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Deadline: The unmissable debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster Steph McGovern
Brought vividly to life by acclaimed actress Faye Marsay, known for her roles in Adolescence, Ten Pound Poms, and Game of Thrones.
Featuring an exclusive audio Q&A with author Steph McGovern and narrator Faye Marsay, available only in this edition.
The debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern.
'A pacy, witty, engaging thriller, entertaining and delightfully authentic, but hard-hitting and thought-provoking too. I can't wait for you all to read it' – Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope series
Your child has been kidnapped.
You're live on television.
Going live in 10, 9, 8 . . .
Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows.
7, 6, 5 . . .
But, when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, she knows something is very wrong.
4, 3, 2 . . .
Her earpiece has been hacked. She’s live on air in the middle of the interview. They tell her they have kidnapped her family.
1
And, in order to protect them, Rose must do exactly what the hijacker says. They are in control now.
* * *
'Fascinating and authentic peek behind the scenes . . . Steph McGovern lifts the lid and hooks us in with an irresistible set up' – Val McDermid, author of Past Lying
Featuring an exclusive audio Q&A with author Steph McGovern and narrator Faye Marsay, available only in this edition.
The debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern.
'A pacy, witty, engaging thriller, entertaining and delightfully authentic, but hard-hitting and thought-provoking too. I can't wait for you all to read it' – Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope series
Your child has been kidnapped.
You're live on television.
Going live in 10, 9, 8 . . .
Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows.
7, 6, 5 . . .
But, when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, she knows something is very wrong.
4, 3, 2 . . .
Her earpiece has been hacked. She’s live on air in the middle of the interview. They tell her they have kidnapped her family.
1
And, in order to protect them, Rose must do exactly what the hijacker says. They are in control now.
* * *
'Fascinating and authentic peek behind the scenes . . . Steph McGovern lifts the lid and hooks us in with an irresistible set up' – Val McDermid, author of Past Lying
Audible Audio
Published July 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 150 reviews
August 2, 2025
I usually find the well-known personalities fiction books ride on their fame, are overrated, and it wouldn't get published if they weren't well known. However, this book and Steph McGovern from packed lunch fame totally changed my perception as it was a great twisty thriller. As a debut novel, this was a super read, pacy, well written, with wonderfully developed characters. It moves between timelines and different relatable characters. You wonder how this can come together, but this is the beauty of the book. The authors experience of working in TV reporting is evident, making it feel authentic and real. It's a story of power and control, upper and lower class divide, thoroughly dislikeable snake like politicians, alongside loveable Rose and Ollie, and how young people can be influenced. I loved how justice was served without being overly sentimental. I hope this isn't a one-off book as it was an easy, relatable read, and I certainty would read more from this author.
August 5, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️½ rounded it up to ⭐⭐⭐⭐ star
Deadline kicks off with an absolutely killer premise: TV reporter Rose Steedman is just minutes away from a high-profile live interview with the Chancellor when a stranger hacks into her earpiece. The message? Her family has been taken and if she wants them back, she has to do exactly what they say live on air. From there, the story unfolds across a single day, diving into newsroom chaos, political power games, and the pressure of live television, all while Rose tries to keep it together on screen.
Steph McGovern clearly knows her stuff when it comes to broadcast journalism and that authenticity adds a lot of weight to the book. You feel the tension behind the scenes, the constant time pressure, and the emotional toll of trying to stay professional while everything falls apart.
The premise is brilliant and the tension ramps up well, the middle does lose a bit of steam. Some parts felt slightly repetitive, and a few twists were more predictable. Still, Rose is a strong lead, and the themes of power, control, and media manipulation give the story some real depth.
All in all, Deadline is a solid debut thriller. Pacy, relevant, and packed with behind the scenes drama.
Deadline kicks off with an absolutely killer premise: TV reporter Rose Steedman is just minutes away from a high-profile live interview with the Chancellor when a stranger hacks into her earpiece. The message? Her family has been taken and if she wants them back, she has to do exactly what they say live on air. From there, the story unfolds across a single day, diving into newsroom chaos, political power games, and the pressure of live television, all while Rose tries to keep it together on screen.
Steph McGovern clearly knows her stuff when it comes to broadcast journalism and that authenticity adds a lot of weight to the book. You feel the tension behind the scenes, the constant time pressure, and the emotional toll of trying to stay professional while everything falls apart.
The premise is brilliant and the tension ramps up well, the middle does lose a bit of steam. Some parts felt slightly repetitive, and a few twists were more predictable. Still, Rose is a strong lead, and the themes of power, control, and media manipulation give the story some real depth.
