Rapture in Death
Each murder victim died smiling. The only one who isn't grinning is New York Police Lieutenant Eve Dallas--because she's got to find out why.Product Details
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
The year is 2056. mood-altering drugs are legal, prostitution is licensed, virtual-reality games have replaced TV sets for entertainment and New York supercop Eve Dallas continues her sleuthing in Robb's fourth installment in the Death series (Naked in Death, Glory in Death, etc.). This time around, Eve has married her soul mate, Roarke, and is caught up in the puzzling suicide of a technician who's been working on Roarke's unfinished space resort. The young tech, Eve learns, had cheerfully hanged himself after a VR trip. Back on Earth, autopsies from two similar suicides reveal a pin-sized burn on the brains of the victims. All clues point to a deadly subliminal message in a VR toy?one that Roarke produces. This is sexy, gritty, richly imagined suspense. The fact that it is written by Nora Roberts under the pseudonym J.D. Robb is a tribute to her versatility.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
"Sexy, gritty, richly imagined suspense." -- Publishers Weekly
Review
"Sexy, gritty, richly imagined suspense." (Publishers Weekly)
Customer Reviews
Entertaining, but Frustratingly Vague Series
As an long time reader of serial fiction, one thing I've learned is not to read the books in too close of a succession. The writer's flaws become more easily apparent that way. And having discovered the In Death series only about 6 months ago, I followed this advice fairly well. I read book 1, waited about a month and a half and read book 2. Book 3 I read about a month after that. And now, I've completed book 4 about a month and a half later. If was probably in the middle of book 3 when the problems became apparent. This doesn't speak well for a series nearing 30 books. Though, I hope that with time and experience Robb/Roberts improved.
First, everything is rather vague. As I'm reading, I don't have a really good "visual" of anything in my mind. All I have are impressions. With very few exceptions, I don't have a good picture of the characters or locations. I suppose this is a valid way for an author to provide description, but I prefer more. I'm left feeling unfulfilled. This is a particular hindrance given that the setting is several decades into the future. Other than flying cars, what's futuristic about this future?
When Robb gets in over her head in some detail, she just cuts away. A prime example was in RAPTURE. An angry Roarke literally scares the heck out of character that has used him. Instead of using this opportunity to show us something specific about Roarke, Robb provides some vague description of how Roarke learned all kinds of nasty things growing up and then cuts away. Next time we see Roarke, he's calmly smoking a cigarette, while his "victim" is huddling in a corner. It's never made clear if Roarke's "assault" was physical or just verbal. Did he do "nasty things" or just promise to.
Second, the narrator gets lost. Generally, the story is being told from the point of view of Dallas. But out of no where, Robb injects the point of some other character. Sometimes even a minor one. Often multiple POVs are expressed in one scene. My guess is, Robb wants us to know what that other character's thoughts/impressions are. That's fine, but jumping in and out of various people's heads rather randomly strikes me as lazy.
For example, in RAPTURE, Dallas and Roarke are having a party. Dallas is leading a guest down the hall to her office. The scene if from her POV. Yet, suddenly we're in the guest's head where he's noting how "grand" and expensive things are. Robb did great with a follow up remark from Dallas where she answers an unasked question. Why can't she just do that more often instead of jarring the reader with a random POV?
If Robb wants us to know what that other character is thinking, she should find another way of doing it. Or, it's not that important. Or, Robb needs to rethink having Dallas as the sole narrator of the story.
Another particularly bad example of random transition can also be read in RAPTURE. The killer pulls a gun on Dallas and very next thing we're up in Roarke's head. No transition. No page break. Just the very next paragraph. I suppose we can blame the editors for this, but next to similar problems, it's hard to say what is the fault of the editors and what belongs to Robb.
Third, the lack of character development for Roarke. He was a rounded character in Book 1, which read more like a traditional romance. But since he seems more like a prop for the development of Dallas than anything else. His only thoughts are of her. The only life of his own he has is that he goes out of town every so often to make money. And Dallas can't sleep.
After 4 books, I'm still no clearer on why he chose Dallas. She's foul mouthed, unsophisticated, "uncouth" relative to him and somewhat hypocritical. (She gets annoyed at the possiblity of his doing something illegal, yet she breaks the rules to take advantage of his illegal hardware when she needs to.) I get that the have similar backgrounds, but he's made himself into something different. He even says several times, that he didn't like cops. So just what is it about her that makes her special? Sure, the two obviously have great sex. But they don't seems to have much in common. Nor do they seem particularly interested in each others' lives unless there is a benefit to them, particularly (ie Dallas using Roarke technology. Or, is Roarke into anyting that will damage Dallas's career.) On the other hand, Roarke only seems to care if Dallas is working too hard or eating enough. Maybe he'd make a better mother.
Often, Dallas will discuss something bothering her about the case. But I've yet to see her take an interest in what Roarke might be doing. I know this is fiction featuring Dallas. I just wish I felt that the relationship between her and Roarke were more believable.
Fourth, I understand the format is that of a procedural, but starting with book 2, I was bored a good deal of the time. They read exactly the same. And the killer is usually obvious soon after he/she is introduced.
Five, I get that Roarke is richer than G-d. But does he have to own everything? Meaning Dallas has easy access to just about any place she likes. And does he have to had slept with just about every good looking female on the planet? Which makes one wonder even more - great sex aside - why Dallas?
Rapture in Death
This book is in great condition. It was just as it was described. I received it in a very timely manner. I would not hesitate to buy from this dealer in the future.
I liked it a lot:
I have now read the first 4 "In Death" novels J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts). I guess that officially makes me a fan.
These books are so good, I plan to read every one of them.
Each books had gotten better and better progressively. But don't get me wrong each one of them are wonderful.
The characters are great, and the stories intriguing.
Each time I finish one, I'm left wanting more. It is so nice to see character development throughout the series. After a while, you start to feel like you know them. Big props to Nora!
Happy reading.
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