På slaget tolv

by Nora Roberts

Phoebe MacNamara är ensamstående mamma och dessutom den främsta gisslanförhandlaren hos polisen i Savannah och hennes skicklighet beror på personliga erfarenheter. När hon var tio år hölls hela hennes familj som gisslan och terroriserades i timmar. Från den dagen visste hon vad hon skulle välja för yrke. Men en så kompetent kvinna är inte alltid populär bland manliga kolleger och hon får vara på sin vakt. Denna försiktighet gör också att hon håller uppvaktande män på armlängds avstånd. Men Duncan Swift är annorlunda, han ger inte upp.
En dag råkar Phoebe ut för ett brutalt överfall - i polishuset - och kort därefter börjar hon få hotfulla meddelanden på tröskeln till sitt hem. Och hon hör ibland någon vissla ledmotivet ur den gamla Grace Kelly-filmen High Noon. Vad betyder det? Finns det något samband? Är det en av hennes kolleger? Med Duncan som stöd tar hon upp jakten på den anonyme plågoanden, och det är bråttom...

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

519 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2007

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

just so you know, i really tried. anyone who knows me knows my - let's call it lack of enthusiasm - towards the romance genre. but i went into this with an open mind, thinking, "i didn't want to read the children's books when i took the children's class either, and look at me now!" but so i went in thinking it would make me a better person or a better, more rounded book-knower.

so i tried.

but shit - this is a pretty bad one. and it is more than just a matter of preference/taste for the genre, it is just...turdy.

backtrack - i had a choice of authors to read for this part of the assignment, and i figured i would go with this nora roberts one over the other choices, which seemed to be more hearts-and-flowers with, like, swans, on the cover and lavender cover-text. this one was about a hostage negotiator in the south (how many hostage situations are there in savannah?? a lot.), living in some estrogen temple (stately southern gothic mansion with mother, daughter and female "helper") getting sexually assaulted in her own precinct etc etc... it sounded like it would at least be page-turning.


but, man, there is such a conflict in tone between this high-stakes hostage negotiator who is super-feminist in her priorities and career, but who says some corny-assed shit. voici:

-There were long legs in those jeans, she noted.


-"Oh Duncan, you're awfully cute, and you're rich, and you've got a very sexy car. I'm just not in a position to start a relationship."


-If she'd been wearing socks, Phoebe thought as she aimed for her bedroom, they'd have been blown clear across Jones Street during that good-night kiss.


-I thought I forgot how to need somebody to stay... lucky for me I remembered when the somebody can be counted on.

and it's not just her with the lame-ass talking:

"You were in the FBI? Like Clarice Starling? Like Silence of the Lambs? Or Dana Scully - another hot redhead, by the way. Special Agent McNamara?" he let out a long, exaggerated breath. "You really are hot."

fucking yokel.

if you don't believe any of these quotes, read it yourself.

ms. robb/roberts has her strengths - she really knows her audience and she cannily addresses them in a thousand different ways:

"Tonight you represent every dateless women in this city, every woman who's about to sit down to a lonely meal of Weight Watchers pasta primavera she's just nuked in the microwave. Every woman who'll get into bed tonight with a book or reruns of Sex and the City as her only companion." "You," she said, pointing her finger at Phoebe, "are our shining hope."

as nora roberts is the shining hope to all the single mothers juggling the demands of career and family, waiting for their knight in shining-Porsche who knows about flowers and is the perfect man, lover, father all in one. and when Phoebe proposes to Duncan (yeah, spoiler alert, i don't even care) it's all i could do to keep from gagging. (remember - i really tried)

but it's such a farce that indulges all the secret fantasies of the women drawn to this kind of escapist fiction:

watching your deadbeat ex-husband blown to bits from a bomb strapped to his chest as he cries and begs you to save him? check

lottery-winning (read: wealthy without having to spend potential sex-hours at that pesky office) dreamy man who loves your daughter and your mother as much as he loves you? check

a man who will stop you mid-lovemaking to give you a brief lecture about gun control, proving to you he cares more for family than your vagina. oh, swoon.

check.

the dialogue is not restricted to the cheesily-romantic, it also nods to the cartoonishly villainous:

"I want you to shove some of this C-4 up your twat, you useless cunt."

(you can tell he is the bad guy because he used two different female-taboo words in one sentence!)

and i don't care if you aren't a 14-year-old boy - there is no way you let this sentence into your final draft, not from your scary villain:

"You read, or I blow him. Going to take a few other people out and bring serious hurt to the others. But what the hell, I'll blow the big one, too, and that takes it all."

erm.

i really, really tried.

come to my blog!

