I love a good Police novel and I especially love it from an author who knows how to slowly ramp up the intrigue and anticipation.
This slow-burn romantic suspense is definitely one to watch for this spring as Roberts shines with her storytelling prowess again. Read my thoughts below.
Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN-13: 978-1250370853
OVERVIEW:
Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store―and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.
After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.
She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young―the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.
Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case―and she’s willing to risk her life again if that’s what it takes to stop the horror.
Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts Review
There are so many qualities in this author’s writing pattern that the reader has come to love, recognize, and expect. Detailed settings and descriptions. Amazing characters that feel like someone you know and love.
This book has all of those qualities, characteristics, and more. Written slightly differently than we normally see from Roberts, this is a police procedural in many ways with the expected and unexpected twists.
The main character is a police officer. Sloan is investigating mysterious happenings in her town while recovering from a near-death injury. What’s interesting about this story is that we know who the perpetrators are, how they work, and what they’re doing. We see the parallel lines and we just have to wait for the main event.
To balance that out, we’re also enjoying a double romance. The family ties are beautiful and the way Roberts blends everyone together as a family is natural and supportive. Perfectly matched, fun, witty humor and beautiful people bring in the light to balance the dark.
While the pacing is good, the author uses short, choppy sentences, which seem abrupt in many places, but also show the way that the main character and her love interest are beautifully matched. They have the same thought processes and balance each other beautifully. It also ramps up the anticipation for the suspense as the murder mystery accelerates.
The ending is explosive but quick. After the slow burn ramping up, it seemed a tad anti-climactic, but the epilogue wraps it up nicely. Hidden Nature brings it all together for an awesome read!
4 STARS!!
Disclaimer: Chris has personally reviewed the product listed above. She has not received any monetary compensation for her review but did receive a free ebook so she could evaluate and use it for this post. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ.
Hi! I’m Chris! Just a Midlife Wife sharing about life’s journey; screaming and kicking through it while supposedly aging gracefully…
Focusing on healthy living, low carb & keto, things I am loving right now, and life in general.