A gyűjtő

by Nora Roberts, Gondáné Kaul Éva (Translator)

Lila Emerson meg van győződve arról, hogy az élete tökéletes, és nincs szüksége senkire a boldogsághoz. Lila hivatásos házvigyázó, ami elég szokatlan munka, de ő nagyon élvezi, hogy mások lakására vigyázhat, amíg a tulajdonosok nyaralnak. Az élete állandó utazás, és két bőröndbe belefér minden holmija. Közben sikeres író, aki éppen a következő regényén dolgozik. Egy este kinéz az ablakon, és egy gyilkosság szemtanúja lesz. Természetesen azonnal kihívja a rendőrséget. Később találkozik az egyik áldozat bátyjával, és akkor még nem sejti, hogy az élete váratlan fordulatot vesz.
Ashton Archer gazdag családból származó sikeres festőművész. Amikor az öccse tragikus körülmények között meghal, mindenáron beszélni akar a szemtanúval, hogy kideríthesse, mi történt. Nem tudja elhinni, hogy az öccse megölt valakit, majd öngyilkos lett. A találkozás megváltoztatja mindkettejük életét. Nemsokára kiderül, hogy egy megszállott műkincsgyűjtő áll a gyilkosságok hátterében, és nem Ashton öccse az egyetlen áldozat. Lila és Ashton is veszélybe kerül. Egy bérgyilkos vadászik rájuk, miközben rég elveszettnek hitt, felbecsülhetetlen értékű cári kincsek kerülnek elő, és a történet egyre szövevényesebb lesz.
Ashton és Lila is megtalálja a maga kincsét, a szerelmet, ami fontosabb és értékesebb minden műtárgynál.

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

576 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2014

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

[Miki · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

I believe Roberts has a file cabinet filled with character descriptions from which she just pulls a stock set for each new book.

One sassy, beautiful heroine. Check.
One studly, smart hero. Check.
One (or two) female sidekicks (with matching males), also sassy, beautiful, studly, etc. Check.
One sociopath villain and assorted evil, easily disposed of henchmen.Check, check, check.
(BTW, this villain will be recognized by anyone who remembers the '70s.)

NR's trademark witty dialog has dwindled into a few smart remarks and rambling, off-the-cuff, pseudo-psychological diagnoses by the main character. Like Iona in The Dark Witch, Lila is afflicted with the dread Babbling Brook Syndrome. She doesn't have conversations, she makes speeches. She doesn't just "get" something, she has epiphanies and revelations. She sees all, understands all.....and tells all and sundry what they are thinking and feeling. Often.

Add unlikely details such as the encounter in the police station between Lila and Ash, the hit woman who operates in stilettos (heels, not knives), and that Lila once had an affair with a married man whose then wife is now Lila's BFF. No, sorry, it just doesn't work for me.

The action sequences weren't bad. One thing NR does right is to never have the woman depend on being rescued by the studly male, so I will give points for that.

Overall, a mildly entertaining, albeit eye-rolling, read but not one I'll pick up again.

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whew, for a moment there I thought I was right – but no, I am not!!! Thinking that this book had been written by some other author!!!! Crazy right???? But as a more than rabid fan of NORA ROBERTS, from reading her first book many years ago, I have become very familiar with her writing style, plots, characters, etc….and for me, THE COLLECTOR just did not make me feel or think it could possibly be a NR book.

By Chapter Two……it was like….WHAT AM I READING? Checked, and yes, it’s the right book…..but why am I not getting into the story…okay, I did skim a page or two, but I couldn’t help myself….because I just couldn’t stop..….

there must be a mistake….I’ve never yawned or skimmed pages with other NR’s books….yes…EVER!!!! /NEVER!!!!
Where is the suspenseful, exciting, kept on edge of your seat, well-developed, great subplots that tie in so well and an ending that leaves you satisfied plot?
Where are the unique, believable, memorable and well-developed characters?
Where is the original and intriguing writing and natural, flowing dialogue?
These are just a few things that we expect and get from a NR novel.
Well, those few things are not here in this boring book.
Yes, for me…..
The plot is somewhat a rehash of a well-used formula, totally unbelievable and unrealistic, dragging through the most implausible situations.
Lila Emerson, professional house-sitter to the well-heeled crowd and an up and coming author of YA werewolves pnr books, witnesses a woman being pushed out of a window that she had been “spying” on..oops, sorry she does it her books research….with binoculars.
She meets Ashton Archer, gorgeous, sexy, zillionaire artist, who happens to be one of the victim’s brother, at the police station -
They get together to solve the crimes because the cops are not doing their job. Yes, the two take on the dangerous and evil villain, who is labeled HAG….Hot Asian Girl…I kid you not!! They embark on the trail of stolen Faberge Eggs and despite the dangers they face, they manage to “sail” over all the difficulties until they SOLVE the crime and get the BAD GUYS!!!

