Naked in Death (In Death)

Rating:
Summary: Great Start For Futuristic Mystery Series!
Review: "Naked In Death" is the first book in J. D. Robb's Eve Dallas mystery series. I have been hearing positive things about these books for a long time, and now, after reading this terrific novel, I understand why.

New York City, 2058 CE, are the time and setting of "Naked in Death." Robot drones and voice activated machines do menial work, i.e., clean house, serve meals; there is a total ban on guns, (the police use lasers); major improvements have been made in medicine and technology, with advancements in genetics (and strong genetic control); airbuses for public transportation have replaced subways; tele-links replace telephones - it's not a "brave new world," yet...but there are definite pluses midway into the 21st century. Minor armed skirmishes have taken place between China and the US, and France had another revolution which lasted for a few years. The overpopulated world has more limited resources - real coffee is rare and way too expensive, as is beef and other fresh meat. Robb has not written a sci-fi series, however. Far enough into the future to make the storyline more interesting, 2058's world is still easily recognizable.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is called to a murder scene where a young licensed companion, (a legalized prostitute ), has been brutally murdered with an antique handgun from the 20th century. The victim, Sharon DeBlass, is from a very prominent family - her grandfather is a US senator. An angry man who preaches morality and leads an ultra conservative branch of his party, the senator would like to totally suppress the case, and perhaps even run the investigation himself. According to friends and relatives, Ms. DeBlass apparently chose her career not only because she liked sex, she did not need the money, but because she was rebelling against her family and strict upbringing. A note was found under her body with the printed words, "ONE OF SIX." So, was the perpetrator a serial killer warning that there were to be five more murders? One of the prime suspects is a sexy Irish billionaire named Roarke. We never learn whether this is his first or last name. Perhaps if one is a billionaire, especially a tall, dark and handsome, with an Irish brogue, billionaire, it doesn't matter. He is quickly cleared of suspicion, and he and Eve embark on a stormy, intense romance - but not before murder #2 occurs.

Eve, although a tough cop who made Lieutenant before the age of 30, is also very vulnerable. She doesn't remember the early years of her life, but knows that she was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by her father, then abandoned at age eight and left to the mercies of Children's Services. She has made her work her life, and letting Roarke get close to her is a first.

Happiness is discovering another excellent series - and from what I have read, this looks like a winner! The writing is tight, as is the plot - an excellent and complex mystery. I really like the characters, Eve, definitely, Roarke - who lives up to his description, Feeney, Eve's partner, and Eve's chanteuse friend Mavis. I can't wait to pick-up book two, "Glory In Death."
JANA

Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: Awesome ROBB! Great book! entertaining! Robb whirls you about Eve's life entangling you in love, laughter and humanity!

Rating:
Summary: This One Started it All!
Review: I stumbled onto this book by pure accident. Not knowing what to expect, I was blown away. This series is written by Nora Roberts, writing as J. D. Robb. Although this book has romance in it, it's a story with substance and a kick that had me reading every book in the series. The setting is New York City in the year 2058. The main character is a strong woman both physically and mentally. When you walk into a bookstore, you'll see most of the books in the series displayed on the shelf. There's a reason for this- they're good. You should definitely read the series in order. Start with this one. It's the one that started it all.

Rating:
Summary: Strong!
Review: I picked up this book by recommendation and the first thing I asked was, "this isn't a foofy, chicky character is it" - the answer is a big fat NO. This is just a warm up to the next 15 or so books in the series. Slowly the characters are being built with real content and variety of personalities, not the same person with a different name all the time. If you want mystery, action, sex, strength and anticipation start here and work your way through the series.

Rating:
Summary: N. Roberts - The Worst Sexist in the Business!
Review: First the good.....this book receives 2 stars because of the wise cracks. That's it. That's actually alot, when there's nothing out there to read for someone who likes romance and action. But the whole "In Death" series in good only for the frequent smirks you get from a really good smart ass comment. AS usual, Roberts has created an allegedly "strong" woman character who 1) Allows the hero to do whatever the heck he wants 2) Can't deal with a stressful situation without going into a feminine tail spin and 3) emotes all over the place with the slightest provocation. Roberts has never created a strong female character. Amusing, yes. STrong, resilient, mature....well duh! That's a no!

Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: The book started with a bang, and Eve Dallas is an engrossing, attractive protagonist. By the time I had finished the first 50 pages, I had ordered the next two in the series. By the time I finished the book, I was regretting it. Where shall I start? Eve finally gets around to interviewing the parents of the first victim by page 130, and even then, it's an afterthought. Ridiculous. The majority of murders are committed by friends or family. Even if the parents aren't suspects, they might well have valuable information. Second, the killer slips videos of the first two murders into Eve's apartment. Does she increase security? Change the locks? Ask for a police guard? No. She goes to sleep. Baloney. Third, the Chief of Police, who is obviously crooked, makes Eve deny any link between the two murders. This is patently absurd, and the media immediately picks up on it. Fourth, Roarke is an arrogant ass, and Eve, a woman who is depicted as not letting herself be pushed around, constantly lets him get away with it. At one point, he breaks into her apartment and calmly lights up a cigarette. This may seem trivial, but non-smokers really, really hate it when they can't get away from cigarettes, and a non-smoker would never allow somebody to smoke in their apartment. It's not "strong." It's not "masculine." It's obnoxious. Eve and Roarke's entire relationship seems unreal. He's a cardboard cutout of the Irish rogue who can only be reformed by the love of a good woman and she winds up looking like an idiot for putting up with his garbage for more than an instant.

Rating:
Summary: splendid future cop series
Review: It's such a delight when you find an author who brings a novel perspective to old tales, especially when you can share them with your spouse! J. D. Robb's Lt. Eve Dallas is just such a series.

The writing is fast, fluent & funny; the characters are feisty & interesting, & the source of the stories, murder & mayhem, have a different twist as they are set in 2058 in the dire straits of a future America, primarily in New York City & East Washington, (DC no longer exists), & a few off-world locations.

The IN DEATH series crosses several genres: Police Drama, Romance, Suspense & Science Fiction. J. D. Robb has extrapolated the trends she sees today into a world where the chasm between the "haves" & "have-nots" is the difference between real coffee & the slop offered by Auto-Chefs. Where transportation & living quarters are space age as are the tools, toys & drugs, music, mores & fashion. Where the laws & politics will have you despairing & giggling, in the same paragraph.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends the IN DEATH series as thoughtful, engaging & tasty reading candy

Rating:
Summary: A sexy, fun book w/ equal touches of romance and mystery
Review: I was running out of books to check out and try when I happened upon the mystery section of the bookstore I go to. I don't usually go for mystery novels, but after reading some reviews of J.D. Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) books here on Amazon, I decided to give Ms. Robb's book a try.

I know I've said that mystery novels are not really my cup of tea, romance is not even remotely in the same ballpark. I always picture romance novels as thin paperbacks with half-naked, beautiful people on the covers. I was surprised to know that I was hooked on Ms. Robb's Naked In Death novel from the first chapter all the way to the end. I enjoyed the perfect blend of crime-mystery and sexy romance from her novel's two main characters.

NYPSD Lt. Eve Dallas is one of the better female characters I've ever had the chance to read. Eve is both a tough-as-nails police detective and also very feminine though she would be the last person to think so. Its this duality in her personality that attracts rogue Irish bilionaire Roarke (the cool characters always can get away with using just a single name) to Eve. The attraction seems very unusual at first, especially since Roarke can get and have any woman he wishes, but as the story progresses some hints as to why he's attracted comes out in the open.

The mystery part of the novel is very well-done, even though Roarke being a suspect in the beginning seems like a convenient way to get the two characters together. The heat from their initial meeting shows that Ms. Robb can write scenes of romance and conflict and make both look very steamy. I don't know which I enjoyed reading more, the scenes where Eve and Roarke finally have sex or their constant baiting each other to react, but both were written with enough heat and chemistry to make the book a must-read.

Ms. Robb's first novel in her In Death series, Naked In Death, is a wonderful and fun novel. It should appeal to others who are not just romance novel readers. The scenes of romance and sensual, steamy sex is a big bonus. The novel overall is engaging and well-written for other genre fans to enjoy.

Rating:
Summary: Thinly veiled Romance Novel....
Review: After hearing such great things about the "In Death" series by Roberts AKA Robb, I finally bit the bullet and purchased the unabridged audio version. Well, I guess I was expecting a bit more than her normal romance novels, because I found the 'suspense and mystery' rather lacking. Eve was a nice enough character if a tad predictable... (Hard-boiled tomboyish female cop who can't dress, can't cut her hair and is so messed up she can't sleep at night...Oh... And lets not forget the disdain of doctors and shrinks...Hmmmm... This is probably the most overused cop stereotype around). Enter Roarke, the supposed chief 'suspect.' This is where the novel became hokey. After establishing the fact that Eve is tough, hard-nosed and without mercy, she instantly falls head over heels for an Irish "Bill Gates" despite the fact that he is so pushy arrogant and annoying I wanted to scream... Oh...And lets not forget to have sex, during the middle of a gruesome murder investigation. Yeah right.

While this story started out okay, it quickly got bogged down with a silly romance between Eve and Roarke which should have cost her her badge. I wish Eve at LEAST had the dignity and restraint to refuse involvement with Roarke until this investigation was over. No such luck. Silly.

I found Naked to be an average read with momentary elements of brilliance. What ruined it for me was Roarke, who was too superhuman to be believed, and the 'mystery' which wasn't really much of a mystery at all.