Reviews

Memory in Death opens another window into Lt. Eve Dallas's childhood, which she tries so hard to forget. Eve's last case won her national prominence and brought her to the attention of an abusive foster mother from her Texas past, Trudy Lombard, who, accompanied by her son, Bobby, and daughter-in-law, comes to New York to blackmail Eve. Her mere appearance puts Eve into an emotional tailspin, but Eve's husband, Roark, understands Trudy's evil intentions immediately. He not only refuses to pay, he also promises to kill her should she spread tales about Eve's past. Trudy is found dead two days later, and Eve is relieved when the time of death was during a huge Christmas party Eve and Roark were hosting. Still, the death is uncomfortably close, and Eve knows she must solve the crime in order to come to terms with this part of her past. Narrator Susan Ericksen is in top form. In addition to her fine interpretation of the recurring characters, she has fun with the three Texans in the Big Apple. Especially obnoxious is the high-pitched Southern helplessness that Ericksen projects into every word uttered by Bobby's wife, Zana, the absolute antithesis of Eve. Recommended for all mystery collections.-Juleigh Muirhead Clark, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Lib., Colonial Williamsburg Fdn., VA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.