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maryqueenofbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nicjohnston's review against another edition
4.0
It’s difficult to find a genuinely thrilling thriller. The Dead Line is a rare beast. A plot with intricacy and great pace. Characters that you truly cheer on. And recognisably well written but light enough that you can race through.
A read Holly Watt’s debut To The Lions when it was chosen as a best debut at the Theakstons Crime Writing Festival. It was good but not memorable. The Dead Line is more assured and I really appreciated being back with Casey and her colleagues. It could do with a an edit (notably the ending) but I would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Raven Books/Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
A read Holly Watt’s debut To The Lions when it was chosen as a best debut at the Theakstons Crime Writing Festival. It was good but not memorable. The Dead Line is more assured and I really appreciated being back with Casey and her colleagues. It could do with a an edit (notably the ending) but I would definitely recommend.
With thanks to Raven Books/Bloomsbury and Netgalley for an advance copy in consideration of an honest review.
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
4.0
Looking for a fast paced, actioned packed thriller that will have you holding your breath and praying? Look no further than The Dead Line by Holly Watts. This book would make a fantastic movie, a plot that takes you across the world and back again.
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist for the Post in London. When a staff member comes across the words “they take the girls” written on the inside of clothes brought at a high street store, the team know they have a great story. It leads them not only to the labour conditions in the factories of Bangladesh but also a baby factory, with links to some high profile and powerful people. How far will they go to get the story and help these women?
It is a tough read at times, with chilling scenes of young women being badly treated. It will really give you a lot to think about, these people who believe that money really can buy them anything.
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for my copy of this book to read
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist for the Post in London. When a staff member comes across the words “they take the girls” written on the inside of clothes brought at a high street store, the team know they have a great story. It leads them not only to the labour conditions in the factories of Bangladesh but also a baby factory, with links to some high profile and powerful people. How far will they go to get the story and help these women?
It is a tough read at times, with chilling scenes of young women being badly treated. It will really give you a lot to think about, these people who believe that money really can buy them anything.
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone. Thanks to Bloomsbury Australia for my copy of this book to read
sarah5's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting book about investigative journalism and a mystery surrounding messages found in clothes made in Bangladesh. The main character, Casey is brilliant.
This was really intriguing for the first half and well-paced. For me though, the last 100 pages let this down as it became almost farcical. A real shame as I would have given this 4 stars, if not 5 otherwise.
This was really intriguing for the first half and well-paced. For me though, the last 100 pages let this down as it became almost farcical. A real shame as I would have given this 4 stars, if not 5 otherwise.
azaera's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dhw_ani's review against another edition
3.0
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist at The Post, London and is always on the look out for the stories that deserve to be brought to people's attention. So, when frantic messages are flound hidden in in the pieces of clothing of a clothing brand named Raphso, things get intriguing. The message says, They take the girl. Which girls? Who's written this? Casey is on the mission to find out along with her team from the Post, Miranda, Ed, and Hessa. They investigate and find out about the clothes being manufactured in Bangladesh and end up uncovering a very serious and heart-breaking condition of young girls of the Rohingya community. They were being kidnapped and forced to be surrogates for couples abroad who cannot conceive. How could Casey link this story with a Harley Street Doctor who is one of the suspicious characters in this set up? Should she go to Bangladesh to uncover this? Well, she does. Read the book to know what goes on and how.
For a thriller, the theme that the author has chosen to write upon is exceptionally intriguing. The writing is fast paced in the initial fourth and the last third of the book. The story seems a bit dragging in the middle. I like how the story of a character of the book, Miranda is in sync with the story they are investigating. However, towards the ending it's left as a loose end. The books begins from the first chapter. There's no beating around the bush with the story and with laying the background too much which is something I like in a book. However, I found the execution done a little poorly! What could've been an exceptional immersing thriller, went into a book sectioned based upon its pace. The beginning and the ending very fast paced while the middle tedious. I felt the need for more character build up, it may probably be because I've not read her previous book which may have the same characters. The action and the twists in the tale were spot on and honestly, I couldn't guess the ending.
So, if you like lengthy thrillers with a tad bit of a love interest, action and some seriously interesting web of mysteries, I'll recommend you this one!
For a thriller, the theme that the author has chosen to write upon is exceptionally intriguing. The writing is fast paced in the initial fourth and the last third of the book. The story seems a bit dragging in the middle. I like how the story of a character of the book, Miranda is in sync with the story they are investigating. However, towards the ending it's left as a loose end. The books begins from the first chapter. There's no beating around the bush with the story and with laying the background too much which is something I like in a book. However, I found the execution done a little poorly! What could've been an exceptional immersing thriller, went into a book sectioned based upon its pace. The beginning and the ending very fast paced while the middle tedious. I felt the need for more character build up, it may probably be because I've not read her previous book which may have the same characters. The action and the twists in the tale were spot on and honestly, I couldn't guess the ending.
So, if you like lengthy thrillers with a tad bit of a love interest, action and some seriously interesting web of mysteries, I'll recommend you this one!
lizzreads's review against another edition
3.0
Casey Benedict is an investigative journalist for a newspaper, The Post.
Casey works with a few other women, to bring important and truthful stories to light.
When her colleague Miranda comes to her with a hidden message “they take the girls” so into a piece of fabric in a skirt brought from a fashion store, Casey and her colleagues Miranda and Hessa head on a journey to discover the truths about how they take the girls, and why.
The ladies head to Bangladesh, a place (in the story) known for under the table surrogacy, girls are taken from camps, impregnated and kept in horrible conditions, while the families waiting for those babies are filled with false hope that their surrogates are taken care of and will benefit financially.
I really enjoyed the thrilling moments and suspense of this book, the who don’t it moments and the lead up to find out who was behind the organisation that took the girls and that while the truth might set you free, it could also get you killed.
There were moments that felt a little dragged, and flashbacks to moments which might be connected to the first book (from other reviews this seems to be the second book or a continuation, same characters different story) so those parts didn’t really grab me as much.
Overall a good read with a mixture of great and not so great moments that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys a thrilling story.
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing for sending me a copy!
Casey works with a few other women, to bring important and truthful stories to light.
When her colleague Miranda comes to her with a hidden message “they take the girls” so into a piece of fabric in a skirt brought from a fashion store, Casey and her colleagues Miranda and Hessa head on a journey to discover the truths about how they take the girls, and why.
The ladies head to Bangladesh, a place (in the story) known for under the table surrogacy, girls are taken from camps, impregnated and kept in horrible conditions, while the families waiting for those babies are filled with false hope that their surrogates are taken care of and will benefit financially.
I really enjoyed the thrilling moments and suspense of this book, the who don’t it moments and the lead up to find out who was behind the organisation that took the girls and that while the truth might set you free, it could also get you killed.
There were moments that felt a little dragged, and flashbacks to moments which might be connected to the first book (from other reviews this seems to be the second book or a continuation, same characters different story) so those parts didn’t really grab me as much.
Overall a good read with a mixture of great and not so great moments that I’d recommend to anyone who enjoys a thrilling story.
Thank you to @bloomsburypublishing for sending me a copy!
forcefullsoul's review
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
ems_shelflove's review
4.0
The follow-up to Holly Watt’s award-winning To The Lions certainly didn’t disappoint.
Packed with action, suspense and exhilaration, The Dead Line follows investigative journalist Casey Benedict on another pulse-raising undercover mission. Watts does not shy away from topics which make her readers question the very moral foundations of humanity, and her sequel book is no exception to this. With the aid of her trusty colleagues at The Post newspaper - Miranda and Hessa - Casey embarks on a journey which leads her from the streets of London to Bangladesh as she unravels an intricate web of secrets to cover-up an illegal surrogacy industry.
The topics covered in The Dead Line are certainly powerful and moving, and I found myself having to take regular breaks whilst reading the novel to have a bit of a breather from the emotional intensity. However, these moments where Casey, Miranda and Hessa met with the vulnerable women who were so consumed by their over-whelming longing to have a child were some of my favourite moments. As were the moments when Casey and Hessa met up with the mothers of the girls taken from the refugee village in Bangladesh. They allowed Watts to set up an interesting moral debate surrounding surrogacy where the reader was invited to asses both sides of the argument, and also exposed a softer and more gentle side to both Casey and Miranda in particular (we saw a more empathetic side to the journalists as they took a step back from their roles as journalists and formed relationships with the women they were investigating).
I also enjoyed gaining a bit more of an insight into the background stories that were only lightly touched on in To The Lions, for example there were sub-plots following the break-down of Miranda’s marriage to her university sweetheart and we learnt how Casey and Ed came to meet. This had the effect of creating a set of more well-rounded and established characters who had lives and relationships outside of their careers (although Miranda and Casey’s dedication to their work does seem to be the sole factor in the break-down of their relationships).
Whilst some aspects of the ending seemed somewhat far-fetched at times (in particular the storyline including Dr Greystone’s wife, Clio), it was a pacey read full of unexpected plot twists which had me reading late into the nights as I was desperate to find out what would happen next. I hope to follow Casey on her next thrilling adventure soon.
Packed with action, suspense and exhilaration, The Dead Line follows investigative journalist Casey Benedict on another pulse-raising undercover mission. Watts does not shy away from topics which make her readers question the very moral foundations of humanity, and her sequel book is no exception to this. With the aid of her trusty colleagues at The Post newspaper - Miranda and Hessa - Casey embarks on a journey which leads her from the streets of London to Bangladesh as she unravels an intricate web of secrets to cover-up an illegal surrogacy industry.
The topics covered in The Dead Line are certainly powerful and moving, and I found myself having to take regular breaks whilst reading the novel to have a bit of a breather from the emotional intensity. However, these moments where Casey, Miranda and Hessa met with the vulnerable women who were so consumed by their over-whelming longing to have a child were some of my favourite moments. As were the moments when Casey and Hessa met up with the mothers of the girls taken from the refugee village in Bangladesh. They allowed Watts to set up an interesting moral debate surrounding surrogacy where the reader was invited to asses both sides of the argument, and also exposed a softer and more gentle side to both Casey and Miranda in particular (we saw a more empathetic side to the journalists as they took a step back from their roles as journalists and formed relationships with the women they were investigating).
I also enjoyed gaining a bit more of an insight into the background stories that were only lightly touched on in To The Lions, for example there were sub-plots following the break-down of Miranda’s marriage to her university sweetheart and we learnt how Casey and Ed came to meet. This had the effect of creating a set of more well-rounded and established characters who had lives and relationships outside of their careers (although Miranda and Casey’s dedication to their work does seem to be the sole factor in the break-down of their relationships).
Whilst some aspects of the ending seemed somewhat far-fetched at times (in particular the storyline including Dr Greystone’s wife, Clio), it was a pacey read full of unexpected plot twists which had me reading late into the nights as I was desperate to find out what would happen next. I hope to follow Casey on her next thrilling adventure soon.
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