⭐️Book Review ⭐️
The Passengers by John Marrs
5/5 Stars


In the age where technology is constantly taking over, this book hit home. In my 40’s I still find it hard to believe I’ve only had a cell phone for 20 years; now my phone is a mini computer. My first car was a manual transmission with roll up windows and now cars parallel park themselves.


This book takes you on a wild ride- literally. Imagine yourself in your Level 5 autonomous car. It has no steering wheel, no gas/break pedals, just the luxury of telling the voice operator where to drive. Sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. Or not.


This morning eight people find themselves locked in their cars, windows turned opaque and controls taken over by a hacker. They are all given 2 1/2 hrs to drive to an unspecified location. Then they will die.


All eight drivers are put up on social media and given a chance to plead their story. To try and save their own life. The hacker will spare just one. Who will win the vote? Who has skeletons in the closet?


The twists and thrills that come at you in this one aren’t just the driving. I couldn’t put this one down!!



**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. I received a copy of this in exchange for an honest review. **

This was my first book from John Marrs and now I need to go check out his backlist! The Passengers was a twisty, sci-fi thriller set in a plausible near future about self-driving vehicles.

One day, 8 seemingly random people enter their self-driving cars only to find themselves kidnapped, and informed they will be dying in 2 1/2 hours. What's worse is that their entire ordeal is televised on social media with the entire world able to vote which one to save. It's the most terrifying reality TV possible.

And I could not turn the pages fast enough. I love sci-fi, especially advanced technology sci-fi. The fact that we are at the beginning of this technology right now is both thrilling and horrifying at the thought of everything that really can go wrong.

This premise really makes you weigh the options of self-driving cars. Yikes. Well done, John Marrs!

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the advance copy!*

Wow, this was really good! Thrilling, scary, and nicely crafted. Absolutely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and experience this unique novel.

To be honest, I was so nervous about reading this because this is a true fear of mine…no kidding! I drive quite often and dream of the day we have self-driving cars. But this? This is allll too real. This read like a Twilight Zone episode and I absolutely loved it. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was trying to predict what would happen next, but I couldn’t! This is a must read thriller!

I loved John Marrs' first book, The One, and liked the beginning of this book. However, at some point it lost me and I stopped caring so much. By the end I was skimming and I am not motivated to post a blog on it. I am trying to put my finger on what I didn't like. I was intrigued by the initial Hacking situation but something about the Libby character felt too forced and the motives were too confusing. I did love the references back to matching technology in The One. I love the author's imagination and curious to see what he'll do next.

The Passengers is a thrilling suspense book that kept me in suspense for almost the entire read. The many characters are all fully fleshed out and felt real to me. I loved that there was a twist that I didn't see coming at all and I actually cared for Libby as if I knew her. Loved this book and will recommend it to all of my friends.

This novel is in every way original, thrilling and compelling. The issues of morality, ethics, politics and self-interest come across clearly and are thought about long after the book has been read. The fact that this novel can accomplish all that while delivering a truly interesting and plausible concept in a page turner is nothing short of genius. While the character development may be a little one dimensional and the writing stilted and trite at times the plot propels this story forward much like an uncontrollable self-driving car.

This book was so good! It's part Hunger Games, part I, Robot (Will Smith) part Speed (Keanu Reeves) and even has some vibes of another old Sandra Bullock movie, The Net!

We’re living in Britain and the entire country has switched to self driving cars. It’s a high tech world and your data is being downloaded and saved. Your Fitbit, your browser history, everything is synced.

Six passengers are whisked away in these cars and the hacker announces that everyone is going to die and that the cars will be in a head on collision with each other. They’re being filmed and streamed all over the world.

We’re introduced to the six passengers and each on has a pretty big secret. The reader watches each character go through the most intense fear and anger and frustration as they realize what’s happening.

I enjoyed the pacing and how it was laid out in three parts. I was on the edge of my seat and couldn’t figure out Jude at all. Libby was a good character and I really liked Heidi in the end.

