A tense and topical thriller that takes the reader on a globe-trotting ride. I'm excited that this is the start of a new series and will definitely jump into the next installment.

Wow! I absolutely loved this book and knowing this is the first in a series makes me really happy!

This is the story about Casey and Miranda, two journalists working undercover in London. Casey overhears a conversation in London and starts to unpick the tangled web of a story which takes them to war torn Libya.

An excellent read, fast paced page turner.

I loved it!

Thank you Netgalley, you've given me a new author to add to the list!

This was a slow burning read, picking up pace until you are left exhausted by the end. Gives you another type of perspective of how a newsroom works, except for the glamour and glitz you see on television. Interesting read.

Casey Benedict is always seeking out the next big story for her newspaper, The Post. In this story she's taken to refugee camps in North Africa with her colleague and her former lover, ex soldier Ed, after an explosive tip off in a nightclub.

The story is meticulously researched, you can imagine yourself there and at times very frightening. With a twist I didn't see coming. A fabulous debut.

A fast paced thriller that kept me guessing throughout and was well written. It isn't my usual type of thriller, as it was political however it was good and it is a type I will read again.

Investigative Journalists putting their lives on the line to investigate international crime; to expose the immorality and hypocrisy of people in power. Holly Watt brilliantly draws you into the story, leaving you sweating with fear for the heroines as they risk everything for the story. She also forces you to look at the morality of undercover journalists, allowing a crime, that they could stop, to go proceed to protect the story, and the arguments used to justify inaction.
Then there is exploration of what motivates these journalists to take unspeakable risks and questionable actions in their pursuit of the story. Is it for the glory? or is it to drive changes of morality in society? Are our heroines honest with them selves.
A few passages were a bit contrived to drive the story forward, but didn't really detract from the rhythm and content of the novel.

To The Lions by Holly Watt was so well written But I did find it very hard to get into. I hate giving up on a book especially as it's a new author for me. I stuck with it but I'm still shaking my head - Sorry

My thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing Raven Books for an eARC via NetGalley of Holly Watt’s debut novel.

I loved the setting of the news room and the fast paced chase of the story. Some of the situations felt implausible but I enjoyed the ride and liked the strong female protagonist. I found it gripping!

While mildly entertaining for a brief section in the middle (the undercover investigation part), I found this novel to be, on the whole, faintly ridiculous. The premise - rich boys shooting refugees for the experience - is just a little too far-fetched for me. And while the author obviously aims for hard-hitting, it's just a bit overwrought. The female MC is also highly unlikeable - in fact, none of the characters are very sympathetic. There are also these confusing sections of stream-of-consciousness type commentary that really jar the narrative, are almost nonsensical and add nothing/go nowhere. Maybe to other readers this is indication of the writer's talent - I just found it annoying.
This wasn't the book for me.

This was a fast paced debut. I liked the main character and the author's journalistic background was clear to see in the writing which seemed authentic and believable. The storyline was fascinating and the characters well drawn. I really enjoyed reading about all the places Cassie and Miranda visited and the descriptions were breathtaking. I also like the way this writer uses ALL the senses to describe scenes which come alive as a result. T
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend.

Intriguing particularly as it is written by a journalist who has a real insight into his osiers work. The theme is incredible...... but worth sticking with .

Although the blurb portrayed this as an exciting read, I'm afraid it just dragged for me. It took far too long to get to the main story and I just didn't feel involved.
The concept was a new and interesting one, albeit horrific.

This is a Well written book with good a good storyline and relatable characters. The plot is engaging and I wanted to know more. The characters are well drawn, whether you love them or hate them. I loved the main character, Casey and her can do attitude. As an adventure thriller it rattles along well. I’ve given it four stars rather than five as Infelt at times the writing style was a little staccato for my tastes.

After reading the blurb I thought I would love this book. It’s billed as a fast paced thriller and the premise seemed a bit different to the norm.

I was surprised at how long it took me to get into the story. I can’t put my finger on why that was, whether I didn’t like the characters or felt it dragged, I’m not sure.

The main character, Casey, I didn’t warm to at all and found her so selfish and focused on ‘getting the story’ without thinking of others.

The idea behind the snipers at the refugee camp was something different, if harrowing. It did make me think if there were people that would do that.

Unfortunately I really didn’t enjoy the story and it took me several weeks to get through. I just found it such a slog. Don’t think I would read the next book in the series.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher’s for the arc, which I did enjoy reading.
This was a fast paced consummate start for a debut author. To The Lions storyline was fascinating and appalling and the characters all seemed very realistic. The places that Cassie visited with Miranda went from the glamorous to the barren deserts and all flawlessly depicted.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.
I am also looking forward to reading her second book The Dead Line to see if her journalism characters are as strong and unpredictable in this story.

I was totally engrossed by this swashbuckling story "To the Lions" which also lifts the lid slightly on the moral dilemmas facing investigative reporters. The main character Casey overhears a snippet of a conversation that could mean a few different things; fearing the worst, she sets off with colleagues following leads and shaking down suspects in a few different countries to uncover a truly nasty plot. She puts herself and colleagues in extreme danger to land the story using all of the resources the paper has to offer. We get some idea of the degree of evidence required to publish the story which makes the main characters and the reader feel very uncomfortable.

I found myself glued to this book; the plot worked well and the characters were entirely believable. I will most definitely look out for the next Holly Watt book.

I liked the writing style the second time I tried to read it. It is a very ambiguous form of narration that can be interpreted the way the reader wants to. This did not work for me with the storyline since it was an investigative reporter and her team who set out to find out about some suspected killing for fun. I would have wanted more guarantees about what I was reading. I was unable to read the entire book, got about 30% in and tried more than two times to keep at it
Since I did not finish the book, I cannot post a rating on social media sites.

I was not quite sure about this book at first as I found it confusing, but was very pleased that I continued to read. This was not only a well-paced thriller but it was a believable plot, which was quite frightening. Casey's character was quite believable - she would risk anything to follow a story - even her own life. A great debut - perhaps the start of a series?
Many thanks to Netgalley/Holly Watt/Bloomsbury Publishingn for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

not a bad story but I found the style of writing hard to follow and the book fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks tot he publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

strong realistic characters, a tense and thought provoking story with perfectly immersive writing and a page turning quality that grips you throughout.