12/15/2023

Spur Der Finsternis by Nora Roberts

The cover of the German edition is different from my taste. But it is the story behind it, that thrills me. And the fantastic plot. The author really knows how to catch her readers. With "Identity" she proves again, her storytelling ability. That she knows perfectly how to create great characters. Her main figure Morgan is a wonderful woman. As an old Nora Roberts fan, this novel proves that the author can still write great stories beyond imagination.

 

Spur Der Finsternis*

by Nora Roberts
Translation Christiane Burkhardt
Original Title Identity
Publisher Heyne on November 15, 2023
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 526
Format Hardcover
Source Heyne
Goodreads
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Morgan works hard to fulfill his dream of owning a house and bar. But her modest life is suddenly upended when her best friend Nina is murdered. She doesn't have time to mourn because the FBI tells her that she is dealing with a serial killer and identity robber. And this one is actually targeting Morgan himself. Step by step, the perfidious hacker takes everything from her: her savings, her house, her identity. Desperate, Morgan flees back to her family in Vermont and piece by piece puts the pieces of her shattered life back together. But her pursuer is always on her heels - and the people she loves. (personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Morgan is broke. A Hacker has stolen everything from her so she sees no other option but to move back to her family. A fresh start in Vermont is all she wants to get herself back together. Together with her mother and grandmother and a new job where she does what she knows best. And with Miles, the new man in her life.

Style

Nora Robert's writing style is unmistakable. With a lot of feeling and even more sensitivity, the author describes the beautiful Vermont landscape and the emotions that Morgan goes through. A real cinematic experience takes place in the reader's head. At times I even imagined that I could smell the cocktails that Morgan created during the course of the story. And Nora Roberts proves once again that she can easily create an atmospherically dense novel out of nothing, even if it isn't.

Characters

As usual from Nora Roberts, the reader is presented with strong and profound characters. Without any cliche, but with rough edges. Morgan is particularly strong. She is a bartender with heart and soul who, after a fateful encounter with a stranger, starts all over again. The strength and strength of her family helps her. The Nash women not only have a strong backbone, but they are also particularly tough. And with exactly this quality, Morgan defies her tormentor and teaches him what girl power really means. But I particularly liked Howl. Miles' dog. It's an absolute blast!

Conclusion

What a brilliant novel! I am completely thrilled. Big emotions, strong characters, and a great plot. As an old Nora Roberts fan, all I can say is: read and enjoy!

Happy reading

*Heyne kindly provided me this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Nora Roberts Schreibstil ist unverkennbar. Mit viel Gefühl und noch mehr Feinfühligkeit beschreibt die Autorin die herrliche Landschaft Vermonts und die Emotionen, die Morgan so durchmacht. Da spielt sich ein regelrechtes Kopfkino beim Leser ab. Teilweise hab ich mir sogar eingebildet, die Cocktails riechen zu können, die Morgan da so im Laufe der Handlung kreiert hat. Und Nora Roberts beweist einmal mehr, dass sie es einfach kann, einen atmosphärisch dichten Roman wie aus dem Nichts zu erschaffen, auch wenn er es nicht ist.

Charaktere

Wie von Nora Roberts gewohnt, werden dem Leser starke und tiefgründige Figuren präsentiert. Ganz ohne Klischee, dafür mit Ecken und Kanten. Morgan ist dabei besonders stark. Sie ist mit Leib und Seele Barkeeperin, die nach einer verhängnisvollen Bekanntschaft mit einem Fremden, nochmal ganz von vorn anfängt. Dabei hilft ihr die Kraft und Stärke ihrer Familie. Die Nash-Frauen haben nicht nur ein starkes Rückgrat, sie sind auch besonders tough. Und mit genau dieser Eigenschaft, trotz Morgan ihrem Peiniger und lehrt ihn, was Frauenpower wirklich bedeutet. Aber besonders gefallen hat mit Howl. Der Hund von Miles. Der ist der absolute Knaller!

Resultat

Was für ein genialer Roman! Ich bin restlos begeistert. Große Emotionen, starke Figuren und ein klasse Plot. Als alter Nora Roberts Fan kann ich nur sagen: Lesen und genießen!

*This book was published in the English language by St. Martin´s Press on May 23, 2023

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland, is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writer’s groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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