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D.C. Detectives #1
Sacred Sins
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This is an updated cover of this Kindle edition.
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New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts serves up a sizzling novel of explosive suspense and sensual romance as the search for a murderer ignites passion between a beautiful psychiatrist and the sexy, brooding detective determined to crack the case.
In the unbearable heat of another sultry Washington, D.C., summer, a serial killer is on the loose. Dr. Tess Court, one of the capital’s most successful psychiatrists, wants nothing to do with the case—until the police convince her to lend a hand to the lead investigator, legendary ladies’ man Detective Ben Paris.
Scarred by his family’s history, Ben has even less use for shrinks than Tess has for him—but the forces of animal magnetism and a shared desire to catch the demented criminal known as “The Priest” inexorably erode the walls they’ve built. They’re opposites in so many ways, yet that seems only to fan the flames of attraction for which danger has supplied the spark. To stop a killer who thinks he can absolve sins through murder, Ben will need every ounce of psychological insight Tess can offer him. And she’ll need the help of a lawman willing to stare fear in the face if she’s going to avoid becoming the madman’s next victim.
New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts serves up a sizzling novel of explosive suspense and sensual romance as the search for a murderer ignites passion between a beautiful psychiatrist and the sexy, brooding detective determined to crack the case.
In the unbearable heat of another sultry Washington, D.C., summer, a serial killer is on the loose. Dr. Tess Court, one of the capital’s most successful psychiatrists, wants nothing to do with the case—until the police convince her to lend a hand to the lead investigator, legendary ladies’ man Detective Ben Paris.
Scarred by his family’s history, Ben has even less use for shrinks than Tess has for him—but the forces of animal magnetism and a shared desire to catch the demented criminal known as “The Priest” inexorably erode the walls they’ve built. They’re opposites in so many ways, yet that seems only to fan the flames of attraction for which danger has supplied the spark. To stop a killer who thinks he can absolve sins through murder, Ben will need every ounce of psychological insight Tess can offer him. And she’ll need the help of a lawman willing to stare fear in the face if she’s going to avoid becoming the madman’s next victim.
370 pages, ebook
First published November 1, 1987
3523 people are currently reading
7361 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,217 books60k followersNora 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 855 reviews
December 9, 2024
Sacred Sins by Nora Robert’s narrated by Hillary Huber was a mystery romance thriller that started off like a house on fire , but by half way through it fizzled.
Set in Washington DC a serial killer known as the priest is on the loose his 3victims all blonde white was all the police 👮 knew.
As they delved deeper in the case a lot of unanswered questions were just that unanswered, the romance between two major characters seemed to overtake the whole prose I liked this in bits & pieces but did not love it.BTW the ending was a surprise!
Set in Washington DC a serial killer known as the priest is on the loose his 3victims all blonde white was all the police 👮 knew.
As they delved deeper in the case a lot of unanswered questions were just that unanswered, the romance between two major characters seemed to overtake the whole prose I liked this in bits & pieces but did not love it.BTW the ending was a surprise!
May 1, 2017
I absolutely love anything written by Nora Roberts but Sacred Sins – not exactly one of my favorites but it’s still worth a read.
What I liked:
I eventually warmed up to the two mc’s, Ben Paris (is that not a fab name!!!)the gorgeous..obviously….detective working a serial killer case and Tess Court, beautiful, smart and caring psychiatrist, who has been assigned to assist and profiling the killer for the police. However my favorite character was most definitely Ben’s partner, Ed. He’s such a likeable and engaging guy who has not become the cynical and cold cop as most are portrayed in books.
The dialogue between Ben and Ed is fabulous….loved the scene where Ed takes Ben to view the house he has just bought……some really funny and great interaction between them.
The differences between Ben & Tess – yes, opposites do attract!!!! A successful and independent woman from a privileged background and a down-to-earth regular guy who faces criminals every day of his life and so happens that he absolutely does NOT like psychiatrists!!!
The feelings that Tess had for one of her patients, Joey was surprising at first, the way she becomes involved personally with the case, but as I learnt more about her, was able to understand it, because she’s really a very caring person and not a “by the hour” doctors.
So what made me not TOTALLY CRAZY about this book!!
One of the many reasons I love this author’s books is that romance is what I want and this book was the fact that the suspense and mystery was the main plot and the love story just a kind of add-on.
Ben Paris – geez his behavior towards Tess….at times I wanted to “klap” (that’s my slang for hit!!!) his head and get with the times….women can be just as smart, independent as men are for heaven’s sake. If I was Tess – would have kicked his ass a few times. OTT alpha male!!!!!
The so many times we have to read about Tess & Ben’s different stance on how to deal with killers and murderers. I must be honest and say that I did skim over some pages that repeated the subject.
Okay, I never guessed who the killer was..which was pretty clever….it then falls flat on how he’s finally captured. Talk about a rush to get to the end – imho it could have ended with a bit more BANG.
And the SMOKING – okay, the book was written before the much anti-smoking issue came into serious being…but geez….Ben smokes, gives cigarettes to a witness, Ben smokes again………bet Tess had him brushing his teeth before she kissed him…or maybe he sucked on some mints………..
