This was a non stop thriller about a terrorist cell attempting to overturn the status quo in the UK. Some quite violent parts, good characters and a fast moving, complicated story line. Exciting read.

This book is a wild ride, it begins with a series of murders, 7 in less than half an hour across London and the pace does not let up from there. I was engrossed with the investigation of these murders and loved each of the main 5 characters.

Well thought out characters that each brought something different to the storyline and having the insight of the secondary characters was great too.

This book had everything I look for in a thriller; twists, turns and red herrings galore. I was sucker punched a couple of times with this one and didn't guess that final satisfying twist at all.

Can't wait to read more by this author.

I was hooked by the opening scenes of this book. The busy newsroom and the horror of reporting their colleagues deaths, however I felt that it lost it's way a little. Over all I enjoyed the book. The story moved at a pace and was an interesting political thriller.

As usual in my reviews I will not rehash the plot... there are plenty of reviews out there doing just that...

I haven't read any other books by Simon Mayo - who I know of as a radio DJ (right from his Radio Nottingham days when I was a student!).

So, hats off to him for this gripping novel! I was hooked from the start - the book opens with exactly the sort of scenario that one can easily imagine (as unfortunately similar things have happened here in the UK and abroad). This time we gain an insight into the machinations behind the scenes that lead to these events, with an interesting twist revealing who (in this case) is actually behind it.

A few things didn't seem quite right (for instance the seemingly ready availability of budget hotel rooms - in my experience they are hard to get at short notice; the handy timing of trains etc; the ease with which some people could be distracted) but didn't detract from the plot overall.

All in all an excellent page-turner. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A political thriller by popular British radio dj and television presenter Simon Mayo. A lightening quick start - 7 brutal murders, all journalists at the same international press agency but a slow middle leading to a fast conclusion. I did not warm to the central character Famie, odd name but the novel will appeal to fans of the political thriller.

Knife Edge by Simon Mayo
Having read and thoroughly enjoyed Mad Blood Rising I was really looking forward to this book. I had heard Simon Mayo talk at the Crime Writer’s Festival in Harrogate and was interested what he would write about following his first adult novel. (He has written excellent books for older children for a long time.)
I was gripped from the opening pages of this thriller which begins on 22nd May when there are 7 murders in London within less than half an hour. It then transpires that each of the victims worked as investigators at the International Press Service. Famie Madden is working slot that day and knew each of the victims personally. This initial outrage is followed by further events which place Famie Madden in the line of fire and she receives intelligence which seems to come from the heart of the terrorist cell.
The book is very well researched and examines terror groups from various parts of the world stretching back to the late 1960’s. The characters are well developed and the tension built over the book culminates in a very satisfying conclusion. This is definitely a book I will be recommending at my various book groups. I would like to thank Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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.

This is the first book I have read by Simon Mayo and it certainly had a really strong start. Seven murders, in just twenty nine minutes, around London. I was totally gripped when I was reading and it was revealed that all of the victims were all journalists and members of an investigations team. The main character, Famie Madden, is also a journalist, going to work and retreating from the rush hour with her love for Classical music. Arriving at work, she discovers that her colleagues have been brutally struck down - one of those killed an ex-lover and all members of a team that she had applied to join. Now, of course, her inability to have got a place on the team seems to have saved her life and what unfolds are a series of funerals, which make her question her career and her life.

To be honest, I think Mayo was quite brave to make journalists his main characters, when it seems they are about as trusted as politicians, these days. With American journalism so openly partisan and British journalism, portraying itself as unbiased, but often not seen as such, it was an interesting decision. The beginning of the novel, as I say, was very well done and you have the busy newsroom, the unfolding story and the reaction of the victims colleagues, to the murders. I did struggle to find Famie a sympathetic character, though, and I just don't think I cared for her very much. She was the typical, slightly aggressive, stubborn, female character that is so often seen in crime novels at the moment - throw in a daughter, so she has someone to care for, plus the Classical music, to give her a personality hook, but she never really felt fleshed out, as a character, to me.

As the storyline unfolds, it seems those on the investigations team were obviously involved in a story so secret that they have kept everything offline. When Famie receives a strange note, and arouses police interest, it is in her interest to uncover what caused the organised killings to take place. Before long, of course, she is in danger. The novel has a good climax, but I felt it never really lived up to the strong beginning. Of course, that is a personal response and the first in what may become a series, so the main character may change, and grow. Personally, though, I found the characters under-whelming and so struggled to care what happened to them. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review. Rated 3.5.

Well, Simon Mayo is so much more than a Radio DJ - perhaps he used his Book Club reading to hone his skills on a modern day, current themed thriller. The book starts with a bang - and maintains the pace throughout. I did read late into the night to finish this book and it was worth it. I only felt I learned much about one character in the book but that didn't detract.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Simon Mayo/Random House UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had a good story, good characters and good pacing. However it wasn't a book that I would remember, not exciting or gripping enough, the characters weren't strong enough to build a relationship with and towards the end I just felt like I was reading to get to the end rather than enjoying it.

This book starts explosively with seven separate assassinations and grips you immediately. The plot is well researched and fast paced. I liked the parts with Hari Roy which created great tension. The characters are well rounded and the attention to detail, like the London tube stations and general geography, is refreshingly accurate (one of my pet irritations if incorrect). I haven’t read Simon Mayo’s previous book but as I enjoyed this one very much I think I’ll investigate that too.

