Siege by Simon Kernick

Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane in London is a beautiful facility that the monied folk prefer.  When terrorists take over the hotel, who will survive?

Atria Paperbacks sent me a copy of this book for review (thank you).  It has been published, so check with your local bookstore for a copy.

From the first to the last page of this book, this book drips suspense.  The first line sets the tone of the whole story:  "They killed her as soon as she opened the front door."  

This is a well planned attack.  They begin with the cop's family and hold them hostage.  Then they secure the hotel.  The people in the hotel are varied and that adds to the tension.  There's a Saudi man who fills his room with prostitutes, a woman who has just become engaged, a man who intends to commit suicide, another on an assassination mission, and many more.  How they react, how many get killed, and how the cops are reacting keep your interest and make you wonder how it's all going to turn out.

The cop is trying to protect her family and save the people in the hotel.  Those inside are trying to stay alive and escape.  The terrorists are looking forward to sharing the ransom and don't care how many they kill.  There's irony in the fact that even the terrorists have a traitor; there is no honor among thieves.

It was a good read and I kept reading until I finished it.  If you don't mind being scared and witnessing death, this book is for you.  It has a bit of the flavor of a "Die Hard" movie.

Happy reading.