LOVED THIS SCENE
“'You're a shrink?' 'You're a cop?' 'That's the bell for round one.'”
“Okay. Maybe I see you as someone raking in bucks off frustrated housewives and bored executives. Everything harks to sex or mother hating. You answer questions with questions and never raise a sweat. Fifty minutes goes by and you click over to the next file. When someone really needs help, when someone's desperate, it gets passed over. You label it, file it, and go on o the next hour.”
Ben
“All right, let's try a different angle. You're a homicide detective. I guess all you do all day is two-wheel it down dark alleys with guns blazing. You dodge a few bullets in the morning, slap the cuffs on in the afternoon and haul him in for interrogation. Is that general enough for you?”
Tess
Though written a few years ago, the story still holds itself and is still a “I like” read.
What I liked:
I eventually warmed up to the two mc’s, Ben Paris (is that not a fab name!!!)the gorgeous..obviously….detective working a serial killer case and Tess Court, beautiful, smart and caring psychiatrist, who has been assigned to assist and profiling the killer for the police. However my favorite character was most definitely Ben’s partner, Ed. He’s such a likeable and engaging guy who has not become the cynical and cold cop as most are portrayed in books.
The dialogue between Ben and Ed is fabulous….loved the scene where Ed takes Ben to view the house he has just bought……some really funny and great interaction between them.
The differences between Ben & Tess – yes, opposites do attract!!!! A successful and independent woman from a privileged background and a down-to-earth regular guy who faces criminals every day of his life and so happens that he absolutely does NOT like psychiatrists!!!
The feelings that Tess had for one of her patients, Joey was surprising at first, the way she becomes involved personally with the case, but as I learnt more about her, was able to understand it, because she’s really a very caring person and not a “by the hour” doctors.
So what made me not TOTALLY CRAZY about this book!!
One of the many reasons I love this author’s books is that romance is what I want and this book was the fact that the suspense and mystery was the main plot and the love story just a kind of add-on.
Ben Paris – geez his behavior towards Tess….at times I wanted to “klap” (that’s my slang for hit!!!) his head and get with the times….women can be just as smart, independent as men are for heaven’s sake. If I was Tess – would have kicked his ass a few times. OTT alpha male!!!!!
The so many times we have to read about Tess & Ben’s different stance on how to deal with killers and murderers. I must be honest and say that I did skim over some pages that repeated the subject.
Okay, I never guessed who the killer was..which was pretty clever….it then falls flat on how he’s finally captured. Talk about a rush to get to the end – imho it could have ended with a bit more BANG.
And the SMOKING – okay, the book was written before the much anti-smoking issue came into serious being…but geez….Ben smokes, gives cigarettes to a witness, Ben smokes again………bet Tess had him brushing his teeth before she kissed him…or maybe he sucked on some mints………..
LOVED THIS SCENE
“'You're a shrink?' 'You're a cop?' 'That's the bell for round one.'”
“Okay. Maybe I see you as someone raking in bucks off frustrated housewives and bored executives. Everything harks to sex or mother hating. You answer questions with questions and never raise a sweat. Fifty minutes goes by and you click over to the next file. When someone really needs help, when someone's desperate, it gets passed over. You label it, file it, and go on o the next hour.”
Ben
“All right, let's try a different angle. You're a homicide detective. I guess all you do all day is two-wheel it down dark alleys with guns blazing. You dodge a few bullets in the morning, slap the cuffs on in the afternoon and haul him in for interrogation. Is that general enough for you?”
Tess
Though written a few years ago, the story still holds itself and is still a “I like” read.
November 6, 2021
It was intriguing reading this tale of a homicide cop in Washington DC, published in 1987, and comparing it with another cop in New York who would appear in 1995. Roberts certainly sharpened her skills between Sacred Sins and Naked in Death
Not that I did not enjoy Sacred Sins. The serial killer was appropriately creepy and the police work was efficient. I very much enjoyed the relationship between the two cops, Ben and Ed. They were an excellent team and their dialogue was very amusing. Unfortunately the likeable Ben who mucked around with his mates was not at all nice once he got near a woman and I found his attitude and comments to Tess off putting.
I was very happy with the surprise ending which I thought was planned very neatly. Altogether I enjoyed the book and felt that it was indicative of the great things to come from this author.
Not that I did not enjoy Sacred Sins. The serial killer was appropriately creepy and the police work was efficient. I very much enjoyed the relationship between the two cops, Ben and Ed. They were an excellent team and their dialogue was very amusing. Unfortunately the likeable Ben who mucked around with his mates was not at all nice once he got near a woman and I found his attitude and comments to Tess off putting.
I was very happy with the surprise ending which I thought was planned very neatly. Altogether I enjoyed the book and felt that it was indicative of the great things to come from this author.
March 3, 2016
Poco puedo decir de este libro, salvo que es una muy buena historia; como Nora Roberts nos tiene acostumbrado. Sin embargo, a mi parecer, esta novela se centra más en el trabajo que ejerce ella, en la psiquiatría y todo lo que eso conlleva, que en la parte romántica. Es una novela dura, en la que vemos dos puntos de vista de una misma realidad: tanto desde el punto de vista religioso como del científico; al punto de vista del psiquiatra, que ve al enfermo, al del policía, que solo ve al criminal.
