Synopsis

The Monday morning commute is anything but normal as a winter storm descends on Britain. Marie George curses her luck as she is involved in a minor road accident, unaware that these are the opening moments of a desperate nightmare to be shared with four strangers, similarly plucked from the streets. The situation quickly dawns on the unlikely group. Whatever the reason they are there, whatever their unassailable differences; they will all be killed unless they can work together to escape.

The unnamed kidnappers issue a demand that no Government could concede to whilst threatening that in five days the country will suffer an unprecedented and apocalyptic attack. The Government, already reeling from a sex scandal, is rocked as a barbaric act raises the stakes

Joe Barker, a cynical freelance reporter and Rachel Lancaster, a tenacious legal researcher have their own reasons to fear the crisis when connections with their recent past won’t leave them alone. They are forced to fight their demons and realise they can’t run away from their own part in it.

Freezing winter descends and the crisis escalates out of control for both the kidnappers and those in pursuit. The embattled government is forced onto the attack in attempts to secure the country and stop the inevitable. As the chase to identify the terrorists increases pace, it becomes clear that their motivation might not be as simple as believed. The connections become more complex and personal as the impending disaster of the final day approaches.

S.G.Norris takes us on a breath-taking rollercoaster ride of emotion as the country is turned on its head. Forcing every inch of resourcefulness from his characters, the reader is on edge from the first scene to the astonishing climax. There is no other book like this. You simply will not be able to put it down.

Questions

What is ‘A Hierarchy of Reason’?

The Hierarchy is a shameless exploitation of Maslow and his Hierarchy of Needs. It shows that motivations for what we do can be find in differing needs, whether they be concerned with survival or aspirational. For the purposes of this thriller I have challenged some of the assumptions we make when we try to understand why people commit acts of terror. Reasons run far deeper and more personal than our media has the capacity to understand and portray.

What’s the book about?

The book is about a kidnap plot where the UK government is held to ransom. Five Days frames the political timeline however the real story lies in the five hostages who are forced together. They have little in common and much to dislike yet they know their survival requires them to work together. Joe Barker, Rachel Lancaster and Lucy Sayers all make a return as fate drags them back into the battle. The unknown and unique terrorists find that whilst their campaign has the power to shock and overwhelm their enemies, there are some things they could not have anticipated, the worst of which is the unpredictable drama of a British winter.

Why buy this book and not others?

A Hierarchy of Reason is complex, intelligent, unique and compelling. It is fast paced, human and flawed. The start and middle are as unpredictable as the end. Whist this story is typical of the Thriller genre where danger faces familiar characters at every turn of the page, not everything goes according to plan and the surprises keep coming until the incredible revelation of the last page.