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Gone to Earth: A fast-paced, action-packed thriller
** From the acclaimed author of On the Edge and Cut Adrift comes the third and final instalment in the action-packed, 'pulse-pounding' Jen Shaw series **
Still reeling from a life-threatening experience on the coast of Calais, daredevil climber Jen Shaw finds herself in Glasgow for a funeral, devastated with grief and in search of answers.
As her dogged determination propels her closer to the criminal underworld than ever before, Jen and her family become the target of some dangerous and powerful people with links to the heart of Glasgow's Police Force.
In the absence of anyone she can truly trust, Jen has no option but to rely on her own instincts and everything she's learnt from her close bond with police officer Nick Crawford for survival. Even if it means going undercover herself and disappearing into the city's dark underbelly.
Gone to Earth is a fast-paced, atmospheric read with an utterly compelling, morally complex life-or-death plot. Perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Sharon Bolton and Ann Cleeves.
'Shaw remains an intriguingly flawed and well-realised protagonist, while Jane Jesmond's grasp of the gritty intersection of crime and geopolitics makes the stakes refreshingly real-world' - TIMES (The Best Thrillers of 2025 So Far)
'Climber Jen is once again a very relatable, strong protagonist, and the novel moves swiftly, with tight storyline and clever plotting. Captivated me from the first page. A fast-moving, clever book with wicked twists I never saw coming. Highly recommend!' - D.E. WHITE, author of Blindsided
'In Jen Shaw, the thrill-seeking climber, Jane has created a truly compelling character that draws you inexorably into the story. Jane's writing is full of tension, twists and surprises, and she tackles the murky theme of people-trafficking with courage and sensitivity' - SUSANNA BEARD, author of The Perfect Neighbour
'Gone to Earth explores contemporary issues with compassion and empathy. A thriller full of twists and turns and a climbing detective, with her feet on the ground, steering the reader to a gripping conclusion' - NICKY DOWNES, author of Her Perfect Girl
'Superb. Gone to Earth moves from grief and intrigue to espionage, deception and adrenaline-fuelled action - and all within a cleverly drawn plot that keeps you guessing until the final reveal' - SARAH CLARKE, author of The Night She Dies
'An exciting, at times terrifying, conclusion to Jesmond's Jen Shaw trilogy. Fast-paced, perfectly plotted and agonisingly pertinent to our times' - ANNE COATES, author of the Hannah Weybridge series
PRAISE FOR JANE JESMOND
'An original voice in crime fiction' - SUNDAY TIMES
'Jesmond's thriller incorporates a very likeable protagonist and a really twisty plot with a thought-provoking moral dilemma' - MAIL ON SUNDAY
'A poignant, heart-rending read' - WOMAN'S OWN
'Jesmond's delineation of her characters as people with plausible flaws and hot tempers adds depth and complexity to a story that might wear its sentiments on its sleeves, yet which is trimly steered and freighted with contemporary resonance' - TIMES
'A well-crafted thriller that keeps you hooked from the start.
Still reeling from a life-threatening experience on the coast of Calais, daredevil climber Jen Shaw finds herself in Glasgow for a funeral, devastated with grief and in search of answers.
As her dogged determination propels her closer to the criminal underworld than ever before, Jen and her family become the target of some dangerous and powerful people with links to the heart of Glasgow's Police Force.
In the absence of anyone she can truly trust, Jen has no option but to rely on her own instincts and everything she's learnt from her close bond with police officer Nick Crawford for survival. Even if it means going undercover herself and disappearing into the city's dark underbelly.
Gone to Earth is a fast-paced, atmospheric read with an utterly compelling, morally complex life-or-death plot. Perfect for fans of Jane Harper, Sharon Bolton and Ann Cleeves.
