Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

High Noon

3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 · rating details · 13,205 ratings · 579 reviews

The New York Times Bestseller

The phenomenal number-one New York Times bestselling author is back with a spine-tingling novel about a woman who walks fearlessly into danger�but must draw on her courage to let love into her life.

Paperback, 467 pages

Published May 27th 2008 by Jove (first published January 1st 2007)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

The Cradle Will Fall by Mary Higgins Clark

He Sees You When You're Sleeping by Mary Higgins Clark

The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards

We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates

Lifetime Movies Based On Books

51st out of 75 books — 17 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Feb 19, 2010 karen rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: it-is-for-class

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

so i tried.

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

50 likes · like · see review

Mar 29, 2011 Vinaya rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-loved, favorites, re-reading-times-1-million, nora-week-with-flann-and-maureen, comparative-5-stars, romantic-suspense

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8 likes · like · see review

Aug 21, 2007 Eviltwinjen rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Romance fans, suspense fans, people who wonder if romance novels can be feminist

Shelves: romance

I'm a total sucker for Nora Roberts, and as long as she's not recycling characters too obviously I have few complaints. Say what you will about Roberts and her incredibly prolific career, she's an effective writer. I laughed, I cried, I was concerned about whether some characters would make it out alive. So the hero is just a bit too good to be true--an emotionaly open, handsome, loyal lottery winner, fer chrissakes--the heroine is a hostage negotiator who's truly ballbusting. The opening, which...more

4 likes · like · see review

Feb 18, 2012 İlkim rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, romantic-suspense, fav-author

Okuduğuma değdi doğrusu. Heyecanlıydı, romantikti, tatlı sahneleri de vardı. Karakterlerin her birini sevdim açıkçası. Phoebe rehin alma vakalarında görev alıyor ve rehineciyle görüşmeyi yaparak rehineleri kurtarmaya çalışıyor. Tabi bu görevde geçmişinin ve babası kadar yakın Dave karakterinin etkisi var. Bir gün intihar etmek isteyen bir çocuğun yanına gönderiliyor ve orada Duncan ile tanışıyor. İşte klasik etkilenme felan oraları geçiyorum. Bunlar bir yandan birbirlerine aşık olurken psikopatı...more Okuduğuma değdi doğrusu. Heyecanlıydı, romantikti, tatlı sahneleri de vardı. Karakterlerin her birini sevdim açıkçası. Phoebe rehin alma vakalarında görev alıyor ve rehineciyle görüşmeyi yaparak rehineleri kurtarmaya çalışıyor. Tabi bu görevde geçmişinin ve babası kadar yakın Dave karakterinin etkisi var. Bir gün intihar etmek isteyen bir çocuğun yanına gönderiliyor ve orada Duncan ile tanışıyor. İşte klasik etkilenme felan oraları geçiyorum. Bunlar bir yandan birbirlerine aşık olurken psikopatın teki Phoebe'ye takıyor ve hayatını mahvetmeye çalışıyor. Arnie faktörü var her şeyden önce, bu adam bir kadının emrinde çalışmaya dayanamıyor, onu taciz ediyor ve meslekten atılıyor en sonunda. Sonra bir başka kişi var - psikopat olan bu - yazar en başta bu şahsı Arnie sanmanızı istiyor ama tabi ki o çıkmıyor. Her şey geçmişteki bir olaya bağlı, Phoebe'nin görüşme yaptığı bir vakada ölen kadınla ilgili. Bu psikopat Phoebe'yi çok zorluyor. Mesela kızının babası Roy'u öldürecek (Roy'u sevmiyoruz zaten neyse ki) ve sevdiği bir kişiyi daha öldürmeye çalışacak. Finale doğru adam ölümcül vuruşunu yapmaya karar verecek ve özel bir kuyumcudaki insanları rehin alacak. Ama müstakbel kayınvalidesi ve onun gelini de orada bulunuyor olacak. Bundan sonrası dil dökme ve kandırma çabaları ile geçiyor. Yazar güzel kurgulamış, bu yüzden kitap boyunca olayın içindesiniz. Kitabı okurken dedim ki filmi vardır bunun, haklı da çıktım. Başrolü Emilie DeRavin oynuyor (Lost izleyenler hemen tanır) ve filmin adı da orijinal isim High Noon. Şu an kendileri bilgisayarımda inmekte, bakalım filminden o zevki alabilecek miyim?

edit: Vasat bir film. Sanırım kanal sahibi 1.5 saatlik film yapın demiş bunlar da nasıl sıkıştıracaklarını şaşırmış. Hata ve eksiklik saymayı ilk 10 dk'da bıraktım, baş edemedim. Ah ben çekeydim öyle bir çekerdim ki... senaryoları harcıyorlar yemin ediyorum. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2012 Sara Gonçalves rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: leituras-2012

Mais um livro de Nora Roberts que gostei. Um bom entretenimento, uma boa história. Um romance com policial, não um policial com romance - ao contrário da série que escreve enquanto J.D.Robb.
Adorei a personagem de Duncan e da sua família; ah Ma Bee, apesar de apareceres pouco deu para gostar muito de ti mulher!
Peço desculpa mas não vou dizer acerca da história. A sinopse é clara, e não gosto de espalhar spoilers. É uma história que gostei, rendeu bons momentos e deu prazer em ler.
No entanto fique...more

1 like · like · see review

Mar 02, 2012 Cata rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, emprestados

Ser negociadora de reféns não é uma profissão fácil, ainda para mais quando se é mãe solteira e a nossa mãe vive fechada em casa. Porém as coisas podem sempre piorar. E é isso que Phoebe MacNamara está prestes a descobrir.

Depois de ter sido atacada na própria esquadra por um polícia que acabou de suspender, Phoebe começa a receber animais mortos à porta de casa. Quem anda a fazer isso? E porquê?

Mas os animais são apenas o principio...

Ele esperou muito tempo por vingança. Ele planeou cada passo,...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 20, 2011 Catarina rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nora-roberts

Real Rating: 4.5 / 5

Não fossem algumas questões levantas, com a sua habitual mestria pela autora, mas no fim não concluidas ou exploradas devidamente e este podia ser facilmente um livro de 5 estrelas.
Ainda assim não deixa de ser um dos meus preferidos e sobre o qual adorei ler.

Começando então pelos pontos negativos, a autora pressupõe um casal secundário Dave e Ava e no fim não lhes dá qualquer desfecho concreto, é como se o assunto tivesse sido esquecido. Existe ainda uma questão de parentesc...more Real Rating: 4.5 / 5

Não fossem algumas questões levantas, com a sua habitual mestria pela autora, mas no fim não concluidas ou exploradas devidamente e este podia ser facilmente um livro de 5 estrelas.
Ainda assim não deixa de ser um dos meus preferidos e sobre o qual adorei ler.

Começando então pelos pontos negativos, a autora pressupõe um casal secundário Dave e Ava e no fim não lhes dá qualquer desfecho concreto, é como se o assunto tivesse sido esquecido. Existe ainda uma questão de parentesco que não é devidamente explorada, no caso da relação padrasto/enteada entre o protagonista Duncan e a filha de Pheobe (a outra protagonita), chamada Carly. Houve também outra situação que me desgostou, a morte de um personagem mesmo não sendo um personagem activo na história. No entanto nenhum destes detalhes, felizmente serviu para abalar o que de tão positivo teve este livro.

Primeiro a temática iniciada neste livro é uma estreia, o toque policial habitualmente impresso nos romances da autora, é desta vez uma situação de negociações e reféns. Algo que habitualmente vemos em filmes quando são feitos reféns e um membro da policia negoceia com os criminosos para se irem libertando os reféns em segurança. Penso que se o tema não é retratado na perfeição, é quase. É nos demonstrado como o processo é moroso e todas as teorias inerentes a este que se podem utilizar, é também explicito que não pode ser qualquer um a fazer este tipo de trabalho pois é necessário que se intrepertem os vários sinais que o criminoso vai emitindo por telefone ou por outro sistema que seja utilizado para as comunicações, para posteriormente se saber qual o passo mais acertado a dar.
Neste livro, Pheobe, a protagonista é a negociadora tendo um papel mais activo na investigação daquele que vai ser a tentativa de homicido contra a própria, no livros anteriores, os protagonistas ou têm o papel de ladrão, ou são alvos de crimes mas não têm parte activa nas investigações, sendo que essa é outra novidade neste livro.
Outra situação que gostei neste livro foi o facto de Duncan, ser um homem perfeitamente normal, romântico, carinhoso, firme e com um grande carácter, e desta vez não ser um suspeito provável do crime a decorrer. Notei também que o romance neste livro não foi tão abrupto como nos anteriores, apesar da atracção sexual entre os protagonistas ser instântanea, o romance foi sendo construido de forma mais lenta e os sentimentos só foram demonstrados depois de muito se ter provado tanto de um dos lados como do outro que era fiável que se sentissem assim.
Outro dos temas que nos é aqui exposto é o de uma doença que pode não ser assim tão conhecida - agorafobia - e penso que foi bem retratado de modo a transparecer para o leitor a fobia sentida pelo doente que não consegue sair dos dominios de sua casa.

Consegui gostar da maioria das personagens, Pheobe é forte, determinada e com um grande carácter. Todo o passado desta personagem é muito bem explicito e a relação que ela e a sua familia nutrem com Dave é realmente maravilhosa.
O passado de Duncan e como depois descobrio a sua "familia" ainda que não seja de sangue, foi também bem explorada e gostei de todas as personagens que fazem parte dessa familia.

O criminoso, desta vez não era alguém que pudessemos conjurar teorias para tentar acertar, pois não teve parte activa na história, a não ser quando foi descoberto. No entanto toda a situação foi bem explicada e a cena final é bem retratada e demonstra mais um vez a inteligência e prespicácia de Pheobe.

Portanto, considero que este livro tem todos os ingredientes para ser um bom policial romântico, e tirando os detalhes que referi no inicio é sem dúvida um livro que entrou para o meu top de preferidos da autora.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Filipa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, portuguese-books, 2011-reads, romantic-suspense

Acabei. Este Refém do Amor é um bom livro.
Tem qualidade suficiente para fazer parte do meu top 10 da autora.
O enredo está todo muito bem estruturado. Digamos que me fez relembrar o que eu gostei tanto à primeira vista na escrita da Nora Roberts.
Este é um dos livros dela com mais suspense. Era completamente impossível de descobrir o assassino e nem por isso deixei de criar imensas teorias para a identidade que eu achava mais provável.
As cenas mais dramáticas e de acção estão todas muito bem fei...more Acabei. Este Refém do Amor é um bom livro.
Tem qualidade suficiente para fazer parte do meu top 10 da autora.
O enredo está todo muito bem estruturado. Digamos que me fez relembrar o que eu gostei tanto à primeira vista na escrita da Nora Roberts.
Este é um dos livros dela com mais suspense. Era completamente impossível de descobrir o assassino e nem por isso deixei de criar imensas teorias para a identidade que eu achava mais provável.
As cenas mais dramáticas e de acção estão todas muito bem feitas, porque têm um toque de realidade.
Esta situação de reféns e de negociações é já um assunto que todos vimos - nem que seja uma vez - em filmes, ou em livros. É muito usual esta temática. No entanto, esta é uma primeira para a NR e acho que ela se saiu mesmo muito bem.

Gostei muito dos personagens que ela retrata. A Phoebe e a força dela; o carácter e a personalidade. A autoridade. A determinação. Mas com algumas falhas humanas, como todos temos. O facto de as personagens deste livro estarem dotadas de defeitos - mais do que é normal num livro da Nora - fez-me desenjoar da perfeição das personagens que ela costuma construir.
Curiosamente e não só por causa dos defeitos, a Phoebe faz-me recordar da personagem Eve da série Mortal, editada pelo pseudónimo da autora, a J.D.Robb.
Criei também muita empatia com as personagens secundárias - a mãe da Phoebe, a Ava e a Carly. Ainda também a Ma Bee, a Loo e o Phin. Gostei imenso da relação familiar deles todos e com o Duncan.
Já o Duncan, também um personagem masculino muito forte. Demonstrou muita consistência de carácter. Não é toda a gente que ganha a lotaria e continua a ser um homem tão bondoso assim.

Tive realmente pena que o final fosse tão fraco assim. Merecia um epílogo, para mostrar como toda a situação assentou. Depois, tive imensa pena que o casal secundário - Dave e Ava não merecessem tempo de antena. Não é normal isto acontecer nos livros da autora.
Tive também pena que a autora não explorasse também a vertente do Duncan ser padrasto da Carly. A Nora costuma fazer umas cenas muito giras entre crianças e o amante do protagonista, de como é exemplo a cena entre o filho da Zoe e o Brad, no livro A Chave da Coragem.

Pela primeira vez a autora introduz um tema nada difícil de retratar, seja em que livro for. Que é a doença. E acho que ela foi bastante bem sucedida. Conseguiu expôr bem o que é uma pessoa com agorafobia. E fez passar ao leitor o sentimento de termos um familiar/ ente querido, que por mais que lute, se sente incapaz de passar o território da casa em que se vive. Mas a doença e os antecedentes que levaram a que a mãe da Phoebe ficasse assim foi tudo muito bem explicado. Tal como o passado deles, e a carreira da Phoebe.
Por outro lado, acho que a questão da casa e da prima Bess deviam ter tido um fim. Ou melhor dizendo, o assunto era até interessante, mas caiu assim do nada e desapareceu também muito rapidamente. Este assunto só teve direito a duas menções em todo o livro. Sendo que era da importância que era, acho que a autora poderia ter gasto mais umas páginas a compôr mais esse aspecto.
O assassino. Bem, ele foi realmente uma dor de cabeça. Por muito que eu fizesse teorias, nada encaixava. Este livro também é uma primeira vez neste aspecto. Um assassino que não fez parte da história, ou pelo menos não activamente. As ligações que tinham com a protagonista eram impossíveis de descortinar, porque nunca vieram à baila durante o livro todo a não ser quando foi para revelar os motivos dele.
Mas, mesmo assim foi um assassino convincente. Também foi tudo muito estruturado e explicado. Os motivos, oportunidade. E uma dose saudável de coincidências.

Uma boa leitura. (less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2008 Colleen rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked this up in an airport bookshop last weekend, when my plane got stuck in Atlanta. High Noon wasn't a bad read and certainly kept the boredom at bay as I waited for my flight to depart, but it wasn't up to Roberts' usual standard.