This is a brilliant second book from Simon Mayo who is instantly known for his work as a DJ and presenter on BBC Radio. The story is straight in on the action as seven murders take place in the busy rush hour of London on the 22nd May 2020. All the murders are carried out by seven different people and all the victims are reporters that work out of the same office, The International Press Service.
Famie Madden, who works in the same building as the investigatory journalists, receives the first of a string of messages that set her on the trail to find out the truth about what the dead journalists had got themselves into. With fellow reporters, Sam, Tommi, Sophie and Famie's daughter Charlie, they decide that they aren't just going to wait to be the next victims.
The story is quite fast-paced and has to be read with a clear mind to keep up with the interwoven relationships of the reporters. Everyone seems like they are after someone, from the police to the reporters to the bad guys. There is plenty of heart in your mouth moments and shocks that would really make headlines in days to come. A good range of characters, heroes and villains.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Seven men and women have been murdered across London, in a series of co-ordinated attacks.  Journalist Famie Madden arrives for her shift just as news of the attacks is beginning to break.  She soon realises that the victims all had one thing in common - they were all part of the investigative journalist team at IPS, where Famie herself works.  Nobody knows what they were working on, but when Famie starts to receive mysterious messages she must figure out if she is being warned of the next attack, or being marked as a target herself.


I haven't read Simon Mayo's first book, so only had the blurb to go off when I requested this from NetGalley.  It sounded interesting though, and definitely held my attention once I started reading.

This is a really easy book to get into, kicking off with action packed scenes in the opening pages.  I liked that Mayo jumps straight into things, and that we don't know much about the victims until later in the story.  It helped to keep the suspense up about what was going on and who was involved.

I didn't really care for Famie if I'm being honest. I can't really explain why but there was something about her that rubbed me up the wrong way.  My favourite character was Hari Roy.  I enjoyed his story and learning how he ended up where he was.  It was interesting and a real insight to how hard it can be to breakaway from some of these radical terrorist groups once you get sucked in.  That's not to say I'm excusing terrorism, but I can see how particularly young and impressionable people could get caught up in these groups.

The plot is fast moving, and there is a lot going on so you are never sure who to trust.  It's a thrilling read, and one I very much enjoyed.

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK and Transworld publishing for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Knife Edge is a dark well researched thriller that starts explosively with seven separate murders within an hour in London one day in May .The dead are all investigative journalists all working for IPS ,Fame Madden is also a journalist in the same office and she is determined to find out who killed her friends and why .I must admit when I realised they were terrorists I lost interest slightly as it is not a subject that interests me .The book however is well written although I found it slow in the middle the ending had me guessing .Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

What an excellent read. Full of bodies, plots and plans and some good characters. It kept me reading well past the limit of my ageing eye sight but it was worth it. Simon Mayo can spin a good yarn as well as a good disc.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title.

This book started as a good nail biting thriller that grabbed me straight away and I thought that I was going to not be able to put it down. But then it got a bit slow and long drawn out, particularly in the middle. I found some of the jargon confusing and it was not explained property so it was a bit difficult to understand. There was not as much action as I had hoped and it took me a while to finish.

Simon Mayo is a well known British BBC radio DJ who has turned his hand to writing this intense and dark thriller which begins with a bang. On a early May morning in London, packed with commuters, seven people are murdered by seven separate killers leading to speculation this was possibly an attack by extremist Islamists. It soon emerges that the victims are connected, they are investigative journalists at a news wire service, the International Press Service (IPS), a building that the police have under lockdown with fears that other attacks might be imminent. The strong and determined Famie Madden is an investigative journalist, who gets a note, followed by other messages, that have her, supported by colleagues, embarking on a dangerous investigation to get to the truth of the who and why of the horrifying murders. In a narrative that looks at the history of terror groups around the world, it all culminates in a exciting finale. This is an entertaining and compulsive read, although there are occasional pacing issues, which will appeal to many thriller fans. Many thanks to Random House Transworld for an ARC.

Multiple murders in London, who's behind them?
This book was interesting, I think the beginning was better but in the middle it started to drag a little bit. It was a good book, didn't hate it, didn't love it!

Seven bloody murders during London's rush hour. What do they have in common and who's behind it?
Knife Edge is a well crafted fast paced thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Thank you Netgalley and Doubleday for the ARC.

Multiple murders in the capital

Famie Madden is a journalist at a London news agency. London is suffering the effects of a heatwave but that is soon to become the least of her problems. As she arrives at the office, she discovers that there has been a wave of knifings in the capital within the previous half an hour. All victims are dead. Gradually there is the numbing realisation that all are members of the agency’s investigative team. All were well known to her. Most were close friends. The team which she desperately wanted to join has been wiped out.

So starts the thriller and the chase to determine not only who is behind the slaughter but, perhaps more importantly, to understand why her colleagues were targeted. It also gradually dawns on her that her own life and that of her daughter, Charlie, may also be in danger.

The novel starts very well and the picture painted of a sweltering London is both atmospheric and accurate. It’s not a great place to be when no relief can be found from the oppressive heat. The next section of the book was its weakest in my opinion revolving, as it did, around introducing more characters and fleshing out the story. The appearance of the police and their attitude towards Famie suggested that the plot might descend into the realms of bright independent investigator versus dumb, plodding police detectives. Certainly, there was an element of that and it continued through to the finale but Mayo saved us from the more hackneyed, done-to-death version of that particular plot thank goodness.

Most of us will know Simon Mayo as the popular radio presenter. In time he may well be better remembered as a novelist; and justifiably so.

mr zorg

Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of the book for review.