Nur ein Schritt

by Samantha M. Bailey

»Nimm mein Kind!«, sagt die Fremde und stürzt vor den einfahrenden Zug. Morgan steht fassungslos mit dem Baby in den Armen am Gleis. Schnell gerät sie in Verdacht, nicht so unschuldig und ahnungslos zu sein, wie sie aussagt. Denn sie wünscht sich schon lange ein Kind. Doch wie konnte die Fremde das wissen? Und wieso hat sie Morgan in ihrem Testament berücksichtigt, obwohl sie einander noch nie begegnet sind? Morgan muss die Wahrheit herausfinden. Dabei stößt sie auf jemanden, der für die Erreichung seiner Ziele töten würde …

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Audiobook, Psychological Thriller

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 26, 2019

About the author

Samantha M. Bailey is the USA TODAY and #1 international bestselling author of WOMAN ON THE EDGE, optioned for series adaptation, WATCH OUT FOR HER, shortlisted for Canada Reads 2025, and A FRIEND IN THE DARK, an Amazon Charts bestseller. Her novels have sold in twelve countries. She lives in Toronto, where she can usually be found tapping away at her computer or curled up on her couch with a book. Samantha's next domestic suspense, HELLO, JULIET, will be published in April 2025.

Reviews

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This author is brilliant and such a sweetheart! Go and grab your hardcover which just realized today!!!

Four full of action, thrilling, anxious, riveting, oh boy this book really makes you face with your own inner demons stars!

When I see the title, I just started to visualize a woman is standing at the roof of the skyscraper (This kind of suicidal act reminded me of two movie: Jax Teller a.k.a Charlie Hunnam’s “Ledge” and Sam Worthington`s –what’s the problem with all those hot Brit guys to accept depressing suicidal guy roles –“Man on a ledge”) but instead of that we got a powerful Ceo’s jumping on train rails (House of Cards’ season 2: surprising Zoe execution kind of scene! But Kaiser Soze didn’ push her, she did it by herself) Yess, it’s fast and mind bending! The book starts with one of the protagonist’s ( Nicole) dying scene which makes you jump from your seat. She holds her baby to gives her baby to the other protagonist a.k.a Morgan, a defeated, exhausted woman because of the embezzlement case of her husband who also ended his life recently. So Nicole’s last words were pleading to Morgan to keep her baby safe and BOOOM! She is hit by a train!

So this is a fast paced book with so much conspiracy, surprises, twists , is told by one dead and one living characters ( we’re moving back and forth between Nicole’s facing her past. She feels responsible and suffers from guilt feelings about a baby’s death when she was working as her baby-sitter. She is pregnant and gets death threats from the mother of the child. The threats started to endanger her baby’s safety and so she needs to do something to protect her.

And we also catch glimpses of Morgan’s present life after she witnessed Nicole’s death and she already added Morgan in her will as the guardian of her baby. Before she died she called Morgan with her name but they haven’t met before which makes the police officers more suspicious about Morgan’s motives (They already accused her know everything about her husband’s embezzlement scheme! But she denied her involvement!) So what is gonna happen? It seems like Nicole’s death didn’t solve the threat problems against the baby and now Morgan’s life in danger. You want to know what is gonna happen? Don’t be lazy ass, just read it!

This is remarkable, thrilling, heart throbbing page turner and I fully recommend it to the readers who like action, mysterious, fast pacing thrillers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster to share this mind blowing, fantastic ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review. And I congratulate Samantha M. Bailey to create this compelling worj. I cannot wait to read more of her works.

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[Michelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Pulse-pounding, heartrending, shocking, thrilling. This is one book you won't be able to stop thinking about." <---- Did the person who wrote that actually read this book? I'm genuinely curious.

Oh, I won't stop thinking about it alright. Thinking about what an absolute waste of time this was.

Pros: It's a quick read.

Cons: This book has so many issues that I can't even be bothered to discuss them all.

You've been warned!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Shuster for providing me with a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Action-packed, intense, & thrilling!

WOMAN ON THE EDGE by SAMANTHA M. BAILEY is a gripping, captivating, and suspenseful thriller that weaves quite the palpable and emotional story. I was immediately hooked and was so gripped with what I was reading that I was frantically swiping those pages as fast as I possibly could to reach that very satisfying conclusion.

SAMANTHA M. BAILEY delivers a foreboding, complex, intriguing and propulsive read here with quite the compelling and realistic characters. I was emotionally connected to both of our main characters here and the storyline. Nicole’s anxiety really rang true and I totally felt for Morgan. And I definitely needed to know what the connection was between them. I was definitely rooting for a happy ending for both Morgan and Quinn.

The story is told from alternating timelines and perspectives which definitely kept me interested and fully immersed in this tale.

