Now in paperback--the 19th book in the #1 "New York Times" bestselling In Death series, featuring New York City police lieutenant Eve Dallas. Eve investigates a rash of horrific killings with the help of her new husband, billionaire Roarke, and her raw partner, Peabody. ReviewsNaked in Death features Lt. Eve Dallas of the NYPD as she searches for a serial killer of prostitutes. It hints at the isolation, neglect, and sexual abuse that Eve suffered as a child, memories that she tries to suppress. The adult Eve is slow to trust and awkward when faced with affection and kindness. Yet over the course of this series, she acquires a husband, Roark; a partner, Peabody; and a varied host of friends-hard-boiled reporter Nadine, humanitarian doctor Louise, and worldly wise, bursting with life, rock star Mavis, all characters who also appear in Visions in Death. The culprit in Visions is raping, murdering, and mutilating women seen by a psychic in her dreams. Susan Ericksen renders each individual with proficiency; indomitable Eve and spunky Peabody's verbal sparring is adroitly delivered, and she moves easily and distinctly between the two women. Ericksen is equally successful with the male characters. Both books are great fun to listen to, but buy the whole series.-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information. Though not as gripping as the previous installments in Robb's mid-21st-century In Death series (Remember When, etc.), this new offering showcases her many talents. New York policewoman Eve Dallas is on the trail of a serial killer who strangles his young female victims with a red ribbon and removes their eyes postmortem. Dallas and her longtime partner, Detective Peabody, pursue the criminal with wisecracking vigor and old-fashioned police work, assisted as well by Eve's handsome husband, billionaire businessman Roarke, and a beautiful psychic who volunteers to share her chilling visions of the murders. Naturally, the determined Dallas gets her man, though her toughness is shaken along the way by memories of her own childhood abuse, the murderer's vicious attack on Peabody and a surprising 11th-hour revelation. The Thomas Harrisesque mystery resolves rather simply, and the story gets less of an energy boost than usual from the romantic power play between Eve and Roarke and the edgy sci-fi detail that made the earlier books so distinctive. (In fact, the Manhattan of 2059 is oddly old-fashioned, with more homey crafts stores than the New York of 2004.) Nevertheless, the book is a sassy, smart-alecky read, possessing the warm characterizations and witty dialogue that have earned Robb/Roberts her huge and loyal readership. Agent, Amy Berkower at Writer's House. (Aug.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information. "Eve, Roarke and the rest of the cast will enchant you, and the murder plots will enthrall you." |