Over the Edge

Undaunted Courage #2

by Irene Hannon

Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but someone is also pushing her to question her sanity.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.

With her signature spellbinding style, the bestselling and award-winning "queen of inspirational romantic suspense" (Library Journal) delivers another riveting tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Mystery

360 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2024

About the author

Irene Hannon, who writes both contemporary romance and romantic suspense, is the author of more than 65 novels. Her books have been honored with three coveted RITA awards from Romance Writers of America (the “Oscar” of romance fiction) and she is a member of that organization's elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Other awards for individual books include National Readers' Choice, HOLT Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Retailers Choice, Booksellers' Best, and Reviewers' Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.

Millions of her books have been sold worldwide, and her novels have been translated into multiple languages.

A former corporate communications executive with a Fortune 500 company, Irene now writes full time. To learn more about Irene and her books, visit www.irenehannon.com.

Reviews

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the Edge is an appropriate title for this suspenseful, action filled mystery. Lindsey Barnes has had a lot of trauma in the last year and a half and is starting over with a move from South Carolina to St. Louis with her personal chef business. While at a client's home for a quick trip in to retrieve her knife roll, she discovered the owner's body. But the killer was still there, and she had to hide. She managed to go unobserved and lived to tell law enforcement. But somehow the killer learns her identity. Detective Jack Tucker and his team have very little to go on. And someone is trying to make Lindsey appear to be an unreliable witness, pulling pranks to make her look unstable. Evidently, Jack believes Lindsey but will be able to keep her safe? This is one hard to put down with nail-biting scenes, action, surprises, twists, and a great mystery to unravel. And a lovely romance with characters with faith to support them in their distress. Irene Hannon has written another great romantic suspense sure to entertain.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Come to St. Louis, Missouri and allow Hannon to capture your attention with her fantastic adrenaline-pumping romantic suspense.

New-to-me author, Irene Hannon, has crafted a new series, Undaunted Courage, focusing on three foster siblings from difficult backgrounds who were all adopted by the same couple. Each book can be read as a standalone and features one of the three siblings.

The female protagonist in book two is personal chef, Lindsey Barnes. She’s faced more than her fair share of trauma and is trying to move forward with the help of counselling. Her life becomes increasingly more difficult as she discovers she’s trapped in the crosshairs of a ruthless killer when she’s the sole witness to a high-profile murder. With experiencing trauma heaped on top of trauma in such a short time, Lindsey and those trying to help her, begin to question if what she’s reporting is the truth or a figment of her imagination. I'll admit to wondering if her memory was reliable. Is her mind playing tricks? Or is it the killer’s game plan?

I loved St. Louis County Detective Jack Tucker with the County Crimes Against Persons Bureau. He’s got his own issues and traumatic backstory which make him sensitive to Lindsey’s mental health. He holds her at an arm’s reach, despite his heart telling him to give in, until he finally realizes that she’s telling the truth about her experiences. I was rooting for these two to come to terms with their past so that they could move forward together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about forgiveness, trust and making room for the power of love.

I'm excited for book 3, to be published in October 2025 featuring Cara, a historical anthropologist. This book will wrap up this series.

I was gifted this copy by Revell and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Cara Putman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a gripping, twisty book filled with red herrings and persons of interest. I loved how real the motivations and conflict were for the hero and heroine. I didn’t guess who was behind it until the end — and usually I can. The romance was multi-layered with real obstacles. I was rooting for the characters throughout the pages. An intriguing read.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes there was a fine line between perseverance and stubbornness.” But stubbornness is a trait that gets Lindsay out of a tough situation. She is recovering from trauma months ago and finds herself the sole witness to a murder scene as the culprit exits the house. Ms Hannon once again puts her heroine through the ringer. Lindsay starts questioning what she has seen when someone targets her psychologically. With the help of Jack Turner, a St. Louis County cop, they try to piece together clues to find a murderer.
Full of mind games and thrilling scenes, i read this book in record time. With many suspects to choose from, I was kept guessing until the reveal. The characters were relatable and had depth. The plot was mesmerizing. I always enjoy books set in St. Louis where I lived for 20 years.
As always, Ms. Hannon writes excellent romantic suspense with a solid faith thread to encourage readers.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell Reads and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

[Dana Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read recently that Publishers Weekly aptly dubbed Irene Hannon the queen of suspense. Her unique writing style consistently captivates me. Over the Edge, the second book in her Undaunted Series, follows a personal chef who stumbles upon her murdered client with the killer still on the scene. The multiple viewpoints make for an entertaining, suspenseful read. And as always, there is a sweet romance. I highly recommend it and look forward to the series' conclusion, despite having to wait.
4.5 stars
*I received a copy of this book by the publisher, and this is my honest opinion

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personal chef Lindsey Barnes intends to pick up her knife set at yesterday's client's home. She does not intend to find a dead body nor to need to hide from the murderer. She's already trying to recover from one major trauma. She does not need another to undo the progress she's made. To make matters worse, the detective in charge of the case is Jack Tucker whose white-water rafting trip cost Lindsey's best friend's life. Once Lindsey describes the masked murderer to Jack, she hopes to never see him again. Then, someone starts messing with her mind to destroy her credibility as the only witness to the murder, and Jack and her psychologist are the only two she can turn to.

This is another of Irene Hannon's fast-paced romantic suspense novels. I enjoyed Lindsey. Too many heroines today either disdain cooking or can't do it, which is irritating. (Why didn't their mamas teach them to cook?) Lindsey not only cooks but rejects the high society lifestyle of her parents to do something she wants to, be a personal chef. She and Jack have both undergone major traumas in their lives. Hannon brought the climax about delightfully and tied up the loose ends well.

My only two problems with the story were that I felt blindsided by who the villains were. One of them I suspected, but the red herrings were so strong that the other villain's reveal made me dig back through past scenes to see what I missed. I never did figure out where I messed up recognizing the second villain. The other aspect that bothered me was that I thought the physical romance came on a little too fast and tempting for a Christian book.

I look forward to the third book in the series and fully intend to read it.

[Kelly Bridgewater · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon is a suspense novel that plays with the heroine's mind. The plot was a little slow going. About sixty percent into the novel, it picked up and became a much better suspense novel. The slow building of the romance between Jack, the hero and detective, and, Lindsey, the heroine felt right for the type of story that it was. I really liked the concept of the villain. I figured out who the bad person was pretty soon. No surprise for me there. As for the setting, it is a typical town with a murder running loose and the cops trying to solve the mystery. I did enjoy seeing Jack trying to solve the mystery. I do enjoy the concept of three foster siblings, and Hannon does a good job at showing their relationship in this novel too. Overall, Over the Edge by Irene Hannon does check off the lists of what a romantic suspense novel needs. A good read for someone who enjoys their suspense novels with a slight edge.

I received a complimentary copy of Over the Edge by Irene Hannon from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

[JaneReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindsay was a strong and resilient character. Not only did she continue with her commitments while going through this trial, but she also showed her caring nature by helping others. Jack and Lindsay meet when he is assigned as lead investigator to the murder where Lindsay is a witness. Someone is trying to make Lindsay look like an unreliable witness, and Jack is torn between trusting her or not. What is really going on? Who can be trusted? There were some twists/reveals that happened that I hadn't seen coming. I had suspicions but didn't piece everything together correctly. I enjoyed the interactions of Jack and his sisters, their banter was fun, and I would have been good with more scenes with the three of them together. I did like the way the romance built up, and the ending was sweet. This was very light on the faith, a few mentions of attending church, but that was about it. (I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.)

[Randi Sampson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over the Edge is the second book in the Undaunted Courage series but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone if you have not read the previous book.

Irene Hannon is a must-read author for me. Every time I pick up one of her suspense books, I know I am in for an exciting story that will keep me at the edge of my seat... and this was absolutely no exception. This particular story had a psychological aspect to it that I thought made it really interesting and unique. While there were a few things that I figured out (or at least suspected) earlier on, there were definitely other twists that completely took me by surprise... leaving me wondering what could possibly happen next. I love when a story surprises me like this! I can't say too much more without giving away spoilers, but this one is definitely one you'll want to experience for yourself. I found this to be the perfect blend of romance and suspense... I absolutely couldn't get enough of it. If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense, this is definitely one not to be missed.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[(Katie) Paperbacks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping suspenseful story that will keep you wanting more, and I can't wait for the third book.