All in all, Deadline is a solid debut thriller. Pacy, relevant, and packed with behind the scenes drama.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2025
I actually really enjoyed this book—it was a great read overall. My only issue is that it felt far too long. There were definitely sections that could’ve been trimmed without losing any of the story’s impact. It easily could have been half the length and just as effective. Still, I’m glad I read it!
May 25, 2025
This was a great debut novel from British TVs Steph McGovern.
What I would start out by saying though is that the synopsis is a little bit misleading. The blurb is what initially drew me and how could it not? Britain's best loved TV presenter Rose is due to interview one of the most high profile politicians in the country the day after the budget is passed.
However, rather than hearing her producer in her ear, she hears a voice telling her that her wife and son have been kidnapped and she must do exactly as told.
Like I say, this initially drew me in, however this is only a small part of the actual novel. Although it is thrilling, the story delves more into poverty, class, power, greed against the backdrop of British politics.
I would recommend this book and I think Steph's background and knowledge of TV really comes through but just be prepared for it maybe not to be the book you were expecting.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
What I would start out by saying though is that the synopsis is a little bit misleading. The blurb is what initially drew me and how could it not? Britain's best loved TV presenter Rose is due to interview one of the most high profile politicians in the country the day after the budget is passed.
However, rather than hearing her producer in her ear, she hears a voice telling her that her wife and son have been kidnapped and she must do exactly as told.
Like I say, this initially drew me in, however this is only a small part of the actual novel. Although it is thrilling, the story delves more into poverty, class, power, greed against the backdrop of British politics.
I would recommend this book and I think Steph's background and knowledge of TV really comes through but just be prepared for it maybe not to be the book you were expecting.
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 25, 2025
Ever since I heard about this book, it’s been one of my most anticipated thrillers of the year—especially as a debut from BBC Breakfast and Steph’s Packed Lunch presenter, Steph McGovern.
The premise is brilliant: TV reporter Rose is about to conduct a live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country. But when a mysterious voice hijacks her earpiece mid-broadcast, everything changes. Her family has been kidnapped, and she must follow the hijacker’s commands—live, on air—to keep them safe.
I was hooked from the start and thoroughly enjoyed Part 1. The story was gripping, and the use of multiple POVs added depth and tension. However, from Part 2 onward, the tone and direction shifted significantly. The thriller I had been enjoying morphed into something more akin to a political scandal, without much buildup or explanation for the change.
Parts 4–6 began to tie up loose ends, but the decision to split the book into so many parts felt unnecessary. The structure would have been stronger as a three-part narrative with a final epilogue.
Speaking of the epilogue, it felt long and like it didn’t quite know when to end, piling on revelations in a way that came off more as “and then this” to wrap the story up. I don’t mind a few coincidences, but the story leaned too heavily on everything falling into place just right - rather than me walking away feeling like it was wrapped up in a clever way.
The novel has the bones of something compelling and it was an enjoyable read I sped through in a few hours sat by the pool. When Steph draws on what she knows from working in TV it feels at it's best.
Characters like Jonesy and Zoya stood out as strong additions, but sadly they faded into the background in the latter sections, when they could have added the most value in the plot tension from people who knew the character of Rose well and added to her unusual behaviour.
Ultimately, this wasn’t the book I expected based on the blurb. Readers going in hoping for a tight, high-stakes "live-on-air" hostage thriller may be disappointed. I think the marketing sets up one kind of story, but the book delivers something quite different—which could impact how it's received.
The premise is brilliant: TV reporter Rose is about to conduct a live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country. But when a mysterious voice hijacks her earpiece mid-broadcast, everything changes. Her family has been kidnapped, and she must follow the hijacker’s commands—live, on air—to keep them safe.
I was hooked from the start and thoroughly enjoyed Part 1. The story was gripping, and the use of multiple POVs added depth and tension. However, from Part 2 onward, the tone and direction shifted significantly. The thriller I had been enjoying morphed into something more akin to a political scandal, without much buildup or explanation for the change.
Parts 4–6 began to tie up loose ends, but the decision to split the book into so many parts felt unnecessary. The structure would have been stronger as a three-part narrative with a final epilogue.
Speaking of the epilogue, it felt long and like it didn’t quite know when to end, piling on revelations in a way that came off more as “and then this” to wrap the story up. I don’t mind a few coincidences, but the story leaned too heavily on everything falling into place just right - rather than me walking away feeling like it was wrapped up in a clever way.
The novel has the bones of something compelling and it was an enjoyable read I sped through in a few hours sat by the pool. When Steph draws on what she knows from working in TV it feels at it's best.
Characters like Jonesy and Zoya stood out as strong additions, but sadly they faded into the background in the latter sections, when they could have added the most value in the plot tension from people who knew the character of Rose well and added to her unusual behaviour.