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable romantic suspense filled with a wonderful cast of characters. Heroine Phoebe MacNamara is a single mother to seven-year-old Carly and she’s a top hostage negotiator. I liked that she’s a very strong heroine, has a very interesting profession, and I liked how she really held her family together. Her mother Essie is agoraphobic and never leaves the house. Essie is still traumatized by a break-in from years ago where an ex-boyfriend held her and her two children hostage for hours, an event that also set the path for Phoebe's career choice. Duncan Swift was such a fabulous hero. He won millions on the lottery and he owns a number of sports bars, and is working on other business ventures. He was such an all-around good guy, and I loved how he really took to Phoebe’s family. He was so kind, caring, and considerate towards them, and really made everyone feel special. The Savannah, Georgia, setting and the house where Phoebe lived with her family really added to the atmosphere with vivid descriptions. Add to that, lots of edge-of-your-seat suspense and this made for an extremely entertaining and captivating read.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think of this one as Roarke and Eve Lite. You can definitely catch some of the same feelings because he is rich and she is a cop, but it is set in the now instead of future, and let's face it: there's only one Roarke with his Poet Face and Sapphire Eyes.
And, Lord knows there is only one Eve Dallas.



Obviously, no couple could ever be as perfect. But, this couple was pretty damn good too. Nora Roberts knows how to write good characters. And, I like a mystery and maybe a bit of bloodshed with my romance, so this worked for me.

The story is about a female cop, Phoebe, a hostage negotiator, who meets a male rich dude, Duncan, when she talks a guy off a ledge. Phoebe is a single mom, a woman in a boys' club trying to deal with all of that, and dealing with a very complicated family situation. Duncan is Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky and cracked me up several times. Here is his remark after he decides he needs to protect her when a bad guy is making threats against her:

Her: "I don't know why men think women can't defend themselves or their home."

He only smiled. "Do I need to explain the power of the penis to you - so soon after you've experienced its wonder?"

That one made me think of all of my friends here on goodreads. If there is one thing we have learned through books: Penises are magic.


I never said "smart". Just magic.

We've all seen the magic peen do fantastic things, but we don't mind at all because for every magic peen there is a magic vagina that turns incorrigible, dangerous fuckboi's into monogamous lovesick puppy dogs. So, it evens out.


Okay, I'm not sure if that was magic or just a really unfortunate event. Also, the look on her face tells us a helluva story.

Still, happy that things seem pretty even....

Any Eve Dallas fan will probably enjoy this book. It was a lot of fun.

[Jonetta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lieutenant Phoebe Swift is a hostage crisis negotiator with the Savannah-Chatham Police Department and we’re introduced to her when she shows up at the scene where a despondent man is threatening to jump from a ledge. What’s important about that moment is we get to see her in action early on, getting insight into her skills, and meet Duncan Swift, the bar owner who was friends with and employed the jumper. He’s immediately taken with the feisty Phoebe and makes it his mission to get to know her better. In the meantime, Phoebe’s problems with a troublesome police officer in her ranks escalates to something awful. When later it’s determined she’s the focus of a stalker, things get dangerous for her and those close to her heart.

I’ve wanted to read this story since forever and have recommended it as a group read countless times and it was finally chosen this month. It’s an older one of Roberts’ suspense standalones, written over ten years ago but does not feel dated at all. Phoebe has so many wonderful qualities and I liked that she had imperfections. She’s a single mother having to be the leader of her extended family. The scenes sharing her troubled but formative childhood were as compelling as those in the present. The threats to her life were extremely harrowing and provided a level of tension that hung in the background for most of the story. The secondary characters, both those connected to Phoebe and Duncan, are crucial to the story, all having important roles. They added so much texture to the storyline.

I also liked Phoebe’s relationship with Duncan. He was witty and genuine, seemingly perfect for the elusive Phoebe and he knew how to stick. I chose to listen to the story as Roberts seems to have the best narrators for her books. I don’t listen to the In Death series so hadn’t heard Susan Ericksen’s narration of Roberts books but now see what all the fuss is about. Her performance was outstanding, especially when doing the hostage negotiations scenes. She lifted the story off the pages. I loved everything about this book and Ericksen’s narration. Hated to see it end.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Noon is a stand alone, romantic suspense novel by Nora Roberts. I have always loved this author’s work but I have to admit, it’s been years since I read one. To keep up my personal challenge of one paperback per month, I finally pulled this one off the shelf. Oh my goodness! What a wild ride it was. I was engaged immediately with these characters and they didn’t let me go until the very final page!



