Customer Reviews

Purity In Death (In Death #15)

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I must agree with the reviewer with no " real review". She is truly phenomenal.
The In Death series is the best suspense series out there and the trick is the books just keep getting better. You absolutely cannot wait until the next one is published. Ms Robb has the talent to build characters, turns suspense from some simple element, just the right romance and humor all the way through.

In this installment of the In Death series, there is a computer virus going around New York and this is spreading from computer to man. People are dying and they cannot figure out what is causing it and who is behind this.

All the characters are back and some may even be in danger.
An excellent addition to the series and a must read....!

Lt. Eve Dallas is back in another action packed who dun it. Citizens of New York are under assault from a group who calls themselves The Purity Seekers. Granted the only ones targeted are the bad guys; drug dealers, pedophiles, and flesh procurers. The method of assault is a computer virus that can be transmitted through the computer into the human brain. Eve, along with the yummy Roarke and a few other recurring cast members, sets out to solve the crime before any innocent bystanders get caught in the crossfire. As if that werent enough on Eves plate, she gets lessons in the much dreaded game of politics and public relations.

With Ms. Robbs usual flair, she presents a story full of ...-kicking action and a pretty nifty plot line. Dialogue is at times witty and others heart wrenching. We see the return of several delightful characters that have been missing for the past few books. Namely Jamie, Baxter, Webster, Trueheart, and Mavis (who makes a brief but important appearance).

Purity in Death ranks fairly low on the gore scale  its no worse than any other thriller or mystery. Foul language is medium on the sailor scale  about like NYPD Blue. Adult Content and Nudity/Sex Scenes - well, it is pretty steamy and if this offends you just skip the pages. They dont happen that often. J As far as how this book ranks along with the rest of the series Its okay. There have been others in the series with more excitement. I would think of this one as a secondary character book; meaning that Ms. Robb seems to be focusing more on the development of secondary characters than with Eve and Roarke. It was a very enjoyable read.

A computer virus from hell is infecting more than machines in New York City circa 2059. Launched by a self-righteous terrorist organization (aren't they all?), this baby seeps into the brains of its victims, causing paranoia, extreme violence, unbearable pain, and unspeakable death. The victims are not stellar human beings--most are drug dealers and/or child molesters--but in the throes of the virus, each has murdered an innocent victim, including a cop. Besides, thinks Eve Dallas, who is primary on the case, vigilante justice is never warranted.

The story of the terrorist organization, Absolute Purity, and Eve's desperate fight to bring it down, is one of the best JD Robb/Nora Roberts has written in this series. It's fast, it's furious, it's interesting, and not entirely predictable. The deep introspection that has so plagued the last few books in the series is gone, as is the endless back-and-forth battle Eve wages to accept that she is loved. MacNab and Peabody are back, and their relationship has, just in the nick of time (for the reader, anyway), deepened. Roarke is his usual inhumanly gorgeous and brilliant self, Feeney is aboard with his omnipresent bag of candied almonds, and Eve's "rad" friend Mavis has a surprise that far surpasses her purple hair.

All in all, this is one fun read. Unlike the last few in the series, it left me wanting more, and I'm looking forward to the next In-Death release.

A word to those who have not read any other books in this series: this is a series best read in order. Character development is as important as plot, and if you don't know where the characters are coming from, some of their reactions in this book will not make sense to you. That said, let's assume that you go back, order all of them from the beginning, catch up on your reading, and are now ready for this one:

Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her trusty sidekick Peabody are the main protagonists in this series, set around 2059 and subsequent years. This book, the latest in the series (September 2002) brings us back to a familiar theme: computers can spread more than just information, and our growing reliance on computers can have serious downsides. The editorial reviews provide the outline of the plot, so I won't repeat all of it here. Instead, I'll mention some specific themes that you may want to watch for. For example, one aspect of the computer "virus" that spreads to humans (believe me, this is not a spoiler; it's obvious after the first few pages) is that it appears to cause humans to want to cocoon - withdraw into their apartments and communicate less with other people than ever before. Is this a natural extension of some of the tendancies toward withdrawal that we see in computer users today? Is there really such a tendency normally? Another theme is Peabody's boyfriend who works in the EDD (Electronics Detection...) - the actions in this volume force Peabody to clarify her feelings for him.

There is less interaction between Eve and Roarke in this one, it felt to me, and more between Eve and her fellow cops, than in previous volumes. Of course there are still a few doses of steamy sex between the two, which don't add a thing to the plot but do seem to attract a few more readers. We do get more of Summerfield the butler, who winds up caring for the injured - somewhat differently than a hospital might do it.

For the crossover readers from science fiction, things to watch for: far more virtual reality than we have now; better voice activation of computers; occasional space travel; urban vehicles that aren't cars; the activities of the Electronic Detection Division. Other volumes in the series do have more about space travel than this one, which only mentions it in passing.

For the crossover readers from romance: less sex in this volume than in many of the previous ones, but the increased realization of the seriousness of Peabody's relationship with McNab is satisfying.

Overall, the plot's pretty easy to guess in this one, although there are a few twists right at the end - don't think you've got it all before then! But the interaction between the characters is more important than the plot. If you haven't read any of the others, then you may find yourself disappointed in this book, because the plot is skimpy; however, if you have read the others, then you absolutely must read this one! In between? Read a couple of them but not all? I *DO* recommend reading the whole series! You won't regret it!

I was hooked after the first book in this series. I didn't give this one my usual 5 stars because I have to admit that some aspects of the story-telling are getting a little repetitive. Certainly one can't love this series and not love the characters. They are always a strength of this writer and she is continues to be true to them. While we get to enjoy their growth and the changes that make them come alive and believable to us as readers, I have to admit that I'm getting a little tired of Eve's overly familar idiosyncracies. When I start to skip over paragraphs because I've read the same thing in all the previous books, it might be time for the writer to figure out how to freshen up this series a bit. While I do realize that each book must also be written for people who have never read any of the others, I think the criticism of Ms. Roberts proliferation abilities might be starting to ring true. The Janet Evanovich series with Stephanie Plum come out once a year, and I think they just keep getting better. ARE YOU LISTENING NORA? You're talent is too great, and your readers too loyal, to settle for less than your best.

The last few books have been good but not great. With her latest installment, Purity in Death, JD Robb aka Nora Roberts hits a home run. It's got the whole package. If you were wondering whether or not you wanted to pick up the latest installment in this series, hesitate no more. This one is a keeper.

"Purity in Death" is the latest instalment in J.D. Robb's addictive In Death series and it is fantastic. All of our favourite characters are back in full force in this utterly riveting read that kept me turning pages into the wee hours of the morning. Robb's prose flows like water throughout the entire book, and her innovative and exciting plot is sure to keep readers totally engrossed.

Tough-as-nails Lieutenant Eve Dallas is one of the top cops in the NYPSD. In the hot and sweaty days of July 2059, tempers are flaring all over the city, and keeping the police busy. Louie Cogburn has spent three days holed up in his apartment, and when a neighbour knocks at his door, he picks up his baseball bat and starts swinging. The first cop on scene kills Louie with a simple stun that shouldn't have caused termination, and Eve knows that something isn't right. The only clue is a strange message left on Louie's computer screen "ABSOLUTE PURITY ACHIEVED". And when a second man dies under very similar circumstances it leads Eve to a vigilante terrorist group and the terrifying conclusion that she is dealing with a virus capable of spreading from computer to man!

Along with Robb's intriguing mystery is the ever-evolving relationship between Eve and her sexy billionaire husband Roarke. These two are one of my favourite couples of all time, and in this book Robb does a brilliant job of reminding me why I love them so much. The dynamics of Eve and Roarke's relationship are always interesting and it amazes me that after 15 books I still find them so fresh and intriguing. Eve and Roarke's romance is very real, filled with red-hot passion that will steam up your windows and poignant tenderness that will touch your heart.

In "Purity in Death", Robb brings in a number of characters from previous books, and for me, a dedicated fan of the series, this was a real bonus. First time readers may find it a bit tough to follow all of the characters without knowing the history that goes along with them, though Robb does provide all the essential background information. Even if you haven't met any of the characters before, I guarantee it won't take long to get to know them and love them. Indeed, I believe that long-time fans and first time readers alike will be thrilled with Robb's latest effort.

"Purity in Death" is yet another winner that Robb can add to her list. I was completely captivated from start to finish by the story and by the characters I have come to know and love. Robb has a true gift for making the characters she creates come alive for her readers and it's hard to believe that Eve, Roarke, Peabody, Feeney, McNab and all the others aren't real people. "Purity in Death" is a first rate mystery filled with romance, suspense, and all the fascinating futuristic gadgets from 2059. You do not want to miss out on Robb's latest triumph so buy this book today and enjoy!

On a panel at a science fiction convention, i once heard an author explain that you are permitted to introduce one piece of the miracle element "Bolonium" (which can do or be anything the author wants) into your story, but after that you can't do anything else contrary to fact in your storytelling.

Robb gets away with two chunks, but, since one is the underlying pseudo-science-fiction setting in the year 2059 introduced at the very beginning of the series, i'll give her a bye on that one.

My wife and i are both involved professionally with computers, and she told me that she was afraid i wasn't going to like this book because it involved a computer virus that could attack human brains. I explained the Bolonium Hypothesis to her; and, as i expected (based on previous Dallas/Roarke mysteries), while i didn't believe for a moment that such a thing could happen, if i accepted that it could, i was in for a pretty good romance/police procedural novel as Dallas and company mobilised to catch the Bad Guys.

Said Bad Guys are a group of vigilante-types who are out to bring their own brand of "justice" to child-predators who cannot be touched by the law; as is often the case in plots of this type, the initial public reaction to their actions and manifestos is guardedly favourable -- after all, they're only attacking nasty child-molestors.

But Dallas and her people are aware that people who deal extra-legal "justice" to one class of offendor are likely to expand their attentiosn to others. And not everyone agrees as to just who ought to die for his "crimes". A child-molestor? Quite possibly. A dealer in nasty drugs? Maybe. A jay-walker. perhaps?

As usual, Robb delivers the goods, specially in the secondary characters with which this series is so rich. Peabody and McNabb have particularly strong (and uncharacteristic, but completely in-character) roles to play, and Mavis has a Startling Announcement.

While you can start the series with this volume (or any other), i really think you'll have more fun if you start with the first and read them in order.

This is the first time that I've read a futuristic crime novel and, although I probably won't make a habit of it, I found it to be be very pacy and well written. Detective Eve Dallas, a gutsy, attractive 30 year old, married to a gorgeous hunk of a billionaire, becomes very involved in a sinister scheme to zap the brains of child porn monsters via their computers.The story is set some 60 years into the future and is full of techno talk like voice driven computers which can do almost anything. After an initial reluctance, I was soon drawn in and read it in 2 sittings.

I typically read every book in a detective series, starting with the first one and rarely have I enjoyed all the books in any one series the way I enjoy the Eve Dallas books. Their characters have grown since the first book. J.D. Robb has kept Eve and Roarke focused while unfolding tantalizing bits of their backgrounds in each successive book. Robb has also kept a firm hold on her settings and best of all, you don't know who did it until the very end! Eve battles her personal demons in Purity in Death as well as the criminals and the endings are never sugar coated. I will keep on reading them as long as Robb keeps on writing them!