Twenty hours to disappear. One mistake could be fatal.

Anastasia Pestova is a quiet teller at the Bank of Moscow, in a city that doesn’t notice if she breathes. But when millions of rubles vanish through her terminal, she is suddenly the centre of a money laundering conspiracy.

A frantic tip-off offers a harrowing lifeline. But to take it, Anastasia must shed her identity and slip through a dragnet of watchful eyes.

With authorities watching the gates and her passport flagged at every checkpoint, she has less than twenty hours to do the impossible. One mistake, and it will be her last. And even if she succeeds, her ordeal is only beginning.

Note to Readers: No Passengers is the prequel to the upcoming thriller Foreign Muse, introducing Anastasia Pestova before her life changes forever. It is an 18,000-word escape-on-the-run thriller, designed to be devoured in one sitting.

This was my first time reading this author, and she immediately had my heart racing. This short story is gritty, intense, and packed with suspense. It moves at a rapid pace and is easy to finish in one sitting. There is some language, but no spicy content.

I don’t usually gravitate toward heists, conspiracies, or money laundering plots, but this story pulled me in right away. From the opening pages, I was completely hooked. It had that unputdownable quality that makes you keep turning pages without realizing how quickly time is passing.

The story follows Anastasia, who lives in Russia and is unknowingly entangled in a money laundering scheme through her job at a bank. Once authorities get involved, she is forced to go on the run. The writing felt immersive, and I genuinely felt like I was right there with Anna, experiencing her fear, urgency, and confusion. The atmosphere was vivid, and the tension stayed high throughout. You can feel the pressure building as the clock ticks down, which makes it all the more engaging.

That said, there were a few moments where certain metaphors and descriptions didn’t quite land and felt slightly off. It didn’t take me out of the story entirely, but it was noticeable at times.

One small frustration was the use of Russian words throughout the story. While it added authenticity to the setting and characters, the meanings were not always explained in the moment. I later discovered there was a glossary at the end of the ebook, which would have been helpful to know from the start. Having those definitions more accessible would have made the reading experience smoother.

I also found the ending a bit abrupt. I was so invested in Anna’s journey that when it ended, it felt like it stopped rather than concluded. There are still several unanswered questions and loose ends. Knowing this is a prequel to a longer thriller makes that choice more understandable, but I still would have appreciated a slightly more satisfying stopping point.

Overall, this was a gripping and memorable read. If you enjoy high-stakes, on-the-run thrillers with a strong sense of urgency and tension, this is definitely worth picking up. It left me curious about what happens next, and I’m looking forward to continuing Anna’s story in the follow-up. Definitely recommend!