“I’m making you a promise right here that you’ll hear them from me every day.”
The Witness is a bestselling novel by Nora Roberts, and still one of the most famous romantic suspense books of all time. The story follows the journey of Elizabeth, a woman forced into hiding after playing witness to a horrifying crime. After twelve years of restarting her life, her introverted nature in her small town begins to intrigue police chief Brooks Gleason, who is convinced that she needs protecting. However, what that might be, is anyone’s guess. Roberts’ book offers the perfect blend of love, risk and redemption. Which is why we here at What We Reading thought we would take a look at some of the best romantic suspense books like The Witness! These picks all feature strong heroines, edge-of-your-seat-worthy tension and the exhilarating thrill of unexpected romances amidst danger.
Chasing Fire – Nora Roberts
Kicking off our list of books like The Witness is another one of Nora Roberts’ best novels, Chasing Fire. Little else in the world is as dangerous as fire jumping. But there’s also little else nearly as thrilling – at least for Rowan Tripp. Being a Missoula is a part of her DNA; her father is still a legendary icon within the field. And despite the memories of the partner she lost last season still lingering in the air, returning to the wilds of Montana still feels like returning home.
One of the most promising new recruits this year is Gulliver Curry, a hotshot firefighter with a sprawling vocabulary and a winter job at a kids’ arcade. And whilst Rowan has a strict rule about not mixing her professional and personal lives, he is convinced he can change her mind. But, everything is upended when a sinister presence lashes out against Rowan, keen to blame someone for last year’s events. Any distraction for her could be lethal, however, if she doesn’t find someone to lean on, Rowan’s own life may end up going down in flames.
Smoke Screen – Sandra Brown
When newswoman Britt Shelley wakes up in bed next to rising star detective Jay Burgess, she has no idea how she got there, or how he has ended up dead. Five years earlier, Jay had been the hero of the fire that claimed the Charleston police headquarters. Seven people had died, but it would have been so many more without him. Raley Gannon, Jay’s best friend, had been the one tasked with investigating the fire. But, following one calamitous night, his entire world was shattered.
When Raley learns of Jay’s death and Britt’s claim that she has no memory of her night with him, he realises that the newswoman might be the key to personal vindication and justice for the seven victims of the police fire. Nevertheless, there are a number of dangerous players hellbent on keeping questions on the fire buried and their reputations intact. As Raley and Britt discover more about that fateful day, the more perilous their situation becomes.
Tinderbox (Flashpoint #1) – Rachel Grant
Another one of the best romantic suspense series for fans of The Witness and Nora Roberts comes from Rachel Grant with her Flashpoint books. In the Horn of Africa, the paleoanthropological discovery of a lifetime leads to the local warlord eager to claim both the prize and its finder, Morgan Adler, as his own. Desperate, she turns to a nearby US military base and Master Sergeant Pax Blanchard for protection.
Morgan and Pax are soon forced to work together in the desert heat, though it is soon the fire between them that threatens to combust first. For the military man, getting involved may lead to the end of his career; whereas, for Morgan, Pax is everything she never wanted, but is somehow unable to resist. When Morgan uncovers a mystery surrounding this vital resource, the danger reaches a flashpoint. For Pax, protecting her no longer becomes a case of following orders. Instead, he will do anything and risk everything to bring her back to safety.
The Girl From Widow Hills – Megan Miranda
If you loved the secrets and intensity in The Witness, Megan Miranda’s The Girl from Widow Hills is the perfect suspense-driven mystery to follow it up with. Arden Maynor was just a child when she was swept away whilst sleepwalking during a terrible thunderstorm and went missing for days. Against all odds, she was eventually found alive, clinging to a storm drain. Her mother wrote a book. Fame followed. Legions of fans, stalkers and creeps flooded through every year. It soon became too much to bear. When she was old enough, she changed her name and disappeared from the public eye.
Now a young woman living hundreds of miles away, Arden now goes by Olivia. With the twentieth anniversary of that fateful night approaching, she knows she will soon find herself at the epicentre of a media storm again. She starts to sleepwalk again, venturing out beyond her home like before. Until one night she jolts awake in her garden and discovers the corpse of a man she knows at her feet from her previous life as Arden Maynor.
The Girl Who Knew Too Much (Burning Cove #1) – Amanda Quick
When Hollywood moguls and A-list celebrities want privacy, they retreat to an idyllic small town on the coast, where the exclusive Burning Cove Hotel delivers their every need. Which is where reporter Irene Glasson finds herself staring down at a beautiful actress at the bottom of a swimming pool. The deceased woman had a secret about up-and-coming talent Nick Tremayne, a scoop that the struggling reporter couldn’t resist.
Now finding herself searching for the truth behind the death, Irene is drawn to the master of deception, Oliver Ward, a magician who was suspiciously injured in his last performance. As the owner of the hotel, he cannot allow the death to threaten his livelihood. Together, the pair soon learn that the glamorous paradise of Burning Cove houses many dark and dangerous secrets. A gripping historical mystery and seductive tale of romance, Amanda Quick’s Burning Cove series needs to be on your TBR list if you loved The Witness.
Now You See Her – Linda Howard
A talented painter in her early thirties, Paris Sweeney has achieved success many would be envious of. Her work is sold at an exclusive New York gallery and her popularity has never been higher. Yet, lately, Sweeney’s dreams appear to have taken hold of her. Inexplicably, she finds herself in bed with millionaire Richard Worth. Now, the true dangers of her all-consuming urges are about to be revealed where she least expects it: in her paintings.
After an intense creative frenzy, Sweeney is shocked to discover that she has created a disturbing image – a bloody, graphic murder scene. She returns to her work time and time again, filling out each chilling detail piece by piece. But when a murder in the real world mirrors her own creation, Sweeney finds herself potentially incriminating herself with deadly knowledge she shouldn’t possess. As her desires – including her lust for Richard – continue to dictate her actions, she soon finds herself in a race to unmask a killer in Linda Howard’s Now You See Her, a scintillating and sensual romantic suspense novel perfect for anyone who loved The Witness.
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
