5 Stars
CAWPILE = 9.18

As implied from the title, this much-anticipated thriller takes place over just three hours, three hours in which there has been a shooting at a school and some pupils are trapped inside. 
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I felt this this was incredibly well done. A range of difficult and important themes (ranging from terrorism, radicalisation, and Islamophobia to parenthood, adolescence, and the impact and responsibility of the media) are explored with sensitivity, and feel central to the plot without taking away from it. This was a thriller that kept you on the edge of your seat, like any good thriller should, whilst also making you think more deeply. 
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There are a lot of characters to keep track of which could feel overwhelming, but I actually liked it. The structure of multiple points of view, as well as the references to time, made the narrative feel more urgent and more believable.  As well as this, despite the multiple viewpoints, the characters have very well thought out histories, making it easier to engage with them and their individual stories within the main tale. 
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The writing, too, was very emotive and I loved the links with Macbeth that were scattered throughout. Yes, there were some elements of the plot that I found less believable than others, and it all ended very neatly, but I was actually quite okay with that. 
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This book won't necessarily be for everyone, and the difficult themes may be too much for some readers (particularly if you have school age children), but my goodness I thought it was brilliant. I read it quickly and found it both thrilling and extremely powerful. It was a story of misunderstanding and fear, yet also one of resilience, courage, and love. This is a must read for thriller fans who are looking for something a little more thought-provoking, whilst still packing a punch.