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Supersticion

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Nicole Sullivan, periodista de un reality show que sigue la pista de varios asesinatos en Isla Pawleys (Carolina del Sur), se ve inmersa en una trama criminal cuando su jefe la remite a Joe Franconi, el policía encargado del caso. Nicole y Joe sentirán una pasión mutua irrefrenable, a la vez que se estrecha el círculo y el peligro les acecha inevitablemente... Una historia de suspense y romance, a partes iguales, en un entorno paradisíaco. / Nicky Sullivan starts looking for a story for her failing investigative news program, and turns to the local psychic, her mother Leonora James, for help. The only problem is that her mother, who agreed to a live broadcast, is having problems with her ability to communicate with the dead, and Nicky is worried that the show will be a bust rather than a ratings booster. American Library Association

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

196 people are currently reading
1481 people want to read

About the author

Karen Robards

135 books3,240 followers
Karen Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."

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5 stars
797 (26%)
4 stars
1,096 (36%)
3 stars
851 (28%)
2 stars
212 (7%)
1 star
66 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews
Profile Image for Vettech.
529 reviews14 followers
July 7, 2013
Another great suspense read by Robards. Loved all the characters....Nicky (the reporter), Joe (hunky police chief), Leonora (Nicky's psychic mother)who spent much of the story in a psychic block mode, Olivia (Nicky's crazy pregnant older sister), Brian (the ghost),and don't want to forget "Cleo" the pot belly pig, who turns out to be a hero of sorts.

I totally floored by who the killer turned out to be at the end. Even though it's fun to guess who the bad guy is, it's the sign of a great writer who can fool everyone.

I highly recommend this one to those of you into the serial killers and ghosts.

Profile Image for María.
386 reviews39 followers
May 15, 2020
Es curioso... Ya había leído este libro hace unos años y a pesar de que no me acordaba de lo que pasaba en él, sí tenía un mejor recuerdo que el de ahora que lo he vuelto a releer.
El protagonista masculino, Joe me ha gustado mucho y creo q parte de que este libro tenga las 3 estrellas es por parte suya. En cambio, Nicky, la protagonista femenina ha habido veces que me ha hecho poner ojos en blanco. En plan... Te persigue un asesino que se comunica contigo y te la trae al pairo? Por mucho que tenga que hacer su trabajo y hasta entienda sus razones, me parece muchas veces demasiado "confiada". En cuanto a su familia... Ves que tu hermana, que está embarazada, abandonada por su marido y encima se está dejando a ella misma porque solo sabe apenarse porque ya no es guapa y pasas de ella? No sé... Por mucho que intenten mostrar la parte cómica de una familia neurótica y "metomentodo", me ha resultado algo bastante tedioso. El final ha estado bien, algo precipitado para mi gusto, pero no ha estado mal.
Profile Image for Jacqueline J.
3,565 reviews371 followers
September 11, 2012
This started out great but lost steam in the middle. I had a hard time plugging on after the heroine did something really TSTL that drove the second half of the book. I thought the end was a bit muddle since too many crimes were all mixed up together and solved a bit too neatly. The writing as always from Ms. Robards was good. The characterizations were very well done. Loved the psychic mother. The bad guy was a little too all knowing though .
Profile Image for Bea .
2,037 reviews135 followers
December 8, 2014
Over the top, and dated despite being only 9 years old but a decent story. I correctly guessed one of the villains but not why and I didn't figure out the others. I liked the psychic aspect, the length of time in which events happened (more believable than most books), and the romance was decent.
Profile Image for Sarah-Jayne Briggs.
Author 1 book47 followers
January 5, 2013
(This review may contain spoilers).

I have to say, this book wasn't exactly a miss, but it wasn't a hit, either. Nicky's family seemed more like caricatures than real people, at least at first. They got better as the book went on, but I came close to giving up on the book almost straight away when they came across as being so one-dimensional and almost irritating, in many ways.

I'd probably say that the character of Joe was what saved the book for me. He had more of a depth to him, but I really couldn't understand why he was with Nicky. I was half-expecting her idiocy to get her killed. (Seriously. You're a reporter whose life is in danger and you're receiving threatening e-mails. What's the first thing you do? Read out said threatening e-mails live on television. For all of her claims to be an investigative reporter, Nicky clearly didn't understand the danger in revealing that kind of information. I don't think that was handled well at all).

There was a scene close to the beginning of the book, when Nicky leaves the house and heads off into the darkness. That scene was particularly well-written and left me feeling incredibly creeped out, particularly since it was late evening and I was on my own in the house. Unfortunately, that was the only scene that was that well-done. All of the others kind of failed to make me feel that kind of suspense, quite possibly because I didn't form any emotional attachments to the characters.

I didn't see the killer's identity coming, but that wasn't so much of a good thing. When it was finally revealed, it didn't make sense. The loose ends weren't tied up in a satisfactory way. And then the part afterwards was even more of a let-down. (I did see that part coming, at least with the character).

Lastly... the supernatural elements wouldn't have been needed, in my opinion. Almost everything could have been explained away better. The ghosts added very little to the actual storyline and the tape - for example - could have easily been found through other means. Even figuring out the tape's connection came far too late for someone who was supposed to be intelligent enough to have her own television show.

All in all, I found this book to be quite disappointing. I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to buy any more books by this author.
Profile Image for Barbara ★.
3,510 reviews286 followers
April 1, 2013
I really liked Joe Franconi but the heroine, Nicky Sullivan got on my nerves with her TSTL moments. Yes I get she's a reporter but even so, purposely putting yourself and your family in danger and advertising every single piece of evidence on air was just plain stupid. How do you expect to catch the bad guy if you give him every single clue you have. And putting the emails on air word for word was beyond stupid. This book seemed like it followed a formula including "put TSTL moment here" followed by "allow hero to save heroine here". The only suspense was the killer's identity and that was a surprise until a revealing moment at the end. I thought the whole mafia connection to be unnecessary and the "ending" to pat.

All in all not bad but not great either.
Profile Image for Cheri.
507 reviews76 followers
December 21, 2016
A good murder mystery with a touch of paranormal
Profile Image for Melissa Fernandez.
52 reviews
October 14, 2025
It took me a while to read this. It was ok, there were parts that were really suspenseful and other parts that just really dragged—not a very good murder mystery flow. The whole “Brian’s ghost”/Joe’s past subplot was so underdeveloped it was frustrating…and then for that to majorly tie into the murders from 20 years ago…not a satisfying come together moment. Everything felt VERY rushed at the end—in a way that made it obvious Robards did not know how to end it when writing. It was set up to have all these things fall into place a for a real “gotcha” moment, but as I was reading the last chapter I was just bored.

P.S. I hate to see when a woman writes a male character and that male character is sexually attracted to the protagonist when she is covered in blood, panicking, and was literally almost murdered. I really hope the bar is not that low… and if you have the capacity to write your own characters, why would you make him thinking about her body when she’s scared out of her mind and was almost killed? These beach reads consistently astound me. People need therapy bad.
Profile Image for Amber.
141 reviews6 followers
June 6, 2021
It was okay, cute...nice detective story and oddly good ending.
26 reviews
June 28, 2024
I enjoyed it, as I do most of Karen Robards books. Suspenseful good “beach read”.
Profile Image for Mary Taitt.
389 reviews25 followers
February 6, 2013
I liked this book a lot. I kept thinking Nora Roberts wrote it, with the red-haired feisty protagonist. It was pretty much formula mystery/crime, but well done. The story was exciting and a nice balance of tension and fast pace with occasional deliciously slow moments. I had predicted the killer fairly early on, but loved seeing how she/they got there. Nice job tying up ALL the loose ends in the final climax. Didn't like the narrator saying things like "Media-types," "Official-types,"Publicity types." It wore on me. It would be okay in conversation, but not from the narrator. Otherwise, excellent light reading. Satisfying ending.
Profile Image for L8blmr.
1,235 reviews13 followers
June 26, 2015
I see that people's ratings of this book are all over the place and I can understand that. I did enjoy it; the mystery had me guessing almost until the answers were revealed, and then there was an additional revelation, but I found that almost too pat, too contrived. The leading man and woman were interesting, but some of the peripheral characters were played up in one portion of the story, only to be virtually ignored for the remainder of the book. Some descriptions were repeated in part or in whole that I grew tired of, particularly the constant reminders that the hero smoked. Overall, I did enjoy it more than I didn't so I bumped it from the 3.5 I'd give it if we could award half-stars.
Profile Image for Barbara Brown.
54 reviews4 followers
Read
August 20, 2010
"Leonora protested, even as Uncle Ham and Karen and Mario fell back out of their way. The hall was long and narrow, white-painted beadboard with a hardwood floor. Nicky, with Leonora in tow and John following, charged up it like the little engine that could. The others had to practically run to stay ahead of them, and as a result, they all popped out in to the kitchen like spray shooting out of a shaken-up soda bottle."
I love this image.
Profile Image for Wench.
620 reviews45 followers
March 22, 2014
I slogged through about 8% of this, and all that had happened was DESCRIPTION. SO MUCH DESCRIPTION.

Authors, going in to detail about the hair and clothes of background characters, naming all the streets, telling us that might be a possum or maybe a raccoon over there, whatever, is not generally necessary. That level of detail in a book rarely of ever adds anything of value to the story. It just gets the hell in the way.
Profile Image for Sandy.
35 reviews
September 25, 2012
Ugh. That about sums up this book for me. I read about 2/3 of the book and then said, "Forget it!" Jumped to the last chapter or so to confirm who I thought did it. Guess what, I was right, on both counts. If you're looking for a good mystery, unfortunately this isn't it. The premise was good, but the execution was NOT.
Profile Image for Becky.
401 reviews182 followers
Read
September 24, 2009
I stopped reading this book because I just couldn't get into it. I was very disappointed because I've really loved the couple of Karen Robards books I've read previously, but this was a dud. I'm surprised her publisher was willing to put this out.
Profile Image for Nicole.
119 reviews18 followers
November 17, 2012
This book would have been about half as long if all the excessively long descriptions had been cut. And since Liv was constantly described as hugely pregnant, why the hell couldn't Joe tell the difference between her and her sister who was always described as being so thin??
Profile Image for Jane Fournier.
286 reviews1 follower
June 13, 2016
I love to read books that grab you and this one does that; however, I had trouble hanging in there until the end. Very interesting. Well written but I probably won't pick up another by Robards for a while.
Profile Image for Vonnie Hughes.
7 reviews
November 4, 2012
I agree with Eden. A bit too pat. Not Robards' usual quality. It was okay, but I've read a lot better. It's all been done before.
The setting was the best part.
Profile Image for Ela (Mouse333).
2,090 reviews10 followers
December 13, 2020
• I really liked the characters in this book and I thought that the plot was interesting

• There were a lot of characters and they were written really well as when they in a scene, they all had clear personalities - I liked Nicky’s character and how she was determined to find out everything but I didn’t like how she didn’t think how sharing all the information about the murders and the killer could influence the investigation. I liked Joe’s character and how dedicated he was to his job and how he interacted with other characters but . Also the side characters were developed and I really liked Nicky’s family but there weren’t enough scenes showing them all

• I liked how everything is solved in the end and that the motive for the recent murders was unexpected

• The ending was good as the main characters had a clear future and I really liked what Livvy decided . I did was to see a few more scenes at the end with Joe and Nicky interacting with her family without the stress of the investigation and a chapter or two when they get to the place they’ll be living in

• The ghost aspect was what put me off reading this book but in the end I wanted there to be more scenes with ghosts as they weren’t that big of a part of this book

• This book was really good and I really liked the way it was written so I will definitely read other books by this author
Profile Image for tinalouisereadsbooks.
1,054 reviews14 followers
January 20, 2025
Sparks fly between a police chief and a reporter who are thrown together when a brutal killer comes out of hiding after fifteen years.

Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Sunny, idyllic, and picture perfect, until a tabloid news program airs a splashy segment about the community's only unsolved murder-the grisly stabbing of teenager Tara Mitchell and the subsequent disappearance of her two best friends, both thought to be long dead. In the years since the murders, several families have moved into the mansion where the crime occurred, each claiming that the dead girls still haunt the house. Beautiful redheaded reporter Nicole Sullivan, sensing the story that could be her big break, arranges for her mother, a renowned psychic, to contact the three victims via a live siance on the show Twenty-four Hours Investigates.

But something goes terribly wrong during the segment, and a young woman is murdered in the exact same manner as Tara Mitchell was fifteen years earlier. Pressured by her producers to get the inside story, Nicole is ordered to continue to investigate. As an attraction grows between Nicole and police chief Joe Franconi, another identical murder occurs, along with a menacing note warning that the original killer is back to claim three more lives. The body count rises, and so does the danger to Nicole, who is attacked, barely escaping with her life. She and Joe are forced to join forces as it becomes clear that the killer has set his sights on Nicole as his next victim.


This book should have had everything I love. Wrote in the vain of Sandra Brown / Erica Spindler / Tami Hoag. It had a crime, a little paranormal element, the romance and sex. But for me it just didn’t work. I have to say I have a stinker of a cold so perhaps I couldn’t concentrate enough but the book wasn’t taxing to read. I couldn’t connect with the main characters so I wasn’t feeling what they were. As I say I have had a cold so could I have got into the book a bit better I may have enjoyed it more.
Profile Image for Miranda.
79 reviews
October 26, 2025
Es la primera oportunidad que le doy al suspenso romántico, pero esta autora me ha dejado con un muy buen sabor de boca.

Ha creado un libro que, a pesar de ser largo con una trama compleja, maneja de forma excelente todos sus elementos y permite al lector comprender todo lo que está pasando.

En particular disfruté de la prosa tan descriptiva y centrada en los sentimientos de los protagonistas, quienes también fueron trabajados a fondo cuando fue necesario.

Es verdad que, por la sinopsis, quizás algunas personas esperen más enfoque en el área de investigación del crímen, pero más bien es una historia que se centra más en sus personajes y el romance, así que ojo con eso.

La parte del romance creo que estuvo bien desarrollada por parte de Nicky, pero Joe se me hizo más que sufrió un típico caso de insta-lust. Creo que fue el mayor fallo de la autora; escribió a Joe de forma muy mediocre. ¿Qué es eso de solo poder describirlo como 'viril' o 'masculino'? Y lo mejor que veía en Nicky era que le gustaba su físico. Meh. Tenía el potencial de ser un personaje complejo e interesante, como Nicky, pero a la larga solo se me hizo desagradable y es la principal razón por la que no puedo darle más estrellas a la novela.

En general es una historia muy entretenida, focalizada en sus personajes más que en el misterio que los rodea, pero que no deja a este descuidado, con un estilo detallado y claro.
882 reviews3 followers
March 26, 2018
TV reporter Nicole Sullivan is back in her home town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina to do a story on the unsolved murder of teenager Tara Mitchell and the disappearance of her two friends fifteen years ago from one of the girl's homes on the island. When another young woman is murdered, Nicole and local police chief Joe Franconi are both determined to solve both the old and the new cases, before Nicole becomes the next victim.

I enjoyed the beach side setting of this book, along with Nicole's family's antics, which added some occasional humor to the dark mystery. I also enjoyed the paranormal story line woven throughout the book, as Nicole's mother is a psychic, although her gift appears to be "blocked" throughout much of the story line, which frustrates Nicole, as well as her mother, to no end.
1,382 reviews
June 13, 2021
Nicky Sullivan is a reporter for a show that is taking a look at a 15-year old murder. One girl was murdered and two disappeared. When Nicky does her show in Pawley's Island, her hometown, another murder occurs. The murder is sending her communications. It appears that a serial killer has returned. Police Chief Joe Franconi believes that Nicky is in danger. They are attracted to each other but Joe has a troubled past that makes it hard for him to have relationships. The suspense portion of the novel was done well. The romance was just the right amount. This is an older book so some of it comes off as dated but overall an enjoyable read.
Profile Image for Alexandra.
17 reviews
September 3, 2024
Aunque ha estado entretenido el tiempo que lo he estado leyendo porque es sencillo de hacerlo, tengo que decir que esta repleto de clitches. Tambien decir y es lo que menos me ha gustado es "la relacion" del tipico hombre durote con un pasado triste y la chica haciendose el "que no se de cuenta que le quiero". Con eso podria vomitar un arco iris... Lo que yo hacia era pasar las paginas en esos momentos, no te pierdes nada.

Es un libro que cuenta una historia de fantasmas, muerte y una relacion de lo mas tipica.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Bona Caballero.
1,609 reviews68 followers
August 12, 2021
Hubo un tiempo en que Karen Robards era una de mis autoras favoritas de suspense romántico. Fui dejando de leerla por libros como este. El motivo es que mete cosas paranormales, algo que no es para mí. Cuando en una novela meten cosas esotéricas, me pierde como lectora. A mí no me va la magia, ni personas que "ven" a muertos como ocurre en este libro, "ciencias" ocultas y esas cosas. Aparte de eso, el libro me pareció aburrido y sin la menor tensión sexual entre los protagonistas.
Profile Image for Amna H.
265 reviews1 follower
December 14, 2022
It was gripping no doubt but the ending was one twist too many. It felt rushed and came out of nowhere. As much as I like happy endings, this went just one kinda overboard. Get the girl, get the job and heyyy now you get half a mil too.

The descriptions- too many descriptions. I really do not care what everyone is wearing. If there are seven people in a room, there is no need to describe what seven of them are wearing. I really do not need to know what colour every carpet, curtain and sofa is.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
3,326 reviews42 followers
Read
September 10, 2023
I guess with a few murders in the story alongside the steamy bits, this counts as romantic suspense. There’s a lot of teeth gnashing and negative friction between the main protagonists, but they eventually get there.
Although I had guessed the right bad guy, there’s a pretty effective surprise at the end. (even if I had bad vibes about that person from the get go.)
Entertaining (although ever so slightly dated) read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 182 reviews

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