And the sub-plot of the romance between the two secondary characters is just beyond OTT!!!!
The characters are so uninteresting, boring and bland. Lila and her best friend (not going to give things away but how these two connected and became friends…………unreal…unreal!))))) love shopping, shoes, perfume…yes all those things we all think about!!!!!She house-sits because she’s an army brat and likes to move around and also doesn’t do commitment or forever……She knows out to get people to talk to her – for her research of course – because she’s kind and sweet..but wait she’s also fearless and independent….
Ashton Archer, famous artist, not gorgeous at first but soon turns out to be abso gorgeous, caring for for his beyond dysfunctional family…..he has 13 siblings….yes truly. He lives in an awesome place, paints Lila and uses one of the two family’s PRIVATE jets…..And falls in love, true love for the first time with the feisty and so tedious Lila.
The writing is lackluster with some appalling dialogue ever….

After much skimming and skipping, finally arrived at THE END….by then I had made my decision..

But before I do that - Here’s to closing my eyes and making a wish that the next book by my fav author will be totally awesome!!

After much thought....I changed my review to 2 stars because there were two characters that I did like....
Thomas

.....and

...no, mistake here...not the tea...though I do enjoy it.....
but Earl Grey

.......the most adorable teacup poodle

who saves the day....!!!!

[Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

You can't go far wrong with Nora Roberts’s books. She always knows how to give what the readers want, and as a reader, I want the stories that keep me up late until the last page is turned. I want to feel the thrill of reading that never fades and the stories that never pall. And I can tell I got exactly what I want from this book! This was a fantastic romantic suspense story that had me hooked from the very start until the very end. With a brilliant plot, endearing hero and heroine, likable supporting characters, unforgettable villains, engaging suspense, heart-stopping thriller, and well done ending, I can genuinely say that The Collector was pretty much a winner for me.

Lila Emerson is a house sitter and a writer. One day she accidentally witnessed the murder of a young woman who lived in the building across the street. She then became a target of the psycho assassin.

Ashton Archer is an artist and a brother of the boyfriend of the murdered woman. With his determination to find out the truth about his brother’s death, he teamed up with Lila in order to get some closure and justice for his family. While they tried to figure the whole mystery thing out, the sparks between them grew more intense. There was no denying the feelings they had for each other.

The deeper they dug into this case, the more danger they were in. They both knew that it was impossible for them to have a happy future together, unless they could end this whole mess and get rid of these bad guys completely.

I loved both main leads in this story. Lila is by far one of the most admirable NR female characters I’ve read. She's strong, smart, and most of all, she's reasonable. (I love reasonable women!) I loved that she had compassion on Ashton since she first knew who he was. Moreover, I admired her for her high moral standards and for never being afraid to do what needed to be done even if it meant risking her life.

Ashton is a typical NR hero. (Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t complain, just stated a fact.) He's always so good to Lila (and I was all green with envy!), everything a woman can dream of. He’s determined, clever, confident, strong, and so damn hot in my eyes. When he fell for her, he pursued her and fought every way for her love. Simply because she’s worth everything. Yeah...that's my dream man. Anyway, what I admired most about him was that he really loved and cared about his family. And that totally hit the spot for me.


“It’s you. Your face, your body, your voice in my head. The feel of you, the sound of you. Your sense of right and wrong, your wariness of saying too much about yourself, and the fascination of peeling those layers back to reveal them myself. Even the baffling way you figure out how to fix things. All that makes it you. You’re my weak spot because I love you.”


One more thing I loved about this book was the secondary couple, Luke and Julie. I found myself rooting for them to get back together. They both deserved a second chance.

I wouldn't consider this one a flawless book, yet somehow, it simply provided me hours of enjoyment and enthralled me entirely while I was reading it. Fans of romantic suspense novels will be delighted with this book for certain.

[Jilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would say that you would really like this book if you like Eve Dallas and Roarke. The guy definitely has Roarke-appeal going for him. And, the female is a bit less likable, although in a different way.

She's just a tad over the top. Too perfect, too able, too efficient. And, she's a bit of a creeper by looking into other people's windows to watch their lives. Get your own life, lady!



She literally takes binoculars with her to her house-sitting jobs to do her creepy stalker thing. Which, as we all know from movies and television, means that she witnesses a murder. I guess that's just another reason for minding your own damn business. You don't become a witness who everyone wants to kill for witnessing shit.


Well maybe Snuggles should have kept his stupid kitty trap shut. Have fun in your new life in Iowa as a farm cat, bitch!

And, yeah, she's a professional house-sitter who is also a successful writer. She carries tools with her on her jobs because she can fix absolutely anything. She is also skilled with a gun and knows self-defense. So, she travels the world living in luxurious places that she gets paid for, fixes their homes up, writes best-selling books, and solves crime. She's also super pretentious.


This is her after visiting France.

So, it took me a while to warm up to her.
The guy, on the other hand, Ashton, is a billionaire artist who wants to capture the fire in her eyes on canvas and happens to be the gorgeous, single brother of the guy who was murdered. See? Much more believable. Ahem... anyway. He talks to her about what she saw and they dive into this murder mystery together - along with diving into bed together. What the hell, right?


Enjoy it while you can..

