Dr. Callie Dunbrook is an archaeologist. When she is called back from sabbatical to head the Antietam Creek dig, she knows it is the opportunity of her lifetime. Finding a 5,000-year-old human skeleton in Woodsboro, Maryland is just too fantastic to believe. It is such a great scientific discovery, but as Callie will find, it is to become even more of a self-discovery that she could have ever dreamed possible.

Once on site, Callie learns that her ex-husband, Jacob (Jake) Greystone will be the lead anthropologist on the dig. She is very upset because their divorce was anything but agreeable. However, he is one of the best, if not the best anthropologist in the country, so he has earned and deserved the job. Except for sparks flying with her ex-husband, all goes well on the project until Suzanne Cullen sees Callie during an interview with the local TV news. Suzanne is convinced that Callie is her daughter who was stolen 28 years ago, when “little Jessica” was only three months old. Things begin to get even more complicated when the landowner of the Antietam Creek dig is murdered. He had planned to build houses on the site until the bones were discovered. Why was he sneaking around the dig site? Who would want to murder him, and why? Could Callie possibly be the same Jessica that Suzanne Cullen has been seeking all these years? How can Callie fulfill her responsibilities as head archaeologist without killing, or at least maiming her ex-husband?

This is the first Nora Roberts’ book I have read. If her other books are anything like this one, I have a lot of enjoyable reading to catch up on. This book is excellent. The writing is wonderful. The character development and the plot are first rate. I am not usually one who cares a lot about romance but the author did attraction/repulsion so well in the story that it was truly complimentary to the plot and enhanced the characters’ personalities. The mystery piece of the story was spun as well as any master storyteller could weave the threads.

Unfortunately I wasn’t expecting a lot when I began to read BIRTHRIGHT. Some really well known authors have sorely disappointed me lately. Since I have never read anything by Ms. Roberts before, I was really afraid it would only be more of the same. What a refreshing experience! What a joy to read! To top off everything else, the author makes it look so easy! The words flow so smoothly and the characters are real enough to touch. She made me care about the characters and how the story would be resolved. I can’t say enough good things about the book so I will just say read it for yourself. You will be glad you did.