Edge of Justice [Hardcover]

Clinton McKinzie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2002

"Special Agent Antonio Burns - climber, cop, brother, son, risk-taker - knows the hunger that drives climbers up the faces of mountains. It's a hunger that has shaped his life and pushed his brother, Roberto, onto the wrong side of the law." "A climber by nature, a cop by trade, Anton has come to Laramie, Wyoming, to investigate a young woman's deadly plunge. But as he digs deeper into the case, Anton is certain he has found a murder...and a stunning connection to the trial of two men about to be executed for a crime they did not commit." But Anton is running out of time. As two lives hang in the balance, another woman is killed, and Anton believes the answers he seeks are hidden amid a dangerous group of climbers...and in the towering shadows of jagged peaks. Suddenly, Anton knows he has only one option. With a beautiful reporter sharing his investigation, he must make a harrowing ascent: up a forbidding mountainside - to bring a killer down from the deadliest kind of high.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group (2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0641589697
• ISBN-13: 978-0641589690
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,717,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars High Altitude Mayhem, June 5, 2002

By 

sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edge of Justice (Hardcover)

I have always thought a mountain climbing killing might be the perfect murder. Who is say how the "accident" occurred? Sometimes the body is never found. A misstep, a quirk of the weather, a piece of rotten rock---all or singly could happen in an instant and be given as the likely cause of death.

"The Edge of Justice," a debut novel, takes that premise and gives it quite a shake. Protagonist Anton Burns, Special Investigator for the State of Wyoming and climbing enthusiast, is sent to Laramie to investigate the accidental death of a girl who fell to her death from a ledge in the mighty Vedauwoo mountains. Anton is carrying a heavy load of baggage: he is under investigation for shooting and killing three men in a police raid, his beloved elder brother is in jail for manslaughter, and he has been exiled to the Cody office far from the action in Cheyenne. When he arrives in Laramie, the biggest trial in the history of the state is in progress, trying two lowlife brothers for the brutal rape/murder of a young girl. Anton and his faithful bear of a dog, Oso, after an idyllic afternoon rock climbing investigate the site of the climbing death. He quickly ascertains that the "accident" was murder. While investigating, he realizes a cover-up is in place and it is very likely the brothers on trial are innocent.

This is a fast paced novel that keeps our interest engaged. Mr. MacKinzie is obviously an expert climber and does well in describing the almost lyrical joys of high altitude climbing. One might say he devotes too many pages to the technical aspects of climbing, but I stayed involved all the way. The characters are mostly one-dimensional, either very good or very bad with no ambiguity. Also there are far too many subplots and needless diversions. However, the author has a good tale to tell, and he does it well. I look forward to further adventures with Anton; maybe the next time will be a little more streamlined.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Fresh take on suspense thrillers..., June 17, 2002

By 

Ahhling "Ahhling" (NY, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edge of Justice (Hardcover)

What a great debut for McKinzie! The story of Special Agent Anton Burns starts out on a mellow pace, setting up the background and the foundation for a thrilling plot that takes off quite suddenly and then doesn't let up. Burns is a sympathetic character who struggles with internal and personal issues while still striving to do right by others and by the laws of justice. (I was especially touched by the character's deep relationship with his dog, Oso) While there are several subplots that get interwoven into the main storyline, the urgency and intensity of the main plot keeps the reader charging ahead.

I don't know anything about rock climbing and didn't always understand all of the details, but there is no doubt that the author's integration of this adventurous sport added to the drama and made the story exciting and fresh. I thought the author did a wonderful job of getting the reader to dive right into the main character's complex life immediately, yet made it intriguing enough that I wanted to learn more about his history, which I hear will come out in a prequel to be released later. Once I got into the meat of the book, I hunkered down and plowed right through to get to the exciting climax. Well-written and a reading adrenaline rush (perhaps like feeding the Rat!).

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breath of Fresh Air, January 19, 2003

By 

avidbookreader "Keishon" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Edge of Justice (Hardcover)

EDGE OF JUSTICE was slow getting started for me but once it picked up my interest, I was hooked. Anton Burns is a breath of fresh air. He's not a supercop, but a mountain climber/peace officer in exhile. I can't wait to read the prequel to find out why he is in exhile. I recommend this book, highly. It was more realistic in that Burns went through ALOT of trials and tribulations and I loved that he wasn't some supercop who could control each and every situation he was in. Often, the injustices that occured were very fustrating to read but realistic regardless. I think this book would appeal to those who are tired of the same ole thing. Characterizations were strong and memorable. Look forward to his next book.

Keishon