Lieutenant Phoebe Macnamara is thirty three years old. As a child, she and her mother and little brother had a terrible trauma and were saved by a then very young hostage negotiator. Now as an adult still living in Savannah, Georgia, she was inspired by the events of her childhood and also, the man who saved them who in time became like a father to her. She is now the top negotiator in Savannah. She lives in a beautiful mansion with her mother, her seven year old daughter, Carly, and Ava who is like family to them. Her life is her work and her family. That’s all she has time for. Until the day she is called to talk someone off the roof of an apartment building and in walks the owner of the building, changing her life forever.



Duncan Swift is thirty eight years old. He owns several businesses around Savannah, including two bars and the apartment building in question. He was immediately drawn to the beautiful negotiator. She was beautiful, strong, smart, independent, and didn’t take anything off of him. He knew right away he was going to have to get to know her better. But first he was going to have to win her over, win her trust. And from the looks of things, that wasn’t going to be easy. But he was a persistent man. He wouldn’t give up easily.



Phoebe has an enemy. She is brutally attacked at work and then she starts finding things at her home. At first she doesn’t tie it all together but slowly, she realizes that someone is after her. Is her family in danger? Is the same person doing all of these things?

As Phoebe and Duncan are trying to get to know each other, Phoebe’s life is on a crazy spiral. But Duncan is there for her every step of the way.

This book was amazing from start to finish. I pretty much checked out of real life for the few days it took me to read this because I couldn’t put it down! I loved both Phoebe and Duncan so much. This book has been made into a movie but it isn’t available to stream on anything I subscribe to. But you can be sure that I will keep watching and if it becomes available, I will be waiting. Reading this makes me want to dive in to all of the Nora Roberts books I should have been reading. I have a few more on my shelf. I wonder which one I’ll choose next?!

For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...

[A. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not finishing this.

It's not the writing, it's everything else.

I actually liked the heroine's backstory, her job and the suspense. I love books with law enforcement action featuring strong female characters.

The romance, however, was mediocre at best. The dialogue between the heroine and the hero started to get on my nerves from the first scene they met. The vibe between them was off-putting. The hero is boring and bland despite the author's efforts to make him witty, sexy and irresistible. Meh.

[Vinaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, this book marks a big moment for me...



Yes, that's right, I have now finished ONE HUNDRED books this year. *cue applause*

A couple of months ago, Flannery and I discovered that we shared a mutual love for Nora Roberts. We then decided that we would devote an entire week to Nothing But Nora, revisiting all of our favourite Nora novels. High Noon is the first in my NBN book list.

High Noon is not my absolute favourite Nora novel, but it is amongst the ones I like best. Actually, the reason I started off with this one was because I watched The Negotiator (Kevin Spacey, Samuel L. Jackson) about a week ago, and it reminded me of High Noon. The book's been stuck in my head ever since. Phoebe MacNamara is a negotiator for the Atlanta PD, cool, composed and tough. Duncan Swift first meets her when she arrives on St.Patrick's Day to talk one of his suicidal ex-employees off a ledge. He's impressed by her abilities and struck by her sex appeal. But Phoebe's not an easy woman to have a relationship with; she's got a seven year old daughter, an agoraphobic mother and very many professional and personal responsibilities. And worse, it appears that she is being stalked by a psychopathic co-worker.

One of the things I like best about Roberts's novels, both romance and romantic suspense, is how her MCs always have such cool jobs. She really puts time and effort into detailing the vocation of each of her heroines, be it a baker, or a sculptor, or a cat burglar. It's like a fun career guide, drawing you into the lives of people with these careers, giving you a taste of what it's like to be a wedding planner or a hostage negotiator.

Nora Roberts is also one of the best romantic suspense authors out there. Despite starting her career in mainstream romance, she manages to skilfully juggle the romantic and suspense elements in her book, without giving undue precedence to either. (Julie Garwood, I'm looking at you!)

High Noon builds both suspense and romance very well. Phoebe is beautifully drawn character, tough, independent and smart. She has a quick temper and an inability to lean on other people for support, but she's never stupid, and doesn't give independent women a bad name. Too often, being independent in romance novels means being blindly stubborn and bitter about men, but Phoebe skilfully avoids this cliché, and her interaction with Duncan made me feel all gooey and warm.

Another thing that Nora Roberts portrays amazingly well is the bonds of family. From the MacGregors to the Stanislaskis, many of her books have the kind of family ties we all dream of. Her families are loving, boisterous and tied together by strong bonds. In a genre where secondary characters are two-dimensional, at best, Roberts' draws a moving picture of Phoebe's relationships with her mother, surrogate sister and brother.

