Tag: In Death Challenge

Lightning Review: Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb

Posted January 6, 2010 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Lightning Review: Immortal in Death by J.D. RobbReviewer: Holly
Immortal in Death by J. D. Robb
Series: In Death #3
Also in this series: Creation in Death, Strangers in Death, Suite 606, Salvation in Death, Kindred In Death, Naked in Death, Glory in Death, The Lost, Rapture in Death, New York to Dallas, Celebrity in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Fantasy in Death
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 1996
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 320
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

She was one of the most sought-after women in the world. A top model who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted -- even another woman's man. And now she was dead, the victim of a brutal murder. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas put her professional life on the line to take the case when suspicion fell on her best friend, the other woman in the fatal love triangle. Beneath the facade of glamour, Eve found that the world of high fashion thrived on an all-consuming passion for youth and fame. One that led from the runway to the dark underworld of New York City where drugs could fulfill any desire -- for a price . . .

 

This is one of my favorite In Death books. I think because this is the first time we really see Eve open up. She shows a lot of emotional growth here, plus she opens the door to new friendships.

It was easy to figure out who the killer was, but I still enjoyed the basic plot and watching Eve and her team work it out. I was disappointed in the timeline of the investigation though. It seems strange that both Eve and Roarke would be working right up until the night of the wedding.

All of Eve’s past is revealed in this book, and I found it just as shocking and horrific this time around. I hate that she pushes Roarke away, and yet that’s one of the most real parts of the book. After everything she suffered I’d be upset if she reacted differently.

Overall I’m just as impressed this time around.

4.5 out of 5

For a full list of the books and their reading order, see here.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars


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Lightning Review: Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb

Posted January 5, 2010 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Lightning Review: Rapture in Death by J.D. RobbReviewer: Holly
Rapture in Death by J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts
Series: In Death #4
Also in this series: Creation in Death, Strangers in Death, Suite 606, Salvation in Death, Kindred In Death, Naked in Death, Glory in Death, The Lost, Immortal in Death, New York to Dallas, Celebrity in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Fantasy in Death
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 1996
Genres: Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 310
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

They died with smiles on their faces. Three apparent suicides: a brilliant engineer, an infamous lawyer, and a controversial politician. Three strangers with nothing in common - and no obvious reasons for killing themselves. Police lieutenenat Eve Dallas found the deaths suspicious. And her instincts paid off when autopsises revealed small burns on the brains of the victims. Was it a genetic abnormality or a high-tech method of murder? Eve's investigation turned to the provocative world of virtual reality games - where the same technique used to create joy and desire could also prompt the mind to become the weapon of its own destruction.

 

This novel takes place right at the end of Eve and Roarke’s honeymoon. I think this is the first book where we really see them in harmony with each other.

Once again Eve’s case spills over into her personal life. People keep killing themselves, but Eve is convinced they were helped along. Her only evidence – besides her gut feeling – is each had a small blip on the brain. For me it isn’t ever hard to figure out who the villains are, but it is a joy watching Eve work. I especially liked the moral and social implications this case delved into. Mind control/mood control is a very scary thing.

There’s one scene in particular with Roarke that’s very emotional to read about. I will say, reading this book knowing what’s going on ahead of time really changed the tone of some of the scenes. The first time around my reaction was much different than it was this time around.

Something about the end of this book strikes me as odd, however. I don’t want to spoil it, but Eve’s reaction during the very last scene of the book seems off somehow. I can’t quite put my finger on why it’s wrong, though.

Overall a good entry.

4 out of 5

For a full list of the books and their reading order, see here.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars


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Review: Glory in Death by J.D. Robb

Posted December 23, 2009 by Holly in Reviews | 4 Comments

Review: Glory in Death by J.D. RobbReviewer: Holly
Glory in Death by J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts
Series: In Death #2
Also in this series: Creation in Death, Strangers in Death, Suite 606, Salvation in Death, Kindred In Death, Naked in Death, The Lost, Rapture in Death, Immortal in Death, New York to Dallas, Celebrity in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Fantasy in Death
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: 1995
Genres: Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 313
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

The first victim was found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second was murdered in her own apartment building. Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas had no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects--including her own lover, Roarke. As a woman, Eve was compelled to trust the man who shared her bed. But as a cop, it was her job to follow every lead..to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous.

 

Now that I’ve started, I may end up re-reading the entire series. I’d forgotten how much I love the earlier books. Each case of Eve’s is intersting, of course, but it’s her character development that really makes these fascinating. Not to mention her relationship with Roarke.

Though I figured out early on who the killer was, I really enjoyed watching Eve puzzle it out. Roarke again pops up in Eve’s investigation. The victim in this book is a close personal friend of Eve’s commander, which further complicates an already murky case.

Naturally the best part of the book is Eve and Roarke. Eve is still struggling to accept Roarke in her life and Roarke is upset that she’s struggling. I love this aspect of the novel. I find their relationship so..real. Here the main struggle comes from Roarke wanting to deepen the relationship and Eve balking at such a thing. She knows cops are a bad bet, and she’s worse than most. When Roarke tries to give Eve a gift, something she’s very uncomfortable with, things really blow up. Roarke issues an ultimatum and Eve spends the next miserable, yet refusing to admit it.