The two of them are trying to evade a hitman (who is a gorgeous asian woman - duh!), solve the mystery of the missing Imperial Fabrege Eggs, and catch the killer of his brother.


The best things always happen after these words.

But, in spite of all of the above, I liked this book. You suspend a little belief, and you will totally enjoy the ride. Nora Roberts does magical things with the alpha male romance. It was a lot of fun and I'm going to find another of her books to read asap.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh, this book was sadly disappointing. It wasn't bad, but definitely not up to snuff with many of her other books. And it started off from the beginning, because the initial premise of how they meet just loses me.

I mean, come on. In what world is the police going to let (slight spoiler alert, but it happens in the first 10 pages of the book) the brother of the accused perpetrator meet with the sole eye-witness to the event. Can you imagine if the police acted like that? "Why sure, of course you can meet with our only witness and approach her on the street" and "of course you should invite the brother of the guy you think killed his girlfriend up to your apartment so he can get a better viewpoint. It's totally okay, because he's an artist". I mean come on...

And then the story doesn't get better. The characters to me, aren't redeeming and aren't realistic. Which is normally my favorite part of Nora Roberts books is her ability to make you believe in the character and understand them, that was lost to me this time. Archer just ticked me off throughout most of the book and then Lila, who started out as this independent person, becomes his pushover.

Sigh...maybe the next one will be better

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Collector by Nora Roberts is a book that took me to one of my favorite subjects, missing antiques. Antiques that have a notorious history and a list of interested parties. The antiques in this story are my most favorite antiques to read about.

As the deaths keep growing, the mysterious circumstances place fear into Lila Emerson.

Lila is a nomadic house-sitter. She is a professional and has quite a following. When she sees a woman die from her loaned house, she is drawn into a serious circle of the victim's friends and family.

The playfulness of Lila is so enjoyable in this suspenseful book. I, like Ash think her brain is so clever and fun. I think I relate to her buckshot analogy.

The plot is intricate and detailed. It is also so beautifully artistic. The words are so full of vibrant life befitting the writer and the artist that they are written for. I again am super impressed with the descriptiveness of Nora's work. when she puts someone in danger, I was close to tears. It is so vivid.

The villain in this story is so evilly demented. That murderer is the most chillingly, cold, and calculating person ever.

As far as Ash and Lila are concerned. They are so lovable. Both are so real and funny together and comfortable with themselves. It is a rich lovely romantic story and compliments to suspense so well.

This is another 5 star reading for me. I just loved it.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I had all kinds of things to say about this book but I was too lazy to take many notes and a week has passed and now there’s nothing much left that stuck with me.

If I had to choose a book that defines a three star read for me this one would be right up there. It’s not awful, it flows nice and stuff, but it’s not earth-shatteringly fantastic either and that’s a shame. I wish all books were earth-shatteringly fantastic. I didn’t laugh and I didn’t cry and I was only vaguely entertained but that’s nothing new. If you’re stuck in a car, stuck picking up doggie doo in the yard or forced to cook dinner every night of the week, I’d say this audiobook is a good way to help keep your mind off of those mind-numbing tasks but if you’re anything like me you probably won’t remember any of it once you start the next book. Or maybe you’ll love it and I’m an idiot. Who knows.

Here’s the gist. The heroine is a writer of YA and also housesits and spends her time peeping into the homes of the neighbors with her binoculars. She says this is to get insight into personalities or some such but I’m not buying it. She’s just nosey and I’m just jealous because she gets paid for this. Hey, how do I get this gig? Anyway, her peeping backfires when she witnesses a murder and it puts her smack in the middle of some nefarious goings-on having to do with a Faberge egg and a psychotic killer. Don’t worry though she also meets the love of her life because of this so it’s all good.

They have some spark but I never see it. They have some sex but it’s boring to me. They declare themselves falling in love but I’m not feeling it and now I can’t even remember any of it. True story.

There are a lot of amazing books out there and there are a lot of crappy ones. This one falls right in the middle.

[Goatlips · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh! I hated the main characters with a passion! The females were sooo superficial (gotta buy tons of shoes while in Italy! I should have bought that purse/bag when I had a chance). GAG me.

The males weren't any better. Of course, the male lead is a world famous artist who makes millions of dollars painting pictures of witches and faeries (I was literally LOL, I mean, how cheesy is that? Could you imagine someone plunking down thousands of dollars on a painting of a woman in a forest?) LAAMME.

And they're all ridiculously rich and perfect, they can just fly off to Italy at the drop of a hat. No, they don't have to worry about work, bills, commitments, or anything like that.

I know it's fiction, but these elements in the book were simply infuriating. And the way the male "hero" is just sooo protective of Lila. I mean, c'mon, he sees her with a man and he immediately shields her? This book is beyond redemption.

I'm almost to the end, I just hope the villain kills off the four main characters.

[Karla · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars! Absorbing well thought out romantic suspense!

