One day. One woman. One chance to get everyone out alive.
At 8am the first shots are fired.
At 1pm, the police establish the gunman has a hostage.
By 5pm, a siege is underway.
At 9pm, DI Helen Birch walks, alone and unarmed, into an abandoned Borders farmhouse to negotiate with the killer.
I'm thrilled to be hosting the blog tour for A Matter of Time today. Many thanks to Claire Askew and to Jenny Platt from Hodder for inviting me and for sending me a copy of the novel.
A Matter of Time takes place over a period of 24 hours and even though I read it in rather less than a day, I think I felt every one of those hours. This is the first book I've read by Claire Askew and so DI Helen Birch is a new character to me. I'm happy to say that it can definitely be read as a standalone with enough of her back story explained here to understand how her past continues to influence both her professional and personal life. However, I'm still very much looking forward to reading the previous books to learn more.
After a short, foreboding prologue, each chapter of A Matter of Time takes place over an hour, taking us from the time when Helen first hears news of a shooting through to the nail-biting conclusion. Having not yet read All the Hidden Truths meant I was unfamiliar with the Three Rivers college shooting which saw Helen as the newly promoted DI in charge of the case but throughout the novel, it's always obvious how that investigation continues to shape her. However, it's not just the distressing memory of that particular case which defines Helen and I was really impressed that with such a taut storyline, I was still able to gain a clear impression of the woman, especially when it comes to her (self) doubts and fears.
The compelling, clock-ticking structure of the book ensures there isn't room for much in the way of subplots and while there are moments which evidently develop long-standing plotlines a little further, this is really a breathtakingly suspenseful thriller where each hour that passes is a rollercoaster of emotions - for the reader as much as the characters. As Helen tries to figure out a way of de-escalating the terrifying situation she is given little choice but to walk into, Claire Askew sensitively explores a number of thought-provoking themes and although A Matter of Time is undoubtedly a thriller, it never feels sensationalised. The agitated gunman is empathically humanised without his actions being excused and the ramifications of split-second and more considered decisions by individuals and authorities are examined with nuanced understanding of the complexities involved. The inclusion of hostage negotiator Rena Brooks' character is especially clever and I really admired the tense conversations she has with Helen's boss, DCI McLeod. It's fair to say that they approach the situation very differently but it was refreshing to note that despite being more inclined to sympathise with her point of view, he is never made out to be the bad guy and indeed, his concerns for his officer are as genuine as her hopes for a peaceful conclusion to the siege.
The outcome of the siege is never obvious and there are moments of pulse-raising high drama and poignant emotion before the eventual denouement. The remote Borders setting of the novel lends a real sense of chilling claustrophobia to proceedings, particularly as many of the knife-edge scenes take place at night. It also allows for a harrowing, compassionate look at how the foot and mouth crisis devastated the farming community in the area, recognising the traumatic legacy left by such a profound experience.
Dark, intensely gripping and ultimately deeply moving, A Matter of Time is a cracking thriller and one that I highly recommend!
A Matter of Time is published by Hodder Books, purchasing links can be found here but please support independent bookshops whenever possible.
Details of the previous stops on the blog tour can be found below.
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