Obsession

Table of Contents

 

 

 

"[A] creepily effective suspense novel. . . . The premise is a real gripper.”—
The Seattle Times

"A psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats.”

—
The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News
(FL)

“Readers will love
Obsession
, a stunning and powerful tour-de-force thriller. . . . Karen Robards proves once again she is a stupendous storyteller.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“Bestselling Robards adds psychological spice to a familiar love-on-the-run plot . . . a page-turner . . . spins satisfaction out of appealing characters who fall in love and bad guys who get justice.”—
Publishers Weekly

“A well-done book, heavy on intrigue with interesting characters and a suspenseful plot.”

—
The State
(Columbia, SC)

“An intense romantic suspense novel that links an out-of-the -blue beginning with a dynamite ending in riveting and unexpected ways. With vibrant characters and a great plot, this is one of bestselling Robards’s best, and a must read for fans of Nora Roberts and Linda Howard.”—
Booklist

“A real page-turner. Robards delivers romance and mystery in a unique story of memory and identity.”

—BookLoons

“One of the best novels yet from the prolific Karen Robards ... with an ending that will keep readers up at night.”—
The Seattle Times

"Romantic suspense is Karen Robards’s forte, and fans won’t be disappointed with
Vanished
. . . . The story opens with a literal bang. . . . This is an action-packed page-turner with an ending that is appropriately satisfying. Robards fans will devour this book.”

—
The Roanoke Times
(VA)

“There are plenty of thrills. . . .This is a great afternoon read!”—
The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News
(FL)

“The mystery and suspense of the book are intriguing and keep you turning the pages.”

—
The State
(Columbia, SC)

“Exciting romantic suspense. . . . Sparks fly off the pages . . . a haunting tale that grips readers . . . and never slows down until the final twist.”

—
Midwest Book Review

“Steamy sex and . . . suspense.”

—
Myrtle Beach Sun-News

“Robards offers heartfelt insights into the agony and desperation experienced by adults whose children are abducted, and she delivers a knockout romantic thriller.”

—
Booklist

“Bestseller Robards opens her latest romantic thriller with a bang ... will keep readers turning the pages.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Fans of Tami Hoag, Iris Johansen, and Kay Hooper will love
Superstition
.”
—Midwest Book Review

“[
Superstition
] is another winner from . . . Robards . . . a classic edge-of-the-seat read.”—
Booklist

“When you see Karen Robards’s name on a new book,
grab it
! . . . [She] is . . . guaranteed to deliver an entertaining, must-read, can’t-put-down story. And she does it again with
Superstition
. This has all the earmarks of a Robards story: a compelling mystery, an engaging cast of characters, and a strong hero and heroine with amazing chemistry.”—
The State
(Columbia, SC)

“Romantic suspense at its absolute best. I didn’t want
Bait
to end.”—Janet Evanovich

“Veteran romance/crime bestseller Robards delivers another hold-your-breath drama, this time starring FBI agent Sam McCabe and advertising executive Maddie Fitzgerald. Her pacing is excellent, and regular infusions of humor keep the story bouncing along between trysts and attacks. This one is sure to please fans.”

—
Publishers Weekly

“Robards returns once again with a pulse-pounding novel. Nonstop suspense amidst sensual romance heats up the pages of this captivating novel. Top-rate suspenseful action and sizzling romance form the backbone of this spectacular read, one of Robards’s all-time best.”

—The Best Reviews

ALSO BY KAREN ROBARDS

SIGNET
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
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Published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin
Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a G. P. Putnam’s Sons edition.
First Signet Printing, June 2008

Copyright © Karen Robards, 2007

eISBN : 978-0-451-22273-2

All rights reserved
Stepback photo by Steve Gosling, Trevillion Images
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Peter, this book is for you, in honor of your graduation from Washington University in Saint Louis.

Christopher, this book is for you, in honor of your being named a National Merit Semifinalist.

Jack, this book is for you, for being, as always, an absolutely great kid.

Acknowledgments

I want to thank everyone who made this book possible: my husband, Doug, who is always there and does mean carry-out in support of the creative process; my boys, who provide lots of comic (and sometimes not so comic) relief; my agent, Robert Gottlieb, for his indefatigable efforts on my behalf; my wonderful editor, Christine Pepe, who is the soul of patience and good advice; Leslie Gelbman and Kara Welsh and all my friends at Berkley; Stephanie Sorensen, who does great publicity; and Ivan Held and the rest of the Putnam family, with many thanks for your kind words and constant support.

In the beginning . . .

"Nick.
Nick-ee.
Are you there? I’m in trouble. Real bad trouble.”

Special Agent Nick Houston, FBI, stood in the kitchen of his small house in Alexandria, Virginia, head bowed, rubbing the back of his neck as he listened to the answering machine message. It was a little after eleven p.m. on a muggy Wednesday night, and he was dead beat. He’d already had the day from hell, testifying at the sentencing hearing for a man who had acted as his informant for more than a year, and then watching the guy’s daughter practically collapse in the courtroom as the tough-on-crime judge handed her father ten years in federal prison, despite Nick’s promises and the old guy’s cooperation. Then he’d spent what was left of the day sparring with high-priced lawyers who were trying to paint him as a whack job as he’d testified in a related case, giving depositions, filling out the mountains of paperwork that followed the conclusion of every case like a tail follows a dog, and then, finally, on his way home, getting called in as an adviser to a hostage situation that had resulted in one of the hostages, a woman, being killed.

Just another day in the life of one of America’s overworked, underpaid ersatz national police force, he knew. But still, the last thing he needed was to come in and hear his sister’s voice on his answering machine.