A very exciting shocking start, an intriguing mystery, and a likeable couple that meet under unusual tragic circumstances, made this a captivating read. There was also a lovely secondary romance that added a nice touch, especially since it was a second chance at love. I enjoyed how through association, one person or another from the two couples knew each other, making it more personal. I was rooting for both couples and liked the characters as individuals as well. It lagged a little at one point, but then the action picked up and it ended on a high note!

Nora Roberts is hit or miss with me, this was definitely a hit!

Excellent narration by the talented Julia Whelan, she's always a pleasure to listen to.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Collector: The sequel to Angels Fall, a novel by Nora Roberts. Reese has a new job as a house sitter and author of tween books, while Brody decides to pursue his lifelong dream to become an artist. When Reese witness's another murder, circumstances lead to Reese and Brody on a treasure hunt. Romance ensues.

Huh? The characters names are Lila and Ash.

Oh, yes. I see that.

Then why do you keep saying it's about some other book?

Because they are practically the same characters. Same physical attributes and the same plot setup (with the whole female witnessing murder thing.) Heck, they are even quoting the movie Rear Window, just like in the other book.

So why did you rate it so high?

Because I wanted to that's why. Plus Angels Fall is like my favorite Nora Roberts book. Since this one copied it so much, yet it's not plagiarism since it's by the same author, I was bound to like it.

And you liked it because...

It's a regular Nora Roberts romance. It's nice to enjoy the adventure of a thrilling love affair with a lot of action in it. Do I wish that Nora would think of something besides treasure hunts and witnessing murders and so on and so forth, sure. But hey, if the shoe fits and all that.

Plus I pictured Captain Hook from Once Upon a Time as Ash. She was asking for it when she said he was "swashbuckling."

Last question, what's with the italic questions?

So I'm craving conversation. Nothing wrong with that.

Anyway, if you are a huge Nora Roberts fan, you might want to library read this one to test drive it. Especially if you are tired of the formula. If you are just looking for a good romantic book though, you'll be pleased with this one.

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok. You guys know I have a deep seated love for Nora Roberts, so you may think I'm just showing favoritism. But this is among the top ten of my favorite books, ever!!
The heroine, Lila is one of my favorite characters of all time! She's kind, helpful, loyal, strong, brave, smart, the list just goes on. When she housesits she treats the house and pets with love and attention. She even fixes little things in the house! Add to all that, she writes YA novels with werewolves!
Of course the hero (who is a rich, handsome artist, naturally) falls in love with her. Hell, who wouldn't?
The story involves intrigue, terror and some truly Bad Guys. Capital B! The assassin is a horrible person!
The story begins when Lila witnesses a murder while she is looking out the window of an apartment she is housesitting. You might think that its kinda weird that she stares out windows watching people, but my husband does that, too. (Don't know if that is an indorsement🤔) That habit prompted a visit from the KGB while he was in Russia, but that's another story.
Anyway, Nora had outdone herself with this story! It's amazing!

P. S. The pop culture and comic book references are spot on. Obviously Nora is a fellow Geek. 👏🏻 Yay!

[Celeste · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review now posted!
Original review can be found at Booknest.

I’m not usually a binge reader. I like to have multiple books going at one time and swap between them so I don’t burn out or get bogged down. But anytime I pick up a book from Nora, I just devour it. It doesn’t matter if it’s a new book or one I’ve read half a dozen times. There’s just something about her writing that is completely addicting to me, and I can’t put it down until I’m finished. The Collector was definitely no exception. Even though I’ve read it in the past, I somehow managed to forget a lot of the details, which is rare for me. So this felt almost like a new read, which was fantastic. And it just might be one of my favorite standalones from her.

“Fictional people are people, too, otherwise why would we care what happens to them?”

Lila Emerson is a professional house sitter and an author of young adult werewolf novels. She lives her life out of a couple of suitcases, and she’s just fine with that nomadic lifestyle. Until she witnesses a murder one night, and her life changes forever. The brother of one of the dead, Ashton Archer, tracks down Lila to get some closure on his brother’s death. Ashton is an artist, and an incredibly talented one. He’s also the linchpin for his incredibly large, incredibly wealthy family. Lila doesn’t quite know what to do with him, but she’s determined to help him solve his brother’s murder. This quest leads them on an intense journey through the art world as they search for a priceless piece of Russian art that disappeared over a hundred years ago.

“Love leaves a mark that doesn’t erase easily.”

I love the romance here. Lila is a modern gypsy, roving wherever life takes her. And with her little multitool, some WD-40, and some duct tape, she can fix just about anything. Ashton is very much locked down, with a gorgeous home in the middle of New York City that I could seriously visualize. He’s famous for his incredible paintings of women re-envisioned, but cooking and home repair are totally beyond him. Lila likes to make her own way and not depend on anyone. Ash is used to taking charge and taking care of everyone. Both are artists in their own right, but their temperaments and outlooks on life are vastly different. But they adjust to one another, and build a beautiful relationship. And there’s a secondary romance here that was just as adorable, between Lila and Ash’s respective best friends. The whole book and the four main characters were just so cute, that I smiled through the vast majority of the book.

“A man can own with ignorance, but can’t possess without knowledge. I know what’s mine.”

