Review: TO THE LIONS, Holly Watt

• 
  This edition made available by my local library
  
• published by Raven Books 2019
• ISBN 978-1-5266-0210-7
• 435 pages
• #1 in the Casey Benedict series
• Awards
  2020 Barry Award for Best First Novel (nominee)
  2020 CrimeFest: eDunnit Award
  2019 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger

Synopsis (Fantastic Fiction)

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.

My Take

At the beginning of the book Casey and Miranda are working on a data leak, thousands of documents, but the full investigation will take months. Casey is looking for something else. She always tips well so that waiters in cafes and restaurants will get back to her when they notice something she might be interested in.  And then the phone call comes. Some men she has been watching out for have turned up at an exclusive night club.

This is the pattern of how Casey comes up with new stories. And she is always looking for something dramatic. This time she overhears something that may be the beginning of an entirely new story and she is off on the chase!

Parts of this story left me gasping for breath, so outrageous is the scenario it describes. And yet there is a touch of credibility about it. You can imagine that in well-heeled parts of the world it might just happen, because things like this, inhumanities are not new to human history. But then there are questions of morality. Questions about whether you would ever do it yourself. Questions about what Casey gets out of following the story. How dangerous is it for her?

Th author has used a device in the narration that has left me a little puzzled. At times 2 or 3 pages are in italics. I have assumed this Casey "thinking", but once or twice, even after careful re-reading, I wasn't sure exactly what was meant.

My rating: 4.6

About the author

Holly Watt started her career at theSunday Times, before working on the investigation teams at the Telegraph, where she played a key role in exposing the MPs’ expenses scandal, and the Guardian. She is currently a senior reporter at the Guardian before working on the investigation teams at the Telegraph, where she played a key role in exposing the MPs’ expenses scandal, and the Guardian. She is currently a senior reporter at the Guardian.