Oh heck yes! Woman On The Edge certainly delivered everything I could ever ask for in a thriller. Twists & turns, fantastic plot, well developed characters and engaging writing!! I read this book in two sittings ... and only because I had to take a break to feed the family, haha! I didn't want to put this down. Though I did figure out who the villian was very early on in the book I was still surprised by the motive. Definitely a new fav author! Can't wait to see what's next.

Huge thank you to Simon & Schuster for my review copy!

This thriller was very intense and it played out just like a movie would have. The characters were very compelling and I had to keep reading to try to figure out what was going to happen to them. The book starts out with our main character being thrust a baby right before the woman in front of her takes her own life by jumping in front of a train. Now Morgan must figure out what is going on. Who was that woman? Why did she kill herself? And what is going to happen to this infant that is now in her care? The book is told through both perspectives Morgan as well as Nicole the decease woman. It was a very creative way to write it because you got to see different perspectives on what was happening in both of their lives at the time and what led them both to that platform that fateful day. I loved both of the characters they were very interesting and I wanted
the best for them both even after Nicole was deceased I wanted to know why she chose to do what she did. While the story jumps back and forth between both women and the past and present the author was very clear in exactly what time frame we were in and I didn't get all confused like I normally do in these types of stories. This thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat and questioning everything that you've read. Our main characters will pull you in and never let you go as you dig deeper and deeper into their mysteries. I loved this book and I'm very glad that I got the chance to check it out. There were two different stories but they were so well intertwined with each other that each one gave details on the other and it made for a very different but pleasant read. If you like thrillers than this books is one that you shouldn't miss, but clear your schedule though because you won't be able to put this one down once you start.

Imagine waiting for the subway home, lost in thought.

Suddenly, an unkempt complete stranger says your name and thrusts an impeccably taken care of baby in your arms, then jumps.

Heavy-hearted, demure, Morgan Kincaid, is living in the shadow of her embezzling husband’s suicide. Full of shame, guilt, regret - getting through each day for her, is a struggle. But Morgan’s life is about to explode in the most unimaginable way.

The confident, uber-successful CEO of her own company, Nicole Markham unexpectedly finds herself pregnant. Thrilled nonetheless, Nicole’s happiness about becoming a mother is plagued by harsh self-doubt and haunting memories of a past she cannot reconcile with.

Morgan becomes a prime suspect with the police hot on her trail, digging into her past looking for a connection to Nicole and prove her guilt. But Morgan did not know Nicole and has no idea why a total stranger would name her as guardian of this baby. Taking things into her own hands, Morgan sets out to clear her name and discover how she is involved, and why Nicole would do such a bizarre thing.

Nicole’s post-partum and sleep deprivation take a toll – she can’t make sense of things, starts losing track of time, and slips into total dishevelment. Her husband has no tolerance for it and leaves. Alone and insecure, the unrelenting memories of her past fuel her fear over the safety of her baby. Soon, Nicole is spiralling lower into delusional, emotional instability and paranoia, until she can no longer tell what is real and what is mania.

This riveting, page-turning debut novel by Canadian author Samantha M. Bailey, had me thoroughly invested in the characters, anticipating at every twist, and unable to stop until I read every last thrilling written word.

From the very first page, Woman on the Edge, starts in high gear and you’re riding shotgun.

Highly and most enthusiastically recommend Woman on the Edge.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the read of Samantha M. Bailey’s, Woman on the Edge.

The opinions expressed in my reviews are my own.

I have read a few of Lisa Jewell's books so I was excited when I got the chance to review The Family Upstairs.

The Family Upstairs is a story about Libby Jones. She's living a pretty simple life designing kitchens. Libby was adopted when she was a few months old. On her 25th birthday she inherits her birth parents estate. She has no idea what the inheritance might entail - she is just excited to know more about her birth parents. Libby is very surprised to find out that she is now the owner of a mansion. She's rich!

