Product Description

Reece Gilmore has come a long way to see the stunning view below her. As the sole survivor of a brutal crime back East, she has been on the run, desperately fighting the nightmares and panic attacks that haunt her. She settles in Angel’s Fist, Wyoming - temporarily, at least - and takes a job at a local diner. And now she’s hiked this mountain all by herself. It was glorious, she thinks, as she peers through her binoculars at the Snake River churning below.

And then she sees the man and woman on the opposite bank. Arguing. Fighting. And suddenly, he’s on top of her, his hands around her throat. . . .

Enjoying a moment of solitude a bit farther down the trail is a gruff loner named Brody. But by the time Reece reaches him and brings him to the scene, the pair is gone. And when authorities comb the area where she saw the attack, they find nothing. No signs of struggle. No freshly turned earth. Not even a tire track.

And no one in Angel’s Fist seems to believe her. After all, she’s a newcomer in town with a reputation for being jumpy and jittery - maybe even a little fragile. Maybe it’s time to run again, to move on.

Reece Gilmore knows there’s a killer in Angel’s Fist, even if Brody, despite his seeming impatience and desire to keep her at arm’s length, is the only one willing to believe her. When a series of menacing events makes it clear that someone wants her out of the way, Reece must put her trust in Brody - and herself - to find out if there is a killer in Angel’s Fist before it’s too late.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #606397 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-11
• Released on: 2006-07-11
• Formats: Audiobook, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
• Original language: English
• Binding: MP3 CD

From Publishers Weekly
Roberts's latest novel of romantic suspense is a cunningly calibrated portrait of a young chef's recovery from violent trauma. While driving in the Grand Tetons, displaced Bostonian Reece Gilmore stops in the small town of Angel's Fist, near Jackson Hole, Wyo., and considers the "Cook Wanted" sign in Joanie's, a local diner. Still rattled by a shooting spree at her Boston restaurant that left her wounded and the only survivor among 12 co-workers, Reece is easily spooked, as noted by her plainspoken new boss, Joanie, and the locals who frequent the restaurant. Among them is a wary, unattached mystery novelist, Brody. Indeed, when Reece claims to have witnessed a murder while hiking along Snake River, few except Brody are inclined to believe the skittish new resident: Sheriff Rick Mardson hasn't found any clear evidence of a woman struck down near the river; Doc Wallace is suspicious of Reece's fragile mental state; and Joanie isn't about to cut Reece any slack while running a busy kitchen. Roberts cleverly casts suspicions on the locals while developing the romance between the two feisty protagonists. A slow-burn start combusts in a satisfying denouement; Roberts's legions of fans will be enthralled. (July)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From AudioFile
Chef Reece Gilmore has taken to the road to escape her demons. When her car breaks down in small Angel's Fist, Reece finds employment and decides to stay for a while. Reece is just beginning to put down roots when she witnesses a possible murder. A reporter turned mystery writer named Brody helps her investigate when the police find no evidence--not even a body. Is Reece losing her grip on reality, or is there actually something sinister going on? Roberts's hallmarks are seamless narratives and powerful characterizations, and Joyce Bean takes full advantage. Her portrayal of Reece is beautifully understated, as are Reece's crusty but kindly boss, a gossipy diner waitress, and sundry curmudgeonly locals, including Brody. C.E.W. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
After suffering a horrific shock, Reece Gilmore is slowly starting to put her life back together. Leaving her home in Boston, Reece travels around the country, but when she arrives in Angel's Fist, Wyoming, her car refuses to go any further. Planning on staying only until she earns enough money to fix her car, Reece takes a job as a cook in the Angel Food Cafe. Then, as she gets to know her new boss, her co-workers, and the other residents of the little town, including Brody, an annoyingly stubborn yet mysteriously sexy writer, she starts to believe that for the first time in a very long time, she may have found a place she might actually want to call home. Reece's hard-won happiness and sense of security is threatened, however, when she becomes not only the sole witness to a murder but also the next target of the killer, who is determined to drive her crazy. Once again, the best-selling, prolific, and endlessly imaginative Roberts deftly imbues a deliciously subtle sense of menace into a chilling and thrilling plot, thus creating yet another of her many irresistible and terrifically satisfying novels of romantic suspense. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

An Appealing Heroine, Feisty Characters, Wonderful Sense of Place, Good Suspense and a Nice Romance

Just when you think there's no new way to tell the story of a knight in shining armor who saves the fair maiden, along comes Nora Roberts to turn that time-tested formula on its head . . . with great results. If you want a great new book for your vacation, get Angels Fall!

If you have ever been to Wyoming, you probably came away in awe of the Tetons. Seeing those peaks is in some ways even more moving than the Grand Canyon. And on a hot day in July, it's nice to think about being in Wyoming. The Tetons are a primary spiritual character in this book, helping to inspire the fictional characters to take the right steps.

A fragile woman, Reece Gilmore, finds herself stuck in Angel's Fist, Wyoming (not too far from Jackson Hole) after he radiator hose splits. Needing to make a few bucks, she impulsively applies for the cook's job at short-order Angel Food. Clearly, she knows what she's doing. While most people would freak out from the pressure, it's almost a relief to Reece, as it takes her minds off other issues.

Gradually, we learn that Reece is on the roam to try to erase very unhappy memories. I won't say more because Ms. Roberts does a nice job of letting the details emerge in the novel.

Meeting the people in Angels Fist soon makes Reece think that she might like to stay . . . except for one problem: Reece observes a murder while on her first hike. But no one can find a body . . . or signs of a murder. Is Reece crazy?

The incident does have one positive element, it brings Reece into close contact with Jamsion P. Brody (who prefers to be called Brody), a mystery novelist whose posterior is causing much conversation among the younger women in town. Their relationship blossoms in unexpected ways . . . both for the reader and for them.

The issue of Reece's sanity becomes clouded by lots of incidents where the unexpected happens. But as Reece points out in the book, "It's not paranoia if they're really after you."

The novel is filled with delightful characters you'll long remember . . . and may wish to meet:

Joanie: She owns Angel Food and likes to talk tough . . . but may be a little bit softer than that.

Lo: Joanie's son whose nickname is short for "Lothario" and who has plans for Reece.

Linda-gail: The waitress who wants Lo . . . as a faithful husband.

Mac: Loves to help people.

Rick: The local sheriff who finds himself unwilling to place too much credence in the views of a newcomer, but has a delightful family.

The mystery story is well done. You'll probably be thinking it's one of four characters right up until the last few pages.

The most delightful aspect of this well-written story is that Ms. Roberts doesn't rush her story, her characters or your pleasure in enjoying the book. Although I'm far from a big foodie, I loved the many interesting food references in the book. It's like the Goldy Schultz stories in a way . . . but without the recipes. Like Goldy, Reece communicates through food.

Read this book and enjoy yourself! It won't hurt to have a nice glass of wine and some tasty snacks nearby while you do.

Very predictable
This novel is part romance and part thriller, not a great read but not bad either. The plot is very slow at times and overall too long. I found the characters interesting but their drawn out love and bedroom scenes slowed down the suspense too much for me. This novel is very predictable and a bit stale in my view.