Mind Games

By: Nora Roberts

Narrator: January LaVoy

ISBN: 9781250345301

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: 05/21/2024

Format: Other

My Rating: 5 Stars (ALC)

MAY 2024 MUST-READ BOOKS

"Narrator January LaVoy brings a richly layered performance to a story.... She expertly handles the large cast of multigenerational characters"

—AudioFile on Hideaway

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Identity presents a suspenseful new novel of tragedy and trauma, love and family, and the evil that awaits.

As they do each June, the Foxes have driven the winding roads of Appalachia to drop off their children for a two-week stay at their grandmother’s. Here, twelve-year-old Thea can run free and breathe in the smells of pine and fresh bread and Grammie’s handmade candles. But as her parents head back to suburban Virginia, they have no idea they’re about to cross paths with a ticking time bomb.

Back in Kentucky, Thea and her grandmother Lucy both awaken from the same nightmare. And though the two have never discussed the special kind of sight they share, they know as soon as their tearful eyes meet that something terrible has happened.

The kids will be staying with Grammie now in Redbud Hollow, and thanks to Thea’s vision, their parents’ killer will spend his life in supermax. Over time, Thea will make friends, build a career, find love. But that ability to see into minds and souls still lurks within her, and though Grammie calls it a gift, it feels more like a curse—because the inmate who shattered her childhood has the same ability. Thea can hear his twisted thoughts and witness his evil acts from miles away. He knows it, and hungers for vengeance. A long, silent battle will be waged between them—and eventually bring them face to face, and head to head…

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

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#MindGames

My Review

The master storyteller and queen of suspense, Nora Roberts, is at the top of her game, delivering a brilliant, suspenseful, emotional, and twisty story of gifts of the mind in MIND GAMES —where we witness some use those gifts wisely, while others do not in this riveting tale of good versus evil.

Nora Roberts is at the Top of her game in MIND GAMES!

Who controls the gift? Who controls the game?

A long-time fan of Nora Roberts. She is magical with words, storytelling, twisty suspense, and well-developed characters. MIND GAMES is exceptional and made me want to return and read the books I missed. Take advantage of this one. Set aside the time. Unputdownable!

The audiobook...

January LaVoy is a favorite gifted narrator. She and Nora are a match made in heaven! She delivered a knock-out performance! Her voice was spellbinding, and she juggled multiple voices easily and precisely. Her captivating, pitch-perfect pacing was impressive—a fabulous, engaging, and listening experience. I highly recommend the audio!

About...

Every summer, John and Cora Fox take their two children, Thea (12) and Rem (10), to visit with their maternal grandmother, Lucy, in Redbud Hollow, Kentucky. The kids adore their Grammie and look forward to the visit. The parents return home to Virginia for two weeks without the kids.

Grammie is a busy business owner who runs a farm with animals and makes her own butter, candles, soaps, and much more. Everyone loves Grammie, the perfect loving grandmother and neighbor.

After the parents returned home, they were brutally murdered in their bed. Grammie and Thea have a special gift, and they both are awakened from a nightmare where they witness John and Cora's murder while it was taking place. A sadistic criminal followed them home after seeing Cora with her nice watch and car at a store.

Thea is helpless. Her gift was inherited through the bloodlines and stronger than Lucy's, the Grammie. She witnessed everything and could see it through the killer's mind and eyes.

Thea was able to help the Virginia authorities identify the killer with her special gifts. At first the authorities do not know what to expect, but with her gift she has so many specific details.

However, once the criminal is caught, he haunts Thea's thoughts and dreams as she continues to see him as he also has a gift. They both have the mental battles.

The kids have wealthy paternal grandparents which do not care about the kids, but luckily Grammie has the parent's will that gives her full custody and executor of the estate and she is a fierce protector. John's parents h ave always looked down on Lucy and daughter Cora. The kids of course are happy to live with Grammie and not their other grandparents.

Time moves on and Thea and Rem grow up and Thea has to block the killer's evil and twisted thoughts. One day there will be a showdown and who will win out? He should never be out of prison but what if he escapes? Will they meet again and who will win out in the end?

My thoughts...

I loved MIND GAMES! The author does an outstanding job with all the characters! I loved being immersed in the culture and life on the farm and Grammie's beautiful heart with her tenacity, wisdom, and love.

Rich in character and setting! From compelling characters, a clever twisted plot, heart-pounding suspense, and utterly captivating with a sprinkling of romance. The author skillfully dives deep into the minds of both good and bad blended with humor.

Thea and Rem are well-developed characters as the book follows them from childhood, college to adulthood and her career. I loved seeing Thea with her gaming and dreams and how she uses her abilities.

Thought-provoking, I also enjoyed the way Nora uses the banter between the killer and Thea (and gaming)—full of suspense, mystery, thrills, twists and lots of heart with a sprinkling of romance.

After reading MIND GAMES, you will remember why you love Nora Roberts and why she remains #1! For Roberts' fans, and those of her (book to movie 2007), Carolina Moon as well as fans of Catherine Ryan Hyde.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review. #SMPInfluencers

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

My Rating: 5 Stars

Pub Date: May 21, 2024

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Praise

"Fans of Roberts’ enticing brand of storytelling will find everything they crave in her latest polished thriller, including compelling characters, an evocative, richly realized setting, and a captivating plot enlivened a generous dash of romance and just the right measure of nerve-jangling, nail-biting suspense. You don’t have to be a mind reader to predict Roberts’ latest will soon be on reserve and best-seller lists all around the country."

―Booklist

"Roberts’ latest may move you to tears, or joy, or dread, or all three....A touching story of love and grief ends in an epic battle of good versus evil."

―Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"Die-hard Roberts fans will get what they came for: there’s no shortage of romance, [or] cliffhangers..."

―Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. After a school career that included some time in Catholic school and the discipline of nuns, she married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.

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 her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 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.

Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. 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.

Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together.

Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.

Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”

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