Solid mystery thriller. Some of the British politics went over my head but overall a great read.

I really enjoyed The One by John Marrs so I was very excited to be approved for an egalley of this book. The book is set in a time where cars are driven by an AI and our protagonist is asked to be the jury in a case where a death was caused by such an automatic car. When she arrives there, she and the other officials present in the hearing are taken hostage by an anonymous person along with a some drivers travelling in automatic cars which the anonymous person hacked. Everyone around the world can see in real time what is happening with the passengers of these vehicles and the hostages and they have to obey the dictates of the anonymous person or be killed. To know why these people were targeted and what the motive behind these events are, you need to read the rest of the story. It was an exhilarating, adrenaline pumping read and I finished the book in one sitting. Highly recommend.

John Marrs is a new author for me. I absolutely love his writing style. The Passengers was a quick read and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. The final outcome was surprising and I didn’t see it coming. The best kind of ending.

Thank you Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I simply found this too much of a sci-fi book and less like a traditional thriller.

I know it’s very timely now and lots of people will enjoy the twists and unexpected actions, but I need something a bit more now and less future.

I've read several books by John Marrs, and have loved all of them, and The Passengers was no exception. From the very first page, I was hooked on this twisted story of a group of strangers each trapped in a driverless car, on a quick course to collision. We don't know why, or who is behind it, and I ate up every word! The plot moves quickly, and I couldn't take my eyes off the page - I needed answers! 

One of the things I loved about this book was Marrs' ability to incorporate a touch of sci-fi into an otherwise realistic book. The technology we have today is so close to being able to allow totally driverless cars, so it didn't feel that far off, but The Passengers provided a look at how things might not always turn out as planned, and how relying on AI and technology has other consequences. In that same vein, Marrs also included some tidbits of information from one of his other books, The One, where people can find out their one true "soulmate" based on their DNA - I loved that overlap between books!

The public is asked to decide which of the passengers gets to live, but they only get 10 minutes talking to each person to decide. I was definitely facing some internal moral dilemmas when I thought about which of the characters I'd choose to save and why. How can someone make that choice on such a quick judgement call? That's the question the public has to answer, knowing they'd be effectively sentencing several other people to their deaths by not choosing them to live.  In the Authors Note at the end, Marrs included a link to an ethical study and quiz from MIT related to this topic that I'll definitely be checking out. 

Each of our Passengers has a secret that's bound to come out, and the whole world is watching. Can they convince the public to save them, even when the worst about them is revealed? You'll have to read to see how it all ends!

I really enjoyed the end of the book, and would love to see a short story dealing with the aftermath of the final few chapters, though I do think the lack of clear closure regarding one of the storylines worked well. Marrs continues to be an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to see what he comes up with next!

Another great book by Marrs that calls our morals and ethics into question.

The book is set in the same futuristic world as in The One with advanced technology that is taking over. Not by unwanted choice, but as they say technology is the future. Loved the cameo that the book makes in this one. It just makes sense that it is not a different kind of world, but the extension of his previous one.

The story is built on the fact, that all the ordinary cars have been removed from the streets, and replaced by fully autonomous vehicles. Meaning, no interference by a human can be done. It's supposed to save the world from accidents - and it has, the rates have dropped tremendously. However, it seems like someone has managed to hack in and hijack 8 different cars, reprogram their set course, and set one towards a collision. The lives of those 8 passengers is put into the hands of humans. Can they pick who lives or dies? And what is the end goal of this hijacker?

The story line was great. It introduced a lot of different characters, but I loved that every single one was flawed. There was noone that was a seemingly great person. Their own morals and ethics were put on display, as well of the passengers that seem random. It showed how we cannot understand the whole picture just from a glimpse into their lives. I loved all the secrets.

Like I said in the beginning, Marrs is a pro at bringing up all the moral and ethical questions. This book made me think, and rethink of how I perceive other people, and if I judge and condemn them too quick. Another great book by this author.

What a ride!! Literally! This book was so much more than a thriller… it will make you think! Here are my pros and cons for The Passengers:

Pros

- I was immediately drawn in by the narrative. You initially meet all of the “passengers” before they get into the ill-fated self-driving cars. There is a large cast of characters in this story and I felt like I knew each of them well from the very onset.
- After being drawn in, I never once lost interest. The book just builds and builds and the tension grows and the plot gets much more profound than I initially anticipated. It was absolutely unputdownable!
- The person controlling the cars, the “Hacker”, has specifically given a jury of people along with the general public (via social media) the responsibility to select which of the hijacked passengers will live or die. Without giving too much away, suffice it to say information is provided about each passenger, but no one really knows if the information is the truth or if the whole story was provided. Regardless, a decision has to be made on who to save and who to kill and there are consequences if a decision is not made. This set up was intriguing, uncomfortable, distressing, and disturbing. The whole situation was like looking at a car wreck (no pun intended)… you don’t want to look, but for some reason you can’t look away either. It was mesmerizing.
- In the face of such a difficult decision, many “isms” unavoidably present themselves – racism, ageism, sexism. Prejudices are revealed as the jury and the public make suggestions on the fate of the various passengers. I felt like I was experiencing this harrowing event with the jury — struggling with everyone to make this impossible decision and wondering what I would do.
- This was also an interesting and frightening study of social media and the mob mentality. Reading about how social media followers reacted to the situation in this story was one of the scarier aspects of the book, probably because it rang a tad too close to how “keyboard warriors” seem to react in real life about any number of topics.
- The ending was perhaps a bit dragged out for me personally, but it was ultimately wrapped up nicely and the very end was particularly satisfying.

Cons

None. I really loved this book.

Summary
This book made me think A LOT! How many of us have made decisions based solely on information provided with no way to determine its validity? How often do people take one person’s word for something and accept it as fact? How often do you even care about getting both sides to a story? In a stressful situation, do you feel like you would make rational decisions or respond in kind with the masses? What do you think about 100% driver-less cars? Would you embrace them or fear them? With the potential for hacking, does that change your opinion?

This book is not only a fantastic thriller, but a thought-provoking novel and very apropos for our current times. I will read more of John Marrs’ books in a heartbeat and I would recommend this particular book to anyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in the future, driverless cars have become the norm in Britain. 8 passengers in driverless cars find themselves suddenly on a different course, and a voice telling them their car has been taken over, and they are going to die in less than 3 hours.

As panic for each of the passengers sets in, they are each broadcast live to millions of views via social media and news networks from camera within the vehicles. A jury of people who are set to decide the fault of other driverless car accidents sees the broadcast in the middle of their deliberation and find that the hacker has wrapped them up into the hostage situation. The hacker forces the jury to deliberate and decide which passenger gets to live, while all others will die.

This book had me HOOKED from the first chapter. This is my second John Marr’s book and I know it won’t be my last. He is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I highly recommend this one AND his previous novel ‘The One” if you love a great thriller you won’t want to put down!
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Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest review!

A fast paced heart pounding thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat as it takes you from one wicked twist and turn to another. The Passengers is a blend of realism mixed with sci fi that we can all envision in the not too distant future which is what makes this so very believable, captivating and hard to put down.

If you are looking for something different that will get your mind turning, your heart pounding and at times, on the edge of your seat, this is definitely something you should consider picking up.

What a dark and possible nightmare!

In the near future, people are using self-driving cars. One day, eight passengers are taken hostages by a mysterious voice. Their routes are modified and they are told they are in a collision course to their death. Social media and a group of selected people are all in charge of selecting the sole survivor.

Who would you pick?

The pregnant female? The husband or wife? The abused wife? Or the man you met once and had a connection with?

