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Deadline

Author Steph McGovern
Narrator Faye Marsay
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Run Time 9 hours and 33 minutes
Format Audio
Genre Crime and mystery fiction, Psychological thriller.

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What to expect

'A pacy, witty, engaging thriller, entertaining and delightfully authentic, but hard-hitting and thought-provoking too. I can't wait for you all to read it' – Ann Cleeves, author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope series

Your child has been kidnapped.

You're live on television.

Going live in 10, 9, 8 . . .
Today is a huge day for TV reporter Rose’s career. A live interview with one of the most powerful men in the country, on one of the nation’s biggest TV shows.

7, 6, 5 . . .
But, when she hears an unfamiliar voice in her ear, she knows something is very wrong.

4, 3, 2 . . .
Her earpiece has been hacked. She’s live on air in the middle of the interview. They tell her they have kidnapped her family.

1
And, in order to protect them, Rose must do exactly what the hijacker says. They are in control now.

* * *

'Fascinating and authentic peek behind the scenes . . . Steph McGovern lifts the lid and hooks us in with an irresistible set up.' Val McDermid, – author of Past Lying

Critics Review

A pacy, witty, engaging thriller, entertaining and delightfully authentic, but hard-hitting and thought-provoking too. I can't wait for you all to read it.

Ann Cleeves, author of the Vera Stanhope and Shetland crime series

Fascinating and authentic peek behind the scenes … Steph McGovern lifts the lid and hooks us in with an irresistible set up.

Val McDermid, author of Past Lying

A fantastic premise. I was totally hooked from the dramatic start. Deadline is racy and entertaining with a thought provoking core. I’m already looking forward to reading more Rose Steedman adventures.

Cecelia Ahern, author of P.S. I Love You

Brilliant! I love how it describes all the behind the scenes of TV and I had no idea where it was going. So clever. So good.

Kimberley Walsh

Pacy, clever, funny, believable dialogue, great plot.

Simon Rimmer

Thrilling, funny and an insightful look behind the TV scenes as well as a powerful exploration of class and power.

Jo Callaghan, author of In the Blink of an Eye

Deadline catapults Steph McGovern into the very top tier of UK crime writers. With an authentic northern voice, unrivalled inside information and a plot that’s twistier than a Slinky on acid, Steph expertly ratchets up the tension in this superbly paced thriller. Highly recommended.

M. W. Craven, author of The Puppet Show

An adrenaline-fueled story that takes you behind the scenes of TV into an unexpected world of corruption, politics and power. Authentic and relatable, it starts strong and doesn't let up until the breathless and satisfying last page. A sure fire top ratings hit!

Araminta Hall, author of One of the Good Guys

Intriguing and inventive, Deadline takes an ingenious hook – a TV reporter’s feed being hijacked – to explore the murky underbelly of Westminster, and what happens when politics, journalism, and a group of fifteen-year-olds adept at social media collide. Topical, authentic, and uncompromising. A slow-burn that will leave you questioning red herrings before speeding up to a rattling good read.

Sarah Vaughan, author of Anatomy of a Scandal

If you want a real taste of what news world is like . . . and a tense plot line with added humour and messages on social justice

Nina Warhurst

Steph McGovern is responsible for depriving me of sleep for three nights straight. Dead Line takes a brilliant concept and turns the pace up to breakneck speed, making it quite literally impossible – physically impossible for human beings – to put down. I simply had to know how it ended.

The Secret Barrister

With insider's eye for detail and an ingenious mind for plot, McGovern's debut is immersive, smart and packed with head-spinning twists. Loved it!

Ellery Lloyd, author of The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby

Thrilling, captivating and full of heart

Giovanna Fletcher, author of Billy and Me

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