Reviewed by Sofia Burgess

The 25th Hour by David Benioff is an outstanding book. Whether you read the book or see the movie, you will be introduced to an account of the hell that comes in the time after the crime and before the punishment.

And for Monty Brogan that time is running out. With just 24 hours left before his prison sentence begins, Monty is meeting with old friends, saying goodbye to his father, and turning his back on the trade that got him into trouble.

Monty Brogan, played by Edward Norton in the movie, is a suave drug dealer who is at the end of his game. After years of dealing he has earned "sway" - a comfortable position that provides court side tickets, VIP access to nightclubs, tailored suits, custom cars and a bodyguard.  All this will be lost as Brogan prepares for his seven year sentence at Otisville Federal Prison.

Brogan examines his regrets and mistakes with clarity and responsibility. It is his lack of vengeance that really sets this story apart. Monty Brogan isn't looking for the informer, he's taking accountability for his actions, accepting punishment and blaming only himself.  In the 24 hours we spend with Brogan we see all the twists, turns and tricks the mind can play when we examine our past and face a future that has no familiar comforts. The book offers an unpatronizing look at the underworld and shows us that loyalty, greed, lust, denial and consequences are the common denominators that we all share.

Having first read the book, I later watched the movie (for which the screenplay was written by the author) for comparison.

The book was much more satisfying and the all-important ending was far less disappointing in the book.

It is in the 25th hour that we see the hope that was earlier obscured by fear and the unknown.