Deadline by Steph McGovern

Deadline by Steph McGovern

Macmillan, £20

The Brief: A live TV broadcast suddenly becomes a life-or-death assignment.

The Suspects: Rose, a seasoned TV reporter on the brink of the biggest interview of her career; a missing spouse; and a kidnapper with impossible demands.

The Setup: TV reporter Rose is about 
to do the most important assignment of her career – interviewing a powerful political figure live. To focus, she must push all else from 
her mind. No wondering why her wife hasn’t been in touch, and no worrying about how her stalker has tracked her down. Then she hears an unfamiliar voice in her earpiece: her family has been taken and she must do everything the kidnapper wants.

The Judgement: Tense, pacy, and brimming with authentic detail, this debut from broadcaster Steph McGovern feels chillingly real. An entertaining, thought‑provoking thriller that plays out like the news bulletin from hell.

If You Liked This, Try:
Hostage by Clare Mackintosh. For the tension of a live crisis unfolding minute by minute
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney. For a missing spouse mystery
Close Call by Elise Hart Kipness. For a reporter thrust into the middle of a high-stakes ordeal