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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
A good addition to the In-death series. Has one of my favorite Eve/Summerset interactions.
This may be my favorite of her recent ones. Great plot, well written, very good character development, and there tropes that annoy me were absent. Really enjoyed it!
Calculated in Death sends Eve down the accounting rabbit hole, where she has to rely on Roarke and a few others for insight into the world of audits and big business. There’s still plenty of fun for Eve, however: she needs to figure out which business big-shots are lying to her, who actually did the killing… and oh yeah, she’d better catch the guy soon, because he’s gotten a taste for it now and is upping his game.
Calculated in Death eases off a little from the somewhat over-the-top confrontations with Eve and Roarke’s pasts, while providing enough reference to them to maintain continuity. The focus is mostly on the case, with fun character stuff for all involved. We get to see Peabody cut loose a little more as she continues to stand more firmly on her own, and of course there’s some lovely romance and semi-abstracted luscious sex between Eve and Roarke.
There wasn’t quite enough “edge of your seat” tension to put this at the top of the series list. Also, it would have been nice if the overly impulsive killer had been at least a little surprising in his actions when Eve set her inevitable trap for him. However, the case is fun, the character interactions are enjoyable, and there’s plenty of Robb’s trademark hilarious dialogue to keep things moving.
NOTE: review book provided by Penguin Group.
For the longer, original version of this review, visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2013/01/30/calculated-in-death-j-d-robb-nora-roberts/
Calculated in Death eases off a little from the somewhat over-the-top confrontations with Eve and Roarke’s pasts, while providing enough reference to them to maintain continuity. The focus is mostly on the case, with fun character stuff for all involved. We get to see Peabody cut loose a little more as she continues to stand more firmly on her own, and of course there’s some lovely romance and semi-abstracted luscious sex between Eve and Roarke.
There wasn’t quite enough “edge of your seat” tension to put this at the top of the series list. Also, it would have been nice if the overly impulsive killer had been at least a little surprising in his actions when Eve set her inevitable trap for him. However, the case is fun, the character interactions are enjoyable, and there’s plenty of Robb’s trademark hilarious dialogue to keep things moving.
NOTE: review book provided by Penguin Group.
For the longer, original version of this review, visit my site: http://www.errantdreams.com/reviews/2013/01/30/calculated-in-death-j-d-robb-nora-roberts/
Calculated In Death did not let me down.
As an avid fan of the In Death series, I eagerly await each new installment every six months. And while other series may become stale and drawn out after so many books, J.D. Robbs In Death series has yet to hit that point, in my opinion. I love each new case that we are plunged into. I love how Robb brings those moments of murder to us and plops us right into them. I love Eve's constant dialogue with everyone in her life. It's fascinating to think back to how it all started, and to see where we've come too in her life.
This time Eve is investigating the murder of a woman, a mother, a wife. Taken from her walk home one night, she is found dead in a random doorway in a way that appears to be a mugging. But we soon find out that her location isn't so random and the mugging is simply a half-assed attempt to confuse the cops. Of course, Eve is too smart to be confused and quickly picks up on the oddities of the situation. Once again she and Peabody are on the case, assisted by all the players including the "I wish a man like that really existed," Roarke.
Moments in the book hint to a potential life-altering event sooner rather than later when, Roarke comments about having their own family and Eve doesn't do her usual balking at the idea of children. Though Eve doesn't escape this case unscathed, I'm glad her nightmares and childhood issues didn't overshadow the rest of the story this time. I can't wait for the next book, and am sad I've finished yet another installment in the In Death series.
As an avid fan of the In Death series, I eagerly await each new installment every six months. And while other series may become stale and drawn out after so many books, J.D. Robbs In Death series has yet to hit that point, in my opinion. I love each new case that we are plunged into. I love how Robb brings those moments of murder to us and plops us right into them. I love Eve's constant dialogue with everyone in her life. It's fascinating to think back to how it all started, and to see where we've come too in her life.
This time Eve is investigating the murder of a woman, a mother, a wife. Taken from her walk home one night, she is found dead in a random doorway in a way that appears to be a mugging. But we soon find out that her location isn't so random and the mugging is simply a half-assed attempt to confuse the cops. Of course, Eve is too smart to be confused and quickly picks up on the oddities of the situation. Once again she and Peabody are on the case, assisted by all the players including the "I wish a man like that really existed," Roarke.
Moments in the book hint to a potential life-altering event sooner rather than later when, Roarke comments about having their own family and Eve doesn't do her usual balking at the idea of children. Though Eve doesn't escape this case unscathed, I'm glad her nightmares and childhood issues didn't overshadow the rest of the story this time. I can't wait for the next book, and am sad I've finished yet another installment in the In Death series.
I absolutely love the In Death series by J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) because although it is futuristic as it is set in 2050s in New York, it is very plausible and believable, tons of action and thrill, plus love and romance in a package deal. However, I thought this one erred on the side of slow and anti-climatic, especially near the end when they were luring the perpetrator into a trap. But let me back up first.