Many people have been waiting for Libby to turn 25. This mansion holds a whopper of a story and it's tale is not over yet. With the help of a newspaper reporter, Libby begins to unravel the history of the mansion and those who lived there.

The Family Upstairs is filled with tons of twists and turns that kept me intrigued right to the end. This novel comes out on November 5th, 2019. It is available for pre-order from Indigo.

I quite enjoyed Woman on the Edge, the synopsis of this book drew me in right away and the story kept me furiously flipping the pages, not wanting to put it down. The characters were well developed, and who doesn't love a pair of unreliable narrators? I must admit I had the twist figured out pretty early, but there was enough doubt in my mind throughout that it didn't take away from it for me at all. As a mother, even after flipping the last page, I've continued to think about Nicole's story and it pains me to think actual real new moms could be feeling some of those same feelings of doubt, paranoia and inadequacy. Pick this one up if you're looking for a page turning, fast paced psychological thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Did you get the last line of the blurb above? This is one of those books that is embedded in my brain right now on so many levels. It starts with a bang and literally doesn’t let go until the end. And even then I still think about Nicole, I feel for her and can’t help thinking things that I can’t even talk about in this review (keeping it spoiler-free is hard when there is much I want to say).

So suffice to say Woman on the Edge is a fast-paced story that kept me glued to my kindle. It had me trying to solve the puzzle before all the pieces were put together. It dealt with issues though common - guilt, fear and loneliness but the deeper emotional changes after giving birth.

Every book affects the individual reader in different ways, this one touched me maybe more so with one of the layers than others, making this an emotional read as well as being suspenseful and an addicting book.

This is the author's debut and I am impressed, sure hope we don't have to wait 6 years for her next one.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for an e-arc (via Netgalley) in exchange for an honest review.

A woman on the subway hands her baby to a stranger before jumping in front of an oncoming train. But are they really strangers ? And did she really jump? This opening premise grabbed me right away and the book kept the twists coming in this fast-paced debut that was perfect to sneak into my #thrilleroctober reads.
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Morgan and Nicole are both well- written characters and I sympathized with each of them on their respective journeys. Bailey does a great job creating the building paranoia and loneliness of Nicole’s life, while giving her humanity through the love of her child. ⁣
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While I did predict the twist, it did not take away from my overall enjoyment of the book. Pick this one up if you’re looking for a twisty, fast- paced read!⁣
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Out in paperback in 🇨🇦 Nov 26! Thank you to @netgalley and @simonschusterca for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. ⁣

Woman on edge
This was one crazy ride. I could not put it down. This was a well written, quick paced intense physiological thriller. I was on the edge of my seat and feeling so many feelings.

This book is one that is perfect to go into not knowing a lot because this book will make you question along with both Nicole and Morgan. Your heart will hurt for both of these woman.

The twists were well set up and I love a book where the twist still surprises me but it’s foreshadowed well.

This book was definitely a 4.5, there was only one part where I struggled with a character and had a hard time reconciling with what we had already known.

This one had me hooked immediately! The back and forth between protagonists had me wondering if either of them were reliable, but also questioning everyone else too. I did quickly figure out the villain, but not the motive. A fast paced, engrossing read!! 5* from me!

4.5 STARS - This compelling and intriguing premise will snag readers from the get-go. A woman suddenly hands her baby to an unsuspecting woman, seconds before she jumps in front of the train. Say wha?! This emotional and shocking scene is just the start of the suspenseful and impressive debut novel of Canadian author Samantha M. Bailey.

Within her a compulsive and twisty plot, Bailey incorporates the struggles of new motherhood, mental illness with believably flawed, yet resilient female characters which culminate into an intense and suspenseful read that will keep readers riveted until the final pages.

Impressive, suspenseful, clever and thought-provoking. What more could you ask for?

