“The Edge” is a debut novel (thriller) by Lucy Goacher. For a debut novel, this was a pretty gripping, interesting, and engaging book. Ms. Goacher throws red herrings about like crazy - but in a really good way. One can feel the frustration (and sadness) Clemmie feels regarding the passing of her sister, Poppy. I thought a few things were a bit too convenient in the end, but this book held my attention and made me think about “who could it be” in a wonderful way. Ms. Goacher will be on my radar for future books to read. If you like quick to read but engaging (and making you think) thriller books, do give this one a try.

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

PUBLICATION DAY: November 1, 2022

Poppy’s body was found by dog walkers early one morning; her death ruled a suicide. Clementine shoulders the blame for this terrible occurrence, not picking up her younger sister’s call on the night it happened, convinced she could have made a difference if only she’d answered. Grief stricken and unbearably guilt ridden, Clementine devotes her time to a suicide hotline, vowing to be there for anyone else in the same situation. But when Clementine meets Daniel, whose sister also died under debatable circumstances, she begins to have doubts. Was someone else responsible for Poppy’s death? Will her questions lead to salvation? Or more guilt…

PROS and CONS:
Very, very good for a debut novel! Clementine is a great main character (smart, sensitive, striving for redemption.) Her determination to get to the bottom of her sister’s death is admirable, and I liked the plethora of suspects to choose from. It gets a little bogged down in the middle, with some repetition in the investigation (notice the necklace already!), but overall it was quite good.

READ IT?
If you’re looking for…a fast paced look into a possible murder, then this one’s for you!

4 Stars

It is called the edge for many reasons. One is that it keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to know more and discover all the details of these crimes and how they are linked. Obviously the main reason is that a girl jumps from a ledge in the beginning of the book but not everyone believes it was a suicide. It was a very compelling book and I had a hard time putting it down. I would definitely read more books by this author!!!

A superb fast paced thriller. I absolutely loved the story and couldn’t stop reading it. It’s perfect for all readers, especially thriller lovers.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book! There were so many surprises and twists throughout the entire book. And an amazing twist at the end! An amazing debut from this author. I cannot wait to read more by Lucy Goacher.

It took me a bit to get into the book but the beginning builds up the story and is ultimately important for the plot. I liked the main character and felt the author did a great job with character development. This book deals with some heavy subjects, which the author handled really well.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book.
I liked this and would read future titles by this author. The action slowed way down about halfway through. Towards the end, instead of red herrings, it was like she couldn't make up her mind who the killer was going to be. I would recommend this but not at the top of your list. Kudos to the friends who stuck with Clementine and helped her at the end. A nice debut.

The Edge starts off with one of the most perfect, beautiful, HAIR-RAISING first chapters I've ever read. It had me by the throat, and I couldn't put the book down.

Lucy EXCELS are gorgeous writing. It's just the right side of pacey and lyrical, and her characters are so nuanced and fleshed out. The twists come fast and furious, and at just the right time. I adored the mental health angle, and how many viable suspects we had! I didn't trust anyone. ANY ONE OF THEM could've done it, in the most believable of ways.

Without giving too many spoilers, the only thing that niggled at me was I would've loved for the mc to not fall in love with the murderer for another reason besides realizing she was a lesbian--there were so many other reasons that could've been more compelling without going that route.

But that said, that was mostly at the end, and I did thoroughly enjoy the book. I can't wait to see what Lucy writes next.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

-A

The Edge by Lucy Goacher was a total shocker! And one heck of a debut!

I love her writing style and the way she fleshes her character’s personality so explicitly!
This book is brilliantly written with the tension almost palpable.
The Edge kept up a fast pace with plenty of twists and I was kept guessing throughout.
Densely plotted and wonderfully compelling that will be devoured in a single sitting.
Lucy Goacher brilliantly captivates and engages, leaving the reader enthralled from start to finish.
A gripping page-turner that will have you completely hooked until the utterly jaw-dropping twist.
I'm so thrilled to have read this book. Now I have a new author to look forward to reading more stories by.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thomas & Mercer,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

A sister tries to learn the reason for her sister’s suicide…depressing and lengthy…this is a sad book…the characters are all working together to be helpful in the midst of the sadness. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review.

This was a heart-wrenching mystery about a gal whose younger sister dies in what appears to be a suicide. Clementine carries guilt and doubt, and this changes the course of her life. She leaves school and moves back home, begins to work at a suicide prevention line, all the while trying to come to terms with what happened to Poppy. She finds similar instances of suicide and tries to link the deaths. She walks a fine line between acceptance of Poppy's suicide and denial-obsession. This is a great psychological thriller. It is also a very realistic portrayal of the emotional turmoil experienced with the sudden death of a loved one, especially under questionable circumstances. Incredibly well written, with many twists and turns, and an incredibly wild surprise ending! Superb!

I was in a reading slump when I came across this book and it really helped me get out of it! The pace of the book, with different points of view interwoven with each other had me on the edge of my seat.

Clem is volunteering at a suicide helpline in the wake of her sister’s death when she gets a phone call from Daniel. He is adamant his sister was murdered and the more Clem hears his story she cannot help but draw parallels to her sister’s demise. Can she find the killer? And can she convince her family that Poppy didn’t jump off the edge?

This book is written so cleverly I absolutely loved it! This is a different type of crime thriller than I am used to and it was a refreshing theme change. For those who love crime fiction and want a different twist on the genre then this is perfect for you.

In the end the book is good. I’m glad I didn’t stop after the first quarter which was rather heavy handed and repetitive. We get it, suicide is devastating to those left behind, forever looking for missed signs or wishing they did something to intervene. Clementine lost her sister to murder-staged- as suicide in the prologue . She feels guilty. She joins support groups and volunteers at a helpline. When the coroner rules the death a suicide, Clemmie vows to go back over her sisters last few months. This is a major shift in the style and feel of the novel Suddenly we are in the throes of an exciting thriller where Clemmie discovers incriminating evidence
and all the men in her life are suspects. Two stars for first third, five for the rest!

This was a great book right from the start it had me hooked. I raced through this one and at times I gasped as I was reading. I highly recommend this one if you like a creepy and brooding thriller. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Absolutely loved and read this book in a single setting! Can’t believe this was the author’s debut novel. There were so many twists and turns that I’ll be thinking about this book for a while! This book is an about a woman, Clementine, founds out that her sister has committed suicide. Clementine doesn’t want to believe that her bright and artistic sister would have done such a thing. Especially, after talking to her sister’s friends who told her she was in a serious relationship. Also, she spoke with a man named Daniel, whose sister’s death is also been written off as a suicide. However, he has proof otherwise. This book held me in a chokehold and wouldn’t let up. I would definitely recommend this book! Can’t wait for more of the authors work!

Lucy Goacher's <i>The Edge</i> is a solid mystery/thriller with a somewhat unusual structure. We know by the end of the prologue that the victim, Poppy, was murdered--and we know exactly who did it. Sort of. (It was her boyfriend.) But who exactly is this murderous man?

Fast forward six months. Poppy's sister, Clementine, is struggling to come to terms with Poppy's apparent suicide. It just doesn't make sense. She can't believe her sister would kill herself. Before long, Clementine starts to suspect the truth: Poppy was murdered by her mysterious new boyfriend--a man who changes his identity to charm his way into his victims' lives. Poppy wasn't his only victim. And Clementine has reason to believe she may be the killer's next target.

This is where it gets <i>really</i> good.

It's rare for me to stay up late reading--I love my sleep way too much--but this book kept me up long past my bedtime. Once I hit the 80% mark I just had to keep going until I knew how it ended. And the ending didn't disappoint.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed here are my own.