One Minute Away

by Mark Watson

That's three sashimi rolls. Two vegetable dumplings. One life-changing encounter. Your delivery is on its way …

For delivery rider Damir, time is money.

He races through cycle lanes next to Uber drivers and grocery vans, delivering your every desire. He arrives with your sushi rolls and pizzas and disappears into the night – Ping! Onto the next drop.

He is invisible: one player in the boardgame of the city.

But one summer’s evening, in a postcode that could be another universe, Damir arrives on Decca’s doorstep with a bag of spilled edamame beans, and there’s an immediate connection.

The man on the bike crosses the divide – suddenly fully seen. And a throwaway delivery sparks a chain of events that will change all their lives, forever.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Audiobook

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Mark Watson is an English comedian, novelist, and producer whose career spans stand-up, radio, television, and literature. Born in Bristol to a Welsh mother and English father, he grew up with younger twin sisters and a brother. Educated at Bristol Grammar School, he went on to study English at Queens' College, Cambridge, graduating with first-class honours. At university, he became a member of the prestigious Footlights, performing alongside Stefan Golaszewski, Tim Key, and Dan Stevens, and contributing to a revue nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2001 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Watson first gained wider recognition through stand-up comedy, performing regularly at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he won the inaugural Panel Prize at the if.comeddies in 2006 and received a Perrier Comedy Award nomination in 2005. Known for inventive and often marathon performances, his shows have included 24-hour performances, collaborative audience-driven novels, and themed events like the “Earth Summit” and “Edit,” compiling his festival highlights. His comedy frequently incorporates unusual settings, from ferries and streams to vaccination queues, demonstrating his flair for unconventional experiences.
On television, Watson co-hosted the BBC Four panel show We Need Answers, appeared on series including Taskmaster, Richard Osman's House of Games, and Celebrity Mastermind, and starred in his own programs such as Mark Watson Kicks Off and the Channel 4 panel show The Mad Bad Ad Show. His appearances also extend to stand-up specials on Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, and international comedy festivals in Australia and New Zealand.
In radio, he has hosted multiple series including Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better and Mark Watson Talks A Bit About Life, often collaborating with Tim Key, Tom Basden, and Flo & Joan. He has also contributed to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Fighting Talk and produced series exploring both comedy and broader cultural themes.
Watson is also a prolific author, publishing novels, non-fiction works, and graphic novels. His books include Bullet Points, Crap at the Environment, Eleven, The Knot, Dan and Sam, Hotel Alpha, The Place That Didn't Exist, Contacts, Mortification, and One Minute Away.
Beyond performing and writing, he co-runs Impatient Productions, producing radio shows, podcasts, and digital content, and hosts the World Snooker Tour podcast Snooker Club. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he innovated with livestreamed 24-hour charity events called “Watsonathon!” and co-created the YouTube series No More Jockeys.
Mark Watson is a lifelong supporter of Bristol City Football Club and continues to live in East London, balancing a career that blends comedy, literature, and experimental performance with a commitment to inventive, audience-focused storytelling and engaging entertainment.

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a largely frustrating read for me but I definitely did enjoy it in parts.

One Minute Away tells the story of Damir, a Croatian who has come to the UK with his best friend, Goran, in the hope of a better life.

Both Damir and Goran work in the gig economy, working all hours delivering our food to us when we are too busy (or lazy) to cook ourselves.

One day when out delivering Damir is insulted by a man who is unhappy that he is given the wrong order, mistakenly blaming Damir rather than the restaurant.

Damir then meets the man's apologetic wife and they quickly begin an affair turning everyone's lives upside down.

Where this was frustrating for me was that the relationship between Damir and Decca wasn't really built up and it was difficult to see a connection between other than they really fancied each other and had great sex. We were also meant to gloss over the fact that, although I accept the husband was an arse, we should really be rooting for people who are conducting an affair. I get that life is never simple, but I just didn't find myself invested in their relationship.

Where I actually thought the book was really powerful was the behind the scenes lives of Damir and Goran, their relationship was actually more interesting than Damir and Decca's and gave a little known insight into the lives of people who work all day, in insecure employment to try and earn some kind of living. We all probably enjoy the convenience of these workers without thinking too much about their lives.

