What do readers think of 15 Seconds by Andrew Gross? Write your own review.

Another reviewer summed this up well as a good beach read. As a lover of really good thrillers I found this book really lacking. It is quick and easy to read with short chapters that lead you on to the next; however, I found the language far to schmaltzy for my taste. The emotions behind the action and the characters felt contrived and I never felt connected to the characters.

Andrew Gross has definitely absorbed the lessons he learned at the knee of James Patterson, with whom he has written several books -- the chapters in 15 Seconds are short, punchy, and full of action.
Henry, a doctor, is wrongly detained, then let go, by a police officer who appears to have the wrong man. As the doctor is getting back in his car after being released, the arresting officer is shot in a drive-by and Henry of course becomes the only suspect -- despite the evidence of surveillance cameras and other modern technology. Henry goes on the run to the home of a nearby friend ... only to find that friend murdered too. OMG, Henry's being FRAMED!
There are two -- if not three -- sub-plots about parent-child relationships in the book, two of which really push the story along. IF, that is, you're willing to suspend disbelief long enough to get through this book. I found Henry's ability to hide from various law enforcement agencies, and to find a stealable car whenever he needed, a bit tough to swallow. There is also a confusing timeline issue can't spoil that eventually gets resolved, but it had me wondering for a good third of the book. This is a good beach read, but don’t bother if you’re looking for a really in-depth, character-driven thriller.

I've enjoyed some of the books that Andrew Gross has co-written with James Patterson but this one was a disappointment. The fast paced and action filled story I expected was there the believability of the events which precipitate the story just isn't there. The main character, Dr. Henry Steadman tells the sections from his viewpoint in an odd way. The tension and stress is told with exclamation points rather than action that draws the reader into the story. The confusing timeline in the first half of the book finally made sense but by then I didn't care. The second half included a ridiculous romantic angle and some pretty amazing (as in completely unbelievable) deductions by Steadman. It's not awful, but it's not one I can recommend.