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The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
The Edge of Normal
Audiobook11 hours

The Edge of Normal

Written by Carla Norton

Narrated by Christina Delaine

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

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About this audiobook

''Norton has given us living, breathing characters that we know and understand . . . and who inhabit our imaginations after we've finished this book." —Jeffery Deaver
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.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 10, 2013
ISBN9781427233042
The Edge of Normal
Author

Carla Norton

Carla Norton is the author of the Number One New York Times non-fiction bestseller, Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box and the true crime book Disturbed Ground. She was awarded a Royal Palm Literary Award for best unpublished mystery for The Edge of Nomal. She served as the special sections editor for the San Jose Mercury News and has written for numerous newspapers and magazines, including The Los Angeles Times andThe San Francisco Chronicle. She has an MFA from Goddard College and has twice served as a judge for the Edgar Awards. The Edge of Normal is her debut novel. Carla Norton lives in Florida.

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Reviews for The Edge of Normal

Rating: 3.7771739782608695 out of 5 stars
4/5

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The narrator took the story to the next level. I had some problems with what I perceived to be reasonable actions and reactions. However, overall I enjoyed the book and will read the second in the series.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    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.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Since I tend to read primarily new and upcoming new releases, I often find a new release so good, am quickly going back to purchase the author's previous books. After finishing an ARC of Carla Norton’s upcoming powerful and intense psycho-thriller (6/30/2015) What Doesn’t Kill Her (Reeve LeClaire Series, #2) —was so intrigued, with the author, the style, characters, and the enthralling series, immediately afterwards, purchased the audio, THE EDGE OF NORMAL (Reeve LeClaire Series, #1), curious about Reeve’s background. (hard to believe this is a debut) WOW, what a series! To further enhance the well-written suspense; of captivity and sadism. the narrator, Christina Delaine delivers a chilling, stellar performance.Reeve LeClaire has lived through a nightmare. She was held captive for four years, when only twelve years old; tortured, raped, and luckily was found alive. After a trial, her captor Daryl Flint was sent to prison. She changed her name and through the help of a psychologist, Ezra Lerner--she has been trying to rebuild her life, and try to get back to some sense of normal with continued haunting nightmares. Now in her twenties, living in San Francisco, Dr. Lerner(specializing in “captivity syndrome”) needs Reeve to help her with a similar case --a young thirteen year old girl, Tilly, who has suffered a a traumatic ordeal, found a year after her kidnapping.Reeve’s kidnapper was caught; however, Tilly’s abductor is still at large, putting other young girls in danger. Reeve wants to put her ordeal behind her, as she is strong and determined not to let her tragedy rule her future; however, she has to help find the killer. As she attempts to help Tilly, (similar circumstances), she not only puts her emotions on the line, she also puts herself in danger. With a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, and a ruthless predator—always one step ahead. In the end, by helping another victim, she may find it therapeutic.An impressive debut and series, a fast-paced page-turner. Skillful writer, Carla Norton keeps you in suspense, while building intensity, with well-developed characters, hooking you from the first page to the end. She has a special talent of diving deep into the psychological minds of her characters, making for a compelling and taunt crime mystery thriller. Her background is definitively reflective throughout the pages of this well-written series. Be sure and read WHAT DOESN’T KILL HER (Reeve LeClaire Series, #1), coming June 30, 2015 for a continuation of this special character. Looking forward to the next in the series. Psychological crime thriller fans will devour this suspense series!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Edge of Normal is a very satisfying thriller. You know what I mean...the bad guy gets what's coming to him. Our heroine emerges victorious. Manages to save the day for someone else for another young version of herself. I didn't want to put it down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Interesting characters. Interesting topic. Suspenseful.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    “The Edge of Normal” by Carla NortonPay it forward. A term many of us have come to know and have done, I’m sure, at least once. That’s what Reeve LeClaire is doing in “The Edge of Normal.” Reeve is a past victim trying to overcome her kidnapping and torture as a teenager. Now in her early twenties, she’s still seeing Dr. Lerner on a weekly basis. But he leaves town in order to counsel another young girl, whose situation is eerily similar to Reeve’s nightmare from ten years prior.Reeve gets a call from Dr. Lerner while he’s away. The family of the newest victim wants her to come and speak to their daughter Tilly. Since Reeve has been through the acclimation back into society after a brutal assault, they think her strength may help Tilly. Albeit hesitantly, Reeve agrees to try and assist the young girl.Helping