JANE HARPER
ON THE EDGE
A homecoming will shake this small town to its very foundations. The taut new mystery from the bestselling author of The Inheritance, perfect for readers of Sally Hepworth and Liane Moriarty.
Deperate people do desperate things ...
​Sixteen years ago, teenage Maddie Marshall's body was found on a desolate beach near her hometown, Carrinya. Vibrant, feisty Maddie was the only daughter of a high-profile politician. The case was the talk of the town but was ultimately never solved.
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Nel Foley, daughter of the town doctor and Maddie's best friend, was the last known person to see her alive, and the Carrinya rumour mill was vicious. Nel fled the town and has never been back. Until now.
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Now a 32-year-old city GP, Nel returns after her father's sudden death, determined to get in and out as quickly as possible. Begrudgingly, she agrees to run his clinic for a few weeks, but during that time she meets local mum Sophie Warner and that changes everything.
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Sophie's husband Ryan, a prominent local real estate agent, was Maddie's boyfriend and Nel is certain he played a role in her death. When Nel discovers that Ryan is not the loving husband and father that he seems, she decides she must prove what he did all those years ago. But as she starts to unravel the past, she discovers the truth is far more complex than she could have imagined.
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A twisty, suspenseful mystery about the desperate things people do when they're on the edge.
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Out now through HQ HarperCollins
THE INHERITANCE
What if everyone in your family was given a DNA test at Christmas: would there be any surprise results? For two women the answers are shocking, and dangerous.
Families lie. DNA doesn't.
Isobel Ashworth breezes through life, blissfully accustomed to the privilege which comes with her family name. But that changes when she arrives in the exclusive town of Hartley. Sent there by her father to complete a controversial property development - and prove herself a serious player in the succession plan - her perfect life is unravelling. Isobel's fiancé is telling lies, the project is a disaster and the locals hate her; could her father be setting her up to fail?
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Buzzing with the promise of a big story, journalist Meg Hunter arrives in Hartley to expose the Ashworth family dealings, and transform her faltering career. As she follows the trail of corruption, she uncovers clues about her mother's mysterious past.
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When the next-gen Ashworths each receive an anonymous Christmas gift of a DNA testing kit, Isobel questions everything she knows about her family. Isobel is drawn to Meg and her pursuit of the truth ... but someone out there will stop at nothing to hide the secrets of both families.
PRAISE FOR THE INHERITANCE
‘Kate Horan's debut is acute on the psychology of power and wealth,
and the novel is intricate plotting with memorable characters.
If you're into Succession or the real-life tussle over the Murdoch family trust,
The Inheritance will appeal.’
The Age, Saturday 1 February, 2025
‘In The Inheritance, debut author Kate Horan hides readers in the shadows
of the juiciest close-door drama of the summer.’
The Weekend Australian, Notable Books, Saturday 1 February, 2025
‘The Inheritance is a smart debut tackling the seductive issues of wealth, succession and family secrets. Taut, propulsive and with enticing Succession-meets-Jane Harper vibes, this novel is perfect for suburban noir superfans. I whizzed through it.’
Ali Lowe, author of The School Run
‘A gripping story about wealth, entitlement, corruption and, most of all, family.
Kate Horan's debut novel is sophisticated and un-put-down-able.'
B.M. Carroll, author of One of Us is Missing
'The Inheritance is an incredibly strong debut from Kate Horan,
full of all the things I love in a novel - family secrets, small-town intrigue and rich people behaving badly. I ripped through it faster than you can say the words 'DNA test'.'
Cassie Hamer, author of The Truth About Faking It
‘Take one establishment family with the money to hide anything then throw in
a DNA test that never lies and sit back and enjoy the ride
that Kate Horan takes you on. A fabulous debut!’
Fiona Lowe, author of The Accident