I have read the author's two non-fiction titles, one a memoir, the other a look into the challenges and issues facing modern policing. Both showed how much John Sutherland cared for his former role, for his colleagues and for the community that he served, but also that his focus was as much on understanding the reasons for crime and how and why people end up breaking the law, every bit as much ensuring that criminals are caught and that justice is seen to be done. In his memoir, Blue, we also see how much the day to day toll of policing had on his own mental health, the impacts of seeing so much violence leaving an indelible mark. All of this is reflected perfectly in The Siege and in the characters that he has brought to life. this, and his own experience as a hostage negotiator, is what gives the book so much authenticity, what makes it so compelling. Concentrating on three main characters keeps the storyline tight and allows for a detailed inspection of their motivations. We see how Lee is radicalised online, becomes consumed with hate, mainly directed at immigrants, but also the deep-seated catalyst for this. Alex has just returned from a negotiation that didn’t work out how he wanted, the hostage taker resorting to ‘suicide by cop’ at the end. Although not fault of Alex he carries the burden of this heavily. The most interesting character of all is that of Grace who became widowed at a young age and is battling with loneliness. In trying to understand and empathise with people, even Lee the hostage taker, we can see how she finds her inner strength and fortitude in adversity. Wow what a book!!!!! So far I’d say this is without question my book of the year so far. I loved the originality of this thriller it was so different to any other I’ve read and trust me I’ve read hundreds. Lee James Connor has found his purpose in life: to follow the teachings of far-right extremist leader, Nicholas Farmer. So when his idol is jailed, he comes up with the perfect plan: take a local immigrant support group hostage until Farmer is released. John Sutherland is a married father of three and he lives with his wife and children in South London.

The Siege by John Sutherland | Hachette UK The Siege by John Sutherland | Hachette UK

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. 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.

Lee James Connor is a disaffected young man, still haunted by the death of his mother, who exists in a twilight world of the internet and skunk cannabis, cut off from society. Lee James Connor is a troubled young man. He is typical of the many young people who have been pulled into the terrible online culture of hate and poison. A culture that distorts the truth and pulls the angry, hurt and disaffected into a group, ready to be groomed. The negotiator played a second fiddle for me compared to Grace although was a big part of the story

The Siege by John Sutherland | Goodreads

The book begins at 16.57 hours with Lee James Connor. He is 22, lives in a first-floor bedsit in south-west London and is a follower of Nicholas Farmer, self-proclaimed leader of right-wing group Home Front, whose slogan is “Make Britain Great Again.” I am a bit baffled as to why none of the police or SWAT stopped his final actions. They were all there in the room, he had no weapons, but they just watched and let him go ahead You know you're in the presence of an expert when you read The Siege. A gripping debut novel. * Jeffrey Archer *This is such a well-written novel and it is obvious that Sutherland has both taken from his own experience but also done a lot of research as well. I didn't expect it to be as emotional as it is. We understand just how easy it is for someone who is a bit of a loner to become radicalised. Targeting a church hall in Herne Hill, south London – which openly welcomes refugees – Lee enters the hall under the pretext of taking part in a prayer meeting. However, instead of joining the group, when the curate gets up to greet him, he pulls out a gun and commands her to sit down. Unfortunately, the curate is not about to be intimidated and stands her ground, so he strikes her across the face with the gun, causing her to fall to the ground and bang her head on a chair. The author's police experience is obviously evident which lends an extra level of credence to what is going on. 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. 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.

The Siege: The fast-paced thriller from a former Met Police The Siege: The fast-paced thriller from a former Met Police

As might be expected from a former police negotiator, John Sutherland writes from experience and that experience makes the novel very realistic. Sutherland writes in a very mannered, ‘correct’ way which initially feels documentary-like, almost reportage, but that ultimately is the novel’s strength. We are taken through the events minute by minute, hour by hour, in the heads of the negotiator, the hostage, and the hostage-taker, all of whom, even the latter, treated as real people, people with their own flaws and issues. The story is told from three viewpoints – Connor, Grace and Alex. Grace Wheatley is in her late thirties and a daughter of the Windrush generation. She lives about seven miles away from Lee, with her teenage son Isaiah. She’s a single mum, a teaching assistant at the local primary school and a regular at her local church.Despite all his planning there is one thing he didn’t bargain for, the effects of personal interactions during the evening. Lee tries to keep himself apart, but negotiator Alex is determined to talk him out of the siege and hostage Grace tries to befriend him on a human level and make him question his motives. The Siege is the first fiction book written by John Sutherland but having read his memoir Blue a couple of years ago I was both excited and intrigued to read it and I was not disappointed, taking only a couple of days to finish it. This is not a book full of dramatic action but one that follows three key people, Alex, Grace and Lee during a hostage situation in a church hall. Each one of them have ghosts that are ever present during the events that take place and that form some of the decisions they make. Alex Lewis is overworked and exhausted. He’s also suffering from PTSD but in typical male fashion his remedy consists of completely ignoring this and assuming it will go away. A father of two boys, he feels he is failing as a husband and as a father and he is troubled over his last negotiating mission which ended badly, through no fault of his, or anyone’s. One minor criticism is t