I have read every book in this outstanding series and if you are looking for strong family characters, suspense and danger as well as just a hint of romance, then this is the series for you. Years ago, NYPD hostage negotiator Gemma Capello witnessed her mother’s death at the hand of back robbers. She never will forget the images of that day or the devastation to her family, including her father Tony, Chief of Operations for the NYPD and her NYPD brothers Alex, Joe and Mark as well as her firefighter brother Teo who joined the FDNY. What happens when the hostage negotiator becomes a hostage? Detectives Gemma and her friend, Det. Sean Logan are heading to dinner in the Grand Central Terminal Main Concourse when shots are fired and they are taken hostage. Before the shots end, several have been killed by the three men who have taken the group hostage. Gemma and Sean both know if the men learn that they are with NYPD, they will be killed. After getting word to her team that she is one of the hostages, she will use her skill as a negotiator to inform her team as to what information is able to glean about the three men. Hopefully, they will learn who the men are and a way to resolve the situation, before the man with the dead man switch decides to kill everyone. Great characters and a story that will keep you turning the pages until the absolutely thrilling end! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

It was supposed to be a short cut through Grand Central Terminal to a pub on the other side. Instead, NYPD investigators Gemma and Sean find themselves among the hostages of three bitter, angry survivalists, who are threatening to blow up the station. Gemma and Sean know they'll need to be on their toes, think fast and be ready for anything if they are going to save the hostages, themselves and Grand Central Terminal.

This thriller will have your pulse pounding and your heart racing from the time Gemma and Sean enter Grand Central Terminal until the last page is turned. There is no time to take a breath as suspense builds. Tension is high, too, among the police negotiators and investigators outside the terminal as two of their own are at risk.

Ms. Driscoll paid attention to little details that brought a strong sense of realism to the story. Sean and Gemma never pretended they weren't anxious, maybe a bit afraid. But they were always in cinque, keeping their professional wits in the forefront. They couldn't keep control of everything, though. Just when I thought it was time to take a breath, Ms. Driscoll threw in quick gotcha moment.

This book pulled me in from the start and refused to let go. It's be terrifying in its realism and possibilities, but I couldn't put it down.

The tension is high and Gemma and Sean are in the thick of it. All I can say is wow! Pulse pounding doesn't cover it. I felt like I was right there with them. I really loved the development of the relationship between the two. Both personal and professional.

I loved this thrill ride! I was captivated from the first page, riding high on exhilarating moments and crashing down in the terrifying ones. This fourth heart-pounding novel in its series gives sufficient character backstory and case history for new and returning readers.

I was fully invested in Gemma and Sean, both NYPD detectives. They were going on a date that was fifteen years in the making. They had met in the police academy and had the best ever date before going separate ways at graduation. Gemma single mindedly pursued her career at NYPD with her father, the chief of Special Operations, and three of her four brothers. When Gemma was ten, she had been a hostage with her mother in a bank robbery. Her mother was killed trying to talk the robbers down.

Gemma is now part of NYPD’s hostage negotiation team, and Sean is member of the A-Team, specially trained to capture those holding hostages or otherwise endangering lives. Their teams have been on several operations together in which they were at odds. Hostage negotiators tried to peacefully resolve situations. The A-Team would, when deemed possible, kill the bad guy rather than risk hostages. They did, however, still share an attraction and wanted to take the chance.

They were going out to dinner. They were passing through Grand Central Terminal on the way when three men with covered faces began shooting commuters with submachine guns. Sean and Gemma immediately separated to help people out of the madmen’s way. Gemma, Sean, and twelve others who had not escaped took cover.

With gestures, Gemma and Sean “named” the leader One. One wore a suicide vest of C-4 explosives. He also had two duffels filled with C-4 that would blow if the vest was detonated, enough to take out at least a city block of concrete and skyscrapers. Two seemed the more malleable of the captors. Three appeared to have the least patience.

One also had the explosives controller, held in an open position, which could detonate when he could no longer hold it. If the police delayed or refused their demands, or if police shot him, they all would die. Their demand was that four members of their paramilitary group be released from prison despite their taking out a federal building and killing all inside. They also demanded untraceable transportation.

Gemma confidently claimed to be an expert business negotiator in high demand around the country. She convinced the captors to allow her to negotiate for them, as she knew the nature of negotiations. She had to determine how best to let her team know that she was one of the hostages, while Sean considered the most plausible way to get out of the situation alive.

