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Deadline

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Deadline

By: Steph McGovern
Narrated by: Faye Marsay
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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

©2025 Steph McGovern (P)2025 Macmillan Publishers International Limited
Crime Thrillers Domestic Thrillers Family Life Genre Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense Witty Disappearance

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Critic reviews

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 )
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
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A brilliant read, it became clear towards the end how the different people fit together to make up the story. The end tied it all together perfectly.

A brilliant read

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Enjoyed very much. I am from Durham so a lot of northern quirks make me smile. Looking forward to next book-/ though don’t leave tele Steph. You a good watch too.

Well done Steph

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Just loved this book even though slow to start. Such a great story with believable characters. Also very moving. Just loved the narration which added to the authenticity. Can’t wait for book 2 Steph.

Excellent

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What an amazing book couldn’t stop listening finished in a day and a half definitely worth a listen or a read

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