Truly enjoyed the story and loved the strength of the characters. i I I definitely recommend for an enjoyable fast read!
The Witness
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 29,446 ratings
Price: 1.99
Last update: 08-15-2024
About this item
In her stunning 200th novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts proves why no one is better “when it comes to flawlessly fusing high-stakes suspense with red-hot romance" (Booklist, starred review).
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.
Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection 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 and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights.
And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.
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.
Twelve years later, the woman now known as Abigail Lowery lives alone on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance security systems designer, her own protection 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 and her sharp mind, secretive nature and unromantic viewpoint intrigues local police chief Brooks Gleason, on both a personal and professional level. And while he suspects that Abigail needs protection from something, Gleason is accustomed to two-bit troublemakers, not the powerful and dangerous men who are about to have him in their sights.
And Abigail Lowery, who has built a life based on security and self-control, is at risk of losing both.
Top reviews from the United States
Jeffrey Simons5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024Sam5.0 out of 5 stars
Elizabeth
Reviewed in the United States on May 3, 2013
Elizabeth
"The barb in the arrow of childhood suffering is this: its intense loneliness, its intense ignorance."
- Olive Schreiner,
For me, Elizabeth Fitch is along the lines of Lisbeth Salander (TGWTDT). IQ off the charts, even though Lisbeth has to deal with her hardships, Elizabeth has her crosses to bear as well. That’s where the lines blur, yet their inner core of strength shine through, which puts them both in my top spot for female characters.
Liz’s rebellion starts at 16. Her mother has been dictating her life up until this point. Where she goes to school, what she wears, who she sees outside of school, what she eats. She’s cold and not a mother at all. To her mother, Liz is a science project, someone she can mold, and control. Elizabeth is having none of it. They have a fight, her mother is off to a convention and she expects Elizabeth to take pre-med classes, with her mother’s colleague. Elizabeth doesn’t want to go, she was promised time off and her mother wants to hear none of it. Her mom walks out (her usual silent treatment) and goes on her merry way. Elizabeth hops in her mothers car and heads to the mall to actually find herself. New clothes, shoes, makeup, hair. She wants to watch the other girls interact with each other, talk about boys. She wanted all the things her mother wouldn’t allow her to have, a normal childhood.
She meets up with Julie Masters by chance at the mall. Julie is a few years older than her, they went to school together, and wouldn’t it be Liz’s luck Julie just broke up with her boyfriend. They get to talking about going to clubs, but she doesn’t have ID. The two strike a deal. Julie helps Liz buy clothes, and makeup, and Liz would make them the fake Ids’.
Julie picks her up with a cab, and they are on their way to a happening club owned by Russian mobsters. Which Liz knows, because she’s researched the place. (Her mother wants her to be a Doctor, but Liz wants to work for the FBI in their cyber crimes department) I can’t stress enough that Liz has a seriously high IQ, photographic memory, and social awkwardness. I couldn’t help but think maybe she was on the Spectrum, but regardless she knows facts and she’s very literal.
They have drinks, dance, and catch the eye of Alexi and Ilya. The men wine and dine them, and decide they want to go back to Alexi’s house for some ‘fun’… Ilya gets called away at the last minute , Julie, Alexi, and Liz take off. This is where things go very, very, badly. Alexi has been stealing from Ilya’s father, was picked up by the police, and in the world of the Mafia, you’re a big fat liability. They send in their mechanics, and kill Alexi while Liz is outside regrouping from being sick from all the alcohol consumption, she watches the whole kill go down. Julie stumbles out of the bathroom while Alexi is lying on the floor dead, and they kill Julie as well. Ilya walks in and freaks out because the hit wasn’t suppose to take place until tomorrow night, knowing the girls were at the house. He also knows that Liz is somewhere on the property and she must die.
