The Edge of Nowhere by Elizabeth George

This is a book about relationships and guilt. The paranormal aspects, the romance, and the mystery all take a back seat to the description of relationships. It is a clever exploration of them - what makes for a good friendship, who can you truly be your own self with, and how suspicion can ruin relationships. This book had a myriad of characters who are inexplicably have an issue that affects their interactions with others. Some carry guilt, others have secrets which interfere. As a study in psychology, this was a brilliant book. As a mystery, it fell a little flat. I was really expecting a big pay off at the end since the characters were so carefully painted. It was a bit of a let down at the end. The paranormal aspect, Becca's ability to hear other's thoughts, was really non-existent. It could have been a great plot point, but it felt as though it was thrown in so there could be a hook to draw young readers in. I think it was a distraction since it never provided answers for Becca, but rather confused her. I felt the setting was a great asset to the story. It was atmospheric and described beautifully. I am intrigued by Diana and why she is different. Since that was never answered, I will be checking out the second book because I feel that she will a great enigma to puzzle out.