The Obsession
by Nora Roberts
The daughter of a serial killer builds a new life in a coastal Washington town and lets herself get close to a local mechanic, until her past follows her.
At a glance
- Genre
- Contemporary
- Trope
- Slow Burn
- Heat
- Hot
- Published
- 2016
- Length
- 464 pages
Reading Options
The Obsession
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- A woman living under an assumed identity must confront her terrifying past when it finally tracks her down to her quiet coastal sanctuary.
- Fans of romantic suspense
- Readers who enjoy dual-layered plots (thriller and romance)
- Intense
- Features Slow Burn
This may not be ideal if…
- Readers looking for purely lighthearted, low-stakes romance
- Subject matter may be heavy for some romance readers
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Tropes
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Contemporary
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Equal partners navigating trauma.
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
High tension, high angst.
Heat Level
Based on available metadata and editorial review.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Reading mood
May not suit
Recommended audience: Adult
Content Guidance
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
After discovering her father's horrific crimes as a child, Naomi Bowes has lived her adult life in hiding. Settling in a remote coastal town, she finds a sense of normalcy and opens herself up to a relationship with a local mechanic. However, as she begins to let her guard down, shadows from her past emerge, forcing her to decide whether to run again or face the darkness once and for all.
Central Conflict
The protagonist must reconcile her need for safety and connection with the looming threat posed by the re-emergence of her serial killer father's legacy.
Setting
A coastal town in Washington state.
Strengths
- Strong premise
- High stakes
Consider before reading
- Subject matter may be heavy for some romance readers
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Nora Roberts
What Readers Say
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Publication Details
- Publisher
- Berkley
- Published
- 2016
- Length
- 464 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9780515156386
- ISBN-10
- 0515156388
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This is my book — sign inReading Options
The Obsession
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
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