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judithdcollins's review against another edition
4.0
A special thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4.5 Stars
Carla Norton follows up after her riveting The Edge of Normal (Reeve LeClaire, #1) with sequel WHAT DOESN’T KILL HER (Reeve LeClaire #2) a psychological suspense thriller, with a continuation of Reeve after her brutal captivity.
Eleven years later in Seattle, Washington after 12-year-old Reeve LeClaire was kidnapped and held captive for years--an escape from her kidnapper she spent six years trying to rebuild her life, a recovery thanks in large part to her indispensable therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. In the past seven years she has changed her name from Reggie, moved to another state, enrolled in college, and left her past behind, after being tortured by Daryl in his basement for four years.
Presently, we jump to Olshaker Psychiatric Hospital South Turvey, Washington, with Daryl Wayne Flint, Reeve’s abductor who escapes from the Washington State psychiatric hospital where he has been serving his sentence. (he is one evil dude).
In San Francisco, CA Reeve is a survivor. She belongs to a cycle club, and owns her first bike since that ill-fated summer when she was twelve. At the age of twenty-three, Reeve feels her life has as an adult has finally bloomed and this effort marks yet another milestone in her recovery.
When Reeve learns Flint has escaped the psychiatric hospital, clean shaven--after killing a barber and using his clothes as disguise, a thousand thoughts crowd her head and she wonders how this psychopath could have escaped and if he has an accomplice. Her nightmares are now real, and once again she has to relive a tragedy she has worked hard to put behind her.
The FBIs and the authorities have been alerted of his escape; however, will he go into hiding or will he come after Reeve? How do you predict the behavior of the mentally ill? Flint’s fixation on Reeve renders him unlikely to commit violence in an institutional setting, says the reports. Flint’s case had been complicated by the head trauma he suffered in the car crash the night he was apprehended. Could the damage to Flint’s frontal lobe explain the violence?
Reeve and Flint have psychiatrists. Dr. Moody even wrote a book about Flint’s twisted psyche. It scared her to think she and Flint are each were bonded to their psychiatrists. They’ve likely been treated with some of the same drugs. They will be forever linked by their shared pasts. They are two sides of the same crime—captor and captive—a tie that can never be broken. They define each other, and she can still feel him breathing on her skin. Chilling.
Her father, a software consultant her stepmother, Amanda have tried hard to keep Reeve out of the media and spotlight. Will he go to this mothers (a wacko mom), his doctor, Dr. Moody, or come after her? The only person who seems to have any insight into Flint is Reeve. Can she stay safely away while her kidnapper is free to destroy more innocent lives?
When Flint evades capture, baffling authorities and leaving a bloody trail from the psychiatric lock-up to the forests of Washington State, Reeve suddenly realizes that she is the only one who can stop him, putting herself in jeopardy. She feels she has to keep him for harming the next victim.
Reeve, is very untrustworthy; however, the feds may need her to work with them trying to get to the killer. To apprehend Daryl, she reconnects with retired FBI special agent Milo Bender, (loved him) whom she remembers from the time he was assigned to stay with her during Daryl’s trial.
Meanwhile, Daryl, is still obsessed with Reeve, and sets out on his sadist dangerous plan of murder and kidnapping, as the suspense build for a heart-pounding climax.
Norton cleverly develops her characters with precision, getting inside their head, with a well-written fast-paced action crime thriller with a chilling look at good versus evil. Fans of psychological suspense thrillers with a strong heroine will appreciate this one. A nice set up for the next installment.
I just finished the audiobook of The Edge of Normal, narrated by Christina Delaine, delivering an engrossing debut thriller. Recommend both, and looking forward to the next in the series.
JDCMustReadBooks
Carla Norton follows up after her riveting The Edge of Normal (Reeve LeClaire, #1) with sequel WHAT DOESN’T KILL HER (Reeve LeClaire #2) a psychological suspense thriller, with a continuation of Reeve after her brutal captivity.