November 15, 2021
This took a while to win me over, but by the end, I was all the way in the story and was delighted by the final turn the plot took. I think the romance element is OK, but interestingly primarily as what seems like a gender swapped precursor to the Eve/Roarke dynamic. That dynamic does work a lot better for me personally when the woman is the cop, but I did ultimately get on board with Tess & Ben. All in all, I really liked the actual mystery (which is a serial killer thriller) and was entertained metatextually to think about where this fits in the overall Robertsverse
CW: on page self harm/unaliving
CW: on page self harm/unaliving
February 7, 2017
I read this for Romance Book Bingo 2017: Headless Woman square.
I vaguely recall reading this book when I was a teenager. I re-read it because I was totally light on details. I think I ended up getting bored with it and never finishing it though. If the book didn't have a cover with a woman half out of a dress with Fabio and his flowing mane of hair I tended to not sneak those from my mom.
Sacred Sins is a pretty good procedural by Roberts. There was some romance, and the two leads didn't annoy me to death like in the sequel (you can read that review later). You can see some elements that will follow Roberts later on in her "In Death" books later on. Heck, I see the heroine in this one, Tess Court, being really similar to Doctor Charlotte Mira.
The set-up is that psychiatrist Tess Court is asked to help out the DC police when they suspect a serial killer is in their midst. Tess is reluctant to take the case, however, the MO of the killer has her wondering about whether this killer is as evil as the police portray him to be. Her ability to look at the gray in something that looks totally black and white sets her up for constant fighting with D.C. detective Ben Paris. Ben has a lot of feelings about psychiatrists (none of them good) and thinks in the end all Tess is going to do is give out some sob story about the serial killer when he is eventually captured.
I have to say, that I really enjoyed Tess. I think it's honestly because of the fact she comes across as sensible. She doesn't go around disparaging any of her patients with mental issues. She even clues into the fact that perhaps the serial killer may be schizophrenic based on his writing, what he is doing to the victims after they die, and even what he is telling her once he seeks her out. I don't know if I could have been able to keep my head like Tess does or be able to be so neutral when she gets involved with this case. Her ability to fight to get her patients what care they need in order to live full lives is what really made me like her.
The character of Ben was a little harder to take. I think it's because Roberts sets him up as a ladies man. Which is okay, but I just wasn't seeing it. His annoyance at feeling attraction for the good doctor and him fighting against it felt very true too. The issues with him not wanting to see the "bad" in the world though got a bit old. I liked that Tess pushed back on him wanting her to be separate from his work. He's a cop, they are seeing each other, she wants to be part of that too.
The secondary characters really work for this one too. Ben's partner Ed Jackson is a straight up hippie. I am still trying to wrap my head around anyone in DC in the late 1980s (this was originally published in 1987) would be all about not eating meat, not smoking, and eating berries every five minutes. I also liked that we get some insight into a Catholic priest who also has a degree in psychiatry who is able to give some insights into the serial killers more religious meanings behind these deaths. One of Tess's patients is also included as a secondary character, and my heart broke with that whole story-line. Roberts does a great job writing a teenage boy who feels lost and alone.
The romance between the two of them really works for me. Though I have to say, I was not a fan of Ben being handsy with Tess without permission. A few times Roberts notes that he reaches out and takes some of her hair and winds it or plays with it. Umm this is before they even are physical with each other. Then again, I am a black woman, do not touch my hair without permission.
The writing is pretty good. I thought Roberts does a great job setting up the overall plot. We get POVs from Ben, Tess, and the serial killer. We also get a couple of what I thought were funny moments. I also loved how Roberts shows how Tess is affected by what happens to her patients, though she does her best to not let it overwhelm her.
The flow is a little slow here and there, but I am not going to complain about how Roberts sets the book up. She does a good job of building everything up. I did get a bit over the back and forth between Tess and Ben though (regarding what are they doing) and I was just waiting for Ben to catch up to the fact that he really cared about and was falling in love with Tess.
The setting of DC made me smile. Roberts obviously knows the city layout and she is able to point out a few landmarks that I know (Rock Creek Park, the Kennedy Center, etc.) and makes the city as much a part of the whole book as the characters.
The ending is the only part that I think really came out of left field. It felt a little Lifetime Movie for me when you find out the serial killer is the ice cream delivery man that has been running around.
I vaguely recall reading this book when I was a teenager. I re-read it because I was totally light on details. I think I ended up getting bored with it and never finishing it though. If the book didn't have a cover with a woman half out of a dress with Fabio and his flowing mane of hair I tended to not sneak those from my mom.
Sacred Sins is a pretty good procedural by Roberts. There was some romance, and the two leads didn't annoy me to death like in the sequel (you can read that review later). You can see some elements that will follow Roberts later on in her "In Death" books later on. Heck, I see the heroine in this one, Tess Court, being really similar to Doctor Charlotte Mira.
