The First 48 Hours

the twisting new thriller from the Sunday Times bestseller

By: Simon Kernick

Narrated by: Olivia Darnley, Paul Thornley

A gripping, twisting and totally unpredictable thriller from the number one bestseller, perfect for fans of Harlan Coben, Linwood Barclay and David Baldacci.

THE FIRST 48 HOURS....WILL DECIDE IF YOU LIVE OR DIE.

A COP NEEDS TO CRACK A DEADLY CASE
He's a detective hunting cold-blooded killers, but does he know more than he admits?

A MOTHER HAS TO SAVE HER DAUGHTER
She's a lawyer who must defend a murderer - but how far will she go to protect her only child?

A COUPLE WILL COMMIT THE PERFECT CRIME
They have a plan - but can they trust each other with their lives?

THREE STORIES. TWO DAYS. DOES ONE SECRET CONNECT THEM ALL?
THE FIRST 48 HOURS...MAY ALSO BE THEIR LAST.

'Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!' HARLAN COBEN
'Great plots, great characters, great action' LEE CHILD
'An absolute master of the adrenaline-fuelled ride' PETER JAMES

(P) 2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©2023 Simon Kernick

Critic reviews

Compulsive ... loaded with dark humour, this is Kernick at his best

The plot twists and turns towards a conclusion that is impossible to predict

The master of the full-throttle thriller returns with a frenetic tale ... an action-packed adventure to race through.

Three seemingly unconnected stories are masterfully intertwined...this nerve-jangling read will have you turning pages late into the night.

Get set for a thrill ride

A master of the neat, fast-moving thriller ... entertaining and readable, this novel would be an excellent holiday read.

Expertly crafted...a vivid, high-octane page-turner

A gripping countdown thriller with jay-dropping plot twists.

A gripping countdown thriller with jaw-dropping twists

Narration let it down in parts

I love Simon Kernick - my favourite author. Paul Thornly is the most engaging narrator there is. However, parts of the book red by a female narrator really let the audio version down. She spoke so slowly I wanted to press a fast forward button. This was even worse when she read a male part in the book.
Please only use Paul Thornly, especially for male parts and please tell the female narrator that it isn’t a meditation book. Really spoilt the experience.