What do you think?
Rate this book
Casey Benedict #2
Dead Line
THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTHA SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR'Vivid and packed with journalistic lore ... Mixing pulsating derring-do with painstaking detective work' Sunday Times A Bangladeshi camp. A British ambassador. A Harley Street doctor.Investigative journalist Casey Benedict is used to working on stories that will take her from the bottom to the top of society - stories with a huge human cost. And her latest case is no different.A frantic message is found hidden in clothes manufactured for the British high street. They take the girls. Casey and her team at the Post know they are on the brink of a major expos but identifying the factories in which the clothes have been made is one challenge, following the trail of those taken is another. Their attempts to find the girls will take Casey from her London newsroom across the world and into the very heart of families who will be destroyed if what she uncovers is ever revealed.The Hunt and the Kill, the third in the Casey Benedict series, is out in July 2021. Available for pre-order now.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2020
42 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Holly Watt
9 books71 followersHello!
My name is Holly Watt. The Last Truths We Told is out now!
My first novel - To The Lions - won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for the best thriller of the year. My second book, The Dead Line, was named one of the Thrillers of the Year by The Times and the FT. The Casey Benedict series continues with The Hunt and The Kill and The End of the Game.
Before writing novels, I was an investigative journalist. I started at the Sunday Times (long, complicated story), before moving to the Daily Telegraph.
During six years at the Telegraph, I was the Whitehall Editor and jointly ran the investigations team. I then moved to work on the Guardian's investigations team (yes, a bit of a leap politically...).
I worked on stories including MPs’ Expenses at the Telegraph and the Panama Papers at the Guardian and I also did lots of undercover work.
I've reported from countries all around the world, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Jordan and Lebanon (some of which appear in my books).
My name is Holly Watt. The Last Truths We Told is out now!
My first novel - To The Lions - won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger for the best thriller of the year. My second book, The Dead Line, was named one of the Thrillers of the Year by The Times and the FT. The Casey Benedict series continues with The Hunt and The Kill and The End of the Game.
Before writing novels, I was an investigative journalist. I started at the Sunday Times (long, complicated story), before moving to the Daily Telegraph.
During six years at the Telegraph, I was the Whitehall Editor and jointly ran the investigations team. I then moved to work on the Guardian's investigations team (yes, a bit of a leap politically...).
I worked on stories including MPs’ Expenses at the Telegraph and the Panama Papers at the Guardian and I also did lots of undercover work.
I've reported from countries all around the world, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Libya, Jordan and Lebanon (some of which appear in my books).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 17, 2020
Award winning Holly Watt's follow up to To The Lions, featuring investigative journalist, Casey Benedict, set in the newsroom of The Post in London, is an assured, superior and intelligent thriller that manages at once to be a fast paced, tense, compulsive and breathtaking read whilst simultaneously informatively and thoughtfully covering numerous,emotionally heartbreaking horrors and tragedies, the hell afflicting our troubled world. This is a story that begins with messages written on silk pieces discovered in clothes in a fashion store, they hint of desperate labour conditions in garment factories in Bangladesh, and the existence of international illegal baby factories set up to meet the demands for babies from the wealthy in the West through surrogacy.
So begins the dangerously deadly investigation led by Casey and her colleagues, Miranda and Hessa, that is to take her to from Harley Street, Washington DC, Greece, Bangladesh and Nice in France, taking her from the extremely wealthy end of the social and economic spectrum to the other, inhabited by the powerless, thought to be less than human, the refugees, the women, the children, the invisible, the exploited, abused, the enslaved, trafficked, the disappeared, those casually disposed of with barely a thought. Watt expertly plants metaphorical miniature grenades in the narrative, interspersing shocking pictures and examples of an all too real global litany of the never ending terrors of our cruel, barbaric and indifferent world, made all the more effective in their impact through their very unexpected appearances, leaving the reader little room to mentally arm themselves.
Helping Casey, is the ex-military Ed, both plagued by ghosts, nightmares old and new, fragments of glass piercing their dreams, knowing and seeing too much, never being able to forget. Watt is a talented storyteller, mesmerising, and utterly gripping, this is a smart thriller and series for all those of you jaded by thrillers. The unvarnished dark truths presented in the book had me despairing of the world we live in, replicating how Casey feels, but she refuses to let it stop her from acting, providing an all t00 much required spark of hope. We have a complex central protagonist in Casey, determined, haunted,engaging and charismatic, surrounded by a host of fascinating supporting characters that will have you immersed in the novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
So begins the dangerously deadly investigation led by Casey and her colleagues, Miranda and Hessa, that is to take her to from Harley Street, Washington DC, Greece, Bangladesh and Nice in France, taking her from the extremely wealthy end of the social and economic spectrum to the other, inhabited by the powerless, thought to be less than human, the refugees, the women, the children, the invisible, the exploited, abused, the enslaved, trafficked, the disappeared, those casually disposed of with barely a thought. Watt expertly plants metaphorical miniature grenades in the narrative, interspersing shocking pictures and examples of an all too real global litany of the never ending terrors of our cruel, barbaric and indifferent world, made all the more effective in their impact through their very unexpected appearances, leaving the reader little room to mentally arm themselves.
Helping Casey, is the ex-military Ed, both plagued by ghosts, nightmares old and new, fragments of glass piercing their dreams, knowing and seeing too much, never being able to forget. Watt is a talented storyteller, mesmerising, and utterly gripping, this is a smart thriller and series for all those of you jaded by thrillers. The unvarnished dark truths presented in the book had me despairing of the world we live in, replicating how Casey feels, but she refuses to let it stop her from acting, providing an all t00 much required spark of hope. We have a complex central protagonist in Casey, determined, haunted,engaging and charismatic, surrounded by a host of fascinating supporting characters that will have you immersed in the novel from beginning to end. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.
February 9, 2021
Looking for a fast paced, actioned packed thriller that will have you holding your breath and praying? Look no further than The Dead Line by Holly Watts. This book would make a fantastic movie, a plot that takes you across the world and back again.
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist for the Post in London. When a staff member comes across the words “they take the girls” written on the inside of clothes brought at a high street store, the team know they have a great story. It leads them not only to the labour conditions in the factories of Bangladesh but also a baby factory, with links to some high profile and powerful people. How far will they go to get the story and help these women?
It is a tough read at times, with chilling scenes of young women being badly treated. It will really give you a lot to think about, these people who believe that money really can buy them anything.
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for my copy of this book to read
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist for the Post in London. When a staff member comes across the words “they take the girls” written on the inside of clothes brought at a high street store, the team know they have a great story. It leads them not only to the labour conditions in the factories of Bangladesh but also a baby factory, with links to some high profile and powerful people. How far will they go to get the story and help these women?
It is a tough read at times, with chilling scenes of young women being badly treated. It will really give you a lot to think about, these people who believe that money really can buy them anything.
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for my copy of this book to read
May 16, 2021
4.5★
Reflecting on what to write about this book, I keep coming back to just one word - exciting! This is a thriller that for me was exciting from start to finish. The story itself was exciting, but it's also exciting to think I can look forward to catching up with investigative journalist Casey Benedict in book #1, and eventually in book #3 when it is published in a couple of months.
Secret messages out of a Bangladeshi garment factory instantly capture Casey's attention. Her intuition tells her there is likely an important story in it, and as a member of the small investigations team on London's Post newspaper, she has the contacts and the scope to do some preliminary digging for more information. She soon establishes that what she is looking at is a potential human trafficking/surrogacy ring, involving high-ranking officials and a well-regarded Harley St fertility specialist. With investigations boss, Miranda, temporarily unable to travel due to family reasons, it is up to Casey and her promising but inexperienced colleague, Hessa, to follow the clues. From Washington to Greece to the shipyards of Bangladesh, and then to a tense showdown back on home soil, Casey uses her intellect and instinct to tease out the story and expose those responsible.
The best thing about this book was the main character, Casey. She has no special skills or qualities and she's not physical, but she's really good at her job and she is very gutsy. She's also had the benefit of being mentored in her career by Miranda, a slightly older woman who is also extremely good at her job. The author's former career as an investigative journalist really shines through and gives Casey and the story a high level of authenticity.
I wouldn't normally (knowingly) jump into a series at any point beyond book #1, but I made an exception in this case as I was keen to read a story set in Bangladesh. As it turned out, there were plenty of references to people and events from book #1, both direct and indirect, but no actual spoilers, and nothing that indicated this couldn't/shouldn't be read as a standalone. If anything, I'm all the more intrigued to go back and catch up.
Reflecting on what to write about this book, I keep coming back to just one word - exciting! This is a thriller that for me was exciting from start to finish. The story itself was exciting, but it's also exciting to think I can look forward to catching up with investigative journalist Casey Benedict in book #1, and eventually in book #3 when it is published in a couple of months.
Secret messages out of a Bangladeshi garment factory instantly capture Casey's attention. Her intuition tells her there is likely an important story in it, and as a member of the small investigations team on London's Post newspaper, she has the contacts and the scope to do some preliminary digging for more information. She soon establishes that what she is looking at is a potential human trafficking/surrogacy ring, involving high-ranking officials and a well-regarded Harley St fertility specialist. With investigations boss, Miranda, temporarily unable to travel due to family reasons, it is up to Casey and her promising but inexperienced colleague, Hessa, to follow the clues. From Washington to Greece to the shipyards of Bangladesh, and then to a tense showdown back on home soil, Casey uses her intellect and instinct to tease out the story and expose those responsible.
The best thing about this book was the main character, Casey. She has no special skills or qualities and she's not physical, but she's really good at her job and she is very gutsy. She's also had the benefit of being mentored in her career by Miranda, a slightly older woman who is also extremely good at her job. The author's former career as an investigative journalist really shines through and gives Casey and the story a high level of authenticity.
I wouldn't normally (knowingly) jump into a series at any point beyond book #1, but I made an exception in this case as I was keen to read a story set in Bangladesh. As it turned out, there were plenty of references to people and events from book #1, both direct and indirect, but no actual spoilers, and nothing that indicated this couldn't/shouldn't be read as a standalone. If anything, I'm all the more intrigued to go back and catch up.
July 29, 2020
I adored To The Lions and really engaged with main protagonist Casey Benedict, an investigative journalist. So I was eager to read the follow up even though life has meant I've only just gotten to it.
In this follow up Holly Watts has really done a brilliant job, no book 2 angst here, once more we have a very addictive, extremely authentic and hugely thought provoking narrative with its central themes ripped straight from the headlines.
The story twists and turns whilst never losing sight of the important issues, Casey once more keeps you following in her wake as she determinedly battles her way to the truth and it is utterly absorbing from first page to last.
An author I will be following. Recommended.
In this follow up Holly Watts has really done a brilliant job, no book 2 angst here, once more we have a very addictive, extremely authentic and hugely thought provoking narrative with its central themes ripped straight from the headlines.
The story twists and turns whilst never losing sight of the important issues, Casey once more keeps you following in her wake as she determinedly battles her way to the truth and it is utterly absorbing from first page to last.
An author I will be following. Recommended.
May 5, 2020
Very addictive page-turner, highly satisfying for a shortened attention span. Have some major, major issues with the amount of sympathy we're clearly meant to direct towards rich, white, privileged English people who engage surrogate mothers in developing countries."We're all victims in this situation" is not a good look.
August 6, 2023
I’m not really sure how I feel about this. The main character is an investigative journalist who is looking into illegal surrogacy in Bangladesh. The horror of what is no doubt happening to some women in the world is highlighted very effectively; however, you know that they will highlight one example of the practice and that exploitation continues. There are moments when Casey wonders if her actions are justified and I wonder with her.
May 15, 2021
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist at The Post, London and is always on the look out for the stories that deserve to be brought to people's attention. So, when frantic messages are flound hidden in in the pieces of clothing of a clothing brand named Raphso, things get intriguing. The message says, They take the girl. Which girls? Who's written this? Casey is on the mission to find out along with her team from the Post, Miranda, Ed, and Hessa. They investigate and find out about the clothes being manufactured in Bangladesh and end up uncovering a very serious and heart-breaking condition of young girls of the Rohingya community. They were being kidnapped and forced to be surrogates for couples abroad who cannot conceive. How could Casey link this story with a Harley Street Doctor who is one of the suspicious characters in this set up? Should she go to Bangladesh to uncover this? Well, she does. Read the book to know what goes on and how.
For a thriller, the theme that the author has chosen to write upon is exceptionally intriguing. The writing is fast paced in the initial fourth and the last third of the book. The story seems a bit dragging in the middle. I like how the story of a character of the book, Miranda is in sync with the story they are investigating. However, towards the ending it's left as a loose end. The books begins from the first chapter. There's no beating around the bush with the story and with laying the background too much which is something I like in a book. However, I found the execution done a little poorly! What could've been an exceptional immersing thriller, went into a book sectioned based upon its pace. The beginning and the ending very fast paced while the middle tedious. I felt the need for more character build up, it may probably be because I've not read her previous book which may have the same characters. The action and the twists in the tale were spot on and honestly, I couldn't guess the ending.
So, if you like lengthy thrillers with a tad bit of a love interest, action and some seriously interesting web of mysteries, I'll recommend you this one!
For a thriller, the theme that the author has chosen to write upon is exceptionally intriguing. The writing is fast paced in the initial fourth and the last third of the book. The story seems a bit dragging in the middle. I like how the story of a character of the book, Miranda is in sync with the story they are investigating. However, towards the ending it's left as a loose end. The books begins from the first chapter. There's no beating around the bush with the story and with laying the background too much which is something I like in a book. However, I found the execution done a little poorly! What could've been an exceptional immersing thriller, went into a book sectioned based upon its pace. The beginning and the ending very fast paced while the middle tedious. I felt the need for more character build up, it may probably be because I've not read her previous book which may have the same characters. The action and the twists in the tale were spot on and honestly, I couldn't guess the ending.
So, if you like lengthy thrillers with a tad bit of a love interest, action and some seriously interesting web of mysteries, I'll recommend you this one!
July 19, 2022
The premise of this novel was a good one: surrogate mothers 'sourced' from refugee camps in Bangladesh for desperate English couples through their private doctor with no one asking too much about the surrogate's agency, motivations or safety. My main issue with novels featuring journalists rather than law enforcement officers is the way journalists report what is happening rather than try to put things right. That is addressed head-on in these novels, and Casey does manage to put the world right for at least some of the refugee women, albeit in a sort of superhuman, bounce-back-immediately-from-traumatic-injuries way. Casey and her colleagues, who work well and competently together, seem to regard investigative journalism as something of a passion/vocation/mission, which makes them (for me) hard to relate to, but you do find yourself rooting for them.
March 27, 2020
Perhaps one of the main reasons that Holly Watts’ thrillers stand out in bookshelves crowded with tales of derring-do is that her main protagonist, Casey is a woman with no special powers other than a grim determination to expose corruption and shine a journalistic light on the suffering of the most vulnerable.
As an investigative journalist herself, Watt is well placed to bring authenticity to the scenes of bargaining, banter and bravado at The Post where Casey works. In ‘The Dead Line’ her focus is also on the sadly plausible storyline of the trafficking of babies ‘grown’ from Western IVF implants by captured Rohingya teenagers in Bangladesh. Casey and two more female journalists, Miranda and Hessa, supported by Ed, ex-military and Casey’s sidekick in Watts’ first novel, fly into Bangladesh to rescue the girls and expose this crime. If it all sounds a bit gung-ho, well it is! However, Watts’ plotting ensures that the reader understands the many layers of deception and corruption that must be built to ensure that this profitable business can exist in the first place. It’s interesting to see how the spider’s web is spun.
