Cover Image: Woman on the Edge

Woman on the Edge

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This is definitely a book you want to set some time for because you won't want to put it down. Lots of twists and turns. Excellent psychological thriller, that explores motherhood and how far will you go to become a mother.

Was this review helpful?

On principle this is an intriguing idea, one distraught woman steps onto the platform of a subway, and hands over a small infant to another unsuspecting woman before the distraught woman jumps into the tracks, and is run over by the incoming train. There are obviously a lot of questions to answer here, and the storyline evolves in a logical way to help us as readers understand the circumstances that led to this horrific occurrence. There are 2 aspects to this story, one as a psychological thriller with multiple persons who look guilty and as a novel of introspection delving into the psyches of two women who have both suffered some form of life scarring trauma. It is possible that I have read too many psychological thrillers, because I had a suspicion early on of who the primary villain was, and I was largely correct, although there were some last minute twists that kept things interesting. It is disturbing to watch the uber confidant Nicole disintegrate into a traumatized, paranoid hermit, who’s entire life falls apart at breakneck speed after the birth of a daughter she never knew she wanted. Nicole as a super successful business mogul on top of her game isn’t too relatable, but the Nicole as a first time mother consumed by fear of making a mistake who slowly disintegrates before our eyes becomes a pitiable figure who all the mothers out there can relate to. While most of us never fall as far as Nicole does, we can understand her tailspin, and the length one is willing to go to protect our children. While this story isn’t necessarily a mind blower, it is a competent example of the genre and should not disappoint those looking for a good psychological thriller. Thank you to Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the galley. This was a smart thriller - captivating and quick to read. Would recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Full of emotion as well as twists and turns, this thriller has you constantly second guessing yourself. I liked how there were many things at play throughout. The interpersonal relationships in this were also intriguing. I really felt pulled into the story. And even though a lot is happening in the story, being pulled in wasn’t overwhelming. It was more like enjoying a virtual ride at a theme park where you are in the adventure but not having any effect on it, or it on you.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! This book had me on the edge (pun intended) the whole time I was reading. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, you learn something new that completely unravels it all. Samantha Bailey is a wonderful writer and her debut novel did not disappoint! While I tend to be more drawn to rom-coms, I’d heard so much buzz about this book that I knew I wanted to give it a read. If you love a good psychological thriller that will keep you guessing but still end with justice being served and somewhat of a happily ever after, I definitely recommend Woman on the Edge! I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Woman on the Edge was my first book by Samantha Bailey. This was a great suspenseful read about Nicole that hands her new baby to Morgan on a subway platform and asks her to love her and keep her safe before falling on the tracks. Morgan has never met Nicole before, but this is not a chance occurrence....Nicole used Morgan’s name when she begged her to take the baby. This book has a good amount of substance and character development which lent itself well to the psychological aspects of the story. I look forward to more books by this author. I received an ARC if this book, all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

Wow! This is a book that is perfect if you have a few hours on your hands, because you will NOT want to put it down!
Such a great thriller that kept me guessing for most of the book. I had an idea about how things would unfold, but I couldn’t totally figure it out. This was a good read and I definitely recommend if you’re looking for a thriller. Nothing too graphic, gory, explicit- so you sensitive readers will be able to read it and sleep at night. I know because I can be a sensitive reader myself!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

This fast paced book is filled with twists and turns. Just when you think you know who is behind the terror that is causing Nicole to become paranoid, it ends up being another suspect. This page turner is a definite must read domestic thriller. Thank you to Simon and Schuster, Net Gallery, and Samantha Bailey for this 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating book in exchange for an honest review!

Was this review helpful?

This book had a very exciting beginning but it was not as suspenseful as I had hoped it would be. The writing is great, I just wish I had been more surprised.

Was this review helpful?

Very suspenseful, the pace of the story was very good, I like that each chapter switched between two characters. Was able to figure out what was going to happen and wish I was more surprised by the ending. Definitely a book to recommend.

Was this review helpful?

To be honest, going into this I was worried that all the best parts of this book would be at the beginning and the rest would just be explanation with little to nothing exciting to follow. Happily I was wrong about this and while I wasn't as enthralled with this book as I would if hoped it was still a good read.

The set of the book gives readers the chance to put the puzzle pieces together on our own as the story progresses which gives this an good point to keep readers intrigued, but for me it wasn't quite as much as I wanted from this book.

Was this review helpful?

I really wanted to like this book but the writing style was not for me. I did not like any of the characters or feel attached to the story. There are too many thriller tropes on this one book. It was not believable and I am an avid thriller reading and the realm of believability is often bent but this book brought the camels back.

Clearly some people like this book but I am not one of them.

Was this review helpful?

A propulsive, engrossing debut thriller that will keep you turning pages until you find out what happens next.

Was this review helpful?

This was a good book. Sometimes I wished it moved a little faster, that is why I didn't give it 5 stars, but it was overall a good book.

I liked the present and past perspectives, and I did not see the plot twist coming. I highly recommend this book for those that enjoy thrillers.

Was this review helpful?

Riveting book from the beginning. Fastpaced and with excellent theme and characters. Excellently written and as a good suspenseful tone. It is the author's first book and it is tremendous. I would love to read more books written by her without a doubt. Good start, good end.Excellent suspense story, well written, full of excellent details. An unexpected beginning that takes you through the pages of the book to find out what the reality of the story is and really get to know its characters. The plot is very twisted, full of intrigue; doubts and questions that makes you doubt the truthfulness of the characters and understand the motives of the plot. The author's first book, excellent writing. I can't wait to read more books from her. Thanks Netgalley for letting me read it. All opinions are strictly mine

Was this review helpful?

