Book review: The Passengers

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By John Marrs
Published by Ebury

 Synopsis: When someone hacks into the systems of eight self-drive cars, their passengers are set on a fatal collision course.

 The passengers are: a TV star, a pregnant young woman, a disabled war hero, an abused wife fleeing her husband, an illegal immigrant, a husband and wife - and parents of two - who are travelling in separate vehicles and a suicidal man. Now the public have to judge who should survive but are the passengers all that they first seem?

 How did this book end up in my hands? This was another brilliant serialisation by The Pigeonhole.

 Was it a page-turner? Yes, I read each instalment of the novel at lightning speed, as if my life depended on it. At times, it did feel like it!

 Did the book meet my expectations? I read the synopsis and thought it sounded intriguing but I started the book with no particular expectations. I don’t think I could ever have imagined something THIS good. I don’t want to make it sound too good to be true… but it is. Every details was perfectly executed: the characterisation, the secrets, the many plot twists that I just couldn’t see coming and, hell, even the cars, which I would normally have no interest in. My favourite thing – and perhaps the scariest – is that, despite being set in a dystopian future, the narrative felt extremely credible. Mob mentality is fascinating but it is not fictional. It’s very much real and I would love to ask other readers one simple question: While reading, did you join the fictional public and picked the character who would survive and those who wouldn’t? I am not proud of it but I know I did. This book will test you. Read it!

 Three words to describe it. Spectacular. Adrenaline-filled. Disturbing.

 Do I like the cover? Not my favourite cover ever but, to be honest, this book could have a blank cover and nobody would notice. When the inside is so brilliant, a nice cover is only an added bonus.

 Have I read any other books by the same author? No! Please hand me all of his previous books now!

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