‘Close To The Edge’ by Anna Britton

Published by Canelo London,
12 September 2024. 
ISBN: 978-80436-526-7 (PB)

When DI Juliet Stern and DS Gabe Martin are both shot in the shoulder outside Southampton Crown Court there is no shortage of suspects.  These include the three Galanis brothers who control most of the serious crime in the area, Timothy Dunlow and his son Terence who had recently been investigated and then exonerated for a fatal shooting, and Superintendent Douglas Frey, a police officer forced to retire early after Juliet and others accused him of sexual harassment. Whilst everyone is busy with the shootings, the situation is complicated further when art student, Henry Garside, is reported missing by his distraught parents.

Gabe’s injuries are less serious than Juliet’s and she continues working. Close To The Edge is book two of what I assume will become a Stern and Martin police procedural series.  I haven’t read the first book, but it is clear that Juliet and Gabe have a decidedly unequal relationship. Juliet focuses on work to the exclusion of virtually everything else. Gabe, who has no insight into Juliet’s array of horrible domestic problems, is intensely loyal to her colleague. So, when Juliet asks Gabe to keep her investigations into Douglas Frey a secret, Gabe does so, but she gets into trouble when DI Paul Willis finds out. He restricts Gabe’s limited involvement still further. Undaunted, and helped by junior colleagues, Gabe continues to follow leads. Her boyfriend Ollie, and her very friendly Alsatian dog, Artie, who both feature prominently throughout the book, provide distraction, food and TLC.

Anna Britton is a natural story teller. Close To The Edge is one of those books that you just can’t put down until you know “who done it.”  The story rolls along effortlessly with an attractive and variable collection of characters whose interpersonal relationships, both domestic and professional, are captured beautifully. In addition, you end up really needing to know what’s going to happen to the characters in the future.  I will be looking out for book three in the series and going back to read the first one, Shot in the dark.
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Reviewer Angela Crowther

Anna Britton lives on the Isle of Wight with her husband and their chronically clumsy Labrador. An avid reader, she began writing around ten years ago and hasn’t stopped since. Anna works as a freelance editor and loves helping out other authors. When not filling her head with stories, Anna enjoys baking (and eating) cakes and exploring rivers in her kayak.

Angela Crowther is a retired scientist.  She has published many scientific papers but, as yet, no crime fiction.  In her spare time Angela belongs to a Handbell Ringing group, goes country dancing and enjoys listening to music, particularly the operas of Verdi and Wagner.