The Witness

by Nora Roberts

Ebook, 2012

Genres

Romance

All Topics

Mystery

Fiction

Collection

Your library

Publication

Penguin, Kindle Edition, 492 pages

Description

"Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth Fitch finally let loose one night, drinking too much at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent to lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever. Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she works at home designing sophisticated security systems. Her own security is supplemented by a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. Unfortunately, that seems to be the quickest way to get attention in a tiny southern town. The mystery of Abigail Lowery intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and a professional level. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something. Gleason is about to walk into the sights of very powerful and dangerous men. And Abigail, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both."--Jacket p. [2].… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member readinggeek451

16-year-old Elizabeth's moment of rebellion against her controlling mother ends in tragedy. A dozen years later, under a new identity, she moves to a small town in Arkansas, where the police chief becomes intrigued by the reclusive newcomer.

Both romantic and suspenseful.

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LibraryThing member AddictedToMorphemes

The Witness by Nora Roberts
"Read" via audio book, Brilliance Audio Edition, Narrated by Julia Whelan.

This was my first audio book. The narration was done very well by Julia Whelan; in particular, how she was able to change her pitch or use slight accents to differentiate the various female

characters. I am definitely more of a visual person than auditory, so I was worried I would have a hard time with an audio book, but the clarity of her voice was excellent and I had no problem understanding her or needing to rewind to hear any parts a second time. She also did a bang-up job with the Russian language and carrying off their accent in a believable way. The voices for the male characters were not as good and were distracting to me. This would have been much better if they would have hired a second voice actor to cover the male dialogue.

Summary:
Elizabeth Fitch, at 16, is fluent in several languages, has a genius-level I.Q. and an eidetic memory, is already attending Harvard and is slotted for Harvard Medical School. Everything in her life has been pre-ordained and controlled by her beautiful and highly successful mother (who is herself a surgeon), including her schedule, her clothing, her diet, what books she reads, what music she listens to, the instruments she plays, etc. Not to mention that she also chose who her "father" would be by a strict selection process of a suitable sperm donor. She chose when she would be impregnated by IVF and when her C-section would be scheduled. It has been made clear to Elizabeth that she is unloved and has basically been a science experiment for her cold-hearted mother, proving her ability to produce the perfect offspring which would reflect back on her own success.

When Elizabeth's mother breaks a promise that she would be able to take a much-needed break and instead has enrolled her in an intensive summer course, it was the last straw for Elizabeth and she rebels for the first time in her life. She cuts and dyes her hair and heads to the mall to buy normal clothes for a girl her age when she runs across an acquaintance who agrees to help Elizabeth shop if she will, in turn, make them a couple fake I.D.s so they can get into the most popular nightclub in town.

This seemingly simple rebellion turns into a tragedy when the girls meet two men who are linked to the ownership of the club and who are, as it turns out, part of a Russian mob family. Elizabeth ends up being a witness to murder and is in a position to take down the mob family. She is moved into a safe house and guarded by agents from the U.S. Marshall's Office until a situation develops where she is on her own running for her life.

The story picks up 12 years later, with Elizabeth (now Abigail Lowery) living outside a small Arkansas town in the Ozarks. She lives a quiet and private life with her Bull Mastiff and a ton of security alarms and cameras set around her property for protection. The new police chief, Brooks Gleason, likes that she's attractive and somewhat mysterious, but his interest ratchets up when he notices she doesn't go anywhere without a weapon on her hip and he intuitively knows she is hiding from something or someone.

He tenaciously visits her, invites himself to dinner, etc., in a way that annoys her because of his rudeness, but he is charming and kind and he slowly is able to get past her barriers and social awkwardness to the point she feels safe with him and knows she can trust him. Through his caring and the kindness of his family, she decides it is time she stop running and start to live a real life. With his help, but admirably mainly due to her work, research and preparation over the years, she's now ready to face down those who stole her life away.

This is a romantic suspense novel, so of course it has a somewhat predictable ending, but there was a lot of intrigue and a little surprise at the end as well. Another good Roberts' read.

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LibraryThing member DBeecher

This was my first Nora Roberts book which did get me hooked on page one. However as the story developed it lost my attention midway as it went from a gripping thriller to a predictable romantic novel.