This story is not perfect by no means as there were some little things here and there that I thought could have been a little bit better portrayed but all in all I was thoroughly entertained, intrigued and engaged.

To sum it all up it was a brisk, interesting, entertaining, and enjoyable read with a very satisfying ending that definitely kept me on the edge-of-my-seat. I would recommend it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Samantha M. Bailey for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. It was an absolute pleasure!

[Paige · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the first chapter, a scared woman that Morgan has never seen calls her by name and tells her to take care of her baby before jumping in front of a train. What was the woman running from and why did she entrust her baby to Morgan? How did she know her name?

Chapters alternate between Morgan, in the present, and the baby's mother, Nicole, in the past.
Nicole's situation as a new mother spotlights the reality of postpartum depression for women.

"Was this what motherhood felt like for everyone? A constant state of fear and panic?"

The overall situation and how things end up transpiring definitely seems implausible if you really think about it, but the suspense was so absorbing that I got caught up in all of it. Things were happening to Nicole that didn't add up, and I wanted to know the truth.
The ending was a little over the top, but I was still turning those pages as fast as I could.

3.5 stars. This was a short and fast-paced read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance read copy. Opinions are my own.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very captivating read.
This starts off in one full action plan BANG and doesn’t stop.

One new mother with a sad eventful past.
A secret known only to a few.

Is the mother going mad? Does she have PND? Is she paranoid? Or is she just tormented by her past.
Or....
Is it real.

She’s now left with her young baby and her husband leaves, he can no longer handle her “craziness”.

The event that happened has left another woman under suspect by police.

The way this is all written out takes you step by step through it all that makes the reader think.
Did she?
Didn’t she?
If she didn’t, then who in the heck did?

A babies life and happiness at stake leads the plot. Along with, why would this mother leave her daughter entrusted with a stranger. How did she know her name?

It was very interesting and got me quite hyped up in reading this, turning the pages eagerly to discover more.

It’s not perfect, but, the bits that didn’t work for me were minor. It kept its pace although at times I could have hurried it along. After saying that, the story was so intriguing that like I say, it was minor and only my own opinion.

I would definitely recommend it to my thriller book friends.

[Mary Kubica · Rating 5 out of 5]

One woman’s struggles with motherhood and another’s desperate desire to be a mother collide in this explosive and frenetic debut. WOMAN ON THE EDGE is a white-knuckle read that welcomes a bright new talent to the world of psychological suspense.

[Paul Weiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

“A total stranger on the subway platform whispers, “Take my baby.” She places her child in your arms. She says your name. Then she jumps …”

I would be hard-pressed to summarize the plot-line of WOMAN ON THE EDGE better than that quotation from the back cover marketing blurb. Who could fail to raise their eyebrows and want to read a novel based on such an intriguing premise?

Debut Canadian novelist Samantha M Bailey has adopted a compelling story-writing style using first-person narration alternating in chapters between the distraught mother leading up to her suicide and a puzzled social worker who has no idea who this woman is and why she would choose to give away her baby. An added twist that definitely moves the story into gripping and unputdownable territory is that the police are treating the suicide’s death as a potential murder. They believe that the social worker pushed her into the path of the subway with the intent of stealing her baby (and available evidence seems to point in that direction). Sherlock Holmes’ oft-quoted aphorism applies,“The game is afoot”!

Bailey’s depiction of corporate demands on driven employees and executives, post-partum depression, mental illness, drug addiction, family and marriage breakdown, financial greed, and the intense almost over-powering desire of some women to have and to raise children all make for a first-rate easy-reading thriller that any lover of the genre will gobble up in very short order.

Definitely recommended and I’d be happy to pick up another novel by this author.

Paul Weiss

[Lindsay L · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars.

Two women connected by a baby and the mothers’ death.

This highly anticipated thriller has been sitting on my shelf for years during which time I have read nothing but raving reviews. Perhaps my expectations were set too high but this didn’t work for me on any level.

From the first chapter, there was a disconnect for me with the writing. It didn’t flow or pull me in. The dialogue lacked natural ease and felt disjointed. The storyline itself was intriguing and it is what kept me from DNF’ing the novel. I wasn’t invested in the characters but I was curious enough to keep pushing through to see how the story would all come together. There are many unrealistic elements within these pages but this can be expected with popcorn thrillers.

On the positive side, it was a quick read that could easily be done in one sitting.

Overall, this was a dud for me but I’m clearly the outlier. Check out the countless favourable reviews before deciding on this one.

[Elaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of Woman on the Edge.

This had an interesting premise; a widow with a past named Morgan is approached by a distraught young woman, Nicole, with a newborn on a subway platform, handing her the baby before she commits suicide.

