Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Terminal Impasse by Sara Driscoll
Series: NYPD Negotiators #4

A pulse-pounding hostage thriller set in the heart of New York City, Terminal Impasse is Sara Driscoll at her most intense and emotionally layered. With Grand Central Terminal as both battleground and pressure cooker, this fourth installment in the NYPD Negotiators series delivers adrenaline, intimacy, and moral complexity in equal measure.

- Negotiation Under Duress: Unlike previous entries, Gemma Capello isn’t negotiating from the outside—she’s one of the hostages. This inversion adds psychological depth and urgency, as she must conceal her identity while trying to defuse a volatile situation from within.

- Trauma and Resilience: The novel draws on Gemma’s childhood trauma—witnessing her mother’s death during a robbery—to deepen her emotional arc. Her ability to remain composed under pressure is both a survival skill and a testament to her growth.

While cutting through Grand Central Terminal en route to a date, NYPD negotiator Gemma Capello and tactical officer Sean Logan are swept into a paramilitary hostage crisis. The perpetrators—members of the extremist group Sinister 13—demand the release of imprisoned comrades and threaten mass destruction. With their phones confiscated and their hands bound, Gemma must convince the captors to let her negotiate with law enforcement—without revealing who she really is. Meanwhile, Sean plots a daring escape. As tensions rise and violence escalates, the duo must rely on their training, instincts, and trust in each other to prevent a massacre.

Gemma is a standout heroine—strategic, empathetic, and emotionally grounded. Her internal conflict between duty and survival is palpable. Sean Logan complements her with tactical precision and quiet intensity. The Capello family, a recurring strength of the series, adds depth and continuity, reinforcing themes of loyalty and legacy.

Terminal Impasse is a gripping, emotionally charged thriller that pushes its protagonist to the edge—both professionally and personally. It’s a standout entry in a series that continues to evolve, offering readers not just suspense, but heart. Perfect for fans of J.T. Ellison, Tami Hoag, and procedurals with a psychological twist.

I found this book to be average. There’s little backstory/development on the main characters. I guess you have to read the earlier books? Even though the storyline sounds good, promising tension & suspense, it felt flat to me. #TerminalImpasse #NetGalley

If you love the show Blue Bloods then you'll really love this series. Each story is intense and keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering what's going to happen next. This book was no exception. The setting of Grand Central Station made for a great visual. I loved this book just like I have all the others, another hot but Sara Driscoll!

Terminal Impasse by Sara Driscoll
NYPD Negotiators #4

~ Intense, nerve-wracking, thrill ride from beginning to end ~ Couldn’t put it down ~

When a great date suddenly devolves into a hostage situation is it Karma, good/bad luck, or Fate that might find a NYPD hostage negotiator and a tactical team member both amid the hostages taken?

What I liked:
* Gemma: NYPD hostage negotiator, seasoned NYPD police officer, from a family of first responders, skillful, driven, competent, family oriented, and a survivor of a hostage situation experienced as a child
* Logan: tactical team member, went through police academy with Gemma, strong, determined, focused, lethal, bright, aware, team player, strategic thinker
* The strong bond of the Capello family and how they were there for one another ~ Tony: widow, father & NYPD Chief, Teo: brother in the FDNY, Joe: NYPD lieutenant in gang squad, Mark: NYPD patrol sergeant in the 5th precinct, Alex: NYPD internal affairs bureau ~ Gemmas father & brothrs
* The excitement I felt knowing that Gemma and Logan were finally out on a date and that the chemistry was as strong as it had been fifteen years before
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* Thinking about how difficult the situation was and seeing how the team(s) worked together for a positive outcome
* That I cared about the characters and the outcome of the situation
* It was believable, and I felt I was there
* That the story finished with everything solved – no loose ends
* Looking forward to the next book in the series and finding out what will happen to the various characters

What I didn’t like:
* The hostage takers and thinking about what led them to do what they did and do it without compunction ~ What twisted their minds to allow them to plot, plan, and implement what they did?
* Knowing that there are people like the hostage takers out there in the world

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

Terminal Impasse is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. I enjoyed reading it and hated to put it down. I highly recommend Terminal Impasse by Sara Driscoll

I'm off and on with Sara Driscoll...maybe it's because I go thru grand central terminal all the time but found this one a bit crazy scary.

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!