Reading With Tyler

Name: Deadline
Series: Stand Alone
Author: Steph McGovern
Publisher: Macmillan
Format: Physical Hardback
Genres: Adult, Thriller, Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary
Spice Rating: None (mention of SA)

Rating:

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Review:

I don’t very often read blurbs… However, if I purchased the book in Asda during my weekly grocery shop with no prior knowledge, then I probably do read the blurb… And this is one of those occassions where I read the blurb and that did me dirty. Not through any fault of the blurb! But my own brain. I read it, and thought I knew exactly where this thriller was going and what it was going to be about.

I was wrong. But because I made my own mind up about what this was going to be about, it meant that I did find myself confused throughout parts of this one. I tried not to let that impact the rating because it was a fault of my own. But there is an element of trust the author and go on the journey they’re telling with Deadline, even if you think it’s unrelated and confusing things.

I really liked this story, honestly. I thought the characters were great, and the way in which McGovern used all the POVs to her advantage to spin her story was incredible! And this was a debut! I really didn’t know where this was going until it was staring me in the face – that may have something to do with having read this during my 24 hour reading challenge, or perhaps that I missed the signs due to my own idea of what the story would be, but either way as a result I was caught unaware of what the real thriller was.

Truly I can’t fault Deadline. It just didn’t have me hooked in the way other thrillers have done, and I did spend a big portion of the book confused as to the relevance (again I tried not to let this impact too much!). I did have a look and see if I was the only one who sort of fell victim to this ‘the blurb led me to thinking one thing’ and I’m definitely not alone there. So, perhaps that says good things about the blurb perhaps it doesn’t… but it definitely is a point in the ‘read blind’ argument for me.

In the end I settled on a 4 star rating – it wasn’t a page turner like some other thrillers I have read, where I simply couldn’t read fast enough to get answers. I’d describe the pace as almost slow? But not negatively – as in it felt like a calm read up until the last part where all the answers start coming together.

If Steph McGovern wants to write more thrillers, sign me up! Because I did enjoy this debut thriller!