘Cop for Criminals’ Ellie Reckless including PAINT THE DEAD and STEAL THE GOLD, and a new spy series, spinning out of the DI Walsh series and featuring burned MI5 agent Tom Marlowe including SLEEPING SOLDIERS and TARGET LOCKED.
He can be found at www.tonylee.co.uk and www.jackgatland.com.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
February 25, 2023
I usually enjoy Jack Gatland’s books but this one stunk to high heaven. None of the board room characters had any redeeming features; I was rooting for all of them to be shot before I was even halfway into the book.
Gatland is a British writer who would do well to study American speech patterns before writing another book set in America. We don’t say “extortionate”, we use “exorbitant”. We also don’t say, “It’s half seven” either. And the editor should know that there is a difference between belay and belie. They aren’t interchangeable.
In the future, I’ll stick to DI Declan Walsh and give Gatland’s stand-alone books a pass.
Gatland is a British writer who would do well to study American speech patterns before writing another book set in America. We don’t say “extortionate”, we use “exorbitant”. We also don’t say, “It’s half seven” either. And the editor should know that there is a difference between belay and belie. They aren’t interchangeable.
In the future, I’ll stick to DI Declan Walsh and give Gatland’s stand-alone books a pass.
May 1, 2023
2.25 Rounded Down
The best part about this was the ending.
The characters were very flat.
This just didn't work for me.
The best part about this was the ending.
The characters were very flat.
This just didn't work for me.
February 1, 2023
The Boardroom by Jack Gatland is a standalone novel and is due out on 13 February. It is set in New York. The Board of Wrentham Industries have been called to an emergency meeting. But when they arrive they are given an ultimatum and it all has to do with an Oil Refinery disaster 2 years before. Someone on the Board has to take responsibility. I didn’t like any of them but loved reading this book. Each of them were very quick to point the finger at one of the others as they tried to justify their actions in a disaster caused by them. It was fascinating reading. They can’t escape as they are pinned down by a sniper in the building across from them.
February 15, 2023
Have been on a binge read of Jack Gatland’s books for the last two months and have developed a great liking for his work. I have enjoyed the way each series has interlinked, and allowed a greater knowledge of each leading character.
I had trouble coming to terms with this book initially, accepting the sheer nastiness of the characters, and developing advert dislike of them.
I have not, to my knowledge, read anything where the conclusion surprised me so much.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and, although it is a stand alone book, I hope thst can be more from the unknown heroes.
Thoroughly recommend this book.
I had trouble coming to terms with this book initially, accepting the sheer nastiness of the characters, and developing advert dislike of them.
I have not, to my knowledge, read anything where the conclusion surprised me so much.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and, although it is a stand alone book, I hope thst can be more from the unknown heroes.
Thoroughly recommend this book.
July 10, 2023
Well Done Jack Gatland! Justice Prevails
I read books written by Mr Gatland, 3 series, and enjoy them all but this was a fantastic stand alone book. Well Done!
Corporate greed rules and innocent people are killed. Who tells the truth and who lies? Secrets are revealed, horrible secrets. Justice has called an emergency meeting for the board members and Justice wants answers!
I couldn't put this book down. It is a well written mystery that could easily be a great movie. I recommend this to everyone who enjoys mysteries with frequent twist and turns. This book is loaded with surprises!
I read books written by Mr Gatland, 3 series, and enjoy them all but this was a fantastic stand alone book. Well Done!
Corporate greed rules and innocent people are killed. Who tells the truth and who lies? Secrets are revealed, horrible secrets. Justice has called an emergency meeting for the board members and Justice wants answers!
I couldn't put this book down. It is a well written mystery that could easily be a great movie. I recommend this to everyone who enjoys mysteries with frequent twist and turns. This book is loaded with surprises!
May 2, 2023
Great story
I really enjoyed this this book. A stand alone book by Jack Gatland who writes the DI Walsh books. This had it all, greed, sex and I loved how all the board members turned on each other when the chips were down. The story moved along at such a pace and I wanted to know what happened next. The ending was a surprise, which was good. None of the characters were likeable, they were only worried about themselves and weren't ashamed about spilling others secrets. Definitely recommend this book if you like intrigue and horrible people getting their comeuppance.