So largely frustrating but with some interesting parts and some humour thrown in.

[Karen Pincher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought the book after attending the promotional session the Author did at Lichfield Festival. Knowing the inspiration behind the book (the plight of delivery drivers, and how they kept the country going through lockdown) and hearing about the author's research made the book even more interesting. I love the style of writing and the depth of the characters. I would have given it five stars if a couple of events in the book in the later chapters had been fleshed out more. It's an easy read and has made me want to explore other books from this writer (love his stand up comedy - he's a very funny guy)

[Wesley Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Watson has a direct through line to my heart. His books, despite being written very accessibly, always hit hard, with uncompromising and raw reflections on the human condition. "One Minute Away" is the story of a Croatian delivery rider trying to make ends meet in London, whose life changes in a glance on the doorstep of a drop. It's extremely readable, tonally nuanced, and it might be his best yet.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is the second book by Mark Watson that I have read (the other one is Eleven), although I do have some of his others on my to-read shelf. I have met Mark Watson and he seems to be a really lovely person but there are some lovely people writing dull books and some wrong 'uns writing bangers so that tells us nothing. However luckily this is an excellent book. For me the relationship I was the most interested was Damir and Goran; their bond was so tight and not something spoken of that much in contemporary fiction, especially written by a male author. I could really feel the sexual tension between Decca and Damir but unlike some of the other reviewers, I didn't get the sense that we were meant to root for them, more that their relationship was doomed to failure but it was a bright spot in lives that had chasms in them, for whatever reason. It was never going to work out in the end and I sensed that from the very beginning and I'm really glad that Mark didn't go down that route. I thought the sex scenes were pretty sexy without being overly explicit and I enjoyed the depiction of Decca. As you know I have issues with the way some male authors write female characters but Mark doesn't struggle with that, Decca is a fully formed person, good traits and bad.

There were so many bright spots in this lovely novel; the highlighting of the gig economy and that the people with money don't even see the people that make their lives more convenient. That love is messy and fragile and that strong friendships are worth working at. I actually had a little cry at the end and I almost never do that. It's really good and I highly recommend.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Minute Away follows Damir, a delivery driver who ends up having an affair with the wife of one of his customers.

I loved Damir - he came across as genuine and kind-hearted. I enjoyed his telling of the story which was well paced and well written.

However, I did not find his relationship with Decca believable. There didn’t seem to be much of a connection between them and I found it all a bit rushed. I enjoyed the parts of the story involving his work more than the affair plot. I also found a couple of the background characters to be irrelevant to the story.

I was a bit disappointed with the ending too which left a few plot holes and left me with more questions than answers.

Overall, an entertaining, if slightly disappointing read.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

[Mrs Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling narrative and a very well read audio book. It has really made me question some of our modern habits.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't want to stop reading, but now I've finished I don't really know what I got from it. 

I didn't really get the connection between Decca and Dam. It was odd. I wasn't rooting for them. There wasn't really a plot. 
It was an odd book but not unlikeable

Rwad via Netgalley.

[Amanda Fiorani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sharp take on immigration and how desensitised we as societies have become to the realities of precarious workers

One Minute Away centres around Damir, a Croatian man living in London who works as a delivery rider. The novel focuses on his day-to-day life and routine working in a job that requires a lot not only physically, but also emotionally. It's a role that seems to ask workers to be almost invisible, to serve other people in a dynamic that is often unfair and gruelling. After delivering an order late and incorrectly, through no fault of his own, a customer is extremely rude to him and discards the food in front of Damir. On another day, he ends up doing another delivery to the same address, but it is not the same man who answers; instead, his wife, Decca, is the one who receives it, and this chance encounter shifts Damir's life, as they embark on an affair.

I thought the discussion about the reality of delivery riders, especially immigrant ones like Damir, was very interesting. More and more, gig economy platforms, including delivery apps, cater almost entirely to customers, leaving workers in an extremely undervalued situation. In order to achieve a livable wage, they have to work day and night at an almost inhumane pace. Damir was leading a life that was gruelling and hopeless, in which he did not feel able to enjoy any free time without considering how much he could have been earning, all to cover basic needs. So, when this new woman came into his life, a person who desired him and provided small luxuries that seemed out of reach, she felt like a saving grace.

