Sacred Sins

You can't argue the fact that she is a brilliant writer and I am proud to say I am on my way to having every book she's ever written. If you like her style, try the ".....In Death" series written under JD Robb. I've read them all individually, then gone back and read them in sequence.


Tense, gripping and enjoyable!   January 14, 2005
20 out of 20 found this review helpful

Firstly, I'm a real crime/thriller nut! I am constantly having to hunt down new (at least to me) authors who write engaging, fast-paced series. Having read everything by Lisa Gardner, Michael Connelley, Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reiches - to name a few - I needed another fix! Bless her heart Nora Roberts filled the void perfectly.

Sacred Sins is the first (at least I think it is) in a series of novels that feature Tess Court, an emotionally attached psychologist, and Ben Paris, a hard-headed womanising police sergeant. Inevitably, a new relationship is born and flourishes before our very eyes. I do feel that this relationship was a little wobbly and could have been portrayed differently, but I'm still looking forward to reading more about the couple.

The main storyline is an "against the clock" struggle to find a killer who murders their victims with an amice (a scarf-like item worn by catholic priests). Paris simply wants to track the down the nut and put him/her away for good. Tess Court is convinced this person needs help and is killing to absolve an underlying problem.

Sparks fly between the two professionals, but who will win?

I was honestly hooked from the very beginning. Unlike with some of the other series I read through necessity, Sacred Sins gave me something slightly different to think about. I didn't find the killer obvious at all until about 4 pages from the big reveal! Maybe I'm just not detective material, but I personally think the murderer was well concealed throughout.

The ending was a little quick for my liking, but it certainly didn't taint my general feeling for the book or Nora Roberts. I can't imagine why I've not heard of her before now! She easily gives some of the top names a run for their money.

Looking at some of the other reviews on Sacred Sins, I think you'll either love it or hate it - simple as that. I'd recommend it to all crime/thriller readers and just hope that they can enjoy it half as much as I did!


terrific book!   May 5, 1999
7 out of 10 found this review helpful

i picked out "who dun-it" from the beginning, but that didnt take away from the fun of it! i did enjoy this one and the more i read, the more i'm sure ive seen the movie. is it all in my mind, or has this (or something very similar) been made into a movie?? another good one from nora ::smile


Very good, but could've been better...   April 11, 1999
3 out of 5 found this review helpful

This is the first of Robert's books that I've read . I liked the characters and the plot was suspensefull but I felt that the characters relationship could've been done better. I didn't like the ending much either, I was expecting more of a "WOW!" feeling after finishing the book but I felt more of a "Eh, good book" feeling. I recommend it but there were certain slow chapters that I thought could've been left out all together. Overall though...it was pretty good.