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Eve Rossi #2
City on Edge
Edgar Award–winning author Stefanie Pintoff shoots to thrill in her gripping new novel of suspense.
The night before the Thanksgiving Day Parade, a crowd gathers on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to watch the giant balloons fill with helium and rise toward the sky. Then the festive ritual takes a terrifying turn—a gunshot rings out, police commissioner Logan Donovan falls, and panic erupts. When the chaos clears, another crime is revealed: Donovan’s daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped. Soon the abductor will make his shocking demands.
Within hours, Special Agent Eve Rossi and her handpicked team of quick-thinking, swift-moving, hard-striking former convicts know a lot about the kidnapper. He’s somewhere close by, holding Allie along with a captive boy. He hates Logan Donovan enough to destroy him. And he will kill.
But there’s more Eve and her team don’t know—about a weapon planted inside the parade, about Commissioner Donovan’s hidden life, and about the secrets his daughter keeps. As people line the streets, bands and marchers prepare, and the massive parade steps off into New York’s echoing canyons, a desperate race begins to keep the city from being torn asunder by a brutal act of violence. But even as her squad deploys for action, Eve grapples with a harrowing question: Whom should she fear more—a vengeful man threatening innocent lives, or a charming, arrogant cop fighting to save his daughter, who may be trying to cover up his crimes?
The night before the Thanksgiving Day Parade, a crowd gathers on Manhattan’s Upper West Side to watch the giant balloons fill with helium and rise toward the sky. Then the festive ritual takes a terrifying turn—a gunshot rings out, police commissioner Logan Donovan falls, and panic erupts. When the chaos clears, another crime is revealed: Donovan’s daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped. Soon the abductor will make his shocking demands.
Within hours, Special Agent Eve Rossi and her handpicked team of quick-thinking, swift-moving, hard-striking former convicts know a lot about the kidnapper. He’s somewhere close by, holding Allie along with a captive boy. He hates Logan Donovan enough to destroy him. And he will kill.
But there’s more Eve and her team don’t know—about a weapon planted inside the parade, about Commissioner Donovan’s hidden life, and about the secrets his daughter keeps. As people line the streets, bands and marchers prepare, and the massive parade steps off into New York’s echoing canyons, a desperate race begins to keep the city from being torn asunder by a brutal act of violence. But even as her squad deploys for action, Eve grapples with a harrowing question: Whom should she fear more—a vengeful man threatening innocent lives, or a charming, arrogant cop fighting to save his daughter, who may be trying to cover up his crimes?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 2016
25 people are currently reading
966 people want to read
About the author
Stefanie Pintoff
8 books242 followersStefanie Pintoff is the Edgar® award-winning author of HOSTAGE TAKER and the Simon Ziele historical mysteries. Her writing has also won the Washington Irving Book Prize and earned nominations for the Anthony, Macavity, and Agatha awards. Pintoff's novels have been published around the world, including the United Kingdom, Italy, Croatia, and Japan. She lives on Manhattan's Upper West Side, where she is at work on the next Eve Rossi thriller.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
December 5, 2016
Thanksgiving, the big parade in New York, in the balloon staging area the police commissioners daughter is kidnapped. Eve Rossi and her renegade team is called on, to find the young girl and to prevent what appears. to be a threat targeted at the commissioner and the parade itself.
First book I ever read by this author was her début novel, In the Shadow of Gotham, a historical mystery that I loved. This, the second in the Eve Rossi series is a thriller and am very good one as was the first. Loved this group of unorthodox experts, all with very shady pasts but with undeniable talents that the FBI occasionally needs to use. Watching Eli attempt to leg raise like a Rockette while undercover and holding on to the Molly the Mongoose balloon alone was well worth the price of admission. This is a fast paced thriller, with a group of misfits that come together, sometimes unwillingly, to save a young girl. There is a shocker in this one and this group will never be quite the same again.
ARC from Netgalley.
First book I ever read by this author was her début novel, In the Shadow of Gotham, a historical mystery that I loved. This, the second in the Eve Rossi series is a thriller and am very good one as was the first. Loved this group of unorthodox experts, all with very shady pasts but with undeniable talents that the FBI occasionally needs to use. Watching Eli attempt to leg raise like a Rockette while undercover and holding on to the Molly the Mongoose balloon alone was well worth the price of admission. This is a fast paced thriller, with a group of misfits that come together, sometimes unwillingly, to save a young girl. There is a shocker in this one and this group will never be quite the same again.
ARC from Netgalley.
December 26, 2016
Pontiff successfully does it again with the 2nd in the Eve Rossi series.
It's the Macy's thanksgiving day parade - thousands of people populate the streets until a mob forms and a girl goes missing. Eve and her misfit team are brought in to solve the crime.
Not a deep emotional gut wrencher, but a light fast moving read with some psychological detailing and a crime to be solved.
This delivers.
Definitely a stand alone but if you want more character background, read Hostage Taker. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks Pintoff- a solid read. 3.8*
It's the Macy's thanksgiving day parade - thousands of people populate the streets until a mob forms and a girl goes missing. Eve and her misfit team are brought in to solve the crime.
Not a deep emotional gut wrencher, but a light fast moving read with some psychological detailing and a crime to be solved.
This delivers.
Definitely a stand alone but if you want more character background, read Hostage Taker. My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thanks Pintoff- a solid read. 3.8*
October 2, 2016
I received a copy of City on Edge by Stefanie Pintoff through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Random House/Ballantine Books and Stefanie Pintoff for the opportunity.
Ain't nuthin' like the crisp chill in the November air and the New York City skyline in full view. Add the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and you're all set. Except this time, all is not what it appears to be. Tradition is tinged with some smarmy human turkeys waddling through this unsuspecting crowd.
Eve Rossi is back with her Vidocq Team of misfits to assist the FBI with the latest unconscionable act. Police Commissioner Logan Donovan's thirteen year old daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped as she awaits the upcoming festivities. Allie has vanished into thin air. Layer this up with the NYPD receiving threats after a police shoot-out and a full-on protest is under way. Insert massive hot air cartoon characters that are being readied for a massive air lift. Plenty of bees buzzing in this volatile hive. A scene fraught with danger. Which end is up?
This is the second book in the Eve Rossi series. Stefanie Pintoff will familiarize you with the team members if this is your first test drive. This can certainly be read as a standalone. Pintoff keeps the tension high as she switches from one scenario to the next. She seems to keep the team more front and center in this one with Eve working the background scene. There's also the clever use of "Classified Files" on the team members and WJXZ news reports to keep track of incidents in this crazy stratosphere. This is a New York state of mind and the city reacts with all systems go.
Pintoff doesn't disappoint in this action-filled presentation of New York crime once again. Most certainly, don't let the subway leave the station without you being seated and ready to roll. Hunker down. I see many a book on the horizon in this Eve Rossi series by the talented Stefanie Pintoff.
Ain't nuthin' like the crisp chill in the November air and the New York City skyline in full view. Add the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and you're all set. Except this time, all is not what it appears to be. Tradition is tinged with some smarmy human turkeys waddling through this unsuspecting crowd.
Eve Rossi is back with her Vidocq Team of misfits to assist the FBI with the latest unconscionable act. Police Commissioner Logan Donovan's thirteen year old daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped as she awaits the upcoming festivities. Allie has vanished into thin air. Layer this up with the NYPD receiving threats after a police shoot-out and a full-on protest is under way. Insert massive hot air cartoon characters that are being readied for a massive air lift. Plenty of bees buzzing in this volatile hive. A scene fraught with danger. Which end is up?
This is the second book in the Eve Rossi series. Stefanie Pintoff will familiarize you with the team members if this is your first test drive. This can certainly be read as a standalone. Pintoff keeps the tension high as she switches from one scenario to the next. She seems to keep the team more front and center in this one with Eve working the background scene. There's also the clever use of "Classified Files" on the team members and WJXZ news reports to keep track of incidents in this crazy stratosphere. This is a New York state of mind and the city reacts with all systems go.
Pintoff doesn't disappoint in this action-filled presentation of New York crime once again. Most certainly, don't let the subway leave the station without you being seated and ready to roll. Hunker down. I see many a book on the horizon in this Eve Rossi series by the talented Stefanie Pintoff.
Read
December 28, 2016The Hook - Somehow I got the Eve Rossi series and Simon Ziele series mixed up. City on Edge is the second in the Eve Rossi series but worked well as a standalone.
The Line - ”Everyone loves a parade.”
The Sinker - I love a parade! One of the best is The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, a New York tradition since 1924. If you’ve ever been there or even watched the parade on TV you understand the excitement of seeing those giant balloons being blown up and then led down the parade route by volunteer handlers. Drawing crowds of millions you can see the potential for crime, petty stuff like pick pocketing right up the ladder to terrorism. Stephanie Pintoff uses this beloved family parade as the backdrop for a well-plotted, suspense filled venue for Special Agent Eve Rossi, the second outing for she and her cracker-jack team. During the festivities of the inflation of balloons in Manhattan, Police Commissioner, an unknown gunman shoots down Logan Donovan. Using the panic that ensues as a distraction, Donovan’s teen daughter goes missing, possibly the victim of a kidnapping and ransom. It’s up to Eve to figure out the true motivation of the perpetrator while keeping the parade route and viewers secure. No easy job. City on Edge provides a great setting for the second outing for this character and what’s better is there’s promise that she’ll be back.
The Line - ”Everyone loves a parade.”
The Sinker - I love a parade! One of the best is The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, a New York tradition since 1924. If you’ve ever been there or even watched the parade on TV you understand the excitement of seeing those giant balloons being blown up and then led down the parade route by volunteer handlers. Drawing crowds of millions you can see the potential for crime, petty stuff like pick pocketing right up the ladder to terrorism. Stephanie Pintoff uses this beloved family parade as the backdrop for a well-plotted, suspense filled venue for Special Agent Eve Rossi, the second outing for she and her cracker-jack team. During the festivities of the inflation of balloons in Manhattan, Police Commissioner, an unknown gunman shoots down Logan Donovan. Using the panic that ensues as a distraction, Donovan’s teen daughter goes missing, possibly the victim of a kidnapping and ransom. It’s up to Eve to figure out the true motivation of the perpetrator while keeping the parade route and viewers secure. No easy job. City on Edge provides a great setting for the second outing for this character and what’s better is there’s promise that she’ll be back.
September 9, 2021
This is the second book in the series about Eve Rossi, an FBI agent in New York who is in charge of a special unit comprised of former criminals. In this book, on the eve of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade the police commissioner is shot and his 13-year-old daughter is kidnapped.
This was an intricately plotted thriller and I enjoyed it. It got very exciting at the end. Each member of the team has his or her unique way of contributing to the investigation. As in the first book, I thought that too much time was devoted to the back stories of the team members. But then, I'm not terribly interested in character development in thrillers. I was a little confused by the ending. I still have no idea who shot the commissioner and there was one character whose involvement in the plot puzzled me. Despite these minor issues with the plot, I'd be glad to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an intricately plotted thriller and I enjoyed it. It got very exciting at the end. Each member of the team has his or her unique way of contributing to the investigation. As in the first book, I thought that too much time was devoted to the back stories of the team members. But then, I'm not terribly interested in character development in thrillers. I was a little confused by the ending. I still have no idea who shot the commissioner and there was one character whose involvement in the plot puzzled me. Despite these minor issues with the plot, I'd be glad to read the next book in the series.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
December 29, 2024
Full disclosure…this is the second in the series. But my local library did not have the first book. Still, I was able to read this as a stand-alone. However, I encourage readers to try and read all books in series order, if possible.
