The Jump

by Doug Johnstone

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, IF YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

Struggling to come to terms with the suicide of her teenage son, Ellie lives in the shadows of the Forth Road Bridge, lingering on its footpaths and swimming in the waters below. One day she talks down another suicidal teenager, Sam, and sees for herself a shot at redemption, the chance to atone for her son's death.

But even with the best intentions, she can't foresee the situation she's falling headlong into - a troubled family, with some very dark secrets of their own.

Genres: Fiction, Scotland, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime, Mystery, Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 4, 2015

About the author

Doug Johnstone is a writer, musician and journalist based in Edinburgh. His fourth novel, Hit & Run, was published by Faber and Faber in 2012. His previous novel, Smokeheads, was published in March 2011, also by Faber. Before that he published two novels with Penguin, Tombstoning (2006) and The Ossians (2008), which received praise from the likes of Irvine Welsh, Ian Rankin and Christopher Brookmyre. Doug is currently writer in residence at the University of Strathclyde. He has had short stories appear in various publications, and since 1999 he has worked as a freelance arts journalist, primarily covering music and literature. He grew up in Arbroath and lives in Portobello, Edinburgh with his wife and two children. He loves drinking malt whisky and playing football, not necessarily at the same time.

Reviews

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel from this author, I read it in one big gulp it was that good and so obviously it won’t be my last.

The Jump is a heady blend of family drama, emotional trauma and spot on thrill a minute crime writing that is completely gripping from the very first few pages. Starting at a point of grief, a mother’s loss, then giving that mother a reason for being, we meet Ellie as she saves another teenager from her son’s fate – but getting involved with Sam’s family leads her down a dark path.

There are many twists and turns along the way, Doug Johnstone managing to walk the line between emotive and exciting really brilliantly – there are some deep seated issues eating at the heart of the family dynamics – and as things progress you will be utterly enthralled, likely to bite your nails if you are prone to that sort of thing and madly turning the pages to see how things resolve.

It would be difficult to say much else on plot without completely spoiling it – so I won’t. The writing is clever, the narrative style is addictive and the character building is superb – as well as that the setting is vivid and the whole thing has a completely authentic feel to it even in the occasional unlikely moments. I loved it.

Highly Recommended for fans of all things Crime.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie is a mother that is still very much trying to come to terms with the loss of her son who jumped off a bridge to his death at the tender age of fifteen. To lose a child is awful but to lose one to suicide must be torture. The never knowing why and constantly thinking if there's more that you could have done. My heart ached for her and what she is going through.

When she comes across Sam who is about to do the exact same thing as her Logan, Ellie for some reason thinks she is getting a second chance and she very much intends for it to not end in the same way. I don't think Ellie realises quite what she has got herself into but either way she is determined to be Sam's guardian angel and she finds herself involving herself in things that really would be best left to the police.

As the author is from Scotland and so far all the books I have read of his have all been based there. It actually felt quite atmospheric and it felt like I was with Ellie at the bridge experiencing the sights, sounds and smells as well as her emotions all for myself.

The Jump is yet another good read from this author. The story is full of mystery and suspense and I felt like I was on tender hooks all through out the book. Very much looking forward to reading more of the authors books.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the last 3 books by this author (my personal favourite being Gone Again) and in my opinion every book he writes just gets better and better. The Edinburgh setting and the huge amount of local research and detail shows a man who writes about where he knows and does it very well indeed.
Ellie and Ben are bereaved parents after the death of their son Logan who committed suicide by jumping off the Forth Road Bridge. Ellie especially is struggling to cope but one day she sees another young male about to jump and she saves him. Unfortunately, this lands her in the middle of a rather difficult situation as Sam is also covered in someone elses blood and unwilling to explain to Ellie why. But as she becomes more involved is she really seeing the truth or has losing Logan also made her blind to what has really happened?
I read this book in one afternoon while enjoying the sunshine. It was so gripping and full of a mother's emotions and turmoil that I couldn't put it down. I love books set in Scotland and this one brought back many memories while reading it of time spent in the area. A good, dramatic and recommended read.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an honest review.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

As with all other books by this author I really enjoyed it. I love reading books based in Scotland and this is no exception.

A mother's way of coping with the great loss of her son who committed suicide without any indication he was going to.
To help her cope with the grief and loss Ellie revisits the bridge her son jumped from daily, on this occasion she spots a teenage boy threatening to take the plunge, rushing to him she coaxes him out of jumping and promises to help, however after taking him home she discovers blood on his clothing, finding herself tangled in another family's problems she is determined not to let his mother lose her children no matter what it takes. A great page turner.

