Blade
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From USA Today bestselling author—and former competitive skater—Wendy Walker comes a chilling psychological thriller set in the cutthroat world of elite figure skating.
Ana Robbins was an Olympic star in the making—until tragedy forced her to leave that world behind. At the age of sixteen, she gave up her dream and never looked back.
Fourteen years later, she’s a successful defense attorney, revered for her work with minors. But when her former coach turns up dead, Ana lands right back where it all began, and abruptly ended: The Palace, a world-renowned skating facility nestled high in the mountains of Colorado.
Ana returns to The Palace to defend the young skater accused of the brutal crime—Grace Montgomery. Despite her claims of innocence, all evidence points squarely at Grace’s guilt, and she’s days away from facing charges of first-degree murder.
But Ana’s investigation dredges up childhood memories of her own, triggering the fear that permeates this place where she once lived and trained far from home as an “orphan.” With a blizzard raging outside, and time running out for Grace, Ana is determined to uncover the truth—even if it means exposing her own secrets that she buried here long ago.
Photos
On the Ice: 1979-1983
Returning to the Ice
Videos
Praise for Blade
An Amazon First Reads Selection for January
“Walker’s slick and satisfying latest (after American Girl) is set in the ruthless world of competitive figure skating… The author is at the top of her game.” —Publishers Weekly
“This is an absorbing teenage-angst-driven seventh psychological thriller…Walker builds the suspense artfully, and the reader will be drawn in by the narrative of each “it” that befell the original four girls and what might have led Grace to commit the crime, if indeed she is guilty. The author pivots and lutzes her way through a world she once knew well.” —Booklist (starred)
“The blistering and bracing Blade, double meaning and all, resonates on an emotional level conjured by the likes of Lisa Scottoline, Harlan Coben, and James Lee Burke, the kind of tale that makes us think as well as feel. Extraordinary in all respects. —Jon Land, BookTrib
“Fast-paced and emotionally charged, Blade digs into the dark side of elite sports in this gripping thriller. Wendy Walker is at the top of her game!”
—Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins
“Blade pairs intricate plotting and a winning protagonist with an insider’s take on the fierce pressures placed on young women in competitive ice skating. Wendy Walker always delivers.”
—Alafair Burke, New York Times bestselling author of The Note
“Set in the world of elite figure skating, Walker’s latest thriller is as chilling as it is propulsive. Raw, emotional, and razor sharp, Blade kept me breathless until the final page.”
—Jeneva Rose, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Marriage
“Wendy Walker is an autobuy author for me—I’ll read anything she writes. Her books are smart, compelling, and packed with tension from start to finish. Every story is a masterclass in suspense, and Blade is her best yet.”
—Liv Constantine, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish
“Beautifully written and emotionally charged, Blade is a gripping thriller that delivers triple Axel plot twists while pulling back the curtain on the cutthroat, high-stakes world of elite figure skating. Both chilling and mesmerizing, it’s a story that slices deep and lingers long after the final page.”
—Kate White, New York Times bestselling author of I Came Back for You
“Wendy Walker’s Blade is riveting, propulsive, explosive, and heart wrenching! I started reading this early one night and didn’t stop until I’d finished, desperate to know how Walker’s intricate plot would unfold! With Walker’s signature scalpel-sharp prose and visionary storytelling, Blade is Megan Abbott’s Dare Me meets Eliza Jane Brazier’s Girls and Their Horses, a timely and timeless portrait of a female subculture complete with power dynamics, toxic friendships, buried secrets that seethe under the surface, and nerve-shredding suspense. I couldn’t get enough of this world!”
—May Cobb, award-winning author of The Hunting Wives (now a hit Netflix show)
“This addictive, atmospheric thriller cuts deep, delving beneath the sequins and spotlights to take an ice-cold look at the darker side of figure skating. Wendy Walker balances every element in her gripping story with the precision and artistry of a gold medalist.”
—Layne Fargo, bestselling author of The Favorites and They Never Lear
“Blade is Wendy Walker at her boldest: unflinching, urgent, and unforgettable. This is a deeply psychological, fiercely feminist, and emotionally devastating reckoning; Walker captures the weight of trauma, the pulse of fear, and the aching need for redemption with razor precision.”
—Carter Wilson, USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Tell Me What You Did
Pick up BLADE at the following bookstores (you can also order online!)
Elm Street Books in New Canaan, CT is my local bookseller. If you would like books signed and/or personalized, you can request from there.