Gripping, funny, and satisfying

This is my first experience with Nora Roberts, and I'm very impressed. This story had me captivated early on, and held my attention throughout. I loved the diverse and well-crafted characters, as well as the clever dialog.

61 people found this helpful

What a fabulous book

What made the experience of listening to The Witness the most enjoyable?

A combination of character development and a wonderful narrator made this book especially enjoyable. Elizabeth was a most unusual character and her metamorphosis was quite natural and well-done.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favourite characters were Elizabeth and Sunny. It was fascinating to see the effect that Elizabeth's upbringing had on her personality. The window into life with an edetic memory was fascinating. I also especially enjoyed Brooks, and felt that the narrator did an excellent job with the male voices in this production.

Which scene was your favorite?

I can't say, as it would ruin the book for those reading this review.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I think the moment when Elizabeth discovered that she was able to feel and love was particularly moving, given her abusive upbringing.

Any additional comments?

This book grabbed me so quickly and completely that I listened to it almost continuously with the exception of one night's sleep! That has never happened to me before. Well done Nora!

33 people found this helpful

The Best of Nora Roberts

I have read/listened to Nora Roberts and JD Robb books for years. Her books typically follow a formula, but it's a successful formula that I usually enjoy. The characters and plots are usually well developed with the right mix of mystery, adventure and romance. I appreciate Roberts' trademark portrayal of damaged but intelligent women who rise above their troubled pasts to create new lives for themselves. Their efforts ultimately come together with the help of honorable men and loving communities.

Elizabeth/Abigail is an interesting, intelligent, strong and resourceful character. Police Chief Brooks lends just the right touch of caring support and integrity, and he comes with the quirky, amusing and loving family that is missing from Elizabeth's life. The narration is good and the voices are appropriate to the characters. Overall, this is one of Roberts' best efforts in a long time.

29 people found this helpful

Classic Nora - Outstanding!!!!

This is one of the best single titles from Nora ever....I was engrossed within the first 10 minutes - couldn't turn it off - listened straight through to the end. My idea of a perfect book is when the last couple of paragraphs are read/heard - you give that sigh of satisfaction from reading/hearing a great book! I highly recommend this one...

195 people found this helpful

JUST SIMPLY FANTASTIC LISTENING ! !

Would you listen to The Witness again? Why?

I will definately listen to The Witness again, if not possible 3 or 4 times due to the fact that it is written and preformed at such a level that it's a pure joy to listen to.

What other book might you compare The Witness to and why?

The Witness in basically quite incomparable. The closest I can think of is Nora Roberts "Chasing Fire". I have listened to "Chasing Fire" four times because it dramatizes the simplicity of the way a man and woman can be drawn together on a permanant level when they never saw that coming. The Witness goes from suspence, to murder to humor and back to suspense again. The story is anything if not totally interesting and a pure joy to listen too.

What does Julia Whelan bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I can't begin to express hoiw very much Julia Whelan bring tlhe story to live with her dramatization of the different characters. If I were to simply read a hard copy, I would miss the little nuances of humor and pauses for suspense that Julia Whelan weaves into the dialoge of the characters. You couldn't have picked anyone better to narrate this book..

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had a very extreme reaction while listening to this book, in the way it was written causing me to laugh at qluite a bit of it. I had thought I would just listen to a few chapters and then go to bed. I was so drawn into the story that I hated to leave it to go to bed. It was just simply a book to listen to for total pleasure.

98 people found this helpful

Now, this Book needs to become a series!

I haven't enjoyed a book so much in a long time. The main character, Elizabeth/Abigail, is delightful. I am a total geek and I often live like a hermit, although it is more difficult now that I'm married... But, I am familiar with the social dysfunction of this character. You really don't need a super high IQ, be a programmer or high tech to be someone with limited social skills, but it does seem to follow. Elizabeth was raised in a dysfunctional home, she suffers a traumatic experience and must survive alone without any support other than her own wits. Her inability to communicate is endearing, she is honest and sincere in her attempts to keep up her walls. When she falls in love, we are taken away with her like a leaf floating in a stream, the current is fast, slow, she hits a few edies and gets slammed into a rock or two.

I haven't read Nora Roberts for awhile, the reviews have been enough to keep me away. I admit I wasn't expecting a good read but the character resonated with me. I am very satisfied and hope Nora Roberts doesn't shy away from a trilogy or even a series, she has a real winner here. This community of characters contain endless possibilities for future books.

I already miss the characters and will listen again today. I often enjoy books by listening more than a few times, some are just a familiar listen while restless or gardening or yes, programming! But I rarely start listening, days after the first listen!

90 people found this helpful

A great book

Over the last few years I have forgotten what made me fall in love with Nora Roberts books 15 years ago. This book reminds me of why I love her books. Abigail is a survivor and I really fell in love with her strength. Brooks was an amazing perfect match for Abigail. Strong enough to let Abigail be strong and not let it diminish him. This is one of her best books.

99 people found this helpful

At the risk of being a chauvinist...