[Susanne Mills · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I can almost forgive Ellie’s ridiculous behaviour and choices as she’s grieving for her son but honestly, hasn’t anyone ever done the logical thing!! Haha

It was a good story although I got annoyed with the crazy idea that Ellie had and hoped that Ben would bring some intelligence to the events but he didn’t!! I think Ellie was incredibly stupid in some of her choices.

Think I’ll find a completely different book for my next read!! One that doesn’t make me shout out loud!!

[Raven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jump, immediately draws us into the world of Ellie, a middle-aged woman struggling to come to terms with the seemingly inexplicable suicide of her teenage son, Logan, and the fractured relationship this has caused within her marriage to Ben. Living in the shadow of the Forth Bridge, where Logan ended his life, and succeeding in talking down another suicidal teenager, Sam, Ellie finds herself with a second chance in helping Sam, and gaining some kind of redemption from the sadness that defines her life. However, in becoming so closely involved with him, and his younger sister, Libby, Ellie becomes enmeshed in a family that is filled with secrets, far darker and more dangerous than she can possibly imagine…

When people decry genre fiction as somehow not being as worthy or the compare of ‘literary fiction’, I have no hesitation in drawing their attention to books such as this. The Jump possesses an emotional intensity and sensitivity that is rarely encountered in any genre, harnessing emotional, and by their very nature, contentious issues that many writers in the ‘literary’ field would struggle to address in such an affecting way as Johnstone achieves. Obviously, the book is very much centred on the theme of suicide, both the causes of, and the aftermath for, those left behind by this devastating act, and in the character of Ellie, Johnstone personifies all the linked emotions, doubts and blame that those left behind have to process. I loved the marked difference that Ellie and her husband exhibit in their reactions to the loss of their son, and the way that they too are faced with a leap of faith to restore their relationship to what it once was. Also with the interaction between Ellie and troubled teenager Sam, Johnstone blurs the lines between Ellie’s response to him as a mother, and a strange sense of sensuality, not sexuality, that seems to permeate their relationship. As we discover more about Sam, and his family (no spoilers from me), Ellie seems to undergo a marked change, and discovers a real inner core of strength that has been suppressed by her grief, and her journey back to her former resilience is moving throughout. With so much of the weight of the plot and the emotional issues therein on her shoulders, there was always a chance that Johnstone may have strayed down the route of mawkish sentimentality. He doesn’t, and must be applauded for his very sensitive, and most importantly, utterly real characterisation that Ellie embodies. As the plot unfolds into a very dark tale indeed, this sense of brutal reality persists, and is both shocking and redemptive in equal measure.

Another facet of the book that I enjoyed greatly was the absolute attention to sense of place, that Johnstone consistently shows in the book. With the incredibly visual depiction of this small riverside community, dwarfed by the architectural scale of the bridge itself, and the threatening power of this mass of water, Johnstone also draws a contrast of the smallness of our lives in the face of nature. His description of the life of the river and its environs, and man’s attempts to harness it, raises some interesting questions on our place within the natural world, but equally how the power of nature can provide succour in times of emotional uncertainty. I thought the description of Ellie’s wild swimming, where she sheds her land-bound skin, almost like a folkloric Selkie, to calm her restless spirit, was incredibly effective, and how this physical and, at times, perilous act brought her a closer connection with her son. It was beautifully done, and further ingrained in the reader’s sensibility the inescapable link that the water holds for Ellie in all spheres of her life.

You know how you sometimes encounter a book that just swirls around your consciousness in the wake of its reading, and pops back into your head at odd moments- well, this is most definitely one of those. The Jump is one of the most emotive and intense books it’s been my pleasure to read, and despite the weighty issues it explores, and the inherent sadness within its pages, ultimately one of the most satisfying. A brave, yet sometimes difficult, subject wonderfully handled. Prepare to be moved.

[Colette Lamberth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t think the blurb fully prepared me for this one. Ellie is grieving after her teenage son commits suicide and successfully intervenes when another teenager is threatening to jump to his death. The emotional responses of Ellie and her husband Ben came across really strongly here and I found that aspect of the story held my attention. However, the events that followed Ellie’s intervention on the bridge and her involvement with that young man’s family stretched my credulity.

[Keith Nixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

One day Ellie’s teenage son, Logan, committed suicide by stepping off the apex of the Forth Road Bridge and plunging to his death. Less than six seconds from stepping over the railing to smashing into water as hard as concrete. In the intervening six months Ellie has been struggling to cope with her loss. She can’t understand why Logan did it, there were no signs of his unhappiness, his intent. She and her husband are simply existing, each getting through via their own coping mechanisms.

Ellie walks for miles, swims and has tattoos of Logan and the bridge all over her body. Almost every day she leaves her house that sits in the bridge’s shadow and climbs to the point where Logan jumped, trying to imagine what it was like. She posts messages on his Facebook page and even watches CCTV footage of Logan’s last moments, all in an attempt to make sense of life and death. Meanwhile, her husband has become a conspiracy theorist. He believes a chemical has been released into the atmosphere that drives people to their deaths and Logan succumbed to it.

But then everything changes. On one of her walks Ellie meets a young man, just a few years older than Logan, who’s about to jump from the same point on the bridge. Ellie talks Sam down and so begins a series of events that will change the course of their lives. Ellie learns that Sam has just stabbed his father, a policeman. He survived but is in intensive care. He did it because his father was interfering with his 11-year-old sister, Libby. Ellie decides to help both Sam and Libby, undertaking a crusade to save them from their father, and herself from her unhappy existence. With the help of her husband Ellie goes to the furthest reaches of what is lawful in order to do so, and beyond.

Doug Johnstone is an author who counts the likes of Ian Rankin, Irvine Welsh and Chris Brookmyre among his admirers and, on the strength of The Jump, it’s easy to see why. This is a real page turner, the narrative deceptively fast. It took me only two sittings to chew through this novel. The basis for the unfolding events – suicide and incest – are dealt with bluntly, but with sufficient sensitivity. It’s like the author’s wrapped a brick in velvet and hit you over the head with it a couple of times. Smooth and blunt.

For example, Logan’s suicide is relatively graphic. Ellie calculates how many seconds (5.6 to be precise) it takes to fall from the bridge, thinks about the impact of the fall on the human body, and studies the description of the CCTV footage. It’s painful and in your face, but it isn’t gratuitous. There’s real empathy generated. And by doing so the author creates some very strong motivations for his major characters, us mere mortals would probably go running to the police, unable to take the steps that Ellie and Sam do. Johnstone keeps it just the right side of grim and believable.

Given the subject matter there can’t be a truly happy ending, but it is satisfactory, nevertheless. The characters get about the best out of it that they can. And from where they started that’s a pretty good deal…

Originally reviewed at Crime Fiction Lover.

[A. S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had very little in the way of expectations for this book. I knew the synopsis and knew I had to read it by August 1. When I started it last week I certainly didn’t expect to finish it in a day. This is the perfect thriller/suspense novel for someone with a short attention span (that would be me). Johnstone wastes no time getting to the plot, and each page turn has new plot reveals, more excellent character development, and invokes more stress on the reader (WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO THESE PEOPLE!??).

Here are some of the things that I loved:

1. Johnstone made the main character, Ellie, who lost her son 6 months ago to suicide, a perfect amount of emotionally unstable/irrational. Her attachment to the boy she prevents from jumping off the same bridge her son jumped off of is a little intense. But in a totally realistic sense. No normal woman would have gotten herself in the mess that Ellie got herself into in this novel.

2. The marriage. I figured this novel would depict the remnants of a family who have lost their one and only child the same way most do: circling the drain. They certainly (and understandably) had their issues, but I love how their storyline resolved.

3. As I mentioned before, this novel is a quick read. The length of it is perfect! Long enough to include all the details without bogging the story down. To me, there were no wasted words.

I would definitely recommend this to any lover of thriller/suspense novels.

[Sissy Lu {The Bookish Raven} · Rating 4 out of 5]

"But how could you pay attention to the world
when you were barely in it?"

This book touches on a horrifically difficult topic, which is suicide. A difficult thing in and of itself, but add into the equation that this novel is about a 15-year-old boy named Logan who previously had exhibited no signs of depression or any 'cries of help,' he leaped off a bridge and left his parents in the devastating wake.

Ellie and Ben are the struggling parents of Logan. It's been six months since the jump and while they're alive it's clear that they are not living. Both have taken on neurotic habits, Ellie especially, but it's due to her neurotic routine that she is able to rescue Sam, a desperate 17-year-old, from the same demise as her son. Suicide.

