This is a tight and tense novel concentrating on the psychological effects of close confinement in a hostage situation on the hostages, the hostage taker and those in law enforcement who battle to contain the situation and resolve it. As a police procedural it is convincingly put together, as one would expect from an author writing from experience.

The Siege | John Sutherland | 9781398707566 | NetGalley The Siege | John Sutherland | 9781398707566 | NetGalley

A bold novel, particularly in its ending; this is a book which dares to reject not only cynicism but also despair.” (Mat Coward, Morning Star) Lee James Connor is a disaffected young man, a loner who has been radicalised online. When his idol, far-right extremist leader Nicholas Famer is sent to prison, he decides to take action, taking 9 people at a local immigrant support group hostage and demanding Farmer’s release. He has planned the whole scenario, but what he hasn’t taken into account are the human interactions as the siege progresses, in particular with Alex, the negotiator, and Grace, one of the hostages, who attempts to connect with him. The alternating viewpoints ensure that the reader really gets to know all 3 main characters. Alex is carrying the burden of a recent failed negotiation as well as struggling to balance work and family life; Grace, a daughter of the Windrush generation, was widowed young and is battling loneliness but proves to have a strength of character that shines through as she tries to diffuse the situation. And we get to understand more about Lee and where his hatred has come from - making it understandable if not forgivable. Lee James Connor has found his purpose in to follow the teachings of far-right extremist leader, Nicholas Farmer. So when his idol is jailed, he comes up with the perfect take a local immigrant support group hostage until Farmer is released.THE SIEGE is the story of a hostage situation in south London. When Lee James Connor, a loner, inspired by an anti-immigrant, firebrand right-wing extremest leader, takes a community church centre and its nine attendees hostage, we see the events of an entire night play out through the viewpoints of Connor, Grace, one of his hostages, and Alex, the lead hostage negotiator assigned to the incident.

The Siege by John Sutherland | Goodreads

Lee James Connor is an unassuming and impressionable young man, who has fallen under the spell of Nicholas Farmer, a self-proclaimed leader of a banned right-wing group of extremists, currently serving time for inciting racial violence and arson. Believing his racist propaganda that the future of Britain is being threatened by a flood of immigrants and refugees, Lee decides to get Farmer released by concocting a plan to use hostages as a bargaining tool to obtain his goal. A very stark contrast of violence ( at times brutal ) and kindness is given by the author to the main players throughout the siege with a fair indepth look at the hostage taker and the victims,especially one,Grace, and how this dreadful turn of events has been planned as the hatred festered,a not fully sympathetic but realistic look at the perp from Grace and a basic understanding of why he was doing what he was after he ‘confides’ in her turns the readers thoughts and views slightly,very well done by the author,I still hated the terrorist but there was human reaction to his life,will make sense when read it

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Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there's no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor - and save his nine hostages - before it's too late? About This Edition ISBN: Grace Wheatley is no stranger to loneliness having weathered the passing of her husband, whilst being left to raise her son alone. The local support group is her only source of comfort. Until the day Lee James Connor walks in and threatens the existence of everything she’s ever known.

The Siege – John Sutherland - policecommander

I read and reviewed The Siege on Netgalley in exchange of an honest review. This crime/police procedural novel made really thrilling reading. I like reading cleverly written thrillers and this didn’t disappoint. It was like reading a true crime book or watching a documentary about policing. I read that the author worked as a policeman and hostage negotiator and this book seemed very factual. You know you're in the presence of an expert when you read The Siege. A gripping debut novel. - Jeffrey Archer Lee researches and makes detailed plans to take hostages. He’s run through the plans so many times in his head, he done visualisation exercises and even a dry run. He’s convinced nothing can go wrong. Interestingly the whole novel is kept low key but remarkably intense from the dialogue to the action. Everything in the police operation feels thought through and very well planned (reassuringly!). But what no-one can take into account are the unpredictable elements. The impact of the heavy duty cannabis combined with the mental strain on Connors as he negotiates his demands with the police. Then there is the bravery and sheer humanity of Grace, who sees a young man in pain and connects with him in that level. It is told from the points of view of Lee James Connor - a supporter of far-right organisation Home Front which is led by Nicholas Farmer, Grace Wheatley - widow and mum to a teenage boy, Isaiah, and Superintendent Alex Lewis who is also a hostage negotiator.Eat, Drink, and Be Merry: The Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Christmas with the Best Drinks Books On The Shelves It is an interesting novel, fast-paced with short chapters that make you want to read on and find out what happens. The characters are believable and I especially loved Grace, she is absolutely amazing. It’s written in real time, so holds your interest as you are following the events “as they happen” which makes you invested in it all. New Sports Biographies and Autobiographies: Gift a Book for the Sports Fan In Your Life this Christmas I was initially sceptical as to how a book could be written solely about a siege but for the most part, it delivers. Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there’s no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor – and save his nine hostages – before it’s too late?

The Siege By John Sutherland | Used | 9781398707573 | World The Siege By John Sutherland | Used | 9781398707573 | World

One of the interesting things I found was about how the algorithm of You Tube works, Lee had been radicalised on the internet, everything he read or watched he believed, it was explained that when you watch something on you tube the algorithm will find other things that match what you are watching, which makes sense I know when I have watched something, it will come up with other suggestions I might like, but it is also down to money as well. It also explains where you see so many against the vaccine for covid if you start watching a video on that, then more will come up but it means you are not getting a true picture of anything as you are only watching one side of the argument which then reinforces what you already believe. For Lee he had never been out protesting, he had never met Farmer, he had just been watching video’s on immigrants coming to the UK and taking our jobs, houses, and trying to take over the country and he became completely radicalised just from watching. Outside the church hall there was a sign saying Immigrants Welcome.Over the years, I have read many police procedure and crime novels, but I can honestly say this book not only hits the spot as far as a thrilling read goes, but also provides a strong element of realism that breathes life into a terrifying situation. The Revd Richard Lamey is the Rector of St Paul’s, Wokingham, and Area Dean of Sonning, in the diocese of Oxford. This story of a Neo-Nazi terrorist who holds an 'immigrant loving' priest and her congregation hostage is (along with some newly arrived immigrants), in my opinion, a bit of a wake up call to those who think that all terrorists (or groomed individuals) are Islamic. Based on John Sutherlands knowledge and experience as a hostage negotiator it makes scarily familiar reading to anyone who has dealt with or been on the fringes of the investigations into the far right organisations in the UK. The story of a young far right wing extremist who takes a church group that welcome refugees hostage, demanding the release from prison of the leader of a far right wing group(with hopefully intentionally funny initials!).