Three hours is topical and a great reflection of how a writer's sensibilities is reflected in their work. I liked the message of the book and how it holds a mirror to contemporary attitudes.
Gist:
What starts as a normal school day turns sinister as the morning wears on. All within a span of three hours. However that is the time when a headteacher's belief and his life hangs in balance, a group of school kids are shut in a pottery room and a set of older kids are trapped in the school theatre. All wait with bated breath as they hear shots and then footsteps wondering if they are going to make it alive.
What works:
A great premise and gosh what a first chapter. It starts right in the middle of action and frankly it felt a bit disorientating. But then it shifts into focus and then races through to the end.
Loved the voices and characters. Lupton is great at creating her character personas. Loved Beth and the way Lupton gives us access to her thoughts and peels layers over the story simultaneously.
What doesn't:
The style is not conventional. I got the sense of an experiment here with the narrative but once I got the hang of it, it felt great - a thoroughly brilliant reading experience.
A superb read. A fantastic thriller with a heart.
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