And just as your plan is developing, so you're evolving, too. You're changing in ways you never would have thought possible before. But that's acceptable to you. You're prepared to do whatever it takes . . . Why? Because you're the specialist. And that's how you're going to succeed.

What do you do if your fiancée goes missing, presumed taken?

If you're Daniel Trent, a highly trained specialist in hostage negotiation, the answer is simple: you find out who took her and you make them talk. But matters are complicated when Daniel's chief suspect is kidnapped. How does he get him back quickly - and alive?

Set in Marseilles, Dead Line is a fast-paced thriller that pitches the reader into Daniel's world, as he tries desperately to secure the release of Jérôme Moreau from a ruthless gang in order to interrogate him on the whereabouts of his fiancée, Aimée. When things don't go according to plan, Daniel must use all his skills and instincts to find the answers he's looking for. But will he meet the deadline?

A terrific novel, wonderfully sophisticated and assured and skilfully plotted ... It's one of the few books this year that I stayed up late at night to finish. Ewan has become a master storyteller and I look forward to reading his next book. Ann Cleeves This is a compulsive against-the-clock thriller that cleverly turns the kidnap plot on its head. Great stuff! Robert Goddard An intense, rapidfire thriller with plenty of twists and turns from a rising star of the genre. Simon Kernick Spellbinding action at a furious pace. I read it in one sitting. Caro Ramsay Chris Ewan writes a great thriller and no mistake. From its explosive opening to a heart-pounding finale,Dead Linetakes the reader on a relentless switchback ride where the pace never lets up and there are slick twists at every turn. Hugely enjoyable. Lynn Sherperd Dead Lineis a fast-moving story of kidnap and betrayal which seizes your attention quicker than a ransom note, and never lets go. Martin Edwards Fast paced and amazingly addictive ... Clever, unexpected and brilliant. Lizzielovesbooks.com Dead Line once again showcases Ewan's talent for spinning a story which grabs you by the throat and doesn't let up ... Dead Line has all the ingredients for a smash hit poolside thriller ... has a cinematic scope which makes for very easy reading, and enough twists and turns to ensure your heartbeat doesn't have a chance to settle down until the final, breathtaking pages ... Ewan is a technically accomplished writer; his prose is downright silky, his characters memorable and original, and he invests this action packed story with a genuine emotional weight which will leave you feeling wrung out. With Dead Line Chris Ewan has gone from 'must-watch' author to top flight thriller writer. Make room in your suitcase for this one. www.crimefictionlover.com This is Ewan's second thriller, following hard on the heels of his excellent debut Safe House, and it shows he is well on the way to becoming a leading member of the new generation of thriller writers ... Told at breakneck pace, with Trent always fighting the deadlines that every hostage negotiator has to grapple with, Ewan reveals a serpentine plot that is complex and yet all too real ... It has pace, intrigue and exceptional characters. Daily Mail

Chris Ewan is the award-winning author of The Good Thief's Guide to... series of mystery novels, described by the Sydney Morning Herald as 'crime writing at its best'. His debut, The Good Thief's Guide to Amsterdam, won the Long Barn Books First Novel Award and is published in ten countries, and Amsterdam, Paris, Vegas and Venice, have all been shortlisted for CrimeFest's Last Laugh Award. Safe House, his acclaimed stand-alone thriller was a number one bestseller in 2012.