Sadly I felt alienated from this book from the very beginning. I had no idea what "the slot" was or have an understanding of the way a press office works. I found it very hard to relate to the characters from the way the book was written. I found the writing style a bit hard going and struggled to finish it. Such a shame as I rate Mr Mayo highly as a DJ

The opening exchanges in Simon Mayo’s “Knife Edge” are utterly compelling. In the early moments of rush hour, across different stations, seven people are murdered in a coordinated attack. We then meet journalist Famie Madden on the way to work , we soon find out they are all employers at Famies place at work.

The book then takes off… or not. I really struggled to get into this book. I am a big fan of Simon Mayo, both as a person and writer and went into this book willing to love it. With such a pulsating begening it never really took off from there. I never connected to Famie or any of the mystery that unfolded as the story drew on. There were brief moments of tension but I never bought into it and therefore it made any twist and turn which came unspectacular in every way. Famies character was well structured and a saving grace was her relationship with her daughter which brought warmth to the novel.

A sensational start will certainly make this book memorable but it never took off from there in what was a disappointing read.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. 'Knife Edge' is one of the most gripping, high-octane thrillers you will read this year. Although a usual departure from my favoured psychological thrillers, I loved every page of Simon Mayo's astonishing novel. It is a thrill-a-minute, edge-of-your seat ride from the first page. This is more than a crash-bang-wallop story, however, with Mayo's impeccable research into contemporary social issues giving the novel a cerebral edge missing from most stories of this type. Seven people killed in 27 minutes, all journalists from the same news agency. What's not to get excited about? This twisty thriller has all the answers, but it does not unfold in a predictable way. Mayo makes you think, as well as imbuing the reader with an adrenaline rush, which makes 'Knife Edge' such a page-turner. This is a highly resonant novel that taps into the zeitgeist of violence in contemporary Britain, with its spiralling impact on 21st century social issues, including domestic terrorism. Chilling and topical. One of the best social realist thrillers I have ever read.

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House for a copy of Knife Edge for an honest review .

Despite listening to Simon Mayo on the radio for years I hadn’t read any of his previous novels.
I was intrigued by the storyline to this book , being a departure from his usual genre.
I was gripped from the start , and despite being more of a thriller than a psychological novel that I usually prefer, I thoroughly enjoyed this.I loved the style of writing and hope that this will be the first of many in the same vein.

This book grabbed me from the first sentence and didn't let go. I had to stop reading every once in a while because it was intense at times. A breakneck speed, real fear and terror, and an intriguing plot keep this hurtling towards the end. I didn't actually like the main character very much. She's not an idealized, perfect woman and that adds complexity to the story. An excellent read with a heart-racing and surprising end!

This book gripped me from the start.

A few twists and turns that I didn't guess in advance which is always a sign of a good book for me!

This book grabs you on page one and doesn't let you go, I had to keep unclenching my teeth and I couldn't put it down. 7 people are murdered one morning, Famie and her team would report this as news but this time they are the news! All 7 work with her at the IPS, Famie and her friends fight against time to find out who is behind the killings and stop the next attack with the help of Hari who has infiltrated the gang.

Knife Edge by Simon Mayo

A gripping first few chapters made this another 2020 intelligently written, un-put-downable thriller. 7 murders in 29 minutes and targeted at journalists at the IPS. It appears to be a coordinated knife attack by a far left terror group intent on intimidation. All those dead have one thing in common — they work for the investigations team at the International Press Service. Famie Madden, a journalist who arrives for her morning shift can only wonder what the investigations team unearthed that has caused such a brutal attack. I had to ask myself is Famie safe? Have her personal relationships and connections compromised her in some way? With so many red herrings scattered along the route, I was jolted one way and then the other. Famie, having personally known the deceased journalists and receiving mysterious messages, provide an added menace her situation and I couldn’t help wondering if the stabbing in Exeter was somehow related to Charlie. Or was it a coincidence? I was afraid Famie would be targeted if she kept digging deeper. The May 22 attacks and Thursday’s murders in Coventry, where six people were killed and twelve badly wounded, are a frightening reminder that these sophisticated attacks are the result of a terror group acting out a moral crusade or justifiable homicide.

