High Noon

May 14, 2007
A
t the start of this scintillating slice of romantic suspense from prolific bestseller Roberts (Sweet Revenge
), Lt. Phoebe MacNamara, the chief hostage negotiator for the Savannah, Ga., PD, meets Duncan Swift, a sports bar owner, as they both try to prevent a suicidal bartender Duncan fired from jumping off a roof on St. Patrick's Day. In the aftermath, a romance develops between Phoebe and Duncan, though in typical Roberts style the enigmatic Phoebe's devotion to career and family, who include a young daughter and an agoraphobic mother, creates tension in their relationship. After Phoebe survives a vicious attack within her own precinct house by an unknown assailant, it becomes clear that someone is intent on harming Phoebe and those close to her. A courageous protagonist, deft plotting and the sultry Savannah backdrop all add up to another winner for consummate storyteller Roberts.

June 1, 2007
Police hostage negotiator Phoebe MacNamara meets Duncan Swift when she persuades the employee Duncan had just fired not to kill himself. Their growing relationship is soon complicated by family issues and threatened by a stalker who is close to destroying everything Phoebe values. In typical Roberts fashion, suspense and romance are mixed without shortchanging either, and she manages to work in some fascinating details about the art of hostage negotiation while keeping the reader wondering about the villain's identity. As always, Roberts has created some wonderful and memorable secondary characters. One of her strengths is her portrayal of family (the Quinns of her "Chesapeake Bay" quartet come immediately to mind), and the family members we meet here are people we believe in and care about. Like the author's "Blue Smoke", this fast-paced and thoroughly entertaining novel delivers everything fans have come to expect from one of the best writers of romantic suspense out there. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 3/1/07.]Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline P.L., MA

Copyright 2007 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.