#MacmillanAudio Review of Identity by Nora Roberts

Today I'm reviewing the #MacmillanAudio version of Nora Roberts latest standalone Identity
Enjoy!

ASIN: B0BH9BBTZM
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Release Date: 05-23-2023
Length: 15 hours & 4 minutes
Source: Publisher for review
Buy It: Audible

GOODREADS

Overview:

"Narrator January LaVoy brings a richly layered performance to a story.... She expertly handles the large cast of multigenerational characters" —AudioFile on Hideaway

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author's terrifying new thriller about one man's ice-cold malice, and one woman's fight to reclaim her life.

Former Army brat Morgan Albright has finally planted roots in a friendly neighborhood near Baltimore. Her friend and roommate Nina helps her make the mortgage payments, as does Morgan's job as a bartender. But after she and Nina host their first dinner party—attended by Luke, the flirtatious IT guy who'd been chatting her up at the bar—her carefully built world is shattered. The back door glass is broken, cash and jewelry are missing, her car is gone, and Nina lies dead on the floor.

Soon, a horrific truth emerges: It was Morgan who let the monster in. "Luke" is actually a cold-hearted con artist named Gavin who targets a particular type of woman, steals her assets and identity, and then commits his ultimate goal: murder.

What the FBI tells Morgan is beyond chilling. Nina wasn't his type. Morgan is. Nina was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Morgan's nightmare is just beginning. Soon she has no choice but to flee to her mother's home in Vermont. While she struggles to build something new, she meets another man, Miles Jameson. He isn't flashy or flirtatious, and his family business has deep roots in town. But Gavin is still out there hunting new victims, and he hasn't forgotten the one who got away.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

My #MacmillanAudio Review:

Identity
Nora Roberts
Narrated by January LaVoy

Nora Roberts’ latest stand alone is a story within a story, a blend of women’s fiction and suspense. Nora’s protagonist Morgan is amazing, she’s down to earth, honest, reliable and what she endures is horrifically tragic but it’s the fact that she just keeps putting one foot in front of the other that will make the audience root for her while wondering if they would ever be able to endure it. The villain is pure evil and every reader or listener will hope for his demise to be as painful as possible. Then there are Morgan’s ladies, her mom and grandmother who are perfect for their roles as supporters with just enough family drama to add a bit of angst yet the audience will know they are always in Morgan’s corner. The police/FBI role is almost its own tale with interesting, empathic, hardworking agents trying to find this sadistic killer and put an end to his reign of terror and this master storyteller’s savvy way of entwining both plotlines is flawless. Then of course, there is as always, a love story, a slow burner that may catch the audience off guard if they didn’t read the blurb, but with a bit of time and Nora’s wonderful way to weave a tale it will become obvious why Morgan and Miles work. The frightening seemingly never-ending identity theft drama is so authentic and coupled with the bone chilling serial killer case makes this fast paced, intense novel absolutely unputdownable!  The read will appeal to a wide audience range, both men and women and the fans of Lisa Gardner or Patricia Cromwell.

Narration:
January LaVoy (who I have really enjoyed before) hits this one out of the park, she makes the perfect Morgan and has the talent to make each and every voice it’s own and is a very convincing male voice too making the Macmillan Audio version of this novel the best way to experience it.

Growing up an itinerant Army brat all Morgan Albright ever wanted was roots so after finishing college she made it happen. By working two jobs, as an office manager for a construction company by day and a bartender by night and rooming with her bestie Nina to help pay the bills Morgan is able to buy a small house and start planting those roots. The last thing she’s looking for is love but when Luke, a handsome IT guy who’s only in town temporarily shows interest she may be up for a fling so to find out she and Nina decide to host their first dinner party and invite Luke and Nina’s boyfriend Sam.

Then one night after work Morgan comes home to find the house she loves ransacked and worse Nina the sister of her heart, murdered.

 But that’s just the beginning.

Starting with a visit by a couple of FBI agents who tell her a story about a serial killer named Gavin who choses his victims very carefully, murders them, steals their identity then changes disguises and moves on to his next target. Worse Nina isn’t who he was after she was just in the way, Morgan was his real target and when they tell her to check her accounts the nightmare continues when she realizes she has nothing but a sinking hole of debt and seemingly no way to climb out of it.

The last thing Morgan wants is to give up but with little other choice she accepts her mother and grandmother’s offer to move in with them in Vermont.  But she makes sure they both know this is only temporarily until she gets back on her feet. Soon she realizes with a job she loves and the support of her ladies she’s starting to plant roots again, then Gavin kills another woman but this time makes it clear he’s not done with Morgan, and the nightmare continues.

 

About the author:
Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Shelter in Place, Year One, Come Sundown, and many more. She is also the author of the bestselling In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print.