Carnal Innocence [Paperback]

Nora Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2010

New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts provides a potent mix of small-town secrets, scandalous romance, and down-home Southern atmosphere as a young woman searching for some bayou R&R finds herself entangled in a serial killer’s wicked web.
 
Burned out and still reeling from a love affair gone bad, world-class violinist Caroline Waverly goes to her grandparents’ home in Innocence, Mississippi, for some much-needed rest and relaxation. Instead she finds herself overwhelmed all over again—first by Tucker Longstreet, a charming local with a sideline in no-strings-attached relationships, and then by a deadlier, more disturbing development.

For Innocence is being stalked by its very own serial killer, whose brutal knife blows have pierced the veil of tranquillity in this sleepy Southern town and left a trail of mutilated female corpses in their wake. When a federal agent arrives to investigate, the town’s deepest secrets bubble to the surface and suspicion turns on Tucker as the most likely suspect. After Caroline finds the latest murder victim floating in the murky waters behind her house, she too is inexorably drawn into the path of a crazed killer who may be closer than she could have ever imagined.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Old favorite. Bestselling author Nora Roberts grabs her readers from page one. Innocence, Mississippi, isn't innocent for long when a murderer strikes the sleepy town. Concert violinist Caroline Waverly has returned to her deceased grandparents home to escape high-pressured concert tours. She is soon caught up by the irresistible charm of Southerner Tucker Longstreet. The dark secrets of Innocence soon begin to surface and together Caroline and Tucker not only face a murderer but discover secrets from the past. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

From Publishers Weekly

Roberts ( Genuine Lies ) plunks a pair of likable lovers into an equally likable rural Southern community; she then keeps the story from turning sweeter than blackstrap molasses by setting loose a serial killer. World-class violinist Caroline Waverly, recovering from a breakdown and an affair gone bad, arrives at her grandparents' house in Innocence, Miss., looking for peace and quiet; what she discovers is the naked, mutilated corpse of Edda Lou Hatinger. Only days earlier, Edda Lou had thrilled local gossips by publicly blowing up at Tucker Longstreet: he wanted out of their affair; she wanted marriage. Edda Lou is the third woman stabbed to death recently, so local police call in Matthew Burns, a federal investigator who specializes in tracking serial killers. In the meantime, Tucker decides to be right neighborly to Caroline, and after her initial resistance crumbles, she responds to his Southern charm. Tucker is on Matthew's list of suspects, and soon a fourth dead woman is found on the Longstreet family property. Caroline, too, faces the knife as she is drawn into a confrontation in which she learns who is behind the deaths.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Reprint edition (March 23, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553386433
• ISBN-13: 978-0553386431
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (119 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #194,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Carnal Innocence, February 22, 2008

By 

Kelly "Reviewer for The Sinfully Sensuous" (Littleton, Colorado) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carnal Innocence (Mass Market Paperback)

Caroline Waverly is a world-renowned violinist in desperate need of some overdue relaxation. She decides that Innocence, Mississippi is the perfect place to find some peace in the only place she has truly ever felt roots. As she makes her grandmother's old home her own, her serenity is shaken when she finds the body of young woman in the lake, and in to the path of a serial killer.

Tucker Longstreet is a true southern gentleman and appears as easy going as a man can get. He enjoys fast cars and faster women, but Caroline is a challenge for him. Tucker is immediately taken with her, and appoints himself her protector. It is then we learn that the good ole boy surface hides a very smart and sharp-witted man.

As the town lives in the grips of fear, Tucker and Caro must identify the killer to have any chance of a future.

This was very well written with wonderful characters. The secondary characters are especially good - LuLu was a scream! This one kept me guessing till the very end!!

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Provocative Title, Wonderful Book!, May 17, 2005

By 

Susie Morris "Book Junkie" (Southern California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carnal Innocence (Mass Market Paperback)

Ok, I'll admit I thought that CARNAL INNOCENCE had a very strange title and didn't understand the implied reference until I was actually reading the book. Innocence in this case is actually a town in Mississippi. The main female character, Caroline Waverly, is a famous violinist who decides to go to Innocence, Mississippi to get away from a much-publicized break-up with her fiancé. She retreats to her family's quaintly charming old bayou home and begins to learn to relax and enjoy life, something she has never had the opportunity to do.

What she doesn't know is that this town is full of deceptions and people hell-bent on revenge. When a murder victim is found, she begins to question her decision on moving to Innocence. Is the killer the one she's fallen in love with - charming, handsome Tucker Longstreet (ever notice how romance novels always have charming and handsome characters - no ugly, rude ones!). As Caroline tries to figure out her feelings while keeping out of harms way, many things come to light.

CARNAL INNOCENCE is a very good book and definitely worth the price! It's full of suspense, romance, and unexpected twists and turns. I highly recommend reading this book, but make sure you have plenty of free time, because you won't want to put it down!

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A who dun it with a dash of romance., July 6, 2001

By 

Denise Bentley "Kelsana" (The California Redwoods) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carnal Innocence (Mass Market Paperback)

Someone in the sleepy little Mississippi town of Innocence is far from innocent. Women are turning up dead and that is just not healthy. Body number three has just shown up in the pond behind Caroline Waverly's home and she's wondering how much rest she is going to get in this little town off the beaten track.

Caroline is a famous concert violinist and has come to stay in her grandmother's house when she realizes that still waters run deep and more goes on in this backwater town than meets the eye. She is swept off her feet by Tucker Longstreet, one of the town's favored sons, unfortunately he is one of the prime suspects. What is a girl to do?

I thought I had it all figured out as I devoured the pages but was pleasantly surprised by the end when I was completely wrong. A good mystery to fill your summer days. Kelsana 7/6/01