From the Bookshelf of Aussie Readers…

Beyond Fear

Jaye Ford

Why we're reading this: Imagine if your worst fears came true . . . again. At seventeen, Jodie Cramer survived a terrifying assau…more
[close] Imagine if your worst fears came true . . . again. At seventeen, Jodie Cramer survived a terrifying assault at the hands of three strangers. Her schoolmate Angie was not so lucky . . . Now thirty-five, Jodie is a teacher and mother of two - and her past is a horror she's buried deep. When she sets out for a weekend in the country with three friends, all she has in mind are a few laughs and a break from routine. However, unknown to the four women, their secluded cabin was once the focus of a police investigation and, like Jodie, holds a very dark secret . . . When Jodie finds evidence of prowlers at the cabin, she is convinced they are being watched, though none of her friends believe her. And after suffering flashbacks to the night of Angie's murder, she also starts to doubt her own sanity. Until two men come knocking at their door.

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What Members Thought

Apr 10, 2011 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Shelves: aussie-authors, favourites, library-bookclub-reads, australian-thriller

Oh WOW!!!!! What an amazing book! Debut novel from Jaye Ford, a former journalist who lives in Lake Macquarie, NSW. The story of 4 women who have a girly weekend once a year, filled with laughter, fun, champagne, food and much more. But this year, things don't quite work out the way they planned!!! Jodie, who has a tragedy almost 20 years in her past, of which she has told no-one, Corrine, Hannah and Louise find their weekend starting badly with a car accident on a country road heading for the B ...more

15 likes · Like · see review

Mar 06, 2011 Jenny rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2011, women-s-fiction

This started well. Four mothers head off to the country for a girls' weekend in a renovated barn. One woman, Jodie, has a secret: she was assaulted as a teen and saw her best friend raped and killed. Ever since she's been haunted by the fact that she escaped instead of helping her friend. Before the women even reach the town of Bald Hill things go wrong. They're run off the road, left in the dark in the middle of nowhere and then Jodie has an encounter with a creepy bloke in the pub who, we lear ...more

8 likes · Like · see review

Jan 25, 2021 Helen rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is my first Jaye Ford book and I am looking forward to many more, this is her debut book which released in 2011 but has been re-released in 2020 and what a fabulous read it is, a heart stopping, edge of your seat story that had me turning the pages. Four girlfriends are off on their annual weekend away never thinking that it would turn out the way it did, this is one that was very hard to put down.

It was Jodie Cramer’s turn to choose the place for their weekend away for her and Hannah, Loui ...more

3 likes · Like · see review

Dec 11, 2016 Kira rated it really liked it

Shelves: keeper, thriller, kindle-bargains, mystery, aussie-author, suspense

This is the second novel by Jaye Ford that I have read. Beyond Fear starts with a great introduction into the main and secondary characters, while developing the sense that something is not right. Jodie’s emotion and fear is captured brilliantly, and you can feel the dark creeping in and threatening to suffocate you. Jaye Ford is brilliant at raising the suspense level gradually and sprinkling a whole heap of little clues throughout the story. Jodie and Matt are both interesting main characters. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Sep 30, 2011 Blue Eyed Vixen rated it really liked it

Shelves: challenge-aussie-authors-with-a-twi, thriller, feb-2012-to-read

I had to juggle between 3 and 4 stars so bumped my rating up because it was definitely a solid 3+. I enjoyed this one which I read as part of the Australian-Authors-with-a-twist challenge I've been working through. Good storyline,however it was predictable and you know I like my stories with a twist! Not heavy at all on facts so I found myself at the end before I knew it. Conclusion had been guessed well before the summit. All in all still a very enjoyable read.

