Jack Jordan on Deception, Deadlines and Moral Dilemmas

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa chats to bestselling thriller author Jack Jordan about his brand new novel, Deception — a tense, addictive thriller that asks one terrifying question:

How far would you go to save your child?

Jack discusses:

• the inspiration behind Deception
• writing high-stakes moral dilemmas
• balancing relentless tension with emotional depth
• why readers become emotionally involved in his books
• the pressure of deadlines and perfectionism
• TV adaptations of his novels
• working with Elisabeth Moss on the adaptation of Conviction
• how his books became known for their impossible ethical questions

Philippa and Jack also talk about:

• dream and nightmare writing locations
• writing while emotionally “living” the scenes
• airport chaos as the ultimate writing nightmare
• thriller pacing and giving readers room to breathe
• the importance of book cover design
• reader bookshelves and collectible editions
• why Jack rewrites drafts obsessively before anyone sees them

About Deception

Emma and Miles are desperate to save their son, who urgently needs life-changing surgery they cannot afford.

Their last hope is a mysterious organisation called The Levels — a dangerous competition where contestants commit escalating crimes for escalating rewards.

But they are not the only players.

As the stakes rise, Deception forces both its characters — and its readers — to confront impossible moral questions:

What would you do to save the person you love most?

Topics Covered

• Psychological thrillers
• Moral dilemma fiction
• Writing process and perfectionism
• TV and streaming adaptations
• Publishing deadlines
• Crime fiction
• Book cover branding
• Working-class journeys into publishing
• Reader communities
• Thriller pacing

Memorable Moments

• Jack describing writing deadlines as “life or death”
• The Italian lakeside villa dream writing retreat
• The airport nightmare writing scenario
• “A panic attack in two covers”
• Jack revealing nobody sees his real first drafts
• The emotional intensity of writing thriller scenes
• The revelation that Deception has been optioned for television

Biscuit Verdict

Official writing fuel:

• Bourbons
• Four-finger Kit Kats
• Bonus points for accidental all-chocolate Kit Kats
• Strong support for peanut butter Kit Kats

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