"The Ledge" by Christian White

LAUDED AS THE “CRIME BOOK of the year” and the “most exciting Christmas title of 2024”, this is supposed to be the author's “twistiest book”.

And it does not disappoint. The novel contains the kind of jaw-dropping plot twist that no one sees coming!

Like the renowned 1986 movie Stand by Me – which is based on Stephen King's 1972 novella “The Body” – the story begins with the shocking discovery of human remains in a forest.

As the police investigate, a group of old friends start to panic, fearing that their long-held secret is about to be exposed. One of them is our first-person narrator and protagonist, a successful author who is trying to rescue his failed marriage.

Our protagonist's return to his hometown is also a trip down the memory lane. It brings us back to 1999, when 16-year-old Aaron went missing. His best friends – Justin, Chen and Leeson – became involved, but how far would you – and should you – go to help your mate?

White describes this as a “crime thriller about the inevitable death of childhood”. But there are other universal themes, including toxic masculinity, domestic abuse, male puberty, and the inner dynamics of male friendship. The female characters in the story also have crucial roles, and the protagonist's love for his wife and daughter is heart-wrenching.

Ultimately, as fellow crime fiction author Michael Robotham praises, The Ledge is “a coming-of-age story where not everybody comes of age”. This reviewer would recommend it as a must-read for the holidays.