This is really quite a timely novel. Right now, journalists are under attack as never before. The rise of social media, fake news and the ability to instantly trash anyone whose opinions don’t reflect your own is taking its toll on the role of a free press and those who work for it. And that in turn is having a greater impact on the physical attacks on journalists than we have ever known. So far this year 21 journalists have been killed whilst on assignment, 9 of them murdered. Frankly, it is worrying. And if freedom of speech is under threat, believe me when I tell you that democracy goes right under thereafter. So, when Simon Mayo writes about seven journalists being targeted and killed within minutes of each other, the really sad truth is that I could see that happening. Just consider that for a moment. Fortunately, this is fiction and rather good fiction at that. At the centre is journalist Famie Madden. She works for a large new bureau with an international reach – The International Press Service – a kind of alternative Reuters, if you will. Famie is really good at what she does, but she is really fed up at having to do it with fewer and fewer resources. Just as newspapers these days contain much less news and are produced by a handful of journalists, so the money to use news agencies to bring in strong stories has also diminished. Restructuring and ‘downsizing’ are now annual events and Famie has had it up to here. Then seven of her colleagues are slain in separate knife attacks in London, within minutes of each other. It’s clearly a co-ordinated attack, but why? This team were in the midst of an investigation, and as is their norm, they kept the detail of that to themselves until they were ready to write it up. So there’s nothing in the system to help point the way to why this atrocity has occurred. Terrorism seems like a probable motive, but for Famie, these are her friends and colleagues. She also fears she could be targeted. It’s too much for her to bear and she’s had enough. But someone is out there who wants her to investigate. Someone is sending her messages she has to try and make sense of. Because these killers haven’t stopped yet. In an intense and thrilling read, it’s fair to say Mayo ‘s writing really caught me up in the story and as we learned more about the characters, both alive and those who were murdered, the motives got muddier before clarity was bestowed. As Famie starts to follow the sparse trail left by her unknown communicator, her own life and that of her daughter is put under threat and she has to keep moving to have any chance of feeling safe. Nor can the police protect her; their advice to stay put is clearly useless once she discovers that her flat has been ransacked when she should have been at home had she followed their advice. In the main the pace is good, though it is slow to start and dips somewhat in the middle section, but the story is compelling and the subject matter fascinating as Famie thinks her way round the various terror groups across the world. As well as Famie’s perspective, we get another, very different view of what is going on. One that is at the heart of the group that instigated these actions. That perspective lends a really chilling element to the book and as the plot develops we are left in no doubt as to the serious intent behind the responsible individuals. The plot becomes even more tense and as the action centres on Coventry and all the principal characters take their places, the stage is set for a stunning and violent climax that carries with it some surprises. Verdict: This is the first Simon Mayo book I have read and I thought it was both gripping and exciting as well as having that strong and chilling contemporary slant on domestic terrorism. I’d certainly read another. Recommended.

I read Knife Edge by Simon Mayo in staves with other Pigeonholers as part of a group. When journalist Famie Madden arrives for work one warm, humid May morning, she cannot begin to imagine the horrors that await her. Across London, seven men and women have been targeted in a series of coordinated attacks and all were part of the investigations team at the International Press Service. As Famie starts receiving messages, she and other colleagues set forth on an investigation to get to the truth of the grisly, brutal murders. Knife Edge incorporates a range of themes and, in a crisp narrative, the reader is treated to a wonderfully oppressive, fast paced thriller. Famie made an enthusiastic and fiery protagonist in a well written story surrounding the world of journalism, politics, religious beliefs, and predominantly, terrorism. Hooked from the opening chapter, Knife Edge was a provocative and conflicting tale with its fair share of twists. With an original and extremely tense plot, some of Simon Mayo's gory descriptions were difficult to stomach, but as I ploughed on, each new development built on or challenged my previous opinions. Eventually arriving at the terrific, explosive, creditworthy finale, this was a fulfilling, highly recommended, début thriller. A special thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Simon Mayo, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request. This review is my unbiased opinion.

All of the investigative team at a news service have been murdered. Fammie, a journalist is contacted about the murders and must work out the truth of what happened and why or she might be the next target. I wasn’t sure I liked this book at first, but by the half way mark I was immersed in the plight of Fammie and her friends and family, especially the person sending Fammie the messages. I practically inhaled the last half of the book, although I wasn’t entirely keen on the last page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld for my ARC, for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange Knife Edge is a bit of a mixed bag. I loved the original plot, quite ingenious to read, how would a news team react to being the subject, of the news, rather than the reporters. Really grabbed my attention, at the start with probably one of the best opening chapters, I have read in a long time, with taut and tense prose, describing the disbelief and shock. But the middle bit is not nearly as gripping before building up to a high octane, action packed finish. One problem I had, and it may have just been me. But I think part problem with enjoying this novel was how do you pronounce Famie’s name? Is it Fame-ie or Famm-ie? I found it quite distracting that each time I read the name I had to stop and think about its pronunciation. I also struggled with the amount of description for each character from the height to what clothes they wore. Obviously, some is needed, but it seemed over the top to me. Probably just me. Overall not a bad book, but not one of my must re read, although I would possibly read another book by Simon Mayo, there is some great potential. Scoring this was difficult, 5.5 for start, 4.5 for the end, but 2 stars for middle bit, 3.75 rounded up to 4 stars.

Seven people are murdered during London's rush hour in a targeted attack. They have one thing in common — they all work on the investigations team for the same news agency. When journalist Famie Madden arrives for the morning shift, events are just unfolding. Her seven colleagues are dead. As she delves deeper into the motive for the killings, she receives anonymous messages warning her of another imminent attack. Her search for answers places her and daughter Charlie in terrible danger. What a thrilling ride this turned out to be! Whilst terrorism is not a subject I'd normally choose to read about, I thought Knife Edge was very well-written and kept me on the edge of my seat. It was gripping, tragic and bang on topic for the times we're currently living in. The storytelling was clever, engaging and fully researched; characters felt solid and real. The finale was just fantastic! An action-packed, compulsive read. I highly recommend.