Absolutely delicious.įull of secrets, lies and suspicion, The Soulmate is told from the points of view of Pippa, Gabe’s wife, and Amanda, the woman who dies falling from the cliff. But when Gabe fails to save the eighth, Amanda, a sordid web of secrets begins to unravel, pushing bonds of loyalty and love to the brink. Gabe has become somewhat of a local hero since they moved to the cliff house, talking seven people down from stepping off the edge. They have the kind of marriage that everyone envies, as well as two sweet young daughters, a supportive family, and a picturesque cliff-side home – which would have been idyllic had the tall beachside cliffs not become so popular among those wishing to end their lives. His arms are outstretched, palms facing the empty air.ĪBOUT ‘THE SOULMATE’: Before the woman went over the cliff, Pippa and Gabe were happy. The space where the woman had been standing is now vacant.

When I do, I don’t understand what I’m seeing. In the dark it takes me a moment to locate them. ‘For heaven’s sake,’ I say quietly, as I see the prongs of the fork pressing into Freya’s thigh and Asha’s huge brown unworried eyes.

When Freya screams, I think I might faint. ‘Persuade them to come towards you, towards safety.’ Gabe takes a step towards the woman, which is also against the rules. ‘Asha, stop looking at your sister,’ I say, my eyes still on the window. ‘Mummy,’ Freya says, ‘Asha is looking at me.’ Like Gabe, they prefer a more subtle approach, not wanting to surprise or crowd anyone. I glance briefly towards the street to see if the police are near. I wonder if this is a sign of how it’s going. Gabe has always been diligent about following the rules, despite his run towards the burning building mentality. And on a night like this, the wind alone could force an unsuspecting person over the edge. Chunks of it fall into the ocean all the time. The cliff is precarious enough for one person. This is against the rules – his own, and the police’s. EXCERPT: Gabe is standing much closer to the woman than he usually would.

Sally hepworth the soul mate