The Edge of Normal

By: Carla Norton

Narrated by: Christina Delaine

Length: 11 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's summary

''Norton has given us living, breathing characters that we know and understand . . . and who inhabit our imaginations after we've finished this book." —Jeffery Deaver
In many ways, Reeve LeClaire looks like a typical twenty-two year old girl. She's finally landed her own apartment, she waitresses to pay the bills, and she wishes she wasn't so nervous around new people. She thinks of herself as agile, not skittish. As serious, not grim. But Reeve is anything but normal.

Ten years ago, she was kidnapped and held captive. After a lucky escape, she's spent the last six years trying to rebuild her life, a recovery thanks in large part to her indispensable therapist Dr. Ezra Lerner. But when he asks her to help another girl rescued from a similar situation, Reeve realizes she may not simply need to mentor this young victim—she may be the only one who can protect her from a cunning predator who is still out there, watching every move.

From the author of the #1 non-fiction bestseller Perfect Victim: The True Story of the Girl in the Box comes a novel that draws you into a chilling and engrossing world. With powerfully gripping characters and an ending that is a masterpiece of deception, Carla Norton's The Edge of Normal is a stunning debut thriller.

©2013 Carla Norton (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Delaine does an outstanding job finding unique voices for the many characters. Her deliberate narration style heightens the suspense.” —AudioFile Magazine

“Norton skillfully develops her tricky subject, gradually shifting from an emphasis on its tabloid aspects to a close identification with the victim/heroine in a story of justice served by the one who deserves it most.” —Kirkus Reviews

“This novel is brilliant. A perfect blend of literary style, psychological insight and edge-of-the-seat thriller. From journalist Poe to protagonist Reeve--and a particularly horrific incarnation of evil along the way--Norton has given us living, breathing characters that we know and understand . . . and who inhabit our imaginations after we've finished this book.” —Jeffery Deaver

Almost returned the audiobook

Based on the other reviews here, it sounds like a lot of readers enjoy a dramatic narration with different character voices, but all I can say is that by the middle of this book, I was seriously contemplating returning the book and acquiring the ebook instead. The narrator's regular voice is pleasant to listen to, but between her high-pitched, weepy tone when the main character was afraid or remembering traumatic events and her voicing a 13-year-old girl like a first grader with a head cold, I didn't know if I could get through the audio version of this story.

The story itself was very good and engaging, and I enjoyed the interview with the author at the end - she obviously knows her stuff about captivity syndrome..

Story & Narrator GREAT

Rare is it when the story holds you (nearly breathless, at times) and the narrator is perfect for the drama. I look forward to the author's next book on 'Reeve'.

hmmmmm..a big fat MAYBE!

I didn't like is the narrator she wasn't good at all. It was something about her changing to the male voice that was bad. The story line was typical-nothing really surprising. I don't think it was a great ideal to tell who the main kidnapper was so soon. I was hoping for some huge, great ending but no..it was kind of flat. I read the other comments-I didn't see what was so great or different about the story. I think a twist would have made this perfect.

Not the usual heroine for a mystery.

Would you try another book from Carla Norton and/or Christina Delaine?

Carla Norton had a fresh approach to her mystery, it would be interesting to see more of her novel approach to a heroine.

Christina Delaine was difficult for me to listen to. She made the men sound rather slow witted, I would have enjoyed a liittle more variation in voice tempo and inflection.

What aspect of Christina Delaine’s performance would you have changed?

Change the speed of some of the characters voices, they sounded the same.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not, the material in this book is easier to read than to take in as a graphic visual. When I read, I can adjust my imagination to a level that is comfortable for me opposed to a movie producer's standard.

The most stressful story to listen to

I was enraptured by this book. At first, the reviews of the narrator's dramatic tellings almost dissuaded me, but I gave it a go and honestly didn't mind. It's kind of nice to have someone put on slightly different voices to distinguish the characters from one another and found it easy to follow along with amidst trying to work on other things at the same time. I loved the build-up of events and was nauseated by the descriptions when the author took on the description for the kidnappers, finding myself filled with rage and disgust in a way the author intended. The climax of it all had me literally shouting at my computer screen. I really loved this audiobook and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark mystery/psychological thriller novels.

Fantastic

Down a star simply for the graphic nature of this book, which at times was hard to stomach. What I love about Reeve is that she truly can take care of herself. There are many times a female character says she can but then ends up needing rescue, but Reeve proves she is the exception, and she's a great character at that.

I enjoyed the book. But the production was awful.

Would you try another book from Carla Norton and/or Christina Delaine?

yes, the story was strong. But not the narrator.

What did you like best about this story?

Original story.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Christina Delaine?

anyone. Between the baby voice of the young teenager and the extreme swings in volume between whispering and yelling, I almost returned the book. It was a hard listen.

Was The Edge of Normal worth the listening time?

yes.

Good listen

Good story, well put together. I didn't love the narrator. I particularly enjoyed the interview with the author at the end. Definitely added depth and understanding to the story and its raison d'être. I'd love to hear more of these on audiobooks!

Too long

The story started off strong. Much of it was fairly predictable, but it was still good. However, the book should have ended several chapters before it did. It dragged on way past the point of a good ending.

Love the Story, Love the Narrator...

The narrator made this story, I was so sucked into all the characters. It was a very visual read, I could see the story unfolding as I listened...
Great book and listen.