Ultimately, this wasn’t the book I expected based on the blurb. Readers going in hoping for a tight, high-stakes "live-on-air" hostage thriller may be disappointed. I think the marketing sets up one kind of story, but the book delivers something quite different—which could impact how it's received.
July 26, 2025
3.25 / 5.0
I understand that this is Steph McGovern first published book, you always have to start from somewhere regardless. I have to say the first 250 pages felt like I was reading two different plots, it’s not inherently clear at the start how these are interlinked and progressively we are drip fed information which allows readers to make the connection further. Past 250 pages is where things made a lot more sense and it seems as though majority of the puzzle pieces are tying together. I have to admit the the remaining pages were thrilling and gripping which definitely bumped up the rating. You have to be patient with this one and see things through, there are points where things don’t make sense. Things eventually make sense near the end. Another dislike I massively dislike that I’ve seen Become a common thing is adding time frames to each chapter. I’ve found that with the multiple POVs and different time frames it was harder to actually understand the true extent of the plot, subplot and the story lines for each POV. I believe it only makes readers more confused and rather than having them actually understand the story plot you’re forced to then consider the time, year and place almost. It’s a good starting point, I know if someone were to ask me to write a book it probably won’t go a smoothly as Steph has done here so props to her for that.
Overall it’s not a bad read, I like the personal ties this links with Steph herself. I found at points she brings in elements of her experience in this book which is always fascinating to see!
I understand that this is Steph McGovern first published book, you always have to start from somewhere regardless. I have to say the first 250 pages felt like I was reading two different plots, it’s not inherently clear at the start how these are interlinked and progressively we are drip fed information which allows readers to make the connection further. Past 250 pages is where things made a lot more sense and it seems as though majority of the puzzle pieces are tying together. I have to admit the the remaining pages were thrilling and gripping which definitely bumped up the rating. You have to be patient with this one and see things through, there are points where things don’t make sense. Things eventually make sense near the end. Another dislike I massively dislike that I’ve seen Become a common thing is adding time frames to each chapter. I’ve found that with the multiple POVs and different time frames it was harder to actually understand the true extent of the plot, subplot and the story lines for each POV. I believe it only makes readers more confused and rather than having them actually understand the story plot you’re forced to then consider the time, year and place almost. It’s a good starting point, I know if someone were to ask me to write a book it probably won’t go a smoothly as Steph has done here so props to her for that.
Overall it’s not a bad read, I like the personal ties this links with Steph herself. I found at points she brings in elements of her experience in this book which is always fascinating to see!
July 14, 2025
Very mixed feelings about this book, too much technical detail that in my opinion was unnecessary. I felt it was a bit patronising towards the reader with the feeling that everything needed to be explained in very simple terms in order for them to understand. I guess the writing style was just not for me
September 22, 2025
Didn’t read much of this as I was bored after a few chapters! There was far too much explaining about what happened during an outside broadcast and what people’s jobs were, they just weren’t need and took away from what might have been a good story!
December 5, 2025
I actually loved this, I went in completely blind and I was completely hooked. I loved the characters and the multiple POVs and storyline! What a brilliant debut! I loved all the behind the TV scenes and learning about that world. Absolutely would recommend. I finished it in about 24hrs.
August 16, 2025
I've never read a book in a day...until now!
Loved it.
Easy read, gripping and nice to see the little guys win!
Sadly though, this crap is still rife and needs to be stamped out!
Loved it.
Easy read, gripping and nice to see the little guys win!
Sadly though, this crap is still rife and needs to be stamped out!
March 30, 2025
3.5/5 stars (rounded up)
Deadline by Steph McGovern (releasing 3rd July 2025) is a political thriller, packed with jaw-dropping twists and some seriously relevant themes. It dives into political scandals, media manipulation, and the UK's North-South divide in a way that feels real.
But here’s the thing… The book is marketed like it’s all about a live-on-air hijacking, and honestly? That’s just a tiny part of the story. If you’re expecting a plot that revolves around that moment and how the main character navigates it, then you’re in for a surprise—because it’s more of a backdrop rather than the main event. It set me up for one kind of story and then gave me another, which I must admit was slightly frustrating.
There was also another subplot that felt like it was thrown in last minute just to add another twist, but it didn’t really add much to the story and wrapped up way too fast to have any real impact.
I did struggle to push through sections of the book, but definitely stick with it—because the ending pulls everything together in a way that makes it worth the read.
Final thoughts? It’s a solid thriller with plenty of twists and a lot of thought-provoking themes, but the way it was sold didn’t match what it actually delivered. If the marketing had been more accurate, this could’ve been a solid 4.5-star read for me.
