Edge: A Novel

"[A] brain teaser of a thriller . . . Following the moves of Deaver's ingenious plot is hard enough. The real trick is keeping up with his brilliant mind."--"The New York Times Book Review"

"Along with a complex investigation and a dangerous cat-and-mouse game, "Edge" also boasts some high-stakes political drama . . . Swiftness and ruthlessness carry the book's momentum, keeping readers on the . . . well, check the title again. . . . Rumors are that "Edge" might kick off a new series for Deaver [and] Corte's combination of professionalism and duplicity offer the chance for conflicts, both internal and external, to deepen. In the meantime, Deaver has been commissioned to write the next James Bond novel--a golden opportunity he's clearly earned."--"The Washington Post"

"[A] twist-filled thriller . . . In Mr. Deaver's kaleidoscope world, the odds seem to change with each turn of the page."--"The Wall Street Journal"

"Jeffery Deaver is one of the most reliable and prolific writers of mysteries and thrillers. . . . And some of his books are among the best thrillers written. "The Bone Collector" and "The Coffin Dancer" are brilliant, involving and creepy to the max. "The Vanished Man" is brilliant although less creepy, kind of a tribute to thriller-writing, in a way. Those three are all Lincoln Rhyme mysteries--his quadriplegic forensics investigator is one of the most popular characters in mystery fiction ever created, and certainly one of the best among living writers. Deaver's latest, "Edge", is not a Rhyme mystery, but it's still one of Deaver's best, a book that grabs readers on its first page and doesn't let go."--"San Jose Mercury News"

"The action is a cat-and-mouse weave of clues and counter-clues. . . . This is vintage Deaver at his best."--"Toronto Globe and Mail"

"Another Deaver winner."--"The Toronto Sun"

"Completely and utterly thrilling. . . . Deaver has created a story where nothing is as it seems. The only thing you can be sure of is that it will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish."--"Sunday Times" (South Africa)

"Anyone who doubts the Ian Fleming estate's choice of perennial chart-topper Jeffery Deaver to pen the next James Bond novel need only savour his latest standalone barnburner, "Edge". . . . A master of brilliantly paced misdirection, Deaver could teach a post-grad course in thriller writing."--"The Winnipeg Free Press"

"Deaver unveils some nifty new tricks in this edge-of-your-seat thriller . . . Deaver's first first-person narrator, Corte, is an exciting new weapon in the author's arsenal of memorable characters."--"Publishers Weekly"

"Fans of Deaver's fiendishly clever suspensers ("The Burning Wire", 2010, etc.) won't be surprised by the nonstop deceptions, reversals, shocks and surprises, but this time they're even more varied than usual, and, given the characters' backgrounds, a lot more plausible. The result is his most successful thriller in years."--"Kirkus" reviews (starred review)

Behind the well-known U.S. security organizations—the FBI and CIA among them—lies a heavily guarded, anonymous government agency dedicated to intelligence surveillance and to a highly specialized brand of citizen protection.

Crafting a chilling mind puzzle packed with “nifty new tricks” (Publishers Weekly), Jeffery Deaver lifts the curtain of a clandestine intelligence agency, pitting two “ingenious” (Library Journal) opponents in a high-stakes volley of brilliant wits and calculated risks with deadly consequences.

Henry Loving is a lifter, hired to get information by any means—including torture. His expertise is in getting an “edge” by kidnapping or threatening someone close to his principal, exerting pressure until they cave. When Washington, D.C., police detective Ryan Kessler inexplicably becomes Loving’s target, the job of keeping Kessler’s family alive falls to a senior federal protection officer named Corte, who lost a friend to Loving’s ruthless machinations six years earlier. As Corte and his team race to counter Loving, the lifter moves in on his prey—and Corte must choose between protecting his charges and exposing them to a killer in the name of long-awaited revenge.