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Casey Benedict #3
The Hunt and The Kill
When acclaimed undercover journalist Casey Benedict is asked to interview a young woman with a life-limiting genetic condition, the patient's doctor alerts her to an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections, tipping her off about a potential new wonder drug.
If the rumours are true, this new antibiotic could save millions of lives, but no one seems to know if the drug even exists.
Then tragedy unexpectedly strikes and Casey begins to suspect a cover-up. But she is not prepared to let the story drop, no matter how much danger she – or those she loves most of all – are put in.
A searing, page-turning, pulse-racing thriller that sees Casey on a hunt around the globe as she pursues a major exposé into pioneering medical research and drugs that could change the world.
The Hunt and the Kill is the third book from Holly Watt featuring Casey Benedict.
If the rumours are true, this new antibiotic could save millions of lives, but no one seems to know if the drug even exists.
Then tragedy unexpectedly strikes and Casey begins to suspect a cover-up. But she is not prepared to let the story drop, no matter how much danger she – or those she loves most of all – are put in.
A searing, page-turning, pulse-racing thriller that sees Casey on a hunt around the globe as she pursues a major exposé into pioneering medical research and drugs that could change the world.
The Hunt and the Kill is the third book from Holly Watt featuring Casey Benedict.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2021
12 people are currently reading
220 people want to read
About the author
Holly Watt
9 books70 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).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 13, 2021
This is the latest in the award winning Holly Watt's hard hitting superior series featuring the London based investigative journalist, Casey Benedict, working at the Post. An unhappy Casey is miserable at having been taken of the investigative team to provide maternity cover for Heather Webber on health issues. She watches enviously as Hessa and Tillie work under Miranda, gaining confidence in their roles, and all attempts to persuade Ross, the editor, to let her return come to nought as its thought that she needs time to recover from the trauma of previous events. She finds herself sent to interview 20 year old Flora Ashcroft, a cystic fibrosis patient at the Royal Brompton Hospital in South Kensington.
Talking to the exhausted Dr Noah Hart, she learns of the lethal implications of superbugs, the scientific research challenges and failures in trying to keep ahead of anti-bacterial resistance, and which threaten Flora's life now and the future of all humanity in the not too distant future. An antibiotic, saepio, being developed by pharmaceutical giant, Adsera, run by the famously reclusive Elias Bailey, may potentially offer some hope in the short term, as did Corax, a drug that a San Francisco firm, Pergamex, had been working on, until for some inexplicable reasons it folded. Casey has no idea, as she begins to investigate, of just how high the stakes are, as people keep on dying around her, of ostensibly natural causes like heart attacks and all too convenient and suspicious 'accidents'. The dangers come far too close to home, leaving a reeling and grieving Casey following a story that threatens her and all those close to her.
The investigation takes Casey to Mauritius, Miami, the poverty and hardship of Harare, Zimbabwe, and Cape Town, South Africa, but she is up against an unscrupulous pharmaceutical industry and its CEOs, whose interests more often lie in profiteering rather than saving lives, dumping often useless, hazardous and deadly drugs under the guise of 'helping' in global crises and catastrophes, whilst benefiting from tax breaks. This is a superb read, complex, packed with oodles of suspense and tension, smart, engaging, whilst tackling real world issues that are likely to have dire effects on all us in the future. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next one in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
Talking to the exhausted Dr Noah Hart, she learns of the lethal implications of superbugs, the scientific research challenges and failures in trying to keep ahead of anti-bacterial resistance, and which threaten Flora's life now and the future of all humanity in the not too distant future. An antibiotic, saepio, being developed by pharmaceutical giant, Adsera, run by the famously reclusive Elias Bailey, may potentially offer some hope in the short term, as did Corax, a drug that a San Francisco firm, Pergamex, had been working on, until for some inexplicable reasons it folded. Casey has no idea, as she begins to investigate, of just how high the stakes are, as people keep on dying around her, of ostensibly natural causes like heart attacks and all too convenient and suspicious 'accidents'. The dangers come far too close to home, leaving a reeling and grieving Casey following a story that threatens her and all those close to her.
The investigation takes Casey to Mauritius, Miami, the poverty and hardship of Harare, Zimbabwe, and Cape Town, South Africa, but she is up against an unscrupulous pharmaceutical industry and its CEOs, whose interests more often lie in profiteering rather than saving lives, dumping often useless, hazardous and deadly drugs under the guise of 'helping' in global crises and catastrophes, whilst benefiting from tax breaks. This is a superb read, complex, packed with oodles of suspense and tension, smart, engaging, whilst tackling real world issues that are likely to have dire effects on all us in the future. Highly recommended and I cannot wait for the next one in the series. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.
