A young author becomes the object of a fan’s desire―and rage―in the gripping new thriller by the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Hidden Nature.

He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude―but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden’s purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

* from Goodreads

Hott Review:

Some thrillers rely on twists. The Final Target sinks its hooks in with something far more unsettling… how real it feels.

As a longtime Nora Roberts reader, I went in expecting a great story, but what stood out most was how deeply I connected to Arden. The attack happens early, and instead of feeling like a plot device, it lands with shocking realism. The confusion, the hindsight, the lingering fear… it all feels painfully authentic. Roberts doesn’t rush past the trauma. She lets it breathe, showing how it reshapes Arden’s sense of safety, trust, and even herself. That emotional weight is what kept me turning pages with tears in my eyes.

Dustin is a chillingly believable antagonist, driven by entitlement and anger that feels all too real. And while the danger is waiting in the wings, the story balances it with something I’ve always loved in Roberts’ work… the strength of family and found family. Arden’s support system, especially the bonds with her extended family, adds warmth and grounding to an otherwise tense narrative. The romance is a slow burn, built on friendship rather than urgency, which makes it feel earned and natural.

At its core, this isn’t just about surviving what happens to you… it’s about reclaiming your life after the horrible. And that’s what makes The Final Target linger long after the last page.

More…

Author: Nora Roberts
Source: NetGalley
Publisher & Date: May 26, 2026 by St. Martin’s Press
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Women’s Fiction
Steam: Adult
Setting: Ohio, NY, Oregon | Present

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