Duncan, too has a family, of the heart, if not by blood. His best friend is black, but you don't see Roberts making a big hoo-haa about it. She mentions the info, and then drops it; even though Duncan is an integral member of Phin's all-black family, you still think of it as natural-- no trumpets about race, and racial integrity are blown to show off the author's all-inclusiveness. I heart Nora.

All in all, High Noon is a fast-paced, satisfying read for anyone who's looking for an action-packed family drama with a suspense element. This book was a great start to Nora Week, and I'm looking forward to rediscovering other old favourites...

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another new favorite Nora book!!! Are you kidding me!? The heroine is a hostage negotiator and the suspense in this one was AMAZING! Things do get dark, so do know that the heroine is assaulted in the beginning and there are a lot of people who die. I loved that Nora didn't shy away from shocking us with the plot. I was so addicted and couldn't stop reading. That ending had me on the edge of my seat! And this romance was so cute! Highly recommend picking this one up!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebe MacNamara decided at a young age to become a hostage negotiator. Now she works for the Savannah Police Department and is trying to talk a suicidal man out of jumping off a building. The man's boss, Duncan Swift, is impressed with what he sees and asks her out. Phoebe is reluctant to start a relationship with Duncan because her life is so crazy at this time. She has a seven-year-old daughter, a high-stress job, and a mother who will not leave the house. But Duncan's quick smile and wit seems to be just what she needs, especially when someone attacks her in a deserted stairway at her precinct.

This romantic suspense tale is a winner. Nora Robert's characters jump off of the page. Phoebe is the glue that holds her family together. She takes her job and her duties at home very seriously. Duncan is a nice guy who has had a run of good luck that left him rich. I loved the way he fit perfectly into Phoebe's life. The many secondary characters were well drawn and enhanced the story.

The suspense story was interesting. I kept trying to figure out who stalking Phoebe; but I never did guess it correctly. I liked how the cops pulled together to discover who was behind the violent acts. My rating: 5 Stars.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars! Exciting, gripping and brilliantly narrated by Susan Erikson! Another fantastic read/ listen from the talented Nora Roberts. The plot had me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire time.

Phoebe McNamara is a hostage negotiator for the Savannah police department. At the scene of an attempted suicide she meets Duncan Swift, former employer of the distraught man who is a jump away from committing suicide. Duncan is drawn to this strong confident woman, and she is taken by his charming personality. I loved them as individuals and adored them as a couple. Phoebe is viciously attacked and seeks aid and comfort from Duncan. Shaken by what’s happened to her, he vows to seek revenge, but Phoebe won’t have it, even though Duncan has the financial resources to launch his own investigation. This is what I loved about him. He hovered in the background, but never overstepped his bounds and let Phoebe take the lead. He was there to support her, but never doubted in her or her ability to do her job. It was a pleasant change from the way these issues play out in this type of read. Phoebe was the star of this show!

The plot intensifies as Phoebe and her family becomes the target of a madman hell bent on seeking revenge…but who, what and why is the mystery…and at times it was vicious and brutal! Thrilling!
There is a whole host of lovely secondary characters, from Phoebe’s delightful daughter Carly, who added a layer of reality and softened the read, to her colleagues at the police department. Chocked full of action, with a dramatic ending, a sweet, spicy romance, the book was almost perfect…ALMOST, but not quite. I’ve only read a few Nora Roberts books, but the trend with her seems to be that she very rarely offers an epilogue and when she does it’s bare bones. Again I’m left wondering about the fate of some of the characters and I don’t like that. It’s more a personal issue for me, so I detracted nothing from my rating, because in all due respect it ended well.

Susan Erikson I want to bring you home with me, sit you in a comfy chair and let you read all my books to me!!! You are AWESOME!! Your lovely voice characterized each individual perfectly. I knew whose dialogue was being presented at any given time, because of “voice” you gave them. The inflection was never overdone, soft, harsh, excited, sexy, sweet, scared, tense…just flawless!

She is the narrator for the Nora Roberts/J D Robb In Death series and I’m excited to continue this series in audio format so that Susan can wow me again!!

