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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
"She thinks last of her child.", April 16, 2005
Nora Roberts, writing as J.D. Robb, has created a successful series based on a few basic principles. The first, and in my opinion, most important aspect is a fascinating heroine, who presents different layers that the author has been revealing in each installment and will certainly continue to do so. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is a tough cop, who is relentless in her pursue of justice and feels as if the victims were hers to save. On the other hand, she is the wife of the billionaire Roarke, and has to deal with parties and charity events in which she is expected to mingle and maintain polite chit-chat with the guests. She has been adjusting slowly to this area of her life and even though she does not like it, she has learned to accept it. The fact that Eve was abused by her father when she was a child and had to kill him in order to escape also plays an important role in the development of the story and in almost every case Eve faces. Her husband also has a complex past, involving an abusing father who killed Roarke's mother and then lied to him about who his real mother was. Only recently did the billionaire learned the truth about this and reunited with what was left of his family.
Besides the two main characters, Robb has created a supporting cast that adds appeal to the series and which I consider to be the second factor in its success. Peabody is Eve's former aide and current partner who has recently made detective and who usually adds a good part of humor to the narration with her witty comments. She is in love with McNabb, a policeman working in the Electronic Detectives Division, and they are in the process of moving together to a new apartment. There are other interesting characters: Feeney, Eve's trainer and mentor, Mavis, Eve's best friend, Nadine Furst, a reporter for Channel 75 who has become a close friend with Eve, Charles, a licensed companion who is now dating a doctor, and several others. One of the most appealing aspects of the series has to do with the development of the stories of each of these people, and that is why I recommend reading the series in order.
The third and final element that helps create a superb series is the cleverly crafted world in which the action takes place: New York in the year 2059. The setting presents several characteristics that make it very different from our world, like cars that fly, drones that take care of household chores, the ban on firearms, the anticancer vaccine, the legalization of prostitution, the difficulty for getting real coffee, etc. Also, the advances in terms of technology require criminals to be more clever and careful when committing their crimes, and we usually end up reading about complex mysteries. In this novel, Eve is summoned to the scene of a ghastly murder. The victim was raped and strangled using a red ribbon and before leaving, the killer took out her eyes as a memento. The poor woman had a four-year-old kid and worked as hired help for a wealthy couple, and there is nothing that indicates that someone would have wanted to hurt her.
Everything is business as normal until Celina Sanchez shows up wanting to talk to Eve and claiming she has information about the murder. Celina is a psychic and claims that she saw the killing in a vision. Even though Eve does not really believe in this stuff, she goes along with it following Peabody's advice and realizing that if it does not help at least it will not hurt either. This is not the first time Robb uses supernatural events in the series, but in her previous attempt she went too far making it hardly believable. In the present try the results were much better, and since the case Eve is facing is one of the best mysteries in the series so far, the overall quality of the novel benefits even more.
As usual, Robb creates a good balance between the police procedural and the development of the personal stories of the characters in the series. Of course, the romantic scenes are still present through the narration, but without overdoing it. I was very pleased with this installment, and I am looking forward to the next one. A final word of advice, the publisher's blurb gives out important information regarding events towards the end of the novel. I would have preferred to read the book without knowing these facts. The good thing is that even if you read them, there will be a surprise waiting for you.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Twist, Not Enough Eve and Roarke, August 26, 2004
I loved Divided in Death because of the focus on the relationship between Eve and Roarke so intensely. As far as literary couples go, they are up there near the top and even after 19 books, they've still got it. BUT... you didn't see enough of the interaction between them that makes them so special in Visions in Death.
There's a serial killer on the loose, Eve is on the case, works herself to exhaustion, and, in contrast to her past behavior, begins to open up to her friends about her horrible childhood abuse. I know some get tired of Eve's abuse storyline but frankly, it would be far worse if Robb simply had Eve get over something so terribly traumatic. I like that she's slowly working through it.
The mystery was good, Robb adds a psychic to the mix for something new. Not enough Feeney and McNab for me but the storyline was good and kept me interested. There was a great twist at the end that I really didn't see coming, which was nice.
Overall, another enjoyable addition to the series but I did miss all of the elements that make Eve so interesting, her interaction with the people in her life. We got only brief glimpses of them this time around and I hope that we'll get more in the next installment.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Robb's latest installment is like a visit from an old friend, August 13, 2004
It's back to the future again and J.D. Robb, aka Nora Roberts, has put exactly the right mix of romance and mystery into her latest installment of the "Death" novels. Sometimes, a series can get stale after an author pumps out so many. Here, J.D. Robb proves that she is nowhere near her limit. In VISIONS IN DEATH, she ratchets up the tension with a death grip on her readers.
Lt. Eve Dallas is still cracking wise as she deals with her subordinates in the New York Police and Security Department --- and the world in general. Her partner, Delia Peabody, has grown into a superb foil for Dallas, with witty comebacks that often earn her withering looks from the lieutenant. This time, however, they both need the levity their repartee creates, particularly with a brutal serial killer on the loose in their city. His profile depicts him as an especially vicious murderer, raping and mutilating his prey in an escalating rage. Each victim weighs personally on Dallas, leaving her with a load of guilt and dredging up nasty memories from her childhood. The sooner she captures this guy, the easier she will rest --- at least until the next big case.
Along with Detective Peabody and the usual forensics team, Eve's multi-billionaire husband, Roarke, assists with the investigation whenever possible. He can do things best not talked about down at NYPSD. His invaluable help, though, is most welcome. And it sort of keeps the couple together --- and keeps readers loving them. Theirs is a relationship that just gets enviably steamier. One can't help but marvel at their love.
Reading VISIONS IN DEATH is like visiting an old friend --- a surly, often testy old friend, but an old friend nonetheless. I'm not sure if Robb's style has smoothed out, if the plot is a particularly engaging one, or if it is just a comfortable tale to curl up with on a string of hot summer days --- but I found myself totally addicted to this one. Don't be tempted to rush through the ending, either. You might miss something. Robb has a few blockbuster surprises in store, right up to the last, highly satisfying page.
--- Reviewed by Kate Ayers
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