On to my review…
Nothing like a “hot” strong woman protagonist named Eve, with an unorthodox team of former convicts who use their skills and contacts to accomplish tasks that typically bypass chain of command to get readers turning pages.
And, in this particular case, Allie, a Police Commissioner’s daughter, is kidnapped before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Also, the city is under threat of attack. Eve and her team’s skills are definitely needed to come to the rescue.
The question is, will they be in time? And, why target the Police Commissioner?
In this page-turning, gripping story, readers will feel the ticking clock. It definitely is a scenic read with the New York Thanksgiving Day parade as the backdrop. Eve and her team race to find Allie and wonder if she and her team will make it in time to identify and bring down the kidnapper before the city is engulfed in terror. Most importantly, will readers keep up the pace?
On to my review…
Nothing like a “hot” strong woman protagonist named Eve, with an unorthodox team of former convicts who use their skills and contacts to accomplish tasks that typically bypass chain of command to get readers turning pages.
And, in this particular case, Allie, a Police Commissioner’s daughter, is kidnapped before the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Also, the city is under threat of attack. Eve and her team’s skills are definitely needed to come to the rescue.
The question is, will they be in time? And, why target the Police Commissioner?
In this page-turning, gripping story, readers will feel the ticking clock. It definitely is a scenic read with the New York Thanksgiving Day parade as the backdrop. Eve and her team race to find Allie and wonder if she and her team will make it in time to identify and bring down the kidnapper before the city is engulfed in terror. Most importantly, will readers keep up the pace?
November 3, 2016
This is a timely thriller taking place in and around Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The 13-year-old daughter of Police Commissioner Logan Donovan has been kidnapped. Donovan is trying to handle all the threats coming in concerning the parade and basically doesn't have time to look for his daughter. As she has run away from home before, there is the question of her doing it again vs being kidnapped.
Special Agent Eve Rossi heads up a different kind of team. Her team members all have been convicted of crimes, and were recruited to use their talents / skills in helping law enforcement rather than spend years in prison. Eve, herself, is a former FBI profiler, a clinical psychologist and hostage negotiator.
It is to this group that Donovan turns for help in finding his daughter.
I found this book to be somewhat different from most mystery/suspense/thrillers that I normally read. The team members are introduced by way of personnel files/profiles listing height, weight, hair and eye color, as well as family members, religion, strengths and weaknesses, as well as a bit about their special talent, was okay ... but really didn't add anything to the story line.
I found it interesting that most of her team are computer gurus who seemingly can find anything they want or need from a computer, even if it doesn't even exist.
Other than Rossi and her team, I didn't like any of the other characters. They were like cardboard cut-outs.
The ending was not that much of a surprise. Although it was all tied up with a bow, the author left a little wiggle room for a follow-up book.
My thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Netgalley who provided a digital copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Special Agent Eve Rossi heads up a different kind of team. Her team members all have been convicted of crimes, and were recruited to use their talents / skills in helping law enforcement rather than spend years in prison. Eve, herself, is a former FBI profiler, a clinical psychologist and hostage negotiator.
It is to this group that Donovan turns for help in finding his daughter.
I found this book to be somewhat different from most mystery/suspense/thrillers that I normally read. The team members are introduced by way of personnel files/profiles listing height, weight, hair and eye color, as well as family members, religion, strengths and weaknesses, as well as a bit about their special talent, was okay ... but really didn't add anything to the story line.
I found it interesting that most of her team are computer gurus who seemingly can find anything they want or need from a computer, even if it doesn't even exist.
Other than Rossi and her team, I didn't like any of the other characters. They were like cardboard cut-outs.
The ending was not that much of a surprise. Although it was all tied up with a bow, the author left a little wiggle room for a follow-up book.
My thanks to the author / Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Netgalley who provided a digital copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
November 15, 2016
A special thank you to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Stefanie Pintoff returns following Hostage Taker (Eve Rossi #1) with CITY ON EDGE (Eve Rossi #2) a riveting urban contemporary series, featuring Eve Rossi negotiator FBI agent for an intense suspense roller-coaster crime thriller ride. (love the cover)
As the previous book, the setting is centered around a holiday. Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the night before the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. A national event of historic proportions—not to mention a special family day that kids of all ages enjoy.
Perched high above Central Park West, Eve had an unparalleled view of the city from the penthouse terrace. Straight ahead, the park was a fiery swath of oranges, yellows, and reds. To the right, she could trace the Manhattan skyline down to the One World Trade Center. On her left, the rooftops of Harlem stretched in a wide arc.
Mind over matter, she told herself. Control was just an illusion.
Special Agent Evangeline Rossi (Eve) is head of a secret division of the FBI. Most of the eclectic team is a mix of highly intelligent professionals, criminals, and ex-convicts, a secret squad known as the VIDOCQ Unit. Meet the Team.
Eva, age 34, single, a Caucasian Italian, a perfectionist. She likes to control and does not delegate well. She is a seasoned interrogator and hostage negotiator. Her expertise is in behavioral science and criminal investigative analysis, subspecialties in kinesics and paralinguistics.
Her mother is deceased, and stepfather was a former CIA operative, also recently deceased. She loves crosswords puzzles, a concert pianist, and an avid runner. She is dedicated to her work, to make the place a better place. She possesses great insights into the criminal mind that most agents of her age do not possess.
Three and a half million people crammed onto the streets. Every year, it’s a miracle when nothing happens. The goal was simple: to erect a secure cordon that would be as impenetrable as a medieval fort.
With clever maps and visuals with Classified VIDOCQ file personal tidbits to get the low down on each agent, Pintoff sets the mood in the vibrant city with its set of problems. Lives are at stake. Security is imperative. However, as the balloons are inflated, things take a turn for the worse.
A protest unexpectedly turned violent. Police Commissioner Logan Donovan was brutally attacked on what should have been a day of celebration and Thanksgiving, gets shot. Then his thirteen-year-old daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped.
The search is on and tension is high. However, this may be more than a simple kidnapping. A terrorist threat targeting, the parade? Was the commissioner attacked in retaliation for Stan Smith’s death while in police custody? A threat to public safety? They need to keep the city safe.
With an eclectic group of agents (ex-cons) they all have special skills and criminal records. They put their skills to work for the government or do time in jail. At one point Eve had felt completely unsuited to lead her team of ex-cons and barely reformed thugs. With nothing in common with them. They were talented, unpredictable, and strangely loyal. They were her responsibility.
A ticking time bomb and Eve and the FBI’s Vidocq team brought together a group of ex-cons-men and women with extraordinary talents; who could solve crimes using methods that ordinary agents never could.
The department had been involved in a number of cases, too many unarmed suspects shot by cops. The Commissioner was also widowed now, and the media would be cruel. Her team has been charged with finding Allie and bringing her home, with some other politics going on at the same time.
Not the easiest task. Eve would do her job. She had dealt with plenty of powerhouses over the years. She would do her job, find the child, and make sure Commissioner Logan Donovan kept his distance.
There is more Eve and her team doesn't know—about a weapon planted inside the parade, about Commissioner Donovan’s hidden life, and about the secrets his daughter keeps. Eve must decide which is more dangerous.
Action-filled, an edgy, crime suspense of police brutality, corruption, deceit, and lies. As always, fun catching up with the mix of agents and their varied personality and skill sets, with some thought-provoking decisions for Eve for the next installment!
JDCMustReadBooks
Stefanie Pintoff returns following Hostage Taker (Eve Rossi #1) with CITY ON EDGE (Eve Rossi #2) a riveting urban contemporary series, featuring Eve Rossi negotiator FBI agent for an intense suspense roller-coaster crime thriller ride. (love the cover)
As the previous book, the setting is centered around a holiday. Manhattan’s Upper West Side, the night before the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade. A national event of historic proportions—not to mention a special family day that kids of all ages enjoy.
Perched high above Central Park West, Eve had an unparalleled view of the city from the penthouse terrace. Straight ahead, the park was a fiery swath of oranges, yellows, and reds. To the right, she could trace the Manhattan skyline down to the One World Trade Center. On her left, the rooftops of Harlem stretched in a wide arc.
Mind over matter, she told herself. Control was just an illusion.
Special Agent Evangeline Rossi (Eve) is head of a secret division of the FBI. Most of the eclectic team is a mix of highly intelligent professionals, criminals, and ex-convicts, a secret squad known as the VIDOCQ Unit. Meet the Team.
Eva, age 34, single, a Caucasian Italian, a perfectionist. She likes to control and does not delegate well. She is a seasoned interrogator and hostage negotiator. Her expertise is in behavioral science and criminal investigative analysis, subspecialties in kinesics and paralinguistics.
Her mother is deceased, and stepfather was a former CIA operative, also recently deceased. She loves crosswords puzzles, a concert pianist, and an avid runner. She is dedicated to her work, to make the place a better place. She possesses great insights into the criminal mind that most agents of her age do not possess.
Three and a half million people crammed onto the streets. Every year, it’s a miracle when nothing happens. The goal was simple: to erect a secure cordon that would be as impenetrable as a medieval fort.
With clever maps and visuals with Classified VIDOCQ file personal tidbits to get the low down on each agent, Pintoff sets the mood in the vibrant city with its set of problems. Lives are at stake. Security is imperative. However, as the balloons are inflated, things take a turn for the worse.
A protest unexpectedly turned violent. Police Commissioner Logan Donovan was brutally attacked on what should have been a day of celebration and Thanksgiving, gets shot. Then his thirteen-year-old daughter, Allie, has been kidnapped.
The search is on and tension is high. However, this may be more than a simple kidnapping. A terrorist threat targeting, the parade? Was the commissioner attacked in retaliation for Stan Smith’s death while in police custody? A threat to public safety? They need to keep the city safe.
With an eclectic group of agents (ex-cons) they all have special skills and criminal records. They put their skills to work for the government or do time in jail. At one point Eve had felt completely unsuited to lead her team of ex-cons and barely reformed thugs. With nothing in common with them. They were talented, unpredictable, and strangely loyal. They were her responsibility.
A ticking time bomb and Eve and the FBI’s Vidocq team brought together a group of ex-cons-men and women with extraordinary talents; who could solve crimes using methods that ordinary agents never could.
The department had been involved in a number of cases, too many unarmed suspects shot by cops. The Commissioner was also widowed now, and the media would be cruel. Her team has been charged with finding Allie and bringing her home, with some other politics going on at the same time.
Not the easiest task. Eve would do her job. She had dealt with plenty of powerhouses over the years. She would do her job, find the child, and make sure Commissioner Logan Donovan kept his distance.
There is more Eve and her team doesn't know—about a weapon planted inside the parade, about Commissioner Donovan’s hidden life, and about the secrets his daughter keeps. Eve must decide which is more dangerous.
