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15 Seconds: A Novel

by Andrew Gross (Goodreads Author)

3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 · rating details · 1,675 ratings · 389 reviews

15 seconds can tear your life apart . . .

Henry Steadman didn't know what was about to hit him when he pulled up to a red light. A successful Florida plastic surgeon, he is in town to deliver a keynote address at a conference when suddenly his life becomes an unrelenting chase to stay alive.

Stopped by the police for a minor traffic violation, the situation escalates and he...more

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Published July 10th 2012 by William Morrow (first published April 1st 2012)

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Apr 07, 2012 Marlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, fiction, firstreads, suspense

To Deborah Jean, her mother’s words of caution were unnecessary. After all, “What can happen in fifteen seconds?” 15 seconds. 15 fateful seconds is all it took to wreak havoc and utterly destroy lives.

To nineteen year old Amanda, life was anything but easy, and is quickly spiraling downhill out of control. Her wretched dad always yelling, threatening; her uptight boss, asinine instructor, and two-timing boyfriend. And now, to top it all, she was going to be late to class again. Thank goodness s...more To Deborah Jean, her mother’s words of caution were unnecessary. After all, “What can happen in fifteen seconds?” 15 seconds. 15 fateful seconds is all it took to wreak havoc and utterly destroy lives.

To nineteen year old Amanda, life was anything but easy, and is quickly spiraling downhill out of control. Her wretched dad always yelling, threatening; her uptight boss, asinine instructor, and two-timing boyfriend. And now, to top it all, she was going to be late to class again. Thank goodness she had her pills to help her cope.

Traffic. A one-way street. 15 seconds. Lives forever altered.

Vance Hofer died a little inside as Amanda, his” little girl,” cried for him to rescue her from a twenty year prison sentence. “How you gonna help me, Daddy?” Wanting to help, yet accepting that justice must prevail, he could never have anticipated the crushing blow of her answer as he questioned who stole his daughter, his “little girl.” “You done it, Daddy…It was you.”

In contrast, Dr. Henry Steadman had it all. A thriving medical practice, a comfortable living, a daughter he was proud of, the great respect of his colleagues, some golf with his friend, Mike Dinofrio, and one former Miss Jacksonville waiting for him at the Marriott. This was shaping up to qualify as one of the ten days of greatness allotted to one’s life.

Traffic. A one-way street. Lives forever altered.

Henry’s wrong turn in an unfamiliar city brought Officer Martinez down on his case in a flash. It did little good to plead forgiveness with Martinez, who was obviously enamored with the power ascribed to his uniform. The charges piled up as Henry found himself squashed in the back seat of the police car, cuffed and under arrest, while numerous reinforcements arrived at the scene. But when the rest of the force had left, Martinez was suddenly struck dead by bullets from a blue sedan. Sure to be accused, Henry sought refuge at Mikes’ doorstep.

Carrie’s return to the department’s community outreach division four months after the devastating loss of her husband was not an easy one. No time for easing back into routine, though. Fellow officer Martinez had just been killed, as well as CEO Mike Dinofrio, and she was manning the phone. Little did she realize, she would become the suspect’s lifeline, and her life would again be forever altered.

Henry’s predicament worsens by the minute, but nothing could prepare him for the sudden announcement that his daughter, Hallie, had been kidnapped. It would be at her peril if he attempted to explain the events that had been carefully orchestrated to implicate him.

Andrew Gross skillfully builds suspense throughout the entire story, keeping the reader riveted on the edge of their seats. I found the web of events to be somewhat confusing at first, but so spellbinding that I had to follow Henry as he relentlessly sought to rescue his daughter.

15 Seconds is a fabulous suspense! You couldn’t have pried it from me until I had read the last word.

I received this advance copy as a GoodReads FirstReads giveaway, in exchange for my honest review.
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Jan 10, 2013 Nena rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2013-reads, unfinished

Audiobook :

I just started reading this last night and already have huge issues with this story.

First of all, we are talking about a college educated person driving a rental car in an area he is unfamiliar with being stopped by a cop for a routine traffic stop and not knowing when to shut his mouth. We also see this guy acting like an idiot within the first few chapters, running from the scene of a crime and covering up for himself when he is clearly innocent. Now, this is just me talking but I...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Kimberly Hicks rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Everyone

Recommended to Kimberly by: Goodreads

Shelves: read-on-kindle

What an adrenaline rush!!!! I haven't read a book with this much action since I read Dan Brown's The Davinci Code. OMG, this book was packed with edge-of-your-seat-nail-biting action!

When you think about 15 seconds, one wonders just how much can happen in that short amount of time span? Well I'm here to tell you, if you're Dr. Henry Steadman, 15 Seconds feels like a damn lifetime!

Poor Dr. Steadman, all he was trying to do was be the renowned plastic surgeon he had become--and be a loving father,...more

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May 09, 2012 Sara rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Someone looking for an adventurous fast read.

15 Seconds starts fast and keeps you hanging until the end. Young Amanda, high on Oxy, crashes her car killing an innocent mother and child. A few states away, Doctor Henry Steadman is roughed by cops while on his way to play golf. The officer is shot by a stealthy drive-by and the entire police force believes Henry is the murderer. When Henry turns to his only local friend, he finds him murdered as well. Page by page, Andrew Gross unveils how the two plots merge. The excitement cools down a bit...more

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Mar 29, 2013 Robel Getaneh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I tried to like this book. I really did. The book began like any typical thriller with the introduction of the main character and the protagonists. The author wasted no time diving into the action and here is where he lost me. The author did not give me enough time with the main character to grow a fondness for him therefore I was not able to encompass any empathy when bad things began to happen to the character. As things began to get worse for the main character I found myself not caring about...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Jennifer rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: readers who don't mind underdeveloped characters

Recommended to Jennifer by: no one

I bought this in the Dallas Airport, looking for something to pass the time on the plane ride home. Though I read it to the end, it drove me nuts and made me realize how well Harlen Coben actually does stand alones like this. So here's the set up. A successful plastic surgeon, Henry Steadman, has just flown down to Jacksonville. He's got his day all planned out--golf with a college buddy, an evening giving a talk at a Doctors Without Borders conference, and a nightcap with a certain lady who has...more

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Dec 31, 2012 drey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, mystery-suspense-and-thriller

I’ll start off with a PSA: You’ll want to make sure you can finish 15 Seconds in one sitting, because once you start it, you just have to know how this is going to end.

Now let’s get to the fun stuff!

Poor Henry. He’s driving around Jacksonville trying to find his hotel, when he’s pulled over. Before he can catch a breath from clearing up the misunderstanding, the cop’s shot dead. And Henry’s on the run for being a cop-killer.

Then his friend – the one he’s supposed to go golfing with, the one he...more

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Nov 11, 2012 HerbieGrandma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Henry Steadman is a very successful plastic surgeon. He has a beautiful daughter in college, a congenial ex-wife and enough money for all of the amenities. On his way to deliver a keynote address at a plastic surgeons conference in Florida, Henry is pulled over by an officer for a minor traffic violation. In minutes he is handcuffed, arrested and put into the back of the police car. None of it making sense, his pleas and explanations ignored, he is frantic, when just as suddenly he is released...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Darlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

15 Seconds by Andrew Gross is a real page turner. You'll be drawn in quickly to the story and characters. It's a cliff hanger.
This action-packed book is made up of two stories unfolding simultaneously.
15 Seconds begins with a prologue featuring a 19 year old female driver who loses control of her car while under the influence of illegal pain killers. She runs the car off the road and crashes, killing a young mother and her infant son. Her life is changed in just 15 seconds.
The story continues wi...more

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Aug 19, 2012 Pamela Kramer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"15 Seconds" by Andrew Gross cannot rightly be called a mystery, but it can certainly be called a riveting work of suspense and action. Gross is extraordinarily adroit at the art of building seemingly separate plots into one intertwining whole, leading to a crashing and scary and gory climax. He's got it down and he gets it done.

The main plot strand, it must be pointed out, is very reminiscent of "The Fugitive" (TV show and film), and Gross goes to absolutely no lengths to hide the similarity. H...more

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Aug 16, 2012 Kathy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not think I have ever read one of the Patterson/Gross books, but they do seem to be reader favorites. I saw an ad for "15 Seconds" on Goodreads, so I thought I would give it a try. This is an action-packed book with two stories being told simultaneously. I usually like that and enjoy how the two stories are brought together as one. Henry Steadman is a doctor at a medical conference who gets pulled over for an ordinary traffic stop. What happens after that is far from ordinary. Henry is a wi...more