I also really enjoyed learning more about Russian art history. Something I always appreciate about Nora is her portrayal of art in all its forms, and the artists that create it. She has a wonderful way of describing paintings and sculptures and music and writing, where the care and creativity involved in producing it really shines through. She has a fantastic grasp on what it takes to create, and the feeling that creation inspires during the process. I’m just always so impressed with her descriptions and imagery, and how much heart she puts into her character. And there’s something about reading her work that never fails to inspire me, to make me feel like my dreams are achievable and that my talent and my life are enough. Some authors make me feel like less when I read their work, but Nora always makes me feel like enough and more. Which is why she will always and forever be one of my very favorites.

“Art is another song that must be sung. Whether the song is of woe or joy, of love or despair, of war or serenity, it must be sung.”

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique Nora book and I was sooooo invested! I loved the heroine from the beginning and loved how she was a house sitter and witnessed a murder because she loved watching people out her window (very Rear Window vibes). She teams up with the hero, whose brother's murder she witnessed, and they fall in love while trying to track down his killer. There were just a few slow parts, but overall I was so invested in this one!

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Roberts has her romantic suspense mojo back! In this latest book, we see elements of the Hitchcock classic, Rear Window, which happens to be my most favorite film.

Quick summary
Lila Emerson, a professional house sitter, witnesses a woman falling from her apartment window in New York City. She saw this as she was "people watching" from her current apartment. What might have initially been classified as a murder-suicide is impacted by her quick response. Ashton Archer's brother is one of the victims and he finds a willing partner in Lila when he decides that the police aren't looking at the case correctly. Together they launch their own amateur investigation.

The suspense
It doesn't take long for the tension to ratchet up as Ash and Lila's snooping take them down some dangerous and downright scary paths. Lila's pretty bright, with an investigative and analytical mind. Ash is an artist, who is the de facto head of his bizarre but interesting huge family, is used to managing people and details...the guy who gets things done and makes things happen...so they make a great team. The villains in this story run the range from seemingly bloodless to clueless, which kept me off balance.

The romance
Lila and Ash were a perfect match, especially given how their differences complimented each other. He's sexy with some serious alpha qualities that he had to often reign in with the fiercely independent Lila. I loved their dialogue. What was an added bonus was the romance between two of the secondary characters, the friends of Lila and Ash. Theirs almost, not quite, but almost surpassed that of the main characters.

The narration
This was my first time listening to Julia Whelan and I was very pleased with her performance. She was able to provide distinction for most of the characters and this has a big cast. I especially liked her portrayal of Lila as she sounded just like I would have imagined her to speak...the right cadence, pacing and inflection. The audio experience certainly enhanced my reading experience.

The bottom line
I enjoyed this story with its themes entrenched in the old film classic. The romances worked, the mystery was tough to first unravel and the villains deliciously scary to provide that tension I love so much in this genre. The audio performance just made everything even better with a pretty even balance between the romance and suspense.

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a pretty big Nora Roberts fan, and I was pretty disappointed in this book. For starters, it's way too long. I have never read a (modern) book by her that drags. This dragged. Second, the hero was remarkably unlikable. There is a specific scene about a third of the way through the book, where I would have just walked if I were the heroine, and the only reason she didn't is because she is written to be less strong than she thinks she is. The hero is pushy, obnoxious, and a hypocrite. I kept waiting for either the heroine to call him out or the plot to show him his flaws, but it didn't happen. Worse, his flaws in some ways mirror the heroine's, and the book centers on "fixing" her need to be in control by having her let him boss her around. Infuriating. Also, while it (at least) is resolved relatively quickly, the meet-cute was kind of creepy. Lastly, by the end, I really didn't think I was seeing characters who would be "happy ever after" together, which is usually one of Roberts' strengths. These two don't seem to have the long haul together, for me. The book leaves too many of their differences unresolved. Very unsatisfying.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lila Emerson is a professional house-sitter. She takes care of her client's Manhattan apartments when they are out of town. It also gives her time to work on writing her young adult novels. While watching an apartment for a new client, Lila is gazing at the neighbors in the next building when she witnesses a woman being pushed out of a window. The cops believe it was a murder-suicide as the woman's boyfriend was found shot in the apartment. At the police station the next day to give her statement, Lila meets artist Ashton Archer, the brother of the victim's boyfriend. He knows his brother would never harm a woman and insists that this was a double-murder. Lila listens to him and agrees to help him sort out what really happened.

Lila and Ash work together to discover what exactly his brother was into. I liked both of these characters and thought the romance was convincing. A romance between secondary characters just added to the story. The suspense story involves the missing Imperial Fabergé Eggs and someone who will go to great lengths to possess them. The suspense was amplified when Lila becomes the target of the killer.

This was a long story, but I was hooked right from the start. I listened to the audio version which was narrated by Julia Whelan. The narration was outstanding and gave me a good reading experience. My rating: 4.5 Stars.