Thank you to Book Break UK at Panmacmillan for sending me an arc of this book. All opinions remain my own.
Deadline by Steph McGovern (releasing 3rd July 2025) is a political thriller, packed with jaw-dropping twists and some seriously relevant themes. It dives into political scandals, media manipulation, and the UK's North-South divide in a way that feels real.
But here’s the thing… The book is marketed like it’s all about a live-on-air hijacking, and honestly? That’s just a tiny part of the story. If you’re expecting a plot that revolves around that moment and how the main character navigates it, then you’re in for a surprise—because it’s more of a backdrop rather than the main event. It set me up for one kind of story and then gave me another, which I must admit was slightly frustrating.
There was also another subplot that felt like it was thrown in last minute just to add another twist, but it didn’t really add much to the story and wrapped up way too fast to have any real impact.
I did struggle to push through sections of the book, but definitely stick with it—because the ending pulls everything together in a way that makes it worth the read.
Final thoughts? It’s a solid thriller with plenty of twists and a lot of thought-provoking themes, but the way it was sold didn’t match what it actually delivered. If the marketing had been more accurate, this could’ve been a solid 4.5-star read for me.
Thank you to Book Break UK at Panmacmillan for sending me an arc of this book. All opinions remain my own.
August 2, 2025
2.5 ⭐️
When I first saw this book advertised and heard the plot, I thought we were going to get something akin to the movie Phonebooth, watching one character stuck in one spot with someone mysterious giving them orders, and that level of psychological torment that would come with it, with main character Rose trying to keep things on track for the sake of her family. Instead what we got was an over abundance of characters and multiple timelines of different events that make a confusing mess of a story. It’s a shame, as this was an excellent premise, but took far too long to actually get there, and failed to deliver when it arrived.
I feel disappointed that the main hook of the book wasn’t really a major part. In fact, part 1 to 3 was build up and exposition, part 4 being where the main plot point, and the reason I purchased the book, came into effect. I understand the need for some build up in part 1, and while I think it went on too long with the set up, I still found it necessary and engaging. And then part 2 begins and takes us further back in the timeline, and that’s where it started to lose me.
I don’t blame the author for this, but whoever was behind the synopsis and the advertising. Because this book doesn’t focus on Rose alone, it focusses on the whole team, and the political scandals from years before the main events of the book.
When it got to the actual hijack section it seemed to focus on literally everyone but Rose and that’s where I fully checked out. I needed more of her struggles, how she’s dealing with this. That whole section of the book could have been from her point of view and really build tension, but the jumping between characters and times of the day really dampened the impact it could have had. And on top of that it kept adding more and more character POVs. It felt messy.
I will say I really enjoyed the interview style of the epilogue, and how it painted the muddled progression of the book into a clear and easy to understand timeline of events. And you can tell the author knows her stuff about TV. It’s was very informative in that regard.
A line on page 329 sums up my feelings pretty well: ‘has anyone actually checked on Rose?’ Because that’s how I feel. That’s the story I was sold and didn’t get. If this had been advertised as a book where the plot is mostly about political scandal, I either wouldn’t have picked it up or at least gone into it knowing what to expect. A thriller this was not, but it really could have been. I’m giving this a 2.5 stars but bumping it to three, because it wasn’t a bad book by any means, it’s just wasn’t the book I’d expected it to be.
When I first saw this book advertised and heard the plot, I thought we were going to get something akin to the movie Phonebooth, watching one character stuck in one spot with someone mysterious giving them orders, and that level of psychological torment that would come with it, with main character Rose trying to keep things on track for the sake of her family. Instead what we got was an over abundance of characters and multiple timelines of different events that make a confusing mess of a story. It’s a shame, as this was an excellent premise, but took far too long to actually get there, and failed to deliver when it arrived.
I feel disappointed that the main hook of the book wasn’t really a major part. In fact, part 1 to 3 was build up and exposition, part 4 being where the main plot point, and the reason I purchased the book, came into effect. I understand the need for some build up in part 1, and while I think it went on too long with the set up, I still found it necessary and engaging. And then part 2 begins and takes us further back in the timeline, and that’s where it started to lose me.
I don’t blame the author for this, but whoever was behind the synopsis and the advertising. Because this book doesn’t focus on Rose alone, it focusses on the whole team, and the political scandals from years before the main events of the book.
When it got to the actual hijack section it seemed to focus on literally everyone but Rose and that’s where I fully checked out. I needed more of her struggles, how she’s dealing with this. That whole section of the book could have been from her point of view and really build tension, but the jumping between characters and times of the day really dampened the impact it could have had. And on top of that it kept adding more and more character POVs. It felt messy.