LibraryThing member CANewsome

I love Nora Roberts. I read all her romantic suspense titles. I always look forward the high-quality escapism with interesting characters in believable relationships and exciting story lines.

This book annoyed me. All the way through. Every word that came out of Elizabeth/Abigail's mouth sounded

like it came directly from Temperance Brennan of the Fox TV show "Bones" (not to be confused with Temperance in the books)

I love Bones, so it was very disconcerting hear her dialogue coming from someone else's mouth. How could Robert's editors ignore this? How could her beta readers (I assume she has some) not call her on this?

Aside from the appearance of plagiarism, there are specific reasons why it doesn't play.

Firstly, Elizabeth starts eating up pop culture before she goes underground. It only makes sense that she would continue her pop-culture education in order to blend in better. Geek-speak is not a good strategy for someone who wants to be unnoticed, and she's smart enough to know that.

Secondly, her relationship with the chief of police doesn't hit the right notes for someone who has never experienced intimacy.

For a classic Nora Roberts read, pick up "Hidden Riches" or "Divine Evil" "Carolina Moon" or "Carnal Innocence".

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LibraryThing member kmartin802

This one kept me up late reading and delayed my errands the next day too because I couldn't put it down until I reached the very satisfying ending. I fell in love with both the hero and the heroine. Abigail is making a life for herself in a small town in to Ozarks. She has been on the run since she

was seventeen years old and has survived by being ready to move on at a moment's notice and by keeping to herself.

Brooks is the Chief of Police in the town where he grew up. He returned home from years as a police detective in Little Rock when his family needed him. He is determined to protect and to serve and is an integral part of the town. He is fascinated with Abigail and is determined to work his way into her life because everything about her tells him she is on the run from something.

Abigail is a genius who has very little social experience. She reminds me a lot of the television portrayal of Dr. Temperance Brennan on the television show Bones. She has no social filters. She is logical and blunt. She wants to make a life for herself in this town and stop running. But to do that she will have to bring down a powerful Russian mafia family that wants her dead because she witnessed a murder.

Another plot line in this one concerns a purely local bad seed of a teenage boy and the rich father who is willing to pull strings and dispense bribes to keep his darling out of trouble. This situation parallels Abigail's larger problem but puts Brooks and Abigail in more immediate danger.

One of the strengths of this story is the strong family that has nurtured Brooks. By watching his interactions with his family, Abigail is learning what family is like. She was raised by a mother who had her almost like a science experiment and who controlled her life completely. Abigail has never known love because her mother is a cold, selfish woman who abandoned her when she wouldn't follow her mother's directives.

I loved this story and can't recommend it enough to fans of romantic suspense.

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LibraryThing member Pat.Egan.Fordyce

What can you say about a Nora Roberts novel, that hasn't already been said? Excellent characters, very interesting plot, and as always a very smart dog!!!!
I enjoyed every page, and will, of course, look forward to her next!!

LibraryThing member thewalkinggirl

A pleasant, easy read. More focused on characters than the last few, which is probably why I finished it (unlike the last few). Still, I wish I'd had a stronger emotional reaction to those characters -- the setting was pretty much stuck at pleasant the whole way through.

LibraryThing member wyvernfriend

I enjoyed this story of a woman who reminded me of Bones from the TV series.
Abigail Lowery is a mystery and Brooks Gleason, the local chief of police is intrigued. He is part of the local community and he wants to know more about her. She has got too used to hiding, she saw a Russian mafia murder

at 16 and they still are hunting her, she really has no choice but to try to hide out and appear to be not who she really is, however, the murder was 15 years ago and who she really is isn't clear. They have to work out how to move forward, possibly together.
The two of these characters were great fun and I really enjoyed the read.

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LibraryThing member teeth

I enjoyed this book. It was about Abigail who witnesses a mafia murder and goes into hiding. The police chief of the town she is hiding becomes intrigues and the story blossoms from that point.

LibraryThing member cherekaye

I love the characters in this book. Abigail and Brooks are so opposite in some ways, but perfectly suited in the best areas. I loved the Russian mafia parts, and that Elizabeth was so skilled in computer hacking - I thought it made the book very modern but not futuristic. It's a book I read back to

back immediately. One I'll keep on the Nook to read again and again.