The hacker has placed cameras inside each of the cars. He also has cameras inside the Vehicle Inquest Jury, where Libby Dixon is a Juror. Each of the passengers will have a chance to defend their lives as the sole survivor. The only problem is that each of them is hiding a terrible secret and the man behind their abduction seems to know their deepest secret. A secret so terrible that death could be a better choice.

What made The Passengers so exciting and scary is that it could become a possibility in the near future. The idea of self-driving cars is not outrageous any longer. I for one, hate driving, and I'm not sure I wouldn't love a self-driving car. Although, after reading this book, I'd think about it twice. Maybe I'd chose a level 3 and not a 5.

John Marrs does a wonderful job with The Passengers. He gives us great characters, a fantastic plot and at least two very good twists.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Thank you, Loren Jaggers, Berkley and Netgalley for my complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

As should be pretty clear by now, I am the height of inconsistency when it comes to reading and writing book reviews. Whether it is my fickle nature, a lack of inspiration or the business of life, I have just not been able to consistently post reviews here this year (well, the last couple of years).


The Passengers is a good example. Signed up for a blog tour, got a copy of the book from NetGalley, read it, and promptly failed to post a review when it came out on August 27 like I had said I would. So sorry for the delay.


What intrigued me about the book was both its plot and its technological and philosophical elements:


You’re riding in your self-driving car when suddenly the doors lock, the route changes and you have lost all control. Then, a mysterious voice tells you, “You are going to die.”
Just as self-driving cars become the trusted, safer norm, eight people find themselves in this terrifying situation, including a faded TV star, a pregnant young woman, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife, and a suicidal man.
From cameras hidden in their cars, their panic is broadcast to millions of people around the world. But the public will show their true colors when they are asked, "Which of these people should we save?...And who should we kill first?"


As I mentioned on Goodreads, this is another book that feels stuck between 3 and 4 stars. Enjoyed it? Yes. REALLY liked it? Eh, not exactly.


And as others have noted, this book has Hollywood action flick written all over it. It is a unique combination of philosophical/moral conundrums and action. Lots of twists and turns and a plot that keeps you guessing.
It slows down. however, when it turns to the internal emotional lives of the characters.

Might have been a stronger, tighter book if there were less attempts at amateur psychology. And at times the characters are a little too stock (Corrupt politician, female character who seems weak but turns out to be strong, etc.).


Still, a pretty entertaining summer read despite the uncomfortable feeling that these issues (moral, political, technological) all lie in our future.

This book had me from the start! It is a fast read and a very interesting one at that. It defiantly makes you think of the different way technology has taken out our lives. This book follows 8 driverless cars as a hacker takes control of them. The passengers are completely helpless in these cars and fear the worst. Without giving too much away because this book is served best without knowing too much going in. If you like a good suspense novel this one is for you! They even though a dash of romance in it for good measure. But just a sprinkle.

This book makes you feel like your in a car yourself. With all the twists and turns that you will not see coming!!

Thank You NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for this advance readers copy in return for my honest review.

Wow. This book was the equivalent of a summer blockbuster movie - pure entertainment that will keep you on the edge of your seat and give you plenty to talk about over dinner after! You need a friend or a few to read this one at the same time.

Synopsis: 8 passengers each get into their driverless cars to head to their destinations one morning only to find they aren’t going where they planned. The vehicles have been hacked into and set on a fatal collision course. The public and a group of jurors are asked to decide who will live and who will die.

This was an intense and enjoyable read that brings up a lot of interesting discussion points around our reliance on technology and the risks of automation and having our lives online. It took me a little while at the beginning to get into it - it’s a lot of characters to meet and get interested in at the start - but worth it!

While this is definitely a standalone, I also really appreciated all the references to The One - another John Marrs novel that I read earlier this year.

I would recommend this if you’re looking for a quick fun ride of a read!

CW: suicide of a family member, abuse

Thank you very much to Berkley and Netgalley for the advance reading copy. Available now!