Edge of Black

By J.T. Ellison

Dr. Samantha Owens is starting over: new city, new job, new man, new life. She's trying to put some distance between herself and the devastating loss of her husband and childrenbut old hurts leave scars.

Before she's even unpacked her office at Georgetown University's forensic pathology department, she's called to consult on a case that's rocked the capital and the country. An unknown pathogen released into the Washington Metro has caused nationwide panic. Three people diedjust three.

A miracle and a puzzle

Amid the media frenzy and Homeland Security alarm bells, Sam painstakingly dissects the lives of those three victims and makes an unsettling conclusion. This is no textbook terrorist causing mayhem with broad strokes, but an artist wielding a much finer, more pointed instrument of destruction. An assassin, whose motive is deeply personal and far from understandable.

Xander Whitfield, a former army ranger and Sam's new boyfriend, knows about seeing the world in shades of gray. About feeling compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Only his disturbing kinship with a killer can lead Sam to the truth and once more into the line of fire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
• Release date: Dec 1, 2012
• ISBN: 9781459248977

J.T. Ellison

New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison writes dark psychological thrillers and pens the Brit in the FBI series with #1 New York Times bestselling author Catherine Coulter. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in twenty-seven countries. She is also the Emmy Award–winning cohost of the premier literary television show A Word on Words. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens. Visit JTEllison.com for more information, and follow her on Twitter and Instagram @ThrillerChick or Facebook.com/JTEllison14.

Reviews for Edge of Black

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I had read one other J.T. Ellison book prior to reading Edge of Black and I assumed it would be on the same level as So Close To the Hand of Death; unfortunately I was mistaken. Edge of Black is the second book in the Dr. Samantha Owens series and while I did not read the first book, A Deeper Darkness, I do not think it would have helped me enjoy Edge of Black more than I did. Edge of Black is at times suspenseful, but more often than not I found it did not keep my attention as I had hoped. Being a fan of suspense/thrillers, I had hoped for more page turning thrill than I discovered once I began reading. Unfortunately, I do not envision myself reading another book in this series.

[janarose1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth, a medical examiner, has decided to restart life in D.C. Rather than rejoin the morgue, she finds a position teaching pathology. When a terrorist releases an unknown pathogen onto the metro, killing three people, Elizabeth is called in to perform an autopsy on one of the victims. Elizabeth begins researching the three dead and slowly uncovers a connection between them.I thought this was a well written and engaging book. The characters are interesting and dynamic. I thought the book held some interesting twists and turns. However, I felt that the main show down was a bit anti-climatic. Overall, the book was interesting, and I would pick up another by this author.

[rhonda1111 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Edge of black by J.T. Ellison 4 STARSI like Dr. Samantha Owens she is such a strong character and has gone through so much.Now she has moved to Washington D.C. and starting a new job teaching at Georgetown University’s forensic pathology department. Has left her home and job as head of forensic after the losses of her family. She has new friends that she is starting here in D.C.While she is being a guest lecture one of her students is very ill. She decides it will be faster to just take her to hospital than get ambulance thier. So with two other students she goes to emergency room and it is very busy.There has been a chemical attack in the subway. She tries to go down to help and Sam ends up back at hospital to be decontamened.Sam finds her lover Xander Whitfield back in town from fishing. Xander was in the army, but he was raised by hippies who lived off the land in Colorado. He was on some websites the night before the attack and saw something about a attack might take place.A detective Fletch that Sam had come into contact with a former boyfriends murder that she helped him solve asks her to come help on a victim that was top secret. Thier is a lot of drama trying to figure out who did the attack and what was the poison that was used and how come only 3 people died when everyone else just got sick.I don't want to give away the plot anymore but it got intense with everyone not sure what was going on. Did not trust certain people or groups.Thier are a lot of smart powerful women characters in this book from different jobs and life choices. Both Fletch and Xander care about Sam. We also get to see more of Xander life back in Colorado.The story line is believable you can tell thier was a lot of research into the different aspects of the novel. I did not want to put the book down till I had finshed. I have enjoyed reading J.T. Ellison books and look forward to reading more of them in the future.I was given this ebook to read in exchange for honest review by Netgalley.11/27/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint HarlequinMIRA

[beamis12 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Samantha Owens was a supporting character in previous novels, but now has her own series. This starts out as what appears to be a act of terrorism in a subway in DC, but soon turns out to be so much more. This was a good suspenseful read with multiple story-lines, almost wish there had been a few less. They were all pulled together in a somewhat satisfactory way, but the coincidences seem just a little too much to accept. Did enjoy the look into the survivalist mentality and so like the character of Finn. Think this will be a very good series, as the characters are in themselves very interesting. Just need to keep things a little bit tighter, at least for this reader.