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LibraryThing member psherman

I guess it's a good thing I have never watched the TV show Bones, so I was unaware of any similarities. This is my first Nora Roberts book and I thought it was great! It held my interest all the way through, the pace was good, the writing excellent. I guess I will try a few more of hers!

LibraryThing member plunkinberry

Good characters and an interesting plot made it a well done book. But, Nora has an ability to captivate the reader unlike most authors and I guess that’s why she’s so popular. Abigail witnessed a mob murder when she was sixteen and was able to get to the cops who put her in protective custody

with the US Marshals. A mole found out the location and got inside and killed the Marshals and she ended up on the run – finally ending up in a small town in the Ozarks where she meets Brooks – the small town Police Chief. They fall in love; he helps her out; justice prevails; plus much more…

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LibraryThing member Cats57

The Witness by Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts Romantic Suspense has never failed to intrigue me, keep me interested, and entertain me. And this book was no different. Actually, I take that back---this book did so much more for me. The Witness kept me at the edge of my chair and biting my nails. It kept

me rooting for the ‘good guy’ that was Abigail and praying, metaphorically, for the toppling of the bad guys. I kept wishing that the book was longer or I could read slower so it wouldn’t end.

Elizabeth Fitch has an eidetic memory, is a genius, is only 16, is unloved by her mother and is ready to break out of the prison that is her life. And, break-out she does. Unfortunately it ended up being the worst thing she could have ever done and things will only get worse . so badly in fact, that she has to hide and assume a new identity.
Fast forward 12 years and Elizabeth (now Abigail has moved to a small Southern town, is fairly happy with her life and is about to be invaded by the Chief of Police. Abigail is somewhat emotionally stunted after dealing with the type of things she has had to and can’t quite figure out what to do with Brooks Gleason the Police Chief.
Brooks just knows in his heart that Abigail is running from something and may need protection. He sets out to break down Abigails barriers and eventually succeeds almost too well.

“The Witness” has vividly drawn and fleshed out characters, wonderful descriptions, fantastic secondary characters and a secondary plot that was as fascinating as the main story. I loved watching Abigail grow, but I appreciated the fact that Ms Roberts did not change Abigail too much and turn her into someone she wasn’t meant to be.

I loved this book so much that I really hated to see it end…I hope you will too.

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LibraryThing member JudithDCollins

Great Book-Brilliantly written! Nora Roberts at her best!!! I loved the book and finished it in one weekend as hard to put down. The audio book was excellent and Julia Whelan, performer was outstanding! With a quirky, unforgettable heroine, a pulse-pounding plot line, made for an entertaining

thriller and romantic read all in one! The dialog and detail were very well done with the character Liz/Abigail (loved her), being true to form with the highly intelligent personality traits. Liz, a daughter of a controlling mother, finally lets loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her --- Loved the small town and cabin where she hid out, the lovely southern town, and the loveable characters which come alive. I would a sequel….Highly recommend!

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LibraryThing member Kaetrin

reviewed for ARRA Posted on ARRA blog on 18 April 2012.Elizabeth Fitch is 16. She has led a very sheltered life, controlled completely by her mother. She is a genius and has already started Harvard Medical School, following in her mother’s footsteps, on her mother’s orders. But, Elizabeth