I loved the characters in the story. The main heroine struggled with trauma from her past and now finds herself in another traumatic situation when she finds a dead body at her job. What follows is an edge of your seat story, wondering of reality is real or fiction. I'm excited to see what happens next in book 3.


*thank you to Baker Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

[Fredreka Irvine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book! I actually enjoyed this one more than the first one! Great audiobook reader. She was all into it, which made me all into it. Lol. Don't forget to read part one first!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hannon continues to be a top romantic suspense author. Engaging, smooth writing and a twisty path to the reveal.

[Jane Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite authors, Irene Hannon has written a fast-paced story with more twists and turns than a tornado. Certainly, a must read for those who like action and a feel-good ending.

[Emily Waits (emilylovesreading_) · Rating 5 out of 5]

{Thank you to @RevellFiction for my gifted copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}

I enjoyed Over the Edge so much! I loved the characters in this story, and the multiple perspectives were handled well. The writing style captivated me and held my attention the whole time. I literally couldn’t put this book down!

I loved how resilient the two main characters in this story were and how they fought for the truth and each other.

The TWIST. I never saw it coming. Throughout the story I was making predictions but was never sure. When everything came together in the end, I was so surprised by how much I’d gotten wrong! I love it when a story can surprise me like that.

This book is a Christian fiction but is very light on faith elements, with some prayers by the main character and mentions of church.

Though this book is part of a series, Over the Edge can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Highly recommend! I can’t wait to go back and read more books from Irene Hannon.

[Rachel Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great suspense with a great romance.
Having read the previous book in the series and having had mixed opinions, I was a little nervous to begin this, but I still enjoyed it. The suspense was nice, but I guessed who did it the first time the name was on the page. Maybe I’ve read too many suspense books, but…
I did enjoy the romance better in this one. The aspect dividing them was a heavy topic, but they did resolve like mature adults…after some time. This wasn’t a “wow” book due to some new age leaning amidst Christian content, but a decent read.

Content: new age things (meditation, Mother Nature), major violence (loss of friend, white river rafting, rowing, kidnapping, murder, just not in too heavy detail) romance and kissing (up to semidetailed)

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindsay is not having the best of luck lately. She was a witness to an event that she would like to forget. She is going to need all the help she can get to survive. I liked this book.

[Julia Borazo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not so fast paced as I was expecting, it’s good like a bones episode.

[Laura Cohen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irene Hannon never disappoints.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narration, and could this be the perfect thriller book? I'm thinking so!

[Julie Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsers!!! I love this great suspenseful read! Lindsey and Jack have to work quickly to solve this case if there's any hope for Lindsey's sanity. She's being targeted because of something she witnessed. And anyone is a possible suspect.

This was really well done and had me not wanting to set it down at all until I had discovered everything. That I had gotten all of the clues and could piece together whodunnit! And let me tell you that I was pretty excited when I pegged it correctly from the beginning! Woohoo! I should say that it probably won't be obvious to everyone, but I've read a lot of suspense/mystery and watched a lot that I'm pretty good and piecing those early clues together and guessing correctly. My family also has a game that we have to make our guesses within the first 3-5 minutes of a show because everything you need to know is placed in there. You just have to know to look for it. Can you figure it out at the beginning? Or will it take you until the big reveal?

Get ready for some page-turning suspense that will have you holding breath and hoping that Jack can piece together all of the clues before something happens to Lindsey. And bonus...there's a sweet love story as well!

Content: This is written in a clean way. Yes, it has suspense, peril, murder and other such aspects but the author has written it in a sensitive way. The love story is clean and only has a couple of kisses.

I received a copy from the publisher, Revell, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

[Inspirationalfictionreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I read an Irene Hannon story, I have come to expect a nice romance with some “edge of your seat” suspense and a bit of sleuthing to figure out who the villain is. While there are a few suspenseful moments and a sweet, but barely there, romance in this story, I struggled a bit with this one.

I wanted more suspense, more romance, and more guessing as to who the villain was. Normally when I read a romantic suspense book, I am accusing everyone who isn’t guilty. LOL. I had this one figured out pretty quickly, which took away from the story. I also had trouble connecting with the main characters for some reason. I loved Jack in book one, Into the Fire, so I was really looking forward to his story, but sadly, this one fell a bit flat.

Although Over the Edge is book 2 in the Undaunted Courage series, you can easily read it as a standalone story. I’m sure others will love the characters and the suspense this story brings.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 3 stars.