I believe this is book #36 in the series so for those who follow it are well acquainted with the characters and I don't expect a lot of character development but that's okay. Eve Dallas and Roarke (no first name) are still happily married, and he still continues to help her out on her cases because he is a technology geek and very good with numbers.
The plot was alright; I enjoyed following along with it as it went from the unfortunate murder of one woman to unraveling into a much larger case. What I really liked was how they analyzed and broke down the psyche of the perpetrator because my own thoughts pretty much mirrored how Dallas and her team at NYPSD (I know that it stands for New York Police... And I don't remember what the SD stood for).
A woman was killed and she happened to be the sister in law to a Judge, which made her case a high priority and thus Dallas and her team were the ones for the job. The victim was an accountant and they discovered that even though her coat and briefcase was taken, this was no mugging because she had stumbled upon some sensitive information in relation to highly illegal activities. From there, they worked out that there was a hacker, a muscle and a mastermind.
I loved the beginning, I thought it was clever and amazing because I already knew it was a crime story but how it started took me by surprise: "A killer wind hurled bitter November air, toothy little knives to gnaw at the bones." I thought it was straight to the murder but it wasn't.
What I didn't like was the use of a female bait - having Peabody (Dallas' partner) to doll up and seduce the geek behind all of the hacking because it was really... Amateur to me. Furthermore, the book kept emphasizing Roarke's abilities so why couldn't they take him down that way? Also, taking down the muscle was really anti-climatic.Dallas didn't want civilians involved so she lured him away and he fell for it. And nothing really happened except for one drunken lady who became collateral because she followed Dallas as well to tell her off for something or other. I wish she became collateral damage because she was so stupid, seriously.
I didn't love it like I usually would have but I didn't hate it either.
I believe this is book #36 in the series so for those who follow it are well acquainted with the characters and I don't expect a lot of character development but that's okay. Eve Dallas and Roarke (no first name) are still happily married, and he still continues to help her out on her cases because he is a technology geek and very good with numbers.
The plot was alright; I enjoyed following along with it as it went from the unfortunate murder of one woman to unraveling into a much larger case. What I really liked was how they analyzed and broke down the psyche of the perpetrator because my own thoughts pretty much mirrored how Dallas and her team at NYPSD (I know that it stands for New York Police... And I don't remember what the SD stood for).
A woman was killed and she happened to be the sister in law to a Judge, which made her case a high priority and thus Dallas and her team were the ones for the job. The victim was an accountant and they discovered that even though her coat and briefcase was taken, this was no mugging because she had stumbled upon some sensitive information in relation to highly illegal activities. From there, they worked out that there was a hacker, a muscle and a mastermind.
I loved the beginning, I thought it was clever and amazing because I already knew it was a crime story but how it started took me by surprise: "A killer wind hurled bitter November air, toothy little knives to gnaw at the bones." I thought it was straight to the murder but it wasn't.
What I didn't like was the use of a female bait - having Peabody (Dallas' partner) to doll up and seduce the geek behind all of the hacking because it was really... Amateur to me. Furthermore, the book kept emphasizing Roarke's abilities so why couldn't they take him down that way? Also, taking down the muscle was really anti-climatic.
I didn't love it like I usually would have but I didn't hate it either.
I have come to a realization. I never want this series to end. I'm not ready yet. Even when it's an okay read, even then, it is better than anything I've read.
So, the case in this one is more of a corporate killing. Which if you ask me, didn't exactly tickle my fancy. But like I said, even then, it was such a great read.
*sigh* Let me bask in the magnificent of Roarke and Eve. And Peabody and the rest.
So, the case in this one is more of a corporate killing. Which if you ask me, didn't exactly tickle my fancy. But like I said, even then, it was such a great read.
*sigh* Let me bask in the magnificent of Roarke and Eve. And Peabody and the rest.
The 36th entry in this series is just as enjoyable as all the others. Eve Dallas and Delia Peabody catch a case, the death of an accountant, except two more murders follow and Eve knows they are connected. The reader is also treated to the usual cast of characters: McNabb, Feeney, Baxter, Trueheart, Mavis and Leonardo all put in an appearance. The story revolves around accounting and the various ways money can be manipulated. Lots of little twists and turns keep the plot moving along. Dallas and Roarke are their usual fabulous selves.
I enjoyed this latest installment in the In Death series, but it seemed very much derivative. Many of the "new" characters, and plot devices seemed repeated, slightly changed, from earlier installments -- venal business executives, brutish killer for hire, trap set for the bad guys. Even the all white apartment of one of the persons of interest has been used before . It all seemed very familiar. There wasn't even anything new with the friends of Eve. Of course, after 35 books, I'm surprised when she comes up with anything original.
Reading these books is like watching your favorite TV show. You know at some point certain supporting characters will show up, Eve and Rourke will have sex at least twice a book and Eve will have nightmares that involve her past. The book was a decent mystery but no real surprises as to who did it. What I did find odd was so many people she spoke with in the book during the investigation were also going to the movie premiere of the Icove case. And I hope now this book is over the Icove case will stop getting mentioned in almost every book since she solved that case. A minor nit to be sure.