Peaceful Orcas Island disrupted by copycat killer in Roberts' July 6, 2010 release 'The Search'

Like her 2009 romantic suspense novel Black Hills, Nora Roberts' 2010 publication, The Search, is also scheduled for a July release. Amazon.com U.S, gives a specific date of July 6, 2010 for the issuance of the Putnam edition. Other than the cover image, as of January 10, 2010, Amazon provides no further information on the book.

Fortunately, the Fantastic Fiction website is less reticent about Roberts' upcoming work. In addition to pointing out that the The Search will be released in Britain on July 1, five days earlier than in the U.S., it describes the plot of the novel. Here is what it has to say:

Talented search and rescue dog trainer Fiona Bristow escaped the clutches of a serial killer several years before, but not before he murdered her fiance and her beloved dog. She has retreated to a cabin in the wilderness and is wary of forming bonds with anyone, but handsome newcomer and talented carpenter Simon has an unruly puppy to train and soon man and dog charm their way into Fiona's life. But just when she starts to relax, it becomes clear a copycat murderer is on the loose, and making his way closer and closer towards her with unfinished business on his mind ..."

Amazon.com U.K., in describing the Piatkus edition, adds the information that the book's setting is Orcas Island, Washington, that Fiona runs a canine rescue center that trains dogs to find missing persons, and that Simon's full name is Simon Doyle. Here, though, the "impossible, rude, and impossibly handsome" Simon is described as an artist rather than a carpenter.

A further attempt to find information on The Search pulled up a rather unusual item. The PDF file containing the Writers House fiction catalog (Frankfort 2009)  contains on page 18  a description of a work by Roberts entitled Green Shadows that also has a July 2010 release date and identifes Penguin, the publishing group that includes Putnam, as its publisher. The details in this book's summary merge with those of The Search given by Amazon U.K. and by Fantastic Fiction. The only discrepancy is that the dog that is killed is said to belong to Fiona's fiancé rather than to her.

The Writers House catalog's description, included below, provides much new information. It identifies the serial killer as George Perry; provides the name "Greg" for Fiona's former fiancé; calls Simons puppy "Jaws;" and adds that Francis Eckles is the copycat killer.

Against all odds, Fiona Bristow was able to escape from the clutches of George Perry, the notorious Red Scarf Killer, who was known for leaving his victims tied up with a red bow. She was able to help the FBI capture him, but not before Perry murdered her police officer boyfriend, Greg, and his faithful K9 partner, who nobly gave his life while trying to save his master. Fiona has finally begun to reclaim her life and finds a way to honor Greg’s legacy — by becoming a successful dog trainer and establishing a K9 search and rescue team on the island of Orcas, WA. While working with dogs fulfils her, she had given up hope of ever finding love again. But when rough-around-the-edges Simon Doyle asks her to help control his Marley-esque puppy (the aptly-named Jaws), it seems that, with a bit of training, both the dog and the man have the potential to become much more.

Meanwhile, from behind bars, Perry has found an eager student. Through smuggled letters, he trains Francis Eckles, guiding him as he continues Perry’s mission to abduct and murder young women and ultimately, to finish the job Perry was never able to do himself — murder Fiona Bristow, the one who got away."

Writers House is a New York literary agency whose website states that it is also invoved in licensing books to overseas publishers.  It will be interesting to see on July 6 how well the Writers House's detailed description of Green Shadows matches up with the The Search.