[Diane]

This was a good clean read that full of suspense and romance that was fun.
The narrator was easy to listen to it.
I wish there were more in this series.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Ahhhhhhhh the way that Irene Hannon masterfully sets up the plot in Over the Edge had me questioning my own sanity as well as Lindsey’s! I couldn’t have put the book down if I’d wanted to. But I absolutely didn’t want to because the tight writing, great characters, and psych-thriller vibes swept me right away into the story and carried me from twist to twist, playing with my mind in the best possible ways, until it deposited me on the other side with a full and content reader heart.

Lindsey Barnes is already a trauma survivor when she becomes the sole person who saw her client’s murderer leave the scene, and while you certainly don’t wish trauma on even fictional characters, at least she has more tools to work through this latest crisis than most of us would. She’s gonna need them too because someone wants to make sure the police do not take her seriously. Fortunately for her, lead detective Jack Tucker is inexplicably drawn to her but even he has his doubts. And like I said, I did too… after all, the best psychological thrillers mess with the readers’ minds just as much as the characters’, and it’s one of the reasons I love this genre so much. I am so happy when a book keeps me on my toes and unsure who to trust, and Over the Edge did a great job with this!

Honestly, though, I really really really hoped that Lindsey would ultimately be vindicated because I liked her character so much. She’s tough but still soft in heart & spirit, she is the kind of friend that all of us want to have – and should want to be – and she exudes warmth and empathy. Plus, she’s a professional chef, so prepare for your mouth to water on occasion. Know who else is a great cook? Detective Jack Tucker. Get ready for your mouth to water over his deliciousness too (ooo did I say that out loud?). After having met him as Bri’s brother in Into the Fire, I delighted in getting to know him as the hero in this book. He has his own past trauma, including something he and Lindsey have in common, and my heart went out to him. Hannon wrote these two so vividly that they felt real, and I was solidly invested in their solving this mystery, staying safe, and finding a happily-ever-after together.

Bottom Line: In Over the Edge, Irene Hannon cooks up a riveting thriller that will have readers completely absorbed in the story, looking over their shoulder, forgetting to breathe, and maybe even losing sleep. Totally worth it though, as all great books are – and Over the Edge is definitely a great book! Lindsey and Jack are immensely likable characters, and while their romance doesn’t dominate the story, there are still plenty of sparks (between them) and swoons (for readers) to be had once it starts moving in a more focused manner in that direction. And the suspense…. oh! the suspense! Hannon keeps us guessing for most of the novel, but even once she lets us in on the identity of the villain(s) we still have a good chunk of the story ahead of us. It was also really fun to spend time with the Triple Threat series’ Cate Reilly again. What an entertaining ride!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another 5 star romantic suspense read from Irene Hannon! Though this is book 2 of the Undaunted Courage series, it can definitely be read as a stand-alone. We do get to catch up with Bri, the heroine in book 1 (as well as Cate from Labyrinth of Lies in the Triple Threat series), but their stories are not integral to the plot of this one, so you can enjoy this one on its own. Fans of the prior books will be glad to catch up with "old friends" again and see how they're faring, though. This is another book that hit the ground running and didn't let up. This book opens with Lindsey Barnes finding a dead body, and catching a glimpse of the murderer on their way out. When crazy things start happening to her, she begins to question not only her sanity, but if the things she is remembering are facts or not. Detective Jack Tucker is immediately drawn to Lindsey, both for her beauty and to figure out why she's so aloof towards him, but is hesitant to get involved with someone who seems to have some sort of psychosis due to his own tainted past.

This story had a good level of intensity. I wasn't jumpy while reading, but definitely needed to see what happens next and was up WAY too late on a worknight to finish this one because I just couldn't stop turning pages. There were lots of twists and turns. I did suspect the villain somewhat simply because I tend to suspect everyone. But the motives threw me for a loop! The characters were likable and relatable and even though I don't much care for the romance element of romantic suspense, I was cheering for Lindsey and Jack. Their character growth and development throughout the book was stellar as well. I appreciate good open communication between characters in a book and this author did that well with these characters. The faith thread in this one was a bit subtle, but it was hovering in the background and this was a completely clean read. All in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable story and one I would easily recommend to fans of romantic suspense. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

[Toni Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Undaunted Courage Book #2

Lindsey Barned is the main character in this story and Detective Jack Tucker is a strong secondary player both made this story and exciting read.