[✨Susan✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Lila Emerson an unsuspecting writer and professional house sitter, is a witness to the brutal murder of a man and woman in a high rise across from where she is staying, she is pulled into a whirlwind of the upper echelon of a family dynasty. As the police end up at a dead end and then there is another torturous murder in the same family, she is approached by Ash Archer, the elder brother one of the decedents for some answers.

Lila and Ash find themselves searching for a ruthless, female assassin who is not just doing the bidding of her employer but who now has acquired an agenda of her own. Greed, revenge and historical obsession draw them deaper into the mystery behind some priceless heirlooms.

The story was full of suspense and I thought it was almost as good as, "The Witness", another Nora Roberts book I enjoyed very much. Both of these were admirably narrated by Julia Whalen who some may know from, "Gone Girl".

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an unexpectedly long book for Nora Roberts plus I was listening to it on audiobook so it took even longer to finish than if I was reading it. However it was also very enjoyable. The story was a little far fetched and the characters were all stunningly beautiful and very rich but that is standard fare for this author and she does write it all so well. Romance wise everything was fine and dandy. I liked Lila and Ash although he occasionally came across as a bit too controlling. The ending was good and even a little unexpected with the little surprise just when we thought it was all over.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

Eek. Get ready for some binocular gifs people.
So I love me a Nora Roberts read, but this book just had some fundamental problems- and overall wasn't for me.



Where to start...Well, mainly I don't think the characters were as charming as the writing was telling me they were.

Lila is a writer/house sitter/fix-it woman who has a great big open heart, and likes to go where the wind takes her. She can also get anyone to open up to her, spill their life stories, and is sooo compassionate in everything she does.
Bored yet?

However, she does have a weird little habit of using binoculars to spy on the people around her calling the act-- “visiting the neighbors.” But it's less quirky and more creepy if you ask me.

“And the Body practiced his bump and grind regularly—to her unabashed pleasure.” She treated herself to the show, and the stories she created every morning.

Yeah....it was just weird and vyoeristic. But this spying does lead to her witnessing a murder, and thus the start of our story.

Sidenote -- Lila is constantly referred to as a gypsy. I don't know if the term gypsy is derogatory or not-I've read a little bit, but I think its really at the discretion of the Romani people to decide if they want to use the term--Regardless, I really don't think the phrase "Gypsy" should be used as a term of endearment for people who simply love to travel, or have a transient life style, or dark rims around their eyes (as Ash describes).

It's a word that represents a history of oppression for an entire population of people so using it as a descriptor for someone who has no connection to that culture felt a bit off for me-- and this was written in 2014, so can't really blame the times.



So- Ash was written like an artistic millionaire with passion, charm, and protective instincts to spare. But to me he was bossy, pushy, and authoritative.

"Pretty free with the orders, she thought as he left. And he had a smooth and clever way of making them seem like favors or just good sense."

“He takes over a little too much for me—it’s his wiring. He decides I’m staying at his place because Luke was at yours—and that made sense. But ‘discuss’ is better than ‘decide,’ and he sent for my luggage before any of the discuss.”

He's constantly just telling her she's going to do something instead of asking- I think because he knows if he asked she say no, and then he’d have to waste time coercing her. Uncharitable? Maybe. He'd call it "seducing." 🙄



And he's also a very...I want what I want, and I get what I want kinda guy. And it seemed like Lila was constantly bending to him, or letting things slide and giving him a pass when he keeps telling her what to do. It kind of takes the 'partnership' aspect out of the relationship, and instead makes Lila a passive participant along for the ride in the story.

“I’ll get what I want because nothing I’ve ever wanted matters a fraction of what you matter. So I’ll get what I want.

He preferred laying things out clearly, whenever possible. And she needed to get used to it.

The faintest flicker of annoyance ran over his face. “We’ve crossed that point, Lila. If you want to backtrack you can tell me to sleep in one of the other bedrooms. I won’t, I’ll seduce you, but you can tell me.”

.Anyhoo- story- the baddies weren't that interesting-the murder mystery of it all was kind of intriguing- but the Imperial Egg story line was what kept me going. However, I don't know if that was in credit to the book or just the fact that the history itself it fascinating on its own.

I mean I did leave the book half way through to start reading up on the eggs and went down a spiral of research about the Russian Royal Family. So up to you if you want to take a chance reading this novel. Mixed bag--ho hum leads and a mildly interesting mystery.





But great history mystery!

[Ian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A Nora Roberts heroine witnesses a crime. A Nora Roberts hero teams up with her to solve the crime all the while a Nora Roberts villain is on the hunt. Read this book...read the Witness...read The Search...it doesn't really matter, they're all the same.



If you want to read some really great romantic suspense, do yourself a favour, get onto Carolyn Crane's The Associates series and give this a miss.

