Panic

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What to expect

*The thrilling new novel from the author of the bestselling Killing Eve series*

Escaping online is easy. In real life it won't be so simple.

#PANIC is a wildly entertaining coming-of-age tale from Luke Jennings, bestselling author of the Killing Eve novels.

Jaleesa, Kai, Ilya and Dani are online best friends, and superfans of the hit TV show City Of Night. Fantasising about the show in their chatroom, they find an escape from their troubled small-town lives. Everything changes when Chloe, make-up artist to the show's star Alice Temple, enters the chat.

When Chloe tells them Alice is in danger the four resolve to save her, and make their way to California. But fantasy is quickly overtaken by reality. Alice's troubles, they discover, will shine the spotlight on all of them. And not in a good way. On the run across the American South with one of the most famous actresses in the world, the fans must evade the police, the Russian mafia and the Legion, an absurd but terrifying new far-right movement. Can they keep running for long enough to uncover the truth about Alice, and discover themselves in the process?

#PANIC is a thriller, a love letter to fandom, and an empowering tale of young adults embracing their identities and fighting back in a world that has always tried to marginalize them.

'A richly imagined, character-driven thriller' Bookseller

'Luke Jennings might just have another cult hit on his hands' Shots Mag

'All the expected high-octane thrills and spills are there' Big Issue

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited

Critics Review

A story about the allure of A-list TV stars, the pleasure of group fandom, and the perils of catching the eye of the Russian mafia, far-right cults and American cops. All the expected high-octane thrills and spills are there, but with a focus on the kids looking for excitement and escape from their small-town troubles, #PANIC also has a big heart

Big Issue

A cracking ride

Daily Telegraph

The characters are believable and engaging – each bringing different perspectives [. . .] shining a light on online communities and the strong ties you can forge within them. You will definitely want to read another book by this author

Independent

The action comes thick and fast . . . What he has delivered is a story about friendship and the importance of being true to yourself that is powerfully topical . . . Luke Jennings might just have another cult hit on his hands

Shots Mag

Be prepared to go on a crazy, wild and unforgettable adventure. Brilliantly exciting

Heat, Book for the Week

The characters are believable and engaging, and the novel’s strength lies in the light it shines on the strong ties forged within online communities

iNews

Buckle up for a roller-coaster ride in this adventure from the mind that brought us the Villanelle books . . . Exploring fandom, identity and far-right movements, this is a richly imagined, character-driven thriller

Bookseller, Editor's Choice

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