RS Review: The Witness [Hardcover]

I've finished "The Witness" by Nora Roberts.

Product Description

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.

Product Details
Reading level: Ages 18 and up
Hardcover: 496 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (April 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0399159126
ISBN-13: 978-0399159121

My Review:

This book was well written with exciting twists and turns and an interesting plot. 

Elizabeth Finch was brought into this world by artificial insemination to a cold women lacking any emotions and is a pre-med student with an eidetic memory at 16 years old.  She rebels one night and as a result loses a friend and watching a man shot by the Russian mafia .  She goes into witness protection but she isn't safe and goes into hiding for the next 12 years.

Now living in Bickford, Arkansas as Abigail Lowery who lives in her mini fortress.  She has top of the line security alarm, the doors and windows have several locks on them and carries a gun.  She also has a massive mastiff as a guard dog who would kill on signal.  She only interacts with the local townfolks when she really needs to (shopping for food).

Brook Gleason is the well-liked and respected police chief who has taken a professional and personal interest in Abigail.  He senses she is hiding something or running away from someone and is determined to bring her out of her shell.  He decides he wants to get to know her better and even though he respects her boundaries he slowly and carefully helps her stretch them.

Abigail and Brooks characters were both well developed and I was really rooting for their HEA.

I really liked Abigail for rebelling and going against her mom, she was exceptionally smart, taught herself how to survive, courageous and loves animals.

4/5

Thanks Penguin Canada for sending me this book to review, greatly appreciated!