"Hope's Peak"

Tony Healey is the bestselling author of the Far From Home series. He has written alongside such award-winning authors as Alan Dean Foster and Harlan Ellison.

Healey is currently working on book two of his Harper & Lane series, of which Hope’s Peak is the first installment. He lives with his wife and four daughters in Sussex, England.

Healey applied the Page 69 Test to Hope's Peak and reported the following:

The character of Ida Lane endures the classic Hero's Journey in Hope's Peak. Page 69 is actually really representative of one aspect of that: the Refusal of the Call. At first, Ida is hesitant to help Jane Harper in finding the killer. This is a classic moment that occurs in most stories, dating back to mythology. The hero knows that there is an adventure looming, and wants no part of it. Then, for one reason or another, they have a change of heart and embark on the adventure anyway. But there is that moment of hesitation, of doubt.

This is Ida's. From page 69:

“Go ahead,” she says, watching Ida slip the cigarette between her lips, strike a match, and light it.

“So what can I do for you, Detective? I don’t get many visitors out here, so there must be some special reason you’ve made the effort.”

Harper clears her throat. “Alma Buford. She was the young woman found murdered two days ago. I’m the lead on the case.”

“Alright,” Ida says flatly, giving nothing away.

Harper licks her top lip. “I’m looking at the historical murders that we believe are the work of the same individual. I happened upon your mother’s case—”

“Look,” Ida interrupts her. “I don’t really want to go into all that.”

“I’m not going to force you to divulge anything you find too traumatic. I just want to see if there’s something about Ruby’s death that hasn’t been explored yet.”

Ida shakes her head with disdain. “There ain’t nothing that ain’t been gone over a thousand times by now. It’s in the past. Best leave it there.”

“I don’t mean to cause offense,” Harper says. “I’m just exploring every avenue. I want to stop this guy before he kills another innocent young woman.”

Ida stands. “Well this particular avenue is well and truly shut. I’m sorry, Detective, but there’s nothing I can tell you. Opening old wounds is no good for anybody, especially the kind I got.”

“Please, Miss Lane. There might be some small detail that helps us catch this man. Isn’t that worth it?”

“Like I said, Detective”—Ida stubs her cigarette out, face tight with tension—“I think you’re wasting your time here.”

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My Book, The Movie: Hope's Peak.

--Marshal Zeringue