Rating: 
Summary: Weaker than usual, but still a good murder mystery
Review: I really do like the '..in death' series. But I must admit I was a little disappointed by this particular book. Yes, the murder mystery part was well done, as always. But that's not what makes this series special, at least not from my point of view. It is watching the characters evolve and develop. Not only Eve and Roarke, and their relationship, but all the other 'side' characters that have been introduced in the previous books. In 'Imitation in Death', all the side characters are mentioned once, as if for form's sake. I would have preferred if J.D. Robb had concentrated more on one of them, but had told a real story about him or her. Also, Eve and Roarke carry on as usual, fighting, making up, but there is little character development. To sum it up, hardly anything happens in this book, exept for a murder mystery. That makes it a good book, but not an exceptional one. I hope this is not a sign that J.D. Robb is running out of ideas for her characters, and I'm looking forward to the next (hopefully better) book in the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Continuing the great tradition of the IN DEATH Series
Review: Every once in a great while, a series comes along to capture the imagination, the mind, and the heart. This series continues to be one of the best written sagas I have seen in many years.
Each new installment helps develop the characters a little further, adding depth and shape to these individuals. You must start at the 1st installment, NAKED IN DEATH, to truly learn, experience, and grow to love each new character in JD Robbs In Death saga. In this installment, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is personally selected by the killer to play Cat and Mouse. The killer is imitating some of the most notorious serial killers ever known to man. Eve is caught in the midst of this killing spree trying to use her historical knowledge of serial killers, investigative skills, and unique team of cohorts to solve this series of murders. And in the middle of this intense investigation, Eve and her circle of friends/family are dealing with various personal issues, as usual: Roarke is still coping with the discovery of his birth mother, Peabody is pursuing her Detective badge and cohabitating with McNab. Eve is overjoyed because Summerset is still on vacation, dealing with nightmarish discoveries about her past, learning to love and accept her quirky circle of friends as her family, and realizing that her wonderful husband is vulnerable like the rest of us. The most hilarious scene involves Eve, Roarke, and a barbeque grill! Books that make me laugh out loud or cry with heart felt emotions are rare; this book did just that and it is why I keep re-reading this series and waiting for the next installment to be released. This one is exceptionally good and the ending was absolutely great too!
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing reading!
Review: Eve Dallas, a police lieutenant, faces the most challenging case of her career, when she has to track down a serial killer that duplicates the brutal killing styles of notorious serial killers. A prostitute (LC is the term used in the book) is killed in the style of Jack the Ripper and the next victim meets their fate a la Boston Strangler style. With each murder, a personal note is left for Eve as the killer singles her out. Roarke, Eve's husband, is not the least bit amused with this last fact. Robb, a.k.a. Nora Roberts, offers a splendid blend of mystery, thriller action, internal friction amongst the principle characters and poignant intimacy spiced with a dash of sex to make this a very interesting read. I recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Never Gets Boring!
Review: I have read every "In Death" book in the entire series, and each time I finish an entry like "Imitation in Death," I am chafing at the bit for the next one. "Imitation in Death" is one of the better books in the series, because it so adeptly weaves together the ongoing stories of the main characters with the very well-drawn plot at hand: A serial killer is showing off for Eve, modeling each of his horrendous murders after a "classic" killer, from Jack the Ripper to the Boston Strangler to a fictional perpetrator who supposedly plied his trade in the 2020s. Now, in the 2050s, Eve must stop him before he runs completely amok--and her main suspects include some very famous people. Meanwhile, down on the home front, Eve and Roarke's relationship is better than ever (this is one of the main draws of the series, to my mind) as Eve savors the last days without her hated adversary Summerset, the major domo (butler!) of Roarke's estate, who was sent on vacation in the last book. Peabody and McNab have made a "mag" and major decision, which has Peabody in a tizzy as she studies for her detective's exam. Will she make it? And Mavis and Leonardo are busy garbing Mavis in outrageous maternity clothes that only she could wear--and only he could design. Absolutely a winner. I was sad when I finished the last page. Note to Nora (J.D. Robb): Hurry up with the next one! PLEASE!
Rating:
Summary: A great addition to the series
Review: I really enjoyed this addition to the In Death series. Eve is on the trail of a serial killer who is imitating famous killers of the past. I thought the mystery was really well done and I really didn't know who the killer was until the end (and I'm one of those people who usually figure it out early :) I also liked the theme of mothering and how that fit into more understanding of Eve and Roarke's relationships with their mothers. What I most appreciated was the humor. The book could have been especially dark because of the killer but there was enough humor sprinkled throughout that I had MANY laugh out loud moments - great story!
Rating:
Summary: Never Gets Boring!
