‘The Terror Within’ by Linda Regan

Published by Headline Accent,
12 December 2019.
ISBN: 978-1-7861-5-7485 (PB) 

Despite their desire for a quiet civic wedding DCI Paul Banham and DI Alison Grainger find themselves caught up in a more lavish affair.  To her chagrin, as the big day dawns, Alison finds herself in a Mercedes speeding towards her wedding in a dress trimmed in pink ribbon and pink net, all at the behest of Pauls niece Madeleine who had resorted to sobbing uncontrollably when it appeared that there would be no pink dress. Madeleine got her way.

Just as they reach the door of the Town Hall a call comes through calling for urgent assistance. Following a night of street rioting the violence has now escalated resulting in a policeman being shot and dragged into a warehouse along with several other hostages.  The call is for all available officers to attend the scene and urgently needed is a trained hostage negotiator.  As a trained hostage negotiator Banham tells Alison he has to go. The policeman who gas been shot is PC Martin Neville and he has been taken along with PC Hannah Kemp and several civilians. Alison is keen to get to the scene to be on hand to help but Banham is adamant she should take the flight to their honeymoon location in Greece, and he will get a later plane. As her superior officer, he says, ‘that’s an order’.

Alison doesn’t take kindly to that order and has no intention of complying. But after discussion with the Chief Superintendent she agrees to stay away from the scene.

Meanwhile, Banham is not getting any response to his calls to the hostage-takers, and time is of the essence for PC Martin Neville, who it can be seen from the scene of the shooting has lost a lot of blood. Further complication for Banham is the distraught fiancé of PC Hannah Kemp, who is understandably acting irrationally faced with the plight of the woman he loves.

As time ticks by the tension rises for both the police and the hostages.  Alison, meanwhile, although keeping away from the siege decides to approach the matter from a different avenue, one which eventually becomes life-threatening for her.

What looks to be a straightforward hostage situation is in fact extremely complicated.

Despite the extreme tense situation there are moments of reflection from both Paul and Alison in relation to their now postponed wedding.  Will they, won’t they?

Cleverly plotted this is a nail-biting thriller that has a twist at the end that turns everything on its head. Highly recommended.

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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett 

Linda Regan is the author of six police procedural crime novels. She is also an actress. She holds a Masters degree in critical writing and journalism, and writes a regular column, including book reviews, for three magazines. She also presents the book-club spot on BBC Radio Kent. She is an avid reader, and welcomes the chance to read new writers. 

  To read a review of Linda's previous book
Sisterhoods
click on the title. 

www.lindareganonline.co.uk