From Nora Roberts comes the #1 New York Times bestseller Shelter in Place (June 2018)–a powerful tale of heart, heroism…and propulsive suspense. It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at video game store tended to … together, and the manager at video game store tended to customers. Then the shooters arrived.
The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies’ room, helplessly clutching her cell phone–until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art.
But one person wasn’t satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait–and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.
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The topic is one we have all grown accustomed to; three kids with guns go into a mall and start shooting. Many people are killed, but those left behind struggle to piece their lives back together. All three shooters die at the scene, but one teen was working behind the scenes. The police never knew or suspected there could be a fourth teen involved. Though the topic is sad, the book itself is not sad story. It is one of survival and spans almost 15 yrs as the survivors work to overcome their traumatic past.
Excellent
I loved this book. It was among one of her best. Couldn’t wait to read it and then I was sad that I finished it.
Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts was so much more than I expected. I must admit I don’t read her blurbs anymore. She is a MUST READ author for me and her standalone signature novels are highly anticipated and always, always immediately devoured. Shelter in Place was a touching and emotionally raw story that was as timely as it was chilling. The author delivered a tale that kept me glued to the pages, as well as utterly captivated.
Nora Roberts chose a topic that gives me goose bumps every single time I hear of it in the news. Mass shootings. She took this topic and spun a story that was utterly fascinating and captivating from beginning to end. Her impeccable storytelling and incredible skill to spin an enthralling tale produced again an UNPUTDOWNABLE novel for me.
Although Shelter in Place is a slow burn, the journey that both main characters took was fascinating, and appropriate for each character. Both hero and heroine were genuine and likable charters. Reed Quartermaine and Simone Knox were mature and level-headed, something Nora Roberts excels at. Both were survivors of the DownEast Mall shooting and teenagers at the time of the event. Naturally they were molted by the horrific incident and coped with it in different ways. Years later their life intersected again.
As life happens, someone was trying to finish what was interrupted so many years ago. Both, Reed and Simone, were again trying to stay alive as well as putting an end to what once almost destroyed their lives.
Reed and Simone were a couple that just clicked.
They made it look easy. For them, meeting each other was like finding a piece that had been missing. They connected on a level that felt right and their relationship and interactions literally felt like the calm before the storm. Reed was a darling. His dry humor, and his never-ending appreciation for his colleagues and friends warmed my heart. His genuine and reciprocal connection with Simone’s grandmother was a highlight of this book. Additionally, Simone’s journey was as interesting as her personality – colorful, and deeply layered. There were so many parts in this book that made me smile and happy – and than there was the suspense.
I honestly couldn’t put the book down. This story gave me chills. I think the reason why I was so invested in this story was because of its topic. At the end Shelter in Place was a piece of fiction, but it was based on events that unfortunately happen all over America, in schools, malls, and outdoor functions. That most of all, the realism and horror that the author masterfully build her story on, kept me from putting it down.
So, if you love reading romantic suspense, an utterly suspenseful story that had such an authentic feel that will chill you to the bone, especially the opening scene, this is a MUST READ in my opinion. It’s one of her best books so far. BONUS it also had an adorable puppy as sidekick.
Great book. Good characters, great insight. Sad , witty, and unfortunately a subject that has happened all too often.
Another wonderful book by Nora Roberts. Couldn’t put it down!
In the space of a few minutes, the lives of those visiting or working at the DownEast Mall and adjacent theater in Rockpoint, Maine were permanently altered. Three shooters decided that whatever was wrong in their lives warranted the selfish actions they took in those moments. Survivors Reed Quartermaine and Simone Knox followed paths that weren’t part of their original destinies until that event in the mall. Reed went into law enforcement and Simone expressed her feelings through art.
I first thought this was going to be a story about a mass shooting and the immediate aftermath, more about the pursuit of the attackers and those involved in the investigation. This couldn’t be further from the reality as that event just serves as the context for those that survived the massacre. Reed and Simone may be the central characters to anchor the story but there’s a richness to the breadth and angles of the lives of those that surround them and others. Their relationship develops slowly and fairly organically, a quick ignition but then a slow burn. I adored CiCi Lennon, Simone’s grandmother and admired Essie McVee, the police detective who plays such a strong role in Reed’s life and decisions.
All of this is in the midst of a really diabolical character connected to the mall shooting. This person was chilling, a true psychopath hiding in plain sight. You’re just not going to breathe easily until the creep is stopped. The tension is constant but it doesn’t detract from some truly lovely moments throughout the book.
I loved and inhaled this book, as I knew I would, especially when I learned January LaVoy was narrating the story. She delivered her typically outstanding performance, which made this one of my more favorite reading experiences.
This is why I love Nora Roberts. Her characters are well-developed and realistic.
Great book. I would defiantly recommend this book!
Classic Nora Roberts
Another Nora Roberts great book.
Well-written, well-edited and entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, there are characters you can care about entertaining action.
AS always Nora delivers. I love her books and can’t wait for the next,
Wonderful book!
Ms Roberts uses a much different style in writing this book, not sure I liked it much. The story line is very topical what with the mass shooting going on in our world today. The back & forth was confusing.
Wonderful Nora Roberts book! Explores how the survivors of a shooting tragedy cope with the aftermath in an extremely entertaining and sensitive way. She introduces a love interest, a sexy police chief and an interesting twist involving the shooter’s sister.
Could not put it down
Loved it
Another grand-slam!! NR writes about a VERY real horror in today’s society with wonderful characters who refuse to be classified as victims.
Nora had me hooked in the first chapter! She also had me laughing on one page in the second chapter and crying on the very next page! Reed is terrific but my favorite character is CiCi! This is a definite must read!