I will say I really enjoyed the interview style of the epilogue, and how it painted the muddled progression of the book into a clear and easy to understand timeline of events. And you can tell the author knows her stuff about TV. It’s was very informative in that regard.
A line on page 329 sums up my feelings pretty well: ‘has anyone actually checked on Rose?’ Because that’s how I feel. That’s the story I was sold and didn’t get. If this had been advertised as a book where the plot is mostly about political scandal, I either wouldn’t have picked it up or at least gone into it knowing what to expect. A thriller this was not, but it really could have been. I’m giving this a 2.5 stars but bumping it to three, because it wasn’t a bad book by any means, it’s just wasn’t the book I’d expected it to be.
July 27, 2025
4⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT
An engrossing debut crime thriller! ☺️
This was a highly anticipated read for me after hearing McGovern’s speech at a debut book event last year, and I enjoyed this book.
Rose is a TV reporter and is interviewing a powerful man in the biggest interview of her career. As the interview commences, her earpiece is hacked live on air and a voice tells her that her family have been kidnapped and she must do what they say.
The premise is fresh and sucked me in right away, just like the prologue. Whilst launching on the slower side as you become familiar with the characters and the TV reporting industry, the pace fastens with every turn of the page.
At times the structure felt sporadic and I thought part 2 had a slight dip in my engagement, however, after this point and as the tension unfolded, I really enjoyed the read.
How I didn’t connect some dots quickly makes me kick myself, but with red herrings, McGovern cleverly brings everything together in a shocking culmination.
This was a well-executed debut novel and was the perfect slump buster. It didn’t take me long to read this book at all!
A huge thank you @bookbreakuk @panmacmillan for this proof copy of Deadline which published on Thursday! 😍
Check this thriller out! 🙌
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT
An engrossing debut crime thriller! ☺️
This was a highly anticipated read for me after hearing McGovern’s speech at a debut book event last year, and I enjoyed this book.
Rose is a TV reporter and is interviewing a powerful man in the biggest interview of her career. As the interview commences, her earpiece is hacked live on air and a voice tells her that her family have been kidnapped and she must do what they say.
The premise is fresh and sucked me in right away, just like the prologue. Whilst launching on the slower side as you become familiar with the characters and the TV reporting industry, the pace fastens with every turn of the page.
At times the structure felt sporadic and I thought part 2 had a slight dip in my engagement, however, after this point and as the tension unfolded, I really enjoyed the read.
How I didn’t connect some dots quickly makes me kick myself, but with red herrings, McGovern cleverly brings everything together in a shocking culmination.
This was a well-executed debut novel and was the perfect slump buster. It didn’t take me long to read this book at all!
A huge thank you @bookbreakuk @panmacmillan for this proof copy of Deadline which published on Thursday! 😍
Check this thriller out! 🙌
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
October 12, 2025
This book had an interesting premise and really does hook you from the start. You instinctively like Rose as a lead character and you want to find out what is going to happen next.
While the book does wrap up nicely, the pacing and structure felt off. The entire middle part of the book felt divorced from the hijacking, which very nearly made me lose interest because it was such a departure from the plot. Also, the back and forth jumps in time made the narrative slightly confused at times, but it did all come together at the end.
Overall, a decent thriller but I think it needed refining and maybe shortening slightly to reduce the sense that this was almost two separate novels mashed together.
While the book does wrap up nicely, the pacing and structure felt off. The entire middle part of the book felt divorced from the hijacking, which very nearly made me lose interest because it was such a departure from the plot. Also, the back and forth jumps in time made the narrative slightly confused at times, but it did all come together at the end.
Overall, a decent thriller but I think it needed refining and maybe shortening slightly to reduce the sense that this was almost two separate novels mashed together.
September 9, 2025
Rose is a journalist on daytime tv when her earpiece is hacked during a live broadcast and her family is threatened.
Told over the course of a 5 year period, both past and present chapters, the author weaves many threads together that kept me guessing the outcome throughout.
The book delves into the differences between the haves and have nots and how they are treated / listened to in mainstream media.
The characters were easy to connect with and despite having many POV, each characters voice shone through.
A really good debut from this celebrity author.
Told over the course of a 5 year period, both past and present chapters, the author weaves many threads together that kept me guessing the outcome throughout.
The book delves into the differences between the haves and have nots and how they are treated / listened to in mainstream media.
The characters were easy to connect with and despite having many POV, each characters voice shone through.
A really good debut from this celebrity author.
October 23, 2025
I really enjoyed this book, couldn’t put it down. I liked the characters and how over the years building up to the hijack you learnt more about them.
I found it an easy read and a nice style of writing.
