The Witness by Nora Roberts – a Review

I have always been a fan of Nora Roberts.  She was one of my first adult authors I’ve ever read way back when.  After the university and all the work and studying was done Nora was the first author I turned too and got me back into reading for the joy of it.  So every time I pick up a Nora Roberts book it feels like going home to me and this book was no different.  I enjoyed The Witness from beginning to end.  It was a book that had me turning the page to see what would happen next.  I couldn’t put the book down and the flow of the story just sweeps you along. One of the things I like about Nora’s writing is her ability to intrigue the reader from the get go.  The way she introduces the main character and sets the backdrop of the story never fails to amaze me.  It gets me hooked from the first chapter and keeps me that way to the end, and always wanting more.  For me that’s the sign of a seasoned pro in the writing industry.

In The Witness, Nora sets the stage early.  She pulls you in with the main character Elizabeth Fitch, a.k.a Abigail Lowery, I’ll explain this a bit later, I promise.  😉  Elizabeth is a kid genius, born to a power hungry and driven to succeed parent.  Her life is basically dictated to her by her mother, the poor girl can’t do a thing without consulting her mother and the life schedule she’s created for the poor girl.  In doing so, her mother causes Elizabeth to grow up before her time, and do something no teenager should ever have to do.  Fight for her life to survive every day for the rest of her life.  Elizabeth rebels against her miserable life on one fateful weekend, and the events that unfold after are fast paced, suspenseful, and heartbreaking, with a bit of romance thrown in for good measure.  Nora leads the reader on a suspense filled romantic journey that doesn’t disappoint. 

Elizabeth finally felt like she was a normal teenager, going shopping with a friend, using fake I.D.’s to get into a bar, dancing and kissing a cute boy, but never once realizing the danger she and her friend would be in.  After witnessing a murder by the Russian mob, Elizabeth manages to escape and make it to the cops, where she is placed into protective custody until they can get her into the witness protection program.  However, things don’t go as planned and thanks to some dirty cops, Elizabeth’s life is once again placed in danger. Once again Elizabeth finds herself on the run and her newest friends and protectors dead. 

Fast-forward 12 years where we meet Abigail Lowery who is living a secluded life in the Ozarks and hiding out from the Russian mob.  Yes you guessed it, Miss Lowery is the very same Elizabeth Fitch who has been on the run these past 12 years, changing identities, jobs and leading a life that no one should have to live.   A life lived in fear that one day the mob will find her and do away with her to keep their secrets safe.  Living in fear and hiding, Abigail never dreamed of living a normal life, one where she wouldn’t always be looking over her shoulder.  However, things begin to change for her as she slowly starts to put down roots in the little town of Bicksford out in the Ozarks.

Enter police chief Brooks Gleason, who has recently returned home himself.  Being the ever observant police chief that he is, Brooks can’t help but notice Abigail’s secluded lifestyle and non-existent connections to Bickford’s residents and everyday goings on. Her lifestyle has not only peaked the interest of the police chief, but the residents as well.  It’s through Brooks’ pursuit of Abigail’s affections that we get to see more of what Abigail has lived through and her reluctance to never get close to another human being. Her only friend and constant companion is her guard dog Bert.  As we get a better look into Abigail’s life, one can’t help but feel heartbroken for the 16 year old girl who lost her teenage years to a horrible event, and then never really being able to live the way she wanted to live as an adult.  Brooks sees through her and realizes that something dangerous plagues Abigail’s life and is patient with her, allowing her the chance to come to terms with everything, trust another person and start to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Even though Abigail is strong, smart, skilled and quite capable of taking care of herself, she is also vulnerable and scared that one day her life will be cut short.  Thanks to Brooks and his ever steady, calm and patient personality Abigail opens up to him and tells him everything about her life.  Together they come up with a plan that will allow Elizabeth to get the justice she’s wanted all these years, put the past to rest and free her from her self-induced prison of a life.  As the events leading up to the ending unfold, we get to see classic Nora Roberts and are shocked by what happens.  It’s an ending that you don’t see coming, because Nora does a bang up job with it and it’s also a fitting ending to a story that has been filled with suspense, drama, humour, heartbreak and romance. 

If you are a Nora Roberts fan then this is a must read.  If you aren’t already a fan of Nora, then this is an excellent book to introduce you to her writing and wonderful imagination and storytelling abilities.  It’s a story that will have you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what’s happening next, but at the same time enjoying the romance that Nora so skillfully weaves throughout the danger and mystery that surrounds our heroine Abigail Lowery, a.k.a Elizabeth Fitch. 

Reviewed by Marcie