Ever had that weird moment where you realize two people you know are actually the same person? It's a bit like that with Remember When Nora Roberts published a book that literally split her identity in half.
I’m talking about the 2003 release Remember When. Honestly, if you aren't a die-hard fan, you might have missed why this specific book is such a massive deal in the romance and mystery world. It wasn't just another bestseller; it was a bridge. It’s the moment Nora Roberts shook hands with her grittier, futuristic alter ego, J.D. Robb.
Why Remember When Nora Roberts Wrote This Matters
Most authors pick a lane. Nora Roberts, however, decided to build a highway between her two biggest brands. Remember When is a two-part novel. The first half is classic Nora: romantic suspense, small-town Maryland vibes, and a mystery that feels personal. Then, midway through, the timeline jumps 56 years into the future.
Suddenly, you’re in the world of J.D. Robb’s In Death series.
It was a risky move at the time. You’ve got the 2003 contemporary audience on one side and the "New York City in 2059" sci-fi police procedural crowd on the other. Combining them was basically the literary version of the Marvel Cinematic Universe before that was even a thing.
The story kicks off with Laine Tavish. She’s an antique shop owner in a sleepy town called Angel’s Gap. But here’s the kicker: her dad is a notorious con man named "Big Jack" O'Hara. Laine is trying to live a quiet life, but when her dad's old partner dies right in front of her shop, her "normal" life goes up in flames.
The Plot That Spans Generations
Laine ends up teaming up with Max Gannon, a private investigator who is—shocker—incredibly charming. They’re hunting for a stash of stolen diamonds worth millions. It’s a fast-paced, sexy heist story that feels exactly like the Nora Roberts we love.
But then the book ends. Sorta.
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Part two, titled Big Jack, shifts the perspective to Laine and Max’s granddaughter, Samantha Gannon. It’s now the year 2059. Samantha has written a book about the famous diamond heist her grandparents were involved in, but it turns out some of those "hot rocks" were never found.
When Samantha’s roommate is murdered, Lieutenant Eve Dallas enters the scene. This is where the J.D. Robb magic happens. Eve is tough, cynical, and lives in a world of "auto-chefs" and flying cars. Watching Eve untangle a mystery that started half a century earlier in a Nora Roberts story is, quite frankly, a total trip for fans.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Book
A common misconception is that you have to be caught up on the 60+ books in the In Death series to enjoy the second half.
You don’t.
While Remember When is technically #17.5 in the In Death chronology, it works perfectly as a standalone. Roberts (or Robb, depending on who you’re asking) does a great job of introducing Eve Dallas and her billionaire husband Roarke without making it feel like a homework assignment.
Another thing? People often think the two halves are totally separate stories. They aren't. The villain in the second half is directly connected to the heist in the first. It’s a multi-generational grudge match. The pacing is wild because the first half feels like a warm, suspenseful hug, and the second half feels like a cold, sharp blade.
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The "Hidden" Success of the Crossover
When Remember When hit the shelves, Putnam backed it with a $3 million marketing campaign. They knew they had something unique.
- Publication Date: September 15, 2003
- The "Nora" Half: Titled Hot Rocks
- The "Robb" Half: Titled Big Jack
- The Connection: 28 million dollars in stolen diamonds
The book eventually got split up. If you go to a used bookstore today, you might find Hot Rocks or Big Jack sold as separate novellas. But honestly? You lose the magic that way. The fun is seeing the "before and after." Seeing how a small-town antique dealer's choices affect a futuristic homicide detective decades later.
Why This Book Still Holds Up in 2026
We live in an era of "universes." Every movie wants to be a franchise. But Remember When Nora Roberts did this, it was about craft. She managed to write in two completely different voices within the same binding.
The prose in the first half is "flowery" in that classic Nora way—descriptions of light, emotion, and setting. The second half? It’s clipped. It’s jagged. It’s Eve Dallas.
It’s also a masterclass in how to handle a "long-con" mystery. The diamonds are the MacGuffin that keeps the pages turning, but the real meat is the family legacy. It asks a big question: Can you ever truly outrun where you came from? Laine tried to hide from her father's crimes, but her granddaughter ended up literally writing the book on them.
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Actionable Steps for New Readers
If you're looking to dive into this specific corner of the Roberts/Robb world, here is how I'd suggest you tackle it:
- Don't buy the split versions. Look for the full Remember When volume. Reading them back-to-back is the only way to appreciate the character parallels between Laine and her granddaughter Samantha.
- Pay attention to the technology. If you're new to J.D. Robb, the transition to 2059 can be jarring. Just roll with it. The "future" is mostly a backdrop for the police work.
- Watch the "Big Jack" character. He’s the anchor for both stories. Even when he isn't on the page, his charisma (and his mistakes) drive every single plot point.
- Check out the audiobook. Susan Ericksen narrates the In Death series and she does a phenomenal job of shifting the tone between the two eras.
Whether you're here for the romance or the high-tech homicide, this book is a rare bird. It’s a reminder that even after hundreds of books, Nora Roberts still knows how to surprise her audience by looking back and moving forward at the same time.