It took me a while to think who the hijacker was having a couple of characters in my head
I found it an easy read and a nice style of writing.
It took me a while to think who the hijacker was having a couple of characters in my head
July 22, 2025
A great debut 🩷
I could 'hear' Steph as the main character - which isn't a negative, and I guess to be expected. But great writing and pace, especially from 2/3 of the way to end.
I could 'hear' Steph as the main character - which isn't a negative, and I guess to be expected. But great writing and pace, especially from 2/3 of the way to end.
July 13, 2025
The plot did keep me hooked however there was a bit of filler at the start and end that did low key annoy me. a lot of 'telly' jargon too ... like we get it steph, youre a presenter 🙈 but overall a good read!
Read
July 5, 2025DNF at 20%.
By the time I DNF’d this, the plot was still filling me in on back story.
I was bored and I felt if I carried on, it would bring on a slump!
By the time I DNF’d this, the plot was still filling me in on back story.
I was bored and I felt if I carried on, it would bring on a slump!
October 5, 2025
Wow! This is a fast moving debut novel from TV personality, Steph McGovern who came to fame on BBC Breakfast and now hosts Steph’s Packed Lunch on Channel 4. Steph’s television experience undoubtedly laid the foundation for this book as she introduced us to the main character, Rose who bears an uncanny resemblance to Steph herself.
Northerner Rose is on an outside broadcast for breakfast TV to interview the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Barrow on the day after the budget. Rose has the reputation of being a hard-hitting journalist and has prepared long and hard for this interview. Just as she is starting the live interview, she hears an unfamiliar voice on her earpiece. This voice tells her that he has kidnapped her wife Kate and toddler son Rory. Rose has no choice but to continue the interview although the voice in her ear is now providing the questions for her and they become increasingly embarrassing for Charles Barrow. But who is the kidnapper and why has the Charles Barrow interview been hijacked on live TV?
To find out, we have to go back five years to a rough secondary school in the north of England called Newton Banks Academy. A local MP had visited the school and invited some 16 year old students to the House of Commons. Surprisingly they are invited to Number 10 Downing Street too but there is a fracas between the headmistress Harriet and government official Penelope Pencil. This incident was filmed by one of the students who posted it on social media which resulted in the fall of the Prime Minister. Overall, the London trip had a profound effect on many of the students and inspired them in their future career choices. So what has this got to do with Rose’s interview? You will have to read the book to find out!
If you are interested in a good thriller which keeps you guessing and no wordy descriptions, this is one for you. It’s very readable and will give you great insight into the high pressure world of TV journalism as well as political scandal, the north/south divide in England and class differences. In my opinion, it’s definitely one to add to your “To Be Read” pile.
Northerner Rose is on an outside broadcast for breakfast TV to interview the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Charles Barrow on the day after the budget. Rose has the reputation of being a hard-hitting journalist and has prepared long and hard for this interview. Just as she is starting the live interview, she hears an unfamiliar voice on her earpiece. This voice tells her that he has kidnapped her wife Kate and toddler son Rory. Rose has no choice but to continue the interview although the voice in her ear is now providing the questions for her and they become increasingly embarrassing for Charles Barrow. But who is the kidnapper and why has the Charles Barrow interview been hijacked on live TV?
To find out, we have to go back five years to a rough secondary school in the north of England called Newton Banks Academy. A local MP had visited the school and invited some 16 year old students to the House of Commons. Surprisingly they are invited to Number 10 Downing Street too but there is a fracas between the headmistress Harriet and government official Penelope Pencil. This incident was filmed by one of the students who posted it on social media which resulted in the fall of the Prime Minister. Overall, the London trip had a profound effect on many of the students and inspired them in their future career choices. So what has this got to do with Rose’s interview? You will have to read the book to find out!
If you are interested in a good thriller which keeps you guessing and no wordy descriptions, this is one for you. It’s very readable and will give you great insight into the high pressure world of TV journalism as well as political scandal, the north/south divide in England and class differences. In my opinion, it’s definitely one to add to your “To Be Read” pile.
August 16, 2025
I’m so glad I don’t DNF books, because even when a story doesn’t immediately click, I often find the payoff worth it—and that was certainly the case here.
The first part of Deadline (around 115 pages) is heavily focused on character building, introducing us to Rose, an experienced journalist, her colleagues, and the intricate world of reporting. At times it felt dense, but this slow build is essential groundwork for what unfolds later.
Part two, however, shifts gears completely, transporting us into the perspectives of Ollie Croft and his friend CJ at a struggling high school. Here, we also meet headteacher Harriet, who is suddenly pushed into the spotlight in a bid for an OBE, tasked with turning the school around. It took me a while to piece together the connection between the two narratives—and given the bold cover and blurb, the story was not at all what I initially expected.
