Precipice [Hardcover]

Tom Savage (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1994

Death, deceit, and sexual obsession are set against the sensuous backdrop of the Caribbean, as wealthy Kate Prescott hires a young woman to be her daughter's companion--and to execute her murderous agenda. A first novel. 40,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A lovely young stranger--with a wide streak of insanity befitting her tragic, mysterious past--penetrates the rich enclave on sunny St. Thomas in this entertaining thriller debut. Newly re-married island socialite Kay Prescott lives with her beefcake husband Adam and her 12-year-old daughter Lisa at Cliffhanger--their mansion perched on a seaside bluff. Kay's chance encounter with Ivy League Diana Meissen at the beach club gives her the idea that Diana would be the perfect role model for Lisa. Diana fits all too smoothly into the household--and Adam's arms--but not long after her arrival, the peaceful island and its well-heeled inhabitants are jolted by a spree of break-ins and assaults. Reports from a young detective (hired by Diana's wealthy aunt in Long Island to keep track of her) make it clear early on that Diana is a mental case with some sort of destructive plan. With bodies and sexual tensions mounting, Diana's aunt races to unravel her niece's latest deadly game. Likable characters romp through a seemingly simple but eventually complex plot, one that Savage has mined with unexpected twists. Readers' expectations may be blown to bits by the clifftop denouement.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Another promising first novel, this thriller is set on the tropical island of St. Thomas at a villa called Cliffhanger. Its owner, Kay Prescott, has just hired a young woman as live-in companion to her daughter, but her motives may not be entirely honorable.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 290 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1st edition (January 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316771600
• ISBN-13: 978-0316771603
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,203,744 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Terrific Thiller, July 3, 2000

By 

Kim K. (Bayonne, New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Precipice (Paperback)

Having already read Tom Savage's previous books, Valentine & The Inheritance, I picked this up recently and from the first page was capitivated by this mystery that takes place in St. Thomas, VI. Tom Savage develops his characters very well and this is the kind of book you have a hard time putting down for long. If you like intriguing, fast moving suspense, Precipice is the book for you. Why this was never turned into a movie is beyond me, it has all the right ingredients. Very highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the better page turners out there, March 20, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Precipice (Paperback)

This is by far one of the better "page turners" among the latest crop of psychological thrillers being churned out and published. All the characters (even seemingly minor characters like Trish Manning, the best friend, and Kyle, the ship's mate) play an integral part in this devilishly concocted revenge story. It's more in the vein of the fair play murder mystery with several puzzle elements that will interest readers who like trying to guess whodunnit-- and more fitting for this novel -- why-they-dunnit. I look forward to reading Savage's latest, The Inheritance, due out in the Summer 1998. He certainly writes a great yarn and I envy thriller writers who write real thrillers with clever plots, mounting suspense and a just the right amount of wit.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Check out "Dance of the Mongoose" by Savage under a pen name, August 8, 1995

By A Customer

This review is from: Precipice (Paperback)

Precipice was Savage's first book in print, but not the first book he wrote. "Dance of the Mongoose" has some eerie and fascinating similarities. Not as good, but a neat peak behind this writer's curtain (and not at all bad, either). "Dance" is written under a pen name because his publisher wants the "Savage" name to be associated with thrillers, and it's a mystery. However, you can get an idea how Tom's mind works from the fact that the hero of "Dance" is named "Joe Wilder."