I will confess that there isn’t enough from Roarke’s point-of-view in these earlier books. That didn’t bother me so much the first time I read them, but this time around I find myself disappointed that we don’t see more from him. That isn’t to say we don’t get his POV at all, because we do, it just wasn’t quite enough. But then there will never be enough Roarke, so I suppose this is subjective.

This book contains one of my favorite scenes of the entire series..when Eve goes to confront Roarke after their separation. I love how raw both of them are, and how real their emotions and actions are. I also love the symbolism of the diamond Roarke gives Eve, and how that continues on throughout the series.

4.25 out of 5

For a full list of the books and their reading order, see here.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-stars


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Review: Naked in Death by J.D. Robb

Posted December 15, 2009 by Holly in Reviews | 10 Comments

Review: Naked in Death by J.D. RobbNaked in Death by J. D. Robb, Nora Roberts
Series: In Death #1
Also in this series: Creation in Death, Strangers in Death, Suite 606, Salvation in Death, Kindred In Death, Glory in Death, The Lost, Rapture in Death, Immortal in Death, New York to Dallas, Celebrity in Death, Brotherhood in Death, Fantasy in Death
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: July 1st 1995
Genres: Fiction, Suspense
Pages: 320
Add It: Goodreads
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Ripped Bodice | Google Play Books
four-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

In a world of danger and deception, she walks the line--between seductive passion and scandalous murder...
Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant hunting for a ruthless killer. In over ten years on the force, she's seen it all--and knows her survival depends on her instincts. And she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, an Irish billionaire--and a suspect in Eve's murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's up to Eve to take a chance in the arms of a man she knows nothing about--except the addictive hunger of needing his touch.
Hooked on Eve Dallas? Pre-order your copy of the newest book, DEVOTED IN DEATH, coming in September. 

 

Lori recently reviewed this as part of Christine‘s In Death Challenge, and I couldn’t resist picking it up for another re-read.

I’ve talked about this before, but years ago a friend recommended this series to me. Even though she swore it was amazing and wonderful, I didn’t think it was something I’d enjoy and put off reading it. Eventually she wore me down, however, and I picked this book up. At first I was rather annoyed with it…Robb drops us into an unfamiliar world with no rhyme or reason and expects us to catch up.

It didn’t take long for it to grab me, however. I struggled through this book, but it stayed with me. By the first chapter of the second book, Glory in Death, I was completely hooked.

The year is 2057 and though the world has come a long way since the turn of the century, one thing hasn’t changed – murder. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a murder cop, one of New York’s finest. She lives and breathes the job, until her latest case brings her up against Roarke, the ultra-wealthy and mysterious man who is now her number one suspect.

Eve is a very tough woman. She doesn’t remember much of her life before she was found at age 8 in an alley in Dallas, broken and bloody. She worked hard to overcome her past and now her job is everything to her. She sees things very much in black and white, though she’s still able to grasp the subtleties and nuances of murder..and what drives people to it.

Roarke is the least likely person for Eve to end up attracted to. Though there’s no proof of it – anywhere – it isn’t hard to believe he’s a shady guy. His attraction to Eve completely baffles him. He’s known many cops over the years and has no desire to connect with one, especially not on such a personal level.

The murder plot here is well done. As usual I figured out early on whodunit, but watching Eve puzzle it out was a joy. The way she walks through the crime scene in her head, getting inside the mind of the killer, is fascinating to watch.

It isn’t the murder mystery that was the focus of my attention anyway. The character studies are what really make this series shine. 32 books in and I’m still hooked. I love the various shades of each character. Eve, though she seems rigid and almost pompous in the beginning, is really a multifaceted character. She’s very much a puzzle, one I find it interesting to piece together.

Traditionally it is the heroines who are the pursuers, the more affectionate and open in the relationship, but that isn’t the case here. Roarke is the one who realizes he wants more with Eve, and he’s the one who pushes to spend time with her. He’s the one with the pretty words and sentiments. Eve is prickly and standoffish, unused to -and in fact almost unwilling to acknowledge – the feelings Roarke inspires in her. While this could have become too much, Robb keeps her on a tight ledge..close to, but not quite falling over the edge.

The world-building is flawless. As I mentioned above, it was somewhat irritating to be dropped into this futuristic world, but it wasn’t long before I was wrapped up in it. Especially since there isn’t anything that couldn’t absolutely happen in the future. I can easily see many of the inventions and modern practices taking place. Even the social commentary (as Lori mentions in her review) isn’t far-fetched, though it is obviously flavored with Robb’s personal biases (not that there’s anything wrong with that..as a matter of fact, many of the things she has here make perfect sense).

I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed the beginning of this series. Meeting Eve and Roarke again, and watching them meet for the first time, was lovely. The world-building is flawless and though I was annoyed by Eve’s standoffishness just as much as the first time, I loved it.

If you’ve put off reading this series because you don’t think it’s for you, or because you’re intimidated by the number of books, I really hope you’ll use Christine’s In Death Challenge as an excuse to start it. I know it seems like a lot of books. I know many of you don’t like series that focus on one person/relationship. But trust me, this series is the exception to every rule.
4.5 out of 5

The series:

For a full list of the books and their reading order, see here.

This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

four-half-stars


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