[Annette Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read High Noon when it was released in 07'. When I saw Susan Ericksen (who happens to be my favorite narrator of all time) was the narrator, I immediately purchased the audiobook and she did not disappoint! The plot was excellent and the narrator was on point. You get drama, suspense, comedy, and romance. I loved the build up to Phoebe and Duncan's relationship. They could easily be my second favorite book couple. I hate that Phoebe had to live her life around her agoraphobic mama but, in the same instance, I also loved that she didn't mind the sacrifices she had to make. I wish the author would've delved a little more into Dave and Ava's relationship. I really wanted to see them get together as a couple. Overall, High Noon was a phenomenal read and I’d give it 10 stars if I could.

[CD {Boulder Blvd} · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up...

This book was published in 2007 and I read it around its original publication. I've re-read it in 2020. It reads current yet and although there were somethings I remembered, it's been long enough that it didn't feel overly familiar. I have to say I'm much more a fan of her stand alone books versus her series.

For the most part I liked the characters and the plot. The police negotiator role and the reason that Phoebe became one was well done. There's a little too much of NR's usual waxing poetic of Duncan's business plans which didn't add to the plot. I'm also tired a NR's constantly having the h's romantic interest telling the older women in his life that they're the love of his live and/or asking them to marry him. It seems like this is a recurring theme.

[Elena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Втора книга, която харесвам на Нора Робъртс, напредвам! 😂😂😂

[Marta Luján · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado, pero la enmarcaría más como novela de suspense o policiaca que como romántica.

El eje principal de la historia lo constituye la trama policiaca, alrededor de la cual giran, en pequeños círculos concéntricos, otras historias, como el romance entre los protagonistas, la relación entre Dave y Ava, la situación de la madre, la misma historia de Duncan...

La ambientación está bien llevada, y al tomar como protagonistas a descendientes de irlandeses, remarca ese carácter cosmopolita de la ciudad de Savannah, sin perder el toque americano tan propio de lo que en su día fueron las colonias del sur. De todas formas, la autora no se pierde en descripciones, sino que nos sitúa en el lugar a base de breves pinceladas, las suficientes para captar el ambiente de la ciudad, la vida de sus habitantes o el trabajo en una comisaría.

La protagonista, Phoebe, es policía, más exactamente, negociadora jefe del departamento de policía. Su vida, que vamos conociendo a través de sus mismos recuerdos, no ha sido fácil, pero la han convertido en lo que ahora es: una mujer valiente, decidida y fuerte, que lleva una carga familiar más fuerte de lo que puede soportar. Tiene agallas y no se rinde. Es un personaje muy bien presentado y delineado, no en vano, lleva el peso de la historia cuando su vida y la de aquellos a quienes ama se pone en riesgo.

Duncan es el protagonista masculino. Tenía el potencial para ser un personaje extraordinario, dado el carácter, la personalidad y el pasado que ha creado la autora, pero queda desdibujado, en segundo plano, mientras lo policiaco toma protagonismo sobre lo romántico. En realidad, podemos decir simplemente que Duncan está ahí y sí, en ocasiones es un apoyo para Phoebe, pero, a mi parecer, tiene mucho más peso y sirve más de apoyo el personaje de Liz, por ejemplo.

La relación entre ellos es bonita, con algunas escenas apasionadas y otras románticas en un entorno idílico. Sin embargo, si eliminásemos la trama policiaca, el romance carecería por completo de fuste. Incluso el final romántico queda desvaído, después del gran final que se le da al argumento policial.

Por otro lado, tengo la sensación de que se han quedado flecos sueltos. ¿Qué pasa con Dave y Ava? ¿Qué pasa con la madre de Phoebe y su gran trauma? ¿Qué hay de Arnie, después de haberse portado tan mal con Phoebe y de que esta le ayude? ¿Ni una palabra de arrepentimiento o de perdón? No sé, a mí se me fueron generando expectativas mientras leía, y al final estas se quedan en nada.

El estilo de la autora me ha gustado mucho y, como digo, he disfrutado mucho de la trama policial porque es también uno de mis géneros preferidos y está muy bien llevada. Te engancha desde el inicio y te lleva a darle vueltas a quién puede ser el culpable. No te deja pasiva ni indiferente. Si te gusta este género, no dudes en leer esta novela.

[Ann Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's true. Another Eve and Roarke feel. But in this one, Phoebe (h) is a hostage negotiator and has a seven year old daughter. Duncan (H) is a businessman. He was a goner the minute he saw her.

I love it. And the hostage negotiating is downright scary.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Nora Romantic-Suspense with just the right balance between a great romance and a gripping suspense. So unlike her latest books.

