As much as I wanted to love this book, I found it too boring and too out of touch with today's "hashtag me too" trend. Today, you need only an accusation to have someone's entire career taken away from them, so I can't understand Sarah's inability to effectively to record a single conversation with her lech of a boss. Also, the book's description teases that this book is a thriller, but there are no thrills in this book. It's a slow, painful read.

The topic made me think, of course. Who would I have killed if I had the chance to choose person with no consequence? But, damn, this book sure made even that topic boring. 50% of the way through until anything at all even happens?

Sarah's kids annoyed the hell out of me, too. I didn't escape into this book; I wanted to escape from it.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and T.M. Logan for this ARC. This one has a unique premise. If you could eliminate one person from your life, without consequences, would you do it? All it takes is 29 seconds. Therein lies the dilemma Sarah, a teacher with young children, is faced with in the latest release from T.M. Logan.
The characters and pace quickly engage the reader and take them on a roller coaster ride right. Professor Hawthorne is truly a character that's easy to despise, right along with Sarah. This is the first book I’ve read from this author, but future books will be on my to-read list, as I enjoy quick, thrilling, edge-of-your-seat reads such as this one. Can’t wait to read “Lies” while waiting for this authors next great read.
4 star Reviews on Goodreads, Twitter, Amazon, Book Page ( when accepted) and local book clubs.

This is a book about sexual harassment in the workplace. Sarah is more then capable in the job she holds. But because she does not act on her bosses advances he will not promote her. She happens upon this fork in the road you could say. A turning point. She has the ability to have her boss just disappear. She initially had a hard time with this decision. A mother of two, always doing what’s best for her family can she really have him taken care of? Well after an equally hard day at work she decides YES! She can no longer stand by and let her boss take advantage of his position any longer. This is where it all unravels. Was this the right decision?

This book was full of suspense with a nice little twist at the end.

A twisting, tantalizing ride that had me glued to this book to the very final page. What a story!!! What an ending!!! T. M. Logan is one of my favorite writers and this was probably my favorite book yet. In 29 Seconds, a good deed leads to an offer that is hard to turn down, and those 29 seconds set a plan in motion that will change everything…

About the Book

Sarah Haywood is working hard to get a permanent position at Queen Anne University for two years. She gets top marks from her students, has a steady publication record, has helped launch a new program, and has even found leads for grant funding for their department. But all of her hard work won’t matter as long as Alan Hawthorne is in charge of the department. Given his TV fame, high grant funding, and social connections with the University bigwigs, no one goes anywhere without Alan’s approval.

When Sarah is picking her kids up from daycare one day and witnesses something horrible, she acts on instinct and saves the life of a young girl. A few days later, Sarah is contacted by someone who knows what she did. He wants to reward a rare act of selflessness in a very unique way. He gives Sarah and phone and he tells her that she has 72 hours to call the number in the phone and give them a name. Any name. And that person will disappear.

No second chances. Once the decision is made, Sarah can’t change her mind. Sarah can’t imagine herself taking the deal. Until she gets pushed too far. Sarah makes a 29 second phone call, and it sets in motion a series of events that can’t be stopped…

Reflection

The premise of this book gives me chills whenever I think about it. When I first thought about the deal I felt like Sarah did. Sure, there are people I’d prefer to not have to deal with. But making that call would mean I took action that adversely impacted someone else. But as the story unfolds, we see the terrifying events that push Sarah to her limits.

Alan Hawthorne is QUITE a character. As a doctoral student myself, Logan’s portrayal of the university environment really resonated with me. When you are lower in academia—a grad student or a new professor trying to make tenure—the system rarely works for you. Academia allows power and influence to thrive. A bad track record in academia, even when undeserved, blacklists you from the industry.

Alan Hawthorne was flawlessly written. He is the perfect villain—manipulative, seductive, and diabolical enough that I fell into the trap over and over thinking he might have a limit to his behavior. I can’t wait for readers to see the way Hawthorne works—it is terrifying and brilliant!

Sarah is such a wonderful character as well. She has so much complexity to her story. I didn’t share quite a bit about Sarah in my teaser and I think I will hold off, because her life situation is so fascinating. Her family dynamics, her background in her field, and where she is at in her career—these all made Sarah’s character leap right off the page. And as the book unfolds, from her good deed to the phone call to the aftermath, Sarah is full of surprises. She is a delightful character. I’d read a whole series about Sarah if I could!