Unfortunately, I found it difficult to get drawn into the story, mostly because the author forces the reader to suspend disbelief one too many times, and sorry, but I just couldn't do it. It was too hard.

I just couldn't believe a woman, no matter how mentally ill or depressed would entrust her baby to a stranger she met online!

As some reviewers noted, there were also one too many twists (for the sake of shocking the reader) that required powers of disbelief I do not possess.

Also, Nicole kept mentioning her chakras and aligning them or making them whole or some other mumbo jumbo. How does this add to the plot?

I also did not like or sympathize with any of the characters.

I figured out whodunit early on, (its not hard) but that's not why I disliked this book. The whole plot was too ridiculous for me to believe.

Character development was weak and the standard tropes in books like these were everywhere; unreliable narrator, a cad of a husband/lover/significant other, shady friends/relatives, narrator hiding a secret from her past, a happy ending in which the main character finds herself a man.

Woman on the Edge lacked suspense, a plot barely grounded in reality and unbelievable characters. I ended up skimming most of it.

[Suzanne Leopold (Suzy Approved Book Reviews) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morgan Kincaid is waiting on a train platform on her way home from work. She is startled by a distraught woman who approaches her with an infant. The woman hands her baby over to Morgan and tells her to keep her safe then jumps in front of an oncoming train.

When Morgan is questioned by police, she learns that the woman, Nicole, was a prominent businesswoman of a popular clothing brand. Morgan is also considered a suspect in Nicole’s death since there are no other witnesses to her suicide. Morgan begins to investigate Nicole's past in hopes that it will clear her name which sets in motion a series of disturbing activities in her life.

Woman On The Edge is an impressive debut novel by Samantha Bailey. This fast-paced thriller is very engaging, and suspenseful. This story weaves the emotional journey of caring for a newborn along with the protective instincts of motherhood.

[Cindy aka "The Book Fairy" · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intriguing book...a bit of departure for me as of late for these years I haven't read many of these kinds for quite awhile.(Just having read countless eons ago I suppose) Anyway, it caught my eye at a recent flea market so I figured I would try it. It was an impressive debut indeed. It was captivating to keep reading why possessed this new mom to hand over her newborn baby to a presumable stranger. Greed (as is so prevalent we know) and jealousy were involved with the tragedies as to be expected. It was quite tangly but in a good way reading how all situations did connect as I wondered who was behind some of the rather diabolical goings on. So much deception and loneliness which is realistic unfortunately in today's society and is a reflection of how the pursuit of power and fortune is consuming++ and the lengths one will go to achieve it but what gains really? Even in real life, what good will it do when this life here on earth is so short and uncertain?.Those riches won't help after this life ends. There were a few samples of choice language and the name of Jesus used in swearing which is dismaying for me and would be perhaps for others here too. Otherwise, a marvelous mystery with a HEA and very satisfying ending :)

[Carolyn Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

*2.5* Stars.
I wish to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC for Woman On the Edge in return for an honest review. This was an intense psychological thriller and Samantha M. Bailey’s debut novel. She displays talent in developing a compelling premise and a twisty plot.

I failed to empathize with the flawed characters with their past secrets, tragedies, and regrets. As the twists developed, I found some of the reveals strained for credibility. An underlying menace undermined the characters’ emotional stability. The author is from Canada, but the story could be set anywhere. Like a couple of other popular Canadian mystery writers, a Canadian location is never mentioned.

Because of the author’s skill in maintaining suspense, I stayed with the book until the end. It was a quick read, with good plain, direct writing without embellishments. It showed some characters with intense love for a child and wanting to protect her at all costs to themselves. Others were more interested in the financial benefits which came with the child.

I would definitely be interested in reading this promising author’s next novel.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

Icy fingers of fear run up my back despite the sweltering heat inside Grand/State station. The woman is on edge, and so am I — literally, at least. I always stand on the edge of the platform so I can be first on the train. One hard push is all it would take for me to fall onto the tracks. As bleak as the last eighteen months have been, no matter how ostracized I’ve become after Ryan’s suicide, I’ve made a new life for myself. I don’t want it to end here.

Woman on the Edge is another one of those “girl in danger” thrillers, a debut for author Samantha M. Bailey, and despite this apparently taking her six years to write, and despite the dozens of people she thanks for improving and ushering this novel into print, the whole thing comes off as hackneyed, amateurish, and unexciting. The only two redeeming qualities I can record: The premise is so ludicrous that I was compelled to keep reading to learn what Bailey thought would be a satisfying conclusion; and this is a mercifully short read. (Spoilerish — but not much beyond the book’s description — from here.)

I know what you want.
Don’t let anyone hurt her.
Love her for me, Morgan.

So, the premise: Morgan is waiting at the edge of a subway platform for her train to come when a strange woman — dishevelled and wild-eyed — approaches with a baby in her arms and thrusts it towards Morgan, calling her by name and begging her to protect her daughter, before jumping onto the tracks to her death. When the police arrive and take Morgan to the station for a witness statement, the detective who comes to interview her is the same one who investigated her husband’s recent suicide — a man who had bilked his clients (including all of Morgan’s family and friends) out of their life savings; a crime that everyone (the detective and all of Morgan’s family and friends) can’t quite believe Morgan didn’t know about and participate in. Realising that the detective now suspects that she snatched this baby before pushing the woman to her death, Morgan believes that only she can find out the truth about this woman's motivations (despite her lawyer warning her to lay low and allow her private detective to investigate), and because Morgan is now alone in the world (all of her family, friends, and the charity she founded having cut her off) it’s really, really important for her to clear her name, and get custody of that baby.

The book is then divided into two alternating points-of-view: The timeline moves forward with Morgan as she carries out her harebrained investigation, and in alternate chapters, we meet the woman with the baby, Nicole, in the past before she became pregnant and watch as her story unspools to the point where she meets Morgan on the subway platform. If this is meant to be a mystery, the “who” and “what” are easy to anticipate, but if one is reading to learn the “why” behind any character’s behaviour, one will be sorely disappointed.

The plot is ridiculous and the line-by-line writing is worse. Someone must have told Bailey that details add authenticity, but the details she chose were a constant distraction to me. Every character’s height was recorded precisely, as in Tessa “was only five foot two but had so much inner strength” or Ben “must be around six foot three because he looms over my five foot seven frame.” Nicole was the founder and CEO of a luxury athleisurewear company, so I suppose it makes sense to telegraph her wealth by constantly name-dropping the luxury brands she surrounds herself with (Tiffany lamps, Prada luggage, a Viking range and Sub-Zero fridge), but even if she sells yoga pants and uses breathing techniques to control her anxiety, it never felt authentic for Nicole to abruptly think about her chakras:

• She could clear her heart chakra and be the mother her daughter deserved.

• Nicole had never fully balanced her third-eye chakra, the center of her deepest awareness.

• The sun rose high in the blue sky, a brilliant yellow orb, the colors of the destiny chakra. This was where she was supposed to be.

I found it distracting for Bailey to note every road and Chicago neighbourhood that people drive through, but my least favourite details were about the cars those people were driving — if it’s not important to the plot, why does this person drive a Nissan Altima and that one a Honda Civic? I get the lawyer having a "white Mercedes", I suppose, but was annoyed by Nicole getting into her “Lexus GS 350”. I don’t know what that is and cannot be arsed to Google it. And the absolute worst detail was Morgan being menaced on the road by someone in “a dark blue Prius”:

• I hear the roar of an engine revving, and the Prius speeds past me.

• She revs the engine, and the tires squeal as she jams on the gas and peels away.

• The Prius roared past her before she could get a second look.

Now, I’ve never actually been in a Prius, and I haven’t succeeded in learning if this famously silent electric vehicle actually “revs” or “roars”, but if a detail like that takes me out of the story, why couldn’t Bailey have chosen literally any other non-electric car to follow Morgan around? Couldn’t someone in the three pages of Acknowledgements have given her that feedback?

I don’t even want to get into how antifeminist this story is (Morgan and Nicole are supposedly both intelligent and driven, each founded an organisation out of passion and grit, and both are brought to their knees by their shady husbands and a sudden mania for motherhood as the only path to fulfillment), but hey, at least Morgan got butterflies when she met Nicole’s brother and decided to trust him based on that gut feeling, even if each of them suspect the other had something to do with the unhinging of Nicole; let’s squeeze in some romance, too, and try to milk a happy ending from one woman’s tragic death! I did not like this, and only because it’s not the worst book I’ve ever read, I’m rounding up to two stars.

[Dana Osmond · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could (almost)overlook the super- dramatic, implausible storyline, I could overlook the archetypical rich white people characters, I could even steele my senses against the terrible writing, including the author's obsession with letting us know the names of the streets the characters are driving on or turning on to. Yup, I was willing to let all that fly...up until I read "tentacles of fear crawled up her neck." That's when I burst out laughing, picturing a squid atop her head, with its tentacles suctioning terrifying emotions out of her skin with loud suction noises. S C H L U P- S C H L U P- S C H L U P. Yes, scary indeed.
Its tendrils of fear. Tendrils, not tentacles. And despite the author saying she spent 6 years writing this book, and despite her having three pages of people to thank for her debut novel, none of these people apparently dared approach her with a gentle reminder about passive voice, misplaced modifiers, run-on sentences, or even what a comma is.
My advice: if you dare write another novel, look up your idioms to see if they are worded correctly. Tentacles of fear sounds like a terrible B-movie from the 50's, but it's also a terrible line from a hilariously bad book.
Also, there is a dead baby and a bunch of ginger-haired women of varying ages at the centre of this altogether bizarre story. I managed to get through it though, mirthfully reading in an almost melodramatic inner voice.
This book is soooo bad. It will definitely make a gazillion dollars when the movie comes out.
It might be some people's cup of tea, but it sureAF isn't mine.
I'm going back to Three Pines with Armand Gamache, where I belong.