Eleven years later in Seattle, Washington after 12-year-old Reeve LeClaire was kidnapped and held captive for years--an escape from her kidnapper she spent six years trying to rebuild her life, a recovery thanks in large part to her indispensable therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. In the past seven years she has changed her name from Reggie, moved to another state, enrolled in college, and left her past behind, after being tortured by Daryl in his basement for four years.
Presently, we jump to Olshaker Psychiatric Hospital South Turvey, Washington, with Daryl Wayne Flint, Reeve’s abductor who escapes from the Washington State psychiatric hospital where he has been serving his sentence. (he is one evil dude).
In San Francisco, CA Reeve is a survivor. She belongs to a cycle club, and owns her first bike since that ill-fated summer when she was twelve. At the age of twenty-three, Reeve feels her life has as an adult has finally bloomed and this effort marks yet another milestone in her recovery.
When Reeve learns Flint has escaped the psychiatric hospital, clean shaven--after killing a barber and using his clothes as disguise, a thousand thoughts crowd her head and she wonders how this psychopath could have escaped and if he has an accomplice. Her nightmares are now real, and once again she has to relive a tragedy she has worked hard to put behind her.
The FBIs and the authorities have been alerted of his escape; however, will he go into hiding or will he come after Reeve? How do you predict the behavior of the mentally ill? Flint’s fixation on Reeve renders him unlikely to commit violence in an institutional setting, says the reports. Flint’s case had been complicated by the head trauma he suffered in the car crash the night he was apprehended. Could the damage to Flint’s frontal lobe explain the violence?
Reeve and Flint have psychiatrists. Dr. Moody even wrote a book about Flint’s twisted psyche. It scared her to think she and Flint are each were bonded to their psychiatrists. They’ve likely been treated with some of the same drugs. They will be forever linked by their shared pasts. They are two sides of the same crime—captor and captive—a tie that can never be broken. They define each other, and she can still feel him breathing on her skin. Chilling.
Her father, a software consultant her stepmother, Amanda have tried hard to keep Reeve out of the media and spotlight. Will he go to this mothers (a wacko mom), his doctor, Dr. Moody, or come after her? The only person who seems to have any insight into Flint is Reeve. Can she stay safely away while her kidnapper is free to destroy more innocent lives?
When Flint evades capture, baffling authorities and leaving a bloody trail from the psychiatric lock-up to the forests of Washington State, Reeve suddenly realizes that she is the only one who can stop him, putting herself in jeopardy. She feels she has to keep him for harming the next victim.
Reeve, is very untrustworthy; however, the feds may need her to work with them trying to get to the killer. To apprehend Daryl, she reconnects with retired FBI special agent Milo Bender, (loved him) whom she remembers from the time he was assigned to stay with her during Daryl’s trial.
Meanwhile, Daryl, is still obsessed with Reeve, and sets out on his sadist dangerous plan of murder and kidnapping, as the suspense build for a heart-pounding climax.
Norton cleverly develops her characters with precision, getting inside their head, with a well-written fast-paced action crime thriller with a chilling look at good versus evil. Fans of psychological suspense thrillers with a strong heroine will appreciate this one. A nice set up for the next installment.
I just finished the audiobook of The Edge of Normal, narrated by Christina Delaine, delivering an engrossing debut thriller. Recommend both, and looking forward to the next in the series.
JDCMustReadBooks
xaleah's review against another edition
4.0
I read this as a stand alone novel and thought it had a great storyline. Reeve is a fantastic character with a strong story background.
The book keep me interested. Going to look for book one now.
The book keep me interested. Going to look for book one now.
frostyrootbeerfloat's review against another edition
5.0
This book was a page-turner from the beginning. I really enjoyed the thrill ride this book gave me.
I first started this book wondering if it may be too intense to read at a steady pace and get through without needing to stop, switch books, and come back to this novel. However, the writing and strong story really kept you guessing as to what would be happening in the next chapter.
