Moral Reckoning and Phycological Depth

The Edge of Guilt by David Miranda is a meticulously crafted narrative that delves into the intricate dynamics of moral responsibility and personal conscience. With refined prose and deliberate pacing, Miranda constructs a psychological exploration of guilt and its enduring impact on the human psyche. The characters are thoughtfully developed, and the novel interrogates themes of accountability, remorse, and ethical ambiguity. This work stands as a poignant and intellectually engaging contribution to contemporary literary fiction. Thanks to NetGalley and to the publishers of this book for giving me a free advance copy of the book to preview and I am leaving this review voluntarily

This novel had me hooked from the start! The author does an amazing job of developing both the characters and storyline! I love legal thrillers and this one did not disappoint- it’s very evident that the author took the time to thoroughly research the court process and translate it into both a relatable and engaging form for the reader!


I thoroughly enjoyed reading this piece of work
Thank you Net Galley, David Miraldi and Book Whisperer for allowing me to review this advanced copy of A Deafening Silence. I was not influenced or paid in exchange for this honest review.

Teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, young attorney Paul Schofield needs one of those cases that will relaunch his legal career and help him to climb back from the brink of financial ruin. When blustery, angry and abusive Dennis shows up with his meek, younger wife Cindy, Paul is still not sure if he should take on this case. Heather, the couple's 15-year-old daughter died by suicide after multiple rounds of Electric Shock therapy prescribed by the psychiatrist who was treating her. Demanding that Paul take the case and win him some "big money" Dennis is Paul's largest stumbling block to winning this case. Along the way, Paul realizes how corrupt the insurance companies, doctors and their attorneys are; willing to continue these "treatments" due to the outrageous fees they will each collect. Going up against the insurance company's older and more experienced attorney, Paul must rely on his instincts and help from family and friends to stand a chance of winning this case.

Fast paced and engaging, I enjoyed the suspense of waiting for the verdict -just as did the characters in the courtroom. Characters are well drawn, and described so perfectly that readers will be able to picture each of them in the courtroom. An eye-opening look into the prep work done by attorneys and just how far they are wiling to stretch the law to fit their side of the case. Excellent!

Written like a John Grisham legal thriller (which is why I chose it), and it didn't disappoint. Story around a teenager treated for depression with electroconvulsive shock therapy who subsequently dies and a medical malpractice suit is brought against the treating physician. Ethical dilemmas are explored, which added realism.

Fascinating read! Impossible to put down. Mesmerizing story that continually pulls the reader in. Five stars and two thumbs-up!

The Edge of Guilt by David Miraldi was hard to put down. It grabbed me right from the start, and I was able to finish the story in one day. The characters were well-developed, and the story was intriguing with its complex web of grief, justice, and personal betrayal following the tragic suicide of a young girl named Heather. The story is told from multiple perspectives.

Heather's father, Dennis, wants to sue the psychiatrist he blames for Heather's suicide. He hires Paul Schofield, a struggling attorney who initially views the case as a chance for an easy win. His journey from indifference to deep engagement serves as a powerful narrative arc, allowing readers to witness his transformation as he unearths the darker realities of the case.

As Paul delves deeper, the ethical dilemmas he encounters become increasingly complex. The story details show the blurred lines between right and wrong, and the courtroom scenes are tense. The supporting characters add depth to the narrative, each bringing their own motivations and conflicts, which only serve to heighten the drama.

The author's writing is sharp and engaging. The pacing is excellent, balancing moments of intense action with introspective reflections on loss and the pursuit of truth. The story is a gripping exploration of what happens when personal tragedies collide with professional ethics and is a powerful story with difficult moral questions.

I would recommend this book. I would read more by this author.

#TheEdgeofGuilt #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the overarching message of the case in this book is an important one. Mental health is a VERY important issue yet despite the strides forward being made, too often there is still stigma attached to seeking help. I worked for years in the Mental Health field, many of my clients were children and adolescents. Miraldi did a good job showing how many things can affect an individual’s mental health. However, the author also showed how doctors must be held accountable for any mistakes they may make, especially when it causes harm, or in this case, the death of a patient. It is obvious while reading The Edge of Guilt that Miraldi is an attorney in addition to being an author. I appreciated the knowledgeable way he approached the court scenes especially.

Miraldi successfully built the plot and kept it moving at a perfect pace, rotating chapter views between characters. I was really rooting for certain characters throughout. A part of me might have liked if we got one from the teen who died…maybe a short one telling what she was thinking/feeling her final day before she took the pills. This could be added as an extra chapter at the end, so, along with the characters, don’t have that insight until after the verdict.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and felt it was well written, I would recommend it to others.

I love legal thrillers and this is one tense story. Paul Schofield, a young, broke attorney fears he's made the mistake of his life when he takes on a case for Dennis and Cindy Zurcher to sue for malpractice over the death of their 15 year old daughter, Heather who died after getting electric shock treatment and medication not suitable for children. Paul does not like medical cases and he is more worried on learning the Zurchers had approached many other attorneys without luck. My first legal novel by Miraldi and I will be looking the others.

A Legal thriller

Inspired by true events this gripping legal drama is captivating to no ends. It tells the story of a father devastated by the tragic death of his daughter, convinced that her psychiatrist is to blame. He seeks an attorney and enters Paul Schofield, a struggling attorney, taking the case….

What a well-crafted story told with a measured prose and efficient pacing while it delves into the human psyche. The more Paul digs, the more he uncovers buried secrets and ethical dilemmas that shake him to his core. The author’s words reflect the inner turmoil he faces with aplomb. Nicely said and done. The courtroom scenes are filled with tension ….a fine line between greed and justice becomes rather vague…all along the proceedings I stood on the fence undecided if I was on the father side or not, whether I wanted Paul to win or loose the case.

I was hooked from the start; the storyline is captivating and plays with your emotions to keep you engaged till you reach the final verdict. What a wonderful blend of courtroom suspense and ethical ambiguity. The author excelled in bringing to life a case where the areas of justice, morality and grief are conflicting.

Well-done, well-said.

Although “The Edge of Guilt” is the fourth volume in a set of true crime thrillers based on legal cases in his small, home town of Lorain, Ohio by attorney and author David Miraldi called “The Edge Of: Crime, Innocence, and Justice,” it is the only one that I have read. I was offered an advanced reader’s copy by Book Whisperer to read and thank NetGalley and Mr. Miraldi for allowing me to read it for free. This book is said to be fiction based on actual events, while the other books in the series are described as narrative nonfiction. I’m unclear as to the difference, not having read the others and not having read anything other than this book regarding the facts referenced in it. My review is voluntary.

Mr. Miraldi is a good writer, and as with most trials, the reader is kept in perpetual suspense, vacillating constantly throughout the book as to what the end result will be. The outcome isn’t known until the very end of the book. Speaking as a retired attorney, this is reality, particularly when a case goes to trial. The way Mr. Miraldi structured the book was very interesting, starting with the facts of the case, moving on to the lawsuit, and concluding with the trial.

What I found most troubling about this book was the lack of ethics on the parts of several attorneys involved as well as a court employee. Each incidence of misconduct sickened me and reinforced stereotypes that give attorneys bad reputations. It’s quite embarrassing. But the lack of ethics isn’t limited to the attorneys. This case involves claims of medical malpractice, and both the doctor accused of negligence and the defense expert repeatedly lied or misled the jury or otherwise acted unethically. It’s a sad commentary on society.

This is a book that I thought I would not like-due to the name mainly. It is a story of heartache, control of loved ones, control of associates, control of the status quo rather than control of ethics, and with all the consequences of what each delivers. Wonderfully written, I did not like the story,,,,,but I loved the ending. A very absorbing read.

The Edge of Guilt by David Miraldi is a good legal thriller. In this novel, we are given a glimpse into the machinations of the legal profession before, during and after a case. We also meet some great characters, the Schofields, the Zurchers and Robert Ingram. All of these characters play a vital role in bring the case against a psychiatrist to a conclusion. The legal writing is easy to understand and the reader gets to truly root for the good guys. I enjoyed this book.

This was a complicated book and it was so interesting working out who was at fault. I just didnt realise that Electric shock therapy is still around and then combined with the after effects of PTSD it makes for a very complicated family life.
The legal system in America is very different to England - I think but then I havent really had any experience with it but it seemed very interesting how the father was shopping around and getting rejected.
The book kept me completely captivated and I had to keep reading.

This is a detailed and utterly fascinating legal thriller which covers so many moral and ethical questions, making you think about your own position on them. I really liked the pacing - there’s a lot going on but the author doesn’t sacrifice character development for the sake of moving the plot along more quickly than is needed. Really well written and a terrific read.