Whilst there are moment in this thriller when the reader could quite justifiably cast aside the story as way too far-fetched – notably the chase on the wrecked ship and the villain’s prolonged chase of Holly as the story moves to its conclusion – this would be to ignore the many strengths of the narrative. Watt is clearly interested in exploring the maternal bond: there are many examples of the sacrifices mothers are prepared to make, as well as the acknowledgement that not every woman is keen to swap her liberty for maternity. There is also a focus on the clothing industry and the massive void between the fantasy of the shimmering catwalk and the sweatshops from which most of the world’s clothing originates. If you like food for thought in as good a measure as the thrills and spills of the usual page-turner, then you’ll enjoy ‘The Dead Line’.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Raven Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
As an investigative journalist herself, Watt is well placed to bring authenticity to the scenes of bargaining, banter and bravado at The Post where Casey works. In ‘The Dead Line’ her focus is also on the sadly plausible storyline of the trafficking of babies ‘grown’ from Western IVF implants by captured Rohingya teenagers in Bangladesh. Casey and two more female journalists, Miranda and Hessa, supported by Ed, ex-military and Casey’s sidekick in Watts’ first novel, fly into Bangladesh to rescue the girls and expose this crime. If it all sounds a bit gung-ho, well it is! However, Watts’ plotting ensures that the reader understands the many layers of deception and corruption that must be built to ensure that this profitable business can exist in the first place. It’s interesting to see how the spider’s web is spun.
Whilst there are moment in this thriller when the reader could quite justifiably cast aside the story as way too far-fetched – notably the chase on the wrecked ship and the villain’s prolonged chase of Holly as the story moves to its conclusion – this would be to ignore the many strengths of the narrative. Watt is clearly interested in exploring the maternal bond: there are many examples of the sacrifices mothers are prepared to make, as well as the acknowledgement that not every woman is keen to swap her liberty for maternity. There is also a focus on the clothing industry and the massive void between the fantasy of the shimmering catwalk and the sweatshops from which most of the world’s clothing originates. If you like food for thought in as good a measure as the thrills and spills of the usual page-turner, then you’ll enjoy ‘The Dead Line’.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Raven Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
November 28, 2020
Couldn’t put it down!
July 26, 2020
Cassandra Benedict, Casey, is an investigative journalist with Britain’s major daily, the Post. She learns of designer clothes bearing machine-printed tags with brief, sad scripts such as “...they take the girls…” and “...baby factory…”
Following up on what they assume to be cries for help, she and her associates establish the clothes are made by Rohingya refugees in a factory in Bangladesh. They learn, too, of a 13-year old named Romida who is being offered a ‘better life’ away from the refugee camp but who is, unknown to her, about to be prepared as a surrogate mother for English women desperate for a child of their own.
The story is a fast-paced, but, in its own way, harrowing account of need, coupled with a lack of thought for those in the background who might be hurt. To the team, it links to the one who is no more than a slave, the pubescent Romida.
Casey and the team in the Post’s investigation unit establish links with a Harley Street gynaecologist, Dr Greystone; a retired diplomat, Sir William Cavendish; a member of the British Foreign Office, Gabriel Bantham and others, tracing a couple named Emilia and Dominic Burton-Smith whose baby is due to be born to a surrogate mother in a matter of days in Bangladesh.
The storyline swings between London, Washington DC, the island of Paxos in the Ionian Sea, Dhaka, and the coast of southern Bangladesh, with many twists. Scenes vary with the circumstances and the locale, from the high society artificiality of a fashion runway in London to the filth and gagging stench of a Bangladeshi ships’ graveyard.
The Dead Line combines high drama and adventure aplenty as Casey and her fellow investigators find their lives endangered by those whose illicit income they’ve placed in jeopardy. It draws to a chilling conclusion on the private airstrip at Tawton Court, a huge, opulent property on the outskirts of London.
Oh, and perhaps it ought to be mentioned there’s an underlying, quietly developing love interest, too.
Although at times slightly over-written, this is a book that ought to be greeted by library and general discussion groups. It features humanitarian displacement, greed, selfish need, indifference, exploitation and lack of empathy, just for starters. Then there’s the question of how right are some media investigations, and how far should they be allowed to progress?
3 ½ stars.
Following up on what they assume to be cries for help, she and her associates establish the clothes are made by Rohingya refugees in a factory in Bangladesh. They learn, too, of a 13-year old named Romida who is being offered a ‘better life’ away from the refugee camp but who is, unknown to her, about to be prepared as a surrogate mother for English women desperate for a child of their own.
The story is a fast-paced, but, in its own way, harrowing account of need, coupled with a lack of thought for those in the background who might be hurt. To the team, it links to the one who is no more than a slave, the pubescent Romida.
Casey and the team in the Post’s investigation unit establish links with a Harley Street gynaecologist, Dr Greystone; a retired diplomat, Sir William Cavendish; a member of the British Foreign Office, Gabriel Bantham and others, tracing a couple named Emilia and Dominic Burton-Smith whose baby is due to be born to a surrogate mother in a matter of days in Bangladesh.
The storyline swings between London, Washington DC, the island of Paxos in the Ionian Sea, Dhaka, and the coast of southern Bangladesh, with many twists. Scenes vary with the circumstances and the locale, from the high society artificiality of a fashion runway in London to the filth and gagging stench of a Bangladeshi ships’ graveyard.
The Dead Line combines high drama and adventure aplenty as Casey and her fellow investigators find their lives endangered by those whose illicit income they’ve placed in jeopardy. It draws to a chilling conclusion on the private airstrip at Tawton Court, a huge, opulent property on the outskirts of London.
Oh, and perhaps it ought to be mentioned there’s an underlying, quietly developing love interest, too.
Although at times slightly over-written, this is a book that ought to be greeted by library and general discussion groups. It features humanitarian displacement, greed, selfish need, indifference, exploitation and lack of empathy, just for starters. Then there’s the question of how right are some media investigations, and how far should they be allowed to progress?
