Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts Book Review

Title: Hidden Nature
Author: Nora Roberts
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense, Thriller
Year of Publication: 2025
Date of Publication: May 27, 2025
Pages: 448
ISBN‑10: 125037085X
ISBN‑13: 978‑1250370853
Audiobook Read by: January LaVoy

Our Rating of This Book

Summary of Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

The story follows a woman named Sloan Cooper. Sloan works as a Natural Resources police officer, which is someone who is responsible for enforcing environmental laws and protecting public lands. At the start of the book, Sloan is working in Annapolis in Maryland and has recently taken down a group of men who had spent most of the fall harassing, robbing and assaulting hikers on a trail in Maryland, all the while claiming that the public lands were their property as sovereign citizens and that the hikers were trespassers.

After the arrest, Sloan and her partner of almost five years, made a stop at a gas station’s convenience store, they walked into a a robbery in progress and Sloan is shot. Sloan survives and returns to her hometown of Heron’s Rest to recover mentally and physically. While there and with little to do during her recovery, she hears about a woman who disappeared without a trace. The woman was supposed to make thanksgiving dinner for her family, went to the market and was never seen again. Intrigued, Sloan started looking into the case to see if there were similar reports of disappearances in the area. She finds out that most of the victims have one thing in common and that is the fact that they had at one point or time “died” and were resuscitated.

The story also follows two brothers, who previously worked professional jobs in New York but moved to Heron’s Rest to start their own construction business. As Sloan chases the serial killer’s trail, she also deals with trauma and an unexpected romance.

Main Plot & Characters

Sloan Cooper: Sloan is the main character in this story. She returns home to recover from her injuries and discovers disturbing patterns in local missing‑person cases.
Nash Littlefield: He used to work in finance but moves with his brother to start their business. He gradually becomes her confidant in the investigation and her love interest.
Theo Littlefield: He is Nash’s younger brother and a former lawyer. They work together in their “The Fix‑It Brothers” contracting business. He begins a romance with Sloan’s sister Drea.
Drea Cooper: She is Sloan’s sister and part of the supportive Cooper family. She becomes romantically involved with Theo.
Clara and Sam: They are a couple who are driven by a twisted religious motive. Clara and Sam target people who were revived from death with the believe that this presents a moral or spiritual violation.
Joel Warren and Sari: Joel is a cop who used to be Sloan’s partner. His wife’s name is Sari.
Dean and Elsie Cooper: They are Sloan and Drea’s parents. They have a great relationship with their daughters.
Janet Anderson: A woman who goes missing after going shopping for items she needed for thanksgiving dinner.

Writing Style

Roberts tells the story using a narration style. The story is primarily told from Sloan’s perspective although we also get to hear Nash, Theo and Drea’s perspectives.

The narrative is well written and paints a detailed small-town setting that contrasts with the mystery beneath. The first half of the novel allows us as readers to understand Sloan’s family dynamics as well as the relationship between the brothers, Nash and Theo. The second half picks up a different pace and that’s where the focus on the evidence-driven suspense kicks off.

Roberts writes the characters in a way that they are very likeable and believable. Sloan as the main character is tough but does not come off as cocky and sometimes that’s hard to achieve. There is humor in book that works well, without being over the top, and there is also enjoyable romance as well.

Like most of the characters in the book, we had never heard of the Natural Resources Police so we also learned something new!

**Final Thoughts on Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts**

Hidden Nature is a story with suspense, romance, and psychological tension. Nora Roberts gives us something unique by focusing on resuscitated victims. It made us wonder: what if someone believed your survival was a mistake and it is their duty or responsibility to correct that mistake?

The book gives us a main character that is capable and sharp, but never cold or unreachable. Her healing process was believable, and the budding relationship with Nash felt earned. The book’s pacing shifts halfway from Sloan’s homecoming and recovery to the intense investigation, but it all works very well. It is a story about second chances in life, love, and in survival.

Memorable Quotes

“I’m top bitch. You can be assistant bitch.”—Sloan Cooper
“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.”—Narrator quoting Blaise Pascal
“Mr. Fuck You’s still resisting.”—Sloan Cooper

Book Rating

Characters ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Plot ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Writing ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Book Cover ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Audiobook ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Overall ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Have you read Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts? What are your thoughts on this book?

Authors

Ufuoma Akpotaire

Ufuoma Akpotaire is a passionate book, movie and music reviewer with a love for travel and culture. She combines her enthusiasm for storytelling with her experience exploring new places and stories. Through her reviews, she celebrates creativity and inspires readers to appreciate the connections between books, movies, music, travel, and global cultures.
Nathaniel Adebayo

Nathaniel is a Media Content Specialist at Verayea, where he specializes in curating content and gathering data for the company’s extensive book library. He is also dedicated to writing insightful reviews, offering thoughtful perspectives on a range of media. His work ensures that Verayea’s library is comprehensive, well-organized, and informative, providing valuable resources for its audience.