Ever married a ghost? Not the literal, spooky kind that rattles chains in the attic, but the kind that sits across from you at dinner, kisses your forehead, and tells you he loves you—all while being a total fabrication. That’s the nightmare Shelby Foxworth wakes up to in Nora Roberts The Liar. Honestly, it’s one of those books that sticks with you because the betrayal isn't just a plot point; it's the entire foundation of the character's life.
Shelby is young, maybe a bit too naive, when she gets swept off her feet by Richard Foxworth. He’s suave. He’s rich. He’s everything a girl from Rendezvous Ridge, Tennessee, thinks a "big city" man should be. But then Richard dies in a freak boating accident.
That’s when the floor drops out.
The Shocking Truth About Nora Roberts The Liar
Most people think this is just another cozy romance. It’s not. It’s actually a pretty brutal look at psychological and financial abuse. When Shelby starts digging through Richard’s things—specifically a safe-deposit box—she doesn't just find a few secrets. She finds a collection of IDs. Different names. Different lives.
Richard Foxworth never existed.
He was a con man. He didn't just cheat on her; he left her with $3 million in debt. Let that sink in for a second. Three. Million. Dollars. For a single mom with a three-year-old daughter named Callie, that's a death sentence. Nora Roberts does something really smart here by not making Shelby a victim for long. She’s pissed. She’s terrified. But she’s also a Pomeroy, and Pomeroys don't stay down.
The book is structured in three distinct acts:
- The False: The crumbling of Shelby's Philadelphia life.
- The Roots: Her return to the Smoky Mountains.
- The Real: Facing the literal killers Richard left in his wake.
Why Rendezvous Ridge Matters
Returning home is a trope for a reason. In The Liar, the setting of Rendezvous Ridge serves as the ultimate "de-tox" for Shelby. She moves back in with her parents, Ada Mae and her husband, and reconnects with her spitfire grandmother, Viola.
If you’ve read Roberts before, you know she’s the queen of the "Found Family" or, in this case, the "Multi-Generational Southern Family." The dialogue in Viola’s Day Spa is some of the funniest, most authentic writing in the book. It’s sharp. It’s warm. It feels like a real Tennessee town where everyone knows your business but will also hide a body for you if necessary.
Then there’s Griff Lott.
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He’s a contractor. He’s "normal." He isn't a billionaire or a secret agent. He’s just a guy who knows how to fix things—including, eventually, Shelby’s heart. Their romance is a slow burn. It’s not "insta-love," which would have felt cheap after what Shelby went through. Instead, it’s built on Griff helping her renovate a house and being a steady presence for little Callie.
Dealing with the "Invisible" Abuse
One thing critics and readers often overlook is how Roberts handles the "quiet" abuse. Richard didn't hit Shelby. He isolated her. He controlled the money. She had credit cards so he could track her location, but she was never allowed to have cash.
That’s a specific kind of trauma.
The book spends a lot of time on Shelby unlearning the "smallness" Richard forced on her. She has to find her voice again, literally, as she starts singing at a local spot. It’s a journey of reclamation.
The Danger Nobody Sees Coming
It wouldn't be a Nora Roberts romantic suspense without some actual danger. It turns out Richard’s "business associates" aren't too thrilled that he’s dead, and they think Shelby knows where the rest of the money is.
The suspense builds quietly.
A break-in here. A weird phone call there. Then things get violent. The transition from "small-town healing" to "high-stakes thriller" is a bit jarring for some readers. Honestly, some people find the ending a little rushed. One minute they’re picking out kitchen tile, and the next, people are getting shot.
But it works because we’ve spent 400 pages rooting for Shelby to defend her new life.
What You Should Know Before Reading
If you're planning to pick this up, keep a few things in mind:
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- It’s long. The hardcover is over 500 pages.
- The audio version narrated by January LaVoy is legendary, though some people find the Southern accents a bit thick.
- It’s more "Romance" than "Thriller." If you want Silence of the Lambs, look elsewhere. If you want a story about a woman taking her power back, this is it.
Your Next Steps with Nora Roberts The Liar
If you’re ready to dive into Shelby’s world, start by looking for the 2015 Berkley edition—the cover with the red umbrella is the classic.
Don't just skim the family scenes. The "meat" of the story is in the interactions between the three generations of women. That’s where the emotional payoff lives.
Once you finish, you might want to compare it to Roberts' other "return to roots" stories like The Witness or The Obsession. They share similar themes but handle the "liar" aspect in very different ways. Just remember: in a Nora Roberts world, the truth always comes out, usually with a side of sweet tea and a very capable man with a hammer.