doesn’t want to be a doctor. In fact, she’s decided she doesn’t want to follow her mother’s instructions anymore on just about everything. She wants to wear cool clothes and have girlfriends to go shopping with at the mall. She wants to study cyber-crime and join the FBI. When her mother leaves her alone at home to attend a medical conference, Elizabeth decides it’s time to act. Her small rebellion – going to the mall to buy some new clothes, cutting and dying her hair and meeting up with a former school colleague, Julie Masters, is to have far-reaching consequences however.Elizabeth and Julie go to a nightclub using fake ID’s which Elizabeth has cooked up at home using her mad computer skills. The nightclub is owned by Russian Mafia family the Volkovs and there, Julie and Elizabeth meet Ilya Volkov and his cousin Alex Gurevich. Julie and Alex hit it off and Ilya gives Elizabeth her first kiss. They plan to move the party to Alex’s house. Although uncertain, Elizabeth wants to do something daring and she is smitten with Ilya, so she agrees. At the last minute however, Ilya is called away and she is left the odd one out at Alex and Elizabeth’s party.Alex has been a naughty boy and when Volkov enforcer Yakov Korotkii executes both him and Julie (as collateral damage) Elizabeth is a witness.She escapes, calls the police and is placed in protective custody where she meets some sympathetic US Marshalls who are taken with Elizabeth’s poise, intelligence and little-girl-lost air – Elizabeth’s mother is cold and unloving and these US Marshalls become a kind of family. However, things go very wrong (and here I’m going to get vague about the plot to avoid spoilers) and Elizabeth ends up running, but this time, on her own.The book then picks up nearly 12 years later in Bickford, Arkansas, a small artsy town in the Ozarks. Brooks Gleason grew up there, went away to spent some time in the Little Rock PD and returned 6 months earlier to be Bickford’s Chief of Police. Brooks is an easy going charmer – he tends to get his way using patience and his agreeable nature to win people over to his point of view, but he’s also smart, kind, generous, good looking and a darn good cop. He’s also got the hots for Abigail Lowery, a solitary woman who moved to Bickford about a year earlier and who works from home as a freelance security consultant. Abigail keeps to herself and stays mostly on her just-out-of-town property with her Bull Mastiff, Bert. She’s pretty and Brooks is smitten and his cop instincts and natural curiosity are also engaged when he notices she carries a gun everywhere and has excellent security. He works out pretty quickly that Abigail is hiding from something or someone and this rouses his protective instincts too. He decides it’s time to get to know Abigail better.Abigail is lost when it comes to Brooks. She’s never met anyone like him. He’s friendly, gentle and impossibly persistent. She finds herself, much to her surprise, not only letting him into her house, but sharing food with the man. “All right. You can have the pie and the wine. But I won’t have sex with you.”“Now you hurt my feelings.”“No, I haven’t.” Deciding to make her position clear, she started for the house. “I like sex.”“See there, we just keep finding common ground. If this keeps up, we’ll be best friends inside a week,”“If I wanted friends, I’d join a book club.”Loosening up, he thought, delighted with the sarcasm. “I like to read, which is another check mark on common ground. But we were talking about sex.”Before she can really get a handle on things, she’s in a relationship with him and learning about trust and love and, through Brooks and his own family and strong ties to the town, about family and belonging and home, all things she’s never had before. All things Brooks is determined she will have from now on, with him.Of course, Abigail is Elizabeth – that’s not going to surprise anyone – and the rest of the story is about how Abigail eventually comes to trust Brooks, as he uses his gentle, patient form of persistence to soothe and cajole her secrets out of her:- “You’ve got a lot of secrets behind your eyes, and a hell of a lot of weight on your shoulders. I’m going to keep believing that one day you’re going to share those secrets and that weight with me, and we’ll figure out the rest once you do.”and how they, together, come up with a way to set the past to rights and make it as safe as possible for her to live a normal life and stay in Bickford happily ever after. It helps that Abigail is crazy smart and that she has become a talented cyber-wiz – with skills including hacking into the FBI, US Marshall and the Volkov’s computer networks. Between those and Brooks cop skills and instincts, they come up with a plan.I can’t really say anymore without giving out big spoilers. In fact, I felt a bit funny about saying as much as I did about the beginning because I had the joy of going into it pretty much blind. I knew the story was about a Federal witness but that was about it. But as the events I mention at the start all occur within the first 100 pages, strictly, they aren’t spoilers and really, I have to tell you something about the story now don’t I? The book is over 480 pages long, so there is plenty of time to set up the characters and the relationship between Abigail and Brooks. It was lovely to read such a substantial book and sink into the easy writing style of classic Nora Roberts. The style is easy, the content is interesting and the characters are smart, funny and sexy. Abigail is socially stunted and there is a lot of humour in how she says things – literal, technical and factual - and Brooks’ gentle teasing of her, but she is never unsympathetic or a caricature. Brooks is a wonderful hero and I think I fell a bit in love with him myself. I admit I was a little worried by about the ¾ mark though. What if the author had painted herself into a corner? The bad guys were really bad – they had plenty of money, persistence, a grudge and moles in many law enforcement agencies – just how was Abigail going to get out of this? Sometimes romantic suspense stories just collapse at the end under the weight of the convoluted plots and the big resolve is some kind of Deus ex Machina or, just improbable and disappointing. But not this one. Sure, there is a degree of disbelief one has to employ to read almost any fiction, but, within the context of this story, the resolution was entirely believable and logical, as well as slick and smart. I very much enjoyed the way Abigail and Brooks worked together to solve the problem at hand – Brooks didn’t just take over, and they discussed plans before taking action. They were careful and sensible and took considered and necessary risks rather than foolish ones. I did have a couple of niggles – even with Brooks’ affable charm, Abigail does let him into her house pretty quickly. Once he was in, the development of the relationship was entirely believable but given her history, I thought that maybe Abigail would hold him off a little longer. The other thing was right near the end where I would have liked a little more detail about one step in the process. I can’t say more without giving too much away. I can say that I suspect it was left out because it was probably a repeat of some of the same strategies Abigail and Brooks had already used in the plan but I was enjoying the story so much I wanted to know everything. However, they are very small niggles in what was otherwise a riveting and delightful read.I think this is Nora Roberts at her amazing best. If you like Nora Roberts, if you like romantic suspense, if you like a well written book with an excellent story and wonderful characters – this book is for you.

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LibraryThing member ElizabethMichael

The witness is Nora Roberts 200th novel. I love that she does such amazing research for her books.

There are four parts in this book switching point of views in each part. Sometimes when reading it, it would instantly switch point of view and I would have to go back and figure out who they switched

to. Just reading part one of The Witness you are instantly sucked into this book. It has you devouring each page and wanting to know what happens next. The end of it was gut wrenching and then you realize you still have more to the book. It had me on edge going into part two.

Elizabeth’s mother is so strict that I can honestly understand why she rebels. I mean having someone plan out your whole life down to every little detail is horrible. She had no say to what she wanted in life. Also I can’t believe what a cold heart bitch woman Elizabeth’s mother is. Her daughter had been through so much trauma and she was more worried about her seeing a gynecologist to make sure her hymen was intact (Gross!) and get Elizabeth back to school.

With how smart Elizabeth is I think she could sometimes make stupid decisions. She knew what she was doing was a bad idea. Yet she just wanted to be free and make some bad decisions. It just sucks how the consequences turned out. She had her whole future in front of her and then it is gone.

I like that Deputy US Marshall John said that Elizabeth was, “Scary smart, brave and a compassionate girl.” I completely agree with him on that. Her memory is amazing and she is definitely a unique girl or the perfect experiment for her mother.

Part two starts off twelve years later and had gone from Elizabeth’s point of view to Brooks. I like that Brooks is the small town sheriff and not a lot happens in Ozark. It made his pursuit on Abigail kind of funny because you could tell he is just bored. Brooks is a riot. I love his witty banter with Abigail. Their conversations have such fluidity that even if they can’t stand each other, the time flies.

Sunny is such a free spirit and besides the witty banter between Brooks and Abigail. She brings a fun light side to the story. I love the small town feel in The Witness. Ozarks is just that cute quaint town that is full of hippies and artists. I could relate with the small town feel and that when gossip gets out everyone knows it by the end of the day. The book was so detailed that it made you feel like you were visiting Ozark through this story. I really loved Abigail’s property and the way the cabin was described out in the woods.

Abigail is strong and has amazing will power. Her dedication for revenge was amazing. I love her thought process for everything. She was practical and straightforward. Even a simple joke from Brooks she took literal. Abigail being social awkward was a good thing to me. Seeing her so reserved makes me feel like Brooks and I want to reach out and help her. I don’t want to say Abigail is overly paranoid because it is very obvious she is hiding from something, but she does take things to the dramatic side. I sometimes just wish she would lighten up, but I know it is hard for her. I am glad that Brooks brings a softer side to her character.

I think my one complaint about The Witness and Nora Robert’s books in general is the romance happens so fast. I mean this book is almost 500 pages, I don’t see the reason to make the characters jump each other’s bones so quickly. Also from the books I have read the women come off as almost damaged and the men are there to take the lead like a knight in shining armor. If a woman says she doesn’t want to be with you, though she might be lying, don’t fight with her about it.

The ending was sweet and all I could think was, oh what sweet revenge. It was the perfect ending to this story. I really hope you check this book out and enjoy it as much as I did. Note: This is an adult novel that contains sex, drug usage, and violence.