McGovern’s writing shines in its handling of themes: education, journalism, politics, and the machinery of the House of Commons and wider government (if you know, you know). The plot itself unfolds with precision—I didn’t see where it was heading until it hit me full force, and for a debut, that’s impressive.
That said, certain character arcs felt incomplete. Harriet and Abdul, for example, seemed to fade before their stories reached a satisfying resolution. While their presence added context, their open-endedness left much to the imagination.
Overall, Deadline is a gripping and thought-provoking debut. It’s not the straightforward hijacking thriller you might anticipate from the cover—it’s something more layered, more surprising. I’d recommend it, but with the caveat: expect the unexpected.
The first part of Deadline (around 115 pages) is heavily focused on character building, introducing us to Rose, an experienced journalist, her colleagues, and the intricate world of reporting. At times it felt dense, but this slow build is essential groundwork for what unfolds later.
Part two, however, shifts gears completely, transporting us into the perspectives of Ollie Croft and his friend CJ at a struggling high school. Here, we also meet headteacher Harriet, who is suddenly pushed into the spotlight in a bid for an OBE, tasked with turning the school around. It took me a while to piece together the connection between the two narratives—and given the bold cover and blurb, the story was not at all what I initially expected.
McGovern’s writing shines in its handling of themes: education, journalism, politics, and the machinery of the House of Commons and wider government (if you know, you know). The plot itself unfolds with precision—I didn’t see where it was heading until it hit me full force, and for a debut, that’s impressive.
That said, certain character arcs felt incomplete. Harriet and Abdul, for example, seemed to fade before their stories reached a satisfying resolution. While their presence added context, their open-endedness left much to the imagination.
Overall, Deadline is a gripping and thought-provoking debut. It’s not the straightforward hijacking thriller you might anticipate from the cover—it’s something more layered, more surprising. I’d recommend it, but with the caveat: expect the unexpected.
August 12, 2025
Your child has been kidnapped…
You’re live on television …
Going live in 10, 9, 8 …
Rose is an accomplished TV reporter but today is going to change her career. She has the opportunity to interview one of the most powerful men in the country, only a day after he announces budget cuts and restructures which divide the nation. Everyone will be watching. All eyes are on Rose to get the answers everyone wants to know.
7, 6, 5….
But Rose suddenly hears a voice in her ear she doesn’t recognise, and her heart drops
4, 3, 2…
Her earpiece has been hacked, and someone has told her they have her son and wife. She’s live on air. In order to save her family she will have to do what they say
1…
I was a little apprehensive to give this a go, knowing it was written by a ‘celeb’ I had my reservations. Mostly because I’ve been enticed into reading a celeb book and then found it be very basic and just not very well written. HOWEVER I have seen so many great reviews of this one so I thought why not give it a go!
The blurb immediately enticed me, and whilst I typically wait for books to be released as paperbacks (not a fan of hardback reading) I genuinely didn’t want to wait for this one 🤣
And holy moly!! It was SO GOOD!! I quite literally devoured this in an evening. I put it down twice to do something. But I absolutely loved it!! I feel like it’s been a hot min since a book has struck me like this, but I genuinely would absolutely recommend it! It really surprised me too, because the book went in such a different direction than I had been expecting! The only thing I would maybe say is that the epilogue was quite long, however it did tie up the entire book quite nicely!
You’re live on television …
Going live in 10, 9, 8 …
Rose is an accomplished TV reporter but today is going to change her career. She has the opportunity to interview one of the most powerful men in the country, only a day after he announces budget cuts and restructures which divide the nation. Everyone will be watching. All eyes are on Rose to get the answers everyone wants to know.
7, 6, 5….
But Rose suddenly hears a voice in her ear she doesn’t recognise, and her heart drops
4, 3, 2…
Her earpiece has been hacked, and someone has told her they have her son and wife. She’s live on air. In order to save her family she will have to do what they say
1…
I was a little apprehensive to give this a go, knowing it was written by a ‘celeb’ I had my reservations. Mostly because I’ve been enticed into reading a celeb book and then found it be very basic and just not very well written. HOWEVER I have seen so many great reviews of this one so I thought why not give it a go!
The blurb immediately enticed me, and whilst I typically wait for books to be released as paperbacks (not a fan of hardback reading) I genuinely didn’t want to wait for this one 🤣
And holy moly!! It was SO GOOD!! I quite literally devoured this in an evening. I put it down twice to do something. But I absolutely loved it!! I feel like it’s been a hot min since a book has struck me like this, but I genuinely would absolutely recommend it! It really surprised me too, because the book went in such a different direction than I had been expecting! The only thing I would maybe say is that the epilogue was quite long, however it did tie up the entire book quite nicely!
