Birthright

by Nora Roberts

Putnam, March, 2003.
Hardcover, 465 pages.
ISBN: 0399149848
Subgenre: Contemporary

Birthright by Nora Roberts

Archeologist Callie Dunbrook is thrilled to be called in on an important find of 5,000 year old bones buried at a Maryland development site. But Callie is in for a number of shocks when she reaches the dig. First, the head anthropologist is her handsome, yet annoying, ex-husband, Jake Graystone. Second, some of the local residents don't care about some old bones, and want the planned development to proceed. And third, the site itself seems cursed with bad luck. A televised interview about the plagued project brings another shocking occurrence. Suzanne Cullen, a wealthy businesswoman, shows up on her doorstep claiming that Callie is Suzanne's long-lost daughter, who was kidnapped when she was just a baby. At first, Callie is resistant to Suzanne's story, but eventually begins to dig into her own past. But the more she investigates, the clearer it becomes that someone doesn't want the past dredged up -- and is willing to kill to keep it quiet.

Birthright is an exciting and suspenseful tale which addresses the themes of love, loss and the power that the past can have in our lives. Ms. Roberts provides a powerful main storyline, which is greatly enhanced by a romantic subplot involving Callie's attorney who is dating her long-lost brother. Nora Roberts is one of the most reliable authors around; you can always count on one of her books to be entertaining, with emotional resonance that will stay with you after you finish reading.

Birthright is available for purchase on Amazon.com

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This review was published in the April-May, 2003 of The Internet Writing Journal.