Scan barcode
djryan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
anaveragelife's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mrlockyer's review
5.0
One of few books I’d give a mythical sixth star to. Powerful, exhausting, tense and superbly woven. It doesn’t let up until the last few words. Just brilliant.
svangleboyer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Three Hours is an incredible novel that grabs you from the first page, keeps you on the edge of your seat until the last page, and sends you on an emotional roller coaster.
Three Hours brings one of the worst nightmares for parents, teachers, students, and their families by going through a school shooting from beginning to end.
The author really does a fantastic job creating that perfect atmosphere with so much tension that I ended up biting my nails until they bleed. I loved seeing events unfold through the various groups of students, parents, and cops because each added a unique experience and had you going through all the different moments of terror, helplessness, and heartbreak.
I loved how the author took very relevant and difficult subjects like school shootings and handled them so well that you weren't overwhelmed by it all but were still able to experience each aspect. I definitely cried a few times on this one.
I will be keeping an eye on this author because this was a fantastic book that delivered on all aspects!
Three Hours brings one of the worst nightmares for parents, teachers, students, and their families by going through a school shooting from beginning to end.
The author really does a fantastic job creating that perfect atmosphere with so much tension that I ended up biting my nails until they bleed. I loved seeing events unfold through the various groups of students, parents, and cops because each added a unique experience and had you going through all the different moments of terror, helplessness, and heartbreak.
I loved how the author took very relevant and difficult subjects like school shootings and handled them so well that you weren't overwhelmed by it all but were still able to experience each aspect. I definitely cried a few times on this one.
I will be keeping an eye on this author because this was a fantastic book that delivered on all aspects!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Islamophobia, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Gun violence and Injury/Injury detail
sharada_mohan's review
4.0
tmospheric, terrifying & claustrophobic.
In rural Somerset, a school is under attack. Children are trapped in various parts of the school & the headmaster has been injured. Worried parents are asking endless questions & the police need to identify the gunmen - while managing the chaos & race against time.
With POVs shifting between folks who are held up in different blocks of the school, the book opens with the grim & serious situation at hand. The school is a cluster of old school, new school, library, theatre & pottery room - where children of all age groups are scattered & trapped. This adds to the complexity of the problem & makes the jobs of the police that much more difficult.
I loved the wintery setting – surrounded by woods, the school is a secluded place, with continuous snow fall reducing visibility, worsened by the imminent storm. I also liked that students were rehearsing for the play Macbeth & how they keep going until almost the end.
The plot is heavily influenced by Macbeth & it was amazing how the author draws parallels between the play & current affairs of the school shooting.
Tension steadily picks up as the team of police begin their groundwork. It reaches terrifying levels as the minutes tick by, with so many innocent little kids’ lives at stake.
I only wished that this intensity got maintained by half-way. But it just drags with unnecessary inclusion of parental interactions, monologues & thought processes.
Thankfully, the ending was satisfying enough. It was a relief to see love, courage, resilience & hope, triumph over evil & terror.
Schools are increasingly becoming easy targets around the world. Here the author expertly handles several controversial topics weaving them all together with a headmaster's affection, a mother’s love & teenage gumption.
The book raises several questions - how much can we really know about our kids, debating their space, effects of micromanagement & how to raise them in this digitally dangerous world . It is all about the “why”s, rather than the “who”.
In rural Somerset, a school is under attack. Children are trapped in various parts of the school & the headmaster has been injured. Worried parents are asking endless questions & the police need to identify the gunmen - while managing the chaos & race against time.
With POVs shifting between folks who are held up in different blocks of the school, the book opens with the grim & serious situation at hand. The school is a cluster of old school, new school, library, theatre & pottery room - where children of all age groups are scattered & trapped. This adds to the complexity of the problem & makes the jobs of the police that much more difficult.
I loved the wintery setting – surrounded by woods, the school is a secluded place, with continuous snow fall reducing visibility, worsened by the imminent storm. I also liked that students were rehearsing for the play Macbeth & how they keep going until almost the end.
The plot is heavily influenced by Macbeth & it was amazing how the author draws parallels between the play & current affairs of the school shooting.
Tension steadily picks up as the team of police begin their groundwork. It reaches terrifying levels as the minutes tick by, with so many innocent little kids’ lives at stake.
I only wished that this intensity got maintained by half-way. But it just drags with unnecessary inclusion of parental interactions, monologues & thought processes.
Thankfully, the ending was satisfying enough. It was a relief to see love, courage, resilience & hope, triumph over evil & terror.
Schools are increasingly becoming easy targets around the world. Here the author expertly handles several controversial topics weaving them all together with a headmaster's affection, a mother’s love & teenage gumption.
The book raises several questions - how much can we really know about our kids, debating their space, effects of micromanagement & how to raise them in this digitally dangerous world . It is all about the “why”s, rather than the “who”.
kelbi's review
5.0
Five stars is not enough for this superb, deeply upsetting, relevant book. I could not put it down once I’d passed the halfway point. That is not to say that the first half isn’t good. It is. But the tension in the second half is incredible. So - a very very very good book indeed
sebren's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
eleanorkt93's review
5.0
Intense and thought provoking read that keeps you hooked. A whole wild ride of emotions throughout the book to be felt!