What do you think?
Rate this book
Deadline
“What a story! Part paranoid thriller, part political satire, and all Canada — a sharp, cynical portrait of the sometimes incestuous ties between reporters and political staffers on Parliament Hill, with a corker of a plot. Crooked cops and cover-ups, sex, lies and probably Ottawa was never this exciting, but as we say in the business, it’s too good to check.” — Andrew Coyne
Political reporter Jack Macdonald is having a bad day. He wakes up with a terrible hangover, a hazy memory and an extra BlackBerry in the pocket of his wine-stained suit. He’s doing better than his friend, political staffer Ed Sawatski, who is floating face down in the icy Rideau Canal.
The same morning, Prime Minister Bruce Stevens tells his wife he has decided to retire from politics, which sets off a ruthless, no-holds-barred power struggle in the backrooms and bedrooms of Ottawa.
Macdonald doesn’t know it, but he has a great story on his hands, if he can stay alive long enough to tell it.
“One of Ottawa’s best political reporters has turned his hand to novel-writing and the result is a gritty, compelling mystery. The plotline has all the best ingredients of detective fiction, but the scenes, the details and even some of the characters bear some fun resemblance to oh-so-real life here on Parliament Hill.” —Susan Delacourt
“A fun read. Look forward to the movie!” —Keith Boag
“Few writers can write a real page-turner. Maher’s done it, telling a great story with style and energy.” —Mark Bourrie
“A fast-paced, well-written adventure and a fun read.” —Kate Malloy, Hill Times
“A rip-roaring thriller. Deadline works not because of its setting, but because it’s a page-turner.” —Paul Adams, iPolitics
“Filled with tales of deception, corruption and sexual intrigue; a fictional portrayal of the sometimes cutthroat world of Ottawa politics.” —Michael Woods, Postmedia News
Political reporter Jack Macdonald is having a bad day. He wakes up with a terrible hangover, a hazy memory and an extra BlackBerry in the pocket of his wine-stained suit. He’s doing better than his friend, political staffer Ed Sawatski, who is floating face down in the icy Rideau Canal.
The same morning, Prime Minister Bruce Stevens tells his wife he has decided to retire from politics, which sets off a ruthless, no-holds-barred power struggle in the backrooms and bedrooms of Ottawa.
Macdonald doesn’t know it, but he has a great story on his hands, if he can stay alive long enough to tell it.
“One of Ottawa’s best political reporters has turned his hand to novel-writing and the result is a gritty, compelling mystery. The plotline has all the best ingredients of detective fiction, but the scenes, the details and even some of the characters bear some fun resemblance to oh-so-real life here on Parliament Hill.” —Susan Delacourt
“A fun read. Look forward to the movie!” —Keith Boag
“Few writers can write a real page-turner. Maher’s done it, telling a great story with style and energy.” —Mark Bourrie
“A fast-paced, well-written adventure and a fun read.” —Kate Malloy, Hill Times
“A rip-roaring thriller. Deadline works not because of its setting, but because it’s a page-turner.” —Paul Adams, iPolitics
“Filled with tales of deception, corruption and sexual intrigue; a fictional portrayal of the sometimes cutthroat world of Ottawa politics.” —Michael Woods, Postmedia News
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
63 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Maher
11 books26 followersStephen Maher is an award-winning journalist who has uncovered scandals, reported from Newfoundland outports, remote indigenous communities, jails, warships, hospitals, parliamentary chambers, Afghanistan and Haiti. His second novel, Salvage, was short-listed for awards by the Crime Writers of Canada and The International Thriller Writers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 16, 2021
A political thriller that had me on a roller coaster of pointing fingers at various characters and the final "aha" moment at the very end. I started this book on August 14th as the first character introduced did tell us that it was her birthday but then, unfortunately, she wasn't left in the story. I was curious throughout the importance of her revealing her date of birth and other characteristics but the story went in another direction.
All the characters were believable, relatable and had unique ways about them they were telling of where they are from in Canada. Maher kept the story at a very good pace, introducing many characters who each played a significant role in the "accident" that started the book and the look at a corrupt government scandal.
While the storyline was frustrating at time, it was as equally believable as it was unbelievable. Knowing how easily a recorded message can be misheard, a relationship and be twisted and a small threat can turn into a pretty big deal that uncovers even more than expected.
I cannot wait to dive into more of Maher's books!
All the characters were believable, relatable and had unique ways about them they were telling of where they are from in Canada. Maher kept the story at a very good pace, introducing many characters who each played a significant role in the "accident" that started the book and the look at a corrupt government scandal.
While the storyline was frustrating at time, it was as equally believable as it was unbelievable. Knowing how easily a recorded message can be misheard, a relationship and be twisted and a small threat can turn into a pretty big deal that uncovers even more than expected.
I cannot wait to dive into more of Maher's books!
April 25, 2019
4.5 really great who dunnit set in Ottawa. Politics and blackberries! Scandals and ministers. Sparks street, byward market hangouts! And, I learned about nfld foods.. Fish n chips with dressing and gravy, with a pineapple crush.. Must try!
