On the Edge: A gripping, action-packed thriller set in Cornwall with a complex daredevil protagonist (A Jen Shaw Mystery Book 1)

This is my first read of a novel by Jane Jesmond, however, I had seen On The edge several times across social media so I was pretty sure that it would be a good read.Set in the wonderful County of Cornwall (incidentally, where my ancestors come from, they were tin miners around Redruth) this is a great debut novel and written with a pure love of the Cornish countryside and Cornish history.We meet our heroine Jen Shaw checking herself out of rehab after 8 weeks and returning to her childhood home of Tregonna, after turning on her phone and receiving a message of help from her bother Kit. Well from that point on On The Edge will have you …on the edge lol! It’s a blooming great rollercoaster ride from Jen being drugged and finding herself dangling from a lighthouse to people smugglers, family dynamics and corrupt people in power… I loved On The Edge because it kept me invested with each page, Jen Shaw is a force to be reckoned with. She starts investigating how she managed to be in her hotel room one minute and next she is hanging off a lighthouse, only to be saved by her excellent climbing skills, and in doing so she opens a hornet’s nest of events that threatens to get her killed!You can tell from Jane Jesmond’s writing that she loves Cornwall and has spent long enough living there to understand its people and how the tourist trade works, On The Edge, is written like a love story to Cornwall and the marvellous Tregonna, Jen Shaw’s family home has a huge role to play in the plot. I loved all the characters in On the Edge, I thought all were well-observed and well-written, and Jane Jesmond has created a great family dynamic, that I’m sure will be explored in further books.The plot builds like a magnificent crescendo into a gripping ending and I was satisfied to finish it knowing that the bad people would be punished!You know by now that I don’t give too much away when reviewing books, but if you like crime fiction with a strong female lead, written with a poetic love of the Cornish countryside, then you will want to read On The Edge.I will give On The edge a 4-star rating, and I’m straight into reading book 2, Cut Adrift as I’m on the blog tour, look out for my post later in February.

Thoroughly enjoyed ir

My first book by this author and I loved it was a different type of reading for me but the book kind of kept you wanting more. Hope to try this author again soon.

It's rare and wonderful to see so much promise in a debut author. Jesmond's clear but rich prose is a delight to read and I don't wonder it has been awarded several 'book of the month' awards. From the start, this book hooks you in. It keeps you guessing throughout about who hung her from the lighthouse on a frayed rope, and who is behind the other events that prove more sinister as the book progresses. The finale is breath-stopping, especially when your theories are turned on their head and you get a real sense of the danger Jen Shaw is in. Jen is a hugely investable character and I cannot wait to hear of her further adventures.

Twists and turns to keep any reader guessing for the True villain. Cornwall seemed so different on our recent holidays.

On The Edge is a gripping and atmospheric thriller full of twists, turns, and heart-in-mouth tension.Protagonist Jen Shaw is perceptive and resourceful, brave but flawed. When she’s plunged into danger, she doesn’t know who to trust. This exciting story achieves that delicate balance of being both fast-paced and beautifully written. The author paints an evocative picture of Cornwall’s rugged coastline, while maintaining a super-taut storyline. It’s a real page-turner, and I was hooked from the start.Another big plus is that this book is the first in a series!

I loved it! It flows really well and it made me wonder until the very end who the villain was. I struggled to put it down and that doesn't happen often. Can't wait to read the next one.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The book lived up to the description on the back cover 'A fast-paced, twisty thriller with echoes of Daphne Du Maurier'. It certainly keeps you guessing to the end. A lot of modern thrillers jump forwards and backwards in time and flip from different people's viewpoints . This book has bucked this trend. An exceptional book from a debut author. I will certainly look out for her follow up novel.