Reviews

Imitation in Death by J.D. Robb

sam_hartwig's review against another edition

4.0

I was going to give this one only 3 stars because the story was a little lacking, but it gets an extra star for the feels at the end when Peabody made detective.

anbananova's review

5.0

it was a big one, so much happened. eve’s first recollection of her mother and peabody making a detective. so proud of both of them. 

💕

“I like the hat." McNab kept his voice low. "Sexy."
  "McNab, you think brick's sexy," Peabody replied. But with a quick check to see if the coast was clear, she gave his ass a fast squeeze. "Maybe I'll wear it later. You know, just the hat."
  "She-Body, you're killing me.”

“Got enough on you for a Pepsi?" -
  "What's wrong with using your badge number? You over your limit?"
  She gave him a disgusted look, with a sulk right on the edges. "I plug in my badge number, the machine will give me grief. The one up by our squad hates me, has a personal vendetta. -And they talk to each other,-Baxter, Don't think they don't communicate.”

“We won't likely eat in the kitchen much after tonight, with Summerset due home tomorrow."
  She stopped dead, the glass halfway to her lips. "Tomorrow? That can't be right. He just left five minutes ago."
  "Tomorrow, noon." He walked over to flick a finger over the dent in her chin. "It's been considerably longer than five minutes."
  "Make him extend it. Tell him to... he should take a trip around the world. In a boat. One of those boats you row by hand. It'll be good for him.”

“Well then, I want coffee. And a cookie."
  "A cookie?"
  "Yes." The cat leaped on the desk to bump his head against Roarke's hand. "You have a cookie cache- in here. I want one."
  She stuck her hands on her hips, tapped her-fingers. "How do you know I have a cache?”

“Eyes slit, she came closer, watched his face as keenly as she would a -prim suspect. "You haven't been sneaking into my office at Central and riffling my candy stash?"
  "Certainly not. I can get my own candy."
  "You could be lying," she said after a moment. "You're pretty slippery."
  "And so you said in the shower.”

“Who runs the show? Money's power, right? I bet she calls the shots in that household."
  "If that's the criterion, I feel-, I'm not as fully in charge as I should be around here."
  "Too bad for you. I don't give a damn about your money.”

“Come sit on my lap." He sent her a persuasive smile. "I'm lonely."
  She did it, and tried not to soften too much when his lips brushed her hair. 
  "Carmichael Smith," he said, but he was still thinking of the child-she'd been, at the mercy of the system she now stood for. And wanted, more than anything, to lavish her with everything she'd done without. Especially love.”

“If I were to get personally pissed off about every woman Roarke banged, I'-d spend my life in a perpetual state of annoyance. You were one of many."
  Eve lifted her left hand, tapped her wedding ring with her thumbnail. "I'm the only. You don't worry me.”

“Please shut up before I have to hurt you."
"Dallas, you said please. You're mellowing."
  "Insults," Eve grumbled. "All I get are insults. Mrs. Roarke, sweet, mellowing. We'll see how mellow I am when I stuff your head up your ass."
  "And she's back!" Peabody announced, and rode in contented silence.”

“Your shirt lists for more than my weapon," she chided. "So once in, you keep it buttoned, the lip as well as the shirt, and look firm and stern."
  "And I was counting on shooting you quiet, adoring looks.”

“This guy sees me show up in a hot car with a fancy piece behind the wheel, he's not going to like me."
  "You know how I love being referred. to as your fancy piece."
  "Sometimes you're my love muffin.”

“Peabody showed her teeth in a grin, widened her eyes to show enthusiasm, and punched out her fist with her thumb sticking up.
  Leaning back, Eve cocked her head. "What is that? I'm supposed to signal you to stick your thumb up your ass?"
  "No! It's thumbs-up. Jeez, Dallas. Thumbs-up. Never mind.”

“When I came in and you were sleeping, I thought: There's my soldier, exhausted from her wars." He lifted her hand, kissed her fingers. "Now, I look, and I think: There's my woman, soft and lovely."
  Her lips curved as he undressed her. "Where do you get this stuff?"
  "It just comes to me. I've only to look at you, and the world comes to me. You're my life.”

“I'll need. my hands free at the door.. You could ease behind me. It wouldn't hurt to give my butt an affectionate little pat."
  "What for?"
  "Because I like it.”

“He took her hand when they reached the door, and tightened his grip when she hissed and tried to shake him off.
  'Too late to worry about such things now. You winked at me during an operation."
  "I certainly did nothing of the kind." She folded her lips, primly. "Maybe I had something in my eye.”

“Lieutenant," he said with a purr in his voice. "You've got to wear that home."
  "Why?"
  He grinned. "Guess."
  "You're a sick, sick man."
  "We'll play cops and robbers."
  "Out of my way, pervert.”

holl3640's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

alisonhori's review against another edition

3.0

These are such a guilty pleasure for me I like Eve and Roarke and the whole series is fun. I liked this one a little less than some because none of Eve's clues for how she knew who the murderer was were really evident to us as the reader but still...it was a good fun read.

cassymarya's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

karen1's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

blueironflower's review against another edition

dark emotional funny tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

There are a lot of dark topics discussed and explored in this book, would highly highly recommend checking the trigger warnings before starting this series

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Incest, Death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Gore, Murder, and Sexual violence

whatsheread's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

Book 17 of the In Death series by J. D. Robb is IMITATION IN DEATH. I don't know what it says about me, but I enjoyed the reenactments of infamous serial killer crime scenes that give the book its name. One of my favorite parts is trying to guess which serial killer inspired Eve's suspect before she revealed it. I also appreciated that one inspiration is fictitious, not having occurred yet in our timeline but in history in Eve's. That this fictitious killer went on his rampage in 2023 is a bit eerie, but Ms. Robb did publish IMITATION IN DEATH twenty years ago. I'm sure 2023 was far enough in the future to not be an issue.

As always, I enjoyed the character development as much as Eve's case. Watching Peabody stress about the detective's exam was cute. More importantly, we see Eve take steps towards sharing her feelings instead of keeping them to herself. Granted, she isn't smooth or gracious about it, but it is Eve Dallas. Sensitive and suave are not words one could ever use to describe her. 

This series never gets old, and I think that is in large part due to Susan Erickson's narration. I have no idea if she narrates anything other than the In Death series, and I don't want to know. For me, she is the lifeblood of Eve Dallas' world. I can't imagine the devastation I would feel should she stop narrating Ms. Robb's series. For now, it is all I can do to stop myself from starting the next book in the series immediately upon finishing another. I am definitely an In Death addict!

amym84's review against another edition

5.0

This was a good addition to the series. I liked the angle Robb used with the killer imitating old serial killers. There was also less personal emotional issues in this book than in the previous book Portrait in Death which was good. I think if too much is packed in every single book it would bring the series down. Robb really knows how to balance out How much and when certain storylines need to happen. And she knows when to back off a little. Can't wait to read more in the series. Until Then!

raniareads_'s review against another edition

5.0

Last scenes really killed me. Peabody and Eve... I can feel a true friendship between them.