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Cover of The Witness

The Witness

Nora Roberts, Julia Whelan (2012)

SubgenreRomantic Suspense
Age groupAdult 18+
Content ratingR
Pages (Standard (250-400))
SettingNew York City
CSM age18+

Content levels

ViolenceModerate
Sexual contentModerate
LanguageMild

Synopsis

Daughter of a cold, controlling mother and an anonymous donor, studious, obedient Elizabeth 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. Her sharp, logical mind, her secretive nature, her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, even if he doesn’t know what — and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed. Accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, Gleason is about to walk into the sights of very powerful and dangerous men. And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.

Tags

MysteryThriller ElementsCrime FictionSmall Town Life

The Witness: content & age rating

Intended for adult readers (18+).

This adult romantic suspense contains moderate violence (dangerous criminal threats, life-threatening situations), some sensual content, and themes of trauma recovery and witness protection.

What to know going in

This book has moderate violence, moderate sexual content, and mild language. Content notes include captivity, death, and violence (see the full list above).

Who'll love this

Adult readers will appreciate the tense cat-and-mouse suspense combined with a slow-burn romance between a woman hiding from her past and the small-town police chief determined to protect her.