I did not read the first novel in this series, but I didn't feel the need to do that because I was able to understand what had previously happened and the character's backstories without needing to go back and read the first book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and feel that I was part of the action.
I first started this book wondering if it may be too intense to read at a steady pace and get through without needing to stop, switch books, and come back to this novel. However, the writing and strong story really kept you guessing as to what would be happening in the next chapter.
I did not read the first novel in this series, but I didn't feel the need to do that because I was able to understand what had previously happened and the character's backstories without needing to go back and read the first book.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and feel that I was part of the action.
brooke_review's review against another edition
3.0
The further I got into this book, the lesser my opinion of it became. Norton has done a good job of writing a solid, formulaic female suspense novel ... but there was nothing special about it! Or rather, nothing special enough to warrant 4 or 5 stars. It was good, but not good enough. Plus, it was a little frustrating to keep reading about this psychopath, yet never really find out in much detail what his crimes were. What a way to steer clear of what's interesting, Norton! Instead there are a lot of heroes here ... and lucky for you, you get to read about how each of them tries to track down this killer.
What Doesn't Kill Her Novelist Appeals
GENRES: Multiple Perspectives, Suspense Stories
TONE: Disturbing, Suspenseful
CHARACTER: Complex, Sympathetic
PACE: Fast-Paced
WRITING STYLE: Compelling
What Doesn't Kill Her Novelist Appeals
GENRES: Multiple Perspectives, Suspense Stories
TONE: Disturbing, Suspenseful
CHARACTER: Complex, Sympathetic
PACE: Fast-Paced
WRITING STYLE: Compelling
lemanley's review against another edition
4.0
This thriller kept me wanting to read the next chapter. I had a driving desire to find out what would happen in the coming pages. Many of my thoughts were filled with gruesome details, knowing how the girls must have suffered, yet my desire to see how things would end kept me reading. I will certainly ssek out more books by Ms. Norton.
scknitter's review against another edition
5.0
Reeve LeClaire thinks she is finally leading a normal life as a college student in San Francisco after having spent 4 years from 12 – 16 being tortured and kept in a basement by a sadistic psychopath. Her kidnapper, Daryl Flint, is safely locked away in a mental instutue and she finally feels safe. And then he escapes! He had spent 7 years waiting and planning for his opportunity. Since Reeve was not killed his psychiatrist had managed to convince the hospital that he was not violent and was not dangerous as long as he was on his meds. Boy, was he fooled. Carla Norton has written another thriller that will have you sitting on the edge of your seat and leave your heart pounding. Don’t start this late at night – you will not be able to put it down.
kdawg2009's review against another edition
5.0
Sequel to The Edge of Normal. Carla Norton has a way of sweeping you in quickly. With short chapter you find yourself saying "I'll read just 1 more chapter," until you find that you've finished the book much quicker than you expected.
kthiess's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kle105's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, all opinions are my own.
Wow, just wow. This book left me on the edge of my seat and I don't say that often. Reggie now going by Reeve after a man kidnapped her and held her hostage for 4 years, is on the hunt for that same man after he escaped from the psych hospital. Pairing up with the FBI Agent who once worked her case she is in a hunt to find him, using all the information she knows of him.
Her kidnapper Flint doesn't give up easy though and he has been planning this for awhile. He has no problems killing anyone who gets in his way to have her back. He leaves a trail of bodies, and not above kidnapping another victim. Fast paced, heart thumping story.
Wow, just wow. This book left me on the edge of my seat and I don't say that often. Reggie now going by Reeve after a man kidnapped her and held her hostage for 4 years, is on the hunt for that same man after he escaped from the psych hospital. Pairing up with the FBI Agent who once worked her case she is in a hunt to find him, using all the information she knows of him.
Her kidnapper Flint doesn't give up easy though and he has been planning this for awhile. He has no problems killing anyone who gets in his way to have her back. He leaves a trail of bodies, and not above kidnapping another victim. Fast paced, heart thumping story.