The Book Diva's Reads

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.