I was pleasantly surprised when I read Robert Peston’s first novel to find that his writing fluency and plot structure were quite as good as they proved to be. The Kill Switch proves beyond question that this was no fluke; in this latest offering Robert picks up a story that draws together an uncomfortably timely set of threats and stitches them into a tightly written, pacy thriller that simply demands that the book is not placed on the bedside table until well past any planned sleeping time. As would be expected the journalistic backgrounds of the two key characters are as solid and credible as only an experienced journalist, like the author, can conjure onto the page. The weaving together of dirty politics, artificial intelligence, journalism, big tech and cutting edge science is skilfully done and it will be a remarkably hard to please reader who doesn’t enjoy the unfolding story from beginning to the satisfying ending. Strongly recommended.