Romantic Suspense Annotation - Beachcomber, Karen Robards

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General Information

Author: Karen Robards
Title: Beachcomber
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Publication Date: August 12, 2003 (Atria Publishing)
Number of Pages: 352 (Hardcover)
Geographical Setting: Ocracoke Island, North Carolina
Time Period: Present

Plot Summary

Christy Petrino just can’t catch a break – in Philadelphia, or along the (formerly) quiet beaches of Ocracoke Island. After discovering that her fiancé, Michael DePalma, is the heir to a mob family lineage, has used his law firm to launder major amounts of money, and has killed members of her family, Christy decides to break off her engagement. Doing so, though, isn’t nearly as easy as returning the ring and walking away. Christy is coerced into a final errand for the Family (capital F) and is guaranteed that if she completes it, she, her mother and sisters, will remain unharmed. Christy makes plans to finish the errand, and walk away once and for all.

The sleepy town of Ocracoke seems to have another plan for Christy. On her trip back from running the Family errand, her well-honed senses sound an alarm. At the moment she realizes she is being followed, she stumbles across a woman, dying on the beach. Christy is torn between helping her, and saving her life, and flees down the beach to try to save them both. Only later does she realize that the local police are hunting for a serial killer who is kidnapping and killing – young women who uncannily resemble her – and she seems to be the next target of this killer.

Luke Rand, an FBI agent, has been hot on Christy’s trail for almost two years, in an attempt to catch Michael DePalma and break down that arm of the Philadelphia mob. Luke is pulled closer into Christy’s world as she comes tearing home, shouting for help for the woman on the beach – and he stays close, defending her as she falls deeper and deeper into the web of the mob, and the sight of the serial killer. But Luke can’t reveal his true identity, or he risks putting his job, and their lives, at risk.

In this tumultuous time, Christy only feels safe with Luke, but can’t shake the feeling that there’s more to him than she realizes. As Luke’s personal feelings grow, his professional responsibilities seem more and more difficult to uphold, as he finds himself fighting for Christy’s life, as well as his own. Will the two make it out of this summer together – and alive?

 Characteristics of Romantic Suspense

Setting

This book is set on the idyllic Ocracoke Island in North Carolina. This part of the state is quiet and family-oriented. While it is not exotic, it is a location that is out of the norm for this character (and most reader) and serves to physically isolate Christy from her familiar surroundings.

Point of View

Romantic Suspense novels are typically told from the perspective of the heroine, and in this story, the reader experiences everything through Christy’s eyes. As things unfold for her, so they unfold for the reader. The book has a surprise ending that the reader could not have guessed, and unveiling it with Christy kept the book suspenseful until the literal last page.

General Uneasiness

As a woman who is dodging two potential threats, Christy’s perspective is highly tinged with suspicion, mistrust and unease. Each noise, closed door, dark room, or stocky, bald man is someone to fear and run from. Over time, the language of the book draws the readers into feeling that way with Christy.

Pacing

Adding to the general uneasiness of the book is the quick pace at which the story is told. Chapters are short, which keeps action condensed, and chapter breaks are appropriate – but the story continues without any skip in time. Short dialogue also leads to this being a quickly paced book.

Romantic Elements

At the root of this genre is the romantic element of the story. A budding romance grows between Christy and Luke, punctuated by her bad luck and his excellent timing! She has to choose between the man she once loved (DePalma) and a man who is unlike what she usually appreciates (Luke). As their romance blossoms, readers are treated to some steamy scenes – not too graphic but enough to satisfy those who are seeking that romantic element.

Read-Alikes

Similar Authors

Each of these authors write books that are classified under Romantic Suspense with plucky, bold heroines and steamy relationships that move at a fast pace. Recommended books from these authors might include:

Sandra Brown: http://sandrabrown.net/
Best Kept Secrets
Tough Customer


Christine Feehan: http://www.christinefeehan.com/
Magic in the Wind
Safe Harbor


Julie Garwood: http://juliegarwood.com/
Sweet Talk
Fast Track

Similar Books

A Thin Dark Line – Tami Hoag
Both A Thin Dark Line and Beachcomber feature serial killers who continue to allude the police, and catch unsuspecting women in their crosshairs. In both of these stories, the hunted women want justice, and must form alliances with men they do not trust, while keeping themselves – and their hearts safe.

Do or Die – Suzanne Brockman
In Do or Die, Ian Dunn, a former Navy Seal, has been tasked with the job of rescuing two kidnapped children. He must partner with Phoebe Kruger who is the lead lawyer in a firm retained to help, so that they may find the kidnapper. Like Christy in Beachcomber, Ian Dunn must accomplish this mission while being hunted by the mob, and avoid being killed before he finds the children. However, as the mission grows, he finds his desire to protect Phoebe is exceeding everything – even if it means by sacrificing his own life.

The First Prophet – Kay Hooper
In The First Prophet, Sarah Gallagher wakes from a coma to find herself having barely survived a devastating fire – and with new psychic abilities. She struggles to find anyone to understand her, and makes an unlikely alliance with a novelist by the name of Tucker MacKenzie, who must help her figure out how to stop an unknown enemy from killing everyone she loves. Like Christy and Luke, Sarah and Tucker must find ways to trust one another in a highly dangerous world.

Overall Thoughts from the Reader

This book was my first intentional foray into romantic suspense, and I realized how much I enjoy the genre! I appreciate a good romantic novel but I find it difficult to get engaged in anything that is too cutesy, predictable or slow. While I understand the “romantic” part of Romantic Suspense will include some sweet, soft moments, I appreciate the faster pace of this genre.

In this book, I find that both characters are fairly well developed. The reader has to wait for some time to understand why Christy was motivated to leave DePalma and by the time the reader learns, they feel indignant and disappointed for her. Luke is a bit of a lovable oaf – while he was most likely not intended to be perceived as well-intentioned goof, he comes off that way to Christy, which is then perceived by the reader through her point of view. They both develop good intentions towards one another and their protective nature of each other is charming and believable.

This book has some well-placed comedic moments that lighten the mood and provide some levity to an otherwise fast-paced, demanding story. The feral cat Marvin is carried throughout the story and ends up with him being a hero, which is a hilarious scene. Gary, Luke’s brilliant yet awkward partner is a good juxtaposition to Luke’s determination and provides some dry and droll commentary, and is involved in a makeover scene that is oddly belonging in the story. Angie, Christy’s sister, is the perfect impersonation of what a reader would expect a mob “old lady” to be, and provided a good contrast to Christy’s more stoic, distrustful character.

Overall, I thought this book had a great twist at the end which I did not anticipate – at all! I find this unusual as I, like many of us, have read enough stories to guess how it ended. This one totally took me by surprise, so I am definitely encouraged to read Karen Robards in the future when I am seeking a romantic suspense book!