Reconstruction

In Mick Herron’s gripping standalone novel, "there is no hiding under the desk," a gunman named Jaime Segura takes hostages at South Oxford Nursery School, driven by fear rather than malice. The story unfolds as he only agrees to communicate with Ben Whistler, an MI6 accountant linked to Jaime’s missing lover, Miro, and a significant sum of money meant for reconstruction in Iraq. As circumstances intensify outside the school, hidden secrets among hostages and individuals on the periphery complicate the tense standoff, raising the stakes for all involved. Herron crafts an intricate plot that challenges readers with unexpected twists and masterful storytelling.