The Collector
*Starred Review* As a writer, Lila Emerson is fascinated by people. So when her latest house-sitting job provides the opportunity to observe the neighbors in the building across the street, Lila can’t resist. It is all innocent fun until late one night when she happens to glance across the street and sees one of the couples she has been watching involved in a violent fight. Before Lila can reach the phone to call for help, the woman falls to her death. The police initially rule the case to be a murder/suicide, but when Lila later crosses paths at the police station with artist Ashton Archer, the brother of the alleged murderer, he tries to convince her that his brother would never kill anyone, much less commit suicide. Much to her surprise, Lila finds Ash makes a good case for his brother’s innocence, and that case only becomes stronger once the two find themselves targeted by a ruthless killer determined to tie up any loose ends. Roberts is performing at the top of her literary game, and the novel’s opening nod toward Rear Window should clue readers in to the fact they are in for an addictive blend of sleek suspense and sophisticated romance that would make Hitchcock proud.            HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: With over 200 books that have sold more than 400 million copies around the globe, it’s easy to do the math: Roberts has another best-seller on her hands. --John Charles