The plot is laid out above and I will say that the characters were interesting by the end of the novel. Unfortunately, it seemed like two much was going on with the thriller plot to allow Roberts to flesh out the characters early enough for me to really connect....more

2 likes · like · see review

Jun 03, 2008 Gina rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: mystery-detective, romantic-suspense, own

Pretty good by not her best work…

I liked the characters, especially Ma Bee and Duncan. Ma Bee understands Duncan like no other - the only mother figure he’d ever known. Duncan is a take charge kind of man, one who does what he wants when he wants, and pursues Phoebe like a pitbull - jaw locked and refusing to let go. Phoebe needed him to balance her, and I’m glad they found each other. And Carly, Phoebe’s 7-year-old daughter - very much like my own 7-year-old daughter. The only difference is my...more Pretty good by not her best work…

I liked the characters, especially Ma Bee and Duncan. Ma Bee understands Duncan like no other - the only mother figure he’d ever known. Duncan is a take charge kind of man, one who does what he wants when he wants, and pursues Phoebe like a pitbull - jaw locked and refusing to let go. Phoebe needed him to balance her, and I’m glad they found each other. And Carly, Phoebe’s 7-year-old daughter - very much like my own 7-year-old daughter. The only difference is my daughter likes numbers, LOL!

I liked the plot, even if there were loose ends. It’s not very often when you have a hostage negotiator as the main character. I liked how it all played out. I’d have liked to see Duncan settly into Phoebe’s house, them getting married, more about Phoebe’s mother as well. And her trademark is all over this book - all the descriptions she gives buildings, gardens, etc…, they suck you into the story. You’re seeing the building like you’re standing in front of it. You smell the flowers in the garden. And it was pure delight how the very flower that Duncan first gave Phoebe is my absolute fave flower.

However, the climax of the story happens in the last chapter - something I don’t ever remember NR doing before; where the climax and closure of the story happens in the last chapter - about 10 pages. Lots of dialogue, lots of action and suspense that gives it the perfect height of the story, the tension everyone feels in the situation. But all crammed into the last few pages of the last chapter? Come on! I’d have liked to have seen them settle, maybe a little more something from Arnie.

I really enjoyed how the characters came together I found that a lot of the scenes between the characters were so much like my family; ie: for instance, the banter between Duncan and his best friend’s wife, Louise. They’re banter is very close to the banter my husband has with my best friend - and I got a really good kick out of that! The family closeness - how they treat each other - is very much like my own family, and I like it so much when NR makes me feel like I’m part of the characters’ families.

But the ending… that’s the only reason why this doesn’t get my usual NR 5-star rating.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2007 LJ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romantic_suspense, mystery, police_procedural, contemporary_post_1945, female_author

HIGH NOON (Police Proc/Romance-Lt. Phoebe MacNamara-Savannah, GA-Cont) – VG
Roberts, Nora – Standalone
Putnam, 2007, US Hardcover – ISBN: 9780399154348
First Sentence: Jumping to your death was a crappy way to spend St. Patrick’s Day.
*** Lt. Phoebe MacNamara is single mother who lives with daughter, Carly, her mother, suffering from agoraphobia, and Ava, a family friend. As a hostage negotiator, she talks down a man threatening to commit suicide and meets the man’s attractive former employer. Phoeb...more

2 likes · like · see review

Apr 02, 2013 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Voici un petit bijou ! J'ai vraiment passé un très bon moment de lecture, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une minute !

Premièrement, j'ai aimé le personnage principal : Phoebe. Elle exerce un métier dangereux, dont on ne parle pas beaucoup. Elle est sensible et attentive aux autres. C'est une femme active : elle mène de front une vie professionnelle brillante et est présente pour sa famille. Je l'ai trouvée attachante.

Pour parler de manière plus générale, j'ai trouvé que les personnages ont des psychol...more Voici un petit bijou ! J'ai vraiment passé un très bon moment de lecture, je ne me suis pas ennuyée une minute !

Premièrement, j'ai aimé le personnage principal : Phoebe. Elle exerce un métier dangereux, dont on ne parle pas beaucoup. Elle est sensible et attentive aux autres. C'est une femme active : elle mène de front une vie professionnelle brillante et est présente pour sa famille. Je l'ai trouvée attachante.

Pour parler de manière plus générale, j'ai trouvé que les personnages ont des psychologies très différentes et développées de façon à ce qu'ils aient tous une importance, un rôle dans l'histoire. Mais j'ai trouvé dommage qu'on n'en sache pas plus sur la façon dont les blessés s'en tirent (ou non, d'ailleurs). J'aurais aussi aimé en savoir un peu plus sur "l'après". Je pense qu'un épilogue n'aurait pas été de trop.

