Deadline [Import] [Mass Market Paperback]

Simon Kernick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2008

“We’ve got your daughter.”

It’s evening, you’re back late from work—and the house is in darkness. You step inside, and the phone rings. You answer it—and your world is turned upside down. Your fourteen-year-old daughter has been taken, and her kidnappers want half a million pounds in cash. They give you 48 hours to raise the money. If you call the police, she will die. Trying desperately to remain calm, you realize that your husband—the man you married two years ago—is also missing. But he can’t be involved in your daughter’s abduction. Or can he? As the nightmare unravels, you can be certain of only two things: that you will do anything to get your daughter back alive— and that time is running out.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Simon Kernick writes with his foot pressed hard on the pedal. Hang on tight!” —Harlan Coben

“Great plots, great characters, great action!” —Lee Child

About the Author

Simon Kernick lives near London and has two young children. His previous novel, Relentless, was selected as a Richard & Judy Summer Read. The research for Simon Kernick's novels is what makes them so authentic. His extensive list of contacts in the police force has been built up over more than a decade. It includes long serving officers in Special Branch, the National Crime Squad (now SOCA), and the Anti-Terrorist Branch, all of whom have plenty of tales to tell. For more information on Simon Kernick and his books, see his website at www.simonkernick.com

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Corgi (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552156604
• ISBN-13: 978-0552156608
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.4 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,986,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Kernick Proves He Can Write in Yet Another Genre, This Time the Police Viewpoint Major Crime Investigation Novel, December 16, 2008

By 

James N Simpson (Gold Coast, QLD Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Deadline (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the third novel I have read by Kernick. The first novel I read was Relentless which was a Harlan Coben independent storyline style (average everyday guy suddenly has life in danger by a sudden event, must flee and work out what is going on to survive type reads). The second was Kernick's previous novel Severed which was more of a David Morrell type novel (fast paced albeit a little unrealistic action thriller, well trained ex army guy who rights a wrong type reads). Deadline is completely different again, it is an action novel but more along the lines of through the eyes of a policeman solving a crime type novel. Like the other two, although no masterpiece, it's still a very good and enjoyable read. Not many authors can successfully write across genres but I can tell you that Kernick has proved he can.

Basic plot is Andrea Devern, a rich woman returns home and receives a call from a disguised voice telling her they have her 14 year old daughter Emma and if she doesn't bring them half a million pounds they will kill her. If she tells anyone about the abduction, they will also kill her. Stupidly she doesn't go to the police but instead cons a violent ex boyfriend, telling him that Emma was his child as a backup in case something goes wrong. Of course the kidnappers aren't to happy with this so when she is pulled over by the police for erratic driving with her ex's blood all over her she breaks down and finally tells the authorities what is going on. Deadline is the tale of the police investigation, told through the eyes of Mike Bolt an ex Flying Squad officer now in charge of a unit of the Serious and Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). What he doesn't tell his superiors is that he came across Andrea back in flying squad days and knows she isn't telling them everything and although he has no doubt Emma has been abducted he also knows that she is a very good liar. He knows he should tell his superiors this info, but knows if he does he will be taken off the case and he has a very good reason why he wants to ensure everything is thrown at getting Emma back.

A fast paced thriller, full of action, a little bit unrealistic at times but a very fun read none the less!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Action Packed Page Turner!, July 27, 2009

By 

M. Zabaroff (London, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Deadline (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first Kernick book I've read but it won't be the last. I couldn't put it down. Is it a literary masterpiece? Of course not. Is it a fantastic crime thriller that hooks you in from the start and doesn't let go until the end? Yes. 100% recommended to all who love a good, easy, entertaining and exciting novel. Fantastic stuff!

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome book!!!, January 22, 2012

By 

Mickey - See all my reviews

This review is from: Deadline (Kindle Edition)

I have to admit, this is Simon Kernick's best book! There are many things I liked about this book, especially the characters and the fast-paced story that always kept me wanting for more! It's awesome how Simon Kernick can twist around the main characters, in this case Mike Bolt, from first being a happy detective and then turning him into a worrying wreck.

If you have previously read other books by this author and you haven't read this one, you'll love it.

BUT

If you have not previously read other books by this author and you think you'd like to read it, I encourage you to do so and even his other works especially 'The Last 10 Seconds' and 'Relentless'.