Samantha M. Bailey | WOMAN ON THE EDGE

Plot (via Goodreads):

A moment on the platform changes two lives forever. But nothing is as it seems...

'Take my baby.'

In a split second, Morgan's life changes forever. A stranger hands her a baby, then jumps in front of a train.

Morgan has never seen the woman before and she can't understand what would cause a person to give away her child and take her own life.

When the police question Morgan, she discovers none of the witnesses can corroborate her version of events. And when they learn Morgan longs for a baby of her own, she becomes a suspect.

To prove her innocence, Morgan frantically tries to retrace the last days of the woman's life. She begins to understand that Nicole Markham believed she and her baby were in danger. Now Morgan might be in danger, too.

Was Nicole a new mother struggling with paranoia?

Or was something much darker going on?

Review:

Woman on the Edge is an emotionally charged, fast-paced psychological thriller with two brilliant character perspectives and a plethora of unsettling aspects that weaves together the perfect crime fiction read. This story blends together the mystery and thriller genre wonderfully with a story that features two characters who have such different lives and so much in their personal lives that they feel like real people, not just two people looking to get to the bottom of a mystery. I absolutely loved this stunning debut novel and I am saying it right now - Samantha M. Bailey is going places...and at the speed of light.

The plot to this novel is seemingly mysterious, but once you start it, you'll have no willpower when it comes to putting this one down. The plot is multi-layered and immersive, generously-paced and addictive, poignant and jaw-dropping in its prose. I loved the contrast between not only two very strong female leads, but the dual timeline and how the pieces of this puzzle bounced off each perspective into their perfect places. If someone put a gun to my head and asked me if I preferred Morgan or Nicole's perspectives more, I would choose the bullet. These women were fantastically written, realistic, and free of any cliches. I found their stories and their characters to be sensational and timely. The secondary characters were so much fun to read as well. Some are rather shady, some are comedic, some build the plot, but everyone was in their right place and each character had their time to shine. I give major props to authors who use their characters effectively and don't just throw so many people at me at once when I'm reading. Bailey did this productively and it really paid off.

There is a lot that goes on in this novel, there is a lot that happens, and there are a ton of little revelations leading up to the big reveal. This is not a light novel by any means, but it is not gory or overly violent, so I think it's the perfect read for someone who wants to get lost in a mystery or thriller but still really connect and enjoy the characters. For me, this book is a wonderful combination and what I would imagine a story would be like if someone like Emily Giffin wrote a thriller. If anyone knows me, I love Emily Giffin's characters and this is a major compliment. I can officially say that I loved this story, I loved these characters, and I am eager to follow Samantha M. Bailey's career no matter where it goes.

Special thanks to Simon Schuster Canada for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Rating: 5/5