Phoebe MacNamara's job is high stress and so is her life. As a divorced mother of a seven year old and the daughter of an agoraphobic mother, the last thing she needs is a man. When she is called to the apartment building where a man is on the roof threatening suicide, she has to use all her skill, and some instinct, as a crisis negotiator to resolve the situation. The owner of the building, Duncan Swift, is more that a little impressed by Phoebe and immediately makes a move on her, which she tries to shut down, but, Duncan is a very persistent and lucky man.

While Phoebe is excellent at her job, she has made some enemies during her career. She knows her job and does her very best to bring everyone out alive. As a child her cool head saved her family from a hostage situation that traumatized her mother. When Phoebe is attacked and terrorized, Duncan is there to support and comfort her. When she is threatened, he is there to back her up, even when it puts him in danger too. When the threats turn to murder and attempt to discredit Phoebe, they know the final showdown will end with Phoebe, and Phoebe alone determining how it will all end.

[Jane Stewart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook narrator was terrible. Story, characters, and chemistry were weak.

NARRATOR SUSAN ERICKSEN:
Imagine someone with a hair trigger temper, quick to yell and always ANGRY. That is how the narrator interpreted most characters. I don’t like to be around angry people, and that was how I felt during most of the book. The second most common interpretation was SMUG. Others: sarcastic, slick, arrogant. There was no warmth, vulnerability, sensitivity. My favorite narrator Frank Muller reads with a sense of wonder. This narrator does not.

A different narrator could have made Phoebe likeable. But this narrator made Phoebe unlikeable - because she was SMUG or ANGRY in every conversation. Another character: Someone gives a mother flowers. The mother was pleased, but she used an impatient and ordering voice telling her daughter to go get a vase.

There were a couple conversations where I did not know who was speaking. The author did not use he said, she said, which is ok, but the narrator should have used different voices.

THE STORY:
There is a romance but it didn’t feel like romance. The story is mostly mystery suspense.

I was bored. The plot had bad guys attacking Phoebe and her loved ones. She had to survive, react, deal with it, investigate, and other things you’d expect. Nothing stood out as special for me.

Things were started about Essie and Ava, but not developed or finished. I would have liked more about them.

I suppose readers who want to read about hostage negotiating might find this more interesting. There are a few scenes with Phoebe doing that. Although I was bored during one long scene where Phoebe repeats everything the hostage taker says.

There is one scene with a beating and partial rape.

OTHER BOOKS:
Nora Roberts is hit and miss with me. My favorites are: Carnal Innocence, Born in Fire, Angels Fall, The Witness, Northern Lights, and Sea Swept.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 16 hrs and 34 mins. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words. Sexual language: none other than the f-word used negatively. Number of sex scenes: 5 scenes briefly referred to no details, plus a few references to sex acts, plus 1 partial rape scene. Setting: current day Savannah, Georgia. Book copyright: 2007. Genre: mystery suspense with romance.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantic suspense!! So good!!
You might think it's a bit like an In Death book, but you'd be a bit wrong, even though she is a cop and he is handsome and rich. Duncan is not Roarke, but he is still a good character and not quite as alpha.
Love me some Nora!!😁💕

[Melisa Ramonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

What the...?
If this is the "great" Nora Roberts, I'm awfully disappointed. This story is a compendium of cliches, one after another after another after another...

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book doesn’t have dialogue, it has repartee; characters usually aren’t communicating as much as quipping. No one talks like this. This whole book feels off as a result - there are so few conversations I actually believe.

And the villain… I don’t believe anything about him, either. (I suppose there are two villains; they’re both awful, but at least the second one isn’t a murderer. Talk about low bars.) Here, there’s an almost psychic level of manipulation, which is extremely unpleasant - and would be shockingly horrible, if I believed any of it. And there’s a prolonged villain point-of-view, which I always hate.

Also, what an unbelievable run of bad luck for one character! Phoebe comes across as a great parent because she’s always thinking about how to explain events to her daughter. But her daughter never reacts like you might expect! There are terrible things happening every few days! How can a seven year old be so blithe about all this trauma? For that matter, how can the adults be so blithe about all this trauma?