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey is a suspenseful mystery novel. Morgan Kincaid is surprised when a woman comes up to her on the subway platform and gives her the baby she is carrying. She says that she has been watching Morgan. She asks her to love the baby and not let anyone hurt her. The woman then jumps in front of the incoming train. Unfortunately, no one can verify Morgan’s account of the events. Detective Martinez focuses on Morgan as the prime suspect. She wonders if Morgan pushed Nicole for her baby. Morgan and Detective Martinez have history. Morgan soon notices that someone has been in her apartment and they have only stolen one item. She then notices someone following her. Morgan wonders if she is being paranoid or if someone is trying to kill her? Morgan wants answers and is not willing to wait for them. If you regularly read mystery novels, you will have no problem solving the whodunit. I kept hoping that the author would surprise me at the end. The point-of-view switches from Morgan in the present to Nicole in the past to tell the story. I found Woman on the Edge a hard book to get into (it took me a little while). I felt like I had been dumped into the middle of a story in the beginning plus it was confusing with the back and forth. Once I understood what was happening and got into the story, the book moved along steadily. I could feel Nicole ’s agitation and panic as well as Morgan’s fear. I found the second half of the book more gripping than the first. You do need to suspend your disbelief over the events that happen to the characters (some are hard to believe). Woman on the Edge is a dark and intense story that deals with suicide, postpartum depression and a deadly psychopath. There is foul language in Woman on the Edge. This is a good debut novel from Samantha M. Bailey. Be prepared to stay late so you can learn how the book turns out.

Was this review helpful?

Morgan Kincaid is in the Chicago subway, waiting on the platform for a train, when a strange woman carrying a baby approaches her. She speaks to Morgan like she knows her, and even mentions her by name. Then she thrusts the baby into her arms and asks her to "take care of my baby" and jumps in front of a train.
Morgan is horrified and confused. When the police arrive, they take the baby and begin to question her. Why did the woman choose her, did they know each other?
She finds out the baby's mother was Nicole Markham, a successful business woman.
She needs to learn more about her, and what their connection is to each other.
As the story alternates points of view and timelines, we find out Nicole was suffering from anxiety and postpartum psychosis.
Morgan has some questionable events in her past. She desperately wants a child of her own. Will anyone believe that Morgan didn't push Nicole to her death to get the baby she wanted so much?
This was an exciting and suspenseful thriller with interesting characters. A very entertaining and gripping story.
Thank you Simon & Schuster for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Nicole Markham is the CEO of a successful athleisure company, on a six week maternity leave, and she’s falling apart. Terrified that something might happen to her infant daughter, she’s stopped eating and sleeping, obsessively checking Quinn’s every breath to ensure the baby is still alive. Without any support from her husband Greg, Nicole is alone, with only her best friend and employee, Tessa, there to help.

Morgan Kincaid is attempting to rebuild her life after her husband’s suicide and the discovery that Ryan had embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from his investment firm. Embarrassed that she was unaware of his activities, Morgan did her best to make restitution to Ryan’s victims while downsizing to a simpler life. Her greatest regret was that she and Ryan had never had a child, and though she had obtained an application to adopt, she stuffed the paper into a drawer, knowing she had no one who would vouch for her good character.

As Morgan waited in the train station for her commute home, she was stunned when a distraught woman hurried up to her, thrust a baby into her arms, and begged Morgan to love the baby. Morgan instinctively hugged the baby close, while the woman backed up to the train tracks and jumped in front of the oncoming train. Her determination to discover why Nicole would leave Quinn to her – a complete stranger – would lead Morgan into dangerous and difficult situations.

There’s a lot going on in this debut novel…murder, suicide, postpartum psychosis, trauma, drama, guilt, and plenty of gaslighting. It was a great read! Told from alternating viewpoints, Morgan’s and Nicole’s chaotic inner lives are laid out for the reader to understand. I appreciated their struggles and felt their feelings were both realistic and heartrending. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book had an interesting premise... A woman, Morgan who is waiting on a train, suddenly has a baby thrust into her arms. Before she can even think the other woman, Nicole, jumps in front of the train. It is a great way to start a book! However, after that I had some issues, mainly with the main character and how the story unfolds from there. I figured out pretty early on who was responsible, so there was never that jaw dropping moment that makes you say "NO WAY!!" Then you have the main character who seems to form an attachment really quickly to this baby. I think the final "ugh" moment for me was the love story or attraction to someone that she had just met. It seemed to me that the author thought she needed to add that in, and she didn't. Overall 3⭐



Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this book! It's a great insight into how quickly a person's life can spiral out of control. Morgan's got a great life, self-made successful business owner, happy (?) marriage, hard-working, fitness guru who embraces life and is sure she's got it all under control. Then she has her baby, and everything collapses - including Morgan.
Is she losing it? Is it postpartum stress/depression? Or, is someone out to destroy her, and possibly endanger her baby daughter? Morgan's past comes back to haunt her, make her question her sanity, and question whom she can trust. It's a fast-paced read, and one I highly recommend!
(I also purchased this book so didn't add NetGalley in my review on Amazon since it is a "verified purchase" through Amazon.)

Was this review helpful?