Tilly is more than an emotional trial for Reeve. She has to relive what the monster did to her in order for Tilly to come to terms with what’s happened. But then Tilly reveals to Reeve things about two other young missing girls, Hannah and Abby. Reeve is bound to keep Tilly’s secret, but knows she needs to do something. She goes out on her own and tries to find evidence that the police haven’t located. She makes headway, but now it’s her life that hangs, once again, in the hands of another.An absolute thrill from page one to the end. I must admit that just before the end, I thought, “Oh, no. Norton is going to disappoint me. She can’t do this.” For just a second, I wanted to put the book down. Boy, am I glad I didn’t! Wow! Norton blew me away! You will not believe the ending; just when I thought it was over and I don’t get…never mind. I can’t say anymore without giving it away. Suffice to say, you have to read this book!Reviewed by Starr Gardinier Reina, author of “The Other Side: Melinda’s Story”
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I won this book from LibraryThing's EarlyReviewer program.I entered the giveaway because the author's other book, Perfect Victim, is on my TBR list and also because the premise intrigued me. The subject matter of this novel, captivity, escape/rescue, and survival, has been in the news recently. Survivors such as Elizabeth Smart, Jaycee Duggard, and the victims of Ariel Caruso have come forward to recount their horrific and traumatic experiences."Enjoy" seems like the wrong word given the subject matter of this book, but I liked the writing style, language, dialogue, and character development. Throughout the novel, Norton writes from the various perspectives of the characters, a signature style of some of my favorite authors. Also, the chapters are short and each ends with a cliffhanger that made me want to continue reading. It was difficult to put down, a real page-turner.The author devotes a lot of time to describing the surveillance activities of "Duke." Although very enlightening, it was very disturbing to learn that one's privacy can be violated so easily and unknowingly.As I was nearing the conclusion, it seemed to me that the author was rushing the ending and the unveiling of the culprit was a disappointment. I didn't think the guilty party got what he/she deserved and was all set to lower my star rating. I was so wrong. I have seen/read so much suspense media that I am often able to predict plots -- not this time. My favorite authors/directors are those who keep me guessing. Carla Norton is the newest addition to my list.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    DNF'd halfway through, very predictable, mediocre writing, reeks of debut novel syndrome.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A thriller--not my usual fare. Kept me reading. Reminiscent of Lovely Bones.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Edge of Normal is a very satisfying thriller. You know what I mean...the bad guy gets what's coming to him. Our heroine emerges victorious. Manages to save the day for someone else for another young version of herself. I didn't want to put it down.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Twenty-five years ago, author Carla Norton wrote a nonfiction true crime bestseller called “Perfect Victim.” It sold over a million copies. It was the detailed and well-documented horrific story of Colleen Stan, a young hitchhiker who was picked up in California by a man and his wife and kept captive as a sex slave for seven years. Stan was called “the woman in the box” because her captors kept her locked up under their bed at night in a wooden box. The experience of investigating and writing that book left the author so traumatized that she stopped writing true crime. A few years ago, Carla went back to college to learn the art of writing fiction and now she’s back in the publishing world with a debut novel, “The Edge of Normal.” It’s a chilling suspense thriller about a sadistic sex kidnapper, his three young teenage victims, and the savvy, emotionally fragile woman who bests him at his game.The book is fast-paced and packed with suspense. From the beginning, we know who the monster is and why he is so successful. This knowledge drives the suspense. The sadistic rapist and kidnapper is a police officer! He’s the regional expert on high-tech surveillance…so he has access to a toy box full of advanced tools that he can use for his evil desires. Because we know up front who the monster is and what he’s up to, this book virtually simmers with suspense.However, the best thing about this book is not the suspense, but its main character, Reeve LeClaire. She’s a breakout new type of heroine, a psychologically fragile woman who blossoms into an avenging fighter. When Reeve was twelve, she was kidnapped by a sadistic sex pervert and held hostage for four years. When the novel opens, Reeve is twenty-two years old. She’s still psychologically damaged and fragile, but thanks to Dr. Ezra Lerner—one of the nation’s leading experts on “Captivity Syndrome”—Reeve’s almost completed her long road to recovery. As the book opens, Dr. Lerner gets called to help a young rescued kidnapping victim. The parents of the teenager ask to meet with Reeve. They think she might be able to help their daughter since both were victims of similar types of sadistic sex perverts. Reeve agrees. But she gets far more than what she expected. Events spin out of control. Reeve is soon the focus of the monster cop’s attention. Eventually, the book turns into a cat-and-mouse game; not only is Reeve’s life on the line, but also the lives of two other young girls who are still being held captive. I enjoyed this book. It was well written and it made me feel creepy and scared. But I didn’t love it. This book is a suspense thriller. I expected a psychological suspense thriller…and that’s not what this was. There’s a big difference. I wanted the author to focus more on the subtle hidden psychological motivations driving her two main characters’ actions. That’s why I read fiction, because it gives you entrée into the minds of its characters. In true crime nonfiction, readers are given all the facts and the readers are supposed to try to figure out the motivations using that knowledge. But in fiction, authors have access to a powerful tool: they can take you deep into the minds of their characters to reveal subtle complex hidden motivations. Sure, in this novel we are privy to what Reeve and the monster cop are thinking, but that’s not the same as really focusing on their complex inner psychological makeup. Norton doesn’t do that; this novel is all about suspense and action. This book is a very good suspense thriller. Don’t hesitate to buy it if you like that type of fiction. But if you need your suspense thrillers to also have complex psychological content, you might want to look elsewhere.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reeve LeClaire has been forced to rebuild her life with a new name, new location, and attempts at "normal" life. Reeve was kidnapped when she was twelve and held captive for nearly four years by a sadistic pedophile rapist. She has physical, emotional and mental scars that she is still learning to overcome. She knows that she may look normal, but that appearances are often deceiving. She is easily frightened and often nervous in new situations and around new people. Six years after her abduction she is still in therapy. She's recently been fired from her waitressing job, isn't looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday with her family (simply because she isn't the "normal" child), and wonders where her life is going to lead. She abruptly decides to accept her therapist's request to be available to a young kidnap and torture victim.Reeve isn't quite sure what kind of help she can provide to Tilly, but she quickly vows to help it whatever way she can. As the District Attorney's office and police investigate Tilly's return, it quickly becomes apparent to Reeve, that this case is highly political. She wants justice for Tilly but not if it means Tilly's peace of mind is destroyed. As the investigation develops, Reeve may be an innocent bystander but she quickly becomes a fierce protector and is willing to go the extra mile to ensure the truth is revealed with no adverse consequences to Tilly. What follows is a high-stakes game of cat-and-mouse between Reeve, the investigators and the real kidnapper. Will she be able to uncover the truth and find the other missing girls before it's too late?Ms. Norton has provided a suspense thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. It was amazing to watch Reeve become this fearless crusader on behalf of her young friend, Tilly. Reeve is no longer this nervous and frightened young woman but almost an avenging angel. Reading about what Reeve, Tilly and the other young girls endured at the hands of their crazed kidnappers was heartbreaking. Although Reeve undergoes a massive change in her personality, I didn't find that unbelievable. There are parts of The Edge of Normal that are dark and disturbing, but unfortunately we live in a world filled with the dark and disturbing. Ms. Norton doesn't sugarcoat the atrocities these girls suffer but she doesn't stuff it down the reader's throat either by going into extreme detail. The Edge of Normal is more than a suspense thriller, it is also a coming-of-age story, as well as a good-overcomes-evil story. The subject may not be for everyone, but I found it to be presented in a respectful manner making for one great read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Edge of Normal is a chilling debut fiction novel by Carla Norton, best known for her true crime expose, Perfect Victim: The True Story of "The Girl in the Box". Winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award for best unpublished mystery, it is being published in most major markets.Regina Victoria LeClaire was twelve when she was kidnapped and held prisoner for nearly four years by a sexual sadist. Her escape was miraculous but at twenty two, Reeve, as she is now known, is still struggling to overcome the horror of her experience. When news breaks that a missing girl has been found after enduring similar circumstances to those Reeve suffered, Reeve's therapist, Dr Lerner, invites her to join him with a view to befriending the young victim and help in her recovery. Reeve is reluctant, worried Tilly's story will endanger her own fragile equilibrium, but she quickly bonds with the young girl whose fear is still strong, despite her captor being jailed. Then Tilly reveals a secret to Reeve that she refuses to share with anyone else, there was not one man involved in her abduction but two, and the one she named Mister Monster is still out there.We know from the outset who Mister Monster is, he is a local police officer, a surveillance expert, and a cunning predator who has developed an elaborate system to satisfy his sadistic pleasures. An omniscient narrator allows us to witness how this monster is able to evade detection and allows the reader a glimpse into the depravity that drives him.Reeve is an interesting protagonist, uniquely suited to be the heroine of this story. It is wonderful to see her shed her identity as a victim and begin to view herself as a survivor. It is equally satisfying, if perhaps a little bit of a stretch, to have Reeve be the one to unravel the monster's intricate layers of self protection.The plot is fairly predictable but the tension is sustained in part by the unknown fate of two other missing girls, Hannah and Abby, and Reeve and Tilly's vulnerability to the monster. The pace is fast, short chapters encourage you to keep turning the pages and the resolution is pleasingly neat.Norton draws on her knowledge and understanding of similar crimes to deliver a taut thriller in The Edge of Normal. Well written and absorbing, I'm happy to recommend it to fans of author's like Chevy Stevens and heather Gudenkauf.