A twisty thriller set against the windswept shores of Cornwall? It’s a premise that may hint at another writer whose dark tales are synonymous with the county. Yet debut novelist, Jane Jesmond, takes an effective (and bloody) stab at taking readers on a thrill ride amongst these same rocky outposts and smugglers coves. Our protagonist is, however, very different to Daphne du Maurier’s. Jen Shaw, a free climber, is in trouble. She might be out of rehab from her high-octane addiction, but she’s not on terra firma for long. This time, though, it’s a mystery how she finds herself swinging from a lighthouse – and even perhaps, who she really is. Done well, this kind of puzzle-solving story is the holy grail for publishers of commercial fiction, captivating fans of The Girl On The Train or Before I Go To Sleep. And if you loved them, On The Edge will certainly satisfy your crime cravings.
Jen Shaw has climbed all her life: daring ascents of sheer rock faces, crumbling buildings, cranes the riskier the better. Both her work and personal life revolved around it. Until she went too far and hurt the people she cares about. So she gave it all up and checked into rehab. Then Jen awakens to find herself drugged and dangling off the local lighthouse during a wild storm, and must battle her way to safety. Once safe, Jen has face her troubled past in order to figure out whether something triggered a relapse, or if there is a more sinister explanation.
