The Harbor

This is the first novel that I have read by Carla Neggers. While I do not find her prose to be a sophisticated as say Iris Johansen, I am a big fan of mystery romance, and Carla Neggers can spin a tale. I have a six month old daughter so my choices in literature have run to books that are not that difficult to read and keep up with, but still hold the reader in suspense (and a little bit of romance doesn't hurt when your at home alone all day with a baby!). I was pleasantly surprised by this book and intend to read more of Ms. Neggars works.

This book engrossed me from the beginning, both the characters and the locale were intriguing. The combination of family tensions and the mystery gives it depth and poignancy. The writing is crisp, the descpritions vivid, the page turning unavoidable. You find yourself intrigued and engaged until the very end.

Carla Neggers has once again given us a story with great characters, fast pace dialogue,an intriguing, suspenseful plot, and as always a hero to sigh over. I have yet to be disappointed in anything written by Ms. Neggers. She gets better and better with each book. Its easy to see why The Harbor made the New York Times bestseller list, as well as The USAToday top list. If you're looking for a good book to read, you can't go wrong with The Harbor. Its money well spent.

Once again Vermont is the setting for one of Carla Negger's suspense filled romances. J.B. McGrath turns his forced vacation into work when he is drawn into investigating the murder of a local Goose Harbor resident and the burglaries that have struck his youngest daughter's cafe. He finds himself with an unwanted assistant, former detective Zoe West, who has come home to face the ghosts she left behind her. Those same ghosts are a part of the current investigation, as it is her father's murder and her sister's cafe that have caught J.D.'s attention. Small towns are filled with secrets and rivalry, Goose Harbor no less than any other. Digging for the truth will expose many of these, and force Zoe to face the destiny that she fled. Despite her and J.D's best intentions, they can not fight the heated attraction between them for very long, thus making their risks seem greater and more personal. ***** With an uncertain future ahead for both of them, and slim chances for survival to make the choices they must, Zoe and J.D. sizzle throughout this novel, ala MOONLIGHTING style. Carla Neggers delivers her classic story, making good use of the world she is most familiar with, small town Vermont. ***** Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

I really like this book the last couple of books of CN have been a 3 stars but this one you can tell she's back to the older books she has. It was worth the money...