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Aug 11, 2012 Tom Tischler rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Henry Stedman is a successful surgeon with a thriving cosmetic practice
in S. Fla. He is divorced but on good terms with his ex and he is very
active in his daughters life. Henry is on his way to a convention in
Jacksonville when he is stopped by a policeman. While they are discussing
these charges a car pulls up and the policeman is repeatedly shot. Henry
is shell shocked and to all the witnesses it looked like he did it. Henry
leaves the scene and heads out to the only friend he has in the area. H...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Ramona rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

An edge of your seat story--hard to put down once you start reading. Plastic surgeon, Henry Steadman, has a great life with a thriving practice and a wonderful daughter when he heads to Jacksonville, FL, to make a presentation at a Doctors Without Borders conference after playing golf with a good friend at an elite golf course. Steadman is pulled over for a traffic stop & accused of violations he has not committed. Trying to make the police officer understand, the police officer becomes irat...more

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Aug 08, 2012 Luanne Ollivier rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

3.5/5

Andrew Gross's latest book - 15 Seconds - is exactly the kind of story that draws me in from the first page. Everyday guy lands in a situation that is far from ordinary - with no idea what is going on.

And that's what happens to Dr. Henry Steadman. While on his way to speak at a medical convention, he's pulled over by a local cop for a minor traffic infraction. Things escalate quickly and crazily and Steadman finds himself handcuffed in the back of the cruiser with many other cops now in att...more 3.5/5

Andrew Gross's latest book - 15 Seconds - is exactly the kind of story that draws me in from the first page. Everyday guy lands in a situation that is far from ordinary - with no idea what is going on.

And that's what happens to Dr. Henry Steadman. While on his way to speak at a medical convention, he's pulled over by a local cop for a minor traffic infraction. Things escalate quickly and crazily and Steadman finds himself handcuffed in the back of the cruiser with many other cops now in attendance. Their line of questioning has him seriously frightened. Then just as suddenly, he's released and the extra patrol cars leave. Steadman is back in his own car, ready to leave as well, when a blue car pulls up to the local cop's car and shoots him point blank and races away. And just like that, Henry is a murder suspect. Things go from bad to worse when another body with connections to Henry is found.

What is happening? Who could be doing this to him? Why are they framing him? Henry realizes he can't go to the cops, so he must find the perpetrator himself.

I was initially sucked into the story quickly. As I said I find these kinds of stories irresistible. However, I found both the 'bad guy' and Henry somewhat tedious about halfway through. Their dialogue and actions become repetitive and the story lost its edge for me. Gross has co written five books with James Patterson and the same formula seems to have been used in 15 Seconds. Short sentences and short chapters with cliff hangers. Again, some of the sentiment, thoughts and angst of the characters is repeated - albeit with different phrasing - but the same idea. It became tiresome. I think I noticed it more because I chose to listen this book in audio format.

The reader was Christian Hoff, who has a great, expressive voice for audio books. He has a good, clear speaking voice and easily used his voice to capture the tension and pace of this thriller. But again, it was just a bit too much - the breathiness and angst became repetitive and overly dramatic. But, as he's only reading what has been written, I'd have to say Hoff did a great job.

Fans of James Patterson will love this book. For me, it wasn't great, but was a good accompaniment for a few long walks(less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Pamela rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Plastic surgeon Henry Steadman seems to have it all together as he heads out to Jacksonville to deliver a speech at a Doctors Without Borders conference. After leaving the airport, he is stopped by a cop during what is a sure case of mistaken identity. Then the cop is shot dead and the good doctor flees the scene. Heading to his only friend in town for help, Dr. Steadman arrives to find his friend has been murdered as well. It's a shocking mystery that Dr. Steadman must solve on the run from the...more

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Jul 31, 2012 Anita rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: suspense-thriller

In the prologue, a young woman high on a cocktail of pain meds is involved in a single vehicle accident that tragically kills a young mother and her 8-week old baby while the child's father serves in the military overseas.

Henry Steadman, a Florida plastic surgeon, discovers how your life can be turned upside-down in just 15 seconds. He arrives in Jacksonville in order to give the keynote address at a Doctors Without Borders conference. He is stopped for a traffic violation, handcuffed, and put u...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

At the very beginning of this ‘edge-of-your-seat’ thriller, Dr. Henry Steadman is stopped for a traffic violation. This particular moment in his life is nothing more than a routine ‘pain-in-the-neck,’ but before he is sent on his way the officer who stops him is killed and the murderer takes off. Fate and timing being what they are, Dr. Steadman is now not only the one witness to the crime but he’s also the main suspect.

