Old Sins have Long Memories

LEGACY

Nora Roberts

St. Martins Press

May 25, 2021

It has been a while since I read a Nora Roberts standalone novel. I tend to be more of a fan of her long-running In Death series, which is always a day of publication purchase. But when I was offered an advance copy, the premise was so interesting I jumped right on it. Legacy sounded like the perfect pandemic read for someone who has been in a bit of a reading "slump." I was not disappointed.

Seven-year-old Adrian Rizzo met her biological father for the first and last time on the day he tried to kill her. Adrian was the product of an ill-advised affair between Lina, her mother, and her college professor. Lina had broken off the affair when she discovered the professor was a married philanderer. She had gone on to be a famous and successful fitness guru and raised Adrian alone. With fame and fortune came a curious "journalist" who dug up the affair and wrote about it, bringing the murderously enraged professor banging on her door. Lina knew he was bad news, but not a psycho, and managed to dispatch him before he actually killed Adrian. In the wake of this scandal, Lina sends Adrian to her parents in Maryland to get her away from it. It was a wonderful solution, as Lina's parents are both charmers who gave her a chance to be a child, make friends, and learn some wisdom from them. She also meets her first crush, the green-eyed Raylan, the brother of a friend.

Years later, Adrian has built a successful career as a fitness guru on her own, globetrotting and turning out bestselling videos. She made good friends in school who have made their individual contributions to her success and their own. They are a tight group, not only business partners but true friends. With success comes unwanted attention in the form of threatening rhyming messages. At first, they appeared about once a year but have increased in frequency and virulence. When events take Adrian back to Maryland, she will need the support of all her friends and that early crush, Raylan.

Good characterization and plotting are hallmarks that Roberts has developed over her long and prolific career. I thoroughly enjoyed this suspenseful and romantic novel. Thanks to NetGalley.com and St. Martins for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.

RATING 4 Stars