The ending…it’s quite frankly jaw-dropping!!! The entire book is twisted, fast-paced, and completely diabolical!!! A must-read thriller with a fascinating premise and an even better delivery!!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my copy. Opinions are my own.

Sexual harassment seems to be a popular topic in the books I've read lately. This one is well written and it has a nice twist - the chance to make her abuser just disappear. But then he comes back and is worse than ever. The twists and turns kept me guessing. Five stars for the quality of writing, even though I would rather get my social lectures in nonfiction books and save my fiction, especially mysteries, for entertainment.

3.5*
Be prepared to suspend all believability! And I mean...ALL!

Oh, I was so excited to read this book! I’ve seen numerous glowing reviews and quickly moved it up my queue.

But… it didn’t quite work out as expected. Maybe if this book had been released ten years ago, maybe even five, it would have had more relevance. But in the face of the #Me Too movement, I just couldn’t get behind this story-line. I'd like to think we've come further than this... but sadly...maybe we haven't...yet!!

29 Seconds....that’s it! And all your problems will disappear! Here’s the inevitable hitch - you can never go back! Nor can you tell anyone about it. No one at all! Most importantly, are you able to live with the decision you’ve just made?

I’m usually able to go with the flow. Put my beliefs on hold as needed. But this one stretched my sense of reality too thin. I truly loved this author’s previous novel Lies. Sadly, this one just didn’t measure up for me.

With so many positive reviews out there, don’t let my opinion sway you!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and T.M. Logan for an ARC to read and review.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of 29 Seconds by T.M. Logan.

If someone offered you a chance to make a person disappear, no questions asked, no chance that it would be linked to you, would you take it? That's the position that Sarah finds herself in after rescuing the daughter of a man in a particular business, and just like the Lannisters, he always pays his debts.

Even as reluctant as Sarah is to get involved with such an offer, she can't help but fantasize what it would be like to be rid of her terrible boss, who is ultimately stealing her ideas, blackmailing her for sexual favors, and threatening her position. Being a single mom, Sarah has a lot to lose if her boss gets the better of her, but is it worth committing a crime.

This was very readable, but I have to admit that the further in I got, the weaker the story became. The characters started out as so ironclad, but slowly morphed into cartoon character versions of themselves, it almost felt silly. I didn't love the ending, as I couldn't get a good feel as to what the author was shooting for as far as overall message. BUT, overall I enjoyed it.

What if your whole life could change in 29 seconds? You just give him one name. One name, and he will make them disappear forever with no ties to you. Would you do it? Could you give the name of your worst enemy?

I was intrigued by this book simply based on its synopsis of giving that one name. I honestly don't think I could even think of a name if I were given that same chance (putting aside the moral and ethical issues of making that decision for a minute). I was curious what scenario someone had to be in to make that decision and be able to live with themselves. Sarah is given this choice. And before she is ever given the opportunity to say a name, I had one picked out for her. One that if I were in her shoes I would not hesitate for one second to say. That is one aspect of the story that really resonated with me. Several books have been written post the #MeToo movement around various scenarios of harrassment women complained about facing. And most of those books I didn't find the scenarios very believable. I felt any woman with a backbone could have shut those situations down in a heartbeat. But the experience Sarah goes through I felt like it could be any woman in her shoes. I could feel every emotion she had. But more importantly, her situation that leads to her big decision of that one name was very believable. I appreciated that about this novel.

Now to the fun stuff.... so how Sarah ends up in the place to where she is asked to give a name is interesting. I'll admit it takes a slow second to get there. Which is why I gave this a 4 star versus a 5 star. But once you get there, hold on to your hats ladies and gentlemen because the race is on and you will not be able to put the book down from there. It's crazy, wild, exciting and even surprising. The author doesn't give you the happy go lucky ending you think is coming. I don't want to give away any spoilers but I promise you will not be disappointed! If you like books with brilliant twists and turns then this is the book for you. If you've been looking for a book with a character you will just hate so much you want to put his face up for target practice, this is the book you're looking for!! I thoroughly enjoyed this read. It was my first by T.M. Logan but it won't be my last!!

