Status
Call number
Genres
Publication
Description
Fiction. Romance. Suspense. HTML: New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts provides a potent mix of small-town secrets, scandalous romance, and down-home Southern atmosphere as a young woman searching for some bayou R&R finds herself entangled in a serial killer�??s wicked web. Burned out and still reeling from a love affair gone bad, world-class violinist Caroline Waverly goes to her grandparents�?? home in Innocence, Mississippi, for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Instead she finds herself overwhelmed all over again�??first by Tucker Longstreet, a charming local with a sideline in no-strings-attached relationships, and then by a deadlier, more disturbing development. For Innocence is being stalked by its very own serial killer, whose brutal knife blows have pierced the veil of tranquillity in this sleepy Southern town and left a trail of mutilated female corpses in their wake. When a federal agent arrives to investigate, the town�??s deepest secrets bubble to the surface and suspicion turns on Tucker as the most likely suspect. After Caroline finds the latest murder victim floating in the murky waters behind her house, she too is inexorably drawn into the path of a crazed killer who may be closer than she could have ever imagined… (more)
User reviews
7/10
The world class violinist, Carolyn is moving back to her familys home in Innocence, MS.
Tucker was being accused to killing Emma Lou who she had stated earlier that day she was pregnant with his child.
Investigation continues as others come to his rescue...Lots going
Brutal and tortuous at times and scary.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
3.5 Stars
Synopsis:
Burned out from her hectic career, concert violinist, Caroline Waverly seeks the peace and quiet of her grandparents’ home in Innocence, Mississippi. Not only is Caroline’s tranquil getaway about to be disrupted by a serial killer on the hunt but she soon finds
Review:
This is one of Nora’s earlier novels originally published in 1991. The book has been re-issued several times, most recently in 2010.
Two things in particular stand out about this book. The first is the witty dialogue and banter, especially between Tucker and Caroline, and the second is the small town characters and shenanigans that make you chuckle out loud. Carnal Innocence is a wonderful example of small town Southern culture and charm, which I am definitely a fan of.
Nevertheless, the story is long winded and drawn out with overly descriptive passages. One of the most significant problems with the novel is the imbalance between the romance and the suspense. While the murder mystery is good, the romance feels secondary and there is very little spark to Tucker and Caroline’s relationship. As individuals these characters are charming and likeable. Tucker is the seemingly lazy yet hardworking plantation owner and Caroline the emotionally vulnerable yet strong willed woman quite capable of blowing a man away. The identity and motivation of the culprit are unexpected but not surprising and one can figure it all out quite easily before the big revelation.
In sum, the setting and basic premise are the high points of the story and remind me of Carolina Moon, one of Nora’s later and better books, which I highly recommend for fans and newbies alike.
I enjoyed this romance and murder mystery set in the southern delta very much. I didn't think I was going to like the main character, Tucker, too much. But, that slow southern charm worked and I was a fan before we ever got to the middle of the book. Caro...she's a gem. The character and world building was a definite home run...once again.