Gone to Earth is the third book in the Jen Shaw series, bringing the trilogy to a close. I’ve got a confession: I haven’t read either On the Edge nor Cut Adrift, so this is my introduction to Jesmond’s writing, and to Jenifry Shaw. That’s right: Jenifry, not Jennifer.

The books opens with a man sinking into the cold waters of the English Channel. That early chapter does a lot of work in setting up several key characters, storylines, and a few red herrings, and that’s before we’ve even caught sight of Jen Shaw.

Jen is an experienced climber and is also entirely incapable of keeping her neb out of other peoples’ business. That serves the plot well, of course - a protagonist sitting back and waiting for the polis to come sort everything out does not a thriller make. But her unquenchable need to work things out for herself means she never sits still for long enough to warm the chair, and puts her in the path of some very dangerous people.

Gone to Earth - Jane Jesmond
Verve Books

That path is in fact a zigzagging trail from Cornwall, to Glasgow and its environs, with occasional detours via France and Spain. There are smugglers and people traffickers, hackers and jihadi brides; feckless men (and brave ones too). There’s undercover work and disguises, false friends and the real kind, and very few of them are the ones you think they will be.

Gone to Earth can be read as a standalone - I did! - though of course I’d have a more rounded picture of the story arcs had I started at the beginning of the trilogy. While the plot races along, we spend a lot of time inside Jen’s head as she puzzles things out, and if I had a tiny quibble I’d prefer fewer short ‘punchy’ sentences - those lose impact when they’re constantly employed - but it was balanced by the fact that Jen’s voice was clear and consistent.

One of my deep-set fears is “corrupt authority which can no longer be relied or called upon” (why yes, I am an eldest daughter, why do you ask?) and Jesmond paints a vivid picture of what might happen to someone caught in that situation, especially when most of their other supports and coping mechanisms are removed or can’t be trusted. The isolation and fear builds well, and the crescendo is both disturbing and satisfying.

I had a great time location spotting around Glasgow throughout the book; many areas were well-described and recognisable even when not named, though I especially liked ‘visiting’ the disused and mostly forgotten station in the Botanic Gardens, which has been a source of fascination to me and other west-enders since we were kids. The city provides brilliant settings for all sorts of underground and nefarious deeds, and Jesmond has brought many of them to life.

I’m still not sold on the idea of flinging myself up or down sheer rock faces with only ropes and carabiners for company, right enough. Maybe if I read the first two books…?

Gone to Earth will be released on the 23rd January. 2025.