[Rodrigo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muy buena, interesante thriller psicológico. Se lee rápido debido a los capítulos cortos, además los dos puntos de vista le dan fluidez a la historia.
Recomendable.
Valoración: 8/10
Sinopsis: Una extraña en la plataforma del metro, susurra: "Coge a mi bebé"

La extraña mujer te entrega a su bebé en tus brazos. Dice tu nombre.

Y después, salta a las vías del tren.

En una fracción de segundo, la vida de Morgan Kincaid cambia para siempre. Ella iba de regreso a casa cuando una madre le pide que detenga a su bebé, después se lo entrega en brazos. Antes de que Morgan pudiera detenerla, la perturbada mamá salta justo enfrente del tren que entraba a la estación. Morgan nunca antes había visto a la mujer, y es incapaz de comprender las causas por las que le entregó a su bebé y se quitó la vida. Tampoco puede entender cómo aquella mujer sabía su nombre.

La policía detiene a Morgan para un interrogatorio. Pronto descubre que la mujer se llamaba Nicole Markham, la prominente directiva de Breathe, una reconocida marca de accesorios deportivos. Pronto descubre también que no existe ni un solo testigo capaz de corroborar su versión de lo ocurrido, lo que la convierte de inmediato en sospechosa de asesinato.

Para probar su inocencia, Morgan tendrá que investigar los últimos días de la vida de Nicole. ¿Era Nicole una madre paranoica o se encontraba en peligro? Cuando cosas realmente extrañas comienzan a suceder en la vida de Morgan, ella se da cuenta de que su vida también puede estar en peligro.

Un thriller trepidante en el que descubriremos lo lejos que una mujer está dispuesta a llegar para proteger a su bebé, aun cuando lo que tenga que sacrificar sea su propia vida.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

On a train platform, a woman hands her baby daughter to a stranger and asks her to to look after and love her daughter. Then the woman jumped in front of the o coming train. Megan is still coming to terms with the death of her embezzling husband when the woman pushes her daughter into her arms. But why did the woman choose her. And how did she know her name?

This story is told from Morgan and Nicole's perspectives. Nicole is the woman who jumped I front of the train. Its told in the present day and the weeks leading up to Nicole's death. This is an emotional, twisty and fast paced read. I loved the ending to this story.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Headline and the author Samantha M. Bailey for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey

Oh my WOW!! I was looking for a thriller read that is gripping, engrossing, captivating, suspenseful with a creative plot and twists. Boy, did Bailey deliver in this book and more. I loved this book and was completely hooked from the start. Told in two story lines between these two women that moved the story quickly. Samantha Bailey wrote with a passion that leads the readers into this foreboding storyline that is highly addicting and interesting to read. I highly recommend this book for those looking for a thriller read that will immerse you into the story. I cannot wait for Bailey's future books - an author to keep watch!!

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey is a thriller with two ladies as the main characters. The story is told by changing the point of view between the characters in two different timelines, one from the present and one in the past.

The story begins with Morgan Kincaid on her way home getting ready to take the train when an unknown woman suddenly approaches Morgan and pushes her baby into her arms. Right after telling Morgan to “Take my baby.” the woman in question jumps in front of the train to her death.

Morgan is in shock as the events unfold in front of her but when police arrive to investigate she becomes a person of interest being so close to the victim. Morgan then knows she needs to find out just who the lady was and why she chose Morgan to care for her child and what pushed her to the edge that day.

Right away it’s obvious that Woman on the Edge will be a fast paced thriller when it starts off with such a bang having a life end right away. It was also fairly easy to follow along with the changing perspectives when following Morgan in the current time and Nicole in the past as the stories slowly come together through the twists to bring the reader the answers they await.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feverish, intense, and engrossing!

Woman on the Edge is a well-crafted, gripping novel that takes you into the lives of Nicole Markham, a successful businesswoman who finds herself completely paralysed by fear and anxiety after the birth of her baby girl, Quinn, and Morgan Kincaid, a woman with her own traumatic past whose life is suddenly turned upside down when she finds herself a suspect in a crime she inadvertently becomes entangled in.

The writing is edgy and crisp. The characters are vulnerable, anxious, and troubled. And the plot told from alternating timelines and perspectives keeps you on the edge of your seat as it immerses you in an ominous tale full of twists, turns, deception, red herrings, secrets, obsession, violence, mayhem, and murder.

Overall, Woman on the Edge is a fast-paced, thrilling, sophisticated tale by Bailey that keeps you enthralled from the very first page and is undoubtedly an exceptionally promising debut.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Judy Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCEPTIONAL AUTHORS. STANDOUT BOOKS. ELEVATOR TALK. Check out my Q&A Interview with the Author. Go behind the scenes with the fabulous Samantha M. Bailey and her latest knock-out debut thriller #WomanontheEdge —Exclusives and fun facts about this new rising star in fiction!

Engrossing, Heart-Pounding, Compelling, Explosive!

Samantha M. Bailey delivers a spellbinding debut that captures you from the first page and never lets you go until the satisfying conclusion.

WOMAN ON THE EDGE is assured to keep you “on the edge-of-your-seat.” A complex emotional, psychological suspense thriller from a talented new voice.

Three words: “Take my baby.” Can you imagine someone handing you their baby? You may think, does the mother need an extra pair of hands to get something out of her purse, a bottle, or what?

Set in busy Chicago at the subway platform, mother Nichole Markham approaches another woman, Morgan Kinkaid, who is a social worker.

There is no time to think. It is a jerk reaction. When someone asks you to take their baby, you try and help, right?

However, something dreadful happens. The woman jumps right in front of her after she hands her the baby. Shocked, Morgan cannot believe what is happening. She cries out for help. Why did the woman jump? Why would she hand her the baby?

Horrified, she replays this tragedy. The woman called her by name? Who is this woman? She said, “Love her for me, Morgan. Don’t let anyone hurt her.” How could this be happening? What was the woman running from?

From this point on, the author masterfully guides us through the time of before (Nichole) and present (Morgan).

We learn Morgan’s husband recently committed suicide (Ryan) after being convicted of embezzlement. She was the wife of a thief and a suicidal coward. She always wanted to be a mother. And she is a mother handing her baby to her and ending her own life?

Later Morgan notices a post-it-note with the name Amanda on it.

The author carefully unravels the life of Nicole. Nicole was a successful businesswoman and CEO of Breathe. She was also married, had a best friend, a brother, and a co-worker.

Nicole had a troubled past. An incident with a baby that was under her care when she was a nanny years earlier. Was that mother after her? Is that why she was running, or could it be her husband? What about her brother or her friend? Did Ryan have a connection with this family?

Morgan is determined to find out what drove a desperate woman to drastic measures. Her life depends on it. She cannot stop thinking about the baby. Of course, she will not be allowed to keep the baby and not understanding why its mother thought she could keep it safe.

Now Morgan is in trouble, and everyone thinks she pushed her. However, things are not as they seem in the Markham household. Who can be trusted?

There are many suspects and red herrings, and the tensions are running high. When the will is read, there is another shocker! Then, Detective, Karina Martinez, who investigated Ryan’s suicide, is now involved in this case. Morgan must keep sleuthing to clear her name and find out whoever was scaring Nichole, plus they may be coming after her and baby, Quinn.

Readers will be turning these pages, racing to determine the mysterious connection between these two women! You will think twice the next time you are on the subway platform and your morning commute.

Cleverly written, the author draws you into the complex world of both these women and gives them a sympathetic voice. What a great book with more twists than you can imagine! Very thought-provoking and would make an ideal selection for book clubs and further discussions.

Readers will be rooting for Morgan and little Quinn to the very end. From the striking front cover to the well-written plot and cast of well- developed characters, this is a 5 STAR debut and cannot wait to see what comes next!

I devoured WOMAN ON THE EDGE! I started it and could not put it down! The audio went with me in the car because I did not want to miss a thing. Fans of Mary Kubica, Christina McDonald, and Heather Gudenkauf will find a lot to like here!

Hard to believe this is a debut; however, if you read Samantha’s bio and praise, Impressive! you can see why this novel reads like an award-winning author (that she is – a gifted writer). No wonder she writes with such grace and finesse. Move this author and the book to the top of your list. Highly recommend!

Thank you, Samantha, for a satisfying read and wonderful addition to a weekend. Top Books of 2020!

PS I loved reading the acknowledgments, and that the book took over six years to write. Congrats, Samantha, a hit! You were meant to write this book. You should be proud. Much gratitude—I am honored and humbled to be included and recognized in your list of bloggers and readers.

A special thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review. I also purchased the audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio, The narrator, Katherine Fenton, delivered an award-winning performance!

#JDCMustReadBooks

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I can't believe it was Samantha Bailey's debut novel! (Correction, her debut novel in this genre!) This book pulled me in right at the beginning and continued right through to the end! A successful business woman, Nicole Markham, is struggling with her role as a new mother! She's dealing with postpartum psychosis and extreme fear. This part of the book really hit me, as I have had some hard times after the birth of my children. Then you have Morgan Kincaid, a widow who is dealing with her desire to be a mother. Their lives collide when Morgan is on her way home from work, on the subway platform, and Nicole approaches her and says "Take my baby", "I know what you want" and places the baby in her arms before she tragically jumps In front of the train. Things after that spiral our of control for Morgan. It was twisty and fun! Intense!! Definitely binge worthy!!

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Told in multiple POV and timelines made this book so suspenseful! I loved the writing and couldn't wait to find out what was going on!! I can't wait to read more by Samantha Bailey! 


Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster and netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review!!

[Lit with Leigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

TRIGGER WARNING: Suicide

THE PLOT

Morgan Kincaid is minding her business on the subway platform when a lady gives Morgan her baby, calls her by her name, and then jumps in front of a train. Morgan is like ????? and is now the prime suspect in the murder of the mystery lady, who happens to be Nicole Markham, the CEO of the fictional version of Lululemon. Why did Nicole give Morgan her baby? And how did she know her name? And why did she yeet herself?

MY OPINNI

If you've read my other reviews, you might notice I'm a bit fixated on writing quality. This is a major part of my rating system. This book had me scratching my head; the writing level flip flopped like a dead fish all over the place. In some sections, it was solid, and in other sections, it was amateur hour. Also, the author noted this book took her six years to finish, which is ironic because the ending was way too rushed.

The ending was also disappointing. Not a hot take, but if the ending is BLEH, it also lowers my rating. I usually remember books by their ending; was it WOW enough for me to remember, or did it leave me like :( because it 1) doesn't make sense 2) completely unbelievable 3) rushed 4) needs more exploration/explaining. The ending of this book ticked off all 4 components of a bad ending. The motives behind the bad guy(s) were LAME. You're doing ALL that because of THAT?? Nah. This was unhinged revenge that didn't match the circumstances. You literally drove a woman to death for WHAT?? FOR WHY?? Anyways.

It was an interesting premise... But the inconsistent writing quality and lacklustre ending resulted in 3 stars for me.

PROS AND CONS
Pros: Does keep you guessing in the beginning, some sections were well-written
Cons: Need to suspend your disbelief too much, motives behind the crimes was lame/unrealistic, writing quality was spotty in some sections

[Ana Olga · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yo sé que es ficción , pero se pasa de inverosímil, muy predecible y nunca me atrapó.
Hace mucho que no leía una novela y pensaba “que pérdida de tiempo” .
Debo quitarme esa manía de terminar cualquier libro que empiezo… porque éste está para abandonarse definitivamente.

[Joelle Egan · Rating 1 out of 5]

First, I have to say that I have a deep respect for anyone who puts pen to paper, embarking on the thankless task of writing a novel. I admire those who have the stamina and bravery to put something original out there - exposed and vulnerable to critics who cannot possibly understand how difficult it is to be truly original and expressive when so many wonderful things have already been written. I love reading, and appreciate that my own passion could not be fulfilled if others did not take this leap of faith to produce works for my consumption. Unfortunately, occasionally there are times however when I wish a writer had been told by a professional or friend that their output is a mess before releasing it out into the world.

Woman on the Edge by Samantha M. Bailey is a debut novel that badly needed such a voice of reason. Although the premise is captivating and the novel starts out on a promising note, it quickly devolves into a tangle of unsympathetic characters engaged in improbable scenarios in which they make stupendously imbecilic decisions. Morgan Kincaid, a social worker on her way to work one day encounters a desperate woman with a baby in her arms. This stranger somehow knows her name and tosses the baby in her arms to her right before falling backwards onto the train tracks. It turns out that the mother is Nicole Markham, founder and CEO of a famous athleisure company who has been brought to this insane state due to a combination of past trauma, paranoia due to PPD and an insidious plot against her. Despite being in a crowded place, no one witnesses to the event can corroborate Morgan’s version of the tragedy. Morgan has her own storied past which involves a husband who committed suicide after being investigated for embezzlement. For some reason, the same irrationally vindictive detective that believed that Morgan was involved in those financial crimes also is on this case as well, and now suspects her of pushing Nicole to her death. The novel consists of alternating chapters describing Nicole’s unnecessary dissolution and Morgan’s harebrained attempts to clear her name by playing amateur detective while ignoring her lawyer’s advice. These are both women apparently bereft of friends, intuition, social skills-or even a shred of common sense. Any potential empathy or credibility is lost as the reader becomes increasing confused by how the plot unfolds; frustrated by the implausibility of the motives of the ancillary characters; and infuriated by the way Morgan and Nicole are repeated victims of their own bad choices. It is difficult to see all the women portrayed in the novel possessed with so few redeeming qualities, and the baby is the only female character left worth rooting for. What is truly unfortunate is that Woman on the Edge, with a bit more care and editing, might have been an interesting look into the insecurity of motherhood and the devastating effects of postpartum psychosis. Then, it might have had the potential to be mystery worth sinking into instead of one that must simply be endured.

Thanks to the author, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine yourself standing on a platform after a day at work, just waiting to go home. Suddenly, a harried looking woman stands before you, urging you to take her baby to love and protect before plummeting to her death on the tracks. Crazy right! ⁣
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The plot of 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘌𝘥𝘨𝘦 sounded like one I had to read. What would bring a woman to such a place? Unfortunately, it ended up being just too implausible for me. The book was filled with insta-emotion all around and that bothered me because it just didn’t make sense here in this kind of book. ⁣
⁣
Overall, this was a short and quick page turner but ultimately I just couldn’t empathize with the characters. I found myself shaking my head too often thinking - "why would you do that?"⁣ Still, it kept me turning the pages because I wanted to see if I was right about the “bad guy” - I was! No surprises here for me as it was a bit too predictable for the seasoned mystery/thriller reader but I enjoyed it, even if I didn’t love it. Onto the next read! 😉 ⁣
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[Encarni Prados · Rating 5 out of 5]

Una historia de las que al principio no sabes por donde van las cosas, no entiendes el comportamiento de algunos personajes pero estás totalmente enganchada. Muchos sospechosos y las protagonistas te hacen dudar. Esta vez llegué a saber quien era "el malo o la mala" no os lo voy a decir, pero no por ello la historia perdió interés. Secretos, pasado, una buena mezcla que han hecho que la novela debut de esta autora sea muy buena. !!Lo recomiendo!!

[Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars for Woman on the Edge (audiobook) by Samantha M. Bailey read by Katherine Fenton.

It was an interesting story made up of unlike able characters that were unreliable narrators. It was a bit of a challenge for me but ultimately worth finishing the book.

[MicheleReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Morgan Kincaid is standing on a subway platform when a distraught woman holding a baby thrusts the child into her hands. “Please, take my baby,” the stranger pleads. “Don’t let anyone hurt her. Love her for me, Morgan.” Morgan catches the baby before the mother jumps in front of an oncoming train. Morgan, who has never met or seen the woman before, immediately becomes a person of interest in the mother’s death.

We learn that the victim, Nicole Markham, was the CEO of a popular yoga lifestyle brand. The book is told from the dual perspectives of Nicole and Morgan. Although a success in business, once she has a child, Morgan finds herself in a downward spiral of postpartum psychosis and fear with sins of her past haunting her. Morgan, who aches to be a mother, is a recent widow whose husband committed suicide after his crimes of embezzlement are uncovered, was trying to put her life together. Now she is trying to put together the pieces of this puzzle to prove her innocence and learn how she is connected to Morgan. Her life is now in danger.

Fans of psychological thrillers will enjoy Woman on the Edge. This is a twisty, fast-paced book that you won’t want to put down for a second. Even more impressive is that this is the author’s debut effort.

Many thanks to Edelweiss+, Simon and Schuster and author Samantha M. Bailey for a review copy. This gripping book will be available in print in the U.S. on March 3, 2020.

This review is posted at MicheleReader.com

[Mariota · Rating 5 out of 5]

El libro me ha mantenido pegada durante 2 días, y eso a estas alturas de la lectura lo valoro muy positivamente.
Tiene buen ritmo y en ningún momento se te hace pesado o repetitivo. Recomendable.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone is going to be talking about this novel as the hype of The Woman On The Edge is real, there are no ifs or buts it's the book everyone wants to reads.

Morgan is a social worker who recognises the signs of stress. But she didn't notice anything wrong with her husband, who she found dead.

Then with Morgan on the way to work standing on the platform a woman with a baby says her name Morgan I've been watching you, please take my baby, don't let anyone hurt he. Love her for me, then the woman dumped her baby into Morgan's arms. Without warning the woman jumped off the platform edge.

How did this woman know Morgan's name? And why was she watching Morgan for a long time?

The sad part is when police take Morgan in for questioning, witnesses say Morgan took the woman's baby off her. Here must be a classic example of what passengers see and what really happened.

The tension throughout is fast and real.

I myself have to congratulate Samantha M Bailey on an absolute superbly story that has everything I search for in a story full of twists leading the way.

I simply have to express Woman on the Edge is a must read.