Steadman has just arrived in Fort Lauderdale in order to speak at a medical...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, murder-mystery, supense-thriller-fiction

What would you do if you arrived in town heading for your hotel and you got lost? What if you wound up at a busy intersection facing a one way street and you would be going in the wrong direction if you went through it? What if you decided instead of taking the wrong way onto a dead end street and turned left instead on a red light and suddenly found yourself with flashing red and blue lights in your rear view mirror of your rental vehicle? What if the police officer pulled you over and instead...more What would you do if you arrived in town heading for your hotel and you got lost? What if you wound up at a busy intersection facing a one way street and you would be going in the wrong direction if you went through it? What if you decided instead of taking the wrong way onto a dead end street and turned left instead on a red light and suddenly found yourself with flashing red and blue lights in your rear view mirror of your rental vehicle? What if the police officer pulled you over and instead of simply listening to your story, wrote you a ticket not only for running a red light, driving without insurance and driving the wrong way on a one way street? What would you do?

I think you'd probably wonder just where the hidden cameras were or if you were having a bad dream and kept wondering when you were going to wake up right?

What if it only got worse, that instead of merely accepting the ticket, you decided to argue with the cop because you didn't really do any of those things except maybe the red light issue. So now Officer Martinez asks you to get out of the car and tells you that you're under arrest for obstructing an officer from doing his job and now the entire police force shows up. After a few minutes, they decide that perhaps they have been a bit too harsh with you and offer to give you just the red light ticket after all and all the police buddies leave. Whew, right? You'd be glad to sign that one and get on your merry way, but then a car pulls up and shoots the police officer point blank and leaves him dead. Now what would you do? You know all those local police boys know that the only person Officer Martinez was with was you and you were a bit upset by all this. Would you call 911 or would you flee?

Well now you are in the shoes of Dr. Henry Steadman, a local plastic surgeon who decided to do both and is now on the run from the cops and his life will only grow more interesting in the latest novel by Andrew Gross, 15 Seconds!!! This is a heart-stopping, edge of your seat thrill ride from the very first page and one that you won't be able to put down until you finish your final page.

I received 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross compliments of TLC Book Tours and William Morrow, a division of Harper Collins Publishers for my honest review. I have to say I inhaled this one. I was turning pages as fast as I could read to see what could possibly happen to Dr. Steadman and how was he going to deal with being framed after killing a local police officer. Now the man hunt is on and what you and Dr. Steadman will want to know is who it is and why is this all happening? A truly exciting suspense filled book at weighs in at a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. There is some profanity in the book in regards to a couple of the characters in the book that he encounters but overall a great novel!!!(less)

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Jul 24, 2012 Book Him Danno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, books-sent-by-author-publisher-for

What separates a thriller from regular fiction is pacing. The book has to give you the feel of sitting on a roller coaster, short breaks in the action followed by extended breathless moments. Andrew Gross has accomplished this expertly with 15 seconds.

The plot suggests that your life can change almost immediately. Too often all of us take our lives, or rather our lifestyles, for granted. We become so smugly convinced of our own invincibility we lose sight of the hazards in our way. Most of the...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Alla rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“15 Seconds” by Andrew Gross follows Dr. Henry Steadman as he is stopped for a routine traffic violation—and then framed for killing the officer who stopped him. In an interesting twist of events, Dr. Steadman, a respected plastic surgeon in town for a conference, ends up dedicating his time to escaping law enforcement while trying to figure out the true perpetrator of the crime. Meanwhile, no one believes him—except for a community outreach specialist working for the police department, Carrie H...more

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Jul 24, 2012 Becky rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A routine traffic stop turns out to be anything but for Henry Steadman. The plan was to get the rental car, check in to the hotel, and play some golf before the Doctors Without Borders conference began. But on the way to the hotel, Steadman gets lost. He's pulled over for running a red light and things take a weird turn. Before he knows it, he's in the back of a police cruiser, cuffed and being yelled at by an irate officer. When the fuss dies down, the officer admits it was a case of mistaken i...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Inga rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Review:

15 Seconds by Andrew Gross blew me away! It was such a good, quick paced and thrilling book, so I read it with one day from the very first page until the last one. I have to admit that I have heard a lot of Andrew Gross as an author, but hadn't have a chance to read any of his books yet. What a mistake! I truly enjoy a good mystery and/or thriller in between other books what I am reading and I am sure, that I will pick up another book(s) of Andrew Gross very soon. 15 Seconds was THAT enga...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-books