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for providing me with a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Net Galley, Samantha M. Bailey and Simon and Schuster Canada for the opportunity to read this book. The title was appropriate as I was in edge the whole time I read it. It is a fast paced suspenseful book with great characters. It centres around Nichole, a mother with a newborn and Morgan, a woman who has recently lost her husband and every thing she owned. When tragedy strikes Morgan is the prime suspect. What follows is a back and forth look at Nichole’s day to day life leading up to her tragic death and Morgan trying to find the truth. It will keep you thinking the whole time, not knowing who the “good guy “ is. Lots of misleading trails will keep you wondering and eager to get to the end of the book. I enjoyed the suspense and felt for Nichole. A definite must read for those that love suspense and mystery.

Thanks @netgalley and @simonschusterca for giving me access to this book. When I saw the cover I knew I wanted to read this book and was glad I did. I also didn’t realize the other is 🇨🇦 which is very cool.
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Woman on the Edge is the story of two women who’s lives become intertwined. Nicole, is a seemingly well adjusted, strong individual and CEO of her own company. When she becomes pregnant and later has her baby her life starts to unravel. She experiences post-partum depression and eventually commits suicide while leaving her baby to a stranger. The other woman is Morgan, she is infamous as her husband killed himself after being apart of a scandal. Morgan is alone and a social pariah. Her life is turned upside down when a stranger throw her baby at her in the subway station and then jumps off the platform.
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The story continues on going back and forth between Nicole’s experience as a new mother and Morgan trying to figure out why Nicole left her child to her.
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This book was fantastic, it was action packed and there was no real lull in the story. I was in suspense the entire time I was reading and could not put down the book. I really have come to enjoy the writing style of going back and forth between characters perspectives. I also found the book at the perfect level of build up from beginning to end. For once in a long time I didn’t feel the ending was rushed at all. The author did a nice job of tying together all the loose ends. The ending wasn’t readily apparent and I couldn’t have guessed what happened. I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys thrillers as this should be near the top of your TBR.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

On a subway platform in Chicago, Morgan Kincaid’s life is changed forever when a stranger hands her a baby, then jumps in front of an oncoming train. Morgan can't understand why someone would give their child to a complete stranger and take their own life.

Unfortunately, Morgan's involvement runs deeper when she's considered a suspect in the death of the woman. But Morgan has never seen her before that day. With no witnesses to corroborate her version of events, things are not looking good.

To clear her name, Morgan tries to piece together Nicole Markham's final days. Nicole believed that she, and her new baby, were in danger. Or was she a new mother struggling with postpartum depression and paranoia? And what is Morgan's connection to all of this? As she gets closer to the truth, one thing become apparent, her life is also in danger.

I was hooked right from the start!

In this explosive novel, Bailey deftly alternates between Morgan's and Nicole's stories, past and present. One of the women is struggling with her grief and the desire to become a mother, the other is struggling with becoming a mother and the overwhelming desire to protect her child.

Nicole's anxiety is compounded by the guilt of a traumatic event in her past. Her angst is palpable, as are her fears of motherhood, and she becomes a shell of her former self—a far cry from the successful CEO of her own company. Morgan's life fell apart when her husband committed suicide as a result of being found guilty of embezzlement. She was left with the repercussions, including the police thinking that she was his accomplice. The two women are forever joined by tragedy, but what is their connection?

The character descension and strong pacing ratchet up the tension. Cleverly delivered in short, suspenseful chapters, readers will grapple with not only who to believe, but with also not being able to put the book down.

With the speed of a train, this incredible debut comes careening down the tracks. It is exhilarating, tense, and consuming.

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey is a fast-paced thriller that is a most impressive debut from an exciting new voice. I was pulled in immediately and was virtually propelled through a well executed and utterly compelling storyline. I felt fully invested in the stories of both Morgan and Nicole from the very start, and was tearing through the pages to find answers.

Morgan Kincaid is standing on a train platform in Chicago when a woman approaches, hands her baby to Morgan, asking her to love and care for her, and then proceeds to throw herself onto the tracks. Morgan is stupefied. Who was this woman, and why would she entrust her precious daughter to the care of a complete stranger? Told from the alternating perspectives of Morgan and Nicole, the victim, the motives of each woman become unclear, particularly as Morgan becomes a person of interest in the case, far beyond that of innocent bystander.