Liz gets away, calls the police, goes through the story, FBI gets involved, they put her into protective custody and s*** gets doubly bad. Ilya’s father has a far reach; which means he has police, US Marshalls, and FBI in his pocket. The bad Marshalls set things into motion to kill Liz, which happens to be on her 17th birthday. She has formed deep emotional ties to her watchers, Terry and John. They treat her like a person, truly care about her, and she gobbles it up because she has never had these emotions or ties. Marshal Keegan, and Cosgrove show up to take over and ambush, John, and Terry, killing them both. As Marshal John Barrow lay dying he gives Liz his back-up gun and tells her to run. Out the window she goes and as she’s making her escape in a bad storm the house explodes behind her.
Liz has been on the run ever since. We move on to Brook’s part of the story which takes us to a little town in the Ozarks. Brooks is the Sheriff of the town and he is intrigued with the newcomer that stays to herself. He noses around a bit, like any good cop and forms a relationship with Liz, who is now going by the name Abigail. This is where the story goes from fantastic to blow me away. This book is all about character. The ending is absolutely fantastic. I thought it was going to go one way and she blew me away with the outcome. I’ve read a lot of Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb books over the years, but this book, is by far one of her best books period.
Favorite Quotes:
“You… prevaricated so he’d feel some sympathy toward me and less curiosity about the cameras, the gun and so on.” “ I like ’pervaricated.’ It’s an important word, and classier than ’lied.’”
“I’ve never been romantic, not before you. But you make me want moonlight, and wildflowers and whispers in the dark.”
"The barb in the arrow of childhood suffering is this: its intense loneliness, its intense ignorance."
- Olive Schreiner,
For me, Elizabeth Fitch is along the lines of Lisbeth Salander (TGWTDT). IQ off the charts, even though Lisbeth has to deal with her hardships, Elizabeth has her crosses to bear as well. That’s where the lines blur, yet their inner core of strength shine through, which puts them both in my top spot for female characters.
Liz’s rebellion starts at 16. Her mother has been dictating her life up until this point. Where she goes to school, what she wears, who she sees outside of school, what she eats. She’s cold and not a mother at all. To her mother, Liz is a science project, someone she can mold, and control. Elizabeth is having none of it. They have a fight, her mother is off to a convention and she expects Elizabeth to take pre-med classes, with her mother’s colleague. Elizabeth doesn’t want to go, she was promised time off and her mother wants to hear none of it. Her mom walks out (her usual silent treatment) and goes on her merry way. Elizabeth hops in her mothers car and heads to the mall to actually find herself. New clothes, shoes, makeup, hair. She wants to watch the other girls interact with each other, talk about boys. She wanted all the things her mother wouldn’t allow her to have, a normal childhood.
She meets up with Julie Masters by chance at the mall. Julie is a few years older than her, they went to school together, and wouldn’t it be Liz’s luck Julie just broke up with her boyfriend. They get to talking about going to clubs, but she doesn’t have ID. The two strike a deal. Julie helps Liz buy clothes, and makeup, and Liz would make them the fake Ids’.
Julie picks her up with a cab, and they are on their way to a happening club owned by Russian mobsters. Which Liz knows, because she’s researched the place. (Her mother wants her to be a Doctor, but Liz wants to work for the FBI in their cyber crimes department) I can’t stress enough that Liz has a seriously high IQ, photographic memory, and social awkwardness. I couldn’t help but think maybe she was on the Spectrum, but regardless she knows facts and she’s very literal.
They have drinks, dance, and catch the eye of Alexi and Ilya. The men wine and dine them, and decide they want to go back to Alexi’s house for some ‘fun’… Ilya gets called away at the last minute , Julie, Alexi, and Liz take off. This is where things go very, very, badly. Alexi has been stealing from Ilya’s father, was picked up by the police, and in the world of the Mafia, you’re a big fat liability. They send in their mechanics, and kill Alexi while Liz is outside regrouping from being sick from all the alcohol consumption, she watches the whole kill go down. Julie stumbles out of the bathroom while Alexi is lying on the floor dead, and they kill Julie as well. Ilya walks in and freaks out because the hit wasn’t suppose to take place until tomorrow night, knowing the girls were at the house. He also knows that Liz is somewhere on the property and she must die.
Liz gets away, calls the police, goes through the story, FBI gets involved, they put her into protective custody and s*** gets doubly bad. Ilya’s father has a far reach; which means he has police, US Marshalls, and FBI in his pocket. The bad Marshalls set things into motion to kill Liz, which happens to be on her 17th birthday. She has formed deep emotional ties to her watchers, Terry and John. They treat her like a person, truly care about her, and she gobbles it up because she has never had these emotions or ties. Marshal Keegan, and Cosgrove show up to take over and ambush, John, and Terry, killing them both. As Marshal John Barrow lay dying he gives Liz his back-up gun and tells her to run. Out the window she goes and as she’s making her escape in a bad storm the house explodes behind her.
Liz has been on the run ever since. We move on to Brook’s part of the story which takes us to a little town in the Ozarks. Brooks is the Sheriff of the town and he is intrigued with the newcomer that stays to herself. He noses around a bit, like any good cop and forms a relationship with Liz, who is now going by the name Abigail. This is where the story goes from fantastic to blow me away. This book is all about character. The ending is absolutely fantastic. I thought it was going to go one way and she blew me away with the outcome. I’ve read a lot of Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb books over the years, but this book, is by far one of her best books period.
Favorite Quotes:
“You… prevaricated so he’d feel some sympathy toward me and less curiosity about the cameras, the gun and so on.” “ I like ’pervaricated.’ It’s an important word, and classier than ’lied.’”
“I’ve never been romantic, not before you. But you make me want moonlight, and wildflowers and whispers in the dark.”
Audra4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2024
A good solid meandering through a very scary situation. Standard Nora, great sex, true love, strong,smart woman. Very enjoyable and original.
marti w.5.0 out of 5 stars
Spellbinding book
Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2024
Written only as Nora Roberts can. Warm endearing characters, suspense, satisfying love. A must read! But be prepared to stay up late.????
Linda Capone5.0 out of 5 stars
Another riviting mystery from Nora Roberts.
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2024
This is a classic mystery/romance whose main female character is a bit quirky and makes you want to give her much needed hugs. The main male protagonist is a perfect foil for her. Its an exciting and riveting mystery that makes you smile and cry and has a real twist to its ending.
Ann de Vries5.0 out of 5 stars
Superb Romantic Suspense, Empasis on Romance and Character Development. Highly Recommend It.
Reviewed in the United States on August 22, 2015
The first time I read this book, I loved the first part but had mixed feelings about the second part. The first part was riveting. I think it gave me expectations of an action-oriented/thriller plot, and that wasn't what the story ultimately was like. I decided to reread the book, this time more carefully and without pre-conceived ideas. This second reading gave me an entirely new perspective on the second part.
Some reviewers likened Elizabeth/Abigail to a robotic Data. I found her to be very human and more like the character Bones, rather than an unfeeling robot. She was socially inept, took things literally, and tried to remain logical and detached. Underneath, she wanted to connect, to form relationships, to love and be loved, and to be 'normal'. She was an extremely likeable character, as was the hero, Brooks.
The 'love at first sight' scenario also generated criticism by some reviewers. Nora Roberts' books are not contemporary novels or non-fiction; Nora Roberts writes romance and romantic suspense books. By their nature, they are fictional works, fantasies, fairy tales, idealized depictions of love, romance and 'happily ever after'; most readers read these types of books for that very reason. It seems ingenious to read a type of book one dislikes and then to give one star and to criticize the book for being what it was intended to be.
This was a book where the journey in the second part focused on personal growth, relationships, and personalities. Elizabeth/Abigail chose to live in this town and hoped to be able to settle permanently in it. Therefore, the personality of the town and some of its inhabitants were important to the story. Readers got to see the town and some of its characters through various eyes and perspectives, including those of Abigail, Brooks and the secondary characters. Part of this included some of the day-to-day interactions of Brooks as a police chief, colleague, friend, son and sibling, as well as Abigail's lover. Readers saw Abigail progress from an aloof person who had no interactions with the town, other than brief shopping forays, to someone who learned about her neighbours and formed connections through Brooks. The wife-beating drunk and the young punk with his wealthy, bullying father, are not superfluous to the story. The relationships between them, other residents of the town and Brooks, provide depth and richness to the story. As well, these connections were what helped strengthen Abigail's resolve to face her past and to stop running. Once the reader understands that these relationships and Abigail's character development are the story, it all falls into place.
Abigail's character development began with her relationship with John and Terry, where she had her first exposure to normality. It stopped with their deaths; she knew she was stunted, but didn't know how to achieve more than a lonely survival mode. She was an outsider, looking in, wanting to fit in, not knowing how to, being afraid to try, thinking she was doomed to always being alone and apart. Therefore, the connections she forged in this town, through Brooks, and her increasing involvement with the people and happenings of the community, as well as the loving relationship between her and Brooks, are actually more significant than the trial that eventually wrapped up the book's first part.
I liked this book, with reservations, when I first read it. Upon reading it again, I enjoyed it even more and really loved the pacing, characterizations and plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romances and romantic suspense books. It is superb.
A warning to those unfamiliar with Nora Roberts' writing, this book has explicit sex scenes and swearing. They don't comprise a large percentage of the book, but they are there.
Some reviewers likened Elizabeth/Abigail to a robotic Data. I found her to be very human and more like the character Bones, rather than an unfeeling robot. She was socially inept, took things literally, and tried to remain logical and detached. Underneath, she wanted to connect, to form relationships, to love and be loved, and to be 'normal'. She was an extremely likeable character, as was the hero, Brooks.
The 'love at first sight' scenario also generated criticism by some reviewers. Nora Roberts' books are not contemporary novels or non-fiction; Nora Roberts writes romance and romantic suspense books. By their nature, they are fictional works, fantasies, fairy tales, idealized depictions of love, romance and 'happily ever after'; most readers read these types of books for that very reason. It seems ingenious to read a type of book one dislikes and then to give one star and to criticize the book for being what it was intended to be.
This was a book where the journey in the second part focused on personal growth, relationships, and personalities. Elizabeth/Abigail chose to live in this town and hoped to be able to settle permanently in it. Therefore, the personality of the town and some of its inhabitants were important to the story. Readers got to see the town and some of its characters through various eyes and perspectives, including those of Abigail, Brooks and the secondary characters. Part of this included some of the day-to-day interactions of Brooks as a police chief, colleague, friend, son and sibling, as well as Abigail's lover. Readers saw Abigail progress from an aloof person who had no interactions with the town, other than brief shopping forays, to someone who learned about her neighbours and formed connections through Brooks. The wife-beating drunk and the young punk with his wealthy, bullying father, are not superfluous to the story. The relationships between them, other residents of the town and Brooks, provide depth and richness to the story. As well, these connections were what helped strengthen Abigail's resolve to face her past and to stop running. Once the reader understands that these relationships and Abigail's character development are the story, it all falls into place.
Abigail's character development began with her relationship with John and Terry, where she had her first exposure to normality. It stopped with their deaths; she knew she was stunted, but didn't know how to achieve more than a lonely survival mode. She was an outsider, looking in, wanting to fit in, not knowing how to, being afraid to try, thinking she was doomed to always being alone and apart. Therefore, the connections she forged in this town, through Brooks, and her increasing involvement with the people and happenings of the community, as well as the loving relationship between her and Brooks, are actually more significant than the trial that eventually wrapped up the book's first part.
I liked this book, with reservations, when I first read it. Upon reading it again, I enjoyed it even more and really loved the pacing, characterizations and plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves romances and romantic suspense books. It is superb.
A warning to those unfamiliar with Nora Roberts' writing, this book has explicit sex scenes and swearing. They don't comprise a large percentage of the book, but they are there.