Deuxièmement, j'ai trouvé l'histoire très prenante, très bien construite. On pense connaître le coupable, pendant une bonne partie du livre, en fait non. On le découvre en même temps que Phoebe, on ne sait rien de plus ni de moins qu'elle. Je pense que c'est un élément important du livre. Cela permet de rendre l'héroïne plus humaine, les solutions ne lui tombent pas dans les bras sans qu'on ne sache comment.

Troisièmement, l'écriture est agréable, fluide. On entre facilement dans le livre, en ressortir est une tout autre histoire. C'est très prenant. Malgré cela, c'est sur ce point-ci que je vais énoncer un avis un peu plus mitigé. Je ne sais pas si cela vient de la traduction ou non, mais j'ai été "dérangée" par des passages d'un niveau de langue normal avec quelques expressions plus soignées (ces expressions ont tendance à être répétées plusieurs fois et de façon rapprochée, comme si l'auteur ou la traductrice n'avait plus que ces mots-là à la bouche) qui côtoient des passages rédigés dans un style plus oral (de sorte que l'on tombe sur des expressions telles que "c'est obligé" ou encore "se cuiter" à côté de "tu diras à qui de droit..."). J'ai aussi remarqué une erreur dans les prénoms, il faut suivre pour ne pas tomber dans le piège. Ce sont des détails mais j'avoue avoir été dérangée par ces quelques petites choses.

Malgré ce petit bémol, ce livre est un coup de coeur, j'ai vraiment apprécié ce roman. J'ai d'ailleurs bien envie de me replonger dans les autres bouquins de Nora Roberts qui se trouvent dans ma bibliothèque !(less)

like · see review

Dec 19, 2012 Kara Jorges rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Phoebe McNamara has a lot of baggage. When she was a child, a man her mother had dated flipped and kidnapped the family, including her little brother, Carter. The incident made Phoebe decide to become a hostage negotiator, which she now does for the Savannah PD. The same incident made Phoebe’s mother agoraphobic after awhile, and Essie is now unable to leave McNamara House, the beautiful mansion where she fled with her children after the kidnapping incident. The house had once been owned by her...more Phoebe McNamara has a lot of baggage. When she was a child, a man her mother had dated flipped and kidnapped the family, including her little brother, Carter. The incident made Phoebe decide to become a hostage negotiator, which she now does for the Savannah PD. The same incident made Phoebe’s mother agoraphobic after awhile, and Essie is now unable to leave McNamara House, the beautiful mansion where she fled with her children after the kidnapping incident. The house had once been owned by her cold, cruel cousin-by- marriage, Bess, and on her death, Bess irrevocably tied Phoebe to the house her mother cannot leave. Phoebe, divorced, is the mother of a sweet seven-year-old girl, Carly. McNamara House is also home to Ava, Cousin Bess’ former assistant who is like a sister to Phoebe. Phoebe’s plate is full, but then she meets Duncan Swift.

Duncan won $138 million in the lottery and he’s rich, amusing himself by starting any kind of business he desires. He meets Phoebe when she comes to talk one of his ex-employees off a ledge, and instantly falls for her, baggage and all. That she lives in a house full of women who depend on her daunts him not in the least. Phoebe tries to put him off at first, but he won’t go away, insisting on being there for her every time she has a problem. Since he’s incredibly attractive, it doesn’t take long for her to fall into his bed, either.

All is not perfect in Phoebe’s world, however. Someone out there holds a grudge against her because of her job. If it’s Arnie Meeks, an ex-cop whose badge she saw taken away after he attacked her, it’s bad enough. If it isn’t, it could be even scarier. The only thing helping her hold it all together is Duncan being there for her to lean on.

Phoebe is a wonderful heroine, tough, yet feminine and far from invincible. She actually reminded me a lot of Eve Dallas from Nora’s “In Death” series, though she’s much softer than Eve. Phoebe and her family of females are a team who look out for each other, Ava and Essie helping to care for Carly when Phoebe has to work, and keeping the house together. Duncan is pretty much the perfect man. He’s rich, but used to be a working stiff, so he’s down to earth. He stays busy starting businesses and renovating property, also helping people who need it along the way. He lets Phoebe do what she needs to do, but also makes it clear she isn’t doing anything alone. When she tries to put him off, he won’t let her, yet he doesn’t get in the way when she needs to work.

Nora Roberts always creates great characters, full of warmth, life, and love. It shines through in such a way that nontraditional families and severe psychological dysfunction feel comfortable, even while they’re not quite “normal.” This time out, she spent less time inside the head of the villain, choosing to devote more time to the heroine’s family and romance, giving an otherwise tense thriller a somewhat cozy feel. You can’t go wrong with Nora Roberts, and fortunately, though she’s backed her pace off a little, we still won’t have to wait long for another book.
(less)

like · see review

Mar 13, 2011 Emily-cari Clifford rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first time that Duncan Swift meets Phoebe MacNamara he’s not having a good day, but then again Joe Ryder the man Phoebe, a police negotiator, has been called in to talk down is having considerably worse, his wife has left him and he is currently sitting at the edge of the roof of a block of flats that Duncan, his employer and landlord owns, only in boxers in high sunlight on St Patricks day in Savannah, with a gun.
Duncan feels an instant attraction to Phoebe, but she’s not ready to commit, s...more The first time that Duncan Swift meets Phoebe MacNamara he’s not having a good day, but then again Joe Ryder the man Phoebe, a police negotiator, has been called in to talk down is having considerably worse, his wife has left him and he is currently sitting at the edge of the roof of a block of flats that Duncan, his employer and landlord owns, only in boxers in high sunlight on St Patricks day in Savannah, with a gun.
Duncan feels an instant attraction to Phoebe, but she’s not ready to commit, she has a seven year old daughter, a mother who suffers from agoraphobia and a house that she is tied to through the vindictiveness of her late Cousin Bess.
Also in work she comes up against a third generation police officer who doesn’t like taking orders and advice from a woman, so when an incident which Arnie Meeks, the police officer in question could have prevented if he had followed Phoebe’s advice rather than acting on his own causes Phoebe to put him on suspension, it's only a matter of time before he starts looking for revenge.
But Phoebe has made more enemies than just Arnie in her eleven year career, and soon it’s obvious that someone is watching and out to destroy her, both professionally and personally, Phoebe tries to push Duncan away so that he won’ t be dragged in and put in danger, but Duncan is just as strong and wilful as Phoebe, so she must use all her intelligence to try and stop whoever it is from hurting the people who are and have become her family.
Nora Roberts has once again succeeded with writing a story filled with complex characters, Duncan is a man, whose character could be in less experienced hands, a little flat with his laid back attitude, but his sudden willingness to defend Phoebe, a FBI trained police office, after she is attacked, could be seen as chauvinistic, but he likes the fact that Phoebe is head strong, it’s one of the things that attracted him to her, but there is still that, not so much chauvinistic, but chivalrous need to be able to defend the woman that he is in love with.
Phoebe has a large amount of strength of character, she is a strong single mother who has to fight against chauvinism in her work, fighting against the glass ceiling and the rumours of sexual involvement with her superiors for career advancement. Her strength comes from the fact that since the age of twelve she’s been looking after not just her younger brother, but also her mother, trying to be the strength of the family against the harness of Cousin Bess. So when she meets with Duncan, she is compliment by his need to protect after being the one responsible for so long.
The suspense builds up through the book at a steady pace, but my only problem is that it peaks a few chapters before the end, I kept expecting a more thrilling ending than there was. But still the storyline is entertaining enough, but I wouldn’t say it was my favourite of her novels.(less)

like · see review

Oct 17, 2009 Debbie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romantic-suspense

Hostage negotiator Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara knew at a young age what she was good at, she had seen it from the hostage point of view. Years of dedication put her on the top, and to some, a women should not be in that positon. The personal attack she found herself in made her consider all of the people in her life, her new guy Duncan Swift, she had met him just after talking one of his former employees off the ledge, her agoraphobic mother, who had refused to leave the house even though that l...more

like · see review

Apr 16, 2011 Tracy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: non-series-stand-alone-novels, romantic-suspense

~* 4.5 Stars *~
Fine Southern Suspense
In the sultry Savannah heat, a patient killer stalks his prey, intent on taking everything from the one woman who took everything from him.

Savannah-Chatham police lieutenant and hostage negotiator Phoebe MacNamara spent part of her Saint Patrick's Day talking a suicidal bartender down off a ledge, while bar owner Duncan Swift looks on in equal parts fear and appreciation for the take-charge woman. When her quick thinking and steely nerves save the day, Duncan...more

like · see review

Nov 29, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, mystery-suspense, romance-historical

Eerily similar to the In Death series (written by Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb).

There's a strong, independent heroine, Phoebe, who experiences a tragic event as a young girl at the hands of a father/father figure, which she overcomes by extraordinary smarts and will-power. She ends up devoting her life to becoming a cop so she can help others, and has a mentor/superior who became a substitute father in her life.

In steps the gorgeous, rich hero, Duncan, who is instantly smitten with Phoebe because...more

like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was an excellent book that I stayed up late night after night to read that little bit more. It encompasses feeling, emotion, crime and everything a crime thriller needs to make a good plot. The characters are all well thought out and you can’t help routing for them to make it out alive.
The Plot
Phoebe is a hostage negotiator in the police and the story starts with her talking a man down from committing suicide, it is here that she meets the male lead, Duncan, a handsome lottery winner. The s...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 26, 2012 Karla rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: action-packed, angst-filled, audiobook, death, delightful-kids, exciting, favorites, family-drama, nail-biting, passionate, single-mom, sizzling-romance, strong-willed-heroine, sweet-guy, terrific-dialogue, tragic-death, violence, wonderful-family, charming-man

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

Phoebe McNamara is a hostage negotiator for the Savannah police department. At the scene of an attempted suicide she meets Duncan Swift, former employer of the distraught man who is a jump away from committing suicide. Duncan is drawn to this strong confident woman, and she is taken by his charming per...more 5 Stars! Exciting, gripping and brilliantly narrated by Susan Erikson! Another fantastic read/ listen from the talented Nora Roberts. The plot had me on the edge of my seat nearly the entire time.