This is an exciting, gripping read that I found to be highly addictive. I cannot wait to see what comes next from this talented new author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC.

Morgan's already had a lifetime of tragedy and infamy thanks to her husband, Ryan Galloway. He committed suicide after defrauding investors of their life savings, including her family and friends, and has left her to face the consequences. As a social worker at Haven House, Morgan works with women in distress. A homeless woman tosses a baby into Morgan's arms at the subway station and then falls into the path of a train, As the truth comes out about the mother and child, Morgan becomes the prime suspect in what is being described as a murder instead of a suicide.

Morgan feels compelled to investigate to clear her name. The investigation is intense and finding a connection them is something the police are unable to find. The dead woman's life is the source of so much of the drama and the unraveling of the new mother.

An excellent ending and the pace never let up the entire book. A touch of romance helps lift the depressing story of one woman's life by the joy in the others.

Was good not great. Made me keep reading to see what would happen. But not a book that will stick with me.

Thanks to the publisher and net galley for an early release of this book.

What if you're on a subway platform and a total stranger hands you her baby then jumps in front of a train? It's an incredibly tense concept, and one that hooked me immediately.

Woman on the Edge is a quick and exciting read. The first half was really strong, as the novel introduces us to the cast of characters. The woman who jumped turns out to be Nicole, a powerful CEO of a health and wellness organization who is haunted by the death of a baby in her care twenty years ago. The woman who receives the baby is Morgan, a social worker whose husband defrauded the women's shelter she founded then died by suicide. Morgan doesn't remember ever meeting Nicole before, yet Nicole has named her the legal guardian of her baby, Quinn. 

As the story unfolds, we learn that Nicole has been the subject of harassment by a red-haired woman for years, and that the harassment has started up again and intensified ever since Quinn was born. A red-haired woman also begins stalking Morgan, at one time almost running her over, and Morgan must solve the mystery behind Nicole's death in order to protect her own life and the life of Nicole's child. It's a gripping thriller, told in alternating chapters between Nicole and Morgan's points of view, and like Nicole and Morgan, it's hard to know whom to trust.

Unfortunately, the momentum flags a bit as the story approaches its conclusion. The latter half of the book doesn't really reveal a lot of surprising information, and the red herrings aren't quite developed enough for any of the potential villains to really have an impact. The last few chapters are a series of reveals that felt a bit too cursory to really make an impact, and felt a bit more like an info dump than anything.

The big reveal about the villain was also disappointing. Their motivation was explained, but it fell flat given how strong the story had started and how rich Nicole's backstory had been. The villain's actions also didn't quite make sense given the rest of the story; I wish there had been more hints earlier on about what they were up to. Overall, it felt more like a need to tie up loose ends than a natural outcome of events.

Still, the first half is super strong, the hook is killer, and the bits about postpartum depression and mental health are sobering. I also like how real the connection between Morgan and Nicole turns out to be, and how much a minor encounter can result in a genuine connection between two strangers.

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Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

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The review will go live on my blog Oct 9, 8 am ET.

*2.5* Stars.
I wish to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC for Woman On the Edge in return for an honest review. This was an intense psychological thriller and Samantha M. Bailey’s debut novel. She displays talent in developing a compelling premise and a twisty plot.

I failed to empathize with the flawed characters with their past secrets, tragedies, and regrets. As the twists developed, I found some of the reveals strained for credibility. An underlying menace undermined the characters’ emotional stability. The author is from Canada, but the story could be set anywhere. Like a couple of other popular Canadian mystery writers, a Canadian location is never mentioned.

Because of the author’s skill in maintaining suspense, I stayed with the book until the end. It was a quick read, with good plain, direct writing without embellishments. It showed some characters with intense love for a child and wanting to protect her at all costs to themselves. Others were more interested in the financial benefits which came with the child.

I would definitely be interested in reading this promising author’s next novel.