Action-filled, an edgy, crime suspense of police brutality, corruption, deceit, and lies. As always, fun catching up with the mix of agents and their varied personality and skill sets, with some thought-provoking decisions for Eve for the next installment!
JDCMustReadBooks
November 16, 2019
If you enjoy police procedure type books- then this book was not all that bad. The 2nd in this series, I liked it enough where I will still continue on. It was perfect timing for me, for this story is about a kidnapping of a young girl during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A good enough plot that I kept on reading and wanted to know who did it and why.
February 15, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. This was a very well done and engrossing thriller. The action was non stop and I loved that the backdrop for all of the excitement was the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. This was my first time reading a book in this series but I didn't feel that I had missed anything by not having read the first book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
August 28, 2017
City On Edge
By
Stephanie Pintoff
What it's all about...
It's the day before...actually the night before...the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. An "attack" is made on the Police Commissioner's life. It looks scary and it was but it was a paint gun. His young daughter sees this happen and suddenly she disappears. The Commisioner seeks out Special Agent Eve Rossi and her ex cons to deal with finding her. And...of course...secrets abound in this book.
Why I wanted to read it...
This book sounded edgy as well as exciting and it was.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I loved that this book started in an exciting manner and that excitement stayed throughout the book. Eve is unique. Her ex cons are unique and the action in this book was fast paced. I liked that each ex con was profiled...a personal profile data sheet assessing strengths and weaknesses and personal information.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who like fast paced thrillers should enjoy this book. This is the second book in this series but I think it's ok as a standalone. I have to say that because I did not read the first one. The first book...Hostage Taker....was really popular, too, and took place at Christmas.
By
Stephanie Pintoff
What it's all about...
It's the day before...actually the night before...the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. An "attack" is made on the Police Commissioner's life. It looks scary and it was but it was a paint gun. His young daughter sees this happen and suddenly she disappears. The Commisioner seeks out Special Agent Eve Rossi and her ex cons to deal with finding her. And...of course...secrets abound in this book.
Why I wanted to read it...
This book sounded edgy as well as exciting and it was.
What made me truly enjoy this book...
I loved that this book started in an exciting manner and that excitement stayed throughout the book. Eve is unique. Her ex cons are unique and the action in this book was fast paced. I liked that each ex con was profiled...a personal profile data sheet assessing strengths and weaknesses and personal information.
Why you should read it, too...
Readers who like fast paced thrillers should enjoy this book. This is the second book in this series but I think it's ok as a standalone. I have to say that because I did not read the first one. The first book...Hostage Taker....was really popular, too, and took place at Christmas.
January 29, 2017
3.5 stars. FBI agent Eve Rossi heads up a team of former criminals who use their unique talents for the good guys this time around. At the preparations for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in Manhattan, police commissioner Logan Donovan is involved in a riot where shots are fired at him and his 13 year old daughter is kidnapped. Donovan asks Eve and her team to help find his daughter since the police are on edge with a possible terrorist threat involving the parade.
The author cleverly describes Eve's team of former criminals through classified files telling readers age, physical descriptions, education, expertise, personal information, strengths, weaknesses, etc. The author also breaks up the action with short blurbs of a news agency reporting live on parade events, breaking news, etc.
The author cleverly describes Eve's team of former criminals through classified files telling readers age, physical descriptions, education, expertise, personal information, strengths, weaknesses, etc. The author also breaks up the action with short blurbs of a news agency reporting live on parade events, breaking news, etc.
August 23, 2025
For me, a page turner just like the first book in the series. Same great cast of characters. If she writes a 3rd, I would most certainly read it.
May 29, 2017
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, thank you. Although it is the second in a series, the plot suggested a standalone novel. After reading the book in little over one sitting (374 pages, but short chapters), I can say it is a strong standalone. Any reference to the previous novel is easily understood or quickly well-explained.
The plot held enough twists to hold my attention, and the writing is presented on a professional level. The author chose to develop flaws in the characters that kept them human, and therefore likeable even in their imperfections.
For fans and newly introduced readers like myself to the work of Stefanie Pintoff, I recommend this fast paced thriller if you like non-stop action.
The plot held enough twists to hold my attention, and the writing is presented on a professional level. The author chose to develop flaws in the characters that kept them human, and therefore likeable even in their imperfections.
For fans and newly introduced readers like myself to the work of Stefanie Pintoff, I recommend this fast paced thriller if you like non-stop action.
August 18, 2016
Not since the A-team has there been such a rag tag team of ex-criminals now working on the side of the law. Special Agent Eve Rossi and her handpicked covert FBI team are tasked with finding the kidnapped daughter of police commissioner Logan Donovan and stopping a madman who is determined to destroy Donovan both personally and professionally.
All of the action, and there is a lot of it, takes place before and during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade when there are thousands of innocent people in harm’s way. A City on Edge will keep you on the edge of your seat as Eve’s team seems to do the impossible to find a young girl and keep NYC safe.
All of the action, and there is a lot of it, takes place before and during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade when there are thousands of innocent people in harm’s way. A City on Edge will keep you on the edge of your seat as Eve’s team seems to do the impossible to find a young girl and keep NYC safe.
May 7, 2017
Not nearly as good as Hostage Taker. I felt that the book was leading up to something but found the ending disappointing. Still like Eve and her team. Hope that the next book has a better plot and back drop. 3 stars
September 23, 2016
I had a hard time caring about any of the characters in City on Edge. I loved the blurb. A FBI team made up of criminals sounded really good. What kept me form caring was the fact that they never seemed to be a team and they sure did not care for each other. The plot was well developed and the writing was good. It should have been a page turner but it was not. It started off very slow as each character was introduced and a profile was part of each introduction. Then the story line developed. This is book two in the series and I wondered if I would have been more invested in the characters if I had read book one.