To me, Damir's relationship with Decca felt very out of touch with reality, and it did bother me as it became central to the book, because I simply could not believe or cheer for them as a couple. Instead, it felt doomed from the beginning, almost like a reprieve from the harshness of life for Damir. I think the book took their relationship and love seriously, and not as part of the overall critique of the exploitative work culture Damir was trapped in, and that's where I felt like it missed an opportunity. Still, this was a thought-provoking read.

Thank you very much to HarperCollins UK, NetGalley, and Rachel Quin for the copy!

[Haxxunne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Inauthentic and unrealistic
—
Damir’s a delivery rider in London, doing his best to make a buck, sending a lot of it home to his family in Croatia. He lives with his best mate Goran who’s got a spanking bike to do his own deliveries on, and things are good, if not perfect. Until one day, for no reason apart from the restaurant giving him the wrong order, a customer throws the whole order in the bin and threatens Damir. When he has to go back to the same address, he meets instead the wife, and within days, they’re in the middle of an affair, that threatens to overturn everything Damir holds dear. When push comes to shove, what will Damir value more, love or safety?

For what this is, it’s a competently written novel, although the romance is not particularly realistic, but readable. My problem with it is its authenticity, as I don’t understand what the characters being Croatian adds to the story. Apart from FaceTime calls to family in Split, little of the body of the narrative is set in Croatia, and there is some Croatian speech in the book, but Watson could have made up a country, or used any other country. Note that Watson isn’t Croatian and in the acknowledgements, no Croatian names (but this is only one clue to identity) are included. I think there hasn’t been a sensitivity read on this, which for me questions the choice of centring Croatian characters in a novel set in London by a British writer. They say write what you know, so research is definitely part of the equation of making a book, but when you only get a competent novel out of it, I’m not sure the author’s done enough.

[Polly Perks · Rating 3 out of 5]

***advance review copy received from NetGalley in return for an honest review***
One Minute Away by Mark Watson is a solid, competent novel that delivers exactly what it sets out to do—no more, no less. The premise is intriguing: a single moment sets off a chain of events with far-reaching consequences, a concept that has the potential for both suspense and emotional resonance. Watson handles this with clarity and structure, keeping the reader engaged through well-paced chapters and accessible prose.

The characters are believable and the plot progresses with a satisfying logic, though at times it felt slightly too on-the-nose or emotionally calculated. While the story moves efficiently, it doesn’t take many risks or stray from familiar territory. This is a novel that knows what it is: thoughtful, tidy, and straightforward.

If you’re looking for a reliably engaging read with a clever concept and a clean finish, One Minute Away will satisfy. It didn’t quite surprise or move me beyond expectations, but it’s a fine example of a story doing exactly what it promises.

[Hannah Symonds · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the concept behind this book, it was fresh and exciting reading about a delivery rider, I have read many books but not one that is based around a delivery rider. It started off really good, Damir is the delivery rider and he doesn't have much to his name, he works to make ends meet and lives with his friend where they don't have a lot. However one night, one angry customer he does not realise how much this would change his life. The angry customer's wife gives him a tip and a big one at that and then they start messaging and meeting up. Damir is quids in quite literally and likes living this life. Life is good until it's not. I felt as though the first half of the book was really good, but the second half let it down, it was very drawn out and its one of those books that made me cringe a little with the affair storyline.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review of ‘One Minute Away’ by Mark Watson, due to be published on 17 July 2025 by HarperCollins UK.

As a fan of Mark Watson, I was delighted to be able to read and review the book, ahead of its release.

The story follows Damir, a bike delivery rider in London, who has left his life and family in Croatia behind to join his friend Goran, both on a quest to earn money and a better life for themselves.

When Damir meets Decca, a customer, his life changes in ways he did not anticipate and finds himself torn between love and loyalty to both her, and Goran.

Amusing in places, especially when Damir is learning English ‘phrases’, heartbreaking in others, it’s a beautiful story of love, friendship, family and finding the courage to follow your heart.

