The Witness

Written by W.E.B. Griffin

Narrated by Michael Russotto

From the New York Times bestselling author of Brotherhood of War and The Corps, a police officer uncovers corruption and crime in this thrilling mystery

The robbery ended in murder, the killers claimed to be terrorists, and the only cooperative witness feared for his life. Police officer Matt Payne knew the dangers of his profession in law enforcement—but never thought that he himself would be the one who needed protection.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Audio
• Release date: Jan 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781101484319

W.E.B. Griffin

W.E.B. Griffin is the author of six bestselling series—and now Clandestine Operations.   William E. Butterworth IV has worked closely with his father for more than a decade, and is the coauthor with him of many books, most recently Hazardous Duty and Top Secret.  

Reviews for The Witness

[kgabriel-863860 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Never again.

[kanwal_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

This book looked very promising - at first. Conflicts, problems, and suspense made it a page turner just to bore off after the first chapter. From then on, the story drags along and you just wonder why there have to be so many side stories.

Also, the main character Liz (aka Abigail) has a strong resemblence to the character of Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory. Other than that she is a woman, there are too many similarities.

Yet, I kept on reading hoping that the initial thrill and suspense would return for a final chapter. Spoiler alert: no such thing happened.

[marciablnc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was an excellent book about the bravery of one young girl who had no support. She was smart and resourceful and eventually overcame her fear of the Mafia by taking them down in court and financially with a computer virus. The romance between Elizabeth (Abigail) and Brooks was well written.

[jrlibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Listened to the audiobook because I’m a fan of Julia Whelan’s narration. She did not disappoint. 16 year old Elizabeth Fitch has a single day of rebellion and it has life altering consequences. It begins with a dye job and ends with her witnessing two murders and later having to run and hide for her life. 12 years later, under a new identity, Liz who is now Abigail, thinks the quiet life she’s made for herself couldn’t be any better... but she’s wrong. The local police chief, Brooks, takes an interest in her, and although she is definitely not warm and welcoming, he wins her trust and eventually her heart. When Abigail finally tells him what happened when she was 16, they both agree that they can’t start living until they fix the wrongs from her past and bring down part of the Russian mafia.

[sanyamakadi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm reading too much heavy stuff right now, so needed a break, and NR delivers as always.

[treehorse-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had heard so many good things about this book. I guess i can say that I enjoyed the prologue? The book isn't badly written--I just don't find Brooks or Abigail to be believable characters. That in turn made the majority of the book a slog.

[kathleengee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

My favourite novel by Nora Roberts' to date, The Witness' main character, Elizabeth is a fantastic character who through trauma, ends up on the run. All of the characters have depth and the growth witnessed in Elizabeth is warming to watch.

[carlathelibrarian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed this book. Romance, mystery, and intrigue. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense with romance thrown in. Thoroughly enjoyable read.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I found this story very repetitive and the repetitions got tiresome. Otherwise, I thought Brooks was hilarious. His sense of humor was entertaining. Abigail's bad ass attitude was inspiring. Overall the story was pleasing and enjoyable.

[smik_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

THE WITNESS is a stand-alone about Elizabeth Fitch, a teenager with an eidetic memory, cultivated by her mother to bypass her teenage years, and fast tracked to become a brilliant surgeon. Elizabeth is just beginning to respond to the urges of teenage rebellion and a night out at a local nightclub ends in her witnessing the death of both her friend and a man they have newly met. The police put her into witness protection and then follows a further two deaths and Elizabeth goes on the run.

When she surfaces twelve years later she comes to the attention of the local police chief and she still retains vivid memories of those earlier experiences.

Highly intelligent, Elizabeth would probably be classified these days as being in the autistic spectrum, much of her outlook on life being generated by lack of experience and understandable fears.

A very readable book.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Witness
4 Stars

Synopsis
Following one night of teenage rebellion against her controlling mother, Elizabeth Fitch's life changes forever. As the only witness to a bloody crime, Elizabeth must run for her life. Twelve years later, living as a recluse in a small town in the Ozarks, Abigail Lowrey has finally found some peace and quiet, or so she thinks, as tenacious police chief, Brooks Gleason, has decided to make it his mission in life to get under Abigail's skin and learn all her secrets.

Note: This review may contain ***SPOILERS***. Please do not read ahead if you don't want to know what happens.

Review
Excellent premise, good execution, however, it left me vaguely disappointed.

Let's get my biggest peeve out of the way right off the bat. A great deal of poetic license is taken with WITSEC (the Witness Protection Program), an organization famous for NEVER losing a witness. Suddenly, we have not one but three corrupt agents and a witness losing their life - I don't think so!

Whew! It was good to get that off my chest.

Nora is a undoubtedly a wonderful storyteller and her skill at building gripping tension and suspense is very evident here. Nevertheless, the resolution to this tension fails to materialize. There is much detail put into Abigail's elaborate security system, which is never put to the test, and her huge bullmastiff never gets to tear anyone's throat out - very disappointing.

I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop and for the Russian hitman to turn up on Abigail's doorstep but, unfortunately, he never does and she doesn't get to blow anyone away. In addition, given the few scenes told from Ilya and Sergei's POVs, it is a pity that there is no follow up to their comeuppance.

On a more positive note, Nora's characters, as always, are very endearing, especially Elizabeth/Abigail. She is definitely an original - quirky, nerdy and tactless to the extreme. Her personality is reminiscent of Temperance Brennan on Bones but unlike some reviewers I do not view this as plagiarism. Elizabeth's background and behavior is very unlike Tempe's (I cannot see Brennan hiding anywhere for 12 years).

Brooks is a typical Nora hero and while he is amazing, I do wish Nora would shake things up a little. He is almost too perfect - too understanding, too sympathetic, too patient - there is no conflict to his and Abigail's relationship, which makes it somewhat bland.

The writing is solid and the secondary plot lines add to characterization although they do not mesh well with the larger story. Happily, the dialogue is laugh out loud funny at times. So, all in all, an entertaining read and one I prefer over Nora's more recent works - namely Chasing Fire and The Bride Quartet.

[nautilus-11 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good, solid, Nora. The heroine was wonderfully geeky.

[kimkimkim-7 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I had forgoten how Nora Roberts sucks you in, keeps you there, turning the pages as she weaves her story.

[soosthemoose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent book about love and trust.

[toobusyreading · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm not a big romance reader so don't read much by Nora Roberts, but this book was supposed to be more mystery/thriller than romance, and it sounded like ti would be good. And it was, to an extent.

The protagonist was a little too much caricature, and the plot was somewhat predictable. For my tastes, there was too much romance and not enough thriller. Also, the protagonist, who was supposed to be very independent and hated being treated as weak, thought, “She could belong to the man sleeping beside her...” and she meant this as a positive thing. A strong, independent woman wanting to BELONG to someone – gimme a break.

I listened to an unabridged Audible version, and was somewhat dismayed when the narrator pronounced buffalo as boofalo. Is this some alternate pronunciation I'm not familiar with?

This book is reasonable entertainment, but that's about as far as it goes.

[bemislibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a typical Nora Robert’s tale. It has a self-sufficient strong female lead with a weakness for a good-looking man that will not take no for an answer. It starts with a female in an unusual situation that captures your attention. There are several holes in the timeline and pacing that leaves little room for character development. This is the book to read if you are looking for a predictable intrigue type romance, which does not require much imagination.

[dawn772 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very intense start to this engrossing story. I especially liked the hero in his determination and steadfastness. The personality of the heroine was rather interesting. Overall a great book. Genius Elizabeth experiences a life changing event and ten years later police chief Brooks is intrigued by her seclusion.

[cecilturtle · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A fun light read on vacation, this little thriller, part espionage part romance, has all the right ingredients for proper entertainment. Elizabeth is a little too smart, Brooks a little too upstanding and the rest of the cast a little too much of what they need to be (evil, airy, bossy depending on the character) to be believable, but this perfection is what makes the genre fun - I certainly wouldn't expect it to be real! However, it's a page turner and never dull; the hours on the plane seemed all the shorter!