[Nellab1984 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 molto lungo ma ne vale sicuramente la pena

[Serena Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
Ha sido un libro que me ha tenido totalmente absorbida. Todo el tema del asesinato de Oliver, ir descubriendo poco a poco lo que sucedió... el móvil, implicaciones, todo ha estado genial
Me encantan Lila y Ash, y también Luke y Julie, he disfrutado de sus relaciones y sobre todo de su amistad

[TinaNoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the very definition of a 3-star book. I liked it, it was an easy read, it was technically well written. It wasn't terrible and didn't make me roll my eyes . It wasn't implausible. It made sense. But alas, it will not jump to the front of the my mind when someone asks me for a rec of a good Nora Roberts book or even a good suspense book. It did not move me and it did not prompt me to go back and re-read it immediately after finishing. A fine book, easy to read and kill and afternoon with.

My Full Review Here

[Aly is so frigging bored · Rating 5 out of 5]

4th read May 2022

3rd read: January 2021

2nd read: 30 January - 25 February 2017

1st read: 20-23 May 2014
I thought I'll have a heart attack while reading the book. It was so good!

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5★s

Professional house-sitter, Lila Emerson had just settled into her latest luxurious home in New York with the owner’s cat Thomas curling around her legs and mewling contentedly. She was a writer and currently working on her second novel, part of a series for young adults. She was also a people watcher – a habit she enjoyed – the interesting lives of other people gave her lots of ideas; she was fascinated by what she observed.

A few days later, relaxing after a day immersed in the lives of her characters and people watching once again, she was horrified to realize the young couple in the building opposite were arguing, fighting; with the suddenness of the young woman’s violent crash through the window and down to the pavement below, Lila was shocked that she had just witnessed a dreadful and brutal murder.

With the police investigating, the simple verdict suddenly wasn’t what it had initially seemed – Ashley Archer, a handsome artist, was involved in some way and Lila found herself telling him, a complete stranger, what she had seen. Her best friend Julie vaguely knew Ashley but Lila suddenly found herself in a danger so immense, so terrifying that her previous self-defence skills, taught to her by her father, a retired Lieutenant Colonel could well be needed. But would they be enough against a crazed and evil killer?

As the police investigation stalled, the tension and danger for Lila and her friends intensified, and when more bodies appeared Lila wondered if she would ever feel safe again. From the suburbs of New York, to Florence in Italy and back again, the killing was close – too close – would she survive the horrors that had formed just because she loved to people watch?

I thoroughly enjoyed this new romantic suspense novel by Nora Roberts – more suspense with a side of romance – also with a fair sprinkling of humour throughout; laugh out loud stuff a couple of times! It was a little “quiet” at the beginning, but once the action started the story was gripping and intense through to the ending. I loved the four main characters and especially loved the miniature poodle, Earl Grey! I was reminded a few times of parallels with the In Death series too, which I love. The Collector (the title is appropriate!) is a novel I have no hesitation in recommending highly.

With thanks to The Reading Room and the publisher for my copy to read and review.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five Reasons to Grab a chocolate flavored coffee and nestle down with The Collector:

1. Lila Emerson- House sitter extraordinaire, young adult-paranormal writer and female MacGyver. I adored Lila and found her lifestyle fascinating. If my husband ever passes before me, I have decided I want to be a house sitter and go all over the world taking care of family pets, plants and homes for the wealthy. Have laptop will travel. Lila was quirky, quick-witted and for a petite little thing she is a total kick-ass.

2. Artist Austin Archer is a worthy hero. While his father is alive, he is the unspoken head of the family to a misfit group of siblings and extended family. He is a very talented artist and the descriptions alone of his work made me want to own them. Ash is an enterprising person, a problem solver and protects those in his circle.

3. The romance – We get two, Lila’s and a second chance romance for her best friend and a yummy baker who could bake scones for me any day. The relationship built slowly, with moments of heat, laughter and compromises that made me giggle, swoon and I genuinely want them to find their happy.

4. The murder mystery and quest were intense and took us from the city to Florence. Rare Russian antiques, history, and ruthless collectors made for some intense scenes. Roberts is superb at creating a believable story, and the flow was beautifully paced and balanced between the romances.

5. The villains- Roberts villain is powerful and employs ruthless agents to broker his deals and handle the dirty work that includes murder, bloody interrogations and unlimited wealth at their disposal. Jai is a ruthless, bloodthirsty agent, and her methods are chilling making her role in the story as important as our hero and heroine.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Anna Casanovas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aunque un libro de Nora Roberts siempre está técnicamente bien escrito, si Goodreads dejase puntuar con medias estrellas a "El Coleccionista" le habría otorgado dos estrellas y media.
Compré "El Coleccionista" con muchas ganas, mi última lectura de Nora Roberts, "La Testigo", me gustó mucho y me apetecía volver a leerla. Quizá haber leído estas dos novelas tan seguidas ha perjudicado a "El Coleccionista", no lo sé. En cualquier caso, la historia de amor entre Lila y Ash no me ha convencido ni emocionado. La relación de la pareja es clave en cualquier novela romántica y la de Lila y Ash es precipitada y nada romántica, se conocen y se "caen bien" enseguida a pesar de que ella está relacionada con el asesinato del hermano de él y de que se supone que él es un pintor millonario y excéntrico. No hay ningún tira y afloja, se caen bien, se gustan y se acuestan, sin discusiones y sin complicaciones. Mientras leía no he sentido esa "necesidad" que Nora Roberts sabe transmitir en muchas de sus historias y tampoco hay momentos románticos. Quizá otro problema ha sido, en mi caso, que si bien Ash me ha convencido el personaje de Lila no me ha parecido creíble y me he pasado la novela pensando que Ash se merecía a alguien mucho mejor perfilado.
Por otro lado, la intriga, el misterio sobre el asesinato del hermano de Ash y la novia de este, es correcta y está bien resuelta. Además, en esta novela Nora Roberts ha incluido una pareja secundaria cuya historia de amor es mucho mejor que la de los protagonistas. En mi mente me imaginaba a Nora Roberts diciendo: "la pareja protagonista no es romántica, será mejor que añada a otra pareja y que ellos aporten la dosis de amor necesaria".
Seguiré leyendo a Nora Roberts, por supuesto, de hecho ya tengo en casa "The Liar", pero sinceramente creo que "El Coleccionista" no es una de sus mejores novelas.

