“Talking to the other #panic members, all of them thousands of miles apart, Jaleesa feels a sense of possibility. A sense that if she’s brave enough, and imaginative enough, she can break free of the things that press down on her. And she badly needs to break free, because this isn’t life, this is a time-loop.” My thanks to John Murray Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Panic’ by Luke Jennings. Well known for his Killing Eve series of quirky spy thrillers, Jennings latest is a character-driven thriller that addresses various modern day issues. However, it does seem to have attracted a number of lacklustre and negative reviews. At times I have found myself an outlier with respect to popular titles though in this instance it’s in the opposite direction as ‘Panic’ was a winner for me. Maybe it was because I have made a number of deep connections with others via our mutual involvement in various SF/F fandoms so was able to relate to his central foursome. As for the plot and characters: Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are all super fans of City of Night, a hit science fiction/crime TV show. They broke away from an online fan forum and created their own forum and over time have become online best friends. Their love of the show has provided them with an escape from their troubled lives. When a newcomer contacts the group with a real world connection to Alice Temple, the show’s star, everything changes. They learn that Alice is in danger and resolve to meet up in real life at a fan convention and save their heroine. What could possibly go wrong? Obviously a lot. They soon find themselves with Alice on the run across America pursued by law enforcement and a group with a sinister agenda. Jennings latest book is described as a combination of “thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.” I think that it’s a fair description. Jennings clearly understands fandom and his four protagonists are each outsiders in different ways. Twenty-one-year-old Jaleesa ives with her parents in Saskatchewan, Canada. She is bookish though is also a boxer. Her plan to become a doctor was ended by a family tragedy that meant she could no longer pay her tuition. She has taken special inspiration from the character of Pandora, portrayed by Hayley, a Black actor. Twenty-five-year-old Dani is a trans woman living in a seaside town in England. Her transition has been accepted by her father and while she is able to pass, she is still harassed by a group of cruel locals. Then there is eighteen-year-old Ilya, currently enrolled in a Russian military academy. He is the son of a Russian mobster and isn’t at all interested in following in his father’s footsteps. He is very upset when his sister joins the Legion, a far right group. Finally, there is eighteen-year-old Kai living in a small outback town in Australia. His parents are astrophysicists, though his Mum is currently unwell. Kai’s family consider him a ‘tomboy’ and when he announces to his family that he’s trans his only ally is his sister. All four clearly find acceptance with each other as well as in the narrative of the City of Night series, which binds them. Jennings takes his time in establishing his four leads, before he sets them on their wild adventures. Also, through a number of small incidents, he outlines the sinister agenda of the Legion. During their flight across America the friends encounter a variety of folk, some allies and others adversaries. Overall, I found ‘Panic’ superb. It ticked all my boxes for a thriller. It wasn’t all nonstop action but had strong characterisations in both main and supporting characters. I could easily imagine it as a film or miniseries.

Jaleesa, Kai, Dani, and Ilya are die-hard fans of the cult sci-fi sensation City of Night. Although they live in different corners of the globe, their online friendship has flourished until an incredible opportunity arises: they get to travel to America to meet their idol, the enigmatic star Alice Temple! However, things take a thrilling turn when they discover that Alice is entangled in her own troubled existence. Just hours after their long-awaited meeting, these four passionate friends find themselves on the run, chased by relentless police, the ruthless Russian mob, and a menacing right-wing militia. Sure, the plot might be a bit farfetched, but who cares? This isn't highbrow literature—it's a fun, quirky tale with a vibrant LGBTQ flair! Just dive in and enjoy! As the author of the gripping Killing Eve series—one of my favourites—Luke Jennings crafts a whirlwind of suspense that keeps you riveted. The pace is exhilarating, and the narrative dives headfirst into the cultural conflicts that resonate throughout the US and beyond. It’s clever how Jennings weaves a cult TV show into a narrative that practically begs for its own adaptation! Although a murder is central to the plot, this isn’t just another whodunit; Panic is an empowering adventure that showcases young adults embracing their identities and fiercely resisting a world that has tried to hold them back. 3.5⭐ Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read Panic via NetGalley. As always, this is an honest review.

Panic is an interesting book not easily classified - part adventure/thriller, part crime and part LGBTQ coming of age. Following the lives of four young adults living on different continents, entwined together by their love/fandom of 'cult' SciFi series 'CIty of Night'.. Jaleesa, Kai, Illya and Dani exist online as #panic but are drawn together in service of favourite actress Alice Temple who seemingly needs their help. However, nothing is as it seems - all four present a version of themselves to their families, only being truthful to each other. Likewise, they gradually realise that in the glitzy world of LA nothing is as it seems, who can be trusted and who is really allowing their true self to be exposed. Smoke and mirrors, murders and the odd cross-country chase by the mysterious Legion all provide the reader with a gripping rollercoaster of a ride.

I chose this because it's by the author of ‘Killing Eve’ and I thought it was bound to be good. It's about a group of four chatroom friends who are superfans of a TV show ‘City of Night’ and their online existence is enlivened when Chloe, make-up artist to the show’s star, Alice Temple, joins their group. When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four decide to meet up at a real-life fan event… and that’s when they come face-to-face with some real-life problems. I think this might have worked better as a film or short TV series rather than a novel, because it’s not that gripping. It might work better cut into small chunks of episodes! I'd previously thought I'd go on to read the ’Killing Eve’ books but after this I've now decided not to bother. I'm giving it 3 Stars to be kind. Review by: Pink Alpaca, Oundle Crime

2.5 stars rounded up. Escaping online is easy. In real life it won't be so simple. Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night. Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat. When Chloe tells them that Alice is in danger, the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly taken over by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on them all. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian Mafia and the legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process? When I saw that the author of Killing Eve had a new book out, I just had to request it. To begin with, the book looked like it was going to be really good. But the plotline dragged out and it was a little far-fetched. There were quite a lot of characters to keep track of. The plotline jumps all over the place. It was confusing. I nearly gave up on it but something was making me read on. I'm sure I will be in the minority and many other readers will enjoy this book. It's not a bad boos, it's just weird. I would like to thank #NetGalley #JohnMurryPress and the author #LukeJennings for my ARC of #Panic in exchange for an honest review.