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Reeve had been held as a plaything for a sexual sadist for four long years. It has taken her six long years under the care of Dr. Lerner, her psychiatrist, before she could even begin to heal and get on with her life. Even after that time she still has dreams and moments of panic. When another young girl Tilly is rescued, held under similar circumstances, Dr, Lerner asks Reeve to help. This is a good solid book, a hard book to read in many ways because of the subject matter but thankfully the author does not dwell on these scenes. The best part of this story is without doubt the character of Reeve. Of course I don't have the background to be fully informed but I did feel she embodied the different aspects of recovering from this type of trauma. There was one part in this book that did not quite ring true, but all the same this is an exciting thriller.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    My rating: 4 of 5 starsThe Edge of Normal by Carla Norton is a Minotaur publication set for release in September of 2013. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the DRC of this book. Reeve LaClaire is the survivor of kidnapping, rape, and torture. She was held captive for over 3 years and now a decade later, she is still unable to live a "normal" life. She is close to her father, but her sister has the 'shouldn't she be over it by now' attitude. Reeve also finds it difficult to be touched, to hold down a steady job, and to have friends, much less lovers. The media attention that has followed her since her abduction caused her change her name from Regina to Reeve. The nasty moniker "Edgy Reggie" as she was dubbed after she was found is blessedly a thing of the past. Dr. Lerner is still her doctor after all this time. When another young girl is found after spending a significant time imprisoned, Dr. Lerner is consulted. However, Tilly Cavanaugh's parents are reluctant to bring him on board due to his being a man. They want to know if Reeve will come and visit Tilly and speak of her experiences with Dr. Lerner. Once Reeve agrees to see Tilly, a number of things begin to take shape. First of all there are two other missing girls. Tilly's kidnapper has been arrested, but there is no word from Tilly or the kidnapper- Randy Vanderholt about the other girls. Tilly's experiences are remarkably like Reeve's. The two girls bond uneasily at first, but eventually they are both able to open up about the horrors they both endured. Despite the arrest of Randy, things still don't seem to add up entirely. Tilly may have information she had been concealing for the protection not only of herself, but her family as well. But, once Reeve discovers Tilly's secret, she goes on a one woman mission to find the other girls and prevent more kidnappings. She is sure there is still at least one more predator out there and he may be a wolf in sheep's clothing. This book explores the difficult topic of surviving the experience of being held prisoner, being tortured, and raped repeatedly over a period of years. The psychological damage that one would have to live with on a daily basis, and the inability of others to relate to being that type of victim. Families walking on eggshells, friends not knowing what to say or now to act around you, feeling distanced from the world as a whole. The physical and emotional scars that linger. The first part of the book deals with the aspect of Tilly's reliance on Reeve and her attempt to gain back some normalcy in her life. We also see law enforcement trying to gather as much information about the kidnapping and not really being all that sensitive to the victim or those trying to treat the girl. We are of course shown the media barrage that follows in the aftermath. Seeing your face of television, having the details of your experience splashed all over 200 cable channels, being analyzed and picked over. However, not all the members of the press were unfeeling. One member of the press was of great help in this case. The second part of the book deals with Tilly's startling revelation, Reeve being sworn to secrecy, and her own investigation. The heart pounding conclusion was incredibly intense. The recent headlines regarding the Ariel Castro kidnappings has this subject fresh in our minds. But, this author has wrote true crime books about this subject a while back. She draws on her expertise to bring us a taut, emotional, and terrifying novel. Reeve, gets a new outlook on life after her experiences with Tilly and becomes a true hero. I would recommend this book to mystery/thriller readers. Be warned that the subject matter is emotional, but the author handled these subjects with delicacy and didn't put graphic descriptions in the book just for shock value. The author writes the story as though we are living events right along with the characters. This was very well written, suspenseful thriller - I thing it deserves an A.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an Early LibraryThing Review. I took this book to the beach with me and loved every page. The story is told through various viewpoints, with most viewpoints from main character, Reeve LeClaire. Once I began reading, I felt that the author did a great job writing, and that I was just another character hanging on to the ride. I didn't want to put this book down until I finished. Definately a great thriller. I can't wait to read the next book by this author, maybe Reeve LeClaire can come back,because she definately can grow in maturity.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In the process of reading this now....Gooooooood read....Will check in when I am done. I love debut novels, and this one hits it out of the park. Chevy Stevens ( my favorite author ) says 'A heart pounding thrill ride...with a compelling, tough-as-nails heroine and a truly terrifying villain. I have just a few chapters left and I do not want this book to end....I also really like books with short chapters that you can pick up and read a little and go about your business with the story on your mind.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Readers with tiny preadolescent daughters may want to avoid this fiction debut from Carla Norton. The rest of us will have mixed reviews of THE EDGE OF NORMAL, depending on the type of thrillers we favor.Norton's protagonist, Reeve LeClaire, is a 22-year-old still recovering from being kidnapped at age twelve and held captive for over three and a half years. When her revered therapist is called in to help another young girl found alive after an abduction, her family requests that Reeve be brought in as well. In the meantime, two other 12-year-olds are still missing. Were they kidnapped by the same man and if so, are they still alive?Norton, "an expert on the psychological aspects of captivity and survival" certainly knows her way around the mindset of a sadistic pedophile. Her villain is creepy and convincing. That said, she needs some help with plotting and the use of red herrings. In each case, some work while others do not. And the ending feels a bit forced given the cunning nature of Norton's antagonist.Another concern is Reeve's character. Norton can't seem to decide if she's incredibly savvy and brave or fool-hardy and misguided. If her hope is to make this a series she will need to flesh out her young heroine.This book will be enjoyed by readers of Chevy Stevens, in particular, and Jeffery Deaver, both of whom provided blurbs for it.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence my thoughts in any way. Reeve was twelve years old when she was kidnapped by a pedophile. She was held captive for 4 years before being rescued. She has spent the last 6 years trying to heal. At the start of this story she is asked to meet with Tilly, a young girl who had also been kidnapped and tortured. Reeve agrees and becomes involved in trying to find two other missing girls. I thought that this was a good suspenseful book. It had a good plot and kept my interest. I liked the main character Reeve and thought the author did a good job of realistically portraying someone who had suffered the traumas that she did. I was a little disappointed that I didn't find it as terrifying as some of the other reviewers, however that may say more about me than about the book.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Reeve LeClaire, 22, lives in California and meets with psychiatrist, Dr. Lerner, the leading authority on captivity syndrome. Reeve was kidnapped at the age of 12, and disappeared without a trace. Held in captivity for four years, she is set free by accident when the car she is concealed in is involved in an accident. Daryl Wayne Flint, kidnapper and abuser, is sent to a mental institution by a crafty lawyer. Through determination and support, Reeve has transformed herself into an independent young woman found a job she likes. Then Dr. Lerner gets a call from nearby Jefferson City that another girl, Tilly Cavanaugh, has been found alive after being held captive and chained in a basement for thirteen months. Asking Reeve for her help and insight, Dr. Lerner and Reeve help Tilly while trying to determine if she has knowledge of Abby Hill or Hannah Creighton who have also disappeared in the last 2 years. Randy Vanderholt, 35, is being held for the kidnapping, but proclaims he has no knowledge of the other two missing local girls.Suspenseful, The Edge of Normal keeps the reader engaged until the final page. Will Abby and Hannah be found alive? Is there a connection between the abductions that will lead the investigators to the missing girls?
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In THE EDGE OF NORMAL by Carla Norton, Reeve LeClaire is a twenty-two year old who was held captive for four years as a pre-teen/teen. She is six years removed from her ordeal when she's asked to help another girl who has just escaped a similar situation. Norton has written a tightly constructed psychological thriller that gave me no choice but to stop everything I had planned for a Sunday morning so that I could tear through the book. This isn't a mystery--the reader knows who the bad guy is from the beginning--but there isn't a point in the book where I felt I could safely assume that any particular outcome was assured.As noted by Jeffrey Deaver in the blurb on the front of the book, Norton does a fantastic job of blending the literary and thriller genres, and her sometimes poetic writing is never a distraction from the action of the book.I have only one teeny tiny complaint, and it's that Reeve's transformation from a timid kidnapping/abuse survivor who has been working through her PTSD for six years to a fierce warrior woman is a little rapid, but I'm no expert in such matters, so it's easy enough to let that pass when immersed in the story.This book would be great for fans of Gillian Flynn's and David Bell's books. THE EDGE OF NORMAL goes on sale in September 2013, and I hope Carla Norton is working on another right now.I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for my unbiased review.