A harmless, easy read not to be taken too seriously. The author is an investigative journalist although one suspects the glitz to be found in this novel is somewhat exaggerated. A good beach read that doesn't ask too much of the reader, however the exotic names (the protagonist is called Casey, the news editor is called Dash - all a bit hammy) and the lack of detail as to how and why things are happening mean it all feels a bit lightweight, overall.

I found this novel a bit disjointed in the beginning but once the plot was laid out and it picked up pace it was great. To the Lions deals with some very modern and dark themes with a host of unlikeable and predatory characters. We follow investigative journalist Casey Benedict around the globe after she is alerted to a truly horrific scandal involving some of the world’s wealthiest and most powerful people. Without giving anything away, some of the scenes in North Africa are really exhilarating, and I loved the scenes in the London newsroom as well as the author’s background as a journalist adds authenticity. This is a fast paced, topical and thought provoking read, ideal for fans of Terry Hayes and James Swallow.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury for the ARC in exchange for an unbiased review

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ARC.
Casey Benedict is an undercover investigative reporter on The Post; trying to glean information from a particular company CEO in a nightclub, she overhears a disturbing conversation between two men sitting behind her. Determined to find the truth she, together with Miranda, embark on a dangerous plan to expose the most appalling story. What would the rich and powerful pay to do in order to experience something so completely different to their public and private lives? Do they have any morals they wouldn't compromise in order to fulfil a dreadful need?
Having had no experience of a newsroom nor journalists, I was completely drawn into their frantic world of gathering evidence, following leads and meeting deadlines. Casey is 'battle-hardened' and fearless, a chameleon of characters and personalities; a consummate liar. Miranda is her in-the-shadows back-up, planner and protector. The investigations take us to Geneva, Libya, the Sahara, and importantly centres around refugee camps..
My only criticism is that I found passages of recalled previous experiences and historical rather too lengthy and distracted the reader from the story itself. Otherwise, I rather enjoyed this fast-paced thriller.

This is perfect for those people that either in the world of journalism or about to embark on a career in that field. I’ll be honest it probably wasn’t for me in the end, I found it difficult to relate to the characters or feel any emotion to them, probably because like I say I’m not from that sector. That said it was engrossing, detailed and a fantastic insight to what can happen in that big wild world when you are looking for a scoop. Well done Holly Watts. Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy in return for this honest opinion.

This thriller by, and about, an investigative journalist, illustrates the way in which British political and business interests exploit volatile countries—in this case, Libya. The protagonist, Casey, is something too much of a Cool Girl (she's effortlessly beautiful, a lone wolf and a risk-taker, more afraid to tell a man she loves him than of being executed in the desert), but Watt's brilliant on the fizzing energy of the newsroom, the dialogue made me laugh out loud more than once, and the plot is a genuine, morally complex page-turner.

For anyone working in the publishing industry this will be a very engaging novel. Having no experience of this world I found it difficult to empathise with the main protagonist. To me the various characters seemed like stereotypes of a newspaper office.

What I liked about this was the subject matter and the 'too close for comfort' themes of politicians doing deals, backhanders, the plight of refugees and the stories that happen out in the camps which never get into the papers in the west. All very interesting and hard to read. What right does anyone have, especially the leaders of a country, to make money to the detriment of people's lives? Politicians ignoring neighbouring state's human rights and legal abuses for their own gain, the reality of the refugee camps and why these people have to move in the first place. It's a horrible world out there. All of this was meaty stuff especially since the author has experience of the field.

What I felt let the novel down however was the constant swearing and flitting timelines. I had to stop reading as I found I was counting all the F words in the first few chapters and this put me off big time. Lazy writing. If someone swears this much in real life, it's lazy speech. Big turnoff when it's this excessive.. And I've worked in news. Do people like this exist? It read like a parody but I admit I was skipping large chunks. I did read on but only after the Middle East section of the story started.

I love the idea of an investigative journalist, the issues raised and examined in the novel but there were too many distractions and disjointed timelines/chapters which as well as the swearing wore me down sadly.

To the Lions
By Holly Watt

1 stars.

Slow & Disjoined

Some books engage the reader from the first word. Others take a few chapters to draw the reader in.

Unfortunately “To the Lions” fails to do either. At least, it fails to engage the reader in the first seven chapters, at which point I gave up.

The plot follows a female reporter who tries to expose corruption in government and business, taking her on a journey through Europe and Northern Africa.


Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy in return for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

#ToTheLions #NetGalley

Reviewed by Heath Henwood
www.books-reviewed.weebly.com

Startling, emotive and frightening focus on what two brilliant investigative journalists uncover.

At life-threatening danger to themselves, investigative journalists Casey and Miranda go into the heart of the most horrendous criminal circle to uncover the truth.

It is clear in this novel that Holly Watt writes from her own experience as an investigative journalist. The flow from a gut feel, intuitive hunch to the horrendous truth is seamless. Watt is able to take her reader into the terror and darkness alongside unyielding perseverance of going undercover. I could not help but become totally immersed in the lives of Casey and Miranda as they followed one lead after another no matter the cost - to preserve the lives of vulnerable hopeless refugees.

The leads they tirelessly dig up draw them closer to the bored, shallow unimaginable lives of cruel psychopathic, enormously wealthy MP’s and CEO’s who have a deep dark secret that cannot be penetrated even if it means loss of life.

Gripping, intense, horrifying- this is an absolutely brilliant read.

BonnieK

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

Holly Watt writes a fast paced political thriller that focuses on one of biggest contemporary global crises, that of the growth of the huge numbers of refugees and migrants that is proving to be a testing issue. Unusually, it delves into some of the causes that lie behind the forced flight of so many people to leave their home and country. After all, no-one would actually choose to put themselves in such a precarious and dangerous position, would they??? Watt provides us with insights and observations into the horrors of refugee camps. Casey Benedict is a renowned investigative journalist with a formidable reputation for getting exclusives, she is willing to go over and beyond in her determination to land that story.

Always alert to the potential of story, Casey happens to be in a London nightclub when she happens to overhear a conversation that puts her on the path of great danger, dangling the opportunity of the story of a lifetime. Casey delves into what looks like the suicide of a wealthy young man that is to take her into such disparate locations such as Libya and St Tropez. The novel touches on conflicts, mercenaries, powerful and ruthless secretive groups, and moral and ethical dilemmas. There are authenticity issues when it comes to plotting and characterisation, but this gripping political thriller just happens to have its pulse on such relevant themes in our world that makes it so worth reading. Many thanks to Bloomsbury for an ARC.

My thanks to Raven Books/Bloomsbury Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read To The Lions.
The main character, Casey Benedict, is a star reporter at the Post, In her career, she has used contacts she has sourced over many years to dig out information on celebrities, politicians; secrets and lies that could bring down a political party or change the way the Post's readers think.
In a nightclub where she had gone dressed to the nines to explore a story, she inadvertently hears a conversation which leads her to investigate the suicide of a young British man involved in a shocking revelation.
Her hunt for the truth takes her to refugee camps in Libya and leads her to infiltrate in the way only she knows how the lives of St. Tropez' wealthiest inhabitants.

The premise of the story is exciting, but I wasn't sure in the beginning if this was a spoof. I've worked in newspaper offices and the view of them here is rather cliched, scenarios found in a 1970s American series. I feel there isn't enough attention to detail. Much of the action jumped from one scene to the other so quickly I had to revert back to see where it was. We don't really get to know the characters very well, certainly, I would have liked to know more about Casey if I am to champion her.
I applaud the fact that the book deals with conflicts within our world; there is a lot of information within its pages regarding the horrors people in the refugee camps face, particularly the children. The observations made are worthy and clearly tap into the plight of those around the world not as fortunate as us.

With some editing, grammatically as well as structurally, To The Lions could be a fantastic book. Thumbs up to Holly Wells for taking on a difficult subject and folding them into a story which is definitely worth reading although a hefty dose of suspension of disbelief is required.

Although clearly a work of fiction this tale of determined undercover investigation leaves you worried if something this sickening really does happen in our supposedly civilised society. Great story focusing on two fearless reporters searching for the truth.

Headline : An Exploration Of Relationships and Journalistic Ethics

An interesting book dealing with the conflicts between journalistic ethics and personal relationships. Centering on the horrors that the refugee crisis has brought to many parts of the world. Watt poses the question as to how far a journalist can go in getting a story. What is the value of one human life? Is it a price worth paying if the result is some greater good?
I did feel that some of the characters could have been fleshed out a bit more and thus give more depth to the story. However the central theme of a moral vacuum is well explored and this is timely when politicians appear happy for arms sales to ‘trump’ any moral concern over partner state activities.

This book was provided as an advance copy by the publisher in return for an honest review. I intend to post the above review on Amazon when the book is released on 21 Feb 2019.

I love the idea of an investigative journalist as the heroine of this story and the core idea is horribly plausible - it's a shame then that there are so many plot holes and clichés of the thriller genre from the beautiful, ruthless yet vulnerable Carey to the PTSD-suffering ex-Marine who almost strangles her in her sleep (how many times have we seen that scene played out in books and films and TV?)

I don't want to reveal spoilers but just some of the WTF? moments come from the fact that the ultra-secret organisation is ready to kill anyone who stumbles over their existence yet doesn't think about checking for encrypted mobiles or notice the laptop-sized satellite transmitter our heroine is carrying and using in their secret hideaway - and that a group of hard-core South African mercenaries use Shakespeare's plays to code their activities!

The writing can be a bit flabby with some grammatical muddles over 'I' and 'me' ('if you don't get Ed and I on that trip' - no!) and people being described as whippet thin, or soldiers who moved like a panther - a sharp edit might get rid of these infelicities before publication.

To compensate there are important political observations being made about the plight of refugees and some of the causes, like western capitalist strip-mining, that drive mass immigration but which rarely make it into the popular press.

Definitely worth a read but this is more of a fast-moving thriller which requires a necessary suspension of disbelief than something more weighty.