Rating: 
Summary: Good, solid thriller with a gimmick
Review: I don't usually read mysteries or thrillers, but liked the cover and the premise when I saw it at the train station... single mother goes on a well-earned break and doesn't come home as expected. what could have happened?
Two things set this novel apart: one, it is more than just a mystery but a serious work of fiction examining the hole left in people's lives when a loved one vanishes. The grief of Anna's 6-year-old daughter Lily is palpable because she's trying to be so brave; the stress her friend Estella, who lives in Amsterdam but has come to help, and Paul, her gay friend who acts as a surrogate father to Lily, are under is movingly portrayed. Unfortunately however these chapters don't move the story forward very much because very quickly the reader knows more about what could have happened to Anna than Estella, from whose point of view the "home" sections are written.
The other thing that sets the novel apart is that the "away" sections present two parallel possible stories, in both of which a phone call is made home at a certain time, a toy horse is bought and then damaged, and other details match up. In one, Anna is abducted by an Italian stranger who seems to be madly obsessed with his late wife. In another, Anna has a torrid affair with a man she met in the classified ads, who hides a sinister mystery.
Dunant at least spares us from the concept of having the narratives both be imaginings of her worried friends, and in the end it's not clear which version will be the one that Estella learns.
This gimmick is original and interesting but for me it ultimately doesn't work, because i found one so much more interesting than the other, and both more interesting than the "home" sections.
Ultimately, I did enjoy this, but wasn't engrossed in it-- shifting between points-of-view and parallel universes was jarring.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful Vivid and Compelling
Review: I had no problem following the non-linear sequence of events. It just heightened the tension of the entire mystery. Feelings were described before you realized just where and when in history Anna was. Was she thinking disturbing thoughts while in her lover's bed, or while being held captive fighting her way into consciousness? Not being told right away where in time Ann was, heightened the effectiveness of this page-turner. The author has brilliantly mapped out a novel that if told in a linear fashion would not have been nearly as intriguing.
The author is a genius at crafting prose that gives such a vivid descriptions of inner fear and doubt. Her descriptions of the human body are palpable.
It falls short of five stars for two reasons. One, the ending fell a bit flat. Two, I quickly lost interest in Estella and Paul, and eventually began skimming the first person chapters to continue on with the heart of the mystery.
I you are a fan of lyrical prose -- this is a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Sorry to disagree but...
Review: I was very disappointed with this book. While the "plot" may have be clever (and I'm not fully convinced about that), I found the book to be boring, highly repetivitive, and so pseudo angst- filled that I felt like slapping every character. Dunant's earlier efforts were much better.
Rating:
Summary: What? That's it?? But what really happened???
Review: I'd definitely give the writing 5 stars for pacing, plotline, and character development, but I found the ending to be unsatisfying in the extreme -- I kept going back so much that I probably read the book twice, looking for the hook to tell me what "really" happened to Anna. That said, the story of what went on at "home" while she was "away" is engrossing and enjoyable, as is the parallel story track taking place in Italy.
Rating: 
Summary: This edge is razor-sharp
Review: In "Mapping the Edge," Sarah Dunant's impressionistic thriller, Anna, a single mother with a seven-year-old daughter, takes a break from her life for a short trip to Italy on her own. When she does not return her friends, Estella and Paul--she the best friend, he a (gay) chum of Anna's--act as surrogate parents and rush to Anna's house to relieve the professional babysitter, who has to go home to her family, in caring for the daughter, Lily.In alternating chapters we are given two possible explanations for Anna's failure to return (titled "Away," these are told in the third person) after which there is a chapter called "home," a first-person narrative related by Estella. This pattern repeats itself for the duration of the journey. Although Ms. Dunant does not specifically say so, perhaps the more sinister version of Anna's fate (she is being held against her will by a stalker) is imagined by Estella while the more romantic one (she has meet a lover and has simply decided to spend one more weekend with him) is imagined by Paul. Regardless, the interwoven tales mesh smoothly, and the prose is lucidly clear. The characters are believable and somewhat sympathetic--even the stalker. It's a gripping read.
Rating:
Summary: Confusing at first, but suspenseful until the end....
Review: Overall, I was kept interested, however it was difficult getting used to the rhythm of the rotating chapters of the 3 different story lines - the 2 possible scenarios and the view from back home. The one story line was suspenseful, but the other I found to be a bit trashy. The style of writing reminded me of the movie "Sliding Doors". It was an interesting way to write a book which you don't see very often. Not a very dramatic ending.
Rating:
Summary: Dunant Maps New Boundaries For The Psychological Thriller!
Review: Sarah Dunant interweaves taut parallel narratives that explore the intricacies of motherhood, friendship, love, accountability and obsession in this dark, gripping novel. There are a few mysteries to be found between the pages here, not the least is how well do we really know those close to us, let alone ourselves. Ms. Dunant delivers two different versions of the plot. What happens to Anna Franklin? She is thirty-nine, very attractive, "pretty was always too tame a word," a single mother and journalist, who goes for a short vacation to Italy, leaving her six-year-old daughter with friends in London. When she does not return, her friends are justifiably alarmed, but knowing Anna's reliability they invent rational reasons for her continued absence - until it becomes apparent that she may never return. The two different accounts of Anna's adventures are cleverly interwoven with the narrative of what occurs at home with the daughter and friends who wait, as we wait, to discover just what is going on. The author also takes us on a journey into Anna's past to further develop her character. This chilling novel promises answers but never really delivers. Ms. Dunant's writing is taut and suspenseful. She is a three time finalist for the Golden Dagger Award. This is a novel you won't be able to put down - an engrossing read!
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: HELD TO THE END
Review: This book kept me reading and trying hard to figure out what in the world was going on. The dual scenarios kept me confused. I am still not sure. It seems a little like the Dream sequence in the old Dallas show. I was disappointed at the end.
Rating:
Summary: Honest and Engaging
Review: This is a fully suspenseful novel that investigates a woman's disappearance in Italy after leaving behind her daughter (and friends). I was completely engrossed by the plot and couldn't put the book down. I'm looking forward to reading future novels by this author. A great book!
Rating:
Summary: Thriller with a twist
Review: This is one of those rare thrillers that does indeed keep you guessing till the end. I was pleasantly surprised with the various plot twists, they were both plausible and unexpected. This book operates on a fear everyone has had at one time or another. Someone we love is not where we expect them to be, and our imaginations begin to get the better of us. The story of Anna and what may or may not have happened to her during an impromptu trip to Italy, will keep you reading and interested till the last page.
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