First book by an author that lives ...more

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Feb 26, 2011 Tonile Reads 📚 rated it really liked it

I was fortunate enough to get an advance reading copy of this debut novel from former journalist and NSW local, Jaye Ford. The unofficial cover said that it was the most heart-stopping suspense novel from Random House, and although I can't 100% confirm that, it was one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Rather than being an in depth police procedural, Beyond Fear is a quintessential thriller that focusses more on people than procedure and process. I've said in the past that a main chara I was fortunate enough to get an advance reading copy of this debut novel from former journalist and NSW local, Jaye Ford. The unofficial cover said that it was the most heart-stopping suspense novel from Random House, and although I can't 100% confirm that, it was one of the most brilliant books I've ever read. Rather than being an in depth police procedural, Beyond Fear is a quintessential thriller that focusses more on people than procedure and process. I've said in the past that a main character who has suffered previous trauma is more likeable and readers can relate to them more, and Ford has mastered that effortlessly.

We meet Jodie as she and her three friends, Corrine, Hannah and Louise, are taking their annual weekend away. They see it as a perfect opportunity for down time and a chance to relax from their busy lives as mothers, wives, and workers. It was Jodie's year to pick, and she has chosen a refurbished barn near Bald Hill in New South Wales. A tumultuous start to the weekend results in the ladies losing their car, and relying on local cop-turned-mechanic Matt for transport to town. The women are shaken, but it is Jodie who is completely distraught, and after an incident in the local pub, she is thoroughly rattled. Her friends do their best to be sympathetic, and as readers soon find out, the other women are completely unaware of Jodie's past - a past Jodie does her best to keep completely under wraps.

Jodie is clearly on edge, and as she grows more convinced something in not quite right at the barn, her friends become more distant and hostile towards her increasingly bizarre behaviour. Completely ostracised by her friends, Jodie becomes convinced she is losing her mind, convinced that maybe her devastating past has caused her to become a little unstable. She takes off from the barn, to cool down a little and try to settle her nerves. But her worst fears are confirmed when she returns to her friends and finds they are not alone.

I loved this book for many reasons, most of all because it is essentially a simple mystery tale. No complex forensic procedures, no grizzly murder scenes... Just a handful of complex characters, and an isolated barn in the middle of the night. It was a genuinely creepy read because you can put yourself completely in the position of Jodie. There have been times for all of us when we feel a little off, like something is not quite right. Beyond Fear recognises that, and shows that sometimes our gut instincts are right, no matter what our nearest and dearest think. I suppose it was creepier still because it is set in Australia, and it does not rely on elaborate serial killers to be more than terrifying.

If you're a fan of good crime and old-fashioned mysteries, I have no doubt you will love this book. It's strongest point is in its simplicity, and I will eagerly await Ford's next novel. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 19, 2013 Tango rated it liked it

Four women (one with a traumatic past) go away for a weekend that starts with them being run off the road. The local tow truck driver (a cop on leave with his own demons, who just happens to be a hunk), comes to their aid. A series of bad things follow and Jodie ( the central character) is the only one to notice. Things take a nasty turn and the four women are stuck in the middle of nowhere with a pair of psychopaths. Needless to say it all works out in the end as Jodie puts her self defence tra ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jul 14, 2013 Natasha rated it it was amazing

Awesome debut from a new author. I don't read many physiological thrillers but this sounded good. It reads at a cracking pace and if you're not careful, you can end up reading well into the night.

It's that good. And her second book, Scared Yet? Is just as good. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 09, 2013 Aimie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: thriller, freebie

This was a suspenseful read. I could not put it down. I look forward to reading more of this authors work.

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 01, 2022 Catsalive rated it really liked it

Shelves: aww, 2022

So much for a relaxing weekend away with friends. It starts badly with a car accident & goes rapidly downhill from there. Absolutely terrifying! An excellent debut thriller.

Jodie Cramer, Corinne, Louise & Hannah head to the Hunter for a girls' weekend, only to have it ruined by two extremely vicious men. Ford does a very good job conveying the feelings of powerlessness, fear & rage that the women experience.

Fast-paced & riveting, my only complaint is that it dragged on a bit too long, some scene ...more

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