There are no consequences here. There’s almost no thought given to rational human behavior. Everything about this - from the quippy conversation to the glibness of the characterization to the rocketing pace of the plot - feels so cavalier.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Nora Roberts standalone novel starts off with a bang. Phoebe McNamara is the top hostage negotiator for the Savannah Police Department and she is called in to talk down a man threatening suicide. She heads out on the ledge with him and is able to get him to put down the gun and come inside. This is just part of the job for Phoebe as she has worked suicides, kidnappings, hostage situations and robberies gone wrong with very few fatalities. The man who is talking to "suicide Joe" when she arrives is Duncan Swift who recently won several millions in a lottery. He falls for Phoebe and will not give up until she agrees to go out with him. Phoebe is not looking for a relationship as she is a single mother to a 7 year old daughter and she is the breadwinner and caretaker for her agorophobic mother. Unfortunately for Phoebe, something is happening and she does not know what. Someone is stalking and tormenting her. Dead animals are tossed on her porch steps, a man she has spent hours negotiating with is shot down as he walks out with his arms in the air, and Phobe doesn't have a clue who is taunting & terrorizing her. She is also dealing with a suspended police officer who hates her and when she is attacked in the stairwell of her own police building he is fired and only given community service. As the violence escalates, she fears for her family and the man she is falling in love with, Duncan Swift.

Nora Roberts never fails to deliver action, suspense, intrigue, chemistry, and romance. The plot development and action were well written. The suspense kept building and building as the stalker grew more violent and brash. I was never sure who the stalker was and neither was Phoebe until just before the final showdown (hence the title, High Noon). The family dynamics and history added another interesting storyline which added another dimension to the characters. The chemistry between Phoebe and Duncan was believable even if it did happen very fast. He was a great character, honest, loyal, loving and putting Phoebe's family right up there with her. He was the prince on the white steed, but not mushy or unbelievable. My only complaint was the abrupt ending. I would have loved an epilogue of what happened after that final scene where the showdown takes place. I assume they got married, but would love to have had something end the story a little less abruptly. A great romantic suspense novel for anyone who likes reading this genre.

[Duchess Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is not my favorite Nora, but still good. I tend to rate her against herself anyways. I think the tough woman cop thing is a little overplayed. I really enjoy when she writes a heroine who is a bit softer, and Phoebe is definitely not that. I thought that Duncan, Phoebe's love interest, was sort of blah. I just never fell in love with him.

As always, there is a secondary love story going on between Ava and Phoebe's stand in Daddy and boss. But I was very frustrated to realize at the end of the book that there was no resolution. She didn't even allude to a happy ending for these two. Seriously, it's like she just forgot that these characters had their own little story going on. Urg!

I suppose that sounds all bad, but the book was still enjoyable. I like that Phoebe was a mother and that her daughter was priority #1 in her life. She's had a tough life and overcome a lot to be a strong willed woman, taking on the world and all of it's evil people.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started out quite slow in the 1st half but got much better. The 2nd half has all the action in it. I give it 3.5 stars due to the previous fact. I did like the H & h.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Noon

Nora Roberts

First off, I can't believe I waited twelve years to read HIGH NOON! It is by far the best book I've read this year so far. The twists and turns just kept on coming and hooked me from the very first chapter!


Phoebe MacNamara is a police lieutenant with the Savannah, Georgia Police Department. She is also the top hostage negotiator and HIGH NOON begins with Phoebe talking down a man on a roof top who is threatening suicide. She gets on the ledge with him, gets him to put the gun down, and gets him to come off the ledge. Just another day in paradise for Phoebe. She is also a single mom, takes care of her agoraphobic mother, and the sole provider of the family.


While on the rooftop, Phoebe meets Duncan Swift who is the former employer of the man threatening to jump. She finds out that Duncan has won the lottery and is very rich. He is also very charming and despite her trying to resists his charms, she fails miserably. Phoebe is attacked at work shortly thereafter and it is Duncan that she turns to for comfort. HIGH NOON now has someone targeting Phoebe and her family and he is seeking revenge. At first, I truly thought I knew who it was, but boy was I wrong! Trust me, once you start reading HIGH NOON you won't be able to put it down as Nora Roberts takes you on one heck of an emotional roller coaster ride! This is an intense story that never slows down.


I loved the person Phoebe was right away and her daughter Carly was so funny. HIGH NOON is a great romantic suspense story that had me up late one night trying to finish. I just had to know who was after Phoebe and why. After you read what she had to endure and why, you won't believe it! I still can't believe it took me this long to read this amazing story, I'm kicking myself........if you haven't read HIGH NOON yet, you need to read it very soon. You won't be sorry and then you can kick yourself for waiting so long! Haha

[Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

High Noon

The love story of Phoebe and Duncan. Phoebe is the chief hostage negotiator for the Savannah police department. She met Duncan when she is talking down one of his employee. It's love at first site for him. Now Phoebe has someone after her. Can she find out who is trying to frighten her? Great story.

