A coming-of-age story where not everybody comes of age.
When human remains are discovered in a forest, police are baffled, the locals are shocked and one group of old friends starts to panic. Their long-held secret is about to be uncovered.
It all began in 1999 when sixteen-year-old Aaron ran away from home, drawing his friends into an unforeseeable chain of events that no one escaped from unscathed.
In The Ledge, past and present run breathlessly parallel, leading to a climax that will change everything you thought you knew. This is a mind-bending new novel from the master of the unexpected.
Christian White is an Australian author and screenwriter whose credits include feature film Relic, Netflix series Clickbait and numerous other projects in the pipeline. His debut novel The Nowhere Child was one of Australia’s bestselling debut novels ever, with rights sold in 17 international territories and a major screen deal. Christian’s second book, The Wife and the Widow (2019), and third, Wild Place (2021), were instant bestsellers. The Ledge is his fourth novel.
There is a single word that perfectly defines White’s newest crime masterpiece: chilling! From the second you start Aaron’s tale of hardship, the author tosses you down a dark tunnel filled with unforgettable twists, an unnerving atmosphere that’ll haunt you long after it’s gone, and an ending that’ll have your heart racing. I was scared to turn the page, but also, admittedly, even more scared to put the book down. White had me hooked from the literal first line: “human remains found in West Haven.” I needed to find out why!
Since his debut, White has been an expert at placing readers in dim landscapes with grim stories of murder, lies and deceit. The Ledge takes the writer’s perfected method of madness and unravels it in a narrative that’s filled to the brim with complicated characters, who are often times unreliable, an engrossing secret that becomes more and more complex, and a jaw-dropping third act, which I read in one sitting. The last half of The Ledge goes by fast. It’s brilliant, twisted, and downright gruesome. If only I could re-read it for the first time again!
One thing I need to highlight is White’s writing. It’s so smooth, yet detailed, but also swift like a rabbit. Chapters are perfectly constructed, not too long, but not too short, and every scene feels integral to the overall plot. I truly felt the pain and torment that the main group of friends go through as they try their best to hide their past actions. The book also continues to get more and more dark. By the time you reach the last page, you’ll be questioning your own humanity. It’s an amazing rollercoaster of emotions and I can’t get enough. I’m looking forward to seeing what White creates next!
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This review makes The Ledge sound incredibly intense and twisted! A coming-of-age story where not everyone makes it out? Chilling. Sometimes, after reading something so gripping, I need a fun, lighthearted break. Have you ever tried playing gartic phone online with friends? It’s a blast!
Wow, that title alone has me hooked! A twisted thriller about old friends and a long-held secret from 1999 sounds absolutely gripping. Not everyone coming of age is a chilling detail. Sometimes after such an intense read, I need a different kind of escape, maybe something with some epic ragdoll hit stickman for a bit of silly fun.