Definitely a recommended read.

[Joana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book offered such a human and thoughtful perspective of what it is like to work these jobs that make the world move, but seem invisible to such a big part of society. It offered heartwarming moments and important reflections on these types of jobs, immigration and friendship! However, I had such a hard time getting into his relationship with Decca... There was no buildup and the premises of the whole relationship, the power dynamic, how love-bombing it felt when there was not enough connection to back it up, made me feel almost uncomfortable, and kind of ruined the book for me... It felt particularly pale when compared to his relationship with Goran, which was much deeper and heartwarming to read...

[KathVBtn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book of two halves. There is one really interesting storyline about the gig economy, the reality of life for delivery workers, battling the streets in London every day to make a few pennies. Damir and Goran are Croatian men who have come to the UK to make money, working as delivery couriers for someone like UberEats. Their storyline is a real eye opener, with excellent insights into the grim reality of their lives.
And then there’s the half that didn’t work so well for me, when Damir start a relationship with Decca, a wealthy bored lonely older woman. I was quite bored by their storyline and it didn’t really ring true for me.
Not my favourite Mark Watson book, sorry.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

One Minute Away follows Damir, a food delivery cyclist whose accidental meeting with Decca sparks an unexpected bond. Mark Watson captures the pace and anonymity of city life with warmth and humor, in particular the rise and amount of food delivery cyclist and drivers. While the premise is appealing, I found the relationship between Damir and Decca difficult to believe. But I have to say that I loved the relationship Damir had with his best friend Garon and would have loved more focus on them. Ultimately, and easy and thoughtful read that doesn’t quite reach its potential.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Watson does a great job of giving us a glimpse into the lives of the delivery riders who have become a key feature of our lives post COVID. Damir, a food delivery rider from Croatia, endures a gruelling existence until a chance meeting with middle aged, married and middle class Decca changes his life. Their unlikely romance is touching and, although we can’t see any future in it, we’re rooting for them to make a go of it. Mark Watson has put the comedy on the back burner and his depiction of Damir, Decca and their friend Goran is all the more authentic and moving because of it.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a huge surprise. Not at all what I was expecting. This is so very different from any of the other novels I have read by Mark.
Although it felt from the very beginning that the ending was inevitable, it kept me gripped until the end.
Ultimately a bitter/sweet love story, but not only between a man and a woman but also between friends.
There is a stark contrast between the haves and the have nots and how people exist below the surface of our have it all society. Those who take and those who deliver.
It’s given me a whole new perspective on delivery drivers.

[Graham Jenkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you often thought, when reading a book written by a comedian, that comedians should stick to being comedians?

You'll find the first nine chapters of this book interesting, but after that you'll get sick of reading Over and Over Again about the difficulties experienced by delivery workers. And you'll be told that things are even worse for those that have a Croatian background.

But it's not all gloom and doom! Our narrator gets lucky (Over and Over Again).

Until he doesn't.

[Ian Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Damir the delivery rider and shines a light on those in the gig economy whose story we never hear. This is another wonderful Mark Watson book. The story touches on class and current social issues through characters you really root for. Five stars from me.

[Vitória · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

[✯ Erin ✯ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately when I finished this I said ‘thank god that’s over’. I see the vision tho x

[Tom Os · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book!

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too slight and not sure I believed the meet cute

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully structured anti-love story between a man and a woman but also between East and West. Impressive consistency of voice in a dialect that never once got in the way or the storytelling.

[Georgina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely easy read 📚

[Alvia Turney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, thought provoking, adrenalin pumping at times, feeling hardy.

[Josie Estevez · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an interesting story, now 2 weeks after reading it as I writing this review, the main comment that comes to live is this was the perfect embodiment of one live out of many, and how for example we don´t acknowledge or think about how the barista who is making our coffee or the person who delivers our packets has a story of their own. This book was incredibly heartwarming and at times funny. It made me think about all those times when I chose to be nice, how that impacted the other person and it reminded me that we all have our own story, all equally valuable.

[Lucy Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book and yet got to the end and thought nothing much really happened in it. I was waiting for the point that never arrived.