My thanks to T.M. Logan, St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've never encountered the threat of sexual abuse in the way that the main character Sarah encounters it but I have to say I've never read a book that made me feel so violated and threatened, on Sarah's behalf. I do avoid this type of subject matter usually, because it makes me feel so uncomfortable but I think the author does a fantastic job of putting us in Sarah's shoes, allowing us to feel her total helplessness to defend herself, to fight off what she knows is going to happen, to feel that total darkness is going to engulf her and there is nothing she can do.

Sarah is a college professor with a powerful, ruthless, out of control sex fiend of a boss but her husband has left her and she is supporting herself and her two children and can't leave her job to find another job that would pay much less. Sarah thinks she can just tough things out, ignore veiled threats and obvious advances, and move up the ladder but her boss makes it clear to her that's not the case. Sarah realizes she is on the brink of ruin because her boss can play God with her career, her body, and her life.

Due to a random incident, Sarah is given a chance to make a difference in her life, to get out from under this tyrant but it goes against everything that is right. Still, she considers whether she would allow something very bad to happen if there was no chance for that thing to ever be connected to her and if that thing would allow her to have a safe, unmolested life. Sarah is trapped and feels like she has nowhere to turn but can she accept what is being offered to her, with just a few simple restrictions?

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Alan Hawthorne is a college professor, television personality...and a reprehensible human being. He
treats the female professors he works with abominably. Sexual harassment is just the tip of the ice
berg. It makes Sarah's job a living hell....but she has to endure it or face annihilation of her career. One afternoon she sees a little girl in danger and takes action to protect her. Turns out the little girl is the daughter of a very dangerous man. That man offers her a burner phone and 72 hours to think things over. Then she can pick one person. And he will make them disappear. Forever. Poof. Gone.

Just a few seconds. One decision that could change her whole life......and would definitely change the life of whoever she chooses. Yes......or no.

Holy crap this book was one hell of a ride! I've read one other book by T. M. Logan, so I expected this to be suspenseful and twisted. And I was right! The story sucked me in from the start. I cannot even imagine working for the pig that Sarah had to put up with day in and day out.....but on the other hand, I couldn't imagine facing the choice that Sarah has thrust in her lap either. And she only has 72 hours to decide if she accepts the offer.....or declines.

I thought I had things figured out.....and then the ending hit me upside the head. Nicely done! I love it when a story has a fun last snap or two!

Another great read from T. M. Logan! Lies was good.....29 Seconds, in my opinion, is even better!

I'm definitely looking forward to more by this author!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St Martin's Press via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

3 Stars.

For the first time in her life, Sarah has the chance to take the bull by the horns.

Give me one name. One person – and I will make them disappear.

It’s not so easy in practice but when given the opportunity, Sarah must make an impossible choice. A detrimental choice. Consequences be damned.

Sarah’s boss Alan has been sexually harassing her for years and unfortunately there hasn’t been a damn thing she could do about it, till now. A chance encounter on a road one morning when Sarah saved a little girl’s life that lasted all of “29 Seconds” has given her the craziest of opportunities. To make her boss disappear. Should she or shouldn’t she? That is the question.

If only this novel lived up to my expectations. Having read T.M. Logan’s last novel, I was really looking forward to “29 Seconds” – however this novel just missed the mark as I felt like the storyline left something to be desired and on the whole felt like the plot was a bit farfetched. That said, I do enjoy T.M. Logan’s writing and will be on the lookout for his next release.

This was another buddy read with Kaceey!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and T.M. Logan for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads and NetGalley on 9.25.19.

https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/2019/09/20/arrivals-a-handful-of-thrillers-you-wont-be-able-to-put-down.html

BOOKS
Arrivals: A handful of thrillers you won’t be able to put down

By Sarah MurdochSpecial to the Star
Fri., Sept. 20, 2019timer2 min. read

As the days get shorter and the nights turn chill, here are five domestic thrillers to warm you up.

What Rose Forgot, Nevada Barr
Here’s a novel that taps into Boomers’ worst nightmare. Rose awakens in a hospital gown with big fat holes in her memory. As the mist lifts, Rose discovers she is living in a Memory Care Unit but is certain she does not have dementia — just drugged to the gills. She sets about executing her escape, a feat that involves poisoning the night nurse with a day’s worth of sedatives. Rose is now on the lam — determined to discover who wants her out of the way, and why.

The Nanny, Gilly Macmillan
Jo, a recent widow, returns to Lake Hall with 10-year-old daughter, Ruby, to stay with her difficult mum. Jo has unhappy childhood memories at Lake Hall, beginning with the unexpected departure of her beloved nanny, Hannah. Soon, Jo and Ruby discover a skull in the lake. Our thoughts immediately turn to Hannah. But then a woman purporting to be Hannah shows up, 30 years later, and is soon entrusted with Ruby. This is MacMillan’s fifth novel, each markedly different from the last, each excellent. If you haven’t read her, The Nanny would be a fine place to start.

The Perfect Wife, JP Delaney
JP Delaney’s third novel in three years offers an audacious premise: Abbie wakes up, she assumes in hospital, her beloved husband Tim, a high-tech savant, at her bedside. To her horror, he tells her she is not his wife but a “cobot,” a companion robot he has developed to replace his wife, Abbie, who has mysteriously disappeared — with Tim the prime suspect. Her vivid memories, her appearance, her voice, are all based on his flesh-and-blood wife. Soon cobot Annie sets off to discover the whereabouts of human Abbie.

29 Seconds, T.M. Logan
Sarah is a young academic at a London university whose career is stalled by a celebrity historian who demands her sexual favours in return for advancement. Through a fortunate happenstance, she is offered the opportunity to have one person in her life vanish. Will she take advantage of this sketchy offer and disappear her predatory supervisor? Of course she will. Sarah’s scholarly field is Christopher Marlowe, whose Doctor Faustus concerns a man who is offered a similar deal with the devil in exchange for his soul.

A Girl Named Anna, Lizzy Barber
Two young women take turns telling their story. Anna, 18, lives a sheltered life with her pious mom in Florida, near Astroland, a famed theme park. Rosie, 16, lives in Britain with parents who have never recovered from their visit to Astroland 15 years ago when their first child, Emily, vanished. Anna and Rosie embark on separate quests, Anna to find out who she is, Rosie to find her missing older sister. A Girl Named Anna won Britain’s Daily Mail’s first-novel competition. An exciting thriller, suitable for teenage readers, with cliffhangers, a plot that clicks along and likable central characters.

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Sarah Murdoch is a Toronto-based writer and a freelance contributor for the Star. Reach her via email: smurdoch49@gmail.com

I didn’t really care for this one. It’s like it’s written horribly it just didn’t rank up with Lies, also written by this aurthor. I thought the plot was ok. Not horrible. But I did finish it easily so...

It looks like I am in the minority on this one. Most of my Goodreads friends gave this book rave reviews.

I found the story to be slow and repetitive. When Sarah rescues a young girl in trouble, her act of bravery puts a powerful and dangerous man in her debt. He offers Sarah a once-in-a-lifetime deal. He can make anyone disappear. No consequences. No comeback. No chance of being found out.

"You give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear. For you.
I don't have a name to give you. There isn't anyone.
Nonsense. Everyone has someone they would like to punish. To have just a little bit more just in the world.
Maybe I'm the exception."
<spoiler>
Let's see, you have a sleazebag of a boss that has been sexually harassing you for 2 years and is about to destroy your career or your degenerate husband who left you and your 2 young kids so he can "find himself" while living with his mistress. Yet can't think of 1 name.

I didn't find the story believable at some parts. What powerful mobster leaves a job unfinished?

I also had an issue with the writing style of how the story ended. Your at the edge-of-your-seat for the finale and then ....
</spoiler>

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of T.M. Logan's "29 Seconds" in exchange of an honest review.

After spending years in school getting her Doctorate, Sarah has spent the last couple of years as a teacher in a temporary position at a university. Her longtime goal is to pick up a permanent faculty assignment. All she has to do is put up with her boss Alan Hawthorne. While he is publicly revered, the female staff know him as the bulletproof prof. He makes inappropriate advances on female associates and uses his position to deprive uncooperative female coworkers of promotions.