A logical, cool-headed negotiator, Gemma had to stay focused on this situation despite flashbacks of her mother’s murder. Especially knowing what every negotiator knew – the United States does not negotiate with terrorists.

The window of time was closing for One to hold the C-4 detonator. What happened next was beyond what any of them planned, and the pages flew as I “watched” each scene play out. It was worth every minute of lost sleep to see the stunning events leading to the conclusion! The resolution was powerful and very satisfying. I highly recommend this to anyone who appreciates against-the-odds thrillers, high tension police situations, or New York City settings.

From a thankful heart: I received a pre-publication copy of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Book #4 in the NYPD Negotiators series. Sara Driscoll is a prolific author with several successful series to her credit. I've read all of her FBI K-9 series and loved them. Driscoll applies the same attention to detail and well-developed character base in all her books, making them realistic as her plot lines set the stage from page one. In TERMINAL IMPASSE, NYPD negotiator Gemma Capello is out on a date with her maybe-boyfriend, fellow officer Sean Logan. They are passing through Grand Central Terminal on the way to dinner when a group of armed men take several hostages, including Gemma and Sean. This starts a countdown as the hostage takers make demands and detail consequences. Gemma utilizes her skills as a negotiator to facilitate communication between the group's leader and the police.
Driscoll's cast of characters and the supporting community build a 3D picture of the hostages' fear and the law enforcement's efforts to save them. The fast-paced thriller kept me turning pages long after the "one more chapter" turned into staying up to finish the book. An easy 5 star read.

I had the opportunity to read Terminal Impasse by Sara Driscoll, and it was a fast-paced, engaging read. The story follows two officers caught up in a hostage situation in New York City. One of them, a trained hostage negotiator, finds herself thrust into a high-stakes role as she works to mediate between the authorities and the criminals holding people captive.

What I really appreciated about this book was how focused and streamlined the plot felt. It didn’t try to do too much or go in too many directions—it stayed true to its central story, which made for a compelling and efficient narrative. Driscoll’s writing is sharp and succinct, and I always look forward to what she releases next. This was a solid, straightforward thriller that kept me turning the pages.

They're the right people to have in a bad situation

When NYPD detectives Gemma Capello and Sean Logan were competitive and ambitious cadets at the Police Academy they were strongly attracted to one another and had a brief but memorable fling before pulling away to focus on their respective careers. Years later, Gemma is one of the top hostage negotiators for the NYPD while Logan is among the best within the Apprehension Tactical Team (aka the A team). They have worked side by side during different operations, including one that ended badly months earlier, and have only recently decided to explore the attraction between them. They are headed out on their first real date one December night and are cutting through Grand Central Terminal to avoid the cold when armed men start shooting. They find themselves part of a small group of hostages being held until four imprisoned members of their group are pardoned and released. The terrorists are not only armed with powerful weapons...one of the three is wired to enough C-4 explosive material to not only level the iconic building but the blocks around it, and is holding on to a dead man's switch. If his finger releases its hold on the button the explosives will automatically ignite, which renders the A-Team snipers and other law enforcement members impotent. It seems like these terrorists have planned well and thought of everything to ensure their success...but they don't know that among their hostages are an experienced negotiator and a tactical expert. Will Gemma and Logan be able to keep their true identities hidden from their captors and use their considerable skills to bring the ordeal to a positive conclusion?
Terminal Impasse is the fourth installment in author Sara Driscoll's NYPD Negotiators series. Gemma is a strong and competent woman from a family with a long history of service in the NYPD. She also lives with the memory of her mother being shot and killed while 10 year old Gemma was with her, both taken hostage by a group robbing the bank where they were doing business. Its part of the reason why Gemma chose the field she did, and the parallels to what happened all those years ago and the situation in which she and Logan find themselves are bringing up memories of the worst day of her life. Logan is an intense alpha type who realizes that he and Gemma have different skill sets which complement one another, and is smart enough to realize that her skills are the more useful in their current predicament (at least at the start). The portrayal of the role of negotiators is an interesting component to the story, as are the tactics used by the A-Team during the stand-off. The setting chosen for the tale is a storied and beautiful one which Ms Driscoll describes in great detail (maybe a little bit too much detail, which occasionally slowed down the pace of the story). Overall this is an intriguing thriller where the biggest question is whether or not the good guys can find a weakness in the terrorists' plan and save not only the lives of the hostages but also Grand Central Terminal and its surroundings. Fans of other books in this series and/or Ms Driscoll's other series as well as readers of Lisa Gardner, Tess Gerritsen and J. T. Ellison should enjoy this latest offering. My thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for allowing me access to Terminal Impasse in exchange for my honest review.

