While this book didn’t fully capture my imagination, I can see how others might find its story engaging. The journey of Jan is intriguing, and there are moments where the narrative hints at a future worth exploring. Though I personally won’t be continuing the series, I appreciate the author's dedication to world-building and character development. Readers who enjoy immersive storytelling and rich details may find much to love here, even if it wasn’t the perfect fit for me.

DI Jan Talantire is called to investigate the death of Joanne Dexter, who fell from a cliff in Devon, but soon discovers that the fall was no accident. As she digs deeper into Joanne's connections and past, Jan uncovers dangerous secrets that suggest the killer might be someone much closer than expected. A gripping British crime thriller with twists and suspense.

If there is a case for a killer to be too clever for their own good this book certainly makes that case!

Jan is back and faced with a tragic "accident" of a real life spy. From the start something seems suspicious, and as Jan and her team dig deeper into to the life and adjacent lives of the victim they uncover secrets from long ago, and current secrets that someone doesn't want exposed.
Jan is also dealing with a situation at work that could ruin her career for speaking up and she finds unlikely allies that may cause more harm than good.

Loved the book and highly recommend this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to continue to discover new characters to add to my collection!

In The Dark Edge, Nick Louth returns with another gripping installment in the DI Jan Talantire series, immersing readers in the haunting beauty of the Devon coastline—where beneath the idyllic charm, darkness festers.

The story opens with an eerie calm. Detective Inspector Jan Talantire, just off an overnight shift, finds herself first on the scene of a death at one of Devon’s highest cliffs. At first glance, it appears to be a tragic accident. But as Jan begins to piece together the facts—and confront the tight cluster of individuals connected to the victim, Joanne Dexter—it becomes clear that this death wasn’t just a misstep on the edge. It was a calculated act.

Louth masterfully builds tension, taking what seems like a routine fall and unraveling a complex web of secrets and deceit. As Jan investigates, she uncovers unsettling ties between Joanne’s professional life and dangerous figures from her past. What sets this thriller apart is Louth’s knack for infusing every character with depth and motive—everyone is a suspect, and no one is entirely innocent.

The novel is steeped in atmosphere. Louth paints the Devon and Cornwall coast not just as a setting, but as a character in its own right—beautiful, brutal, and concealing. The quiet villages and sweeping cliffs mask a darker reality that DI Talantire knows all too well.

Jan herself is a compelling lead: sharp, intuitive, and doggedly determined. Her unease at being handed the case by the Commissioner—something far below her usual brief—adds an additional layer of intrigue. Why this case? Why now? These questions drive both Jan and the reader deeper into the mystery.

With short, punchy chapters and plenty of twists, The Dark Edge is a propulsive read that fans of British crime fiction will devour. Louth has delivered another chilling tale of secrets hiding in plain sight—and the people who will kill to keep them buried.

When she hears that someone has fallen to their death from a cliff, DI Jan Talantire is shocked to find that the woman, Joanne Dexter, is someone she had recently met. When she is asked to lead the case, she is confused: surely this is an open and shut case of accidental death? It soon becomes apparent that there is more to the fall than meets the eye after details of Joanne’s life become clear. Is her death due to her work or does someone closer to home know the truth?

This is the third in the Jan Talantire series and we are really starting to get a feel for the character. After loving the author’s previous books featuring DCI Craig Gillard, it is good to be totally invested in this new character with Jan proving to be a brilliant protagonist. There are some parts of the plot that refer to events in the previous book but it is not essential to have read this to enjoy The Dark Edge.

As always, Nick Louth has constructed a complex plot with a plethora of fascinating characters, each one seemingly with their own potential motive for wanting Joanne out of the way. There are red herrings aplenty with subplots all coming together to culminate in a satisfying ending where all loose ends are tied up.

In addition to the main plot, there is the ongoing sexual harassment storyline where we are beginning to see the tenacious, ‘never say die’ attitude of Jan when faced with misogyny in the workplace. This story is far from concluded and I look forward to reading what happens next.

