Review copy was received from Purchased. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Search by Nora Roberts Narrator: Tanya Eby
Published by Brilliance Audio on July 6, 2010
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Length: 14 hours, 54 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life: a quaint house on an island off Seattle's coast, a thriving dog-training school, and a challenging volunteer job performing canine search and rescue. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare.
Several years ago, she was the only survivor of a serial killer — a madman who stalked and abducted young women, strangled them, and left them buried with a red scarf on their bodies. As authorities were closing in on the Red Scarf Killer, he shot and killed Fiona's cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.
On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. Yet all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He's the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon's house, and he's at his wit's end.
To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can't handle. Simon is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he's a rugged and intensely private artist, known for creating exquisite furniture. Simon never wanted a puppy, and he most definitely doesn't want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to the laws of attraction.
As Fiona embarks on training Jaws and as Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona's life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands.
I’ve been collecting some of the Nora Roberts audio books which are not at the library. I knew this was the one I most wanted to hear. Since they are almost all standalone, they should be easier to fit into the reading schedule.
The Search is about a woman who trains K9 dogs for search and rescue. She also leads the local SAR unit. I loved all the training and searches. Fiona has made a nice life for herself on the island with her training dogs and working the rescue teams. One of her best friends is the veterinarian who usually is the base operator for the team.
An artist comes to the island and has pieces in Fiona’s stepmother’s shop. His mother gives him a puppy which he has no clue how to train so he comes to Fiona. The owner, Simon, needs more training than the smart puppy, Jaws.
Fiona and Simon become friends and keep building their relationship. Neither has really planned for a relationship. But they become surprisingly attached and comfortable. Simon felt kind of brash to me but Fiona gave as good as she got so they fit together well enough.
Fiona is the only survivor of a serial killer. He’s still in prison but now he has a protege who is also planning to get to Fiona as the one who got away. Simon is very protective, although he has no skill with fighting or guns like Fiona does. Luckily, the FBI and local police are also protective of Fiona.
I loved the pace of the investigation and searches, with a more background romance. Of course, my favorite is the dog’s training and work.
Narration:
Tanya Eby is an experienced narrator I have heard previously. I really enjoyed her performance of all the voices. They were distinct enough for me to recognize characters and comfortably appropriate. I was able to listen at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Tanya Eby
Tanya is a starving artist without the starving part. Maybe, then, she’s a snacking artist. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her two kids and tiki-obssessed husband and writes quirky fiction.
After writing a gripping, dark, gothic novel IN THE GARDEN ROOM, Tanya decided to switch it up. She’s hard at work on a romcom, which doesn’t feel like work at all.
She likes to keep things interesting.
She is also an award-winning narrator and audiobook publisher. She has been lucky to narrate some of the best books around…600 and counting! Many of the books she narrates are NY Times bestsellers.
She loves the challenge of narrating and truly adores words. Reading other writers’ work encourages her to keep working on her own.
About Nora Roberts
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. She married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland where she worked briefly as a legal secretary. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old.
Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn’t reading or making up stories. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.
Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they’ve expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together.
Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.
Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.”
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Closer Than You Think by Debra Webb @DebraWebbAuthor#EliseArsenault #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited🎧 - May 1, 2025
- 2025 Summer Semester Library Love Review Link Up + Giveaway @angelsbooknook17 @booksofmyheart #LibraryLoveChallenge #Giveaway #LibraryLove #LibrariesRock - May 1, 2025
- Cold Burn by AJ Landau @JonDLand @jeffayerswrites.bsky.social @minotaurbooks.bsky.social @MinotaurBooks - April 29, 2025
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-Audio
I think I would love this, especially the dog training parts. Thanks for sharing!
yes there is quite a bit of the training and dog work. And it’s a stand alone.
This is one of my favorites! Glad you enjoyed, Anne💜
I knew I would love it with the dog trainer, although I wasn’t all that into Simon. *shrugs*
I listened to this back in 2018. I think I bought it on an Audible Daily Deal. It was an enjoyable read, but a little on the long side if I remember. Yes, I’ve been enjoying romance being a secondary component of stories, too!
I loved this one because dogs.
Glad you enjoyed it! I think this is an author my stepmom reads.
It’s romantic suspense. I liked the dogs best.
I enjoyed this and picked up the audio when I saw it in a sale and enjoyed the re-listen. I enjoy Roberts books in audio and they’re such a good slump busting read for me.
I’ve collected some of her books on audio because many are not at the library. I chose this one first because of the dogs.