The set-up is that psychiatrist Tess Court is asked to help out the DC police when they suspect a serial killer is in their midst. Tess is reluctant to take the case, however, the MO of the killer has her wondering about whether this killer is as evil as the police portray him to be. Her ability to look at the gray in something that looks totally black and white sets her up for constant fighting with D.C. detective Ben Paris. Ben has a lot of feelings about psychiatrists (none of them good) and thinks in the end all Tess is going to do is give out some sob story about the serial killer when he is eventually captured.
I have to say, that I really enjoyed Tess. I think it's honestly because of the fact she comes across as sensible. She doesn't go around disparaging any of her patients with mental issues. She even clues into the fact that perhaps the serial killer may be schizophrenic based on his writing, what he is doing to the victims after they die, and even what he is telling her once he seeks her out. I don't know if I could have been able to keep my head like Tess does or be able to be so neutral when she gets involved with this case. Her ability to fight to get her patients what care they need in order to live full lives is what really made me like her.
The character of Ben was a little harder to take. I think it's because Roberts sets him up as a ladies man. Which is okay, but I just wasn't seeing it. His annoyance at feeling attraction for the good doctor and him fighting against it felt very true too. The issues with him not wanting to see the "bad" in the world though got a bit old. I liked that Tess pushed back on him wanting her to be separate from his work. He's a cop, they are seeing each other, she wants to be part of that too.
The secondary characters really work for this one too. Ben's partner Ed Jackson is a straight up hippie. I am still trying to wrap my head around anyone in DC in the late 1980s (this was originally published in 1987) would be all about not eating meat, not smoking, and eating berries every five minutes. I also liked that we get some insight into a Catholic priest who also has a degree in psychiatry who is able to give some insights into the serial killers more religious meanings behind these deaths. One of Tess's patients is also included as a secondary character, and my heart broke with that whole story-line. Roberts does a great job writing a teenage boy who feels lost and alone.
The romance between the two of them really works for me. Though I have to say, I was not a fan of Ben being handsy with Tess without permission. A few times Roberts notes that he reaches out and takes some of her hair and winds it or plays with it. Umm this is before they even are physical with each other. Then again, I am a black woman, do not touch my hair without permission.
The writing is pretty good. I thought Roberts does a great job setting up the overall plot. We get POVs from Ben, Tess, and the serial killer. We also get a couple of what I thought were funny moments. I also loved how Roberts shows how Tess is affected by what happens to her patients, though she does her best to not let it overwhelm her.
The flow is a little slow here and there, but I am not going to complain about how Roberts sets the book up. She does a good job of building everything up. I did get a bit over the back and forth between Tess and Ben though (regarding what are they doing) and I was just waiting for Ben to catch up to the fact that he really cared about and was falling in love with Tess.
The setting of DC made me smile. Roberts obviously knows the city layout and she is able to point out a few landmarks that I know (Rock Creek Park, the Kennedy Center, etc.) and makes the city as much a part of the whole book as the characters.
The ending is the only part that I think really came out of left field. It felt a little Lifetime Movie for me when you find out the serial killer is the ice cream delivery man that has been running around.
April 27, 2017
I can see why the mixed reviews on this book. On some levels the book is great, then again there are parts that you just want to skip entirely. No one does character development like Nora Roberts. The character development is continual throughout the book. I really enjoy the way she slowly peels back the layers on her main characters. There were some really good things about this book but other areas were just flat. I am not especially fond of Tess, way too much of the martyr for me and Ben, I just am not feeling the sparks after their initial meeting. Die hard NR fans will stick it out, but if you aren't a die hard fan, there are far more superior books by her for you to read. This book was written in 1987. NR had all the elements for a great RS book here, but it just didn't quite come together. The NR of today would have taken this book and knocked it out of the park.
Someone is strangling women with a Priest's white silk amice and Ben, and his partner Ed, have no leads whatsoever. Tess is a psychologist whose grandfather is a US Senator. He persuades Tess to take on the job of profiling the killer. She has a very demanding workload and doesn't want to get involved but she find herself drawn into the investigation and into Ben. As Tess and Ben get to know each other they find there are depths to each of then that the other just did not expect. Then the whole thing takes a dearly turn when the killer targets Tess. 3-1/2 stars
Someone is strangling women with a Priest's white silk amice and Ben, and his partner Ed, have no leads whatsoever. Tess is a psychologist whose grandfather is a US Senator. He persuades Tess to take on the job of profiling the killer. She has a very demanding workload and doesn't want to get involved but she find herself drawn into the investigation and into Ben. As Tess and Ben get to know each other they find there are depths to each of then that the other just did not expect. Then the whole thing takes a dearly turn when the killer targets Tess. 3-1/2 stars
October 20, 2009
Sacred Sins is one of Nora Roberts' late 80's-era novels, and for me at least, it falls somewhat flat compared to her later work. The elements are certainly in place for a nice suspenseful story: a killer's on the loose in Washington D.C., a killer the media dubs the Priest for his habit of leaving his young, pretty victims arranged in pious repose and notes reading "her sins are forgiven her". It's the same sort of murder formula she'd put to good use later in the J.D. Robbs, but here, the plot feels rougher and less polished.