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LibraryThing member Rachel.Kall

I love Nora Roberts, and read everything she writes. I enjoyed this book and the only thing holding me back from 5 stars is 1) the ending and 2) the separate story line. I was expecting more of a bang with the ending (no spoiler), but the situation basically just resolved itself in a few sentences,

and i was a bit let down. Also there is a separate storyline about another crime that for me didn't add to the story. I very much enjoyed both the heroine and hero and for me I didn't think her character was too overdone or Bones-eque derivative. I thought the first part of the book was particularly amazing. Just wish the ending would've held up and given me just a bit more.

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LibraryThing member LBlauser

This book took about half a page to capture my interest. From the beginning, I wanted Elizabeth to have a chance to make her own way in life and was very pleased with how it turned out for her. I'm a sucker for happy endings, and Nora Roberts has delivered again! This riveting tale had me on the

edge of my seat and had me scolding the characters for their crazy choices. It was very easy to become emotionally invested in this gripping story! I would recomend this to anyone who asked!

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LibraryThing member Talaskat

I really enjoyed it. It is a true Nora Roberts book. If you enjoy her as a writer you will enjoy this book.

LibraryThing member lrobe190

Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery

lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems—and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail’s reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something—and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed. (Amaz. Desc.)

This book has Roberts' trademark combination of romance, suspense, fast pace and interesting characters. Abigail is particularly fascinating with her eidetic memory, genius-level IQ, and lack of social skills. She reminds me a lot of the character "Temperance" on Bones. Highly Recommended.

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LibraryThing member jsamaha

I don’t particularly like Nora Roberts’ writing. Her writing is formulaic and predictable. Yet, I find myself continuously drawn back to her novels. I usually find myself opening a Roberts’ novel after I’ve read a couple of heavy books and need something light to read.

The Witness is classic

Nora Roberts. The main character Elizabeth has the bad luck to end up at a home with members of the Russian Mafia and witnesses a crime. From that moment on, she is a witness, and is wanting by the same men she saw commit murder. I found the beginning of the book to be interesting and liked how Roberts created the early characters. But, once Elizabeth reemerges as Abigail and meets the police chief, Brooks, my attention was lost. I really disliked the character Brooks. I know that I was supposed to fall in love with him and swoon all over his manliness but I was actually turned off by his pushiness and his refusal to give Abigail her space.

But, like I said, even though I disliked The Witness, I will continue to read Nora Roberts. Perhaps it’s because I was so charmed with the first set of books that I read by her, The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy (Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, and Heart of the Sea). I’ve even pre-ordered the first book of her upcoming Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy. ;-)

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LibraryThing member debbieaheaton

In Roberts’ romantic suspense novel, Elizabeth Fitch is 16 and very intelligent. Her mother has strictly controller her life, so when Mom goes to an out-of-town conference, leaving Elizabeth alone, she responds by heading to the mall to do some shopping.

Before long, Elizabeth has a new friend,

dyed her hair red, adopted a nickname—Liz, and decides to use her tech skills to create some fake I.D.s so she and her new friend can go clubbing. The consequences to her actions result in the unfortunate and the deadly when she accidentally tangles with the Russian mob. When a stint in a witness protection program goes wrong, she heads off alone, determined to rely only on herself. Eventually she changes her name to Abigail and becomes a social recluse, highly intelligent but very lacking in social skills and settles in Arkansas.

The story allows the reader to meet the main character at 16, follow her through the ups and downs of growing up, and see her again as an adult complete with all her talents and imperfections.

As always, Roberts has developed a multi-faceted story full of wonderful characters.

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LibraryThing member busyreadin

I really enjoyed a lot of this story. The set up chapters were exceptional. I would really like to see Roberts write a general fiction book. I just get bored with the romance & sex. She is a good storyteller and doesn't need the "filler" to tell a story

LibraryThing member dd196406

Good read from Nora Roberts. Long and full-developed, it follows the life of a witness to horrible murder and explains how she survives without being discovered. Enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially the main character. She was complicated and a genius and following her reasoning and

her ideas was fascinating. Highly recommended.

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LibraryThing member Marcella1717

The first book in the past 3-4 years by Nora Roberts I enjoyed again.
Rating: 7/10

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