Twenty-Seven Minutes
An astonishing crime thriller debut with a shocking twist
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- £7.99
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- £7.99
Publisher Description
It takes one moment to call for help. So why did he wait?
'The rare gift that delivers it all' ASHLEY AUDRAIN
'Truly gripping and deeply satisfying' CHRIS WHITAKER
'I was hooked' JANE CORRY
'A new thriller writer to watch' ROBYN HARDING
'Left me in awe' JO LEEVERS
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THE QUESTION
For the last ten years, the small town of West Wilmer has been struggling to answer one question: on the night of the crash that killed his sister, why did it take Grant Dean twenty-seven minutes to call for help? If he'd called sooner, Phoebe might still be alive.
THE SECRET
As the anniversary of Phoebe's death approaches, Grant is consumed by his memories and the secret that's been suffocating him for years. But he and Phoebe weren't the only ones in the car that night. Becca was there too - she's the only other person who knows what really happened. Or is she?
THE TRUTH
Everyone remembers Phoebe, but local girl June also lost someone that night. Her brother Wyatt has been missing for ten years and, now that her mother is dead, June has no one left - no family, no friends. Until someone appears at her door. Someone who knows what really happened that night. And they are ready to tell the truth.
With a shocking twist that will leave you breathless, Twenty-Seven Minutes is a gripping story about what happens when grief becomes unbearable, dark secrets are unearthed, and the horrifying truth is revealed.
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'Taut, raw, powerful' SAMANTHA M. BAILEY
'Unputdownable' PATRICIA WOLF
'Tense and deeply affecting' ROSEMARY HENNIGAN
'All-consuming' CAROLINE MITCHELL
'The TWIST in this book' CAILEAN STEED
'Grabs hold of you and doesn't let go' JENNY HOLLANDER
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Readers are loving Twenty-Seven Minutes :
'It is such a rare treat to read a genuine, page-turning thriller with considered prose, characters and setting . . . moody, atmospheric and cinematic with a tension that simmers in every scene and an ending that is powerful and devastating. It was a joy from start to finish and is proof that you really can have it all.' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'Never have I become so invested in a book's opening pages . . . And what made this so good was the fact the thrills never let up . . . Fantastic debut novel' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'The twistiest, most engrossing read of 2024! West Wilmer just comes to life as a location and sucks you in to the mystery . . . A huge success' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'OMG I loved this! An amazing story, fantastic characters! A must read in 2024!!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'This isn't just a thriller. It's a story about grief and love and loss. With characters that jump out of the pages . . . Ashley's debut is absolutely stunning. I can't wait to see what she writes next' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'Brilliant! . . . I loved all the characters involved, and I think the author spun a brilliant story that kept me guessing . . . I really enjoyed it and especially the unexpected twist right at the end' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
'An intriguing and thought-provoking debut ... There were many times in this story that I thought I had it all figured out, only to be blindsided when the actual truth was revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed this one' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Canadian journalist Tate starts out stronger than she finishes in her lackluster debut about the small-town ripples caused by a teenager's suspicious death. In a poignant prologue, 17-year-old Phoebe Dean is introduced dying on a bridge in the tiny American town of West Wilmer after a horrific car accident. Ten years later, the community prepares to hold a decennial memorial service in Phoebe's honor. The looming commemoration reawakens fraught memories for her older brother, Grant, who was driving the truck Phoebe was in before she died. The official story was that Grant hit a deer, and Phoebe, who wasn't wearing her seat belt, died almost immediately after the vehicle spun out from the impact. A vocal group of locals, however, blame Grant for her death, since he delayed calling 911 for 27 minutes after the accident—possibly, they claim, because he was intoxicated. As the memorial approaches, Grant conspires with his friend, Becca, who was in the back seat of the truck, to keep the truth behind Phoebe's death a secret, even as June, whose brother disappeared the same night Phoebe died, begins to wonder if the tragedies may be linked. Unfortunately, the truth Grant's been hiding is not especially shocking, and Tate winds up delivering a drawn-out thriller with a disappointing payoff. Genre fans will feel they've read this one before.
