Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds

Author: L. V. Pederson
Genre: Crime Fiction
330 pages
Publisher: Raconteur Press, 2025

Synopsis
When Madison starts her first real job as an executive assistant at a Silicon Valley tech giant, she has hopes to start afresh and put her troubled life in Boston behind her. But it is not to be.

A young employee out for an evening jog turns up dead.

Her charismatic VP boss fills her with unease. And when Madison uncovers his deadly secret, her ordinary life is thrust into a high-stakes conspiracy the FBI is desperate to crack.

An unprecedented crime from the past is about to be repeated on an unimaginable scale.

A shocking revelation, and her quest for redemption, could get her killed.

Tick-tick-tick…

My review
Nine Minutes Eleven Seconds is a fun debut thriller from author L. V. Pederson. At just 330 pages, it’s a fast-paced, action-packed read that’s easy to finish in one or two sittings. While I had to suspend disbelief throughout most of the story, Pederson skillfully incorporates secrets, deception, and relentless action to keep the story gripping until the very end. This book feels much like watching an action movie, and though not my usual type of thriller, it was very entertaining.

The story revolves around a group of suspected terrorists planning another presumed attack decades after 9/11. It’s told through multiple perspectives, including agents, civilians, and operatives, as the chase unfolds to prevent the attack. The premise of involving civilians to help stop a terrorist plot felt far-fetched, but if you take the story for what it is, a fast-paced action thriller, it delivers on excitement. While the plot is somewhat predictable and implausible, the high-stakes chase and likeable characters keeps the momentum going.

This book is perfect for readers seeking quick, adrenaline-fueled entertainment. It’s an excellent choice for an airport or beach read, with its straightforward and easy-to-follow storyline. While the believability of the plot might falter, and the story isn’t particularly memorable, it’s still an entertaining way to spend an afternoon.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Raconteur Press, and L. V. Pederson for an advance copy to review. All opinions are my own.

My recommendation: worth the read if you’re looking for a fast-paced action thriller that reads like a movie.