November 12, 2016
City on Edge is the second book in the Eve Rossi thriller/mystery series. In the first book,
Hostage Taker
, readers are introduced to FBI agent, Eve Rossi and her rather dubious recruits, all of them ex-cons. After the successful events of the previous book, Eve and her team have been given some legitimacy, which comes in handy when New York's police commissioner is almost assassinated and his daughter kidnapped. Eve and her unusual crew are on the case and hoping to find the commissioner's daughter safe; however, they don't count on the numerous hurdles in their path.
City on Edge is a solid follow-up to the high-octane Hostage Taker. Like the previous book, readers spend time with all of the characters, getting various takes on the situation that they are confronted with. While I don't think this style really lends itself well to character development its something that can work over the course of a series. Only time will tell if this is the case for the Eve Rossi series. For myself, I personally felt that I have barely scratched the surface of the numerous characters in the novel. While all of the characters are intriguing, I generally look for more depth to my characters than is evident in City on Edge.
What is done quite well in City on Edge is the author use of the city as a character. Like the previous book, the author focuses on one thing that is a New York City icon, in this case, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Details about the parade are peppered throughout the novel and while interesting, the parade also serves as means to ratchet up the tension. Preparations for the launch of the parade mirror Eve's investigators, making the inclusion of details about parade seamless.
For those who enjoy their books with a strong sense of place and those who are fond of New York City, City on Edge is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. While I wouldn't say that readers really get to know the numerous characters to the series, there is a lot of information dropped to keep most character-driven enthusiasts intrigued. I'm curious to see where book three takes Eve and her team, especially given the ambiguous closure of the case.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
City on Edge is a solid follow-up to the high-octane Hostage Taker. Like the previous book, readers spend time with all of the characters, getting various takes on the situation that they are confronted with. While I don't think this style really lends itself well to character development its something that can work over the course of a series. Only time will tell if this is the case for the Eve Rossi series. For myself, I personally felt that I have barely scratched the surface of the numerous characters in the novel. While all of the characters are intriguing, I generally look for more depth to my characters than is evident in City on Edge.
What is done quite well in City on Edge is the author use of the city as a character. Like the previous book, the author focuses on one thing that is a New York City icon, in this case, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Details about the parade are peppered throughout the novel and while interesting, the parade also serves as means to ratchet up the tension. Preparations for the launch of the parade mirror Eve's investigators, making the inclusion of details about parade seamless.
For those who enjoy their books with a strong sense of place and those who are fond of New York City, City on Edge is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. While I wouldn't say that readers really get to know the numerous characters to the series, there is a lot of information dropped to keep most character-driven enthusiasts intrigued. I'm curious to see where book three takes Eve and her team, especially given the ambiguous closure of the case.
Originally reviewed at The Book Adventures.
September 14, 2016
Special Agent Eve Rossi and her team of ex-cons have just wrapped up another case when they are asked to look into a very sensitive situation. Police Commissioner Logan Donovan’s daughter has gone missing. She was present at the balloon inflation ceremony for the Macy’s day parade where a group of individuals protesting police brutality got out of hand and Donovan was struck in the head by a projectile. During the resulting chaos Donovan’s Allie disappeared. Soon the kidnapper provides a list of demands in exchange for Allie’s life. Rossi and her team must do their best to get Allie back safely while making sure not to endanger the lives of the millions attending the Macy’s Day Parade.
Author Stefanie Pintoff has succeeded in crafting another edge-of-your-seat suspense story. Eve Rossi maintains her status as a strong intelligent and interesting character with a backstory that itself could be used in future books. The team of ex-cons that Rossi heads up are truly likeable and feel believable and fleshed out. Corey Haddox, the Irish hacker with a surprising amount of charm is especially fun. There was one tiny issue at the beginning where a prior case that is being wrapped up seemed a bit unbelievable, but since it wasn’t in any way germane to the plot, it doesn’t detract. City on Edge perfectly merges a suspense mystery with a strong character development.
What I love most about Pintoff’s works is that she doesn’t let things like violence, gore or sex distract from the actual meat of the storyline. Yes, there is violence obviously and there is a side love interest, but these things don’t eclipse the storyline. It seems like a lot of writers of cop stories think that steamy sex scenes and pages of description devoted to one incident of violence equals good writing. I prefer a storyline so meticulously planned and hard to predict that I have to know the ending, no matter how late at night it is. Pintoff did not disappoint. Featuring strong suspense, unexpected twists and truly likeable characters, City on Edge is a fast-paced enjoyable read that is impossible to put down.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this story from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Author Stefanie Pintoff has succeeded in crafting another edge-of-your-seat suspense story. Eve Rossi maintains her status as a strong intelligent and interesting character with a backstory that itself could be used in future books. The team of ex-cons that Rossi heads up are truly likeable and feel believable and fleshed out. Corey Haddox, the Irish hacker with a surprising amount of charm is especially fun. There was one tiny issue at the beginning where a prior case that is being wrapped up seemed a bit unbelievable, but since it wasn’t in any way germane to the plot, it doesn’t detract. City on Edge perfectly merges a suspense mystery with a strong character development.
What I love most about Pintoff’s works is that she doesn’t let things like violence, gore or sex distract from the actual meat of the storyline. Yes, there is violence obviously and there is a side love interest, but these things don’t eclipse the storyline. It seems like a lot of writers of cop stories think that steamy sex scenes and pages of description devoted to one incident of violence equals good writing. I prefer a storyline so meticulously planned and hard to predict that I have to know the ending, no matter how late at night it is. Pintoff did not disappoint. Featuring strong suspense, unexpected twists and truly likeable characters, City on Edge is a fast-paced enjoyable read that is impossible to put down.
Disclaimer: I received a free ARC of this story from the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
July 9, 2017
Really enjoyed both of the Eve Rossi adventures. Page turners.
October 21, 2016
Stefanie Pintoff's City on Edge is really fun. Eve Rossi and her squad of former criminals have to solve a kidnapping and a few other mysteries on the eve of the Macy's Day Parade in NYC. Pintoff tells her story through multiple narrators--of course, each narrator may have their own motivations for their involvement in the day's events. The book has fun nuggets included it that help move the story along--dispatches from reporters covering the parade and a map to help orient where the action is happening.
This book, which comes out in November, would be the perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving travel plans. The short chapters lend themselves beautifully to travel reading. This is the 2nd book in the Eve Rossi series but it can be read without reading the first. (The first book in the series, Hostage Taker, is on my to be read list and I will likely be digging into it soon!)
In fairness, I have to tell you that I received an advanced copy of the book courtesy of Goodreads Giveaways, which was provided at no cost to me.
This book, which comes out in November, would be the perfect accompaniment to Thanksgiving travel plans. The short chapters lend themselves beautifully to travel reading. This is the 2nd book in the Eve Rossi series but it can be read without reading the first. (The first book in the series, Hostage Taker, is on my to be read list and I will likely be digging into it soon!)
In fairness, I have to tell you that I received an advanced copy of the book courtesy of Goodreads Giveaways, which was provided at no cost to me.
June 2, 2022
First off, I did not like the end of the book. The main character was FBI agent Eve Rossi. She had a team of former convicts tha had special talents and were given the choice of going to prison or workng with her to catch crooks. The story revolved around the Macy Thanksgiving parade. There is at least one person who threatens to do major harm at the parade. He shoots the police commissioner with a red paint ball and kidnaps his daughter.
November 24, 2016
The latest thriller from award-winning author Stefanie Pintoff could not have come at a better time. Not only is it politically and socially relevant with the current global and national climate but, more importantly, it is set in NYC on the 24 hour period prior to and during the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
CITY ON EDGE examines what could happen if a terrorist act occurred during what is arguably the most famous parade in the world. Having already written a handful of award-winning crime novels set in NYC at the turn of the last century Stefanie Pintoff then cast her gaze at modern times. CITY ON EDGE follows up HOSTAGE TAKER as the second novel in the Eve Rossi series.
Eve Rossi works for a very specific branch of the FBI. Her team is unique in the fact that it is made up entirely of ex-cons. With Eve at the helm all is well as she knows each of her team-mates intimately and manages to push all the right buttons to get the most out of them. They each bring their own specific 'skill-set' to the team and the novel does a great job of sharing this with the readers in the forms of dossiers that cover each individual team member upon their introduction in the novel.
On the night before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade there is a riot outside of Central Park where the famous parade balloons are being inflated. Not only is the Spider-Man balloon shot (it will be repaired in time for the parade) but also New York City Police Commissioner Logan Donovan was shot as well. The reason behind the riot was a group seeking retaliation against the NYPD for the latest teen killed while in custody event. However, this is not the main reason why Eve and her team are called in.
It could be that Commissioner Donovan's shooting and the staged riot were just a smoke-screen for the actual crime --- the kidnapping of Donovan's thirteen-year-old daughter, Allie. Making matters that much more intriguing is the fact that another teen has allegedly been kidnapped as well --- this one the son of Eve's team member Frankie Garcia. Garcia's son has some debilitating health issues that could cause serious issues, including death, if he is without medication for an extended period of time.
The expected ransom request comes in for Donovan's daughter and the team delivers the two million dollars. In return they get Garcia's son book along with the two million. This bewilders the team who now realize something far more dangerous is at play, especially when a kidnapper is not motivated by money. It appears that the true motive is realized when the kidnapper requests that a dangerous inmate and infamous terrorist be released before the start of the parade. This will require some quick thinking and other shenanigans by Team Vidocq (a name Eve Rossi gave her team that is homage to Eugene Francois Vidocq, the famous French criminal-turned-detective immortalized in the works of Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac).
Things begin to spiral out of control once the prisoner is broken out of his well-guarded cell. Eve loses a member of her team tragically and the hackers she employs on Team Vidocq keep uncovering bits and pieces of information that reveal plans for something much larger than a high profile kidnapping. The team must now race against the clock to defeat a brilliant criminal with a deadly agenda with thousands of innocent spectators caught in the cross-fire.
The tension really mounts when our villains third demand --- that Commissioner Donovan ride on the last parade float, Santa's Sleigh! Stefanie Pintoff proves she is a force to be reckoned with and CITY ON EDGE shows how she can create a great NYC thriller regardless of the era!
CITY ON EDGE examines what could happen if a terrorist act occurred during what is arguably the most famous parade in the world. Having already written a handful of award-winning crime novels set in NYC at the turn of the last century Stefanie Pintoff then cast her gaze at modern times. CITY ON EDGE follows up HOSTAGE TAKER as the second novel in the Eve Rossi series.
Eve Rossi works for a very specific branch of the FBI. Her team is unique in the fact that it is made up entirely of ex-cons. With Eve at the helm all is well as she knows each of her team-mates intimately and manages to push all the right buttons to get the most out of them. They each bring their own specific 'skill-set' to the team and the novel does a great job of sharing this with the readers in the forms of dossiers that cover each individual team member upon their introduction in the novel.
On the night before the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade there is a riot outside of Central Park where the famous parade balloons are being inflated. Not only is the Spider-Man balloon shot (it will be repaired in time for the parade) but also New York City Police Commissioner Logan Donovan was shot as well. The reason behind the riot was a group seeking retaliation against the NYPD for the latest teen killed while in custody event. However, this is not the main reason why Eve and her team are called in.
