Edge    by Jeffery Deaver Order:  USA  Can Pocket, 2011 (2010) Hardcover, Paperback, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Williamson Jeffery Deaver's Edge is another fast-paced and convoluted chiller from a grandmaster of the genre. It introduces readers to a new world of those who prey on and manipulate others for a living ... as well as those whose job is to protect their victims. Henry Loving is a very talented - and unscrupulous - lifter, one whose expertise lies in getting an edge on his victims. Lifters are hired to extract information, and Loving will torture and kill anyone, young or old, to get the job done. When authorities learn that Loving (who had been reported dead) is alive and his target is decorated Washington D.C. police detective Ryan Kessler, they instruct an organization known as 'the ER of personal security' to protect Kessler and his family. Corte, the senior federal protection officer or shepherd assigned to the task has his own ax to grind with Loving, who had tortured and killed Corte's own mentor six years earlier. Corte immediately comes into conflict with the U.S. Attorney's Office on ways and means, and this bumpy relationship continues throughout the case. Corte uses a brilliant researcher, Claire DuBois, to dig out details of his principals' lives. In addition to the hero cop himself, there's Ryan's wife Joanne (seemingly numb from shock), his brave daughter Amanda, and Joanne's flaky sister Maree. After sending Amanda to stay with a reliable family friend, and before they can get to a safe house, the group comes under fire - and these attacks continue relentlessly as Corte and Loving each tries to second guess the other. While shepherding his principals, Corte also hunts his enemy, and tries to find out what dangerous information Ryan Kessler might have. Edge is a totally engrossing read, the sort that glues you to its pages until the very end. As always, there are plenty of red herrings to obscure the real purpose of the lifter - and whoever hired him. Corte has many close calls, and plenty of surprises, before he reaches endgame. I highly recommend the outstanding Edge to you, and very much hope that it's the launch of a new series for Jeffery Deaver. 2nd Review by Mary Ann Smyth: Giving the tag thriller to this book is a misnomer. Edge is almost the thriller of all time. Notice I said almost. But it sure comes close to that title. A lifter is someone assigned to extract information using whatever means necessary. When Washington, D. C. police Detective Ryan Kessler is targeted by Henry Loving, an extremely successful lifter, federal protection officer Corte is assigned the position of shepherd for Kessler and his family. Loving is using his policy of the edge. He will do almost anything to the victim's family or neighbors or coworkers to coerce information about the object of his search. Loving is apparently after Kessler's family to use as the edge to discover just what he wants to know. Needless to say, this leads to a test of wills between Loving and Corte. Hair raising action races through the book with neither being the winner. Why does Loving want the Kesslers? What could Kessler know that would be worth so much time, money and loss of life? Usually I equate a thriller with action in other countries. Authors often use mostly European countries to allow the villains and the good guys to race by various means from one spot to another. Edge takes place in the good old U.S.A., which makes the plot that much more personal for American readers. Jeffery Deaver's Edge is more than worth a read. Surprises catch the reader's breath as dead bodies litter the ground and the Kesslers are transported from one safe house to another, never knowing for sure why this whole fiasco is happening. Ambushes are foiled and the explosive sounds of gunshots fill the air at times. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Mystery books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews