Lena DeVine: Over the Edge

by C.C. Jirón

Consumed by grief and suspicion, Lena barrels down a dark, desolate highway on a Fourth of July weekend, fixated on avenging her twin sister’s death. The killer thinks he got away with it. Lena thinks not. She has video evidence, a belly full of rage, a brand new pistol, and a clever plan. But will all of that be enough or will her sister's death go unsolved and unpunished?

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 3, 2025

About the author

Greetings! I am corn-bred and corn-fed from America's heartland. But life's trails led me to reside in Washington, California, Minnesota, Michigan, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico, with a brief stint in Austria. After 14 years in the travel industry, I earned my Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology, allowing me to work with neurodivergent individuals of all ages and train other professionals for the next 20 years. My formal career ended with 6 joyful years running elementary school libraries. Here is what keeps me going through thick and thin: For almost 60+ years, I have been a yogini, with ongoing study and practice rooted in traditions stretching back more than 7,000 years. Recently retired, I am finally writing the stories that have been cavorting in my head for decades. My goal is to add kindness to the world, as we sorely need it. May you find compassion, civility, common sense and a little magic on your own trails. All blessings!

Reviews

[Emily Dacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

In C. C. Jiron’s LENA DeVINE-Over the Edge, a married pilot, who writes erotic poems, and a girl in her early twenties, single and searching, find themselves on a stagnant love boat. Shar, Lena’s twin sister, says this love game, or whatever Lena thinks it is, has been rigged from the start. Gat considers it a love adventure, his chance to try out an open marriage. Then death occurs, of someone dearest to Lena, and while the world moves on, Lena finds evidence to prove murder. Along comes Daphne and Bailey. Also, a cat named Bandit.

This is the story of identical twins and how a man wedged himself between them, causing more anguish than he’d intended. Daphne and Bailey, who arrive a while later, appear as bystanders in the beginning, but they’re part of the story, especially towards the end, and they’re geniuses besides being fun to have for company.

LENA DeVine intrigued me. It begins in the middle, introducing Lena as she drives to Prescott, Arizona. The middle immersed me in the circumstances that led to Lena buying a gun. Daphne and Bailey arrive, and what are they up to? Lena later confesses to the Sheriff that they guilted her into giving them a ride, but is that all? Then comes the ending, brilliant and satisfying.

I love this book because of the characters. Seeing Gat many pages later as he explained himself, made me feel sorry for him. Shar has her bad and good sides, and I would’ve loved to hear her story from the horse’s mouth. Daphne and Bailey are quite a duo; they’re like guardian angels. Rudy epitomizes the challenges ex-convicts face as they begin anew. And there’s Lena, soft at first but getting tougher and tougher as the going gets twisted and suspenseful.

And there are scenes impossible to forget, mostly because of the clever dialogue and characters. Such as a woman accosting Lena at the bar, mistaking her for Shar, dropping a bomb; the Prescott Sheriff hearing out Lena and her estranged friends; Gat polishing Lena's toenails.

For readers, this book blends romance, murder, and investigation. If you’re into that, then I assure you a special treat.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lena is a force and this book was so engaging from go. This is a good mix of genres. You definately won't be able to put it down.

[Emily Dacho · Rating 5 out of 5]

In C. C. Jiron’s LENA DeVINE-Over the Edge, a married pilot, who writes erotic poems, and a girl in her early twenties, single and searching, find themselves on a stagnant love boat. Shar, Lena’s twin sister, says this love game, or whatever Lena thinks it is, has been rigged from the start. Gat considers it a love adventure, his chance to try out an open marriage. Then death occurs, of someone dearest to Lena, and while the world moves on, Lena finds evidence to prove murder. Along comes Daphne and Bailey. Also, a cat named Bandit.

This is the story of identical twins and how a man wedged himself between them, causing more anguish than he’d intended. Daphne and Bailey, who arrive a while later, appear as bystanders in the beginning, but they’re part of the story, especially towards the end, and they’re geniuses besides being fun to have for company.

LENA DeVine intrigued me. It begins in the middle, introducing Lena as she drives to Prescott, Arizona. The middle immersed me in the circumstances that led to Lena buying a gun. Daphne and Bailey arrive, and what are they up to? Lena later confesses to the Sheriff that they guilted her into giving them a ride, but is that all? Then comes the ending, brilliant and satisfying.

I love this book because of the characters. Seeing Gat many pages later as he explained himself, made me feel sorry for him. Shar has her bad and good sides, and I would’ve loved to hear her story from the horse’s mouth. Daphne and Bailey are quite a duo; they’re like guardian angels. Rudy epitomizes the challenges ex-convicts face as they begin anew. And there’s Lena, soft at first but getting tougher and tougher as the going gets twisted and suspenseful.

And there are scenes impossible to forget, mostly because of the clever dialogue and characters. Such as a woman accosting Lena at the bar, mistaking her for Shar, dropping a bomb; the Prescott Sheriff hearing out Lena and her estranged friends; Gat polishing Lena's toenails.

For readers, this book blends romance, murder, and investigation. If you’re into that, then I assure you a special treat.