This is a classic police procedural, perfect for fans of the genre. The third book to feature Jan Talantire finds Jan investigating the death of a runner who fell off a cliff. The investigation uncovers a web of intrigue involving spies and Special Branch. It is a steady paced read and the plotting is interesting, with a couple of subplots and plenty of tension. The characterisation is very good, I really like Jan who is a strong, determined character and the team dynamics are good. I really hope we don't have to wait too long for the next book in the series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of The Dark Edge by Nick Louth, published by Canelo.
This was a really great book, and great mystery. I didn't realize it was part of a series, so can be read as a stand alone, i didn'tfeel i was missing previous character information. I loved the characters and how the characters were introduced throughout the novel. They were described well and very realistic interactions. So many stories woven together and kept you guessing as to who dunnit. Great plot, the story flowed well, there were no lulls that made me want to put the book down, to the contrary I wanted to keep reading.
I've not read this author before, but will be putting his novels on my TBR

Thank you Nick Louth, Netgalley and the publishers to have a copy to review, comments are my own and not influenced in any way.
My wife loves Nick's two series and this book 3 in the DI Jan Talantire story line in no exception for both myself and Karen; its a solid easy to read and follow crime/thriller with a good background social story surrounding Jan Talantire. As the police team investigate Jan is not easily led to believe this was an accident - falling off a cliff edge. I stopped during my reading journey to ponder on the clues and had me going with it all the way to the end. A really good story line and one I hope will continue into book 4.

First book I have read from this author.. It had plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Great characters. Enjoyed the style of writing and the premise. All round great book. Look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it

This is the third book in the series. I haven't read the others and I had no problem.
Jan Talantire has to figure out if the woman fell off the cliff on purpose or was she pushed. There are lots of suspects if she was pushed.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC and to the publisher Canelo Crime Books.

As far as I'm concerned this is not one of Nick Louth's best. Nonetheless it is a good read overall. Jan Talantine is investigating the apparent accidental death of a runner who fell off a cliff footpath leaving her mother, with dementia, waiting in the car although she got out and was wandering around the scene. The dead woman, Joanne, was working for GCHQ at one stage, a local IT/microchip company at the current time and that company had recently had a break-in. How do these fit together or do they, are they red herrings? Bring in mother's story and that of her care home and clearly things are not as straightforward as alleged. The second thread continues the sexual harassment case Jan made against a senior officer where the tribunal essentially believed him. She's following this and out for revenge, in effect, on the side and joining with other female officers who had suffered from his behaviour as well. While he has been moved to a different area it seems likely that his behaviour might well continue and that senior police are more concerned about appearance than justice. I'm hoping that this does not take away too much from the detective murder stories i the future. Jan is a strong female lead most of the time. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

We're heading back to Devon and Cornwall, where DI Jan Talantire is based with a small team! Jan is expected to cover the wide area and to solve crimes with limited resources. A body of a woman is found and Jan is sent to the scene to investigate. Near to the victim, Joanne Dexter, are a group of people that knew her in life. Who did the deed? Why? How was the crime the committed. Jan and her team investigate behind the reason (s) for the crime, which leads her to discover the hidden past and secrets. We soon learn that Joanne worked for the intelligence agency and Jan has to decipher if this was the reason for the crime. Jan is a strong character and not afraid to take on the police establishment where her character is called into question in a harassment case. All the subplots are full of twists and turns and lead to a dramatic ending.

The Dark Edge is the third in the DI Jan Talantire series and boy, is it aptly named. Not just for the possible crime, a woman falling over a cliff edge, but for the dark edge of police politics and of human nature.
I find Jan a fabulous main character. She is my kind of gal. “And yes. It was her philosophy: if you get hit, then hit back harder. Never take anything lying down. Don’t cry, don’t whine, and never curl up in a ball and weep. Don’t be pathetic. Get even.”
The book does a good job of balancing the investigation and Jan’s personal life. On the personal side, she has put a complaint through about sexual harassment from a senior officer. In typical fashion, senior management is more worried about protecting the male officer than protecting the women he’s threatened and abused.
The story is rife with multiple red herrings. It kept me guessing and even after I knew the who, it was the how will it be proved that continued to hold my interest.
I wouldn’t recommend reading this as a stand-alone.
I’m becoming a big Nick Louth fan. This is the second well done police procedural series he’s written. They are intelligent, well thought out and evenly paced.
My thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for an advance copy of this book.

this is my first book in the series but i thought it was one of those well though out and realistic crime novels to get on board with. i think i could definitely come back and read the others and then look forward to more in the future.

the detective seems a real tough cookie. she has such intelligence in both her work and home life and seems to be someone who we will get to know more of as the books go on which i like. i didnt quite feel as connected with her as i might have done if id read the others but i definitely felt a pull towards her and want to hear more about her own story for sure.
this book follows a death of a woman off a cliff. all tragic but accidental right? nope. it quickly transpires that this was murder and there are a fair few secrets and locals not willing to share them. the witness are hiding something. were they in on it?
this to me was a police procedural books and every now and then i do love it when these come along. when done well they are soooo good to read and this was one of them. they have a totally different feel to them. i cant quite describe why but they just feel like another level to the crime writing genre that are such brilliant books in their own right. the focus on different things and details are perfect.
this was a really enjoyable read and i shall look forward to finding more if i can.

Seemingly Straightforward..
The third outing in the DI Jan Talantire series sees the detective called out to a cliff fall fatality, later being handed the case to run. Following her surprise, she soon understands that there is more to the seemingly straightforward case than meets the eye. Is there a killer and are they closer to home than she imagines? Well crafted procedural where things are not quite as they first appear with a strong female lead, a well crafted cast of characters and a propulsive plot.

The Dark Edge by Nick Louth is a highly recommended police procedural and the third book in the DI Jan Talantire series set in Devon.

DI Jan Talantire is investigating the death of Joanne Dexter after she apparently fell off a cliff trying to retrieve her elderly mother's hat. At first it appears to be an accident, but as more evidence is collected it becomes clear that it may have been murder and some of the witnesses are lying. Complicating matters is the fact that Joanne work for a UK intelligence agency and Talantire doesn't have the security clearance needed to hear all information. At the same time the sexual harassment case is ongoing.

This is an intricate, complicated investigation with plenty of twists and surprising discoveries along the way. I found the case Talantire was on in the previous book was more interesting, but this is still a well-written and expertly plotted addition to the series. Expect several subplots and misleading clues while the team sorts through all the clues and conduct interviews.

As the third book in the series, Talantire's character development is ongoing. She is portrayed as a tough, intelligent and compelling character with strengths and flaws, however, it also feels like her character is written from a male perspective. There are also a plethora of other characters to keep track of while reading, including members of her team and various suspects and witnesses.

The Dark Edge will best be appreciated by readers who enjoy procedurals and who have read the two previous books in the series. Thanks to Canelo Crime for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This series has a very strong female lead, and in a very believable way. Really clever mystery to unravel and old scores to settle. I can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to Netgalley and cáñelo for the opportunity to review this book . I have read all the books in this series which was fortunate as it is not a stand alone. Jan is a tough detective but a likeable character and this book highlights the misogyny still prevalent in the police force. There are lots of twists and sub plots and I kept thinking I had solved it only to find another suspect. A good pacy read and obviously another instalment to come.

What a great read from Nick Louth! I can’t wait to follow Jan on her next adventure in the next book in this series. I have added a few books from his other series to my kindle. I did not have the ending figured out, which always makes me happy. Just a good book all around. Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC #TheDarkEdge.

There was a lot going on in this book, so at times it got a bit confusing. The main plot was interesting with a runner dying after falling off the cliff edge, which obviously became a lot more than a fall. I feel like I needed to have read the rest of the series to understand the dynamic between Jan Talantire and the rest of her team, the Police Commissioner etc and also to know more about Brent West and Adam. I didn't understand why they were dealing so much with rural crimes alongside a potential murder case, but maybe because the station was small and seemed to only have a few staff. The actual case was interesting with lots of twists and a few side-lines to keep it moving.