'Shaw remains an intriguingly flawed and well-realised protagonist, while Jane Jesmond's grasp of the gritty intersection of crime and geopolitics makes the stakes refreshingly real-world' - TIMES (The Best Thrillers of 2025 So Far)
'Climber Jen is once again a very relatable, strong protagonist, and the novel moves swiftly, with tight storyline and clever plotting. Captivated me from the first page. A fast-moving, clever book with wicked twists I never saw coming. Highly recommend!' - D.E. WHITE, author of Blindsided
'In Jen Shaw, the thrill-seeking climber, Jane has created a truly compelling character that draws you inexorably into the story. Jane's writing is full of tension, twists and surprises, and she tackles the murky theme of people-trafficking with courage and sensitivity' - SUSANNA BEARD, author of The Perfect Neighbour
'Gone to Earth explores contemporary issues with compassion and empathy. A thriller full of twists and turns and a climbing detective, with her feet on the ground, steering the reader to a gripping conclusion' - NICKY DOWNES, author of Her Perfect Girl
'Superb. Gone to Earth moves from grief and intrigue to espionage, deception and adrenaline-fuelled action - and all within a cleverly drawn plot that keeps you guessing until the final reveal' - SARAH CLARKE, author of The Night She Dies
'An exciting, at times terrifying, conclusion to Jesmond's Jen Shaw trilogy. Fast-paced, perfectly plotted and agonisingly pertinent to our times' - ANNE COATES, author of the Hannah Weybridge series
PRAISE FOR JANE JESMOND
'An original voice in crime fiction' - SUNDAY TIMES
'Jesmond's thriller incorporates a very likeable protagonist and a really twisty plot with a thought-provoking moral dilemma' - MAIL ON SUNDAY
'A poignant, heart-rending read' - WOMAN'S OWN
'Jesmond's delineation of her characters as people with plausible flaws and hot tempers adds depth and complexity to a story that might wear its sentiments on its sleeves, yet which is trimly steered and freighted with contemporary resonance' - TIMES
'A well-crafted thriller that keeps you hooked from the start.
Kindle Edition
Published January 9, 2025
8 people want to read
About the author
Jane Jesmond
11 books51 followersJane Jesmond writes psychological suspense, thrillers and mysteries
Her debut novel, On The Edge, the first in a series featuring dynamic, daredevil protagonist Jen Shaw was a Sunday Times Crime Fiction best book. The second in the series, Cut Adrift, was The Times Thriller Book of the Month and The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month. Her latest novel, Her, a standalone psychological thriller was published in May 2023 and A Quiet Contagion, a disquieting contemporary mystery, will be published in November 2023.
Although she loves writing (and reading) thrillers and mysteries, her real life is very quiet and unexciting. Dead bodies and danger are not a feature! She lives by the sea in the northwest tip of France with a husband and a cat and enjoys coastal walks and village life.
Stay connected to Jane and receive news about her books and giveaways by signing up for her newsletter - https://jane-jesmond.com/contact/
You can find Jane:
On Twitter - @AuthorJJesmond
On Facebook - www.facebook.com/JaneJesmondAuthor
On Instagram - www.Instagram.com/authorjanejesmond
Her debut novel, On The Edge, the first in a series featuring dynamic, daredevil protagonist Jen Shaw was a Sunday Times Crime Fiction best book. The second in the series, Cut Adrift, was The Times Thriller Book of the Month and The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month. Her latest novel, Her, a standalone psychological thriller was published in May 2023 and A Quiet Contagion, a disquieting contemporary mystery, will be published in November 2023.
Although she loves writing (and reading) thrillers and mysteries, her real life is very quiet and unexciting. Dead bodies and danger are not a feature! She lives by the sea in the northwest tip of France with a husband and a cat and enjoys coastal walks and village life.
Stay connected to Jane and receive news about her books and giveaways by signing up for her newsletter - https://jane-jesmond.com/contact/
You can find Jane:
On Twitter - @AuthorJJesmond
On Facebook - www.facebook.com/JaneJesmondAuthor
On Instagram - www.Instagram.com/authorjanejesmond
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 22, 2025
The final book in the series! I wasn't sure about reading the FINAL book! I wasn't sure about leaving Jen Shaw. She is a character I have followed from the start and one I took to my heart from the first page of On The Edge. A strong lead character whose unpredictability makes for such an exciting and tense tale. Each book has made me love her a bit more.
Gone To Earth sees Jen in Glasgow for a funeral. She is truly devastated and begins searching for answers to all her questions. When this woman starts digging, boy, she really does dig up dirt. This leads to getting a tad closer to the criminal world than she would have ever expected. As danger lurks for Jen and her family, she has only herself and her police officer friend to rely on. When things get dark and dirty, Jen finds herself somewhere she would least expect. Can she get to the bottom of it all and survive, too?
As always, Jane Jesmond writes such an exciting, tense, thrilling, and twisty mystery. Her details of Glasgow and the surrounding area make me feel like I could see it. I have never been there, but I feel like I could have been. It's so atmospheric that I felt I was by Jen's side. It was written so well. I found I really couldn't sit still at times, I was almost squirming with the things Jen faced.
The pages literally flew by as I almost inhaled this last story in the series. I always appreciate the quality of Jane Jesmonds' storytelling. She has such power in her words! This is a series I would easily recommend!! I will be watching and pestering Jane to see what's next!
Thanks to Verve Books for my gifted book to write my honest review.
Gone To Earth sees Jen in Glasgow for a funeral. She is truly devastated and begins searching for answers to all her questions. When this woman starts digging, boy, she really does dig up dirt. This leads to getting a tad closer to the criminal world than she would have ever expected. As danger lurks for Jen and her family, she has only herself and her police officer friend to rely on. When things get dark and dirty, Jen finds herself somewhere she would least expect. Can she get to the bottom of it all and survive, too?
As always, Jane Jesmond writes such an exciting, tense, thrilling, and twisty mystery. Her details of Glasgow and the surrounding area make me feel like I could see it. I have never been there, but I feel like I could have been. It's so atmospheric that I felt I was by Jen's side. It was written so well. I found I really couldn't sit still at times, I was almost squirming with the things Jen faced.
The pages literally flew by as I almost inhaled this last story in the series. I always appreciate the quality of Jane Jesmonds' storytelling. She has such power in her words! This is a series I would easily recommend!! I will be watching and pestering Jane to see what's next!
Thanks to Verve Books for my gifted book to write my honest review.
January 5, 2025
I adored the first two of Jane Jesmond's thrillers featuring climber Jen Shaw. We're left with a bit of a cliff hanger (pun intended) at the end of Cut Adrift (Book 2), so I was super impatient to read the next episode (and I confess that I got a sneak preview).
The good news is that the series just gets better and better, with Glasgow's old, underground railway tunnels playing a significant part in the claustrophobic and riveting story.
With the explosion of popularity in climbing, this would make an excellent TV series. I want to see that spectacular dive on the big screen!
I love being in Jen's company - she's an unusual and compelling hero and there's never a dull moment.
I sincerely hope this isn't her last outing.
The good news is that the series just gets better and better, with Glasgow's old, underground railway tunnels playing a significant part in the claustrophobic and riveting story.
With the explosion of popularity in climbing, this would make an excellent TV series. I want to see that spectacular dive on the big screen!
I love being in Jen's company - she's an unusual and compelling hero and there's never a dull moment.
I sincerely hope this isn't her last outing.
January 12, 2025
Still reeling from a life-threatening experience on the coast of Calais, daredevil climber Jen Shaw finds herself in Glasgow for a funeral, devastated with grief and in search of answers. As her dogged determination propels her closer to the criminal underworld than ever before, Jen and her family become the target of some dangerous and powerful people with links to the heart of Glasgow's Police Force. In the absence of anyone she can truly trust, Jen has no option but to rely on her own instincts and everything she's learnt from her close bond with police officer Nick Crawford for survival. Even if it means going undercover herself and disappearing into the city's dark underbelly.
Thanks to this book I have discovered another new author, and despite this being the third title in the series, it definitely stands its ground as a standalone, bringing to life a very strong and independent character in the form of Jen Shaw.