Most of the fault for this lay for me in the too-simple characterizations of the cast. I got the feeling that the leads fell in love with each other mostly because they were the leads and it was their job to do so; they made a big deal at each other about how he hated psychiatrists because one had failed to help his brother, tormented by his service in Vietnam, and she was so put off by police work because it was full of violence and death. There was a lot of needless conflict as well with the hero accusing the heroine of not being interested in proper justice, since as a psychiatrist she was (or so he believed) more interested in treating the killer rather than getting justice for the victims.
I think the Nora Roberts of ten years or so after this novel could have pulled off this plot nicely, but the Nora Roberts of 1987 didn't feel like she was quite there yet. Two stars.
Most of the fault for this lay for me in the too-simple characterizations of the cast. I got the feeling that the leads fell in love with each other mostly because they were the leads and it was their job to do so; they made a big deal at each other about how he hated psychiatrists because one had failed to help his brother, tormented by his service in Vietnam, and she was so put off by police work because it was full of violence and death. There was a lot of needless conflict as well with the hero accusing the heroine of not being interested in proper justice, since as a psychiatrist she was (or so he believed) more interested in treating the killer rather than getting justice for the victims.
I think the Nora Roberts of ten years or so after this novel could have pulled off this plot nicely, but the Nora Roberts of 1987 didn't feel like she was quite there yet. Two stars.
April 2, 2020
¡Me ha maravillado! Pero ¿qué libro de Nora Roberts no lo hace?
Me ha encantado la evolución de los personajes principales (Tess y Ben) a lo largo de la historia, incluso el papel que ha jugado Ed (compañero de Ben). También cómo la psicóloga va comprendiendo el modus operandi de la policía y sus motivaciones, así como el inspector hace lo mismo con la doctora, aunque ninguno de los dos esté del todo de acuerdo con los motivos del otro.
La relación que nace entre Tess y Ben evoluciona de forma paulatina como la propia investigación policial en la que, por cierto, la autora nos despista.
En suma, una obra maestra. De esas novelas que desearías no haber leído para disfrutar de nuevo de todas las sensaciones que te han atrapado durante la lectura.
Sin duda, volveré a leerla más adelante.
Me ha encantado la evolución de los personajes principales (Tess y Ben) a lo largo de la historia, incluso el papel que ha jugado Ed (compañero de Ben). También cómo la psicóloga va comprendiendo el modus operandi de la policía y sus motivaciones, así como el inspector hace lo mismo con la doctora, aunque ninguno de los dos esté del todo de acuerdo con los motivos del otro.
La relación que nace entre Tess y Ben evoluciona de forma paulatina como la propia investigación policial en la que, por cierto, la autora nos despista.
En suma, una obra maestra. De esas novelas que desearías no haber leído para disfrutar de nuevo de todas las sensaciones que te han atrapado durante la lectura.
Sin duda, volveré a leerla más adelante.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
wishlist
July 16, 2017This sounds super good and it's on sale at amazon for $2.99 http://amzn.to/2tumlZ8
Buuuuuttttttttttttttt..... I see it's the 1st in a series and I really don't want to get hooked into another series right now. Does this work as a stand alone novel or is the plot ongoing throughout the series?
Buuuuuttttttttttttttt..... I see it's the 1st in a series and I really don't want to get hooked into another series right now. Does this work as a stand alone novel or is the plot ongoing throughout the series?
August 5, 2021
Between three and four. It was heading for four stars but I felt the ending was a bit implausible. I would be interested in reading book 2, it is about Ben's partner, Ed. You think you have come across every book that Nora Roberts wrote and yet you still find more ... and "one-click" them!
Tough Detective ... Beautiful Psychiatrist ... he is a bit of an ass, you know the type we love to read about but would probably run a mile from in reality ... maybe!!
Tough Detective ... Beautiful Psychiatrist ... he is a bit of an ass, you know the type we love to read about but would probably run a mile from in reality ... maybe!!
Arrogant jerk, she thought.
“I’d say he’s a very good man, dependable. The kind of man who probably calls his mother once a month even when he’d rather not. Men like Ben bend rules but very rarely break them, because they appreciate structure, they understand the concept of law. There’s an anger in him he keeps well buried. He didn’t give up the Church because of laziness, but because he found too many flaws. He gave up the Church, Tess, my dear, but he’s Catholic right down to his toes.”
July 1, 2015
This was just okay for me. Neither the mystery or the romance grabbed me.
June 17, 2014
"There is no black and white, not in religion, not in psychiatry, and certainly not in life. Did God create us out of his goodness and generosity, and perhaps a sense of the ridiculousness? Or did we invent God because we have a desperate, innate need to believe in something larger, more powerful than ourselves?
When multiple female victims turn up dead by the hands of what seems to be an overly religious psychopath, the police force in Washington DC turn to the help of renowned psychiatrist Tess Court to help get into the mind of this killer. Ben Paris has a severe prejudice against 'head-doctors' and he assumes that Tess is just a fraud like the rest of them. But there is something about her warm and caring personality that draws him to her. Something he just can't resist.
