What do you think?
Rate this book
Knife Edge
Investigative reporter Joe Verdi has never given much thought to how supermarkets operate. Then a murder inquiry takes him undercover into the heart of Britain's agri-business and he discovers the true cost of our cut-price food.
13 pages, Audio CD
First published October 1, 2008
2 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Paul Adam
275 books35 followersLibrarian's Note: There is more than one author with this name on Goodreads database.
- Paul Adam is an English writer of novels for both adults and younger readers. He studied law at Nottingham University, then began a career in journalism, working both in England, in his childhood town of Sheffield, and Rome. Since then he has written 11 critically acclaimed thrillers for adults and the Max Cassidy series of thrillers for younger readers about a teenage escapologist, the first of which, Escape from Shadow Island, won the Salford Children's Book Award. His books have sold widely around the world and have been translated into several foreign languages. He has also written film and television scripts. Adam lived in Nottingham for many years but now lives in Sheffield with his wife and two children.
- Paul Adam is an English writer of novels for both adults and younger readers. He studied law at Nottingham University, then began a career in journalism, working both in England, in his childhood town of Sheffield, and Rome. Since then he has written 11 critically acclaimed thrillers for adults and the Max Cassidy series of thrillers for younger readers about a teenage escapologist, the first of which, Escape from Shadow Island, won the Salford Children's Book Award. His books have sold widely around the world and have been translated into several foreign languages. He has also written film and television scripts. Adam lived in Nottingham for many years but now lives in Sheffield with his wife and two children.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
February 5, 2013
I was beginning to think that it was my state of mind preventing me from really enjoying a story this year and then Paul Adamcame to my rescue!
Adam's writing is just beautiful to read, (or in this case listen to) so even though the content of this story was not entirely my cup of tea, it kept my interest to the end.
I can't recommend this author enough.
Adam's writing is just beautiful to read, (or in this case listen to) so even though the content of this story was not entirely my cup of tea, it kept my interest to the end.
I can't recommend this author enough.
October 17, 2010
Good Afternoon All
This is a new author to me. A first rate read. Dealing with a contentious subject People trafficking and Migrant workers. If you think you have it tough, read this. Although it deals with the problem in GB. It could be anywhere.
This is a new author to me. A first rate read. Dealing with a contentious subject People trafficking and Migrant workers. If you think you have it tough, read this. Although it deals with the problem in GB. It could be anywhere.
December 7, 2025
Great book on a story that isn't often told. Name checked my home town where the vans of field workers is common sight
May 10, 2016
Knife Edge is a thriller that fails to settle on a single theme. One chapter deals with illegal immigrants; the next explores the criminal use of out-of-date carcasses at meat packaging plants. These themes are too powerful to sit side by side, and the result is the impression that Paul Adam is trying to preach about these problems. This seriously diminishes the reader’s involvement in the story and breaks the magic.
Another problem with Knife Edge is that it isn’t clear until over half way through who is intended to be the main character. The book starts from the viewpoint of illegal immigrant Irena Hourami, who goes on the run after her husband is murdered during their illegal entry into the UK. She is a worthy protagonist – her character is brilliantly portrayed, and the reader is soon sympathetic with her plight, and becomes emotionally involved in her struggle to survive in a strange county while hunted by two killers.
Disappointingly, she then disappears from the narrative, and we instead meet journalist, Ellie Mason. She starts an article about the sale of old and infected meat after an elderly friend dies of typhoid from contaminated chicken. Her story is interleaved with that of another journalist, Joe Verdi, who is writing a feature about illegal immigrants, and who goes undercover posing as an Albanian labourer. The story follows him as he is smuggled into Dover and is given farm jobs without a work permit.
Although not immediately obvious, Verdi is meant to be the main character. Unfortunately, he is never painted as strongly as Irena, and because he struggles to become a living three-dimensional character, I failed to associate with him.
When we briefly met Verdi at the start of the book, we were introduced to him as an asthmatic, and much play was put upon his reliance on an inhaler. We therefore expect this to give him problems later in the book, yet it is rarely mentioned again. This confused me, especially when he somehow races round farmyards and fields at the end of the novel: at the beginning he could barely cross the street without wheezing. This suggests his asthma was introduced ready to be important, and yet the author forgot to develop it later. While only a minor point, this did contribute to the overall failure of Verdi to truly come alive in my imagination.
When Ellie Mason wants help to gather information from inside meat packing facilities, she persuades Verdi to help. Through both characters, we vividly witness the consequences of the low prices supermarkets impose on their farmers, and the illegal reintroduction of imported out-of-date meat back into the food chain. Unfortunately, Paul Adam tries too hard to ensure we fully understand how bad this situation is. The result is that readers lose their involvement in the story, and the narrative spell is broken.
The story concludes with Verdi and Ellie Mason on Irena’s trail, trying to reach her before the killers. The conclusion is well written and totally absorbing.
Paul Adam’s writing style is very easy to read, and all the scenes are clearly painted. Knife Edge delivers an interesting story, but one that is spoilt by a weak lead character and an attempt by the author to cover two very powerful themes in a thriller that can only cope with one.
Other books by this author are exceptionally brilliant – Enemy Within, for instance, demonstrates his ability to write a powerful main character with whom we associate while dealing with a single powerful theme. With Knife Edge, however, he fails to deliver his normal excellence.
Another problem with Knife Edge is that it isn’t clear until over half way through who is intended to be the main character. The book starts from the viewpoint of illegal immigrant Irena Hourami, who goes on the run after her husband is murdered during their illegal entry into the UK. She is a worthy protagonist – her character is brilliantly portrayed, and the reader is soon sympathetic with her plight, and becomes emotionally involved in her struggle to survive in a strange county while hunted by two killers.
Disappointingly, she then disappears from the narrative, and we instead meet journalist, Ellie Mason. She starts an article about the sale of old and infected meat after an elderly friend dies of typhoid from contaminated chicken. Her story is interleaved with that of another journalist, Joe Verdi, who is writing a feature about illegal immigrants, and who goes undercover posing as an Albanian labourer. The story follows him as he is smuggled into Dover and is given farm jobs without a work permit.
Although not immediately obvious, Verdi is meant to be the main character. Unfortunately, he is never painted as strongly as Irena, and because he struggles to become a living three-dimensional character, I failed to associate with him.
When we briefly met Verdi at the start of the book, we were introduced to him as an asthmatic, and much play was put upon his reliance on an inhaler. We therefore expect this to give him problems later in the book, yet it is rarely mentioned again. This confused me, especially when he somehow races round farmyards and fields at the end of the novel: at the beginning he could barely cross the street without wheezing. This suggests his asthma was introduced ready to be important, and yet the author forgot to develop it later. While only a minor point, this did contribute to the overall failure of Verdi to truly come alive in my imagination.
When Ellie Mason wants help to gather information from inside meat packing facilities, she persuades Verdi to help. Through both characters, we vividly witness the consequences of the low prices supermarkets impose on their farmers, and the illegal reintroduction of imported out-of-date meat back into the food chain. Unfortunately, Paul Adam tries too hard to ensure we fully understand how bad this situation is. The result is that readers lose their involvement in the story, and the narrative spell is broken.
The story concludes with Verdi and Ellie Mason on Irena’s trail, trying to reach her before the killers. The conclusion is well written and totally absorbing.
Paul Adam’s writing style is very easy to read, and all the scenes are clearly painted. Knife Edge delivers an interesting story, but one that is spoilt by a weak lead character and an attempt by the author to cover two very powerful themes in a thriller that can only cope with one.
Other books by this author are exceptionally brilliant – Enemy Within, for instance, demonstrates his ability to write a powerful main character with whom we associate while dealing with a single powerful theme. With Knife Edge, however, he fails to deliver his normal excellence.
October 17, 2012
Chilling storyline dealing with issues we all want to pretend aren't happening. It will make you think about the true cost of supermarket food. You might want to avoid chicken tonight!
February 17, 2015
Výborná knížka, skvělý Sean Barrett to opět posouvá o kategorii výš, ale konec je nedotažený.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews