"A breathlessly written book, ripped from today's headlines. This is a cracking read that blurs the line between fact and fiction. More please."
Michael Robotham, author of WHEN YOU ARE MINE
Investigative journalist John Bailey is doing his best to turn his life around after losing the woman he loved. He has a new job. He’s given up the drink. He even has a dog.
But then Federal Police raid his home with a warrant granting them unprecedented powers to take anything they want, including all his electronic devices and passwords. When Bailey protests, they threaten to put him in a prison cell.
Someone wants to stop Bailey doing what he does best – exposing the truth. He has been investigating the rise of a global white supremacist group and suspects that a notorious neo-Nazi in the United States has been directing deadly racist attacks on Sydney’s streets.
When a body of one of his key sources washes up on a nearby beach, it’s clear Bailey and anyone helping him have become targets. Bailey reaches out to a ruthless old friend – CIA veteran, Ronnie Johnson – to lure the enemy from the shadows.
An enemy who thought they were untouchable. Until now …
"Ayliffe has delivered one of the best thrillers of the year and set himself up to be amongst Australia's go-to thriller writers."
Better Reading
Battered war correspondent John Bailey has a history of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Finally he’s living something that resembles a normal life. But all that changes when a terrorist murders a woman in front of Bailey in London.
The mastermind behind the attack is Mustafa al-Baghdadi – the terrorist leader who kidnapped and tortured Bailey in Fallujah a decade ago.
Mustafa is plotting more attacks and back in Sydney, the people who matter most to Bailey have become targets.
Bailey turns to the only man who can help – ruthless CIA veteran Ronnie Johnson – to bring down the world’s most wanted terrorist.
"A brilliantly written character starring in a cracking crime thriller"
Herald Sun
When a prostitute is found murdered in a luxury Sydney apartment, John Bailey is ordered to cover the story by The Journal’s editor, who can’t trust anyone else.
The former war correspondent has barely worked in years. He’s been drinking himself to sleep to fight his nightmares of being kidnapped and tortured in Iraq.
One of the dead prostitute’s clients, an advisor to Australia’s Defence Minister, is chief suspect in her murder and he’s on the run. He contacts Bailey claiming that he has been set up to silence him over a conspiracy linked to China that could bring down the government.
To complicate matters, the investigating police detective is the woman Bailey walked out on a decade ago. When a ruthless CIA fixer turns up, followed by a murderous Chinese agent hot on his trail, Bailey realises he has stumbled onto the story of a lifetime – one that he might not life to tell.
What people are saying
A cracking yarn told at breakneck speed. I couldn't put it down.
Chris Hammer / Bestselling author of Treasure and Dirt
Sharp, gritty, sophisticated. Ayliffe's criminal world is terrifyingly real.
Candice Fox / Bestselling author of The Chase
Sharp, incisive and scarily prescient, I was hooked from the first chapter to the final page.
Sara Foster | Bestselling author of The Hidden Hours
Bailey is charismatic, sarcastic and broken all rolled into one... a brilliantly written character starring in a cracking crime thriller.
Herald Sun
Utterly compelling and terrifyingly timely. I could not put it down.
Pip Drysdale | Bestselling author of The Sunday Girl
As a correspondent, I lived this world. Tim Ayliffe has written it.
Stan Grant | Writer and broadcaster
Action packed scenes... as tight as any novel from the likes of David Baldacci or Lee Child.
Glam Adelaide
Ayliffe delivers a taut, nail-biting page-turner, stamping his mark on the modern day Australian thriller.
Better Reading
If Rake were a journalist, with a talent that equals his capacity for surviving being beaten up, Bailey would be him.
Julia Baird | Writer and Broadcaster
Tim Ayliffe delivers a ripping yarn that wraps the struggle between world powers in the clothes of a crime thriller.
Chris Uhlmann | Channel Nine Political Editor
Tim Ayliffe weaves his deep knowledge of journalism and politics into a spellbinding thriller. You won’t be able to put it down.
Michael Rowland | ABC News Breakfast
Who needs Jason Bourne when you can have John Bailey? You won't be able to put it down.
Chris Bath | TV & Radio Host
Where you can meet Tim
Due to the pandemic, my events have been moving around. Events below all confirmed.
Goulburn Mulwaree Library
Sat July 30 5pm
"A Night of Crime" w Warren Brown, Chris Hammer, Sulari Gentill & Rae Cairns
Book here
AND Chris Hammer and I are running a crime-writing workshop - book here
Canberra Writers Festival
Aug 10-14
I've got two events at the festival on the weekend Aug 13-14
Program here
BAD Sydney Crime Writers Festival
Sept 8-10 2022
Festival line-up launching soon
Details here
Northern Beaches Readers Festival - Avalon
Sept 23-25 2022
Program will be announced here
More events to come...
Contact
Agent
Jeanne Ryckmans
PO Box 848, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Australia
Tel: +61 2 9319 7199
Mob: +61 412 286 059
jeanne.ryckmans@cameronsmanagement.com.au
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Australia
Tel: +61 2 9983 6617
Suite 19A, Level 1, Building C, 450 Miller St Cammeray NSW 2062 Australia
You can also email Tim directly below
