29 Seconds by TM Logan

Sarah Heywood has the same dilemma all newly minted liberal arts PhDs have. Jobs are hard to come by. So your opening gig is as an overworked temporary instructor at a University. The main goal of every other similar person is to get promoted to the tenure track. So you accept every assignment be it academic, administrative, or professional service. All in the hope of getting on the good side of the boss. The Department Chair.

Alan Hawthorne is the golden boy of Queen Anne’s University. Respected by faculty, administration, and professional peers. Well published. Well connected. Has secured grants in the millions. Tall, blond, imposing baritone, handsome, rich, and stunning teeth, too. Even hosts a TV show on BBC.

And he’s a pig.

Arrogant. Condescending. A world-class letch. People who’ve known him since his days as a university student say he hasn’t changed a bit. Women who haven’t fallen for him are pursued until they finally succumb, by will or by force. Sarah is his latest target.

Sarah’s life hasn’t quite gone the way she’d hoped. As a student, she fell for the quintessential struggling actor, got pregnant young, and delivered her second child a couple weeks after defending her doctoral thesis. The actor has struggled and recently ran off to Bristol to chase artistic opportunities as well as an equally struggling actress. Good think her Father is around to help referee 8yo Grace and 5yo Harry.

After being delayed by the latest in a string of propositions by Hawthorne, Sarah has to rush to pick up the kids. Taking a traffic detour, she happens on what appears to be a grandpa walking his granddaughter. Until another car blocks the sidewalk and attempts to take the little girl. Sarah become enraged and rams the car and its driver, but the child disappears. A day or two later, Sarah herself is abducted and taken to a shadowy businessman. Guy by the name of Grosvenor.

Turns out the little girl was Grosvenor’s daughter and Sarah had indeed prevented an attempted abduction. Grosvenor wants to reward Sarah for her bravery, but she refuses. At a last resort, he plays his trump card. “Give me one name. One person. And I will make them disappear.” No one will know. It's what he's good at. Stunned, Sarah says she has no such name. Grosvenor tells her the offer is good for 72 hours. Gives her a throw-away cell phone with a single number programed in. All she has to do is open the phone and hit the 'Send' key.

In the next 72 hours, Sarah struggles with the offer and just what it might mean or entail. Then Hawthorne hits on her . . . again. This time he makes insinuations and implications of the consequences to come her way if she doesn’t bed him. Soon. And often. At his pleasure. At his command.

And the implication becomes reality. Budget cuts mean each department will have to make personnel decisions. Not only will she not be promoted to a permanent contract, she will probably be let go. And if let go, Hawthorne can make sure every university with an opening will know to steer clear of Sarah Heywood.

Livid beyond words, Sarah goes back and forth about whether to accept Grosvenor’s offer. The Faustian corner of her mind makes the call to this devil on the Thames. And when Hawthorne’s behavior starts to become out of character and he then does indeed disappear, Sarah’s guilt meter redlines. She now has to figure out how to live with herself, deal with the police and colleagues/friends, and whether what she’s done will actually affect her job, career, family, and the future.

But that’s far from the entirety of the book. The last third of the book is every bit as tense and shocking as was Fatal Attraction. This 2018 book is listed as a mystery/thriller, but I’d put it in the psycho-suspense bucket. 

Trust me on this one. Pick up this book knowing these two things: 

1. First, Logan pulls no punches in the politics and practices of the sexual power play. I am positive there are many examples that might ring too true and cause chills to anyone who might’ve experienced, or known of, similar situations. Hawthorne is pig. A disgusting despicable pig. That you’ll hate him is a testament to Logan’s skill. Just be warned. 
2. Second, don’t expect to read a couple chapters here and there. YOU WILL BE HOOKED QUICKLY. A one to two sitting read. The story and its twists are wonderfully presented by Logan. Just don’t forget to breathe every now and then. 

Oh, and how does the book's title fit in? That phone call to Grosvenor lasted . . . you guessed it . . . 29 seconds. 

ECD