Book Review - The First 48 Hours by Simon Kernick

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Title: The First 48 Hours

Author: Simon Kernick

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Headline

Publication Date: 9th November 2023

Rating: 3 Stars

A COP NEEDS TO CRACK A DEADLY CASE

He's a detective hunting cold-blooded killers, but does he know more than he admits?

A MOTHER HAS TO SAVE HER DAUGHTER

She's a lawyer who must defend a murderer - but how far will she go to protect her only child?

A COUPLE WILL COMMIT THE PERFECT CRIME

They have a plan - but can they trust each other with their lives?

THREE STORIES. TWO DAYS. DOES ONE SECRET CONNECT THEM ALL?

THE FIRST 48 HOURS...MAY ALSO BE THEIR LAST.

This is a book which had a great premise. I was drawn in from the blurb and I certainly enjoyed the book while I was reading 

It's just that as connections between characters became apparent, and more and more links are revealed, I found myself realising just how convoluted everything was, and I think I would have needed to draw a diagram to work out just what was really meant to be happening and why. 

Possibly a tad more complicated than I was wanting it to be, and the fact that the majority of the characters were unlikeable, or at least hard to root for didn't help me. 

That being said that chapters from Fisher's point of view were interesting, and was interesting to see the way his mind worked.  Equally the chapters from Ella's point of view who is the girl who is kidnapped, had me cheering her on to try to survive, as in my eyes she was innocent and none of the events were her fault. 

I was invested enough in the story to want to keep reading, but the ending has just left me a bit flat, and possibly still a tad confused. 

The writing though was good, and I'd probably be keen to try another book from the author in the future, as I suspect this could have just been wrong book at wrong time syndrome for mee, and perhaps had I read it when I had time to read it in larger chunks, I would have appreciated it more. 

Thank you to Headline and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.