She admired someone who could be at ease with people, without worrying about impressions, opinions. To be that way you first had to be at ease with yourself. Somehow, content as she was with her life, she'd never quite gotten there.
I have to say that even though this is one of her older novels, it is definitely one of my favorites. I liked the storyline, but even more than that I was captivated by the characters, especially Tess. I'll admit I was originally drawn to her because she is a psychiatrist and I am extremely interested in that profession, from a career perspective. But I also grew to love how she was such a strong woman, yet was still such a caring and compassionate person at the same time. I not only liked her as a character, but I really admired her as a woman. Definitely a character I could look up to!
When multiple female victims turn up dead by the hands of what seems to be an overly religious psychopath, the police force in Washington DC turn to the help of renowned psychiatrist Tess Court to help get into the mind of this killer. Ben Paris has a severe prejudice against 'head-doctors' and he assumes that Tess is just a fraud like the rest of them. But there is something about her warm and caring personality that draws him to her. Something he just can't resist.
She admired someone who could be at ease with people, without worrying about impressions, opinions. To be that way you first had to be at ease with yourself. Somehow, content as she was with her life, she'd never quite gotten there.
I have to say that even though this is one of her older novels, it is definitely one of my favorites. I liked the storyline, but even more than that I was captivated by the characters, especially Tess. I'll admit I was originally drawn to her because she is a psychiatrist and I am extremely interested in that profession, from a career perspective. But I also grew to love how she was such a strong woman, yet was still such a caring and compassionate person at the same time. I not only liked her as a character, but I really admired her as a woman. Definitely a character I could look up to!
May 21, 2023
Este libro me ha decepcionado de todos los que he leído de Nora Roberts este es el más flojo se nota que es de sus primeros se me ha hecho aburrido por momentos cosa rara en un libro de Roberts, la relación de los protagonistas siento que no profundiza lo suficiente no hay apenas escenas de sexo y las que hay muy insinuadas a las historia de amor le ha faltado chispa para mi gusto y también al suspense la verdad no me esperaba nada quién era el asesino pero porque para mí no concuerda nada con el perfil que se ha hecho de el todo el libro ?como es posible que un hombre tan perturbado pueda ser a la vez un policía normal? pienso que la autora patino con ese giro final y además ella lo había escuchado hablar y se supone que había estado en la misa. Como no lo reconoció ni ella ni nadie? En fin para mi deja muchos cabos sueltos que no me cuadran pienso que la autora patino a la hora de documentarse sobre enfermedades mentales tema que me toca muy de cerca y por eso me choca más por lo demás un libro soso y por momentos aburrido pero aunque sea flojito me ha gustado leerlo le pongo un 3.
Perdón otra vez por las faltas estoy escribiendo desde la tablet.
Perdón otra vez por las faltas estoy escribiendo desde la tablet.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2018
I was tempted to tag this as historical! Lol
It is wierd reading about a world without mobile phones and internet.
The mystery was good and the romance was ok. I've read much better books by NR.
I'll read the next one in the series soon.
It is wierd reading about a world without mobile phones and internet.
The mystery was good and the romance was ok. I've read much better books by NR.
I'll read the next one in the series soon.
June 22, 2018
I don't usually read much of this author. This book caught my attention though. A little slow to start but it became very interesting. I have to say she got me. I never saw it coming at all....yay NR!
May 7, 2017
I can definitely understand the mixed reviews on this book as I myself am mixed about my own reaction. I did enjoy it (mostly) so it rates a 3 star or higher, but not sure how much higher.
There is a killer who is murdering young blondes and then absolving them of their sins. The plot is actually very good - it had a good mix of detail, criminal element and "good guys" but the buildup of suspense seemed to be lacking. It's like the plot flat lined before we got to the ending. The supporting cast was a good group although for me they felt underdeveloped. I really liked Ben's partner, Ed and the role that Monsignor Logan played. All the elements of the plot are there and I liked them, but I never was on the edge of my seat.
It could be that too much time in the story revolved around building the subplot of how to resolve Tess being a psychiatrist and Ben being opposed to psychiatrists. The romance between Ben and Tess had all the right elements, but they just didn't sizzle together. They never felt like a couple. And individually I'm not sure I liked either of them.
I have a long standing gripe on the player type characters. Unfortunately Ben is such a character and it took me a while to warm up to him. A long while as in I'm not sure I have yet.
Page 57 "His smile was slow, and though his eyes never left her face, he took in every detail. "Hello, I'm Ben."
Unfortunately this was his reaction to another women while on his first date with Tess. Yes, the woman was obvious in her interest in Ben, however, Ben's reaction of being receptive to her interest moves him down a number of notches in my book and definitely not worthy of hero status. I'm annoyed, not intrigued. I want to be intrigued by the character set up to be the leading man. And there are a number of scenes in the book that showcase or allude to his player status. Such as in typical player mode, Ben takes Tess to bed, picks a fight and doesn't call. JERK mode. I didn't put Ben on my d-bag hero shelf, but he came close.
And perhaps even worse, Tess sometimes seems amused by his player mode. For me, this isn't romance. Yes, it's a romance and they get their HEA, but how they got there didn't work for me and I didn't believe in it.