[lilk_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides...Dr. Samantha Owens is starting over: new city, new job, new man, new life. She's trying to put some distance between herself and the devastating loss of her husband and children-but old hurts leave scars.Before she's even unpacked her office at Georgetown University's forensic pathology department, she's called to consult on a case that's rocked the capital and the country. An unknown pathogen released into the Washington Metro has caused nationwide panic. Three people died-just three.A miracle and a puzzle...Amid the media frenzy and Homeland Security alarm bells, Sam painstakingly dissects the lives of those three victims and makes an unsettling conclusion. This is no textbook terrorist causing mayhem with broad strokes, but an artist wielding a much finer, more pointed instrument of destruction. An assassin, whose motive is deeply personal and far from understandable.Xander Whitfield, a former Army Ranger and Sam's new boyfriend, knows about seeing the world in shades of gray. About feeling compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Only his disturbing kinship with a killer can lead Sam to the truth...and once more into the line of fire.What I thought...The description says it all...This is my second book by J. T. Ellison and I must say she doesn't disappoint! I found this book very easy to read and get wrapped up in, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are well developed and realistic. The plot and twists are perfectly timed to keep you turning the pages, all 368 of them. I would definitely read more works by this author and highly recommend Edge of Black. You won't want to miss this one...

[jfe16 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Washington, D.C. is supposed to be a new start for Doctor Samantha Owens after her tragic loss in the Tennessee flood. But the release of an unknown pathogen into the Washington Metro throws her into the middle a dangerous hunt for an assassin.This intriguing tale, the second outing for Samantha Owens, provides sufficient backstory for readers who may have missed the first book, making this work well as a stand-alone. With well-developed characters, a fast pace, and a twisty plot filled with unexpected reveals, readers will be hard-pressed to set this one aside before turning the final page. Highly recommended.

[carol420 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the second book in this series. J.T. Ellison has taken the medical examiner from the Taylor Jackson series and started a new series. Dr. Samantha Owens has a new life in a new city and is seeing a new man after she lost her husband and children in a flood in Nashville. She is a very likable and smart character. I believe this series will be just as good as the Taylor Jackson series.

[melannc-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This second book about Dr. Samantha Owens is even more exciting than the first book. It starts out with three seemingly unrelated deaths from an unknown gas in the subway - a college student, a senator, and a world renowned ethnographer. The plot twists and turns as each fact is revealed and each truth is revealed. It really captured my attention. To add to the plot, the characters were wonderful especially Xander's family.

[jhoaglin-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good second book in this series.

[landslide_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*It's been a while since I read a thriller as satisfying as Edge of Black. This is the second in a series and now I really want to read the first, especially cause it's the story of how the main characters met.The main characters are Dr. Samantha Owens, a forensic pathologist, and Xander Whitfield, a former army ranger. At first sight they have nothing in common but the fact is both have tragic pasts of lost and sorrow that unites them in an unexpected way.After what appears to be a terrorist attack in the Washington Metro, Sam is called to help assist on the autopsies of the three victims. And that's the first thing that has Sam intrigued. Why only three dead? Sam begins investigating the victims and finds an unsuspected link between them...In the meantime, Xander realizes that maybe the killer moves in circles he's not a stranger to, and leaves off on his trail. But will they be able to get to the killer before he strikes again?I really liked this thriller, I found it's rythm perfect, not too fast, not too slow. The story is believable and exciting and there are no loose threads nor details unexplained. I also liked the main characters and their interaction. J.T. Ellison is definetely an author I want to read more from.

[bookspot · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dr Samantha Owens has left her old life -- her job at Forensic Medical, her best friend Taylor Jackson, the home she shared with her late husband and their twins -- behind. She's sols her Nashville home, has a new job teaching and somewhere very new, and different to call home every nightSam's ready to try to move on from the crushing grief -- and guilt -- she feels after losing her husband and young children in the Nashville flood. Also a part of her new life in Washington DC: Xander Whitfield, whom she met in A Deeper Darkness and who was a catalyst for her move.Sam's just getting into her new life when an unknown pathogen is released in the Washington Metro. Soon three people are dead and Sam is called in to consult.With the FBI and Homeland Security a part of the case, it's Sam, Xander and Fletcher who are soon uncovering parts of the case that make it a very interesting one indeed. And definitely not what they expected.After reading the Taylor Jackson series and already knowing Sam, I was really hurting for her in A Deeper Darkness and all of the pain she was in, still feeling so much guilt and sorrow over losing not only her husband but also both of her children. So soon after losing another child, as well.Though I was a bit sorry knowing she wouldn't be back in Nashville for this second installment in the series, after reading it, I couldn't support the decision more fully.The things I loved in the first book about Sam having her own series: getting to see her sine, seeing those attributes of hers (her whit, her intelligence, her love and loyalty) as the main focus were even stronger in this book. Now that we've been properly introduced to Sam with the first book, we really get to see her work and be a great character.Both Xander and Fletch are back in pretty big supporting roles, the two other main characters next to Sam, in Edge of Black. I loved them both in A Deeper Darkness and I love them here. Nocek is back as well and just as quirky as before, I'm glad he's still a part of the story.It's only two books in but I think I like this series even better than the Taylor Jackson series. The characters here each have their own great background which we didn't get as much of with the previous series and I do love my 'character' books. We also get a good bit of Xander's life in this series and it's fun to see where he comes from and know who he is. Then to see how he works with and connects with Sam. On the surface they seem like they'd be contradictory characters, but they have something that really does work.That's all on top of the great plots that Ellison has created. They're not your run of the mill mystery or thriller plots and even the ones that seem to start more simple or predictable definitely don't play out that way. That the characters backgrounds as well as the setting are used is even better.I'm looking forward to more from this series and this author.

[arlenadean · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author: J.T. EllisonPublished by: Harlequin MIRA Age Recommended: Adult Reviewed By: Arlena DeanBook Blog For: GMTASeries: Dr. Samantha Owens #2Rating: 5Review:"Edge of Black" by J.T. Ellison was a excellent contemporary story of mystery,suspense, thrills, and romance. The author is truly a master at being able to present it all ....'fear, love and hate' all in one outstanding fast paced read. We find from this series that Samantha (Sam) and Xander will be trying to find out who released this pathogen into the Washington Metro area that killed three people. Sam and Xander are dating and working together trying to find out who is'behind the release of the pathogen and why.' Be ready for a lots of action along with twist that will keep you turning the pages. The characters were all well portrayed and so colorful in this well developed series. I found "Edge of Black" was well written story that I would recommend as a excellent read.

[darcia_10 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I became an instant fan of J.T. Ellison's writing when I read [book:All The Pretty Girls|1861196], the first in her Taylor Jackson series. Edge of Black stars Samantha Owens, the forensic pathologist from the Taylor Jackson series. While this is a spinoff from that first series, Edge of Black can easily be read as a stand-alone.One of the things I love about Ellison's writing is she always gives readers a strong female lead. You'll find no damsel in distress here. Samantha Owens is smart and not afraid to get her hands dirty.While I enjoyed the story, it wasn't one of my favorites by Ellison. I found it very much action based, but a little short on character development. The 'bad guy' felt too one-dimensional and stereotypical, and that made the plot a little too predictable. That being said, there is a lot to love about this book, and about Ellison's writing.

[thisbookends · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides...Dr. Samantha Owens is starting over: new city, new job, new man, new life. She's trying to put some distance between herself and the devastating loss of her husband and children-but old hurts leave scars.Before she's even unpacked her office at Georgetown University's forensic pathology department, she's called to consult on a case that's rocked the capital and the country. An unknown pathogen released into the Washington Metro has caused nationwide panic. Three people died-just three.A miracle and a puzzle...Amid the media frenzy and Homeland Security alarm bells, Sam painstakingly dissects the lives of those three victims and makes an unsettling conclusion. This is no textbook terrorist causing mayhem with broad strokes, but an artist wielding a much finer, more pointed instrument of destruction. An assassin, whose motive is deeply personal and far from understandable.Xander Whitfield, a former Army Ranger and Sam's new boyfriend, knows about seeing the world in shades of gray. About feeling compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Only his disturbing kinship with a killer can lead Sam to the truth...and once more into the line of fire.What I thought...The description says it all...This is my second book by J. T. Ellison and I must say she doesn't disappoint! I found this book very easy to read and get wrapped up in, I didn't want to put it down. The characters are well developed and realistic. The plot and twists are perfectly timed to keep you turning the pages, all 368 of them. I would definitely read more works by this author and highly recommend Edge of Black. You won't want to miss this one...