Review: I have read every "In Death" book in the entire series, and each time I finish an entry like "Imitation in Death," I am chafing at the bit for the next one. "Imitation in Death" is one of the better books in the series, because it so adeptly weaves together the ongoing stories of the main characters with the very well-drawn plot at hand: A serial killer is showing off for Eve, modeling each of his horrendous murders after a "classic" killer, from Jack the Ripper to the Boston Strangler to a fictional perpetrator who supposedly plied his trade in the 2020s. Now, in the 2050s, Eve must stop him before he runs completely amok--and her main suspects include some very famous people. Meanwhile, down on the home front, Eve and Roarke's relationship is better than ever (this is one of the main draws of the series, to my mind) as Eve savors the last days without her hated adversary Summerset, the major domo (butler!) of Roarke's estate, who was sent on vacation in the last book. Peabody and McNab have made a "mag" and major decision, which has Peabody in a tizzy as she studies for her detective's exam. Will she make it? And Mavis and Leonardo are busy garbing Mavis in outrageous maternity clothes that only she could wear--and only he could design. Absolutely a winner. I was sad when I finished the last page. Note to Nora (J.D. Robb): Hurry up with the next one! PLEASE!
Rating:
Summary: One of the better "In Death" books
Review: I rushed down to the store to get this yesterday, and unlike the last one [Portrait], which left me feeling a bit hurried and miffed, this one had a lot of the best things about this series. Eve Dallas has some very good moments in this book - the mystery makes sense (the murderer is actually one of the main suspects this time), still managing to keep the reader guessing. It plays out well, and the murders manage to impress upon the reader the appropriate sense of disgust intended. The main characters mostly have some good points in this book, although I was a bit weirded out by Roberts' description of Morris (he is suddenly described with the adjective 'exotic' on two consecutive pages). Peabody is taking the detective exam, McNab is being lovey-dovey with the aforementioned, and Roarke is getting through the loss discovered in Portrait. There's a lack of Feeney in this book, as well as Nadine, but it plays out better for it, especially since Portrait had characters experiencing Significant Moments of Life every five pages. Not that this book isn't lacking in the odd character moment here and there, but it works anyway. For Lt. Dallas herself, there is a big flashback - and a fascinating one, for it's about the person that her brandy-colored eyes are from - and no, it's not her dad. One of my favorite aspects of this series is the Eve-Roarke dynamic, and in this book, they're awfully cute in this book, and such fun to read. I don't mean gushy cute, thank goodness, but they're a highly amusing couple. A favorite moment of mine is Eve watching, with some baffled horror, as Roarke cooks, and I don't mean with an Auto-Chef. More than ever, I think this couple has really settled into a comfortable dynamic, the way that only they can do it. One of the reasons it's such fun to read this is because of how the characters have grown throughout the books. I feel that Roberts' other books often lost realism in the characters, with the books themselves too often ending with a tidily engaged couple and pregnant female. However, the In Death series gives her the chance to naturally grow these characters, and it's really evident in this book. Compare Imitation to Naked or Glory, and it's actually a little scary to see how these characters - especially Eve and Roarke - have changed, but they've done so together, and it's sweetly romantic. Last word: this isn't a book for new readers. It would be completely confusing, very bizarre, and without the enjoyment of seeing how these beloved characters continue to change. There is an unusually high amount of references to other J.D. Robbs here(there was even a reference to Interlude in Death), and although it's nice for the devoted reader, it can be nothing but bizarre to a newbie. In the end, this was a very entertaining book - I think one of the best in this series - and though there were no previews, I look very forward to buying Remember When in a few weeks and Divided in Death in the new year. :>
Rating:
Summary: Imitation may be the sickest form of flattery.
Review: An LC (futurist term for prostitute) is murdered in the flamboyant style of Jack the Ripper, which is bad. But the unknown killer leaves a personal note for Lieutenant Eve Dallas, which is even worse. When the serial killer strikes again, it is not as Jack the Ripper, but as The Boston Strangler. Another note is left and Dallas and her associates race against time to figure out who is so meticulously copycatting the infamous serial killers of old. This is the first 'In Death' book I have read and it most certainly will not be the last. The mystery is good, with enough red herrings to keep the pages turning, but, sadly, the front cover offers more than a bit of a spoiler. The secondary characters are likable and, in the end, I looked forward to spending time with them again...another fan won over. Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not the best in the series
Review: J. D. Robb's '"In Death" series, featuring Lieutenant Eve Dallas, is a great detective series. Because Robb (aka the best-selling Nora Roberts) is best known for writing romance stories, many detective fiction fans have overlooked these books. They shouldn't. That said, "Imitation in Death" is missing one key feature in my opinion, and that's tension. As always, Robb/Roberts has painted the future with great skill, and it's rewarding to visit again the returning characters. But in the best of the series, for example "Conspiracy in Death" and "Portrait in Death", there's conflict to be solved among the protagonists as well as conflict with the criminals. In this book, everything just feels a bit too smooth.
Rating:
Summary: "Back To The Future"
Review: In Nora Roberts' "IMITATION IN DEATH" the year is 2059 and Lieutenant Eve Dallas faces a madman who kills his victims the old-fashioned way. Eve Dallas must stop a serial killer who reaches back into criminal history for his gruesome inspiration. (Chilling Story that gets my highest recommendation to be sure!)
|
