ARC Review: The Edge of Normal by Carla Norton

The Edge of Normal

Author: Carla Norton

Publication: Minotaur Books (September 10, 2013)

Description: In many ways, Reeve LeClaire looks like a typical twenty-two year old girl. She’s finally landed her own apartment, she waitresses to pay the bills, and she wishes she wasn’t so nervous around new people. She thinks of herself as agile, not skittish. As serious, not grim. But Reeve is anything but normal.

Ten years ago, she was kidnapped and held captive. After a lucky escape, she’s spent the last six years trying to rebuild her life, a recovery thanks in large part to her indispensable therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. But when he asks her to help another girl rescued from a similar situation, Reeve realizes she may not simply need to mentor this young victim—she may be the only one who can protect her from a cunning predator who is still out there, watching every move.

From the author of the #1 non-fiction bestseller Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box comes a novel that draws you into a chilling and engrossing world. With powerfully gripping characters and an ending that is a masterpiece of deception, Carla Norton's The Edge of Normal is a stunning debut thriller.

My Thoughts: Reeve LeClaire has been rebuilding her life for six years. She was kidnapped as a twelve-year-old and kept captive for almost four years. During that time she was beaten, starved, tortured and sexually abused. She is still seeing the same psychiatrist that she has been seeing since she was freed. Dr. Lerner is a noted expert famous for helping people who have been held captive. When he gets a call the sends him to Northern California to help another 12-year-old who was just freed from captivity, the parents want to talk to another of his patients before trusting their daughter to him.

Reeve is startled and unsettled to be asked because she feels that she is a long way from normal. But, when she loses her part-time job, she goes to see if she can help young Tilly Cavanaugh. She doesn't follow the news or she would know that Tilly was just one of three young girls who had gone missing from the area. She soon learns the details and finds herself investigating to see if she can find out what happened to the other girls. 

The story was exciting and the sections from the mastermind who came up with the kidnapping plot were chilling. It was especially chilling when he decided to focus his attention on Reeve. 

I liked that Reeve was stronger than she thought she was and I liked that she was more determined too. I liked her tentative romance with the young deputy who worked with the prosecutor and thought it was realistically handled. 

I recommend this quick read for fans of thrillers. 

Favorite Quote:

Reeve blinks at her, then slowly raises a palm. "Yes, Tilly Cavanaugh, I do hereby solemnly swear not to tell a soul whatever you are going to tell me. On my mother's grave."

Tilly stares unflinchingly, and Reeve stares back, waiting.

Tilly swallows. "Randy Vanderholt wasn't the worst."

"What? What do you mean?""There was another man."

"Another man? You mean, another man at the house?"

I received this eARC through Minotaur Books' early reviewer program. You can buy your copy here.