WOW, just wow. I felt like I was in the transit terminal at Grand Central Station, NYC the details were so vivid. Survival from a gunman who has started his reign of terror by killing fleeing people was touch and go. Like everything Sara Driscoll writes you can count on being glued to the book until the end.

Hostage negotiators Sean & Gemma are cutting through the station when they become hostages. Can Gemma convince the gunman to let her negotiate for him and will her teammates to be able to figure out the clues she can provide from their knowledge of Gemma? The Capello family pull together to rescue everyone.

I don’t know why I haven’t read books by Sara Driscoll before this one, but I know I will remedy that omission moving forward. This addition to the negotiators series was suspenseful throughout. I didn’t feel lost not having read the previous books as relationships were immediately easy to understand. The description of Grand Central Terminal and its history was interesting. This really is a great book.

NYPD negotiator Gemma Capello is out on a date with fellow officer Sean Logan, with whom she has a past. They’re walking through Grand Central Terminal on their way to a nearby pub when shots ring out. When the shooting is over, Gemma, Sean, and a small group of other individuals become the hostages of three armed men, one who is also wearing a vest covered with explosives. If the men find out Gemma and Sean are police, they’ll be shot dead, no questions asked. Gemma comes up with a plan and hopes she can pull it off without anyone else being killed. But can she?

This was an awesome edge-of-your-seat thriller! I loved every nail-biting moment.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

One of the best edge of your seat thrillers that I've read! Sara Driscoll is a master story teller creating a storyline that is believable and terrifying. I found myself holding my breath and actually screaming out loud at times. I couldn't put this book down until I finished it!

Wow, what a read. I was hooked on this from the very first page and no matter what I needed to do, I could not put it down. The pace is perfect for the story which made for an easy and enjoyable read. These characters are fabulous and you cannot help but love them. They are so real that you feel as though you know them and you want to be there with them. This book will not disappoint and needs to be read, you will not be sorry that you did.

Sara Driscoll has another 5-star rating with this new NYPD Negotiators series! Intense scenes, breathtaking action, and tantalizing plot kept me glued to the pages! I didn’t think anything could be as good as the FBI K-9 series but this one is just as good!

A fantastic, edge of your seat thriller…

I have loved this writer from the first book I read, which I picked up on a whim. Thrillers are not my first choice but after it promised a hint of romance, I gave it a try. Saying I’m hooked on her words now is a huge understatement…

Gemma is an NYPD hostage negotiator and when she and Sean (fellow NYPD in their highly trained A-Team) were testing the waters on a relationship do-over, the world exploded. They were hostages, shaken from witnessing the first wave of violence and realizing how much worse it could get. Using every shred of knowledge and experience they had, they worked to save themselves, their fellow captives and a good chunk of New York City.

Set in the very grand, Grand Central Terminal, this story unfolded one nail-biting moment at a time. Every new moment meant there was still hope but it also meant another step closer to the end – and there were no guarantees…

The takeover and its intent were central to the plot yet the characters and their relationships meant I cared about them and how it all played out. There were guns and secrets, and enough tactical detail to keep me glued to the story without making me want to skip over the ‘boring bits’. No boring bits here. Instead, I hung on every word, making sure I didn’t miss a thing.

A top read of the year – highly recommend!

This book is adrenaline pumping from start to finish. Logan and Capella are out on a date when they end up in the middle of a hostage situation and a take over of Grand Central Station. With life and death hanging in the balance the two use their skills to outsmart the three men holding them and 12 others. It's non-stop from beginning to end. Make sure you have time to read in one setting, it's hard to put down.

TERMINAL IMPASSE (NYPD NEGOTIATORS, #4)
BY: SARA DRISCOLL

About 3.5 Stars!