The story in a few words:

Lindsey has much going for her and is trying to stay one step ahead of the trauma experienced years ago till the day she thought she was losing her mind and find herself in the middle of another crisis. Not only she is the sole witness in a high-profile murder case but her sanity is in question....Then come into play Detective Jack Tucker to save the day.....

My thoughts:

Ms. Hannon never fails to give us a captivating story that will be hard to put down and will pin us down and on the edge of our seat till we reach the conclusion. This latest adds a tad of psychological aspect by playing with her protagonist’s mind: is Lindsey losing her mind or not? Is she seeing things that were never there?

The very handsome Detective Tucker tries to make sense of the information Lindsey is provided but wants not only to believe her but put an end to the mystery. Doing so, Tucker faces a multitude of twists and counter twists to derail him and us as reader questioning is we may have figured out the right whodunit....Three quarters in I had an idea who it may be...hey I was half right. Of course the two of them working closely together the inevitable happened and both had twinkles in their eyes... awe.....

This story is well-written: clean with a tiny bit of romance, a small amount of faith and lots and lots of suspense.

I received this book from the publisher Revell via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The suspense starts at the beginning of the book, ramps up its intensity as the story continues and ends with a surprise revelation that includes even more suspense. This is a perfectly well-written romantic suspense, with characters that are relatable and flawed as well as totally believable. Lindsey Barnes is a personal chef who is in the wrong place at the wrong time and ends up being the only eyewitness to a home invasion murder. Detective Jack Tucker is the lead investigator who has difficulty at first believing Lindsey’s account of what happened and presses her to remember more details so that he has more to go on on order to catch a killer. The story continues with part of Lindsey’s backstory and why she doesn’t particularly trust the police and especially Jack. Fascinating details here! There is a secondary story of a handyman who was at the site of the murder and who is Jack’s first suspect. The author does an expert job of weaving the storylines together, including Lindsey’s need for counseling, her past trauma and Jack’s past as well. This book was hard to put down and an engrossing read with a compelling mystery that begged to be solved. I must confess that I love mystery and suspense and read them a lot, but the surprise revelation in this one had me gasping and loving the story even more. With a fast pace, characters who beg for a good resolution and twists that I never saw coming, this moves up to the top of my list of best romantic suspense books this year.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Over the Edge" is a Christian romantic suspense novel. Though the second book in the series, it works as a standalone. The characters were likable and reacted realistically to events. Suspense was created by someone messing with Lindsey to discredit her as the sole witness of the suspected murderer (though she didn't see very much of use). Jack and Lindsey initially kept each other at a distance emotionally. Jack's birth mother had mental problems, so he didn't want to get involved with someone who might have similar problems. Lindsey felt Jack hadn't accepted her friend for who she was but pushed her to do something he liked that turned out to be dangerous. Since her parents also pushed her toward careers she didn't care for, she was worried Jack might not be willing to accept her for who she was. However, they came to care for each other as they spent time together and got to know each other.

There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting suspense novel.

I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irene Hannon writes AMAZING suspense! She draws you in and keeps the intrigue coming at a rapid pace. Lindsey Barnes is a trauma survivor and is working hard to build a new life for herself. When unexplained happenings occur, the police find no evidence and begin to question her sanity. Jack Tucker, a police detective assigned to her case, has doubts of his own in the beginning. But when things take a deadly turn, a colleague suggests there's another possibility. He begins to rethink the case and works with Lindsey to try and figure out who is behind the psychological torment. Will a murderer go free? The twists and turns in this book kept me glued to the pages and I can wait for the next in the series!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is expertly written. The author weaves the plot so that the reader has many options from which to choose in deciding who the murderer was. You may think it is obvious that someone is trying to drive Lindsay mad and discredit her as a viable witness to a murder. But are they really? Irene Hannon leads you down a rabbit trail that makes you wonder. Plan to stay up late when you get to the 80% mark, because you won't want to put it down.

[E.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the storyline on this one! Following a sibling from book 1 we get to see into a very interesting crime!

I think I enjoyed this even more than book 1 and am excited for the third book!

My rating: 4.5*

——
Thanks to the publisher for a physical copy (I listened to a library audiobook). All opinions are my own.