Over the Edge: A Murder Mystery by Irene Hannon

I received an ARC of Over the Edge, and all opinions expressed are solely my own. This post is not meant to dissuade you from reading the book; rather, it's a reflection on my thoughts after finishing it.

Over the Edge begins with a gripping scene: Lindsey Barnes discovers her dead employer in the kitchen. It’s a powerful opening that certainly grabs your attention, but I felt the conclusion of that scene could have been executed more effectively. While it creates a strong sense of urgency, the details of what happens next are left unresolved until many chapters later, which I found a bit frustrating.

Jack Tucker (I apologize for thinking Tucker Carlson every time I just saw his last name) is a compelling character with a well-developed background that contrasts nicely with Lindsey’s. His dedication to his mission, even as his attraction to Lindsey grows, creates a sweet dynamic between them. They make a charming couple who complement each other well.

I must admit that I have never been a huge fan of murder mysteries. I usually find them very predicable. I'm sad to say, this was one of them. But not so much the events as the real murderer. Early on in the book, I guessed two people were possibly the killers. Much to my disappointment I was right. There ought to have been more of a twist then there was with the killer's motive as well.

The story dragged on a bit for me, but I am a lover of non-stop action packed books, so I blame myself for the unwillingness to pay attention through all the many details.

That said, here are the positives:

Irene Hannon excels at creating realistic characters. The trauma experienced by Lindsey and Jack adds depth, making their journeys throughout the book compelling. And although I made it sound like a Con, I'm pretty sure for most people it's a Pro. Irene wrote everything in such great detail. She painted a nice picture of the places, people, and events. I appreciated how she wove elements of faith into the darker themes of the story.

I also loved the happy ending, which provided a perfect resolution to an otherwise tragic narrative.

While murder mysteries aren’t my usual preference, I still found Over the Edge to be a good book. I would highly recommend it to fans of the genre.

I give Over the Edge...4 of 5 stars. Mostly because I blame myself for not having the patience for the details and my author/editor mind coming up with different alternatives. For any reader this is a excellent read.