NORTHERN LIGHTS by Nora Roberts
NORTHERN LIGHTS is Nora Roberts latest romantic mystery and she is at her best in this story of love, death and freezing cold. This adventure takes place in Lunacy, Alaska; a place inhabited by a unique group of individuals who live, love and mostly thrive in the arctic wilds. But one of them does not and his murder is the core of this story, and the driving force behind the drama that invades the town.
The story starts with newly hired sheriff, Nate Burke, coming to town. He has been a policeman in Baltimore, Maryland but a tragic incident there has him looking for a new place to live and work. Since he is running from his past he figures he can't go much further north than Lunacy, Alaska.
Once he arrives he meets an assorted group of characters ranging from the no-nonsense female Mayor, to the foul-mouthed and belligerent snow clearer. He also is intrigued by the amorous Charlene, who operates the local lodge. She lets him know immediately that she is interested in some romance with him.
Nate declines Charlene's invitation but is immediately interested in her daughter Meg. Meg Galloway is just like the country in which she lives. This means she is ferocious, beautiful and not easily tamed. She has her own home on the outskirts of Lunacy and she lives a totally independent and in some sense isolated life. Meg is not looking to fall in love but if Nate wants to well that is okay with her. Just as long as he doesn't expect her to reciprocate.
Later in the story Meg's long lost father is found frozen in a cave, with a climbing axe stuck in his chest. This murder rocks Lunacy and jolts Meg's world. Nate is determined to solve the crime but it will take every skill he possesses and then some.
Murder, romance, warmth, humor and coldness of climate and character fill the pages of this book. It is Roberts at her very best. And when she is this good she is not just very good, she is great!
The characters are so heart-warming and interesting, and the plot is so well defined and engrossing that you will not want this book to end. Roberts could have easily filled a couple of hundred more pages and no one would have complained.
NORTHERN LIGHTS shines brightly in Roberts' collection of stories. Open it up and take a trip to Lunacy. It's a place where people you will learn to love, live.
NORTHERN LIGHTS is published by G P Putnam's Sons. It contains 576 pages and sells for $25.95.