And I had issues with Tess. I like strong women, which she appears to be. But then…
Pg 192 NR sets up the worst scenario: strong woman who falls apart so that she lean on player jerk. She is strong and competent until he shows up and then she gets all shaky and weepy. So the scene also has a couple more cops come over to set up her phone for wiretapping. And my thought is "Why do you stay in a silk kimono when additional cops are coming over to put a wiretap on your phone?" Because the next sex scene doesn't work as well if she had been a normal person and put street clothes on. The physical description of Tess may be described like a Grace Kelly or even perhaps Tippi Hedren (remember the classic blonde from "Birds"), but something didn't quite work for me. Maybe, Tess was too much of a martyr for me.
Tess and Ben tended to see things differently - way differently and I didn't really feel that they moved closer on their opinions. I just didn't see Tess and Ben working out. They may have resolved a couple of issues, but they certainly left a couple on the table.
There is a second book in this series which features Ben's partner Ed. I liked Ed and his book is next on my list…
There is a killer who is murdering young blondes and then absolving them of their sins. The plot is actually very good - it had a good mix of detail, criminal element and "good guys" but the buildup of suspense seemed to be lacking. It's like the plot flat lined before we got to the ending. The supporting cast was a good group although for me they felt underdeveloped. I really liked Ben's partner, Ed and the role that Monsignor Logan played. All the elements of the plot are there and I liked them, but I never was on the edge of my seat.
It could be that too much time in the story revolved around building the subplot of how to resolve Tess being a psychiatrist and Ben being opposed to psychiatrists. The romance between Ben and Tess had all the right elements, but they just didn't sizzle together. They never felt like a couple. And individually I'm not sure I liked either of them.
I have a long standing gripe on the player type characters. Unfortunately Ben is such a character and it took me a while to warm up to him. A long while as in I'm not sure I have yet.
Page 57 "His smile was slow, and though his eyes never left her face, he took in every detail. "Hello, I'm Ben."
Unfortunately this was his reaction to another women while on his first date with Tess. Yes, the woman was obvious in her interest in Ben, however, Ben's reaction of being receptive to her interest moves him down a number of notches in my book and definitely not worthy of hero status. I'm annoyed, not intrigued. I want to be intrigued by the character set up to be the leading man. And there are a number of scenes in the book that showcase or allude to his player status. Such as in typical player mode, Ben takes Tess to bed, picks a fight and doesn't call. JERK mode. I didn't put Ben on my d-bag hero shelf, but he came close.
And perhaps even worse, Tess sometimes seems amused by his player mode. For me, this isn't romance. Yes, it's a romance and they get their HEA, but how they got there didn't work for me and I didn't believe in it.
And I had issues with Tess. I like strong women, which she appears to be. But then…
Pg 192 NR sets up the worst scenario: strong woman who falls apart so that she lean on player jerk. She is strong and competent until he shows up and then she gets all shaky and weepy. So the scene also has a couple more cops come over to set up her phone for wiretapping. And my thought is "Why do you stay in a silk kimono when additional cops are coming over to put a wiretap on your phone?" Because the next sex scene doesn't work as well if she had been a normal person and put street clothes on. The physical description of Tess may be described like a Grace Kelly or even perhaps Tippi Hedren (remember the classic blonde from "Birds"), but something didn't quite work for me. Maybe, Tess was too much of a martyr for me.
Tess and Ben tended to see things differently - way differently and I didn't really feel that they moved closer on their opinions. I just didn't see Tess and Ben working out. They may have resolved a couple of issues, but they certainly left a couple on the table.
There is a second book in this series which features Ben's partner Ed. I liked Ed and his book is next on my list…
May 22, 2016
3,5. El planteamiento y el desarrollo en general me ha gustado, pero me ha faltado emoción. La parte romántica pasa sin pena ni gloria. La trama policial sí que me ha parecido interesante.
October 6, 2019
I've really enjoyed other Nora Roberts books. But not this one.
I was bored and underwhelmed by the end. This one's not for me.
I was bored and underwhelmed by the end. This one's not for me.
Read
July 10, 2023DNF @10%
It’s like the author has never met a real life police officer or therapist. I keep trying this author because so many rave about her, but I’m always disappointed. Time to admit she is not for me.
It’s like the author has never met a real life police officer or therapist. I keep trying this author because so many rave about her, but I’m always disappointed. Time to admit she is not for me.
August 26, 2023
3,75 sterren - Nederlandse paperback
Recencie volgt later.
Recencie volgt later.
March 1, 2024
«La vida es dura, cómprate un casco», le oí a un señoro en internet y en este suspense romántico te lo dejan claro. Ben es un policía que recuerda a los de Linda Howard, y Tess, una psiquiatra que no desentonaría en una de Sandra Brown, elegante, contenida, controlando sus emociones. La policía recurre a ella para hacer un perfil de un asesino en serie, algo a lo que Ben no le encuentra utilidad. Son «Polos opuestos» (ese es el título en español) que se atraen. Hay algo muy atractivo en esa ambientación ochentera... bueno, es que se publicó entonces y se nota. Entonces era contemporánea y ahora parece histórica, un poco como Austen, que hablaba de sus coetáneos y a nosotros nos parece histórica. Tiene ese aire brutal de gran ciudad despiadada de las pelis de un Harry el Sucio, drogas y alcohol, desesperación y locura...😵💫 😣
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
April 22, 2015
Gostei, gostei muito deste livro e desta história que Nora Roberts nos apresenta. Toda a gente sabe e reconhece o valor desta autora, eu teria de ser um extraterrestre se dissesse que não gosto dos livros e da escrita de Nora.
Mais uma vez, conseguiu trazer-nos personagens cheias de personalidade, cheias de força. É certo que são personagens com assuntos passados por resolver, traumas e más experiências que vão sendo resolvidas e ultrapassadas ao longo do livro. Mas é mesmo isso que nos mostra como são as personagens, como são preenchidas e cheias de experiências para partilhar connosco.
Opinião Completa em
http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
Mais uma vez, conseguiu trazer-nos personagens cheias de personalidade, cheias de força. É certo que são personagens com assuntos passados por resolver, traumas e más experiências que vão sendo resolvidas e ultrapassadas ao longo do livro. Mas é mesmo isso que nos mostra como são as personagens, como são preenchidas e cheias de experiências para partilhar connosco.
Opinião Completa em
http://sinfoniadoslivros.blogspot.pt/...
April 16, 2015
4,5 Gostei, gostei
did-not-finish
June 25, 2015The misogyny with all the male characters is just too heavy handed for me. I'm sure it gets better but I have so many books to read and I don't feel like reading this. I hate misogyny in current day romance heroes. It irritates me.
February 12, 2020
Muy buen libro, supero mis expectativas luego de Colinas Negras pero la autora nunca me va a terminar de convencer, sera por el estilo?. Me encanto la pareja de Tess y Ben dos personas demasiado opuestas que con el tiempo descubren que no lo son tanto, hasta sus profesiones.
May 14, 2016
This book was good what I liked about it more was the fact I didn't know immediately who done the crimes and it was quite interesting with the religious aspect. Overall not bad
Read
July 5, 2022"Verlorene Seelen" von Nora Roberts - meine erste Spannungs-/Ermittlungsgeschichte der Autorin und leider gleich ein Buch, das mich leider in keinen Sog hat mitziehen können und irgendwie blieben mir Tess und Ben als Charaktere und Ermittler viel zu blass, irgendwie ein bisschen unnahbar und letztlich verlor ich an beiden mehr und mehr das Interesse. Zudem ging die Geschichte in eine Richtung, die ich so nicht erwartet hatte, was ja erstmal gut ist, aber meinen aktuellen Lesenerv einfach nicht treffen konnte. Für mich persönlich konnte diese Geschichte leider nicht "lebendig" werden und so wird sie in hoffentlich gute Hände weiter wandern📖🤗😉
By the Way, Nora Roberts ist jetzt natürlich nicht gleich abgeschrieben, es gibt noch einige Geschichten, die ich entdecken möchte und auch im Spannungsbereich ist kürzlich erst das ein oder andere bei mir eingezogen und wird dann hoffentlich ganz bald gelesen und ich freue mich drauf! Letztlich können einen halt nicht gleich immer alle Geschichten begeistern und das ist auch vollkommen okay denke ich! 😉
By the Way, Nora Roberts ist jetzt natürlich nicht gleich abgeschrieben, es gibt noch einige Geschichten, die ich entdecken möchte und auch im Spannungsbereich ist kürzlich erst das ein oder andere bei mir eingezogen und wird dann hoffentlich ganz bald gelesen und ich freue mich drauf! Letztlich können einen halt nicht gleich immer alle Geschichten begeistern und das ist auch vollkommen okay denke ich! 😉
September 27, 2023
I wasn't sure about this one in the beginning; it was obviously an older book of Nora Roberts's, but dang nabbit, that lady is just a firecracker of a writer!
I Love her fantasy and her psych thrillers the best! It is phenomenal how well she can transcend genres. Now, if she can only bring the trilogy ending curse, she will be perfect!
This one was a lot of fun. I love religiously driven serial killers, and this one was great. I could have done with a few more details and feeling a bit more connected to the killer.
Other cases were peppered in, including the struggle with Tess and a couple of her psych patients.
An all-around excellent first-series novel.
Solid 4 Stars.
I Love her fantasy and her psych thrillers the best! It is phenomenal how well she can transcend genres. Now, if she can only bring the trilogy ending curse, she will be perfect!
This one was a lot of fun. I love religiously driven serial killers, and this one was great. I could have done with a few more details and feeling a bit more connected to the killer.
Other cases were peppered in, including the struggle with Tess and a couple of her psych patients.
An all-around excellent first-series novel.
Solid 4 Stars.
March 3, 2019
Sacred Sins is an older NR book that holds up pretty well. It's a good story with a good romance and murder mystery. I liked Ben and Tess but boy did they have some hurtles to overcome! I would recommend this book to Nora fans and those who like good romantic suspense. There is a follow up book featuring Ben's police partner that I will definitely read too.
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