The witness by Nora Roberts

Piatkus, 2012. ISBN 9780749955168.
(Age: Adult) Romantic suspense. Highly intelligent, 17 year old Elizabeth Fitch decides that she has to, for once in her life, make some decisions that aren't ruled by her overbearing mother's strict ideas. Left alone when her mother goes off to a medical conference, Elizabeth goes to the mall where she meets Julie, a girl from school. Together they get new outfits for Elizabeth and decide to a nightclub, using fake IDs that Elizabeth makes up. The night turns out to be a disaster of momentous proportions - Elizabeth witnesses a murder, Russian Mafia style and fifteen years later, is still hiding from the murderers in a small country town. Brooks Gleason, the local sheriff, is immune to her attempts to discourage him and gradually makes inroads into her life and secrets. Elizabeth, now known as Abigail, has set up an elaborate alias for herself, using her skills as a computer programmer and hacker. However the Mafia haven't given up on their search for her, and Brooks isn't giving up either.
Roberts has the happy knack of portraying believable characters. In this case Abigail's paranoia, her social ineptitude and her complex diction, make a good contrast against the character of Brooks, who is patient and determined, but very laid back.
Roberts also is a master at building up suspense and there are some twists and turns in this plot that are unexpected. Fear that the Mafia would find Abigail, and waiting for a big shoot out, kept me reading this book in virtually one sitting.
Nora Roberts is a best selling author who regularly hits the New York Times bestseller lists with her novels. This is her 200th novel and fans will welcome her blend of interesting characters, romance and suspense.
Pat Pledger