Ellie sees something in Sam, something she wants to save and maybe she has to. But she isn't prepared for the tangled mess that encompasses Sam or his family and that this second chance is going to be far more difficult than she had anticipated.

This is the first piece of work I've read from Johnstone and I have to say he made this an emotionally driven read, you could feel all of their pain. Add in the twists and turns that this tale takes it surprises you until the very end. I didn't see the near ending coming at all!

I truly enjoyed the ending, too. I felt like that was a huge positive shift in the mood. Hope. Life. Change for good.

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[M.M. Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is about a woman (Ellie) who is dealing with the aftermath of her son's suicide. He had jumped to his death from a local bridge. Ellie goes there everyday and stands in the same spot her son had. One day, she finds another boy on the bridge, about to jump and she manages to talk him out of it. She later finds out that the boy (Sam) had assaulted someone.
I felt sorry for Ellie, but at the same time, I didn't like her very much. Some of the book was uncomfortable reading when Ellie seems to get a little too familiar with 17 year old Sam.

It turns out Sam's family have some heavy problems, which of course, Ellie has to meddle in.
This is a he said, she said novel, that turns darker as you read.
I still struggled to finish it though. Hence 3 stars.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing about books who touch up on very sensitive topics is that they can either do it very well, or they can go awfully wrong. Thankfully, The Jump falls into the former category, letting us catch a glimpse of the unimaginable—how a parent deals with the loss of a child gone too soon—in a way that is tactful, yet still heartbreaking. Doug Johnstone takes it a step further by adding a good dose of mystery to the mix without losing focus of the emotional side of the story.

Full review at Joie des Livres!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won’t dwell on an overview of what happens, the blurb gives you just all the information that you will need. This was a deeply emotional and raw read and from the very first page, I was drawn into Ellie’s grief as a mother losing her son to suicide and living in the shadow of the bridge where he took his life. It was impossible to read this book without feeling every last shred of pain and emotion that Ellie is experiencing.

I found myself climbing inside of her head and her life, the daily pilgrimage to the spot where he plunged into the icy waters of the River Forth. It was not an easy read as Ellie found herself compelled to save Sam from taking the same route to death as her son uncovering family secrets in the process. Exploring grief, loss, guilt and powerful family dynamics, The Jump is a compelling read that will leave you thinking long after you turn the last page.

Suicide is not an easy subject to cover in fiction and it is to the author’s credit that he did this with a great deal of sensitivity and without gratuitous sensationalism. An atmospheric read that transported me to the shadow of the bridge, a place I have been many times in my life but as a reader you would not have had to visit it in order to experience the sense of place that the author has created.

The Jump is jam-packed with an intense, compelling and highly charged narrative in a novel that is completely believable, even at points where you may think that it is unbelievable. It is a book that will stay deep inside my heart for a very long time.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this author's books. His style of writing make them so easy to read. I have ordered more from the library as I want to read them all.
When your son throws himself off the Forth Road Bridge, how are you supposed to cope with that? Elle copes in her way and her husband copes in his way. On her daily walk to the spot where Logan jumped, she saves Sam from the same fate. Murder, deceit, abuse and realisation follow.

[David Kenvyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a grim book, which somehow manages to be uplifting. Doug Johnstone is not the kind of author to spare his readers the sheer horror and nastiness of life, but he does not leave us in despair. Nor does he leave us thinking that everything can be fixed, and that everything will turn out for the best in the best of all possible worlds. He knows that is not true. He is not Pangloss, not by any means. But he also knows that humans are resilient and that they cope. And this story is very much about that process of coping and surviving.

The story begins with Sam standing on the parapet of the Forth Bridge about to jump. Ellie sees him. He is in the spot where her son, Logan, committed suicide six months previously. Ellie talks Sam down. And then slowly Ellie finds out why he was going to jump and gets embroiled in Sam's life. Things do not get better from there.

To be honest, they get steadily worse. Except for one thing, which is Ellie's determination to protect Sam, and his sister Libby, and to make things as right for them as it is possible to be.. This is a story about how we achieve redemption. It makes you ask if second chances are possible. It shows how desperation can lead people into some terrible places. It shows how people can be led inexorably to a place where their choices are so limited as to be non-existent. Job would recognise the dilemma that Ellie finds herself in.

I am not going to tell you what that dilemma is. For that, you must read the book. I repeat, however, that this is not an easy book to read. The plot is driven by Logan's suicide. If Logan had not jumped, Ellie would not have been on the bridge, and there would be no story. And Logan's suicide is a thread of despair that runs throughout the book. It has happened. It cannot be made better.

Doug Johnstone is obviously aware that suicide is the biggest cause of death amongst young men. The Jump is his method of bringing this fact to our attention, and making us think about the issue. He holds our attention because he is a consummate storyteller, but also because he has something to say about something important. You will really want to know what happens to the characters in this story, and how they come through the mess in which they find themselves.

Johnstone is too good a writer to provide easy answers, and sometimes he does not provide any. The question underlying the whole story is this: Why did Logan jump off the bridge? The only person who can answer that is Logan, and he is six months dead at the start of this novel.

If you want a book where people do not swear and curse when stressed, this is not for you. If you want a book where it all ends happily ever after, do not read this book.

If you want a book that examines the tragedy of life, if you want a book that deals with the darkest places of the soul, if you want a book that thinks about hope, redemption and salvation, then this book is for you. You will not find this an easy story, but you will be the better for reading it.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must buy must read. First class brilliant psychological thriller. Just totally unputdownable. The story is very unusal being a fascinating plot. Expect unexpected twist and turns in two families that are full of surprises. The characters are caught up in a world that is harsh and trembles with tender emotions as Ellie struggles to comes to terms with the suicide of her only son. Ellie finds another boy who is going to jump of a bridge and manages to talk him out of committing suicide. Nothing is farfetched as Ellie finds out she has heading into another family with some dark secrets. Doug Johnstone is brilliant at writing crime novels he knows how to tap into readers to make them feel deep dark fear. I will back to read more novels by Doug Johnstone.

[Nenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doug Johnstone did not disappoint. The story was very well written.. It brought me so close to the scenes, I found myself reacting and mouthing off (thankfully I still had the presence of mind not to do so while reading in public).

But if I'll be honest, I am torn between rating this a neutral 3 stars or an almost perfect 4 stars, mainly because of how the story turned out. Mr. Johnstone, please tell me that there will be a sequel to this... I am in a moral dilemma and I'd like to know what the situation will be, say 6 months, or even a year hence.

Even with much said, I still dither....so 3.5 stars.

[Alfred Nobile · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received book from NetGalley for an honest review. I don't know how honest i can be. I really love this author. He writes crime thrillers with a twist and you will need to read them to find out.
His tales are written simply, but are complex.
In this book there are Ellie and Ben grieving parents of Logan, who committed suicide.
Sam and Libby troubled children with a dark secret. Also Allison and Jack parents to Sam and Libby.
How they all hang together you will need to read the book. I strongly urge you to do so. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[Deborah · Rating 2 out of 5]

*(minor) spoiler alert*

The book appeared on a list of ten Scottish crime novels published by the Guardian, so I thought it might be my thing (Scottish + crime). Unfortunately, I was dead wrong.

I listened to the audio book, which had 46 chapters (as I assume the paper copy would). The beginning talked about suicide, specifically the suicide of the main character's 15 year old son. Her intense grieving was shown in great detail. . .perhaps too much detail. It took until Ch 31 for something to happen, or at least, that's how it felt. There was a great deal of minute and somewhat irritating detail, while not a lot happened. To paraphrase. . .she walked into the kitchen, filled the kettle with water, got out the mugs and put the tea bags in. The water boiled; she poured it into the cups, and placed one in from of Sam.

This sort of thing happened a lot. Maybe it was meant to reflect her grief, showing the tiny things which made up her life, but. . .it was dull. And repetitive. And didn't seem to move the story along, or contribute to the characterisation. Not the third or fourth time, anyway. There was a lot of tea drinking.

I wasn't sure if it was literary fiction which I didn't understand (or have the patience for), or whether an editor was needed.

Additionally, the main character did a lot of cringy, emotionally unbalanced things. Sniffing a 17 year old boy who is not related to her, watching his body as he changed clothes, being inappropriately touchy feely with him. Ick. Who in their right mind touches the thigh of someone they're not sleeping with?? Who is less than half their age, and not related to them? Unless it's to make a point, etc. Not okay in my world, anyway.

Also, when she has sex with her husband for the first time since their child dies, at least part of her is dwelling on the 17 year old boy. Ick.

I could go on, but I'd rather move on and think about something else. I just wanted to clarify why I rated it so low in case future readers may care.

The positives: The plot did surprise me in places, and the characters, apart from the irrational and annoying protagonist, were interesting and generally believable. The details of the location were precise, and the narrator's accent was lovely.

Though even this positive has a caveat; the word porpoise was pronounced 'poor poise', long and drawn out. We (Australia) say 'porpiss', much shorter. It was said a lot, and distracted me every time.

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was difficult to read, in he sense that emotions on display in the characters are raw, and the actions are erratic because of the trauma in their lives. Another reviewer said this was uplifting, but I really didn't find anything uplifting about it. It was pretty dark, all over, though well written and engaging.
The main character, Ellie, was a bit of a conundrum for me. Supposedly a well-educated woman, with a PhD in marine biology, the choices she made often seemed to lack thought (though the idea is that she's not thinking clearly due to the loss of her son). I just felt like anyone with some sense wouldn't have chosen the paths that she did. It was also a bit annoying that every time anyone stepped foot in her house, she was popping the kettle on for tea. Anyway, despite the complaints, this was a good read.

[James Russell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not discussing the plot or giving a summary here. Everyone else does that. I bought this book off the back of a Guardian article. Best 10 Scottish crime novelists (or something similar). I can definitely say I enjoyed the book, the plot and the main character. I kept saying to myself, out loud usually, What the F is she doing now? So that tells you it’s a story that pulls you in and gets you involved. It’s a page-turner so is fairly pacey. A couple of events that I never saw coming, despite the title, and a couple that were telegraphed.
The writing style is good enough, it has a good rhythm to it.
I’d read Doug Johnstone again, definitely, but is he really one of the best Scotland crime has to offer? I’d have to read him more to come to that conclusion.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came across this is a little street library and chose it because of the mention of the Forth Road Bridge, which I grew up in the shadow of. Little did I realize what an integral part of the story the bridge became. I loved the character development and the loss to redemption premise. I was surprised at the turn of events, talk about a plot twist, but it shows the extremes that people can go to when in the deep abyss of grief. Some of the passages were a bit icky to me, and hints of child abuse could be triggers for some, although these are not explicit. I'm glad that the two families eventually found their way to some sort of healing, but it was a rough journey at times.

[Helen Christer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I started reading this book and then stopped due to being irritated by the lead female character as I found her creepy. I came back to the book and am now wishing I had not bothered. throughout the book I was waiting for a twist in the tale as surely the unrealistic events couldn't be the story but sadly they were, and as I closed the book after reading the last line all I could think was oh there wasn't a twist.. Maybe the author intended that to keep u reading and if that is the case well done.

[C.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seemingly effortless prose makes this a pleasure to read. Vivid descriptions of the setting give a real sense of place. A sensitive understatement throughout the emotional passages prevents the story from becoming either sickly-sweet or unbearably depressing. Some of the sailing and geographical details might be a little esoteric but could increase the appeal for those more familiar with the places and activities described

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another goodie from my new favourite author, with a story based in South Queensferry, bringing back memories of my two and a half years I worked there over forty years ago. We lost a friend some years ago who jumped off the Forth Bridge and these memories are not so good.

Not wishing to give the plot away but I have to say that Doug Johnstone is a damn good writer drawing you in, no matter how dark the subject.

[Sara Dellar · Rating 3 out of 5]

A gloomy start to my reading year with this book about the mother of a teenager who committed suicide and her feelings. She then finds a teenager about to jump off a bridge and talks him down, getting involved in resolving the mess in his family that led to this. I probably would have given up on this is it hadn't been an audio book. I did like the voice of the reader and their soft Scottish accent. I chose it because I've enjoyed a previous book by this author.

[Wide Eyes, Big Ears! · Rating 4 out of 5]

Narrated in a lovely Scottish brogue, this novel follows the lives of Ellie, a mother whose son has suicided by jumping off a high bridge, and Sam, a teenager she finds who is about to do the same thing. The book sensitively shows us the impact of suicide on those left behind but is also a thriller - the balance works well.

[Sarah]

Recommended as one of his Top 10 Scottish Crime Novels by Craig Robertson in his Guardian article dated 27 May 2020.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reads like a thriller

Even though she does everything wrong, makes the wrong choices, and it all falls apart, Ellie is a heroic mother. I felt the thrum of motherhood propel her through her actions and the cold water of the firth. This shouldn't have worked but it was riveting and intense. I had to finish this book. I had to know the outcome.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A mother unable to come to terms with the suicide of her son. Set around the Forth Road Bridge. Finished this very quickly via Audible thanks to the Scottish narrator. Lots of sailing references which were accurate however the plot is so far fetched that belief has to be suspended. Despite that the writing is good and story compelling.