Over the Edge was published by Atheneum in 1987. Jamey Cadmus, a brilliant young man whom Alex treated as a teenager, calls Alex in a state of apparent psychosis. Shortly afterward, Jamey is arrested for a series of brutal murders. His wealthy family hires Alex to evaluate whether Jamey is genuinely psychotic (and therefore not criminally responsible) or whether his apparent madness is fabricated or induced. The investigation leads Alex through the overlapping worlds of Los Angeles high society, psychiatric institutions, and pharmaceutical manipulation.
The novel is Kellerman’s most directly engaged with professional psychology: the questions of genuine versus malingered psychosis, the reliability of psychiatric diagnosis, and the manipulation of mental illness for legal advantage are treated with the specificity of a clinical case study.
Collecting Over the Edge
First edition (Atheneum, New York, 1987): Boards with dust jacket.
Market values:
- Fine in dust jacket: $50–$125
- Very good: $20–$50
Projected values (2026–2036): Moderate to strong appreciation.
The Mental Health System
Over the Edge is Kellerman’s most sustained critique of psychiatric institutions. Published during the era of mass deinstitutionalisation, the novel examines what happens when wealthy patients are left in systems designed for control rather than care. The portrait of Jamey’s deterioration — and the ambiguity about whether his madness is organic or induced — anticipates later public debates about psychiatric medication and involuntary commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Milo Sturgis? Milo is a Los Angeles police detective and Alex Delaware’s best friend. He is one of the first openly gay police characters in mainstream American crime fiction, introduced in 1985 — a significant representation milestone. Kellerman portrays Milo’s sexuality matter-of-factly, as one aspect of a complex character rather than a defining trait.