3 ½ stars.
August 14, 2020
This is the follow up to 'To the Lions'. Despite thinking I wouldn't bother to read the sequel I thought I'd give it a go.
The premise is an interesting one, messages are found sewn into garments made in factories in India. They say women are being taken and forced to have babies, which are taken from them.
Casey, an investigative journalist, is back and with her team they try to find out if the messages are real or an elaborate hoax. They discover that couples desperate to have a baby are paying a high price for surrogacy, which they think is legitimate. A murky operation is uncovered.
This should be a fast paced, tense novel. However, I found a lot of it really dragged on. Apart from a small section near the end, none of it had me gripped. I can't put my finger on why this is. Again, I haven't warmed to many of the characters and still find Casey very unlikeable.
It seemed like there was a lot of jumping around from one part to the next and at times it felt a bit disjointed.
The storyline about Miranda and her husband just fizzled out and was never mentioned again. It felt like it was included to tie in with the main plot idea.
I wouldn't say it was totally predictable but I had a fair idea of who was going to live. A lot of the parts that had the potential to be tense, weren't.
I found the very end rather meh and cliche. For all her bravado and tough exterior, Casey can be quite immature and it made me roll my eyes.
Overall, I was disappointed with this which is a real shame as I thought the idea behind the plot was good.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2.
Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for review.
The premise is an interesting one, messages are found sewn into garments made in factories in India. They say women are being taken and forced to have babies, which are taken from them.
Casey, an investigative journalist, is back and with her team they try to find out if the messages are real or an elaborate hoax. They discover that couples desperate to have a baby are paying a high price for surrogacy, which they think is legitimate. A murky operation is uncovered.
This should be a fast paced, tense novel. However, I found a lot of it really dragged on. Apart from a small section near the end, none of it had me gripped. I can't put my finger on why this is. Again, I haven't warmed to many of the characters and still find Casey very unlikeable.
It seemed like there was a lot of jumping around from one part to the next and at times it felt a bit disjointed.
The storyline about Miranda and her husband just fizzled out and was never mentioned again. It felt like it was included to tie in with the main plot idea.
I wouldn't say it was totally predictable but I had a fair idea of who was going to live. A lot of the parts that had the potential to be tense, weren't.
I found the very end rather meh and cliche. For all her bravado and tough exterior, Casey can be quite immature and it made me roll my eyes.
Overall, I was disappointed with this which is a real shame as I thought the idea behind the plot was good.
2.5 stars rounded down to 2.
Thanks to Bloomsbury and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy for review.
August 10, 2021
Goodreads provides a synopsis so I am not going to repeat it.
Dead Line is a fast paced book with an interesting plot with a big drawback: the author keeps appearing through the lines. Ms. Watt used to be an investigative journalist and once an again she shoehorns her past investigations into the novels. There are situations in which the characters instead of having a conversation are giving lectures.
Dead Line is a fast paced book with an interesting plot with a big drawback: the author keeps appearing through the lines. Ms. Watt used to be an investigative journalist and once an again she shoehorns her past investigations into the novels. There are situations in which the characters instead of having a conversation are giving lectures.
August 6, 2021
Okay but under edited and overblown in terms of plot and character- found some of it a bit tedious and stuffed with too much irrelevant detail and description. A good premise and great idea for a central character but Casey was too whiny and incompletely drawn so a bit one dimensional.
April 4, 2020
The follow-up to Holly Watt’s award-winning To The Lions certainly didn’t disappoint.
Packed with action, suspense and exhilaration, The Dead Line follows investigative journalist Casey Benedict on another pulse-raising undercover mission. Watts does not shy away from topics which make her readers question the very moral foundations of humanity, and her sequel book is no exception to this. With the aid of her trusty colleagues at The Post newspaper - Miranda and Hessa - Casey embarks on a journey which leads her from the streets of London to Bangladesh as she unravels an intricate web of secrets to cover-up an illegal surrogacy industry.
The topics covered in The Dead Line are certainly powerful and moving, and I found myself having to take regular breaks whilst reading the novel to have a bit of a breather from the emotional intensity. However, these moments where Casey, Miranda and Hessa met with the vulnerable women who were so consumed by their over-whelming longing to have a child were some of my favourite moments. As were the moments when Casey and Hessa met up with the mothers of the girls taken from the refugee village in Bangladesh. They allowed Watts to set up an interesting moral debate surrounding surrogacy where the reader was invited to asses both sides of the argument, and also exposed a softer and more gentle side to both Casey and Miranda in particular (we saw a more empathetic side to the journalists as they took a step back from their roles as journalists and formed relationships with the women they were investigating).
I also enjoyed gaining a bit more of an insight into the background stories that were only lightly touched on in To The Lions, for example there were sub-plots following the break-down of Miranda’s marriage to her university sweetheart and we learnt how Casey and Ed came to meet. This had the effect of creating a set of more well-rounded and established characters who had lives and relationships outside of their careers (although Miranda and Casey’s dedication to their work does seem to be the sole factor in the break-down of their relationships).
Whilst some aspects of the ending seemed somewhat far-fetched at times (in particular the storyline including Dr Greystone’s wife, Clio), it was a pacey read full of unexpected plot twists which had me reading late into the nights as I was desperate to find out what would happen next. I hope to follow Casey on her next thrilling adventure soon.