It could be that Commissioner Donovan's shooting and the staged riot were just a smoke-screen for the actual crime --- the kidnapping of Donovan's thirteen-year-old daughter, Allie. Making matters that much more intriguing is the fact that another teen has allegedly been kidnapped as well --- this one the son of Eve's team member Frankie Garcia. Garcia's son has some debilitating health issues that could cause serious issues, including death, if he is without medication for an extended period of time.
The expected ransom request comes in for Donovan's daughter and the team delivers the two million dollars. In return they get Garcia's son book along with the two million. This bewilders the team who now realize something far more dangerous is at play, especially when a kidnapper is not motivated by money. It appears that the true motive is realized when the kidnapper requests that a dangerous inmate and infamous terrorist be released before the start of the parade. This will require some quick thinking and other shenanigans by Team Vidocq (a name Eve Rossi gave her team that is homage to Eugene Francois Vidocq, the famous French criminal-turned-detective immortalized in the works of Victor Hugo and Honore de Balzac).
Things begin to spiral out of control once the prisoner is broken out of his well-guarded cell. Eve loses a member of her team tragically and the hackers she employs on Team Vidocq keep uncovering bits and pieces of information that reveal plans for something much larger than a high profile kidnapping. The team must now race against the clock to defeat a brilliant criminal with a deadly agenda with thousands of innocent spectators caught in the cross-fire.
The tension really mounts when our villains third demand --- that Commissioner Donovan ride on the last parade float, Santa's Sleigh! Stefanie Pintoff proves she is a force to be reckoned with and CITY ON EDGE shows how she can create a great NYC thriller regardless of the era!
December 4, 2016
City on Edge is another classic thriller by Stephanie Pintoff. The second in her Eve Rossi series, the book sucks the reader into a dramatic 24 hours surrounding the Macy's Day Parade. Rossi, a FBI Special Agent, heads a team of criminals who evade their prison terms on the condition they use their skills to assist the government.
One of the most fast-paced series of books, the short chapters change vantage points from Agent Rossi to her eclectic and endearing crew to the victims to the criminals. Caution, this is a narrative that will pull you in from the first page....you will likely stay up too late reading. Yet the lack of sleep is worth it.
One downside to this, the fifth book of Pintoff's that I've read, is that it contained less historical and social information about NYC than other books have. The first book in this series, and all three in her other series, contained extensive information on the political and social history of NYC.
City on Edge ends with Rossi contemplating a decision, and the reader is left wondering which path she'll choose, and wondering when Pintoff will release book #3.
One of the most fast-paced series of books, the short chapters change vantage points from Agent Rossi to her eclectic and endearing crew to the victims to the criminals. Caution, this is a narrative that will pull you in from the first page....you will likely stay up too late reading. Yet the lack of sleep is worth it.
One downside to this, the fifth book of Pintoff's that I've read, is that it contained less historical and social information about NYC than other books have. The first book in this series, and all three in her other series, contained extensive information on the political and social history of NYC.
City on Edge ends with Rossi contemplating a decision, and the reader is left wondering which path she'll choose, and wondering when Pintoff will release book #3.
May 8, 2017
City on Edge is the second book in the Eve Rossi thriller/mystery series. I haven't gotten to read the first book, but this one did an excellent job of standing alone. It's the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and a crowd is gathered to watch the balloons being filled, when suddenly a gunshot rings out and chaos ensues. Once everything calms down, it is discovered that the 13 year old daughter of police commissioner Logan Donovan has been kidnapped, so it is up to FBI agent Eve Rossi and a rag-tag group of unlikely heroes to find her and discover what secrets she is hiding. This is a great thriller filled with lots of action and suspence and does a great job keeping the reader's attention. It definitely kept me guessing the entire time. It's scary to think that it's possible for another huge act of violence to happen in New York during what is supposed to be a happy annual event. That part kept me on edge. Overall, this is a great story that is full of action and interesting characters and it'll definitely keep you engaged until the end. I will be checking out the first book of the series and hopefully more to come in the future.
February 23, 2019
New author for me. This book was set around the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Logan Donovan who is the police commissioner is shot at the night before the parade. His daughter, Allie is kidnapped. Special agent Eve Rossi and her group of former convicts go to work trying to find Allie. There is more in the background of Logan Donovan that Eve does not know. The race to get Allie back begins. There were parts that were hard for me to accept in this book. It was suspenseful and exciting. I will read another book by this author. She is an Edgar award winner.
November 22, 2020
Timely plot involving protests against police violence. And I planned when I read this to coincide with the book taking place at the NYC Thanksgiving parade. I don't read many police dramas but enjoyed getting outside my comfort zone. This book was very detailed regarding law enforcement's investigation procedures. It was fast-paced and held my attention. Am giving an extra star to the author for her successful researching of parade history, NYC, and police practices. I enjoyed her including NYC landmarks and streets.
July 18, 2017
3 3/4 Stars: Tight, fast-paced action; great characters; and good writing. This story wasn't as compelling as the first one with Eve and her band of misfits. Certain characters were one dimensional; I figured out the "who done it" before the climax; and there were more typos and grammar mistakes. Overall, I'm intrigued to see what her next novel in this series will be like. This one didn't feel as satisfying.
January 9, 2018
I still think Eve is completely undeveloped, and I'm not sure I really like her based on the little bit that Pintoff reveals. But the others... love them. Fully fleshed out, well-developed, and real. The plot line in this one is more linear than in the last, maybe a bit more predictable, but still good. A couple spots could have used more "atmosphere" to build up the suspense, but again, I liked it and will look for the next in the series.
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