ARC Review: Mind Games by Nora Roberts

Mind Games
Author: Nora Roberts
Publication: St. Martin's Press (May 21, 2024)

Description: 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…

My Thoughts: MIND GAMES is another excellent standalone thriller by Nora Roberts. It has it all: great family, great friends, a wonderful new romance and a killer who can find his way into the main characters mind. 

Thea Fox and her brother Rem really enjoy spending two weeks with their Grammie in Redbud Hollow. They can feed the chickens, milk the cow, and just enjoy spending time with their Grammie. Their parents enjoy the time to just be a couple while the kids are gone too. But a jealous killer has the couple in his sights.

Thea and her grandmother both wake up during the night because they have seen the killer enter the house and kill the couple. Unfortunately, the killer who has the same sort of psychic gift as Thea has seen her too. Thea's gift allows her to offer police detectives the information they need to track the killer Ray Riggs too. 

Ray Riggs will be spending the rest of his life in prison but that doesn't mean that he won't keep barging in on Thea's life. She needs to learn to block him out and live her life. She grows, makes friends, becomes a game designer, and falls in love with the rock star she had a crush on when she was a teen. But Ray Riggs is always there in the background trying to spoil her life. 

Excellent story. I especially loved the strong family ties and the way they all choose to make their best lives after an unspeakable tragedy. 

Favorite Quote:

The screen door slapped open. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes, hair everywhere, Bray said, "Daddy." Then his eyes popped wide, and he dropped the truck he held in one hand. "Bunk!"

They raced to each other as if war had separated them.

"Usurped by a giant dog."

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.