The Last 10 Seconds [Import] [Paperback]

Simon Kernick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2010

The new race-against-time bestseller from the British Harlan Coben.

When ex-police officer John Cone is found lying wounded in a room full of dead bodies, he has a terrifying story to tell.

Three days earlier he was hired by a mysterious client to snatch a suspected serial killer, Andrew Kent (aka the Penthouse Predator) from custody while he's being transferred between prisons. Kent is snatched, but then things immediately go wrong. People start dying, Kent goes missing, and Cone begins to realize that the case against him is not what he was led to believe.

Sharing that suspicion is newly promoted DI Tina Boyd, one of the murder squad team who arrested Kent several months earlier. But now Kent's disappeared, and Tina has to find him. And find him fast, because it's clear some very high-powered people want to silence him.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

SIMON KERNICK is one of Britain's most exciting new thriller writers, arriving on the scene with his highly acclaimed debut novel, The Business of Dying. His breakthrough novel, Relentless, became the bestselling thriller of 2007.

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Press; Airports / Ireland / Export and Waterstones ed edition (February 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0593062876
• ISBN-13: 978-0593062876
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,843,883 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Highly enjoyable, totally forgettable, July 16, 2010

By 

Julia Flyte - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Last 10 Seconds (Kindle Edition)

This is a rapid page turner which reads like many of Simon Kernick's other thrillers: dual storylines featuring familiar characters, unfolding at a breakneck pace. He's a master at ending chapters that make you want to read just one more.

When the book starts, Tina Boyd is arresting Andrew Kent, a serial killer who goes by the nickname of the "Night Creeper". The evidence against him seems clearcut, but she starts to harbor doubts that she's got the right man. At the same time, policeman Sean Egan is going undercover to infiltrate a criminal gang who are planning something highly lucrative. His motivations are personal as well as professional. These two storylines are connected, although it takes a while for the connection to emerge.

The first two thirds of the book are excellent and tear along nicely. However as the story starts to come together it becomes increasingly silly and riddled with unlikely coincidences. The hero also has the ability to keep going despite being beaten and/or shot numerous times.

A good holiday read, very enjoyable but also totally forgettable.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing tale, May 31, 2011

By 

Midnight - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last 10 Seconds (Mass Market Paperback)

The tale is based around undercover cop Sean Egan and DI Tina Boyd and set in London.

The two separate story lines are skillfully joined and brought successfully together as the narrative unfolds.

As always with Simon's books, this engrossing tale gripped from the start.

The author has honed his exceptional writing skills with each new novel and manages to captivate his readers from the very start providing convincing thrillers each time.

Excellent characters and a gripping story ensure a thoroughly entertaining roller coaster of a read.

I highly recommend this book and once you've been enthralled by this try The Payback - it's brilliant as well!

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I've ever read, January 25, 2012

By 

Steve Jones (London, UK.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last 10 Seconds (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not a big fan of crime thrillers but when I first read one of Simon Kernick's books I was blown away. There are very few books that I just can't put down, but Simon's books all make me just want to keep reading until the end. The THE LAST 10 SECONDS is one his his best and is a truly gripping read. It is action packed from beginning to end. What makes the book so enjoyable for me is that it is based on real life and the plot is very believable. This is really what goes on in some of our big cities. I highly recommend this book.