Carnal Innocence

By: Nora Roberts

Narrated by: Tom Stechschulte

Length: 17 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling novelist Nora Roberts captivates millions of fans with her provocative blend of scorching passion and chilling suspense. With Carnal Innocence, she creates a gripping tale of murder, infatuation, and true love in a small southern town. After beautiful concert violinist Caroline Waverly breaks up with her conductor and lover Luis, she escapes to her late grandmother’s home in Innocence, Mississippi. Instead of peace and tranquility, however, she finds the town torn with suspicion over two brutal murders. When she discovers a third victim in the murky waters behind her house, she turns to her dangerously handsome neighbor, Tucker Longstreet, for protection. But Tucker has a reputation for breaking hearts - even worse, the police count him their number one suspect.

You’ll want to lean back in your easy chair and let Nora Robert’s steamy prose and Tom Stechschulte’s stirring interpretation transport you to Innocence where the nights are filled with promise and secrets are hard to keep.

©1991 Nora Roberts (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC

Outstanding.

I've always been a fan of Nora Roberts' more thriller/mystery based novels. So when I came across this one and realized that I hadn't heard it yet, I instantly bought it. While the narration was vaguely annoying at times, (The accents bothered me some) the book itself was outstanding. As I was listening, I was sitting on the edge of my seat, racking my brain to figure out who the killer was. Most times with some of Nora's books, it's obvious as to who the murderer will be before you even get to the end. This one, though, I never saw it coming.

I was blindsided when I heard who the murderer was. The character was one of my favorites, and when I heard just who it was, I was mind blown. It was the last thing I had suspected, and I must give a round of applause to Mrs. Roberts for her outstanding plot twist. This book was greatly worth the money and time spent listening, and I've already suggested it to many people. This is a great buy.

An average mystery but a great narrator.

3.5/5; 4 stars; B+

I read the paperback of this book so many years ago that I couldn't remember much except that I enjoyed it. When our Audiobook group was discussing the great narration of the audible version I thought I would check it out. I really did enjoy this new to me narrator, and he brought the rating up a bit.

I liked the way Nora Roberts lays the ground work for her stories. With her descriptions of the town, the people, the main characters and the tidbits of history, I had a crystal clear impression of the world this story took place in.

Overall, I enjoyed the mystery and the characters. The romance was a bit weak but all the other things going on in the story made up for it.

Great reading

Not one of Nora Roberts usual books but a great read. Narrator was wonderful . Never knew who done it till the very end.

Fabulous performance.

I’ve been listening to all of Nora Roberts’ earlier books - ones I read when they first came out and now enjoying again as I travel in my car. Over the past several months and years, I’ve enjoyed the “listens”, maybe rated them with the stars at the end, but I’ve never provided an actual review. However, this one was different. This narrator was superb. I felt like HE was the writer and knew every character so well that he became them - specifically Tucker. I was entertained, entranced and NEVER bored. And, since I’d read the book when it was first published, a lot of years has passed so it was almost like a new Nora adventure.

I recommend this “listen” to anyone who wishes to be completely lost in the story. Enjoy!!!

Could not put it down

The Narrator, Tom Stechschulte was absolutely amazing. ...perfect for the story and characters. The storyline was nice and familiar but soon the twists began . I wish it could have gone on and on.

One of the best

One of the best Nora Roberts stories I have read and I've read many. Excellent narration and the dialog between characters is sometimes funny and believable vs other stories by Roberts. Loved the characters, especially Tucker. I'd recommend this one.

Good story But parts as a Black person DAM.

This was a good story but hearing a Black man called a Niger and him being almost lenched and his wife almost dun in and kids. Such black hatered by some white men that truly believe, just by the color of there skin they are superior.. It makes you not trust whites, but then I would be as bad as them. It also shows not all whites have hate and will step up and fight for right and see blacks as people, not for there color. I made it through and glad I did. It's just reading this now when this type of ugly and hate is front and center coming from the top.

I was surprised that I actually liked it!!

As I began listening, I really didn't think I would like the story and almost stopped because I had problems figuring out who the characters were, finding it hard to distinguish who was related to whom. I stuck with it and eventually was able to sort through some of the characters' relationships.
As the storyline developed it was quite intriguing with a very interesting (twisted) ending--- not at all what I expected.
The Mississippi dialects sounded believable, however since I'm not from southern heritage, I can't comment on accuracy.
I would recommend this title to those who enjoy romance and intrigue.

A mind-bender perfectly narrated and characterized

I REALLY did NOT want or expect to like this book. First, there was the salacious title; and that and the summary sounded like so many "romance" novels masquerading as mysteries or thrillers with the romance and hot steamy scenes far outweighing the thin and predictable "mystery".

When I first heard the drawling stereotypical Delta characters, I just knew I had made a big mistake getting this book. Boy, was I in for a surprise. This is one of those books that could not possibly be enjoyed in book form as much as in the hands of such a talented narrator. This narrator absolutely nailed the southern dialect! And he perfectly distinguished the women from the men--there was never any question. No one was made a ridiculous stereotype by the author or narrator. Of course, the author wrote the words, but unless they were drawled just right--it wouldn't have hit its mark. I have friends who have such an unusual (to me) accent and way of expressing themselves, and find it is almost like a different language--quite lovely when you stop to really listen. That and the manners and mannerisms that are peculiar to that region were flawlessly characterized.

It seemed like a generic boiler-plate plot at first--cultured city girl moves to the boonies where she is culture-shocked and infuriated by the locals, particularly the outspoken handsome landowner. Naturally, you know they will get together; but that is only a minor part of this long 3-part story. The culture clash is significant, and the love scenes steamy, but not dominant. The mystery just keeps evolving. Then, when you think it is formulaically a foregone conclusion, it isn't. It just keeps disorienting the listener so that you are never really sure who is "good" and who is "bad". Or, more to the point, it is not predictable.

Having grown up on Agatha Christie, I got pretty good at predicting the culprit early on in modern mysteries, and always felt cheated when I did. They were just rehashing old and overused plot lines rather than thinking outside the box.

I have not read much that I can remember by this author before, as many female mystery writers never seem to live up to Dame Agatha. But Nora Roberts did an extraordinary job of fleshing out full characterizations for all her characters, injected humor and clever repartee into the dialogues, and didn't "cheat" by pulling the villain out of a hat with no foundation, as would a magician with a rabbit. The clues really are there, but I missed them!

This is an excellent listen, and is essentially irresistible. I look forward to finding more masterpieces from Ms. Roberts.

Always a good read!

I LOVE this book! Nora Roberts books are ALWAYS a good read! She really gets to the heart.