I love the way the author deftly blends tracks from Bob Dylan about the American Weather Underground, and with the ambient sounds of Chopin and Richter drifting in the background, it makes for a highly enjoyable read. The ending took me by surprise and left me wondering what was next. This is a gripping and terrifyingly resonant thriller, fast paced and rife with tension. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House, and Transworld Publishers for the Arc.

Wow, what a roller-coaster ride that was! This is a well researched contemporary thriller. The subject matter is related in an articulate way, and leaves you exhausted by the end. It's a story of terrorism, corruption and love. The characters are an unusual mix of journalists, terrorists and police , but they are well developed and the interplay between them is well done. I admit that I did have to skim read some of the sections that included graphic descriptions violence and murder, however it's a great book and I will seek out others by Simon Mayo.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.

This debut thriller from author Simon Mayo will grip you from the start with it's fast moving plot. The books opening begins with seven murders in London, all taking place simultaneously. Seven separate killers and seven dead journalists working for the same company.
The murders have been carried out by an anti fascist group and they intend to continue with their onslaught. The story follows lead character Famie Madden who knew the victims personally and who is herself living in fear. She starts to receive messages from a mysterious source and is unsure whether she is been given a warning of more attacks or threats against her personally.
This page turner is a very fast moving story and will keep the reader interested.
I would like to thank both Net Galley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

The stuff of nightmares but very addictive reading, it's a fast-paced thriller with a terror plot at the heart of the book. I made lots of false assumptions but I think that's probably what the author is aiming for as there is a massive twist at the end of the book that you won't see coming. I thought this was a brilliant book and I will definitely look out for more from Simon Mayo.

I was hooked from the opening salvo in this gripping, tense, current and very well written thriller. It starts on 22nd May when there are 7 murders in London in 29 minutes - 7 killers, 7 victims in a coordinated attack. All the dead are journalists working at IPS, the International Press Service. Famie Madden is working slot at the agency and knows the victims personally. The IPS building goes into lockdown until the police are certain the building is secure. The attacks prove to be the work of an anti fascist far left group whose ‘ideology’ is principally about power and intimidation. The exciting aftermath of these shocking attacks is told from the perspective of Famie and what ensues is terrifying, shocking and full of twists and turns.

The book is well plotted and researched as it includes existing terror groups in various parts of the world. Particularly interesting is the inclusion of the American Weather Underground, a radical left wing organisation of the late 1960s/70s which are featured in Bob Dylan tracks which Simon Mayo cleverly uses in the storytelling. I like the flashes of humour for Famie and her daughter Charlie which provides some welcome relief from the intensity of the story. The characters are really good and a lot are very likeable especially Famie and Charlie and the other journalists who help them to stay safe.

Overall, this is an unputdownable read. It’s chilling, intriguing, intelligent, deeply shocking and very current in that it clearly demonstrates the havoc that a few individuals with knives can cause as recent tragic events in London show.

Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House, Transworld for the Arc.

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, it is quite a departure from the books I usually read and it was brilliant. It was fast paced with several twists and great characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

A sincere thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for providing me an ebook copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I enjoyed this story very much and felt like I knew each character personally due to the description of them. I enjoyed the storyline. This is not my usual genre but in this instance I am extremely pleased and grateful for opening up my mind to something totally different. Thanks again.

A superior and genuinely (knife) edge of your seat contemporary thriller. With themes that resonate and a plot which could easily be playing out in the world that we find ourselves, Simon Mayo has written a book that will keep you up late into the night. The tension remains taut and the narrative is superbly paced with twists and turns which maximise interest. Knife Edge is extremely well conceived and written but the real strength is in the characters and how they each add to the plot. Thoroughly recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and Random House (Transworld) for an ARC in consideration of an honest review.

I can't explain the writing in this book.its godamm good.
6.45am. A sweltering London rush hour. And in the last 27 minutes, seven people have been murdered.In a series of coordinated attacks, seven men and women across London have been targeted. For journalist Famie Madden, the horror unfolds as she arrives for the morning shift.The victims have one thing in common: they make up the investigations team at the news agency where Famie works. The question everyone’s asking: what were they working on that could prompt such brutal devastation?
Some characters are good while others are so so but overall it's a good read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy.