Book Review: The Collector by Nora Roberts

Description from Goodreads
From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a novel of a woman who needs nothing, a man who sees everything, and the web of deceit, greed, and danger that brings them together—and could tear them apart . . .

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .


My Review
This book doesn't leave you anytime to breathe- the murder happens before page 20! 

Lila Emerson is house-sitting at an apartment in Chelsea, where she sees a woman get pushed out of a window by her lover, Oliver. Or at least that's what she thinks she sees.
Ashton is Oliver's brother, and doesn't believe his brother would hurt a fly, let alone push someone out of a window. And they quickly uncover that both were murdered.

We also get inside the head of Jai, who seems to be working for someone, but doesn't seem to be the murderer. Though later does become one. She's not a sympathetic character in the slightest, at least not to me. She's money hungry and only cares about the job, and not about life.


The novel itself revolves around two of the lost Faberge eggs, and about the greed and lust of money and acquiring property. Lila and Ashton are basically caught in the middle of this, because Oliver acquired an egg to sell. Reading about the antiquities business was pretty fascinating, but then again, I really like second hand shopping and I used to really enjoy antiquing and going to yard sales with my grandma and great aunt, so maybe nostalgia brought interest. 

The other aspects of the story I liked is the description of Ashton's art- the way Roberts describes it just makes me want to go into the pages and look myself. I wish it were real and I could look it up on the internet and purchase it.

I think my favorite side story was the romance between Julie and Luke. I love the history and the fact that they both found each other again later in life after finding their passions. It was a really sweet story, and I wish there were more of it.


Overall, this is a really solid stand alone novel by Roberts and probably my favorite stand alone of hers in quite some time.
I gave this book 4 stars on Goodreads.



If you'd like to purchase a copy of this book, you can purchase a copy for Kindle here, or a hardcover copy here. Or you can borrow a copy from your local library, like I did!


FTC: I borrowed this book from my local library. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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