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

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

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

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

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 09, 2011 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I picked this book up because I had just finished Chasing Fire and still had a Nora Roberts craving. I thought the concept sounded interesting and it had okay reviews. I wasn't impressed. There were too many plot elements packed into one book. You had a single working mother Phoebe and her agoraphobic mother Essie forced to live in a house because of the nasty aunt's will. Then you have the "traumatic past" of Phoebe and Essie, in which the mentor/father figure Dave enters the picture. Of course...more

like · see review

Apr 11, 2011 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audio, contemporary, read-2011, re-read, suspense, law-enforcement

This is one of my favorite Nora Robert's books. It's an almost perfect blend of romance and suspense. Since I have a fondness for mystery and suspense, even without the romance, I like that High Noon has an intelligent, detailed suspense plot as well as an excellent cast of characters. Phoebe is a strong, competent negotiator for the city of Savannah, GA. She meets Duncan while talking a suicidal employee of his out of jumping off a roof. Both Duncan and Phoebe are characters readers will care a...more

like · see review

Apr 28, 2013 Teresa rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Meh.... I just couldn't fall in love with the hero. I'm not sure what didn't work for me about Duncan, but I find that it's really hard to get into a book if I don't like the hero enough. I also couldn't care as much about Phoebe as I should have. I loved her daughter and Dave and Ava, and Ma Bee and pretty much every secondary character, but just not the two main characters. I think part of the problem with Duncan is that you really have to get well past like the halfway point of the book to ev...more

like · see review

Dec 07, 2009 Chinablue_25 West Bostedor rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Awesome book! Would love to see this as a movie.

It is about a woman, Phoebe, who is a hostage negotiator for the Savannah PD. She lives in a beautiful upper class home in the historic district of Savannah. A house that she inherited with strings attached from a mean cousin. Her mother is an agoraphobic and lives with her along with a good family friend and Phoebe's 7 year old daughter.

She starts having problems with am officer who doesn't like taking orders from a women and before you know it s...more

like · see review

Jun 22, 2012 Josette rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This probably is the best Nora Roberts I've read so far.

The characters are likeable and believable, the writing is surprisingly good, and though this book is not without all of the little effects that annoy me about Roberts' writing (like how everyone in her books seems to speak the same way, whether they live in Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, or Alaska), I found it a worthy read.

Like any book, of course, it's not perfect, and while it manages not to make certain m...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 eileen griffin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

The protagonist is a negotiator for the police department in hostage situations. She is quite good at her job and we find out how she became that way early on. She's a strong, independent character who meets an equally strong man, financially independent from winning a lottery, yet a super great guy who sweeps her off her feet in the midst of her tense situations on her job. It keeps you guessing through the entire book.

This is a great book. I'm surprised I haven't read it before as it is not n...more

like · see review

Feb 20, 2011 Wendy Scott rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

While I've enjoyed several of Nora Robert's books, she's not normally an author I will seek out on my own. My mother, however, loves Ms. Roberts and insists on loaning me all of her books.

This was an enjoyable if very forgettable read. Set is Savannah, the romance revolves around Phoebe, a gorgeous, red-headed hostage negotiator, and Duncan, a drop-dead handsome lottery winner with a heart o' gold. The two meet when one of Duncan's former employees threatens to kill himself and the sparks fly f...more

like · see review

Oct 15, 2007 Sarah rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was not too pleased with this Nora Roberts book. Maybe I've just read too many of her books and they are becoming too alike.
I feel that she could have told this story effectively in 200 less pages then it actually was. It seemed to drag on and I wasn't relating to the characters at all... they seemed so one-dimensional. It was a disappointment.

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 05, 2008 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the 2nd book that I've read by Nora Roberts. I LOVED it! I never read a book twice, NEVER..but this one is on my to-do list. It is a page-turner, and I couldn't put it down. I loved to mystery/action and romance all twisted together!

A great read!!! Highly recommended!

1 like · like · see review

Mar 27, 2009 CJ - Secret Charm rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: beach-read, mystery, romantic-mystery, romance, southern-fiction, there-s-sex-in-my-mystery-thriller, women-detectives

It's really a 3.5 star review since I am vacillating between really liking it and just plain ol' liking it.

I love Nora Roberts and I was not disappointed by the storyline. It's got a very good plot that keeps you moving (although the switching of character POV's suddenly is a little annoying) and her supporting characters are all fleshed out and relatable.

