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Deadline

The unmissable debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster Steph McGovern

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About this listen

Brought vividly to life by acclaimed actress Faye Marsay, known for her roles in Adolescence, Ten Pound Poms, and Game of Thrones.

Featuring an exclusive audio Q&A with author Steph McGovern and narrator Faye Marsay, available only in this edition.

The debut crime thriller from award-winning broadcaster and journalist Steph McGovern.

'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

Crime Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Exciting Witty Disappearance

Critic reviews

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. Deadline 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 )
All stars
Most relevant
I can't believe this is Stephs 1st Noval. I loved it and finished it in one sitting, including the author and narrators interview, at the end.
I get through several audiobooks a week and I'll be highly recommending this one. I absolutely can't wait for the next.
The story is clever and the characters are engaging. you love the good guys and hate the bad guys. It's not a predictable story and I was fully engaged until the very end. My only negative comment is that we don't have a film yet.

A must read

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The story line was so gripping every character sparked your interest you know a novel is great when your sad it's finished this has Netflix movie appeal with Faye playing Rose it would be a definite but !

Just Brilliant!

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Great characters, so many trusts and turns
Highly recommended. ca. wait for the next book

A great listen

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I’m not entirely sure where to start with Deadline. The opening three hours felt more like an extended behind‑the‑scenes tour of how a news programme is made than the beginning of a mystery. Interesting in its own way, yes, but it was a lot of operational detail up front for a story that seemed to be positioning itself as a thriller.

Once the plot finally got moving, it tried to take on everything: cancer, grooming, alcoholism, neurodiversity, struggling schools, political commentary, and constant reminders about the shoestring budgets behind broadcast news. Individually, these themes could have added depth, but all together they made the story feel cluttered and oddly heavy‑handed. Instead of enriching the narrative, the issues piled up until it became a bit tedious.

There’s definitely potential here, the setting is fresh, and obviously Steph McGovern clearly knows the world she’s writing about, but the balance felt off. Too much exposition early on, too many competing themes later, and not quite enough space for the mystery to breathe.

A decent listen if you’re curious about newsroom life, but as a cohesive story, it didn’t quite land for me.

Behind the scenes of the news

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Loved the story, it drew me in and kept me hooked. Would recommend a listen.

A good listen

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