This is my first book that I've entered into in the fourth installment called, "TERMINAL IMPASSE," which I would say is completely plot driven. It's fast paced, but since I felt the missing rich character development that is my personal preference in reading, I rated it at 3.5 Stars. This takes place in Grand Central Terminal, in New York City where the opulent marble interior is depicted in its description about this iconic place is mixed throughout this action packed novel, and that's one of my reasons for deciding to try this series. I could visualize the beautiful interior as I read this (NYPD NEGOTIATORS #4), which like I said does contain a minimum amount of characterization in the MFC, Gemma Capello, who works for the NYPD, as a hostage negotiator except it's more of a tell me than show me in how she is depicted which made me think that I'm positive that this kind of falls flat for my taste that craves more literary fiction style of writing than just a fast paced, plot driven novel. I saw so many five star reviews for this that my curiosity was piqued, is the other reason for me trying this series. I guess that this makes me an outlier opinion, which I liked that the chapters were short which made this easily able to be read during one sitting.

I was also interested in the premise of it's main female character Gemma Capello working for the NYPD, as a hostage negotiator which this can be read as a standalone, since I'm assuming that each installment of this series focuses on a different hostage situation. I took a small risk with entering this in the fourth novel in the series. Small referring to the risk factor, which I'll clarify my meaning is summarized that it wouldn't be too much time invested since these are fairly short page counts. So I wouldn't get too far behind by squeezing this in between the others I have committed to, which I also satisfied my curiosity by trying this. I thought this was just okay, but I'm still happy that I tried this series, and I know that I need to gravitate towards my reading containing more depth to the characters in the future. I wasted a lot more time deciding whether to try this out since some reviewers mentioned that the series is more enjoyable when read from the beginning in order, with a few that say that they can be read as a standalone, which based on my reading experience with this one, I don't think my not starting with the first novel in this series would have improved my overall opinion, since it definitely has a target audience that most reviews were five stars. I still think that there's a thin amount of depth in the writing style when it comes to character development, and this just taught me to know that I lean more towards the layers of character development, but like a well developed plot ideally, but if only plot driven then it leaves me feeling that I know it's not for me.

Gemma Capello and Sean Logan are two highly skilled in different strengths within the NYPD, and they had a short hook up while they were both Cadets. It's been fifteen years since then approaching Christmas time and they are out on a date where they cut through Grand Central Terminal on their way out to dinner where Sean has recommended because the food is wonderful. They're trying to figure out if they are able to take their professional relationship to include adding a romantic relationship, as well. They walked right into a hostage crises while a paramilitary trio with black masks covering their faces are shooting commuters with one older woman that they help get out of the line of fire watched her husband get murdered by these men. There is pandemonium and chaos as these three armed men are spraying bullets from sub-machine guns. As they are trying to save lives which even though they're both off duty, that is part of their oath they find themselves as hostages within this act of terrorism.

Gemma and Sean quickly slide their NYPD shields out of sight since they see that a couple of MTA officers have been killed. If these three murderers get any inclination that Sean and Gemma are police they would be killed instantly. What's more disturbing is one of these masked shooters has C-4 explosives with more of this plastic explosive in duffel bags besides in his hand he has C-4 explosives that if detonated will kill everyone inside the terminal as well as blow up a two block radios surrounding, Grand Central Terminal disrupting the hub of subways to cripple the city. This situation reminds Gemma of twenty-five years ago, when she was only ten years old, she witnessed her mother get shot and killed while trying to calmly try to reason with some shooters in their bank. Gemma knows that she will work with Sean and pretend to these gunmen that she is a business negotiator who can communicate as the mediator to get her colleagues to give these armed men what they're demanding by her talking with the hostage negotiators who have set up a command post nearby. They are there to do what she normally does, and hope that she can use her training, on the job experience, and skills to inform them that she, and Sean are among the hostages inside which she accomplished by using a strategy. It's all a risk, and Sean who is a trained sniper or sharp shooter for the NYPD, and her know that they have to act as if they aren't working together in front of these killers. If there is a way to alert their colleagues to the shooters names, that they have C-4 explosives is their only reason Sean's colleagues haven't shot all three of these masked men who seem to be able to kill, and prepared to die.

Gemma has communicated that the C-4 bombs are why this is such a tricky situation with relaying to her colleagues in coded language who one of the suspects is. They expect in three hours for the President to pardon four men who belong to their organization to be released from prison, who are responsible for blowing up a building that killed at least one hundred people. The usual demands that no law enforcement official can grant. Gemma has labeled "Suspect one," as the one in charge who has C-4 to automatically explode in his hand, and it seems like he's getting tired of holding it. "Suspect two," as the one she thinks is less lethal, who has been identified already. "Suspect three," as the one that's the most dangerous one who is filled with rage. Gemma really is the calm one, and is an expert at knowing how to make them believe they're in charge. I did learn that she comes from a big Italian family, with several brothers, and her father who all work for the NYPD, except for one brother who doesn't. Will Gemma, Sean, and the other hostages survive this crisis and walk away unharmed by outsmarting these well organized paramilitary criminals? I decided that since the plot was so richly imagined that I'm rounding my 3.5 star rating up to 4 solid stars. Did I enjoy this? Sort of. Did it teach me anything new? No. I might give this author's suspense driven plotted novel another chance by trying the next one in this series. That being said. Did this book feel like it is one I'd recommend? Only to those who think this sounds like something that might deliver them an action packed lighter reading experience.

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Sara Driscoll, and Kensington Books for generously providing me with my ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#TerminalImpasse #SaraDriscoll #KensingtonBooks #NetGalley

Talk about a bad date! NYPD Hostage Negotiators Gemma Capello and Sean Logan find themselves in a real pickle when some angry angry people take them hostage in the middle of Grand Central Station. Not what they expected when they set out for dinner but it's what they've got to deal with and deal with it they do. This is a page turner that Driscoll wisely kept short. There's interesting details about negotiating and I liked the Grand Central setting. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While it's the latest in a series, it will be just fine as a standalone.

We were never going to meet in the middle.’

A word of advice for Gemma and Sean when they attempt a redo of their first real date: Netflix and chill. Anything else would definitely be hazardous to their health at least and most certainly life threatening! In this thrilling, fast paced attempt at dinner, they find themselves on the wrong end of a hostage situation in Grand Central Station. As hostages they have to use their wits (And eventually this fists) to save them and a dozen others while the other five Capello’s and the A-Team struggle to find a way to stop the suicide bomber and his cohorts from decimating another chunk of New York City and taking all of them with them.

Instead of negotiating for others, Gemma is negotiating for hers and Sean's lives.

This series is such a fast paced, high stakes read. Told from a unique police perspective, a negotiator. It's fast paced and adrenaline filled from start to finish. I was on the edge of my seat from almost the start and rooting for Gemma and Sean. I was so pleased they were finally trying to date (again) and that made the stakes ever higher. Trying to not disclose they are together as they try and diffuse the situation and save everyone, including each other.

Grand Central Terminal is such an iconic setting that added to the plot. I've been there and can somewhat picture it. The author goes into such detail about their surroundings as the plot unfolds.

Both characters get to use their strengths to try and keep each other safe. I really felt right there in the middle of it and at times i was holding my breath.

I am known for liking police procedurals, but this one really took things up a level. Such a fantastic read.

A night out for Gemma and Logan for a wonderful dinner quickly becomes the stuff of nightmares when armed men take over Grand Central Terminal. The beginning pages are gruesome and terrifying as these armed men slaughter men and women alike. Chaos is all around, but Gemma and Logan keep their heads and use their training to help save several people. Gemma is a top notch negotiator with the NYPD and Logan is a part of a elite crew of officers that are called when lives are in danger. These are two of the best the NYPD has to offer. She is the brain and he is the muscle. Together they are the perfect ones for the job.

After the bullets stop flying, Gemma and Logan realize they need to hide their identity as officers of the law, but they can still use their personal skill sets to hopefully bring this horrifying event to an end without any further loss of life.

The tension was at the red level and the suspense of wondering how they were going to get out of this horrible situation was enough to cause me to tense up while reading it, so much so that I had a sore neck afterward. It was well worth the sore neck and sleepless night to see these two in action.

This author's attention to details about the scenery, the characters, police procedures, etc. make this book come alive. I could almost smell the toxic odor from the gunfire and feel the fear of the hostages. The possible realism of this book makes it even more frightening. Danger, action and high level police procedures make this book an entertaining book to dive into. Let's just say these guys picked the wrong day to take over this terminal because two of their hostages are fearless, highly intelligent and highly skilled in human behavior. This is book #4 in this series, and every one is just as good as the one before. This is a series, and you do not have to read the other books.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing, the author and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.