This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Delene Vrey for Readers' Favorite
In Knife Edge, a murder mystery by Terri Maue, Zee Morani, author of a syndicated opinion column, wants to become a "serious" journalist. To do this, she has secured an interview with disgraced scientist Dr. Ian McNeary, but when she arrives at his office, she is met with a horrific sight. Dr. McNeary has been murdered! After she identifies a possible culprit and he subsequently implores her to solve the murder because he is innocent, Zee starts to investigate, gathering evidence, making dumb decisions, and landing herself in dangerous situations. She is supported by her best friend, Fontina, a holistic mystic who teaches yoga and believes in herbs, meditation, and intuition. Seeing herself as an investigative journalist, Zee does what she thinks is necessary, visiting the victim's father, his old friends, and colleagues and searching through old garbage dumpsters in search of the murder weapon. The problem is that Zee's intuition lands her in trouble and the emergency room!
Knife Edge is written with exquisite vocabulary, which underscores the main character's wit and talent as an opinion columnist. The author has taken pains to use circumstances and descriptions to support the main character and mirror her internal struggles in the background. The characters are well-rounded and authentic, making the reader feel part of the story. The town of Valerian is described with great detail and forms a rich backdrop to the plot, tying in with the theme of mysticism and pagan beliefs as reflected by Fontina and sustained throughout the narrative. The plot develops at a good pace, and the suspense and intrigue keep the reader on the edge of their seat to try to unravel the mystery. However, the twists and false leads keep the resolution hidden to the very end. Most refreshing is Zee, a character who needs to hold on to her individualism but learns to allow her friends to help her in times of need and keep them in the loop when she goes off on one of her hunches. Knife Edge is the first book in the Zee and Rico series and proves that Terri Maue has the recipe for staying power in the genre.