However, I couldn't necessarily believe Phoebe's feelings toward Duncan toward the end. I wasn't unhappy by them but I was a little like "wai...more

like · see review

Apr 05, 2012 Ruthy rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-to-me

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. O antes...
"Saltar para a morte era uma maneira péssima de passar o Dia de São Patrício. Ser chamada quando se está de folga para dissuadir alguém de saltar para a morte no Dia de São Patrício não se parecia nada com cerveja verde e gaita de foles."

É o primeiro livro que leio de Nora Roberts. Sempre tive curiosidade mas nunca houve nenhum livro que me chamasse o suficiente para o comprar logo, por isso pedi a uma amiga que adora todos os livros dela que me imprestasse um dela e outro de J. D. Rob...more

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
What's The Name o...: Cop who lives with the daughter and agoraphobic mother [s]	3	19	Apr 17, 2013 11:12pm
Books to Movies	3	25	Dec 31, 2012 11:16pm
The movie?	8	67	Sep 04, 2012 05:00am

combine
Other Editions (49)

More editions...

Genres

Romance

439 users

Romance > Romantic Suspense

107 users

Mystery

76 users

Suspense

60 users

Romance > Contemporary Romance

58 users

Contemporary

47 users

Thriller

23 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

21 users

Adult

16 users

Thriller > Mystery Thriller

11 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

Creation in Death
by J.D. Robb

About Nora Roberts

aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sopho...more aka
J.D. Robb
Sarah Hardesty

Eleanor Marie Robertson was born on October 10, 1950 in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. She was the youngest of the five children, also the only girl, of a marriage with Irish ancestors. Her family were avid readers, so books were always important in her life. She attended a Catholic school and credits the nuns with instilling in her a sense of discipline. During her sophomore year in high school, she transferred to a local public school, where she met Ronald Aufdem-Brinke, her future first husband.

In Augusy 17, 1968, as soon as she had graduated from High School, Eleanor married, against her parents' wishes. The marriage settled in Keedysville, Maryland. Her husband worked at his father's sheet-metal business before joining her parents in their lighting company. While, she worked briefly as a legal secretary. "I could type fast but couldn't spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever," she says now. After their sons, Dan and Jason, were born she stayed home. Calling this her "Earth Mother" years, she spent much of her time doing crafts, including ceramics and sewing her children's clothes. The marriage ended separating, and they obtained the divorce in January 1985.

In February 1979, a blizzard in forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate. During the now famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981 as Nora Roberts, a shortened form of her birth name Eleanor Marie Robertson, because she assumed that all authors had pen names.

Eleanor wrote under the pseudonym Jill March a story for a magazine titled "Melodies of Love".

Eleanor met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Her husband owns and operates a bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland called "Turn the Page Books". Since that time, they've expanded their home, traveled the world.

In 1992, she decided adopted other pseudonym so to publish a futuristic-suspense novels, she first decided to use the pseudonym D.J. MacGregor, but she discovered that this pseudonym was used by another author. In 1995, her first "In Death" serial novel was published under the pseudonym J.D. Robb, the initials "J.D." were taken from her sons, Jason and Dan, while "Robb" is a shortened form of Roberts.

Eleanor has also been known as Sara Hardesty, because when the "Born In" series was released in U.K. it carried that name instead of Nora Roberts. She has since changed publishers.

Eleanor has been plagiarized by another best-selling romance writer, Janet Dailey. The practice came to light after a reader read Nora Roberts' "Sweet Revenge" and Janet Dailey's "Notorious" back-to-back; she noticed several similarities and posted the comparable passages on the Internet. Calling the plagiarism "mind rape," Eleanor sued Janet Daily. In 1997, Janet, admitted to repeatedly plagiarizing from Nora Roberts' work, and that both "Aspen Gold" and "Notorious" lifted heavily from Nora Roberts's work. Both of those novels were pulled from print after Janet's admission. She acknowledged the plagiarism and blamed it on a psychological disorder. In a settlement, Janet paid Eleanor an undisclosed sum, which Eleanor donated to the Literacy Volunteers of America.

A founding member of the Romance Writers of America (R.W.A.), she was the first inductee in the organization's Hall of Fame. She also is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the (less)

More about Nora Roberts...

Books by Nora Roberts

Dance Upon the Air (Three Sisters Island, #1)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About High Noon

1 trivia question

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from High Noon

“Excuse me? Tonight you represent every dateless woman in this city, every woman who's about to sit down to a lonely meal of Weight Watchers past primavera she's just nuked in the microwave. Every woman who will get into bed tonight with a book or reruns of Sex and the City as her only companion. You are our shining hope....But no pressure.” — 96 people liked it

“People who say not to speak ill of the dead are hypocrites, because you can take it ot the bank they're thinking ill.” — 23 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: High Noon
avg rating	preview: High Noon Goodreads rating: 3.87 (13205 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3369993-high-noon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348231772l/3369993.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3369993-high-noon?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]High Noon by Nora Roberts[/url]

High Noon

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website