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

That is actually a complex question when it comes to this book. My first "gut reaction" unvarnished by the fear that my 3 daughters would be deeply offended: This is an action thriller for women and it is more a romance fantasy than a thriller.

Any additional comments?

So, at the risk of being a jerk, which I likely already have covered, so what the hell, The best I can offer in review of this book is that it is a Harlequin Romance novel disguised and marketed as a thriller. No, it isn't in any way badly written. No, it isn't a conceptually flawed story line. To the opposite, the underlying story line is decent, if not somewhat cliche. Young girl sees mob crime, young girl goes to cops, young girls watches cops protecting her get killed, young girl flees leaving no traces sure that she is better able to provide for her own security and well being than the government. There are some twists to that plot line, such as being the product of artificial insemination with only a mother who "never bonded". There is also the predictable facets of the young heroin: having a huge trust fund, an eidetic memory coupled with perfect observational skills and an IQ north of 200 and she just happens to be indescribably beautiful. Imagine that... brains and beauty. Can you see the Harlequin developing? Again, all of that doesn't make it bad, but it also does not make it an action thriller.
A couple hours in (and that first couple hours was for me the most engaging) we get to where our girl is some period of age older (between 1 and 10 years) living in a small town where she lives in isolation. The handsome, rugged, fiercely loyal and honest town police chief takes an interest in the mystery woman who has lived in his town for a year and yet no one knows anything about her. Driven by the purest of intentions (clearly not sex) and worry for her well being (nope not her physical beauty at all), the chief befriends and beguiles her. Yes, he is the perfect son, with an adorable mother and father. He is patient and even tempered. Handsome and brave, willing to let a drunk wife abuser publicly punch him in the face so that he can arrest the suspect on Assaulting a Police Officer charges, preventing the abused woman from dropping the charges as she has done in the past. Oh, and his "hot hot hot" high school flame draws him into a naked ambush to rekindle a steamy sexual relationship they once had, but the mature and dare I say, perfect man the Chief is, orders her to get dressed and never call in a false complaint again just to get him to come see her. Riggggghhht... raise your hand if you are having a hard time seeing the Harlequin now.
In general, I just had to stop. I tried hitting fast forward (the real world version of skipping pages and chapters) to see if I could find some point where the romance and perfect sex subsided and the intrigue and action resumed. Skipping at random numerous times, I just could not land on anything that didn't sound like more of the same.
At the end of the day, this may be for you. It truly is not a bad concept or execution. It just is not for me in that I don't generally read (or listen to) a book so that I can come away feeling inferior to what is clearly the perfect man.

65 people found this helpful

EXCELLENT!

The only reason I'm not giving this book 5 stars all around is because I like a little more heat in my readings/listens, but wow! I'm so glad I gave Nora Roberts another shot. I loved the heroine in this book!
After having been raised by "Mommie Dearest" and at 16-years-old becoming the solo witness that could bring down the Russian Mafia, it was a trip to see her emotional growth, survivable and finally her triumph.
Don't get me wrong, there's romance, a very sweet romance; the hero was just the perfect supportive (loved him too) character for Liz and the story.

NARRATION
Julia Whelan was amazing!! Fantastic narration! Her portrayal of 16-year-old Liz's was right on target, and equally fantastic was her interpretation of 28-years-old Abigail.
Her command of the different accents and voices was impressive and a tremendous show of her talent.
Excellent performance.
Sensuality: Warm

110 people found this helpful

Excellent "edge of your seat" thriller

I typically read horror and zombie books. I shy away from vampires and love stories. I always thought Nora Roberts wrote the latter. This book was part of the May sale so I gave it a shot. WOW. Boy am I glad I did! The story revolves around a 16 year old girl whose every thought and action is controlled by her mother. She's a genius but socially inept. She's never been to the mall, doesn't know how to dress nor know any of the typical teenage pop culture. After a fight with her mother she rebels. She runs into Julie and they strike a deal, Liz will make fake ids if Julie will help her shop & take her with her to the club. Liz ends up witnessing something horrific and after an attempt on her life while in police custody she goes into hiding. The majority of the story takes place 12 years later. LIz - now known as Abigail is super suspicious of everyone, still socially backwards, a loner and incredibly paranoid. All of which has kept her alive from the bad guys! The small town chief of police takes an interest in her and it turns into a beautiful story of love, suspense, cat and mouse, computer hacking etc. Reminded me of the Sandra Bullock movie The Net in some regards. I was VERY surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It wasn't a mushy, over the top harlequinesque novel. Roberts does an excellent job of developing the main character. Though a bit peculiar she's "endearing" and you find yourself rooting for her. The narrator was wonderful. Unlike alot of female narrators she did a great job with the male voices. She captured Abigail/Liz's innocence and guarded reserve excellently!!! The last quarter of the book is non stop action when Abigail aka Liz decides to stop hiding and confront her past with the help of her lover Chief of Police Brooks. AWESOME read. I'm glad I downloaded it!

37 people found this helpful