[judithdcollins · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great Book-Brilliantly written! Nora Roberts at her best!!! I loved the book and finished it in one weekend as hard to put down. The audio book was excellent and Julia Whelan, performer was outstanding! With a quirky, unforgettable heroine, a pulse-pounding plot line, made for an entertaining thriller and romantic read all in one! The dialog and detail were very well done with the character Liz/Abigail (loved her), being true to form with the highly intelligent personality traits. Liz, a daughter of a controlling mother, finally lets loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her --- Loved the small town and cabin where she hid out, the lovely southern town, and the loveable characters which come alive. I would a sequel….Highly recommend!

[gogglemiss · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nora Roberts always lifts my spirits when she writes very well, and this was a good one.
Though Brooks and Abigail seemed familiar from other characters from NR's other works, it was still entertaining.
Loved it.

[debbieaheaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In Roberts’ romantic suspense novel, Elizabeth Fitch is 16 and very intelligent. Her mother has strictly controller her life, so when Mom goes to an out-of-town conference, leaving Elizabeth alone, she responds by heading to the mall to do some shopping.

Before long, Elizabeth has a new friend, dyed her hair red, adopted a nickname—Liz, and decides to use her tech skills to create some fake I.D.s so she and her new friend can go clubbing. The consequences to her actions result in the unfortunate and the deadly when she accidentally tangles with the Russian mob. When a stint in a witness protection program goes wrong, she heads off alone, determined to rely only on herself. Eventually she changes her name to Abigail and becomes a social recluse, highly intelligent but very lacking in social skills and settles in Arkansas.

The story allows the reader to meet the main character at 16, follow her through the ups and downs of growing up, and see her again as an adult complete with all her talents and imperfections.

As always, Roberts has developed a multi-faceted story full of wonderful characters.

[jsamaha-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I don’t particularly like Nora Roberts’ writing. Her writing is formulaic and predictable. Yet, I find myself continuously drawn back to her novels. I usually find myself opening a Roberts’ novel after I’ve read a couple of heavy books and need something light to read.

The Witness is classic Nora Roberts. The main character Elizabeth has the bad luck to end up at a home with members of the Russian Mafia and witnesses a crime. From that moment on, she is a witness, and is wanting by the same men she saw commit murder. I found the beginning of the book to be interesting and liked how Roberts created the early characters. But, once Elizabeth reemerges as Abigail and meets the police chief, Brooks, my attention was lost. I really disliked the character Brooks. I know that I was supposed to fall in love with him and swoon all over his manliness but I was actually turned off by his pushiness and his refusal to give Abigail her space.

But, like I said, even though I disliked The Witness, I will continue to read Nora Roberts. Perhaps it’s because I was so charmed with the first set of books that I read by her, The Gallaghers of Ardmore Trilogy (Jewels of the Sun, Tears of the Moon, and Heart of the Sea). I’ve even pre-ordered the first book of her upcoming Cousins O’Dwyer Trilogy. ;-)

[lrobe190 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man’s seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems—and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail’s reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason. Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something—and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed. (Amaz. Desc.)

This book has Roberts' trademark combination of romance, suspense, fast pace and interesting characters. Abigail is particularly fascinating with her eidetic memory, genius-level IQ, and lack of social skills. She reminds me a lot of the character "Temperance" on Bones. Highly Recommended.

[kim.richards.739 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book.

[talaskat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed it. It is a true Nora Roberts book. If you enjoy her as a writer you will enjoy this book.

[sharrow_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Solidly entertaining.

[rachel.kall · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love Nora Roberts, and read everything she writes. I enjoyed this book and the only thing holding me back from 5 stars is 1) the ending and 2) the separate story line. I was expecting more of a bang with the ending (no spoiler), but the situation basically just resolved itself in a few sentences, and i was a bit let down. Also there is a separate storyline about another crime that for me didn't add to the story. I very much enjoyed both the heroine and hero and for me I didn't think her character was too overdone or Bones-eque derivative. I thought the first part of the book was particularly amazing. Just wish the ending would've held up and given me just a bit more.

[lblauser-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book took about half a page to capture my interest. From the beginning, I wanted Elizabeth to have a chance to make her own way in life and was very pleased with how it turned out for her. I'm a sucker for happy endings, and Nora Roberts has delivered again! This riveting tale had me on the edge of my seat and had me scolding the characters for their crazy choices. It was very easy to become emotionally invested in this gripping story! I would recomend this to anyone who asked!

[dd196406 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good read from Nora Roberts. Long and full-developed, it follows the life of a witness to horrible murder and explains how she survives without being discovered. Enjoyed getting to know the characters, especially the main character. She was complicated and a genius and following her reasoning and her ideas was fascinating. Highly recommended.

[addictedtomorphemes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Witness by Nora Roberts
"Read" via audio book, Brilliance Audio Edition, Narrated by Julia Whelan.

This was my first audio book. The narration was done very well by Julia Whelan; in particular, how she was able to change her pitch or use slight accents to differentiate the various female characters. I am definitely more of a visual person than auditory, so I was worried I would have a hard time with an audio book, but the clarity of her voice was excellent and I had no problem understanding her or needing to rewind to hear any parts a second time. She also did a bang-up job with the Russian language and carrying off their accent in a believable way. The voices for the male characters were not as good and were distracting to me. This would have been much better if they would have hired a second voice actor to cover the male dialogue.

Summary:
Elizabeth Fitch, at 16, is fluent in several languages, has a genius-level I.Q. and an eidetic memory, is already attending Harvard and is slotted for Harvard Medical School. Everything in her life has been pre-ordained and controlled by her beautiful and highly successful mother (who is herself a surgeon), including her schedule, her clothing, her diet, what books she reads, what music she listens to, the instruments she plays, etc. Not to mention that she also chose who her "father" would be by a strict selection process of a suitable sperm donor. She chose when she would be impregnated by IVF and when her C-section would be scheduled. It has been made clear to Elizabeth that she is unloved and has basically been a science experiment for her cold-hearted mother, proving her ability to produce the perfect offspring which would reflect back on her own success.

When Elizabeth's mother breaks a promise that she would be able to take a much-needed break and instead has enrolled her in an intensive summer course, it was the last straw for Elizabeth and she rebels for the first time in her life. She cuts and dyes her hair and heads to the mall to buy normal clothes for a girl her age when she runs across an acquaintance who agrees to help Elizabeth shop if she will, in turn, make them a couple fake I.D.s so they can get into the most popular nightclub in town.

This seemingly simple rebellion turns into a tragedy when the girls meet two men who are linked to the ownership of the club and who are, as it turns out, part of a Russian mob family. Elizabeth ends up being a witness to murder and is in a position to take down the mob family. She is moved into a safe house and guarded by agents from the U.S. Marshall's Office until a situation develops where she is on her own running for her life.

The story picks up 12 years later, with Elizabeth (now Abigail Lowery) living outside a small Arkansas town in the Ozarks. She lives a quiet and private life with her Bull Mastiff and a ton of security alarms and cameras set around her property for protection. The new police chief, Brooks Gleason, likes that she's attractive and somewhat mysterious, but his interest ratchets up when he notices she doesn't go anywhere without a weapon on her hip and he intuitively knows she is hiding from something or someone.

He tenaciously visits her, invites himself to dinner, etc., in a way that annoys her because of his rudeness, but he is charming and kind and he slowly is able to get past her barriers and social awkwardness to the point she feels safe with him and knows she can trust him. Through his caring and the kindness of his family, she decides it is time she stop running and start to live a real life. With his help, but admirably mainly due to her work, research and preparation over the years, she's now ready to face down those who stole her life away.

This is a romantic suspense novel, so of course it has a somewhat predictable ending, but there was a lot of intrigue and a little surprise at the end as well. Another good Roberts' read.