[Sandra Hoover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Roberts never fails to deliver in her standalone novels. Action, suspense, intrigue, chemistry, romance - High Noon has it all. And it'll be some time before I get that tune out of my head! This one starts off with a bang - straight into action as Phoebe is called to the scene of a man threatening suicide. As a hostage negotiator with the Savannah police department, Phoeboe goes out on the ledge to talk him down. It's just another day in her life as a police hostage negotiator, single mother, caretaker of her mother & breadwinner of the family. But things are changing as someone is stalking and tormenting her. Dead animals are tossed on her porch steps, she is attacked in the stairwell of her own police building, a man she has spent hours negotiating with is shot down as he walks out with his arms in the air, and Phobe doesn't have a clue who is taunting & terrorizing her. As the violence escalates, she fears for her family and the man she can't seem to get out of her mind, Duncan Swift.

What works? I loved the plot development and suspense in High Noon. The story never lags as the action revs up with the mystery stalker growing more violent and braver day by day. The author did a good job building the suspense while keeping the identity of the stalker hidden from both Phoebe and readers. The family dynamics are intriguing and add another plot line to the story. The chemistry between Phoebe and Duncan is believable with just the right amount of angst and obstacles thrown in their path along with a good dose of sizzle! I loved Duncan - the character he portrays is the kind of man every girl deserves. And yet, he didn't come across as too sweet or good to be true. Although he's a gentleman, he's also a man who sees what he wants and goes after it with every intention of winning. Phoebe never stood a chance.

What doesn't work? Honestly, it all works. My only wish would be for an epilogue to tie up some sub-plot lines concerning relationships with secondary characters. While the ending is satisfying with things wrapped up neatly with the main characters and the mystery, there are some other characters that also stole my heart. While a hea was hinted at for them, it would have been nice to "see" them all about a year in the future. But this in no way distracts from the overall enjoyment of the book. This is a great read for fans of romance suspense. As I said, Nora Roberts never fails in this genre, in my opinion. A must read!

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[Eviltwinjen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a total sucker for Nora Roberts, and as long as she's not recycling characters too obviously I have few complaints. Say what you will about Roberts and her incredibly prolific career, she's an effective writer. I laughed, I cried, I was concerned about whether some characters would make it out alive. So the hero is just a bit too good to be true--an emotionaly open, handsome, loyal lottery winner, fer chrissakes--the heroine is a hostage negotiator who's truly ballbusting. The opening, which plunks you and her right into a negotiation with a potential suicide, is corking good. The relationship progresses realistically, and the suspense plot conveniently provides enough distraction to prevent our lovers from fully committing to one another long enough to have a book and not so long that we lose respect for them (thank God, no "big misunderstanding").

In romance, the setting is a big part of the hook. All romance plots and characters are essentially cast from the same set of molds, so the trappings are a big part of what makes a new romance interesting to fans. In this case, Roberts has lifted her setting and even some incidental characters right out of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Which...huh. I love to hear about quirky Savannahians, and she makes it work--Roberts always writes characters who are just plain good people, but not boringly good, people you would be happy to know exist. There's even a fabulous drag queen, who seems to appear just so Roberts can remind us that GLBT folks are our friends. Hey, I'm all for that. I could have wished that the villain was introduced a bit earlier, and didn't spring up fully formed as a plot point halfway through the book, but then the mystery is never really the point of romantic suspense. All in all, it's Roberts doing what she's good at, and the kind of romance you can give to the disbelieving who think the genre is all heaving bosoms and "I hate you...but I love you!"

[Thenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A friend in their review described this as "Roarke and Eve Lite", and I found that to be a very apt description.

Phoebe is a Police Lieutenant and experienced negotiator and Duncan is a charming Irishman who is not exactly hurting for money. They meet when one of Duncan's employees whom he recently fired is threatening to commit suicide and Phoebe is called in as a negotiator. Duncan is immediately captivated by her aura of competence and authority, and after the suicide is averted, starts pursuing her.

Phoebe's home life is complicated, since she's a single mother and her mother is agoraphobic and hasn't left the house in years, among other things, and she doesn't think dating is a good idea, but Duncan manages to charm her into agreeing to one date, that then turns into another. Before either of them knows it, they are part of each other's lives and when Eve gets attached, she turns to Duncan for a sanctuary and comfort, while he turns to her for help when his adoptive mother and sister are caught hostage by the man who has been trying to torment Phoebe whom he blamed for his beloved's death.

Engaging story that kept my interest, despite, or perhaps because of the similarities between beloved characters.

[Monica **can't read fast enough** · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one and it was a good book to take on a trip, but I don't think that it will stick with me.
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