[Belinda Vlasbaard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 sterren - Nederlandse paperback

Fabergé, de officiële juwelier van het Russische Keizerlijke Hof, maakte in totaal 69 met juwelen versierde paaseieren voor de Tsaar, de aristocratie en de industriële en financiële elite. Ze staan nu bekend als Fabergé-eieren en staan over de hele wereld bekend als een symbool van openlijke luxe, maar van de oorspronkelijke negenenzestig exemplaren, bestaan er nog maar eenenzestig. Dus wat is er gebeurd met de andere acht eieren? Dit is een mysterie waarover al jarenlang wordt gediscussieerd in de kunstwereld.

Het verhaal van Fabergé begint net voor Pasen in het jaar 1883, toen Tsaar Alexander III, vader van de laatste Tsaar Nicholas II, opdracht gaf om een ei met juwelen als Paascadeau te geven aan zijn jonge vrouw Maria Flodorovna (geboren als Dagmar van Denemarken). De arme Maria had haar familie moeten verlaten om te trouwen met een volslagen vreemdeling met wie ze samen een vreemd land moest regeren, en net als vele andere prinsessen in die situatie had ze erg veel last van heimwee, zo erg dat ze bijna depressief was.

Om Maria op te vrolijken, gaf haar man de opdracht om het allereerste Fabergé-ei te laten maken. Het ei was schitterend; als je de platina schil opende dan gaf deze een gouden dooier prijs, die op zijn beurt een hele kleine gouden kip liet zien die trots de Russische keizerlijke kroon droeg.
Wat het een nog mooier geschenk maakte was het feit dat het werd geïnspireerd door een bestaande collectie van het Deense koningshuis, waarmee hij de jonge Tsarina een tedere herinnering cadeau deed.

Een huisoppasser kijkt door het raam met een verrekijker in een van haar luxueuze oppasadressen en ziet een moord. Op het politiebureau ontmoet ze de broer van de vermoorde man die eerst de vrouw zou hebben vermoord. Ze vogelen samen uit dat dat niet zo was. Dan blijken ze dieper in het verhaal te zitten dat ze dachten en een kat en muis spel begint met een moordenaar(es) en de inzet van twee verloren gewaande frabrege eieren.

"Dat andere ei, in de documenten wordt melding gemaakt van twee eieren. De Cherubijn met de Gouden strijdwagen en het Necessaire-ei."

Een mystery-romance roman. Leuke mix voor mij.

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lila Emerson is a professional house-sitter. One of her favorite pastimes is to observe people. This often includes binoculars. While observing her current neighbors she sees a murder and immediately calls 911. Later it is discovered that there were two victims and one is the brother of artist Ashton Archer. Ashton teams with Lila to discover who the killer is.

Exciting and enjoyable! A good solid Romantic Suspense read that I would certainly recommend to other fans.

[Clau · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro lo compré hace unos cuantos años, a un muy buen precio. Ni siquiera miré la sinopsis, porque siendo de Nora Roberts, supuse que me gustaría.
Pues bien, me dejó bastante... fría. Los personajes me parecieron planos, la trama demasiado lineal -no hay ningún giro- y un poco predecible. El romance se me hizo un tanto insípido, y el suspenso brillaba por su ausencia. Las escenas más de acción, por decirlo de alguna manera, fueron muy pocas e inconexas, como si la autora hubiese decidido de pronto que "aquí está bien".
Lo peor de todo es que tomó una idea que siempre he encontrado interesante, y la ejecutó de una forma mediocre. A ver, yo vivo en un edificio de 20 pisos, muy pegadito a otros edificios, a uno en particular. Por la terraza, se puede ver lo que hace un montón de gente del edificio del frente (por ejemplo, un chico que se pasa toda la vida jugando play, una familia que tiene más cachureos de lo que haya visto en ninguna parte, un departamento que cambia de ocupantes constantemente, por lo que debe ser un Airbnb o algo semejante). Por eso, a veces pienso qué pasaría si llegara un día y yo viese algo terrible, como le pasó a Lila... Pero, como decía, la ejecución me decepcionó muchísimo.