Packed with action, suspense and exhilaration, The Dead Line follows investigative journalist Casey Benedict on another pulse-raising undercover mission. Watts does not shy away from topics which make her readers question the very moral foundations of humanity, and her sequel book is no exception to this. With the aid of her trusty colleagues at The Post newspaper - Miranda and Hessa - Casey embarks on a journey which leads her from the streets of London to Bangladesh as she unravels an intricate web of secrets to cover-up an illegal surrogacy industry.
The topics covered in The Dead Line are certainly powerful and moving, and I found myself having to take regular breaks whilst reading the novel to have a bit of a breather from the emotional intensity. However, these moments where Casey, Miranda and Hessa met with the vulnerable women who were so consumed by their over-whelming longing to have a child were some of my favourite moments. As were the moments when Casey and Hessa met up with the mothers of the girls taken from the refugee village in Bangladesh. They allowed Watts to set up an interesting moral debate surrounding surrogacy where the reader was invited to asses both sides of the argument, and also exposed a softer and more gentle side to both Casey and Miranda in particular (we saw a more empathetic side to the journalists as they took a step back from their roles as journalists and formed relationships with the women they were investigating).
I also enjoyed gaining a bit more of an insight into the background stories that were only lightly touched on in To The Lions, for example there were sub-plots following the break-down of Miranda’s marriage to her university sweetheart and we learnt how Casey and Ed came to meet. This had the effect of creating a set of more well-rounded and established characters who had lives and relationships outside of their careers (although Miranda and Casey’s dedication to their work does seem to be the sole factor in the break-down of their relationships).
Whilst some aspects of the ending seemed somewhat far-fetched at times (in particular the storyline including Dr Greystone’s wife, Clio), it was a pacey read full of unexpected plot twists which had me reading late into the nights as I was desperate to find out what would happen next. I hope to follow Casey on her next thrilling adventure soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2020
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheDeadLine #NetGalley
Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once I did the pay-off was immense. This is quite simply an astonishingly good thriller. Full of biting social realism, and crafted with a certain cerebral edge, this novel oozes class at every turn. 'The Dead Line' is the follow-up to Holly Watt's award winning, debut novel, 'To The Lions'. Like the first novel, this book features the inimitable journalist, Casey Benedict. Eschewing the easy story, Benedict is all about exposing the plight of the voiceless in society. What Benedict finds in this latest instalment of this classy series, is that the powerless have been rendered even more powerless by those at the top of the social strata in Western society. From the garment factories of Bangladesh, to the exploitation of the third-world female body for the purpose of providing babies to rich, wealthy, Western women, this is a dark tale of injustice and exploitation that is all too realistically brought to life by the daring writing of Holly Watt's. This is not an easy read, so if you prefer your evening read to be about pure escapism, don't read this book. If you want a book that is thoughtful, powerful, with an unerring moral compass, then this is the book for you. Searingly honest, meticulously plotted and researched, 'The Dead Line' is a devastating analysis of the human condition with its propensity to rampant individualism that borders on evil. Holly Watt's challenges us to not look away from the plight of others, even when the status quo is accepted as a fait accompli. No words can express what a devastating read this is. Devastatingly good as a story, but also devastatingly good as an exemplar of social realism wrapped in a thriller-like format. Absolutely compelling stuff.
#TheDeadLine #NetGalley
Admittedly, it took me a few chapters to get into this book, but once I did the pay-off was immense. This is quite simply an astonishingly good thriller. Full of biting social realism, and crafted with a certain cerebral edge, this novel oozes class at every turn. 'The Dead Line' is the follow-up to Holly Watt's award winning, debut novel, 'To The Lions'. Like the first novel, this book features the inimitable journalist, Casey Benedict. Eschewing the easy story, Benedict is all about exposing the plight of the voiceless in society. What Benedict finds in this latest instalment of this classy series, is that the powerless have been rendered even more powerless by those at the top of the social strata in Western society. From the garment factories of Bangladesh, to the exploitation of the third-world female body for the purpose of providing babies to rich, wealthy, Western women, this is a dark tale of injustice and exploitation that is all too realistically brought to life by the daring writing of Holly Watt's. This is not an easy read, so if you prefer your evening read to be about pure escapism, don't read this book. If you want a book that is thoughtful, powerful, with an unerring moral compass, then this is the book for you. Searingly honest, meticulously plotted and researched, 'The Dead Line' is a devastating analysis of the human condition with its propensity to rampant individualism that borders on evil. Holly Watt's challenges us to not look away from the plight of others, even when the status quo is accepted as a fait accompli. No words can express what a devastating read this is. Devastatingly good as a story, but also devastatingly good as an exemplar of social realism wrapped in a thriller-like format. Absolutely compelling stuff.
May 3, 2020
I was introduced to Holly Watt through Clare MacIntosh’s bookclub, To The Lions being the February pick. I really enjoyed this fast pace thriller with a difference, so of course I was right onto the sequel, The Dead Line and it did not disappoint.
Journalist Casey Benedict is back investing a new case, this time in Bangladesh. I’m not going to give away any more of the plot, I went in blind and I think you should too as the constant guessing makes this book fly by despite being over 450 pages. Not that the pace needs to quicken, there is action on every page. Twists and turns that keep the pages turning. I could not put this book down and that’s exactly the way a thriller should be. I am now a dedicated Holly Watt fan and I really hope she will be continuing this series. I need more!
Watt knows how to write too. Her writing flows, not only that, The Dead Line is one of the best written thrillers I have ever read. Her technique is magical and oh so gripping. She has created a female protagonist who I am dying to get to know better, you can feel there is so much more to Casey’s story and I can’t wait to discover more. So again, I really hope this will not be the last we hear from Casey Benedict.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep your attention during lockdown, this is the one. Trust me.
