Come to the Edge

New York, NY: Avon Books. Very Good. 1978. 1st Edition Thus; 1st Printing. Paperback. 0380403374 . This is a trade paperback book. The book is in Very Good condition and was issued without a dust jacket. The spine ends and corners of the book covers have some light bumping and rubbing. The text pages have some light generalized toning. "The gray vacuum that is Gravel Winter's soul will remind you of the aloof presence of Gilly in Dorp Dead, but here it is kindness more than cruelty which threatens the integrity of a boy's alienation. When his only friend abandons him, leaving the orphanage without so much as a goodbye, Gravel runs away. He flees again from Mr. Paynter, an aptly named sign painter who is willing to take him in, no questions asked, only to find himself acting out the role of a polite, solicitous orphan boy, accepting food and shelter from three old people—blind, deaf, and crippled respectively—who need him to "fill the gaps" in their lives. Then, in short order, Gravel tries to save blind Mr. Gant from being murdered by his servant, discovers that Gant has slain the servant instead, and narrowly escapes becoming the victim of Gant's blackmail. " (from Kirkus review) .