THE THREAT 8am: an explosion blasts through a cafe in Central London.

THE ULTIMATUM Minutes later, a call from an unknown terror group warns that a far greater attack will be launched in 12 hours' time.

THE PRISONER William Garrett, AKA Fox, is awaiting trial for mass murder. He claims he can name the bombers. But only at a price.

THE CLOCK IS TICKING Its a terrifying race against time for DI Mike Bolt and DC Tina Boyd as they chase their targets across the city in a desperate bid to stop a major atrocity - before it's too late ...

Simon Kernickis one of Britains most exciting thriller writers. He arrived on the crime writing scene with his highly acclaimed debut novelThe Business of Dying, the story of a corrupt cop moonlighting as a hitman. Simon's big breakthrough came with his novelRelentlesswhich was the biggest selling thriller of 2007. His most recent crime thrillers includeThe Last Ten Seconds,The PaybackandSiege.

Simon talks both on and off the record to members of the Mets Special Branch and the Anti-Terrorist Branch and the Serious and Organised Crime Agency, so he gets to hear first hand what actually happens in the dark and murky underbelly of UK crime.

To find out more about his thrillers, visit www.simonkernick.com; www.facebook.com/SimonKernick; www.twitter.com/simonkernick