Journalist Casey Benedict is back investing a new case, this time in Bangladesh. I’m not going to give away any more of the plot, I went in blind and I think you should too as the constant guessing makes this book fly by despite being over 450 pages. Not that the pace needs to quicken, there is action on every page. Twists and turns that keep the pages turning. I could not put this book down and that’s exactly the way a thriller should be. I am now a dedicated Holly Watt fan and I really hope she will be continuing this series. I need more!
Watt knows how to write too. Her writing flows, not only that, The Dead Line is one of the best written thrillers I have ever read. Her technique is magical and oh so gripping. She has created a female protagonist who I am dying to get to know better, you can feel there is so much more to Casey’s story and I can’t wait to discover more. So again, I really hope this will not be the last we hear from Casey Benedict.
If you’re looking for a book that will keep your attention during lockdown, this is the one. Trust me.
May 8, 2020
When a plea for help is found on the label of a skirt, journalist Casey Benedict starts to investigate. The trail leads her half way around the world, involving a British ambassador, a Harley Street clinic, surrogate babies, desperate parents and a Bangladeshi refugee camp. Can Casey get to the truth and emerge unscathed?
This was a great premise for a story - the desperation of couples for a baby, when they are unable to conceive naturally, and the lengths they and their families are willing to go to, to achieve the ultimate prize - and in parts The Dead Line delivered.
For me, the main problem was the length of the story. It just dragged on in places, with pages and pages where nothing seemed to be happening. I’m not expecting action on every page, and I usually prefer stories with plenty of description and build up. However, his just seemed to go on and on, with still a frantic finish in the last couple of chapters.
A good storyline, with lots of promise, and ok if you want something to keep you occupied on a very long journey.
This was a great premise for a story - the desperation of couples for a baby, when they are unable to conceive naturally, and the lengths they and their families are willing to go to, to achieve the ultimate prize - and in parts The Dead Line delivered.
For me, the main problem was the length of the story. It just dragged on in places, with pages and pages where nothing seemed to be happening. I’m not expecting action on every page, and I usually prefer stories with plenty of description and build up. However, his just seemed to go on and on, with still a frantic finish in the last couple of chapters.
A good storyline, with lots of promise, and ok if you want something to keep you occupied on a very long journey.
February 21, 2020
Casey is an investigative journalist working for The Post in London. Her latest story takes her all over the World following a lead found in the unlikeliest of places.
This book is a super fast paced thriller. To me it was reminiscent of Sam Bourne and Dan Brown novels with a contemporary feel as the leading characters race against time around the World to get to the bottom of a modern mystery of conspiracy and intrigue! This is a really intelligent book with a realistic and fearless female lead. It is a novel but it does really shine a light on serious issues across the World and the roll that the Western World plays in it considering all sides of the argument but without being patronising. The story isn’t sacrificed at the expense of making a point. The writing and the story work together perfectly. I shall definitely be following Casey as she goes after her next lead.
This book is a super fast paced thriller. To me it was reminiscent of Sam Bourne and Dan Brown novels with a contemporary feel as the leading characters race against time around the World to get to the bottom of a modern mystery of conspiracy and intrigue! This is a really intelligent book with a realistic and fearless female lead. It is a novel but it does really shine a light on serious issues across the World and the roll that the Western World plays in it considering all sides of the argument but without being patronising. The story isn’t sacrificed at the expense of making a point. The writing and the story work together perfectly. I shall definitely be following Casey as she goes after her next lead.
March 16, 2020
Full disclosure: I had to read this book and listen to the audio book for my work. It isn't something I would have chosen for myself to read.
How does it get 4 stars from someone who doesn't hand them out like sweeties?! Well, it's an exciting adventure, topical, with strong female characters - lots happening! It's even pretty well-written! It was an engaging listen to the audio book, too, with some lovely characterisation from the reader.
It isn't an easy read though, in that it deals with what they're calling "mature themes" these days. If you have a vivid imagination, you might want to read it anytime except around bedtime! Ditto if you don't like strong language.
Rather better done than many of the books I've read of this type. It deserves 4 stars.
How does it get 4 stars from someone who doesn't hand them out like sweeties?! Well, it's an exciting adventure, topical, with strong female characters - lots happening! It's even pretty well-written! It was an engaging listen to the audio book, too, with some lovely characterisation from the reader.
It isn't an easy read though, in that it deals with what they're calling "mature themes" these days. If you have a vivid imagination, you might want to read it anytime except around bedtime! Ditto if you don't like strong language.
Rather better done than many of the books I've read of this type. It deserves 4 stars.
September 17, 2022
I do love a good investigative journalism book, be it either fiction or non-fiction. Something about uncovering the truth / revealing a cover-up is very appealing.
The Dead Line follows on well from To The Lions. The characters were really familiar and it didn't take me long to get wrapped up in their world. The nature of what they are investigating is quite shocking so you are willing them along, to get to the truth, throughout the book.
My one niggle is that the lead investigative journalist comes across a bit self-righteous. The whole judging the actions of others and taking the morale high ground continuously is a bit irksome for me. I could have done with less of the "what gives you the right to do X" arguments.
The Dead Line follows on well from To The Lions. The characters were really familiar and it didn't take me long to get wrapped up in their world. The nature of what they are investigating is quite shocking so you are willing them along, to get to the truth, throughout the book.
My one niggle is that the lead investigative journalist comes across a bit self-righteous. The whole judging the actions of others and taking the morale high ground continuously is a bit irksome for me. I could have done with less of the "what gives you the right to do X" arguments.
February 21, 2020
This book is a super fast paced thriller. To me it was reminiscent of Sam Bourne and Dan Brown novels with a contemporary feel as the leading characters race against time around the World to get to the bottom of a modern mystery of conspiracy and intrigue! This is a really intelligent book with a realistic and fearless female lead. It is a novel but it does really shine a light on serious issues across the World and the roll that the Western World plays in it considering all sides of the argument but without being patronising. The story isn’t sacrificed at the expense of making a political point. The writing and the story work together perfectly.
March 13, 2020
It’s difficult to find a genuinely thrilling thriller. The Dead Line is a rare beast. A plot with intricacy and great pace. Characters that you truly cheer on. And recognisably well written but light enough that you can race through.
A read Holly Watt’s debut To The Lions when it was chosen as a best debut at the Theakstons Crime Writing Festival. It was good but not memorable. The Dead Line is more assured and I really appreciated being back with Casey and her colleagues. It could do with a an edit (notably the ending) but I would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Raven Books/Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
A read Holly Watt’s debut To The Lions when it was chosen as a best debut at the Theakstons Crime Writing Festival. It was good but not memorable. The Dead Line is more assured and I really appreciated being back with Casey and her colleagues. It could do with a an edit (notably the ending) but I would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Raven Books/Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
March 28, 2020
Once I had been absorbed by this book I could not put it down - it was fast paced, tense and compulsive reading. Casey Benedict - investigative journalist - sets off to uncover the existence of illegal baby factories following the discovery of a message in some fashion store clothes. her investigation takes her from Harley Street to Washington, Greece and Nice to Bangladesh - from the stateless poor to the upstanding rich political and privileged classes. She is helped by her investigative team colleagues and Ed, ex-military. Each have their demons and each question the morality of what they are doing and who is exploiting whom.
A riveting very realistic read.
A riveting very realistic read.
April 4, 2020
We first met investigative journalist Casey Benedict in Holly Watt's impressive debut To The Lions. I was very much looking forward to The Dead Line to see whether Watt could build a series on this premise and I am delighted to say she can! The writer's background in journalism gives her a terrific insight and awareness of contemporary issues. Here the central theme is surrogacy and the matter of childless couples being able to acquire babies from penniless and homeless women in disadvantaged parts of the world. The story is fast-paced and beautifully written, a real triumph!
May 9, 2020
Holly Watt's new thriller is an absolutely incredible read with such a strong storyline, characters with so much depth and realism and an absolutely intense case to solve. The Dead Line will take you through every emotion, on a journey which I found thought gripping, intriguing and captivating. I thoroughly enjoyed The Dead Line and hope it is not too long before there is another novel by Holly Watt for us to read. Thank you for a brilliant page turner. Highly recommended - 5 stars!
July 13, 2020
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I have enjoyed reading.
This is the second book by Holly Watts about journalism and where Casey and Miranda play the major parts. The Dead Line is about surrogacy and wealth and opportunity.
The storyline was excellent and totally engrossing and intriguing, the characters were interesting and the whole newspaper headlines topic and the urgency were fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended.
This is the second book by Holly Watts about journalism and where Casey and Miranda play the major parts. The Dead Line is about surrogacy and wealth and opportunity.
The storyline was excellent and totally engrossing and intriguing, the characters were interesting and the whole newspaper headlines topic and the urgency were fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended.
August 2, 2020
My first Holly Watt read and it's a good one.
We follow Casey Benedict, investigative journalist and her colleagues from the Post as they delve into a potential story regarding girls being taken from their families in Bangladesh. Finding hidden messages sewn into clothing at a London boutique sets them on the trail.
An addictive page turner as we follow the team chasing the deeper story, the concluding 50 pages or so are very high paced and full of tension.
We follow Casey Benedict, investigative journalist and her colleagues from the Post as they delve into a potential story regarding girls being taken from their families in Bangladesh. Finding hidden messages sewn into clothing at a London boutique sets them on the trail.
An addictive page turner as we follow the team chasing the deeper story, the concluding 50 pages or so are very high paced and full of tension.
August 19, 2020
Dull characters, strong topical story, some great writing in exotic locales.
I felt that a publisher/agent wearing a marketing hat directed the author to target female readers (biggest market in thrillers these days), ie all main characters are female, topic (fashion) is female, victims (sweatshop workers/refugees etc) are female.
The bad characters are all men.
Not a criticism -- just pointing that out.
I felt that a publisher/agent wearing a marketing hat directed the author to target female readers (biggest market in thrillers these days), ie all main characters are female, topic (fashion) is female, victims (sweatshop workers/refugees etc) are female.
The bad characters are all men.
Not a criticism -- just pointing that out.
Read
February 11, 2023(DNF @ 65%) Struggling to concentrate on this one while I'm tired, so probably a sign to DNF.
I really liked the premise of The Dead Line, about an investigative journalist who finds secret pleas for help from Bangladeshi factory workers sewn into the labels of clothing in the UK. But I never felt ROOTED in the narrative. The characters and settings always remained suface-level, so it was hard to connect with the story.
I really liked the premise of The Dead Line, about an investigative journalist who finds secret pleas for help from Bangladeshi factory workers sewn into the labels of clothing in the UK. But I never felt ROOTED in the narrative. The characters and settings always remained suface-level, so it was hard to connect with the story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews