Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Final Target by Nora Roberts Narrator: January LaVoy
Published by MacMillan Audio, St. Martin's Press on May 26, 2026
Genres: Romantic Suspense
Pages: 432
Length: 14 hours, 27 minutes
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley
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He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.
Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…
An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude―but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.
Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?
I love these standalone sorts of life stories Nora Roberts is writing. They feature strong women who face hardships or decisions and build cozy lives for themselves with their own tastes and needs. Once they have their own happiness, friends and place, they end up falling in love.
Arden is a writer. In the beginning, she is a new writer who also works at a bookstore. She picks up a stalker who assaults her. He gets a short 5 years at a psychiatric facility. She goes on and becomes more successful, ends up moving to Oregon where her best friend and cousin lives. She makes a beautiful home getting parts and pieces at the hardware store. The owner and she become fast friends. His grandson, Gideon, helps him and also does amazing woodworking she likes. She purchases some lamps and a bowl he made.
I was in suspense because I just knew Dustin would come after her. She is too calm about that since she has moved and no one knows her address. Luckily, he doesn’t get her address the way he originally plans. And luckily, Gideon, has become her boyfriend and then the new police chief. He doesn’t think Dustin is rehabilitated so he researches, finds other victims of Dustin and prepares.
It was so heartwarming to see Arden find herself, be with amazing family and friends, develop a relationship with Gideon and his grandfather, have career success and make an amazing home. It was terrifying to think about Dustin and his plans for her. I found this satisfying and exciting.
Narration:
January LaVoy is a favorite narrator. As usual, I really enjoyed her performance of all the voices. They were distinct enough for me to recognize characters and comfortably appropriate. Although I did think the villains voice was a bit close to the love interest. I was able to listen at my newer 1.75x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About January LaVoy
photo: Scott Sherratt
January (she/her) is an Atlanta-based actress, best known for her role as Noelle Ortiz-Stubbs on the long-running ABC daytime drama ONE LIFE TO LIVE. She has appeared on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters across the country, and guest starred on several prime time network series, including Elementary, Blue Bloods, and N0S4A2. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association and SAG-AFTRA, and was a faculty member in the Department of Theater and Dance at Emory University from 2019-2021.
An Audiofile Magazine “Golden Voice” since May 2019, January has an extensive body of work in both narration and commercial voiceover. With hundreds of audiobook titles to her credit, she has received more than thirty Earphones Awards, eighteen Audie Award nominations (including seven wins), and was named Publishers Weekly’s “Audiobook Narrator of the Year” for 2013. Her voice has been heard in national campaigns for dozens of products, and she shares a 2020 Grammy nomination with Meryl Streep and the cast of the Charlotte’s Web audiobook, in which she plays the title role of Charlotte.
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.”
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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.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 26-Audio
- 26-COYER
Since I’m starting this later today I’m skipping for now. But I love seeing all these stars💜 How does she keep doing it?
I really enjoyed this one.
I felt the tension throughout the entire story as I knew Dustin would come after her. She might have been too carefree but Gideon and the Ohio cops knew better. Loved this story.
yes obviously I loved it too.
This sounds so good! I love stories where women think about themselves first and men second, plus the added suspense of the stalker sounds like it adds a nice layer.
There’s so many nice personal kind of touches with good food, home decorating, exercise, family dinners, artists. I enjoyed the cozy feel of it with the contrast of the stalker.
I am unsure if I have tried this narrator before, I have to take a look if she is that good
She is a favorite of mine. I hope you like her too.
Yes, in this day and age it’s naïve to think someone can’t get your address! I wouldn’t have been so calm either. Thankfully, things worked out! I loved this one too, as you know. Wonderful review, Anne!
Exactly. I have no problem with her relaxing and living her life but I would have had a backup plan in place. IDK what that would be though. – a trained dog, a safe room, security system with video? Those things might not have worked in the method he used unless she checked video before going home. ??
I agree that perhaps Arden didn’t plan well enough for what to do if Dubecki found her. Some self-defense classes would not have come amiss! But like you, I really enjoy NR’s standalone romantic suspense novels, in part because, although yes, there’s a romance, the main character has already built a life before the partner comes along… or is in the process of building it. She writes strong women, but with variation in their strengths and weaknesses, which keeps things interesting. With some books, I don’t relate as deeply with the main character as I do with other books, but they’re always fun to read anyway.
yes I loved it. The plot and some aspects are familiar. But the emotional journey is a good one.
I have tried Nora Roberts in the past and it’s been so 50/50. Maybbbeeeee
I tend to enjoy the newer ones more than the older ones.
I have this on my ereader and hopefully I’ll get to it soon. I also love these standalone thrillers from Nora Roberts.
I hope you enjoy it. I thought it was great.