Nightwork by Nora Roberts – a Review

Amazon / B&N / Kobo / Google Play / Apple / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Harry Booth started stealing at nine to keep a roof over his ailing mother’s head, slipping into luxurious, empty homes at night to find items he could trade for precious cash. When his mother finally succumbed to cancer, he left Chicago—but kept up his nightwork.

Wandering from the Outer Banks to Savannah to New Orleans, he dons new identities and stays careful, observant, distant. He can’t afford to attract attention—or get attached. Still, he can’t help letting his guard down when he meets Miranda Emerson. But the powerful bond between them cannot last—because not all thieves follow Harry’s code of honor. Some pay others to take risks so they can hoard more treasures. Some are driven by a desire to own people the way they own paintings and jewels. And after Harry takes a lucrative job commissioned by Carter LaPorte, LaPorte sees a tool he can use, and decides he wants to own Harry.

The man is a predator more frightening than the alligators that haunt the bayou—and when he strongarms Harry into robbing a Baltimore museum, Harry abandons Miranda—cruelly, with no explanation—and disappears. But no matter what name he uses or where he goes, LaPorte casts a shadow over Harry’s life. To truly free himself, he must face down his enemy once and for all. Only then can he hope to possess something more valuable than anything he has ever stolen…

Review:

Nightwork by Nora Roberts is another one of her wonderful standalone novels.  We meet our hero, Harry Booth, who at the age of 9, began a career of being a thief.  Harry’s mother had cancer, and together with his aunt Mags, they struggled to help his mom, and be able to pay the bills, from doctors, hospital, treatment, as well as mortgage payments.  Harry started with pick pocketing to pay the bills, but that was only the beginning; as he migrated into slipping into wealthy people’s homes to steal valuable jewelry or paintings. 

After a number of years, his mother succumbed to cancer, and Harry left his home town of Chicago, and continued his ‘nightwork’, traveling to different countries, becoming the best thief in the world.  Harry always followed the rules, never hurt anyone, be non- threatening, and steal from the very rich. Over the years, it was great to watch Harry visit so many places during this journey; Europe, Outer Banks, Savannah, and New Orleans; always changing his identity.  In New Orleans, Harry met some wonderful people, and became close to Sebastian, and seeing his aunt Mags, who also travelled a lot. With Sebastian’s help, Harry takes a lucrative commission from a man (Carter LaPorte), which is successful, but LaPorte will become obsessed with owning Harry for himself.   Harry changes his name again and moves on to go to school, and meets Miranda Emerson, with both being very attracted to each other, but when LaPorte finds him, he knows he must run away again, leaving Miranda heartbroken.

What follows years later, Harry has managed to hide from LaPorte, as well become a chameleon working mostly in Europe, until he spots LaPorte’s enforcer.  This forces Harry to return to America, and take a job as a teacher, not doing any kind of nightwork.  Harry loves his job, working with the kids, and is happy.  Then one day, using another name, he comes face to face with Miranda, who has become a successful writer. I really loved Miranda and Harry (now called Booth) together, as well as his Aunt Mags, Sebastian and many of the secondary characters.  I was happy that slowly Miranda will begin to learn the truth about Harry’s life, and if they want a normal life, without danger, they must work together with him to find a way to defeat LaPorte. The last third of the book was intense and exciting climax

Nightwork was a wonderful amazing uplifting story that held my attention from beginning to end; as Harry’s life totally captivated me.  Nightwork had a bit of everything, romance, suspense, mystery, family, friendship, as well as the many exciting adventures along the way. Though he was a thief that started when he was a child helping his mother, Harry was always a good guy.  Nightwork was so very well written by Nora Roberts.  I wholly suggest you read this fantastic book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher