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There are currently 31 member reviews
for The Edge of Normal
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Dorothy M. (Owatonna, MN)
The Edge of Normal
Perfect title. The characters are well developed. Reeve, the main character, helps the reader better understand that it takes time for someone who has been held captive to become "normal". Even with her family, she feels uncomfortable. Thanks to her therapist she begins helping Tilly, a young twelve year old girl who has just escaped. At this point the plot really takes off.
At times the suspense was almost too much, but this is what makes this a good book. When I now read of real life women who have lived through this earthshaking experience, I will think of this book. It is fiction, but the author Carla Norton has researched this topic and has written a very realistic novel.
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Darcy C. (San Diego, CA)
A Solid Read - but not a Great Read
I wanted to like this book more, but found that the story didn't grab me; but it was a solid read and I didn't get bored with it. One thing I really liked was how the author would foreshadow something, but I didn't realize she was dropping a hint..... until the object or "thing" popped up in the story later. I find those tidbits to be very satisfying. Possibly the reason I didn't love this book is that I couldn't really "get into" the protagonist. Maybe a reader could if she had gone through a hostage, or house-bound situation. I did relate to the protagonist in that she was trying to help others - I liked that very much about her. Please don't NOT read this book because I said it's not a "Great Book". It's a solid read and you don't get bored. BookBrowse has set a high-bar for the books that we are lucky enough to preview. I'm going to be interested in how this book sells. I will definitely read her next book and hope that one is the Great Book that I'm looking for.
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Ann S. (Shenandoah, IA)
The Edge of Normal
Unfortunately, the disturbing abductions in The Edge of Normal could be taken from today's headlines. Perhaps that fact was an impetus for the author. Norton has done an incredible amount of research.
We do not normally learn about the details and struggles of those who have returned to the family after suffering horrendous abuse and anguish. The protagonist, Reeve/Reggie portrays a great deal of strength and fortitude in moving forward. She also seems authentic in her doubts and questions about her ability to forge normal relationships and life.
This book was difficult at times to read but it was well written and tended to draw me in. I do wonder if parts were realistic, but one never knows how far a young person will go to pursue their goals.
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Lisa S. (Bethlehem, PA)
The edge of normal
While the edge of normal held my attention through out the book I did find some details to be a bit disturbing. I did, however, find the relationship between Reeve & Tilly comforting. Both dealing with horrific events in their lives, past & present, they somehow find the courage to help each other change their lives. This was my first book review, so please forgive my lack of words! I would like to add one more thing, while finishing this book late one night I got called out to my job, as I was getting in my car I found myself checking the back seats of my car as well as underneath it. I thought to myself, if the author was hoping to have written a good thriller she hit the nail on the head!
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Carol J. (Isle, MN)
Mystery with a message
I always enjoy a good mystery and Carla Norton's "The Edge of Normal" did not disappoint. Additionally, the book had a message regarding abduction and torture of women and young girls. I had to pause to think of the abducted victims were people and not just characters in a book; this happens in real life.
One of my criteria for a mystery is predictability and realism. There were enough times that Ms. Norton surprised me to say the book was not completely predictable. I held a variety of characters as options of the perpetrator in my mind. I do wonder what Ms. Norton's experience with this particular subject; seems as if she writes from an insider's perspective.
I look forward to another novel from this writer.
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William Y. (Lynchburg, VA)
The Edge of Normal, by Carla Norton
Predators and their prey, villains and victims. By now a major genre in the area of thrillers and mysteries, the recounting of serial crimes and multiple targets—more often than not women—has captured a large audience. The Edge of Normal fits the bill nicely.
The main character, twenty-something Reeve LeClaire, had been such a victim as an adolescent and falls into an investigation years later of new crimes against young women that appears to replicate her suffering in the past. LeClaire still bears the scars, both figurative and literal, of her ordeal and it becomes increasingly difficult for her to retain any objectivity about the case.
A psychological thriller, sex and sadism characterize the villain's MO, and he covers his tracks with insidious ingenuity. A word of caution: parts of this page-turner may be too explicit for some readers, so be forewarned. For others, however, The Edge of Normal will provide the requisite chills and thrills, a book hard to put down. And let it be said that Carla Norton writes extremely well. A wide-ranging vocabulary and active verbs sustain her style effectively so there exists little chance of getting bogged down or dozing off.
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Debbie M. (Grand Junction, CO)
The edge of Normal
An interesting thriller, The Edge of Normal explores the lives of kidnapped victims. Reeve was kidnapped and escaped and is now helping another victim deal with life after captivity. Unknown to them, they are both on the kidnapper's radar and in danger.
The book moves fast as Reeve works to find the identity of the kidnapper and avoid being captured.
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