I really enjoyed this this book. A stand alone book by Jack Gatland who writes the DI Walsh books. This had it all, greed, sex and I loved how all the board members turned on each other when the chips were down. The story moved along at such a pace and I wanted to know what happened next. The ending was a surprise, which was good. None of the characters were likeable, they were only worried about themselves and weren't ashamed about spilling others secrets. Definitely recommend this book if you like intrigue and horrible people getting their comeuppance.
July 7, 2024
2.5 rounded up. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Declan Walsh series. This book, not so much. It was easy to put down and hard to pick up again. None of the characters had any redeeming qualities; they were caricatures of greed and sociopathic behavior. The setting was in New York City, but the idioms and language were definitely leaning more toward British. It was just enough to be "off." On the positive side, I was pleased with the ending.
The latest DI Declan Walsh has just been released; I'm going to jump into that and distance myself from this board meeting.
The latest DI Declan Walsh has just been released; I'm going to jump into that and distance myself from this board meeting.
March 18, 2023
The Boardroom is a sarcastic humor about big corporation CEOs and their cohorts. You know those kind that live in a “boardroom”, right? I like this book, it has so much potential to be a new 12 angry men (my fav) but while the plot is cool and the twist nicely done I felt like the bickering between the hostages were a little too comedy. Anyway, this is a surprise entertaining read, really. Hope to see if there will be more. 4.3 stars
June 9, 2025
🎧 Audiobook
An interesting listen, I believe it would be just as interesting if made into a movie too.
I liked the premise of the book, the reveals of everyone's secrets and their subsequent karma, I began suspecting part of the ending but didn't guess the full twist so that will still fun.
The narrator - Luke Welland also did an amazing job with all the arguments that occurred in the book.
An interesting listen, I believe it would be just as interesting if made into a movie too.
I liked the premise of the book, the reveals of everyone's secrets and their subsequent karma, I began suspecting part of the ending but didn't guess the full twist so that will still fun.
The narrator - Luke Welland also did an amazing job with all the arguments that occurred in the book.
September 17, 2023
Different
Yes it had twists, but there wasn’t one character that was even a little bit likable. They all could have died half way through. The cop too everything at face value. Didn’t like this one at all.
Yes it had twists, but there wasn’t one character that was even a little bit likable. They all could have died half way through. The cop too everything at face value. Didn’t like this one at all.
February 10, 2023
A stand alone book this time, completely different from previous publications. The concept was excellent even though I didn’t like any of the characters but then I think that’s the idea!
February 20, 2023
A compulsive read
Could not put this book down,
a good story well told. A little bit different to other -who -done- it's made compulsive reading .
Could not put this book down,
a good story well told. A little bit different to other -who -done- it's made compulsive reading .
March 24, 2023
intriguing from the beginning
Well written and very believable. This could go on at a lot of board level’s. So gripping I read it in 2 days.
Well written and very believable. This could go on at a lot of board level’s. So gripping I read it in 2 days.
April 22, 2023
Not for me
I got to the end but only through powering through. Not the usual style from Gatland. I found the story frustrating and slow.
I got to the end but only through powering through. Not the usual style from Gatland. I found the story frustrating and slow.
April 13, 2024
edge of the seat stuff
Exciting, intense, incredibly clever and so, so much fun. I could hardly bear stopping at bedtime. Resumed this morning. Thanks!
Exciting, intense, incredibly clever and so, so much fun. I could hardly bear stopping at bedtime. Resumed this morning. Thanks!
April 28, 2024
Superbly written for a film script, me thinks…..
If you put the cast from The Gentlemen in the boardroom and it would really work for the character representation,
If you put the cast from The Gentlemen in the boardroom and it would really work for the character representation,
August 17, 2024
Wow, just Wow
Definitely left me wanting more of the story, I hope there is more to come. Good book, love the author.
Definitely left me wanting more of the story, I hope there is more to come. Good book, love the author.
June 9, 2025
Highly original
A book that I can’t compare to other stand alone book. Brilliant from the very first page. Trying to second guess what happens nest! Gatland 1 Tracy 0
A book that I can’t compare to other stand alone book. Brilliant from the very first page. Trying to second guess what happens nest! Gatland 1 Tracy 0
March 13, 2023
An unpleasant book to read about a group of unpleasant people held hostage in their company board room by a disgruntled patriot. Hardly a "gripping suspense thriller" as the title suggests, the story is somewhat dull and full of foul language. Not a keeper.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews