Identity: A Novel

by Nora Roberts

Overview

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author's terrifying next thriller about one man's ice-cold malice, and one woman's fight to reclaim her life.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who got away.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250284112
Publisher:	St. Martin's Publishing Group
Publication date:	05/23/2023
Pages:	448
Sales rank:	930
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 6.30(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

NORA ROBERTS is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 230 novels, including Nightwork, Legacy, Hideaway, The Chronicles of The One trilogy, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Hometown:

Keedysville, Maryland

Date of Birth:

1950

Place of Birth:

Silver Spring, Maryland

Website:

http://www.noraroberts.com/

Editorial Reviews

04/03/2023

Bestseller Roberts (Nightwork) gives readers another strong protagonist to root for in this otherwise rote standalone thriller. After a peripatetic childhood, 25-year-old Morgan Albright has finally made a home for herself in a quiet suburb of Baltimore. To help with her mortgage, she takes in her friend Nina Ramos as a housemate. Shortly after Morgan begins dating a charming patron at the bar where she works, she returns home one day to find Nina’s battered, lifeless body. Over the following weeks, Morgan discovers that her boyfriend is actually a serial killer and identity thief—and that she, not Nina, was his intended target. On the advice of the FBI, Morgan flees to the home of her mother and grandmother in Westridge, Vt., to begin her life anew. But can she, with a killer on her trail? Roberts switches between Morgan’s point of view and those of the killer and his FBI pursuers to successful enough effect, but there’s a whole lot of narrative bloat in the form of inconsequential dialogue and plot repetition. Roberts devotees will fall in love with Morgan, but this is unlikely to become a fan favorite. Agent: Amy Berkower, Writers House. (May)

Publishers Weekly

2023-03-28
After escaping from a serial killer, a woman tries to reclaim her life.

After a childhood as an Army brat, Morgan Albright is determined to put down roots. She bought a small house in the perfect neighborhood outside of Baltimore, living with a friend and working two jobs to make ends meet. Morgan’s life is happy and fulfilling, and she is making progress on her financial and career goals. Her perfect world is shattered when someone breaks into her home and murders her roommate. At first, the police assume it was a random act of violence, but after discovering the killer stole Morgan’s identity and her entire savings, they realize the crime fits the profile of a serial killer named Gavin Rozwell. The police inform Morgan that her roommate was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time; she was the real intended target. Morgan’s grief, coupled with the financial devastation from the identity theft, leaves her no choice but to return home to Vermont to live with her mother and grandmother. Morgan reconnects with her family and rebuilds her life, including landing the perfect job and falling in love. The police and FBI pursue Gavin, who continues to stalk and kill women, each time leaving a reminder at the crime scene that shows he’s fixated on Morgan as the one who got away. Roberts shows Gavin’s slow descent into obsession and madness as the inverse of Morgan’s healing journey back to herself and her community. The novel highlights Morgan’s preparations for the inevitable final countdown with Gavin, but the lack of immediacy and urgency of the threat makes for a subdued, restrained thriller.

Roberts revisits a favorite theme: The power of community can defeat a great evil.

Kirkus Reviews

"Roberts effectively enhances the plot of her latest stellar, perfectly paced novel of suspense and romance with a superbly realized cast of characters that underscores the importance in life of family and friends." -Booklist

"You will not want to put it down." -Red Carpet Crash

"Be prepared to be enthralled." -Fresh Fiction

From the Publisher

Morgan Albright, portrayed by January LaVoy, has finally made a life for herself in Baltimore with her roommate, Nina. But her world is shattered when Nina is murdered by Luke, aka Gavin, after Morgan invited him to their home. LaVoy brings out all the drama. Gavin has also stolen Morgan's identity, leaving her no choice but to return to Vermont to her mother and grandmother. Giving a multilayered performance, LaVoy provides Morgan's grandmother with a steely quality and Morgan's mother with a light yet competent tone. As the story progresses, LaVoy adds more and more edginess to Gavin's craziness. As Morgan seeks to regain her life, LaVoy conveys all her strength and determination. S.B. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

AudioFile - JULY 2023