Dr. Henry Steadman is looking forward to a great day when he's pulled over by the police for a minor traffic issue. The situation soon escalates to the point that several officers arrive and Henry can't figure out what's going on. Eventually, things settle down and the other officers leave, but as he's waiting for the remaining officer to write out a warning, another car pulls up and the officer is shot dead. Henry quickly realizes that he'll be the prime suspect so he chases after the other car...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Coffeecurls rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I have read and loved several books by Andrew Gross, dating all the way back to his James Patterson collaborations, and can so far I've enjoyed them all!

15 Seconds is based on the age old premiss of how quickly your life can change; and often for the worse.

It is a fast paced story with Dr Henry Steadman as the poor sod stuck in the middle of it! I thought his character was great, I alway fall for the 'just too good to be true, handsome, charming and rich' types in books and Dr Steadman was no ex...more

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Jun 19, 2012 Best Crime Books rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Andrew Gross is pretty famous for co-writing books with the infamous Mr Patterson. However, I became a fan of the fantastic series of books he has written featuring Ty Hauck (I admit, a bit of a crush on that character!). His last release Killing Hour (US Version named Eyes Wide Open) I enjoyed, but it wasn’t a clear favourite. I found myself pining for TY Hauck and wondering if writing the stand alone books would ever be popular with me personally. Mr Gross proved me wrong so many times over wi...more Andrew Gross is pretty famous for co-writing books with the infamous Mr Patterson. However, I became a fan of the fantastic series of books he has written featuring Ty Hauck (I admit, a bit of a crush on that character!). His last release Killing Hour (US Version named Eyes Wide Open) I enjoyed, but it wasn’t a clear favourite. I found myself pining for TY Hauck and wondering if writing the stand alone books would ever be popular with me personally. Mr Gross proved me wrong so many times over with his latest book 15 Seconds.
The synopsis sounding pretty gripping with Dr Henry Steadman getting caught up in an incident which leads him to become a number one suspect in the shooting and murder of a local cop. Henry soon realises he is part of a major set up and is on the run, with his only hope being that he proves his innocence. I am a fan of the type of books that Simon Kernick writes that (although sometimes bordering on the unrealistic side) has the reader so caught up in the story that you get swept along. Andrew Gross has written a book that could rival any of Kernick’s!
I started reading this on a Thursday morning commute and finished it the next morning. The story starts off with a very likeable character Dr Henry Steadman on a normal routine trip down in Florida. En-route to meet his friend Mike for a round of golf he gets pulled over for a minor traffic violation. Within the next chapter or so Henry’s life changes in a situation that is all too believable!
After reading the first few chapters I raced to the halfway point almost sick with the excitement of it all. Henry seems to be getting dragged further and further into the line of fire and with each chapter comes a new danger. There was a small part just after the halfway mark which felt a little sluggish, but I think that was more to do with there being too much excitement in the first half to be honest. Before long, I was back in the fray and the pace just kept picking up until the very end where I was practically squirming in my seat hoping for a miracle for Henry.
It’s hard to review a book like this without giving too much away. What I will say is that Ty Hauck was a distant memory whilst reading this latest Gross book. Don’t get me wrong, I eagerly await the next Hauck book (along with my no doubt returning crush); but Mr Gross has well and truly created an outstanding book filled with excitement. This book had me reading until my eyes could take no more. An outstanding book that I loved and one which I would highly recommend!!!!!!!
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May 09, 2012 Gloria Bernal rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Harlan Coben fans

Recommended to Gloria by: Amazon Vine

Oh my! A roller coaster ride from start to finish. Well done thriller, IMHO, with plot-twists and turns, and with likeable, believable characters. Moves along swiftly and is hard to put down when one has to (like to sleep).

Dr. Henry Steadman, a plastic surgeon in Florida, is on his way to medical convention, has just left the airport in a rental car when he is pulled over by police in Jacksonville, FL. for minor traffic violations that he doesn't think he committed. He is roughed up a bit by loc...more Oh my! A roller coaster ride from start to finish. Well done thriller, IMHO, with plot-twists and turns, and with likeable, believable characters. Moves along swiftly and is hard to put down when one has to (like to sleep).