July 8, 2021
The Hunt and the Kill is the third instalment in the Casey Benedict Investigations series and this time her case centres around a patient at a London hospital, a renowned specialist in antibiotic development, a British-based billionaire and a fight for survival - not just for one patient, but for the world... It begins with what promises to be a routine visit to a London hospital. Casey Benedict, acclaimed undercover journalist, has been reluctantly reassigned at her newspaper while she recovers from her last major investigation, a story that sent her into extremely dangerous territory. Asked to interview a young woman with a life-limiting genetic condition, the patient's doctor alerts Casey to the alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections, tipping her off about a potential new wonder drug. If the rumours are true, this new antibiotic could be transformative, saving millions of lives, but no one seems to know if the drug even exists.
When tragedy unexpectedly strikes, Casey begins to suspect a cover-up and is not prepared to let the story drop, no matter how much danger she - or those she loves most - are put in. A searing, page-turning, pulse-racing thriller that sees Casey pursue government officials, missing doctors and researchers across the world while uncovering dark and terrible truths about the behaviour of major drug companies. This is a riveting and engrossing thriller about the role of Big Pharma in often caring more about the money-making possibilities than helping or solving any medical needs and the huge and rather scary issue of antibiotic resistance. It's absorbing, hard-hitting and multi-layered with intelligence in abundance and packed with action, suspense, twists, turns and palpable tension. This is a rip-roaring thriller that addresses pertinent real-world problems in an engaging and compulsively readable fashion. I cannot wait for number four. Highly recommended.
When tragedy unexpectedly strikes, Casey begins to suspect a cover-up and is not prepared to let the story drop, no matter how much danger she - or those she loves most - are put in. A searing, page-turning, pulse-racing thriller that sees Casey pursue government officials, missing doctors and researchers across the world while uncovering dark and terrible truths about the behaviour of major drug companies. This is a riveting and engrossing thriller about the role of Big Pharma in often caring more about the money-making possibilities than helping or solving any medical needs and the huge and rather scary issue of antibiotic resistance. It's absorbing, hard-hitting and multi-layered with intelligence in abundance and packed with action, suspense, twists, turns and palpable tension. This is a rip-roaring thriller that addresses pertinent real-world problems in an engaging and compulsively readable fashion. I cannot wait for number four. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2021
Thank you to the author, publishers Wildfire and online book club Pigeonhole for access to read this book for free. This is an honest and voluntary review.
Suspend all disbelief, question nothing. This is an entertaining read as long as you don’t assume practicality or reality has anything to do with what’s happening.
Seemingly bottomless budgets, Mission: Impossible level disguises, and a reclusive billionaire pulling all the strings. Casey Benedict is not so much an investigative reporter as she is a commercially funded super spy. James Bond without the sexism and ridiculous names, but still a ridiculous plot.
This is the first of the Casey Benedict series that I’ve read, but I don’t think that was an issue. It works as a standalone with no obvious gaps of assumed knowledge from the previous books.
I believe the book series has been optioned for television, and I think it has the potential to work as a good series. Hopefully they’ll dial down the heavy science detail and antibiotic names which weighed down the early chapters, and cut back the long pauses in action when it was taking time for the investigation to get going. The book would have benefitted from editing along the same lines.
Suspend all disbelief, question nothing. This is an entertaining read as long as you don’t assume practicality or reality has anything to do with what’s happening.
Seemingly bottomless budgets, Mission: Impossible level disguises, and a reclusive billionaire pulling all the strings. Casey Benedict is not so much an investigative reporter as she is a commercially funded super spy. James Bond without the sexism and ridiculous names, but still a ridiculous plot.
This is the first of the Casey Benedict series that I’ve read, but I don’t think that was an issue. It works as a standalone with no obvious gaps of assumed knowledge from the previous books.
I believe the book series has been optioned for television, and I think it has the potential to work as a good series. Hopefully they’ll dial down the heavy science detail and antibiotic names which weighed down the early chapters, and cut back the long pauses in action when it was taking time for the investigation to get going. The book would have benefitted from editing along the same lines.
July 17, 2021
I loved the idea of this book and the storyline grabbed me but unfortunately I struggled to read this book. Was she an investigative journalist or a wannabe Bond? Casey seemed to manage to jet off everywhere and anywhere at the drop of a hat and manage to get into places to rummage around with ease, it just didn’t seem believable to me when the newspaper would have a budget and would also be expecting her to do the stories they asked of her.
Thank you to the publishers and Pigeonhole for the chance to read this book.
Thank you to the publishers and Pigeonhole for the chance to read this book.
July 11, 2021
A third outing for investigative journalist Casey Benedict. This book is a really intelligent thriller about antibiotic resistance, with an international setting and some of those fantastic moments where you find yourself holding your breath for entire pages.
I don’t know much about antibiotic resistance but felt that elements of this book were all too plausible. This will make an excellent TV series.
Read with the Pigeonhole.
I don’t know much about antibiotic resistance but felt that elements of this book were all too plausible. This will make an excellent TV series.
Read with the Pigeonhole.
July 16, 2021
Don't know what I just read. There's so much going on but I also felt nothing much happened.
September 24, 2025
i think i would have been a good journalist in another life ahahaha
so so interesting!!
so so interesting!!
July 8, 2021
I was fascinated by the subject matter in this book. Antibiotic resistance is a big issue. However I didn't take to Casey, the investigative journalist at all. Really couldn't decide if she was very clever or very stupid as she launched into the investigation with no care for the safety of anyone involved. Jetting around the world at the drop of a hat with a seemingly unlimited budget, this story spread like ripples in a pond, and, for me, had too many characters and became over complicated, so that I struggled to remember who was who, let alone all the names of the drugs. Perhaps I'm just juggling too many books?
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Holly Watt for the opportunity to read this.
Thanks to Pigeonhole and Holly Watt for the opportunity to read this.
July 5, 2021
Wowsers. Not sure what else I can say. This may be the first book I've read but it definitely won't be the last if this one is anything to go by. What a read. Started Friday evening and finished Saturday morning. Fast paced, high stakes, heart pumping, thought provoking and emotion inducing stuff. And that's just the first few chapters ... This was definitely the book I needed to capture my attention when all around me felt like chaos. And capture it did as I barely looked up from the page from the moment I started reading.
Now if you are of an anxious disposition and have been affected heavily by the past year and the whole wonder that has been covid, then you may wish to exercise caution. This is not a book about covid, although it is referenced, but there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between recent history and the investigation that our protagonist Casey Benedict undertakes. This is a story of big Pharma, of increasingly obstinate so-called superbugs and, dare I say it, those dang mutations which seem to plague our lives with increasing regularity. So much of what I was reading resonated with me and the story itself was alarmingly plausible.
The tension throughout this book was palpable. There appears to be danger at every turn, a seemingly simple article on Cystic Fibrosis turning increasingly deadly, and not just because of the ever evolving issue of drug-resistant bacteria. The tension is almost constant, an undercurrent of unease flowing throughout the book, even in the quieter moments, and the author has done a great job of maintaining that sense of threat and amplifying it at key moments, really getting that edge-of-the-seat kind of vibe when it looks like Casey might be getting a little too comfortable. But it is not just the action and the tension which dominates the story. Right from the start Holly Watt toys with our emotions, some truly heartbreaking scenes being drip fed into the story, almost unexpected, but ones which not only spur Casey on, but also push her completely off balance. That blend between emotion and action is spot on, but also blended with a dark humour, fed in through scenes in the newsroom at times, preventing the story from ever becoming too bleak.
I really liked Casey as a character. It was clear that I caught up with her at a real crunch point in her life, but her tenacity and determination still shone through, along with her emotional side. It's clear, when on top form, she would be a formidable character, but this book really does test her in ways that anyone would struggle with. As for the team around her, I really did enjoy getting to know the newsroom team, a very diverse but credible bunch of characters, clearly drawing from the author's own experiences. Given that Casey's investigation leads her well away from home, it is the supporting characters who also helped the story to gel for me. Whilst Zac may not initially have been the most helpful of characters, there was an eventual easy charm to him and a kind of chemistry between him and Casey that made the story flow perfectly.
If there was one real bonus for me, alongside the way in which the author draws attention to a increasingly real and worrying subject that will eventually affect us all, it is the way in which she manages to take readers to the locations contained within the story. From the newsroom, to the Devon Hills, to the savannahs of Zimbabwe, you get a real sense of place and it adds another layer of authenticity to the story itself. You could feel the tempo switching up, the rhythm of the story echoing where the action took place, as well as the stakes that Casey was facing.
Full of drama, and tension, this is a scarily believable, sometimes heart wrenching, but always action packed story that had me captivated from the start. The first two books are already downloaded on my audible list, ready to find out just what it is I've missed. Definitely recommended.
Now if you are of an anxious disposition and have been affected heavily by the past year and the whole wonder that has been covid, then you may wish to exercise caution. This is not a book about covid, although it is referenced, but there are a lot of parallels that can be drawn between recent history and the investigation that our protagonist Casey Benedict undertakes. This is a story of big Pharma, of increasingly obstinate so-called superbugs and, dare I say it, those dang mutations which seem to plague our lives with increasing regularity. So much of what I was reading resonated with me and the story itself was alarmingly plausible.
The tension throughout this book was palpable. There appears to be danger at every turn, a seemingly simple article on Cystic Fibrosis turning increasingly deadly, and not just because of the ever evolving issue of drug-resistant bacteria. The tension is almost constant, an undercurrent of unease flowing throughout the book, even in the quieter moments, and the author has done a great job of maintaining that sense of threat and amplifying it at key moments, really getting that edge-of-the-seat kind of vibe when it looks like Casey might be getting a little too comfortable. But it is not just the action and the tension which dominates the story. Right from the start Holly Watt toys with our emotions, some truly heartbreaking scenes being drip fed into the story, almost unexpected, but ones which not only spur Casey on, but also push her completely off balance. That blend between emotion and action is spot on, but also blended with a dark humour, fed in through scenes in the newsroom at times, preventing the story from ever becoming too bleak.
I really liked Casey as a character. It was clear that I caught up with her at a real crunch point in her life, but her tenacity and determination still shone through, along with her emotional side. It's clear, when on top form, she would be a formidable character, but this book really does test her in ways that anyone would struggle with. As for the team around her, I really did enjoy getting to know the newsroom team, a very diverse but credible bunch of characters, clearly drawing from the author's own experiences. Given that Casey's investigation leads her well away from home, it is the supporting characters who also helped the story to gel for me. Whilst Zac may not initially have been the most helpful of characters, there was an eventual easy charm to him and a kind of chemistry between him and Casey that made the story flow perfectly.
If there was one real bonus for me, alongside the way in which the author draws attention to a increasingly real and worrying subject that will eventually affect us all, it is the way in which she manages to take readers to the locations contained within the story. From the newsroom, to the Devon Hills, to the savannahs of Zimbabwe, you get a real sense of place and it adds another layer of authenticity to the story itself. You could feel the tempo switching up, the rhythm of the story echoing where the action took place, as well as the stakes that Casey was facing.
Full of drama, and tension, this is a scarily believable, sometimes heart wrenching, but always action packed story that had me captivated from the start. The first two books are already downloaded on my audible list, ready to find out just what it is I've missed. Definitely recommended.
August 5, 2021
Antibiotic resistance is the silent pandemic.’ Holly Watt’s powerful new thriller takes the reader on a spine-tingling journey into the secretive world of ‘big pharma’. Investigative journalist Casey tracks a mysterious billionaire across three continents in a bid to expose a suspected cover-up. Her quest leads her to stunning locations where she clashes with larger-than-life characters, some of whom try to kill her. My personal favourite is the chapter where Casey finds herself in close proximity to a lion on the loose, but everyone will find drama to suit their taste.
When undercover journalist Casey Benedict is asked to interview a young woman with a life-limiting genetic condition, the patient’s doctor alerts her to an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections, tipping her off about a potential new wonder drug. If the rumours are true, this new antibiotic could save millions of lives, but no one seems to know whether the drug even exists.
The plot of The Hunt and the Kill is engaging on more than one level. The emotional focus of the book is Flora, a twenty year old cystic fibrosis sufferer with underlying health issues. Watt cleverly uses Flora’s engaging personality to show the massive influence of the pharmaceutical industry through the experiences of one vulnerable young woman. Personal tragedies suffered by Holly and a fellow whistle-blower are sensitively handled, while international calamities caused by the misuse of antibiotics are vividly brought to life. Watt, herself an acclaimed investigative journalist, describes the realities of an undercover investigation with humour and a command of intriguing detail. Casey and her colleague Miranda, who are both used to beginning the working day with the question ‘Who am I?’, remain convincingly in control of situations so threatening they would have most people running for the hills. Meanwhile, the behind-the-scenes machinations of colleagues in Casey’s London newspaper office, especially the two female interns, are as hilarious as they are effective.
I was given a copy of The Hunt and the Kill in return for an honest review, and I can honestly say I do not remember when I have enjoyed a thriller more. Watt’s revelations about the effects of drug dumping are eye-opening, and her contrasting descriptions of hospitals in the UK and the developing world will stay with me for a long time. Diligent research must have been carried out in preparation for writing this novel, but there is no sense of information overload. Skilful storytelling ensures that The Hunt and the Kill remains pacy and compelling throughout, while Casey’s courage, energy and determination drive the plot to a shocking but satisfying conclusion.
When undercover journalist Casey Benedict is asked to interview a young woman with a life-limiting genetic condition, the patient’s doctor alerts her to an alarming rise in antibiotic-resistant infections, tipping her off about a potential new wonder drug. If the rumours are true, this new antibiotic could save millions of lives, but no one seems to know whether the drug even exists.
The plot of The Hunt and the Kill is engaging on more than one level. The emotional focus of the book is Flora, a twenty year old cystic fibrosis sufferer with underlying health issues. Watt cleverly uses Flora’s engaging personality to show the massive influence of the pharmaceutical industry through the experiences of one vulnerable young woman. Personal tragedies suffered by Holly and a fellow whistle-blower are sensitively handled, while international calamities caused by the misuse of antibiotics are vividly brought to life. Watt, herself an acclaimed investigative journalist, describes the realities of an undercover investigation with humour and a command of intriguing detail. Casey and her colleague Miranda, who are both used to beginning the working day with the question ‘Who am I?’, remain convincingly in control of situations so threatening they would have most people running for the hills. Meanwhile, the behind-the-scenes machinations of colleagues in Casey’s London newspaper office, especially the two female interns, are as hilarious as they are effective.
I was given a copy of The Hunt and the Kill in return for an honest review, and I can honestly say I do not remember when I have enjoyed a thriller more. Watt’s revelations about the effects of drug dumping are eye-opening, and her contrasting descriptions of hospitals in the UK and the developing world will stay with me for a long time. Diligent research must have been carried out in preparation for writing this novel, but there is no sense of information overload. Skilful storytelling ensures that The Hunt and the Kill remains pacy and compelling throughout, while Casey’s courage, energy and determination drive the plot to a shocking but satisfying conclusion.
July 26, 2021
The third instalment in Holly Watt's Casey Benedict series this is another fabulous thriller - one that makes you hold your breath at times and also makes you think.
Casey is an investigative journalist who has been temporarily reassigned to the health desk whilst she recovers from the stress of a previous investigation But when she is sent to cover a routine story and meets a young Cystic Fibrosis sufferer, she learns about resistance to antibiotics and the threat that poses, as well as a new potential wonder drug. As she seeks to find out more she is led to Alsero, a drug company led by the reclusive Elias Bailey, as well as to a company in San Francisco, Pergamex, that had a drug under development but closed down very suddenly.
When people connected to Casey die in suspicious circumstances, Casey suspects the story goes much deeper - and she is determined to find out the truth, regardless of how much danger she and those around her are in. The trail takes her around the globe - to Mauritius, Miami, Zimbabwe and South Africa - as she uncovers some of the murky secrets of the major drug companies, in particular their method of generating tax breaks whilst dumping useless and dangerous drugs by offering to “help” in times of major disasters and generously providing them free of charge.
This is an engrossing thriller full of thought-provoking and real-world issues - at times quite complex given the subject matter, it nevertheless held me captivated. With well developed characters and evocative settings, it gallops along with plenty of twists and turns and I raced through it.
Casey is an investigative journalist who has been temporarily reassigned to the health desk whilst she recovers from the stress of a previous investigation But when she is sent to cover a routine story and meets a young Cystic Fibrosis sufferer, she learns about resistance to antibiotics and the threat that poses, as well as a new potential wonder drug. As she seeks to find out more she is led to Alsero, a drug company led by the reclusive Elias Bailey, as well as to a company in San Francisco, Pergamex, that had a drug under development but closed down very suddenly.
When people connected to Casey die in suspicious circumstances, Casey suspects the story goes much deeper - and she is determined to find out the truth, regardless of how much danger she and those around her are in. The trail takes her around the globe - to Mauritius, Miami, Zimbabwe and South Africa - as she uncovers some of the murky secrets of the major drug companies, in particular their method of generating tax breaks whilst dumping useless and dangerous drugs by offering to “help” in times of major disasters and generously providing them free of charge.
This is an engrossing thriller full of thought-provoking and real-world issues - at times quite complex given the subject matter, it nevertheless held me captivated. With well developed characters and evocative settings, it gallops along with plenty of twists and turns and I raced through it.
December 4, 2021
My thanks to NetGalley, publisher Bloomsbury Publishing plc - Raven Books, and author Holly Watt, for the electronic review copy..
I do so enjoy this series. The action is full-on; the writing superbly illustrates a busy newspaper office where everyone is chasing stories ahead of their rivals, and where star of the show, Casey Benedict, an investigative reporter who, according to her bosses, needs respite from previous world-wide escapades is bored with having to be virtually desk-bound as health editor..
However, stemming from an interview with a young woman, Flora, who is virtually dying from cystic fibrosis, and cryptic comments from her doctor Noah Hart, she realises the importance of antibiotics - their scarcity and the ability of infections to become resistant to them. But there was one company, Pergamex, based in San Francisco, which appeared to have discovered a potential new one. However, that company suddenly closed down and the new antibiotic appeared lost. Fearing for Flora's life, Casey begins her investigation - against the wishes of her bosses and friend Miranda, tracking down the people who worked on it - with appalling consequences.
From the UK to Mauritius, to Zimbabwe and South Africa - Casey chases what she believes to be a cover-up for several "accidental" deaths connected to the elusive new antibiotic
What exactly is the "cover-up"? Can she get answers in time to save Flora?
This is a fast-paced read with great characters and locations. Really enjoyed it - although it does give one food for thought!
I do so enjoy this series. The action is full-on; the writing superbly illustrates a busy newspaper office where everyone is chasing stories ahead of their rivals, and where star of the show, Casey Benedict, an investigative reporter who, according to her bosses, needs respite from previous world-wide escapades is bored with having to be virtually desk-bound as health editor..
However, stemming from an interview with a young woman, Flora, who is virtually dying from cystic fibrosis, and cryptic comments from her doctor Noah Hart, she realises the importance of antibiotics - their scarcity and the ability of infections to become resistant to them. But there was one company, Pergamex, based in San Francisco, which appeared to have discovered a potential new one. However, that company suddenly closed down and the new antibiotic appeared lost. Fearing for Flora's life, Casey begins her investigation - against the wishes of her bosses and friend Miranda, tracking down the people who worked on it - with appalling consequences.
From the UK to Mauritius, to Zimbabwe and South Africa - Casey chases what she believes to be a cover-up for several "accidental" deaths connected to the elusive new antibiotic
What exactly is the "cover-up"? Can she get answers in time to save Flora?
This is a fast-paced read with great characters and locations. Really enjoyed it - although it does give one food for thought!
November 7, 2021
Casey Benedict, courageous reporter, is back again and no less determined to uncover corruption even though she is weighed down with sorrow throughout this novel. ‘The Hunt and the Kill’ focuses on the development and misuse of antibiotics, clearly a timely reminder that with the emergence of new wonder drugs, comes fortunes to be made and unscrupulous politicians and drugs companies looking to benefit from others’ plight.
I enjoyed Holly Watts’ first two novels in this series, even though some of her chase scenes are a little too much of a tribute to James Bond for my liking. However, whilst the action of this novel lives up to its title, both the plot and the depiction of those supporting Casey in her quest to discover more about the mysterious Corax wonder drug are less compellingly drawn than in Watts’ previous narratives. Because of this, I was unable to suspend disbelief when Casey announced her mission and motivation. Early in the novel, Watt depicts Casey as, understandably, in no fit state to return to the office, let alone complete dangerous undercover work in several different countries. And yet, she rallies!
Others may enjoy this addition to the Casey Benedict series as much, or even more, than the first two tales of derring-do. Me, not so much.
My thanks to NetGalley and Raven Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
I enjoyed Holly Watts’ first two novels in this series, even though some of her chase scenes are a little too much of a tribute to James Bond for my liking. However, whilst the action of this novel lives up to its title, both the plot and the depiction of those supporting Casey in her quest to discover more about the mysterious Corax wonder drug are less compellingly drawn than in Watts’ previous narratives. Because of this, I was unable to suspend disbelief when Casey announced her mission and motivation. Early in the novel, Watt depicts Casey as, understandably, in no fit state to return to the office, let alone complete dangerous undercover work in several different countries. And yet, she rallies!
Others may enjoy this addition to the Casey Benedict series as much, or even more, than the first two tales of derring-do. Me, not so much.
My thanks to NetGalley and Raven Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.
July 11, 2021
This is a fast paced, action packed, stunt fuelled, adrenaline ridden read about a fascinating medical dilemma with some quite implausible events.
I mostly found it to be gripping because of the subject matter. Antibiotics become resistance to disease over time which is why they shouldn't be used frequently and why scientists need to search out new ways of finding medicines which, for a whole at least, will keep people well. Casey Benedict is a fearless investigative reporter who becomes drawn into the hunt for Corax, a drug needed to cure cystic fibrosis. It is the type of book filled with the thrill of the chase, the cat and mouse manoeuvres of trying to outwit the Baddies and stay one step away from mortal danger. In that sense it is too action/adventure for me to readily choose another book of the same ilk, BUT it IS without a doubt a gripping and tense read with an abundance of mystery, plotting, corruption and violence.
Casey travels around the world almost in her quest to uncover the truth and help Flora, a CF sufferer in the Royal Brompton hospital. With the help of colleagues, scientists, politicians and seemingly endless funds, Casey finds herself in a ruthless game where death is just a hair's breadth away.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Pigeonhole for a fascinating, if sometimes frustrating, read.
I mostly found it to be gripping because of the subject matter. Antibiotics become resistance to disease over time which is why they shouldn't be used frequently and why scientists need to search out new ways of finding medicines which, for a whole at least, will keep people well. Casey Benedict is a fearless investigative reporter who becomes drawn into the hunt for Corax, a drug needed to cure cystic fibrosis. It is the type of book filled with the thrill of the chase, the cat and mouse manoeuvres of trying to outwit the Baddies and stay one step away from mortal danger. In that sense it is too action/adventure for me to readily choose another book of the same ilk, BUT it IS without a doubt a gripping and tense read with an abundance of mystery, plotting, corruption and violence.
Casey travels around the world almost in her quest to uncover the truth and help Flora, a CF sufferer in the Royal Brompton hospital. With the help of colleagues, scientists, politicians and seemingly endless funds, Casey finds herself in a ruthless game where death is just a hair's breadth away.
Thank you to the author, publisher and Pigeonhole for a fascinating, if sometimes frustrating, read.
August 16, 2021
This is the third in Holly Watt's Casey Benedict series and is another brilliant thriller and having read the others, am happy to say this series gets better and better!
Casey is an investigative journalist who, whilst temporarily working on the health desk, is sent to cover a routine story and meets a young Cystic Fibrosis sufferer. Casey learns about the threat posed by resistance to antibiotics and hears about a new potential wonder drug. Her investigation initially leads her to a drug company and a secretive individual. As she follows the trail, it leads her to various countries and to discover some questionable methods employed by major drug companies. Danger is ever present and comes increasing close…
This is a well plotted, tense and intriguing thriller, featuring complex and thought-provoking issues. There are enough twists and turns to keep you hooked and I raced through it. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Casey is an investigative journalist who, whilst temporarily working on the health desk, is sent to cover a routine story and meets a young Cystic Fibrosis sufferer. Casey learns about the threat posed by resistance to antibiotics and hears about a new potential wonder drug. Her investigation initially leads her to a drug company and a secretive individual. As she follows the trail, it leads her to various countries and to discover some questionable methods employed by major drug companies. Danger is ever present and comes increasing close…
This is a well plotted, tense and intriguing thriller, featuring complex and thought-provoking issues. There are enough twists and turns to keep you hooked and I raced through it. Highly recommended.
I would like to thank the publisher, Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
July 8, 2021
**4.5 stars**
Fast-paced, action-packed, adrenalin-filled, rollercoaster ride; all in a day's of the life of an investigative journalist, Casey Benedict.
I really enjoyed this book and, aside from being entertained, learnt many things as well
It is thrilling, intricate and totally immersive.
The story started in the Royal Brompton Hospital in South Kensington but traversed several countries and continents as we follow the bread crumbs in the hunt for the truth.
Together with Casey we sauntered up Devon Hills, jetted into Miami, languished on the beaches of the Mauritius.
There was also a mission to uncover a drug to combat spades of surging anti-bacterial infections, in the hidden medical testing facility in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The hunt and chase ended in Cape Town, South Africa with the most unexpected turn.
Thanks to Pigeonhole and to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Fast-paced, action-packed, adrenalin-filled, rollercoaster ride; all in a day's of the life of an investigative journalist, Casey Benedict.
I really enjoyed this book and, aside from being entertained, learnt many things as well
It is thrilling, intricate and totally immersive.
The story started in the Royal Brompton Hospital in South Kensington but traversed several countries and continents as we follow the bread crumbs in the hunt for the truth.
Together with Casey we sauntered up Devon Hills, jetted into Miami, languished on the beaches of the Mauritius.
There was also a mission to uncover a drug to combat spades of surging anti-bacterial infections, in the hidden medical testing facility in Harare, Zimbabwe.
The hunt and chase ended in Cape Town, South Africa with the most unexpected turn.
Thanks to Pigeonhole and to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
July 31, 2021
The Hunt and The Kill is third novel by Holly Watt featuring Casey Benedict as a protagonist. I haven’t read the previous two books – The Lions and The Dead Line -, although I definitely plan to, but I had no problem reading the third book as a stand-alone. Casey Benedict is an incredible protagonist. Fierce, brilliant, determined, she is an investigative journalist for London newspaper The Post. She’s traveled around the world, going undercover and finding herself in dangerous situations to uncover the truth, but, in this third book, she’s been moved to cover the health section of the newspaper and she is not happy about it. Her new article is an interview with 19-year-old Fiona, a patient at Royal Brompton Hospital. Fiona has cystic fibrosis, but antibiotics are no longer working on her. Following Casey’s interview with her and with her doctor, she starts to investigate antibiotic resistance and a new drug that could save not only Fiona’s life, but millions of lives. However, soon the investigation turns very personal for Casey and, travelling from Miami to Mauritius, from Zimbabwe to Cape Town, she finds herself in danger.
I really enjoyed The Hunt and The Kill. The story is suspenseful, intense, and compelling. As the protagonist, the author is an investigative journalist and she gives the reader an insightful and detailed look into the works of a newsroom and investigative journalism as well informative and interesting understanding of antibiotic resistance. A gripping story from start to end, The Hunt and The Kill is novel not to miss!
I really enjoyed The Hunt and The Kill. The story is suspenseful, intense, and compelling. As the protagonist, the author is an investigative journalist and she gives the reader an insightful and detailed look into the works of a newsroom and investigative journalism as well informative and interesting understanding of antibiotic resistance. A gripping story from start to end, The Hunt and The Kill is novel not to miss!
November 9, 2021
The third outing for investigative journalist Casey Benedict is the best yet.
Sidelined into a role as Health Editor, it isn’t long before Casey sniffs out a story which will take her across the world, partially fuelled by personal tragedy. Sent to meet a young patient with significant health concerns, Casey’s chat with the treating doctor raises the hope of a new antibiotic which could offer promising treatment. From that conversation we delve into a smart plot about the global movement of drugs from the big-pharmaceutical companies and the impact of over use.
The plot is lightening paced and while sometimes it is a little far-fetched, it is hugely enjoyable.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent.
Sidelined into a role as Health Editor, it isn’t long before Casey sniffs out a story which will take her across the world, partially fuelled by personal tragedy. Sent to meet a young patient with significant health concerns, Casey’s chat with the treating doctor raises the hope of a new antibiotic which could offer promising treatment. From that conversation we delve into a smart plot about the global movement of drugs from the big-pharmaceutical companies and the impact of over use.
The plot is lightening paced and while sometimes it is a little far-fetched, it is hugely enjoyable.
I listened to the audiobook and the narration was excellent.
July 4, 2021
Another great novel from the excellent Holly Watt. This splendid series got off to a flying start with To The Lions, The Dead Line was equally fascinating, and The Hunt And The Kill is the best yet. This series is a breath of fresh air in this overcrowded genre as the principal character is not a cop but an investigative journalist, and Casey Benedict is mighty feisty! This novel has a very contemporary feel to it, based as it is in the world of Big Pharma and with various references to these Covid times. The story takes Casey into the depths of Africa and the plot grips from the start. A superb read.
July 10, 2021
I loved this book. It was engrossing, thrilling and full of action. I've not read any of the previous books in the series, but it didn't matter. Casey is an interesting character, although sometimes just a little too single-minded. The fact that much of the action happens in Southern Africa, a part of the world I'm very familiar with, does help in relating to the story, and the fact that I totally believe in the basis of the story regarding the overuse of antibiotics and the way big pharmaceutical companies are not in fact in the business of curing illness. Thank you, Holly and the Pigeonhole for the chance to read it.
July 8, 2021
I really enjoyed reading this book.
It was fascinating reading about antibiotic resistance, although trying to keep up with all the different antibiotics was a little confusing to begin with, but I got there in the end!
I liked Casey and Zac, although I can't decide if some of Casey's actions were her being brave or utterly foolish! There were definitely a few heart in mouth moments!
I thought it was well written and had a good pace to it.
Thank you to PH, NetGalley and Holly for the chance to read this book.
It was fascinating reading about antibiotic resistance, although trying to keep up with all the different antibiotics was a little confusing to begin with, but I got there in the end!
I liked Casey and Zac, although I can't decide if some of Casey's actions were her being brave or utterly foolish! There were definitely a few heart in mouth moments!
I thought it was well written and had a good pace to it.
Thank you to PH, NetGalley and Holly for the chance to read this book.
July 22, 2021
The Hunt and the Kill by Holly Watt is the third book in the Casey Benedict series and I really enjoyed this book. Something as happened since I hast read her first book.......and so glad I requested to read it. This latest book did not disappoint! it's full of twists and turns and best of all full of action throughout! Especially with lots of interesting information of research in antibiotics, its production and its dangers....that is happening today.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) and to the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
October 23, 2021
So I struggled a bit with this book to start with, now I know that it is the second with the main character Casey, so that would have helped.
But once it got going it really got going - it was like an updated Robin Cook it was brilliant. but so scary as so real. The amount of research that had gone into this was amazing, so detailed. So relatable now to the current situation.
I am now going back to read the first Casey book.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
But once it got going it really got going - it was like an updated Robin Cook it was brilliant. but so scary as so real. The amount of research that had gone into this was amazing, so detailed. So relatable now to the current situation.
I am now going back to read the first Casey book.
I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.
June 29, 2021
The Hunt and The Kill by Holly Watt is another in the Casey Benedict series and this is a totally engrossing and intriguing storyline. She is looking into antibiotics and whether there is another Greg that is resistant to and able to fight infections and disease. Once again she ends up appearing in different countries trying to work out what is happening and who is responsible for the murders and deaths that could have been saved.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
Highly recommended
July 14, 2023
I found this complicated. There was an extremely high death count, with the baddie killing relatives of people he wanted to warn off (why didn't he just kill the targets themselves?) Casey kept having crises of confidence before once again escaping from gunmen, once by performing remarkable feats of underwater swimming. She didn't seem overly bothered by the way people who helped her then immediately died, and the ending seemed very underwhelming.
July 9, 2021
Many thanks to Pigeonhole and Holly Watt for the chance to read this book.
Antibiotic resistance is a very relevant topic at present. Casey Benedict, journalist, chases all over the world regardless of the consequences of her investigations. I felt at times that I would have benefitted from having read the previous books, but overall an enjoyable read.
Antibiotic resistance is a very relevant topic at present. Casey Benedict, journalist, chases all over the world regardless of the consequences of her investigations. I felt at times that I would have benefitted from having read the previous books, but overall an enjoyable read.
July 10, 2021
Casey, an investigative journalist is given what seems to be a very straightforward health story to report. However, she rapidly finds herself in a nightmare scenario of murders and unexplained deaths.
The story is fast paced and the scene setting spot on.
There are couple of incidents that do require some suspension of disbelief, but overall this is an exciting and enjoyable read.
The story is fast paced and the scene setting spot on.
There are couple of incidents that do require some suspension of disbelief, but overall this is an exciting and enjoyable read.
April 28, 2025
I haven't read any other Casey Benedict novels, and I'm not sure if that is why I struggled to get into this. I didn't really feel like I got to know the characters enough to get invested in what was happening to them. There is lots of action, but it jumps around a bit, which might have been easier to follow if I read this in one go, but it didn't grip me enough.
July 8, 2021
A fast-paced thriller that is very entertaining with lots of action and interesting information of research in antibiotics, its production and its dangers....
Thank you Holly for letting me read your thriller for free on Pigeonhole!
Thank you Holly for letting me read your thriller for free on Pigeonhole!
July 18, 2021
This is a book about investigative journalist Casey Benedict as she tries to find out what has happened to a potential new wonder drug that now seems to have disappeared. The action moves between Britain Mauritius Zimbabwe and South Africa and Casey moves from one dangerous situation to another
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