Strangers in Death [LARGE PRINT] (Paperback)

by J. D. Robb (Author) "I MURDER HARBORED NO BIGOTRY, NO BIAS..." (more)
Key Phrases: sex flop, murder hoard, security discs, Ava Anders, Thomas Anders, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In bestseller Robb's slick 26th not-so-near-future crime thriller to feature Lt. Eve Dallas (after 2007's Creation in Death), the New York City homicide cop investigates the murder of business tycoon Thomas Anders, whose strangled body is discovered tied to his bed, apparently the victim of a kinky sex encounter gone bad. Aided by her mysterious husband, Roarke, and long-time sidekick Det. Delia Peabody, Eve doggedly questions Anders's widow, Ava, and his nephew, Benedict Forrest, number two at the victim's corporation, Anders Worldwide. Both Ava and Benedict have alibis that put them far from the crime scene at the time of Anders's death. While the guilty party soon becomes obvious and the gimmick used by the culprit clear to anyone familiar with Strangers on a Train, Robb's strong, hard-nosed heroine once again generates the kind of heat that keeps fans turning the pages. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Description
The new novel in the #1 New York Times-bestselling series.

Technology may be different in 2060 New York, yet the city is still a place of many cultures and great divides. But as ever, some murders receive more attention than others-especially those in which the victim is a prominent businessman, found in his Park Avenue apartment, tied to the bed-and strangled- with cords of black velvet.

It doesn't surprise Lieutenant Eve Dallas that Thomas Anders's scandalous death is a source of titillation and speculation to the public-and of humiliation to his family. But while people in the city are talking about it, those close to Anders aren't so anxious to do the same. With some help from her billionaire husband, Roarke, Eve's soon knocking on doors-or barging through them-to find answers.

But the facts don't add up. Physical evidence suggests that the victim didn't struggle. The security breach in the apartment indicates that the killer was someone known to the family, but everyone's alibi checks out. Was this a crime of passion in a kinky game gone wrong-or a meticulously planned execution? It's up to Dallas to solve a case in which strangers may be connected in unexpected, and deadly, ways. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 553 pages
• Publisher: Large Print Distribution (August 5, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594132801
• ISBN-13: 978-1594132803
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (94 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,966,099 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

55 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sin Has Many Tools, But A Lie Is The Handle Which Fits Them All. -Oliver Wendell Holmes, February 21, 2008

By	Cherise Everhard (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Strangers in Death (Hardcover)

This is the 31st book, when including novellas, in a long running and my personal favorite suspense series.

The year is 2060 and Lt. Eve Dallas of the New York Police and Security Department is called to the scene when sports mogul and children's philanthropist, Tom Anders, is murdered in his home. All evidence points to some sort of sexual deviancy gone wrong, but things aren't making sense to Eve. She enlists the help of her delectable Irish hubby, Roarke, and her partner Detective Peabody to solve the case.

I love this author and I loved this book. This In Death book had a slightly different feel as pretty early on we learn who the murderer is and the rest of the book is Eve building her case to prove her gut feeling. But that didn't detract from the suspense or the flow of the book at all; in fact I thought it enhanced it. J.D. Robb (aka Nora Roberts) throws some twist and turns in that kept Eve, her team and this reader on their toes.

While these In Death books tend to be dark to due to the homicides Eve investigates, this one had a lot of light moments, too. I laughed a lot at the banter Eve engages in with Peabody, Roarke and Captain Feeney. Eve's friend Louise, the doctor and her Licensed Companion boyfriend, Charles play a small but significant role in this book, and that added a large amount of pleasure for this reader.

This book was definitely hard to put down and exceptionally entertaining. I am wowed by this series. After so many books it seems it would be hard to delight and surprise her faithful readers, but J.D. Robb does so, continuously and flawlessly. Enjoy!

Cherise Everhard, February 2008

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a competition - Dallas vs the murderer, February 20, 2008

By	ramblinreader (Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangers in Death (Hardcover)

In Chapter 19 Roarke tell Eve "It's a competition" and that is the best description I can give this book. The murderer got into a high security house and manaaged to kill Thomas Anders without leaving a trace. The suspects all have alibis. Lieutenant Eve Dallas has no clues, witnesses, or even a motive.

This book has a fresh plot. Most of the "in Death" series have serial murders with Eve fighting against time to stop the bad guy(s) before any body shows up. Strangers In Death has one dead body and only a few suspects. Eve quickly narrows down her murderer, but has to tweak out the clues as to how it was done. Hint - look at the title.

Many of my favorite supporting cast is back. Charles Monroe is tied into the murder and he has his own subplot problems. We have our sassy Peabody, prancing McNabb, a sick Feeney, a touch of Mavis (and Belle), Louise, Nadine, Trueheart, Baxter (I think he's the candy thief - he seems to be the only cop not afraid of Eve) and of course Summerset (who finds a new way to irritate Eve - jus not greet her at the door) And of course the luscious Roarke who is both lover and investigating partner (squishing in "bit of business" while waiting to help Eve grill suspects).

JD Robb has gone all out on this book. We have murder, twists, humor, and even a few moments set aside for emotional growth in Eve & Roarke's marriage. Eve's childhood nightmares have been put on hold and relationship issues brought to the forefront. If you were a hater of Roarke's old girlfriend from a couple books ago, Eve has her own version of theraphy.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The kindness of strangers, March 3, 2008

By	H. Grove "owling6683" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Strangers in Death (Hardcover)

The year is 2060, and Eve Dallas is a New York City homicide detective who takes her job very seriously. Today she has a real headache of a case brewing: rich man and philanthropist Thomas Anders is dead, and he died in a very compromising position while his wife was out of town. The problem is, some of the death details don't add up to the sordid crime it appears to be, and the more Eve pokes at it the more confusing it gets. Add to that a nearly cold case involving an abused woman's dead husband killed by a prostitute, and Eve's in for her usual wild ride.

Eve spends the first half of the book figuring out who her killer is, and the second half figuring out howdunit (and how to prove it). The mystery is a fascinating one and unraveling it definitely kept me enthralled. Part of the delight is watching Eve dig out the details and outsmart the killer, with the help of her friends, her co-workers, and of course her devilish husband Roarke.

Oh, yes, Roarke. Marriage has hardly slowed these two down. Their chemistry is every bit as brilliant as when they first met, and their sex scenes are every bit as pulse-poundingly hot. In short, Strangers in Death is a delicious story that positively screams to be read in bed. If you want gritty or 'realistic' you should go with another series---these books are all about enjoying the sheer style that can be wrung out of a good futuristic detective caper.

Like other books in this series, Strangers in Death stands alone surprisingly well, allowing you to come into the series at any book. The only oddness this might result in is that some side characters' appearances might seem slightly unnecessary if you aren't familiar with their importance in Eve's life.