Siege

by Simon Kernick

Book 1 in the Scope series (2012)

Publisher: Atria

A brilliant race-against-time thriller from #1 internationally bestselling author Simon Kernickabout a carefully orchestrated hostage take-over at a prominent London hotel. London is under attack. An unknown number of its citizens are dead. Many more lives hang in the balance as a group of highly trained gunmen storm the luxurious Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane, demanding the government meet their requests within five hours—or they will blow up the building and everyone still inside it.

People are dead. Many more lives hang in the balance as a group of highly trained gunmen storm the historic Stanhope Hotel on Park Lane.

The gunmen have given the government just five hours to meet their demands before they blow up the building.

Shots ring out. Some guests panic. Others text their loved ones. Still more try to escape. All are united by one thing: fear for their lives. All – except one man who has information so dangerous that it must be kept safe – at any price.

Darkness falls. The gunmen become increasingly violent. One question is in everybody’s minds. Will they survive the night?

LONDON. THE STANHOPE HOTEL, PARK LANE. 16.00 A normal afternoon.

THE MANAGER
Newly engaged Elena Serenko has just made the life-changing decision to quit her job and start a new life in Australia.

THE GUESTS
Upstairs, a young woman waits for her lover; a visiting family prepare for an evening out; and a sick man contemplates his own mortality.

THE ASSASSIN
High up amongst the penthouse suites, a skilled and dangerous killer is hunting a quarry who’s eluded him for far too long.

THE SIEGE
What none of them know is that a group of ruthless gunmen are about to burst into the Stanhope, shooting indiscriminately, and seizing hostages.