January 27, 2019
A real page-turner. Maher does a great job of capturing the atmosphere of Ottawa, and he writes great dialogue. Really looking forward to his next book.
September 20, 2020
A most enjoyable read! A perfect Ottawa thriller, with a journalist’s unique insight into the inner workings and landmarks of Parliament life.
February 28, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed. Thriller, scandal, politics, drinking. I didn't give 5 stars as while I was fine with the ending and parts leading up to it, I feel it could have been better.
September 25, 2024
Fun, beach type of read. The last 1/4 of the book got a little silly
February 24, 2013
This political thriller is a definite page turner -- think House of Cards with a Canadian cast. It's a must-read for anyone with an interest in politics or the media, but you don't even have to be a politico to enjoy it; you just have to love a good whodunit. The fast-paced plot features dirty cops, corrupt politicians, strip clubs, and promiscuous reporters. If you're at all familiar with Ottawa, you'll love the focus on Ottawa landmarks and watering holes, and few among us can resist the allure of a high-speed skate chase down the Rideau Canal.
Maher nails the contrast between what the public perceives to be happening in the corridors of power, and what politicians and powerful interests are really up to in the backrooms. The book is an interesting contemplation on the lengths to which people will go to get and keep power.
Maher nails the contrast between what the public perceives to be happening in the corridors of power, and what politicians and powerful interests are really up to in the backrooms. The book is an interesting contemplation on the lengths to which people will go to get and keep power.
October 31, 2013
I give this book five points although some readers might critisize that you have to know about Canadian politics in order to enjoy it fully. And you have to know what certain local terms mean and it helps if you understand some French (but I loved the French parts!).
I did enjoy it to the fullest, I must say. It was interesting to have a peek behind the curtains of political intrigues in Canada`s capital Ottawa - and the media crowd that is gathered there.
One learns a lot about Canada through this book.
I found it witty, fast-paced, with colourful characters, good twists and a very un-Canadian sex scene.
This is the Canadian thriller that should have been written a long time ago but maybe it was worth waiting for author Stephen Maher. I am sure he has a bright future.
I did enjoy it to the fullest, I must say. It was interesting to have a peek behind the curtains of political intrigues in Canada`s capital Ottawa - and the media crowd that is gathered there.
One learns a lot about Canada through this book.
I found it witty, fast-paced, with colourful characters, good twists and a very un-Canadian sex scene.
This is the Canadian thriller that should have been written a long time ago but maybe it was worth waiting for author Stephen Maher. I am sure he has a bright future.
April 10, 2014
Deadline by Stephen Maher is a Canadian political thriller, or as I call it, an oxymoron. (Are Canadian politics ever thrilling?) The book works. I wasn't sure what was going on for the longest time, but I wanted to know -- the book is pager turner. I like the structure -- short sections that move from character to character in, at first, a seemingly unrelated manner. But soon it all starts to come together as a reporter from Newfoundland stumbles across a story that can ruin the life of a major politician -- has almost cost his buddy his life -- and people are out to shut him up. And it's all told with a touch of humour, drunkenness and debauchery. A solid read. And good fun too.
February 16, 2013
Definitely an entertaining read, with enough political inside baseball to thrill the K1A lurker but enough old-fashiooned salacious crime thriller to draw in the layperson. Not without its flaws (and I found the denouement, post mystery-unravelling, to be a bit flat) but it's a fun little book that's very worth the time.
January 16, 2014
Not great literature, but a fun rush of a suspense-filled mystery. It's set in Ottawa, where I live, and so it was fun to see all manner of places cited that I could see in my mind, having been there many times. The book rocketed along at a ferocious pace, very satisfactory ... until the end, which I found too unremittingly cynical. But a great read which I wouldn't hesitate to recommend.
February 13, 2013
Really entertaining read! Just enough 'inside baseball' for those of us who work and live in Ottawa but the true anchor of the story is the tightly wound mystery. Maher does a superb job of layering all the elements tightly enough that it takes more than one thread to pull the whole mystery free.
February 5, 2013
Loved it, but then I work in politics and like mysteries...
February 12, 2013
Highly entertaining for those of us that work in politics or journalism. I'll be interested to see what "civilians" think!
February 7, 2014
I wouldn't exactly call Maher a novelist after reading Deadline, but it certainly is an entertaining read for those of us inside the "Ottawa Bubble".
March 30, 2013
Canadian politics. There's enough happening here with political corruption to keep the pages turning and reporter Jack is determined to uncover the scandal.
August 6, 2013
This is a light fluffy mystery novel set in Ottawa. The mystery is interwoven with the ambitions of a set of characters whose lives centre on the Hill - the staffers, Ministers, and reporters.
August 20, 2013
Fast-paced and fun. Lots of intriguing details about today's journalism and Canadian politics.
February 22, 2014
Really enjoyed the book. Went to school w Steve, happy to see just how talented a writer he turned out to be. I hope he writes another.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews