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State of Fear

Series: John Bailey
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( 750 ratings, 54 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
State of Fear by Tim Ayliffe is a gripping crime thriller that follows investigative journalist John Bailey as he uncovers a complex web of corruption and terror. Amid escalating political tensions, Bailey races against time to expose a conspiracy that threatens not only his life but also national security. The narrative combines suspense with social commentary, drawing the reader into a thrilling tale of danger and deceit.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you enjoy a fast-paced, gripping thriller filled with political intrigue and suspense. Set against the backdrop of current global issues, it's perfect for fans who appreciate a clever, thought-provoking crime narrative that keeps them on the edge of their seat.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Set to be adapted for the screen. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and bring down the world’s most wanted terrorist.

Catching the world's most wanted terrorist was supposed to be someone else's job...

John Bailey has a history of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The former war correspondent has been kidnapped and tortured – twice. 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 – No.1 on the FBI’s most wanted list – and the man who tortured Bailey in Fallujah a decade ago.

Mustafa has a deadly axe to grind with Bailey. He taunts him with threats of more attacks in other cities, closer to home. 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 deadly terrorist.

The brilliant second book in Tim Ayliffe's bestselling John Bailey series. Bailey's adventures in State of Fear, The Greater Good and The Enemy Within will be adapted for the screen by CJZ Productions, Australia's largest independently owned production company.

Praise for State of Fear

‘Another brilliantly crafted thriller from Ayliffe that fits perfectly in today’s worrying world … Verdict: Get this guy on TV’ Herald Sun

‘Sharp, incisive and scarily prescient, I was hooked from the first chapter to the final page.’ Sara Foster, bestselling author of The Hidden Hours

‘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

Praise for The Greater Good

‘A brilliantly written character starring in cracking crime thriller’ Herald Sun

‘A fun and exhilarating political crime thriller that is guaranteed to electrify and entertain in good measure.’ The Unseen Library

‘Readers will not fail to enjoy the ride from start to finish.’ Good Reading

‘A crime thriller with the lot: murder, deceit, corruption and a hint of romance … Ayliffe takes you deep inside the worlds of politics and the media, with a heavy dose of international intrigue thrown in.’ Michael Rowland

‘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 to survive being beaten up, Bailey would be him.’ Julia Baird

‘An absolute cracker of a thriller.’ Chris Uhlmann

Praise for The Enemy Within:

‘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

'A cracking yarn told at breakneck speed. I couldn't put it down.' Chris Hammer

‘Sharp, gritty, sophisticated. Ayliffe’s criminal world is terrifyingly real.’ Candice Fox

Series: John Bailey

View all
  • The Greater Good
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. There’s nothing more dangerous than a man who can fall no further … ‘Ayliffe delivers a taut, nail-biting page-turner, stamping his mark on the modern day Australian thriller.’ Better Reading He had never...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • State of Fear
    Set to be adapted for the screen. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and bring down the world’s most wanted terrorist. Catching the world's most wanted terrorist was supposed to be someone else's job... John Bailey has a history of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The former...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Enemy Within
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. Shortlisted for the 2022 Danger Prize. Shortlisted for the 2022 Ned Kelly Award. He heard a voice, someone calling out in the distance, followed by a loud fluttering of birds. Bailey looked up...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Killer Traitor Spy
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. Winner, 2024 Danger Awards, People's choice awardShortlisted, 2024 Ned Kelly Awards, Best Crime Fiction AN OLD WAR HAS A NEW BATTLEGROUND Someone wants Russian millionaire Dmitry Lebedev dead. After years flying under the...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Killer Traitor Spy
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Journalist John Bailey and CIA officer Ronnie Johnson join forces to outwit their most deadly adversary yet. Winner, 2024 Danger Awards, People's choice award Shortlisted, 2024 Ned Kelly Awards, Best Crime Fiction ‘Ayliffe is a master of the genre.’ Sulari Gentill STEALING SECRETS IS A DEADLY GAME Someone wants Russian millionaire Dmitry Lebedev...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Wrong Man
    The fifth novel in the John Bailey thriller series. Bailey is trying to solve two murders, ten years apart – unfinished business from his former flame Sharon Dexter. But will it cost him his life? When Sydney socialite Tottie Evans is found dead at a house in Palm Beach, Detective Holly Sutton is called in to investigate. She immediately suspects...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

State of Fear by Tim Ayliffe is praised for being a gripping and timely thriller that keeps readers on edge. Critics describe it as a polished page-turner with compelling narrative and sharp, incisive writing. The novel has been noted for its terrifying and thought-provoking content, reflecting real-world issues, and has earned accolades as one of the best thrillers of the year.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781925640960

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Australia

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 07 July 2021

Country: Australia

Imprint: Simon & Schuster Australia

DIMENSIONS

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 250g

Pages: 416

About the Author

Tim Ayliffe’s thriller novels have been informed by his 25-year career as a journalist in Australia and around the world. He writes about espionage, extremism, politics and the global power games at play in the 21st Century. He has been the Managing Editor of Television and Video for ABC News and also Executive Producer of News Breakfast. He is the author of the ‘John Bailey’ series including The Greater Good, State of Fear, The Enemy Within, Killer Traitor Spy and his most recent novel, The Wrong Man. Tim's thrillers are also in development for TV. When he's not writing or chasing news stories, Tim watches rugby and surfs. He lives in Sydney.

Also by Tim Ayliffe

View all
  • The Greater Good
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. There’s nothing more dangerous than a man who can fall no further … ‘Ayliffe delivers a taut, nail-biting page-turner, stamping his mark on the modern day Australian thriller.’ Better Reading He had never...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Enemy Within
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. Shortlisted for the 2022 Danger Prize. Shortlisted for the 2022 Ned Kelly Award. He heard a voice, someone calling out in the distance, followed by a loud fluttering of birds. Bailey looked up...
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Killer Traitor Spy
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Like Michael Connelly’s Bosch, John Bailey will risk everything to get to the truth – and expose a deadly enemy. Winner, 2024 Danger Awards, People's choice awardShortlisted, 2024 Ned Kelly Awards, Best Crime Fiction AN OLD WAR HAS A NEW BATTLEGROUND Someone wants Russian millionaire Dmitry Lebedev dead. After years flying under the...
    Paperback
    $2899
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Killer Traitor Spy
    SET TO BE ADAPTED FOR THE SCREEN. Journalist John Bailey and CIA officer Ronnie Johnson join forces to outwit their most deadly adversary yet. Winner, 2024 Danger Awards, People's choice award Shortlisted, 2024 Ned Kelly Awards, Best Crime Fiction ‘Ayliffe is a master of the genre.’ Sulari Gentill STEALING SECRETS IS A DEADLY GAME Someone wants Russian millionaire Dmitry Lebedev...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • The Wrong Man
    The fifth novel in the John Bailey thriller series. Bailey is trying to solve two murders, ten years apart – unfinished business from his former flame Sharon Dexter. But will it cost him his life? When Sydney socialite Tottie Evans is found dead at a house in Palm Beach, Detective Holly Sutton is called in to investigate. She immediately suspects...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • Dark Desert Road
    Dark Desert Road takes us on a hell-ride through the forgotten towns of Australia's Badlands, featuring unforgettable characters and a simmering plot. — Candice Fox Dark Desert Road feels ripped from the headlines, with the signature insight that is Tim Ayliffe's calling card. Kit McCarthy is a good cop, strung out and struggling to adjust after closing a large child...
    Paperback
    $3799
    Available
    Ships in 4-6 weeks
  • S.I.G.M.A. 1: Web of Spies
    Pre-order
    S.I.G.M.A. 1: Web of Spies
    When Ollie heads out for a run in the park, the last thing he expects to find is a dead body. But the real shock is that Ollie recognises the man. And somehow, he's connected to Ollie's father... who vanished ten months ago. And then he learns that the dead man was a spy. With everything he thought he knew...
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    $1999
    Pre-order
    Out 1 Sep 2026

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