Carnal Innocence by Nora Roberts

Title: Carnal Innocence
Author: Nora Roberts

My rating: 3.5 Stars


Synopsis: Burned out from her hectic career, concert violinist, Caroline Waverly seeks the peace and quiet of her grandparents’ home in Innocence, Mississippi. Not only is Caroline’s tranquil getaway about to be disrupted by a serial killer on the hunt but she soon finds herself the object of affection for the prime suspect: handsome and privileged, Tucker Longstreet.

Review: This is one of Nora’s earlier novels originally published in 1991. The book has been re-issued several times, most recently in 2010.

Two things in particular stand out about this book. The first is the witty dialogue and banter, especially between Tucker and Caroline, and the second is the small town characters and shenanigans that make you chuckle out loud. Carnal Innocence is a wonderful example of small town Southern culture and charm, which I am definitely a fan of.

Nevertheless, the story is long winded and drawn out with overly descriptive passages. One of the most significant problems with the novel is the imbalance between the romance and the suspense. While the murder mystery is good, the romance feels secondary and there is very little spark to Tucker and Caroline’s relationship. As individuals these characters are charming and likeable. Tucker is the seemingly lazy yet hardworking plantation owner and Caroline the emotionally vulnerable yet strong willed woman quite capable of blowing a man away. The identity and motivation of the culprit are unexpected but not surprising and one can figure it all out quite easily before the big revelation.

In sum, the setting and basic premise are the high points of the story and remind me of Carolina Moon, one of Nora’s later and better books, which I highly recommend for fans and newbies alike.