"The whole problem here, in case ya haven't noticed, is that everyone thinks he has a damn good reason for what he's doing. And that even goes for the inmates." This observation by Sarah Baumgardner, a jaded female guard, resonates throughout The Siege. One hundred inmates are holding twelve guards hostage in the laundry dorm of a Midwest prison. Emergency squads are posed at the fence, awaiting the order to attack, while sharpshooters are perched like crows on top of the administration building.

This standoff is the result of prison privatization, a political spoils system in which wildcat corporations overcharge the prison for cut-rate medical and commissary services. Weary of mercantilism, the inmates stage a hostage standoff while the guards are forced to defend an administration they have no faith in. But as the turmoil mounts, the guards divide themselves into feuding factions while inmate gangs are ready to betray one another.

Tom Hemmings, a dorm counselor liked by the inmates, is recruited to defuse the standoff. As he enters the prison, his heart starts to hammer. Who are the good guys? Who are the bad? And how will this nightmare end?  

Rob Slavens, Top 100 Reviewer, writes, "This is NOT the parboiled Hollywood version of prison drama; this is the raw, gritty and complex reality of life in a prison and the best of its genre that I've ever come across. The author's style is rich and engaging, painting a vivid picture of his setting and his very believable characters. If you want the truth behind life in prison administration, this is probably the book you'll want to pick up first."

Literary Fiction Book Review writes, "Offers fascinating insight, in language both meticulous and melodic, into the turmoil of a prison standoff."

Book VIral writes, "A highly-enjoyable and well-crafted novel that showcases Hanna's distinctive style of writing, The Siege delivers the best in psychological thrillers and is recommended without reservation."

Online Book Club rates The Siege 4/4 stars. https://forums.onlinebookclub.org/viewtopic.php?t=50853

Readers' Favorite International Awards rates The Siege 5/5 stars.https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/the-siege

Red Savina Review interviews James Hanna regarding The Siege. https://jameshanna1.wordpress.com/tag/author-interview/