Identity Review

Author: Nora Roberts

Genre: Romance Suspense

Publisher: St. Martins Press

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Order Link: Amazon

Special thanks to St. Martins Press for an arc.

A new thriller about one man's ice-cold malice, and one woman's fight to reclaim her life.

Review:

Nora Roberts never fails to deliver romance suspense novels that are highly engaging with just the right blend of romance and suspense.  Identity is another fantastic example of this author's highly entertaining story telling ability as she pens a standalone story incorporating the high tech crime of identity theft into an intriguing plot line that includes murder.

Former army brat Morgan Albright is living in a neighborhood near Baltimore, Maryland.  She works a day job as an office manager and a night shift as a bartender with dreams of one day owning her own bar.  Her roommate, Nina Ramos, is a great friend who encourages Morgan to put herself out there and meet someone.  The two decide to host a dinner party, and Morgan invites the new mysterious guy she's been chatting up at the bar.  Things are looking up until the day she comes home from work to find her cash, jewelry and car missing . . . and Nina, who had stayed home from work sick, dead.  Soon, Morgan's assets are depleted, and it's clear the thief has stolen her identity.  It's also clear that Nina wasn't the intended target - Morgan was.  And the killer doesn't intend to let her get away.  Morgan moves to Vermont and starts her life over, but just when she thinks the nightmare is behind her, the killer surfaces again with taunts and threats to come for Morgan.  The FBI are always one step behind him . . . can they catch him before he gets to Morgan?

Readers will learn very early on in the story who the con artist/murderer is, but it in no way diminishes the suspense in Identity.  The story centers around Morgan rebuilding her life in her old home with her mother and grandmother as she settles into a new romantic relationship with Miles Jameson.  Tension builds steadily, driven by the repeated threats from the murderer toward Morgan.  She, as well as readers, knows he'll come for her.  The anticipation of when, not if, he'll strike sets a dire tone of impending doom and an increasing pace as he draws closer.  Characters are brilliantly developed, believable with great debt and complexity.  

Roberts is a master at delivering well-written, highly entertaining stories that are hard to put down with strong, capable heroines and handsome, respectful heroes.  The inclusion of family in this story showcases Morgan connection to her roots even as she rebuilds her life and learns to trust herself and another man again.  Strong threads of family, friendship, love, loss, grief and resilience are strong and flawlessly woven throughout.  Fans of romance suspense will enjoy Identity as will readers of suspense thrillers.  Highly recommended.

 

Synopsis:

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke” is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who got away.