The writing style ensures a steady pace is maintained throughout and, although dealing with serious subject matters, allows the reader to be fully informed with developments at all times, being aware of potentially sensitive areas of discussion.
I understand that more in-depth details may have been discussed in previous titles but that did not take away the enjoyment of this book at all, the reader and character connections strong from the off. It’s always nice to see my name in print too - spookily I’ve just booked a trip to Malta too! - but thankfully nothing like the character here!🤣
A clever read that will hold your attention right until the end, would look to read more by this author in the future.
Thanks to this book I have discovered another new author, and despite this being the third title in the series, it definitely stands its ground as a standalone, bringing to life a very strong and independent character in the form of Jen Shaw.
The writing style ensures a steady pace is maintained throughout and, although dealing with serious subject matters, allows the reader to be fully informed with developments at all times, being aware of potentially sensitive areas of discussion.
I understand that more in-depth details may have been discussed in previous titles but that did not take away the enjoyment of this book at all, the reader and character connections strong from the off. It’s always nice to see my name in print too - spookily I’ve just booked a trip to Malta too! - but thankfully nothing like the character here!🤣
A clever read that will hold your attention right until the end, would look to read more by this author in the future.
January 16, 2025
Gone to Earth is actually the last book in a trilogy, but don't worry if you haven't read the others (I haven't either!) - it totally works on its own.
So we've got this adrenaline junkie, Jen Shaw, who's just had a near-death experience in Calais and ends up in Glasgow for a funeral. She's pretty messed up about it and starts digging around for answers, but whew, does she get in deep! We're talking serious criminal underworld stuff, with some corrupt cops thrown in the mix. The cool thing is, Jen's got this connection with a police officer named Nick Crawford, and she has to use everything she's learned from him to stay alive.
I absolutely loved how the author brought Glasgow to life - I've never been there, but I felt like I was walking those streets right alongside Jen. And Jen herself? What a character! She's tough as nails but also really human.
The book dives into some pretty deep stuff about trust and identity. Like, when you're undercover, who can you really trust? Even the things you'd normally take for granted start feeling shady. Through all this, Jen's trying to figure out how to live without letting guilt eat her alive - pretty relatable, even if most of us aren't dodging criminals!
If you're into fast-paced crime thrillers with plenty of tension and some rough stuff thrown in, definitely check this one out. And hey, the best part? If you love it like I did, you've still got two more books to go back to!
So we've got this adrenaline junkie, Jen Shaw, who's just had a near-death experience in Calais and ends up in Glasgow for a funeral. She's pretty messed up about it and starts digging around for answers, but whew, does she get in deep! We're talking serious criminal underworld stuff, with some corrupt cops thrown in the mix. The cool thing is, Jen's got this connection with a police officer named Nick Crawford, and she has to use everything she's learned from him to stay alive.
I absolutely loved how the author brought Glasgow to life - I've never been there, but I felt like I was walking those streets right alongside Jen. And Jen herself? What a character! She's tough as nails but also really human.
The book dives into some pretty deep stuff about trust and identity. Like, when you're undercover, who can you really trust? Even the things you'd normally take for granted start feeling shady. Through all this, Jen's trying to figure out how to live without letting guilt eat her alive - pretty relatable, even if most of us aren't dodging criminals!
If you're into fast-paced crime thrillers with plenty of tension and some rough stuff thrown in, definitely check this one out. And hey, the best part? If you love it like I did, you've still got two more books to go back to!
January 17, 2025
Jen Shaw is back in her third and final adventure, and it's her most complex, gripping, action-packed, thrilling, emotional, heart-racing, and dangerous one yet. Featuring everything I've come to expect from Jane's writing and previous instalments. Jane's is a fairly unique voice with regard to the subjects she writes about and balances the mix of currently relevant societal issues like child trafficking, drug smuggling, civil war, cyber crime, police corruption, the plight of vulnerable refugees risking their lives in order to to reach 'safety' with love, family, community, friendship, justice and humanity. With ease, confidence, experience, and a natural ability to really connect with her readers.
The pace is perfect. Her characters are extremely well scripted, thought out, researched, believable, and relatable. Especially Jen, who is a tenacious, caring, strong, brave, and brilliant protagonist with a strong sense of morality and justice. With the story itself being atmospheric, thrilling, suspense filled, well drawn, vivid, compelling, thought-provoking, and has a really satisfying ending with a great twist you don't see coming.
I'm quite sad that we won't be seeing Jen again. But I know that whatever Jane writes and delivers to us next will be worthy of a place on your tbr.
The pace is perfect. Her characters are extremely well scripted, thought out, researched, believable, and relatable. Especially Jen, who is a tenacious, caring, strong, brave, and brilliant protagonist with a strong sense of morality and justice. With the story itself being atmospheric, thrilling, suspense filled, well drawn, vivid, compelling, thought-provoking, and has a really satisfying ending with a great twist you don't see coming.
I'm quite sad that we won't be seeing Jen again. But I know that whatever Jane writes and delivers to us next will be worthy of a place on your tbr.
January 26, 2025
The atmosphere and scene is immediately set in Gone to Earth - the third installment of the Jen Shaw series. With Jen diving in to find out the truth behind her friend Nicks impromptu death, and the situation surrounding it, whilst managing the chaos that is her personal life. The book quickly picks up and the pace continues to propel you through the story with pieces of the puzzle being slowly dropped into place as the story unfolds.
Jen is truly a driven FMC and puts everything into getting the information that she wants.
I've not read any of the previous books, and managed fine with this, however I would say that knowledge from the previous novels would give a better insight into Jen and her motivations.
Jen is truly a driven FMC and puts everything into getting the information that she wants.
I've not read any of the previous books, and managed fine with this, however I would say that knowledge from the previous novels would give a better insight into Jen and her motivations.
November 13, 2024
Begins with a teasing tugging together of Jen's eccentric family; Delivers a vivid - and seemingly effortless(!) creation of place, of threat to self and family, of struggle to untangle the correct response from a horrendous tangle of right or wrong possibilities. Being in tunnels squeezing through tight spaces, in or out of the light, is a particular nightmare of mine so in places I was reading with my eyes mentally shut. Truly, a brilliant book - and I for one noted that "probably" as to Jen's return. Doubt I'll be the only one, either.
October 18, 2024
I was very happy to receive an advanced copy of Gone to Earth and my first experience of the Jen Shaw series.
Although there are 2 previous books in the series it didn't take me long to understand the main character and get drawn in. Jen Shaw is an adrenaline seeking woman who is an expert climber. She becomes involved in an undercover operation with big consequences.
Fast paced, well rounded characters and some great descriptions of Glasgow.
Although there are 2 previous books in the series it didn't take me long to understand the main character and get drawn in. Jen Shaw is an adrenaline seeking woman who is an expert climber. She becomes involved in an undercover operation with big consequences.
Fast paced, well rounded characters and some great descriptions of Glasgow.
December 20, 2024
I struggled to keep up with all the action in this book as the pace was relentless! Set in Glasgow and filled with interesting characters, I was completely immersed in Jen's journey seeking the truth. Jen is an interesting character, feisty, dogged and with a very hot temper. I wouldn't want to get on her wrong side! A very plausible and cleverly plotted read which I highly recommend to lovers of thrillers. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.
January 5, 2025
I'll be sad to see the end of this series if this is truly the last book in the Jen Shaw series. I love Jens' character and thought it was great to see her go undercover this time. She is such a badass mc and takes no crap from anyone. It was nice to see some characters from the first 2 books and that we got to see more of her relationship with her Pa, Ma, Rania, and Aya. This is such a great series!
March 17, 2025
Unbelievable story with too many characters. Only read two thirds then couldn’t be bothered with all the rubbish. Started well then author got carried away with more and more ‘action’. It’s a pity because I enjoyed the first two.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews