Customer Reviews

Glory in Death (In Death, Book 2)

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

"Glory In Death" is the second book in J.D. Robb's futuristic mystery series. Set in New York City, 2058 CE, robotic drones and voice activated machines do menial work; there is a total ban on guns, (the police use lasers); major advances have been made in medicine, technology, and genetics; airbuses are the preferred vehicle for public transportation; tele-links replace telephones; and people travel to other planets, (Venus, Mars), for vacation and business. It's not quite a brave new world, but there are significant changes midway into the 21st century. 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, today's world is still easily recognizable.

Lieutenant Eve Dallas of the NYPSD is a tough cop who made Lieutenant before the age of 30. She, is also very vulnerable emotionally. Eve doesn't remember the early years of her life, but knows that she was sexually, physically and emotionally abused by her father, abandoned at age eight and left to the mercies of Children's Services. She met handsome businessman Roarke in book one, and the couple has become seriously involved. Roarke is a charismatic Irish billionaire, who wields considerable power worldwide, and has fallen hard for the first time in his life - for Eve.

Prosecuting Attorney Cicely Towers, a powerful, talented professional, is found dead, throat slashed, in a sleazy part of town. Eve is called in as primary to work the case. Then a second victim turns up. A beautiful, up-and-coming TV actress is found murdered, throat cut, on the rear patio of her apartment building. Eve is again called in -same MO, most probably the same killer. Unfortunately, both victims were involved with Roarke in the past. Obviously this development causes friction in their growing relationship - a relationship which is also stressed by Eve's discomfort with Roark's world of wealth, power and the "beautiful people." Then there's the additional pressure of knowing that another murder will probably take place unless the case is solved ASAP.

Again, J.D. Robb has come up with a winner. "Glory in Death" is a fast paced police thriller with top notch characters and an excellent plot. Although the murder mystery is primary, Roarks's and Eve's developing romance does add a lot and allows for a better insight into the complex characters of the two. The author's knowledge of police procedurals make the storyline more believable. The only problem I had with the book is that Roarke was a murder suspect in the first novel, "Naked In Death" also. This just seems too contrived to me. He is a man with an amazing number of business and personal connections. He knows half the world. It is a bit much to have a stable and respected figure like him suspected twice in a row.

Overall, I recommend the mystery and intend to read more of the series. Great stuff!
JANA

I read the first book with such enthusiasm, but this one was only better! Eve and Ruarke continue in the developing a relationship, unlikely for both being they are very strong and independent characters. You get a little bit of both their haunting pasts as you go along. This does keep it very interesting. The year is 2058 and the setting for this future is really easy to believe and she did a great job with the setting. The mystery of "who done it " is really great as I didn't figure out who it actually was in either books! I have already started the third and this is really a great series!!!

In this book, someone's slashing the throats of prominent and successful women. Since the suspects include family friends of Lieutenant Eve Dallas' commander and Eve's lover, Roarke, this becomes a very difficult case for her.

If you haven't read the first book, Naked in Death, I would suggest that you do that first, although this early in the series it's not as important. Just as a warning for those who have never read one of the In Death books, the mystery is not really the most important part in the book. I've heard regular mystery readers complain that they were able to figure out who committed the murders long before anyone in the books did. That wasn't the case for me - I enjoyed the mystery element in this book - but the relationships are the reason why I keep reading the series and why I reread all the books. In this book, Eve has to deal with her problems with commitment in her relationship with Roarke. The way Eve and Roarke interact is wonderful, and Eve's gradual attempts at making herself more than just a cop are interesting reading. I definitely recommend this book and series to anyone who likes well done and well paced romance with mystery and murder mixed in.

I read every J.D. Robb (Nora Roberts) book I can find. I have enjoyed them all. This one had a great ending and kept me guessing about 'who done it' until the wrap up. I really like Eve Dallas and Roarke as a couple and Eve as a cop is perfect. I'm looking forward to the next one "Witness in Death".

Glory in Death is not a perfect book but it is entertaining, as is the series. What I enjoy most about the entire series is the fact that it has elements of three genres - romance, mystery and science fiction. Does it do any of them perfectly? No. Is is refreshing to read something that isn't strictly formula? Yes. Could a first time writer get a publisher for something so out of the mold? Probably not, but Nora Roberts knows how to tell a story and publishers know she sells books.

In this book, an outspoken female prosecutor is killed. The victim is a close friend of Eve's boss. One of the interesting elements of the book is Eve's conflict between office politics and what's best for resolving the case. The media is hard on the case - and the newly famous female detective. Her relationship with billionaire, Roarke, only increases the pressure. Much of the book focuses on the maturation of Eve and Roarke's relationship which has some rocky moments.

I also enjoyed the future setting. Manhattan in 2058 is an interesting place. (And everytime I think the gadgets are impossible, I remember my skepticism about a thing called cell phones when a client discussed them in 1983.) I'm looking forward to learning more about this familiar but not so familiar world.

2 down and 6 to go. I've already started on #3. I haven't gotten tired of reading Eve Dallas's stories. This series is excellent. When it is a series as long as this one, I usually switch to another author. But with this one, I can't wait to get my hands on the next one. I don't have #4 yet, but I will call tomorrow about getting it. Only ONE bit of advice. Start this from #1 and work yourself to #8. You need to know the character when you read the books. And the only way to do that is to start with #1 and work your way up. VERY GOOD READING. I can't understand how anyone could have given this book a 1 star or 2 star rating. It's way TOO GOOD for that.

The most amazing thing about the reviews is how they miss the point of the book! The idea is not necessarily that you don't know who the killer is, it is the process of the proof that is interesting. Eve Dallas continues to be one of the most interesting (though not exactly warm and fuzzy) characters I have ever come across. Eve and Ruarke are both carrying baggage, and it is interesting to see how they deal with their own and the other's.

Ms. Roberts' strength is in the characters, and they are the point - the plot is simply a vehicle for learning more about them.

"Glory in Death" is the second instalment in Robb's (aka Nora Roberts) "In Death" series and it is even better than the first one.
In this book, Eve, a cop with the NYPSD in the year 2058 has another serial killer to catch. Someone is killing high-powered women in the public eye, and it's Eve's job to find out who.
Along with the exciting and imaginative mystery, there is also the developing relationship between Eve and billionaire Roarke. Their romance is fresh, complex and quite intense. Roarke is always willing to help Eve solve her cases with the many tools available to him, and together, both personally and professionally, these two make a great team.
Eve will win readers' hearts as the feisty and emotionally troubled heroine and Roarke is a hero who every reader will adore. The plot is suspenseful and well thought out and balances the mystery with the romance beautifully. Overall, this is a first-rate romantic suspense novel with a fascinating futuristic setting and I highly recommend it!

With a mother who can't see very well, I have become something of an expert on Audiobook Narrators. Susan Ericksen is one of a very few Narrators who could infuse meaning into a reading of the local telephone directory. Using all her tricks, this lady makes her rendition of "Glory In Death" well worth hearing. Not that I am implying the book is not wonderful without her help - but when you must listen to hear a book, the Narrator MUST be good enough to get you hooked on "page" one. I was very interested to see how she would handle a very significant fight between Rourke & Eve, not to mention the ramblings of the killer's monologue (I think it's mandatory - all killers since Iago on have gotten a monologue to themselves) and she got through it all without a hesitation or a hitch. Enough reviews have been written that I need not go into the plot here, but I will say - I can't WAIT for "Immortal"! Although the abridged version is not bad as far as moving the story along, time considerations meant that Eve's scene with Whitney after her nightmare never all got into the abriged version - and I REALLLYYYY want that scene - plus a few others not in some of the other abridgements - put back in in its complete format! There are some 8 more abridged books available - Immortal, Rapture, Vengeance, Holiday, Loyalty, Witness, Betrayal, & Judgement and I devoutly hope that ALL of them eventually get re-done in Unabridged. Maybe if thare is enough of a demand - they might even do the 2 short In Death stories too. That would be wonderful. Here's hoping!

After Naked in Death, I had to run out and buy this one to see where the romance of Eve and Roarke lands. I'm baffled that Robb manages to keep the romance interesting through 2 novels, as I expect she will through the rest of the series (we'll see).

Definately a good read! Love the mix of mystery and romance as I tend to get bored with romance novels alone. I highly recommend, but start it on a day when you can sleep in the next morning, as I found myself up late unable to put it down!