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First Response

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First Response

By: Stephen Leather
Narrated by: Paul Thornley
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About this listen

From best-selling writer Stephen Leather comes an utterly addictive all-action thriller in which a huge terrorist threat to the capital can only be stopped by one man.

From the best-selling author of the Spider Shepherd and Jack Nightingale series comes First Response, the utterly addictive new thriller by Stephen Leather.

London is under siege.

Nine men in suicide vests primed to explode hold hostages in nine different locations around the city, and are ready to die for their cause.

Their mission: to force the government to release jihadist prisoners from Belmarsh Prison.

Their deadline: 6 p.m. Today.

But the bombers are cleanskins, terrorists with no obvious link to any group, and who do not appear on any anti-terror watch list. What has brought them together on this one day to act in this way?

Mo Kamran is the Superintendent in charge of the Special Crime and Operations branch of the Met. As the disaster unfolds and the SAS, armed police, and other emergency services rush to the scenes, he is tasked with preventing the biggest terrorist outrage the capital has ever known.

But nothing is what it seems. And only Kamran has the big picture. Will anyone believe him?

A chillingly plausible and pulse-pounding depiction of how London might be held to ransom in a concerted terrorist attack: this is thriller writing at its very best.

©2016 Stephen Leather (P)2016 Hodder & Stoughton
Action & Adventure Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting Fiction

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All stars
Most relevant  
The story is pretty straightforward. The writing is quite basic and the author uses the same phrases and descriptions over and over. I was hoping for some action, and the buildup suggests there will be some, and then... there isn't. The narrator also has quite a halting style which i find hard to be absorbed by. I did finish the book, and it was alright. But only 3 stars. I probably won't buy another Leather book, and will probably avoid Thornley as well.

Hmm

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A good story that keeps your wondering, but the narration makes it as good as it is

Fantastically delivered

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From the beginning of the audiobook I thought it was a great story and the suspense kept building.

And then came the revelation of why the antagonists hatched this elaborate plan, and it was a huge disappointment. Way too simple am ending to resolve the story.

Not to post any spoilers, but it seems a waste for such a strong story to be based on such a weak conclusion.

Great build up, very weak conclusion

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brilliant story line with a twist at the end. well worth a read. well presented.

enjoyable book

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I found the story a little slow to get going but it is well worth a credit. If you like a storyline that is fragmented into multiple parts and is constantly switching from one to the other then you will like this and there is a great (if a little soppy) twist at the end which I never saw coming. I've added the author to my "watch list" for future credit spends. Paul Thornley did a great job with the reading too.

Slow burner

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A seemingly straight forward start has added details and complication over its 20 chapters resulting in a very interesting and eventful overall story.

The closing chapters are definitely the highlight but would not have been so if the rest of the book did not succeed in building tension, interest and a great sense of mystery which ends excellently.

The Narrator does an excellent job.

Definitely worth a listen!

Better and better until the last sentence.

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Would you listen to First Response again? Why?

Unlikely to listen again because, well, I don't do that but I have recommended it to many.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mo

Which scene did you most enjoy?

Too many to list

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Maybe ...if I had enough hours free - as it is, it filled and inspired many hours of dog walking so my pooch was very happy.

Any additional comments?

I've worked in many Emergency Planning scenarios and this seemed so very realistic. Leather's research seems pretty impeccable with regard to procedures and the pacing is relentless and utterly addictive.

Alarmingly realistic

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Was on the deal of the day.
What a great book keeps you guessing right to the end
Modern day plot with this could happen
Enjoy

I am sure will be a TV drama

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I ordered this book as part of one of the deals Audible offers. It is not the type of book I would normally listen to and I hadn't heard of Stephen Leather or Paul Thornley but the blurb sounded intriguing. I made a good choice.

The story gripped me from the word go and continued to do so until the end. The narration was smooth, had good timing, was clear and didn't grate as some do.

I am definitely going to add this author and narrator to my 'look for' list and here's hoping the next book I find is as good.

Unexpected Find

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An unexpected out come. A great plot. Well thought out worth a read

Unexpected twist

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