Dr. Henry Steadman, a plastic surgeon in Florida, is on his way to medical convention, has just left the airport in a rental car when he is pulled over by police in Jacksonville, FL. for minor traffic violations that he doesn't think he committed. He is roughed up a bit by local officers, and very verbally abused, but then they decide to let him off with a warning. Most of the officers drive away, leaving the officer behind that stopped him to write up the warning. As Henry sits in his car which is in front of the police car, the officer is behind him writing up the warning. Henry notices through his mirror that a blue car pulls up next to the officer and shoots him, then drives off. As a doctor, he feels compelled to check out the officer, realizes he is dead, slumped over the wheel, and is about to call 911, but decides to chase the car instead. His fear is that he will be blamed for killing the officer after their confrontation, and that the killer will get away.

Thus begins the roller coaster ride, as Henry is in fact considered the suspect, and other newer circumstances arise that prevent him from turning himself in. He can't afford to be caught without being able to prove his innocence, but the evidence stacks up against him. Soon he realizes, someone is setting him up, but who? He has an impeccable reputation, no one he knows would do this. Interestingly enough, the plot for this novel was started with a similar real-life encounter with traffic police in Houston, for this author. As you're reading this, you can just imagine what it must be like when you know you're innocent and being treated like a criminal.

Author Harlen Coben endorses this on the cover, and if you like his books, don't miss this one. You will enjoy the ride. To be released in June, 2012.(less)

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Feb 26, 2013 Lynn Farris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Fifteen seconds is all that it takes to change your life forever. International bestselling author Andrew Gross shares the stories of two very different situations where families had their lives changed forever in fifteen seconds and then intertwines them.

In the first story, Amanda, high on Oxycotin and Zanax gets behind the wheel of a car and changes her family’s life as well as others.

The second story is about Dr. Henry Steadman a successful plastic surgeon that is pulled over for what seems t...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Vicki rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dr. Henry Steadman is embarking on what he thinks just might be one of the best days of his life. He has arrived via plane in Jacksonville and is already comfortable in his rented Cadillac. A successful plastic surgeon in Ft. Lauderdale who also does medical mission work in Nicaragua, he is in Jacksonville to present the keynote address to Doctors Without Borders.

The only glitch seems to be that he didn't wait for the car with the GPS, so he is not exactly sure where to turn, though he knows he...more Dr. Henry Steadman is embarking on what he thinks just might be one of the best days of his life. He has arrived via plane in Jacksonville and is already comfortable in his rented Cadillac. A successful plastic surgeon in Ft. Lauderdale who also does medical mission work in Nicaragua, he is in Jacksonville to present the keynote address to Doctors Without Borders.

The only glitch seems to be that he didn't wait for the car with the GPS, so he is not exactly sure where to turn, though he knows he is close to the resort where he is staying. He's already daydreaming about the round of golf he'll get to play with his college buddy at the Jack Nicklaus-designed course where friend Mike is a member, just as soon as he gets checked in.

He is a little annoyed when he sees the flashing lights and realizes he is being pulled over for a traffic violation. The annoyance turns to fear as he is roughly removed from the car, cuffed, and placed in the rear of the officer's patrol car. The officer has even called for back-up, in what must be the worst timing ever for a case of mistaken identity, especially as Dr. Steadman tries to explain, and his effort is mistaken for resisting arrest.

Eventually, the original officer decides to issue a warning, sends his back up officers away, and uncuffs Henry, allowing the doctor to wait in his rent car while the officer writes up a warning. As Dr. Steadman watches in his side mirror, another car drives up, shoots and kills the police officer sitting in his car, and speeds away. Dr. Steadman rushes back, verifies that the officer is dead, and then with sudden dread, realizes that there are no other witnesses and the other officers will certainly assume that Dr. Steadman is the killer. Rather than call 911 and wait for officers to be sent to the scene, Henry decides to follow the killer's car and call 911 from the road. Every decision he makes from that point seem to be burying himself deeper in the hole of suspicious behavior. He becomes the target of a terrifying police manhunt.

Things just get worse as he seeks help to get a lawyer who can intercede for him with the police, but he soon gets an anonymous call that lets him know that this isn't just a freaky case of mistaken identity; someone very clever is setting him up, and what's more, that person has apparently kidnapped his college-age daughter and will kill her if Henry goes to the police.

Henry is fearful for his life, but his actions and quick thinking help him avoid police custody. He gets some help from unexpected sources, but the information he needs is not falling quickly into place, and time is running out for both Henry and his daughter.
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Nov 19, 2012 Sheila rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Henry Steadman is a successful plastic surgeon. He arrives in Jacksonville to attend a conference where he is to be a guest speaker. He is stopped by a policeman for a minor traffic infraction and is within minutes is surrounded by several other police vehicles. He is handcuffed and faces serious questioning. It's all a misunderstanding and the other police drive away. While Henry is waiting for the policeman to write up a traffic ticket, a blue car pulls up and fatally shoots the policeman. Hen...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Ray Palen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

15 seconds can tear your life apart. This is the premise that author Andrew Gross is attempting to get across in his latest thriller entitled 15 SECONDS. The initial idea for the novel sprung from Gross’s own reality. While on a book tour in 2010, Gross was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn. What followed was his getting cuffed by an over-zealous Police Officer, placed in the back of a squad car and subjected to a questioning rivaling a full Homeland Security investigation.

A similar occur...more 15 seconds can tear your life apart. This is the premise that author Andrew Gross is attempting to get across in his latest thriller entitled 15 SECONDS. The initial idea for the novel sprung from Gross’s own reality. While on a book tour in 2010, Gross was pulled over for making an illegal U-turn. What followed was his getting cuffed by an over-zealous Police Officer, placed in the back of a squad car and subjected to a questioning rivaling a full Homeland Security investigation.

A similar occurrence faces the protagonist of 15 SECONDS --- Dr. Henry Steadman. The difference here is that the Police Officer who pulls Steadman over is brutally shot down while Steadman is detained during a traffic stop. Steadman takes off after the car that did the drive-by shooting but to no avail.

What transpires next is a whirlwind of terror that completely disrupts the seemingly tranquil life of Dr. Steadman. He was on his way to a speaking engagement at a hotel in Jacksonville, FL, when the traffic stop occurred. Unfortunately for Steadman, this is only the first act in a nightmarish sequence of events that will quickly put him on the top of the APB list and wanted throughout the U.S. Southeast.

To backtrack, 15 SECONDS opens with a prologue that features a young female driver losing control of her vehicle and running off the road where she hits and kills a young mother and her infant child. The reader will recognize that this is not a random incident and must somehow get drawn into the plot of Dr. Steadman’s unraveling life.

The first half of the novel moves like a whirlwind. Every turn Steadman makes seems to lead to more death and tragedy --- all of which he is blamed for. He can trust no one --- especially after he receives a cryptic phone call from a strange man indicating he has Steadman’s teen-aged daughter kidnapped. The young woman, Hallie, is threatened with death by the homicidal caller if Steadman so much as turns himself in or reports to any law enforcement.

The only person Steadman is able to rely on is a recently widowed Police Hotline worker named Carrie. Carrie works for the Jacksonville P.O. and for some reason she cannot explain --- she believes in Dr. Steadman. Their relationship grows as Steadman remains on the run trying to get to the bottom of who is ruining his life.

SPOILER ALERT --- before the mid-way point in the novel it is revealed that the bad guy is the estranged father of the young woman who is currently serving prison sentence for vehicular homicide. The incident featured in the prologue was about a young woman driving under the influence of illegal pain-killers. Her father draws a sketchy line to Dr. Steadman and his practice and blames him for the drugs that ruined his daughter’s life.

15 SECONDS begins with a lot of promise and an instantly engaging plot-line. The problem I had with it is that once the ‘villain’ is revealed the book loses nearly all of its steam. Also, the involvement of Carrie is introduced way too early --- taking away from the solitary peril that Dr. Steadman is faced with. Gross began his career writing with James Patterson and at times this novel reads like anything Patterson has done (or had ghost-written for him) over the last decade. Ultra-short chapters, break-neck pace and continuous cliff-hangers are all earmarks of the Patterson style and dominate this novel.

However, Andrew Gross is a far better writer than this and I can only attribute the weakness of this novel’s second half is purely due to the fact that he a had a great idea for a thriller and was unsure how to finish it. Not his finest effort --- but I’m confident he will get it back together for his next novel.

Reviewed by Ray Palen for New Mystery Reader

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About Andrew Gross

hubby, cook, dad, thriller writer (The Blue Zone, The Dark Tide, Don't Look Twice, and coming soon... Reckless). Love to hear from and meet my fans! Hope you enjoy the newest release RECKLESS, coming April 27, 2010.

Looking forward to sharing my bookshelf with you all, and hoping to get some new reading suggestions!

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