To the Lions
A Novel
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4.3 • 3 Ratings
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
An international thriller featuring a female journalist who stumbles upon a dark conspiracy, and her determination to follow the clues, no matter how far that takes her.
Casey Benedict, star reporter at the Post, has infiltrated the lives and exposed the lies of countless politicians and power players. Using her network of contacts, and her ability to slip into whatever identity suits the situation, Casey is always on the search for the next big story, no matter how much danger this might place her in, or what the cost might be, emotionally.
Tipped off by an overheard conversation at an exclusive London nightclub, she begins to investigate the apparent suicide of a wealthy young British man whose death has left his fiancée and family devastated. The young man's death, however, is only the tipping point of a much more sinister and dangerous scandal involving the world's most powerful leaders and magnates—men who are gathering in northern Africa for an extreme and secret hunt. With fellow reporter Miranda and combat veteran Ed by her side, Casey's determined hunt for the truth will take her from the glitz of St. Tropez to the deserts of Libya and on to the very darkest corners of the human mind.
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
Holly Watt’s compulsively readable debut novel takes an unflinching look at humanity’s worst traits. When London reporter Casey Benedict hears about a hot new pastime for the wealthy—hunting people on human safaris—she embarks on a quest to uncover the truth and expose the darkest desires of some powerful individuals. Watt, an investigative journalist who has covered explosive stories like the Panama Papers, draws on her professional experience in dramatic and thrilling ways. Whether her heroine is buttering up sources or risking her life to get the story, we were glued to the page.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
London Post investigative journalist Casey Benedict, the heroine of Watt's terrifying and timely debut, is at a high-end nightclub stalking a source when she overhears a conversation about a camp where the rich can kill without consequences. Research leads Casey and fellow reporter Miranda Darcey to suspect that someone is leading human safaris at the Salama refugee camp on the Libya-Algeria border. They can't go to print without proof, though, and their only witness dies before they can question him. With the help of damaged former Royal Marine Ed Fitzgerald, the women conspire to go undercover and join the depraved hunting party, gathering evidence and getting out before anyone catches on; after sequestering themselves in the Sahara with men who paid for the privilege to murder, however, that proves easier said than done. Watt lulls readers with a slow, almost antiseptic start, then plunges them headlong into a white-knuckled, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride. Visceral storytelling enhances a harrowing plot that continually ratchets up tension while spotlighting the global refugee crisis, debating journalistic ethics, and contemplating the value of an individual life. Watt is off to a strong start.
