Lunacy was Nate Burke’s last chance. As a Baltimore cop, he’d watched his partner die on the street-and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as Chief of Police in this tiny, remote Alaskan town. Aside from sorting out a run-in between a couple of motor vehicles and a moose, he finds his first weeks on the job are relatively quiet. But just as he wonders whether this has been all a big mistake, an unexpected kiss on New Year’s Eve under the brilliant Northern Lights of the Alaska sky lifts his spirit and convinces him to stay just a little longer.
Meg Galloway, born and raised in Lunacy, is used to being alone. She was a young girl when her father disappeared, and she has learned to be independent, flying her small plane, living on the outskirts of town with just her huskies for company. After her New Year’s kiss with the Chief of Police, she allows herself to give in to passion-while remaining determined to keep things as simple as possible. But there’s something about Nate’s sad eyes that gets under her skin and warms her frozen heart.
And now, things in Lunacy are heating up. Years ago, on one of the majestic mountains shadowing the town, a crime occurred that is unsolved to this day-and Nate suspects that a killer still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life-and the new love-that he has finally found for himself.
My Review
Nate Burke was a police officer in Baltimore until budget cuts took his own demons made it so he couldn’t stand the location. Instead of waiting it out, he makes a bold move and accepts a position as police chief in Lunacy, Alaska. A tiny, isolated town surrounded by wilderness, snow, and long stretches of nothing. Talk about a midlife crisis. Lunacy is rugged, desolate, and full of quirky characters, and the setting immediately sets the mood for the entire story.
We also get Meg Galloway’s point of view. She’s related to one of the town’s brazen Barbie types, but Meg herself is something entirely different. Quiet, artistic, and guarded. There’s also a mysterious diary woven through the story, referencing someone named Luke and a climb up a no-name mountain, though at first it’s unclear how it all connects. Meg is an enigma. She’s strong yet delicate, sassy yet sweet, and it’s obvious she’s carrying old wounds and history we don’t fully understand yet. When things finally heat up between Meg and Nate, they definitely turn steamy.
A large part of this book focuses on Nate doing real police work, and I actually enjoyed that. He’s a good chief and takes his role seriously. Between snowstorms, mountain rescues, and the growing suspense surrounding the crimes, the pages turn quickly. The setting of rural Alaska adds constant tension. It’s beautiful, but also dangerous and isolating, which makes everything feel more intense.
As the story unfolds, the suspense ramps up. Small-town secrets surface, and there’s a strong whodunit element where just about everyone feels suspicious. Meg is flighty like a deer, always ready to bolt, while Nate has this steady, powerful presence that grounds the story. There are a lot of side characters in this small town, and while it’s not always clear how important each one will be, they add to the layered atmosphere of Lunacy.
I truly didn’t see the final reveal coming. I was convinced the perpetrator was someone else entirely, which made the twist even more satisfying. Northern Lights is a very adult romantic suspense with darker themes and definite trigger warnings, but it’s also gripping, immersive, and oddly comforting in its own rugged way. A really solid blend of romance, mystery, and survival set against the unforgiving beauty of Alaska.
If you would like to read Northern Lights by Nora Roberts you can find this book on Amazon. As an Amazon Assocaite I earn on qualifying purchases.
If you like this book you may also enjoy books with these tags and categories: Romantic Suspense, Winter and Trigger Warnings.
Read-Love-Review 