Sarah believes if she can hold out a little longer for a permanent position, she will finally be able to tell her boss to shove it where the sun don’t shine. The afternoon Sarah is expecting her promotion, Alan instead tells her that she has been passed over for a permanent position, and not only that but the university is thinking of downsizing the temporary staff because of budget concerns, and if she wants to keep her position she has to decide to play along with his game or not. Completely fed up, Sarah goes home sick the rest of the day. On her way home, Sarah witnesses a possible child abduction in progress. She intervened and the child escapes. Not knowing where the child ended up, Sarah goes back to her life. Soon after her rescue intervention, Sarah sees a mysterious man following her movements. So, she expects the worst when three men ambush her in the parking lot at work. Instead she is taken before a mysterious man who says that she rescued his daughter from being kidnapped and he wants to return the favor. He tells her that if she gives him one name, she will make that person disappear forever. Initially hesitant, Sarah eventually becomes so fed up with her sexually inappropriate boss that she gives in and gives the mystery thug her boss’s name. She regrets it almost immediately. The events that follow throw Sarah’s life into a complete tailspin. Alan Hawthorne is such a complete creep and I really can’t blame Sarah for taking the step she took. This is a fast paced story that was fun to read. There are some notable twists and turns in the story and it has a very gratifying ending. Should be a worthwhile read for anybody. Definitely recommended..

A little too extreme, and the background of several of the characters just didn’t feel believable (like Sarah’s relationship with her kids, Marie’s actions, etc.). Also very confusing to have characters like Hawthorne and Sarah’s dad to be called by multiple names. Sorry but this one wasn’t for me.

T.M. Logan does it again with another fast-paced, thrilling novel that grips you from the start.

What can happen in 29 seconds? You can change the course of your life and all of those around you in just 29 seconds. You can set a plan in motion that cannot be taken back. This is what happens to Sarah. After she saves a young girl from being kidnapped, her father, who is a very powerful man, wants to repay Sarah. He offers to make someone disappear- she just gives him a name. No ties to her. But no going back either. Can Sarah do it? She’s never been involved in the crime world but being sexually harassed and threatened at work is pushing her over the edge. Her boss is constantly threatening her job if she doesn’t give in to sexual favors. Does she make a deal with the devil? Who is the devil in this story?

Although the story is far fetched, I really enjoy this author’s writing style. That along with the short chapter will keep you saying just one more chapter. I felt the same with the author’s last novel, Lies, which is also a page turner. Recommended for great writing style and fast-paced action!

Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC!

After only a few pages in I could not stop reading. I knew this was going to be good! I knew there would be twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, something totally opposite happened. I was for sure Sarah’s plan had failed and that the bad fate would be her’s. But, Sarah was a fighter. She didn’t give up very easily. She was smarter and stronger than Alan Hawthorne. When I started the last chapter I was afraid she had killed Hawthorne and had been caught. But once her plan had been revealed and the details of his downfall laid out I was happy that Sarah had won with help from her family, friends, colleagues, and the mysterious Grosvenor. I definitely recommend reading and I promise once you start this book you won’t be able to put it down.
Review left on Goodreads, also.

Sarah Haywood is the mother of two young children, estranged from her husband, working diligently as a professor in her first teaching job.
Alan Hawthorne is her boss, a famous scholar and television personality. Known for being a lecherous womanizer,
but because he brings in so much money to the university through his grants, he gets away with it.
One day while driving to pick up her children, Sarah gets in the middle of the kidnapping attempt of a young girl and helps prevent it.
The wealthy and powerful father proposes one favor to repay his debt to her. He offers to make the person of her choosing "disappear".
He gives her 72 hours to decide, and a burner phone to contact him, keeping his identity a secret. Once she makes her decision, there is no turning back.
At first Sarah is adamant, she would never choose anyone. But when Alan passes her over for a promotion, and insinuates that she may lose her job if she doesn't have sex with him, she becomes tempted to act. All it will take is for her to make a 29 second call...
This fast paced thriller was impossible to put down, I couldn't wait to see what would happen next!
Entertaining and captivating, an exciting and wild ride to the twisty end.
Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing Group for the e-ARC via NetGalley.
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.

29 Seconds by T.M. Logan is a tense thriller about a woman who has been approached by a mysterious mob boss who wants to reward her for saving his child in the past. He will grant her anything she wishes. She must decide quickly if she wants his help. He knows how to make people just vanish. She happens to want her boss to vanish since his behavior is sexually inappropriate. The tension build us quickly as she struggles with what to do. Her boss is making her job and life unbearable so she must do something. She eventually does but only after she suffers from fear and feels more threatened . Once I started reading I couldln't stop until the end!