Edge

September 6, 2010
Thriller Award–winner Deaver (The Bodies Left Behind) unveils some nifty new tricks in this edge-of-your-seat thriller that pits two worthy antagonists against each other. Henry Loving, "a lifter," specializes in extracting information from human targets by any means necessary (i.e., torture). Corte, "a shepherd," is an agent in the Strategic Protection Department of a secret government agency normally assigned to protect high-profile targets. An intercepted communication identifies Loving as the lifter ordered to target Ryan Kessler, a Washington, D.C., metro detective. While Corte attempts to protect Kessler's family and identify the "primary," Loving's employer, Loving seeks the edge to get the information he needs to extract. Corte, a board game aficionado and game theory student, and Loving are well matched, sharing a history that ups the stakes and makes the contest personal. Deaver's first first-person narrator, Corte, is an exciting new weapon in the author's arsenal of memorable characters.

The first half of Jeffrey Deaver's new stand-alone is more likely to put the listener over the top than on the edge. It's slow moving and nowhere near as clever as is his two acclaimed series about Lincoln Rhyme and Katherine Dance. Corte, an operative for a supersecret government agency (so secret we don't even find out its name), is assigned to protect a detective and his family from Henry Loving, whose specialty is extracting information from people. Corte's got a special interest in Loving, who killed Corte's mentor six years earlier. Narrator Skipp Suddath isn't much help moving things along. His raspy voice, though competent, gives fast-paced, monotone characterizations. It's only in the second half that Deaver and Sudduth seem to get on the same wavelength and make the total experience worthwhile. There are two surprise endings, which Sudduth brings to a satisfying finish. A.L.H. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 15, 2011

Deaver's (www.jefferydeaver.com) latest stand-alone work introduces Corte, the senior official of a highly secretive Witness Protection Program-like government agency. While "shepherding" people whose lives are in danger, Corte and his team come up against Henry Loving, a brilliant psychopath who has a personal history with Corte. The narrative, which occurs over the course of a weekend, takes some wild turns that will keep listeners guessing until the very end. Actor/musician Skipp Sudduth skillfully keeps the pace moving along, slowing down where necessary, as when Corte engages in some retrospection on his past association with Loving. Deaver fans and anyone liking a good thriller will be clamoring for this one; highly recommended. [The New York Times best-selling S. & S. hc also received a starred review, LJ 10/15/10; the Pocket Star pb will publish in September 2011.--Ed.]--Joseph L. Carlson, Vandenberg Air Force Base Lib., Lompoc, CA

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