HIGH NOON by Nora Roberts
The only thing I disliked about Nora Roberts' new novel was the title. Slapping it on the book and then trying to relate some of the plot to the Gary Cooper/Grace Kelly movie strained credulity. Other than that the story was fast paced, intriguing and totally satisfying.
The book opens with hostage negotiator Lt. Phoebe McNamara trying to talk a man out of jumping off a building on St Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia. Also trying to help is the man's employer Duncan Swift. He finds himself being impressed with Phoebe's skills and Phoebe herself.
Phoebe comes from a pretty complicated personal life. She is a divorced mother of one child and she is totally devoted to her. She lives in a huge home with her daughter, mother and "sister." The sister is a woman named Ava who cares for Phoebe's daughter Carly and helps out around the house. Phoebe's mother has had some trauma in her life and is now afraid to go outside the walls of their home.
Into their lives comes Duncan, a breath of fresh air and a man with a few mysteries and tricks up his sleeve. He is infatuated with Phoebe but knows he has to take it slow and steady. Not only is her family life all consuming, but so is her job. Each time she enters into a hostage negotiating situation she is putting her career and sometimes her life on the line.
During the story Phoebe discovers that someone is out to intimidate her and possibly harm her family. It is also possible that those persons she cares about outside her family may also be in danger, such as Duncan. This puts a damper on their romance as Phoebe is a woman who feels compelled to protect those she loves and to do it single-handedly.
Roberts is a master at writing stories of this type and her genius is in the plotting and the creation of the characters. Phoebe and Duncan are so enjoyable that you fear for their lives with an intensity not usually found in books of this sort. They become real to the readers and actual friends from the pages.
Roberts knows exactly where her book is heading and there is no rush to the plot. She details each segment of the adventure and keeps the readers anticipating more and more thrills and enjoyment. And when it comes time to deliver on an exciting climax she does so with enthusiasm.
Nora Roberts' fans know she is a woman who always delivers a satisfying story. They can count on it. HIGH NOON, aside from that pesky title, is one of her best and that is saying a lot. Since several of her books have been turned into Lifetime movies, I wonder how long it will be before we see this one on our television sets.
HIGH NOON is published by G P Putnams' Sons. It contains 467 pages and sells for $26.95.