July 1, 2025
Rose is renowned for her hard-hitting interviews, so she is understandably nervous when she is asked to interview the Chancellor live on national TV. What she isn’t prepared for is the disembodied voice that takes over during the broadcast, telling her to follow their instructions because her wife and child have been kidnapped.
Although we know this is going to happen, the build up developed naturally and definitely meant that the moment of the hijack was a shocking one. As we witness the story developing we learn a little about each of Rose’s crew and there are a number of plot sidelines that could conceivably be at the heart of the story. The precise details do come as something of a shock.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication. I wasn’t wholly convinced by the way things panned out, but it was certainly an interesting idea.
Although we know this is going to happen, the build up developed naturally and definitely meant that the moment of the hijack was a shocking one. As we witness the story developing we learn a little about each of Rose’s crew and there are a number of plot sidelines that could conceivably be at the heart of the story. The precise details do come as something of a shock.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this prior to publication. I wasn’t wholly convinced by the way things panned out, but it was certainly an interesting idea.
January 17, 2026
This was a fast read, but unfortunately, a boring one. The story kicks off with a kidnapping, but then immediately halts the momentum by jumping back five years. Spending the majority of the book in the past felt jarring and killed the tension a thriller needs to thrive.
At 368 pages, it felt bloated. Because I already knew where the plot was headed, the "thrill" was nonexistent. It’s a quick read, yet somehow still felt too long—especially that never-ending epilogue. I expected a high-stakes thriller, but this just didn't deliver.
At 368 pages, it felt bloated. Because I already knew where the plot was headed, the "thrill" was nonexistent. It’s a quick read, yet somehow still felt too long—especially that never-ending epilogue. I expected a high-stakes thriller, but this just didn't deliver.
August 23, 2025
This was excellent! Deducting 0.25 for the odd bit sounding like a manual on how to produce TV programmes, but I was gripped the whole way through.
4.75 stars
4.75 stars
October 26, 2025
Brilliant book. Lots of twists, kept me on my toes.
July 17, 2025
We follow acclaimed journalist Rose as she prepares to interview a cabinet minister on national television. She is well prepared to scrutinise government fiscal policies, but what she is not expecting is to hear an unfamiliar voice in her earpiece demanding she follow every instruction as her wife and son have been kidnapped. Motives for the hijacking become apparent to the reader as we delve into the backstory through a dual timeline, uncovering nefarious issues surrounding high-profile political power.
Deadline is a high-tension thriller that simultaneously demonstrates authentic protocols for live television and highlights prevalent contemporary issues, such as political scandals, the North-South divide, and overall socio-economic perceptions and prejudices. It is an unsettling storyline that is more layered than the premise suggests.
Deadline is a high-tension thriller that simultaneously demonstrates authentic protocols for live television and highlights prevalent contemporary issues, such as political scandals, the North-South divide, and overall socio-economic perceptions and prejudices. It is an unsettling storyline that is more layered than the premise suggests.
July 12, 2025
This was fine. It was readable and a quick read for me. In my opinion the writing style was very clipped – there was a definite ‘tell don’t show’ angle to the writing that became repetitive. The plot itself was interesting, but the early chapters were overpacked with a lot of extraneous detail and sideplots that ultimately came to nothing. I think this needed a big edit in that sense.
The second half was a lot better once most of those subplots fell away. The structure of the second half also worked better as the chapters became shorter; this gave an immediacy to the narrative which made it more exciting to read.
The flashbacks towards the middle of the book also slowed down the pacing for me. The thing is, the concept was interesting and I liked that a lot, I just thought the execution needed work. The narrative became quite bogged down sometimes and the ultimate main storyline could have been seeded in better.
Ultimately I think this is a very ‘blunt’ sort of book – there wasn’t a lot of subtlety to it and the writing felt clumsy. It just wasn’t really for me, though I can admire the overall construction of the main mystery.
Content Notes:
Warnings: .
The second half was a lot better once most of those subplots fell away. The structure of the second half also worked better as the chapters became shorter; this gave an immediacy to the narrative which made it more exciting to read.
The flashbacks towards the middle of the book also slowed down the pacing for me. The thing is, the concept was interesting and I liked that a lot, I just thought the execution needed work. The narrative became quite bogged down sometimes and the ultimate main storyline could have been seeded in better.
Ultimately I think this is a very ‘blunt’ sort of book – there wasn’t a lot of subtlety to it and the writing felt clumsy. It just wasn’t really for me, though I can admire the overall construction of the main mystery.
Content Notes:
Warnings: .
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