by
J. D. Robb
ISBN: 0-425-19158-3 Order from: Amazon.com
A pleasant installment in a lightweight, fast-moving and predictable mystery series.
Reviewed by David on December 27, 2003
Genre: Mystery (Near Future, Romance, Police Procedural)
Synopsis: Set about 60 years in the future, not much has changed in this superficial portrayal of the New York City.
Eve Dallas, a Lieutenant in the New York's Homocide Division has her hands full, with things both good and bad. Her marriage with a rich and roguish husband Roarke is going well, her dedicated but green assistant Peabody is getting ready to take a detective's exam, while approaching nervous breakdown from professional and personal expectations. Dallas's own grim childhood occasionally rears its distubing head in memories and nightmares.
But what makes Dallas' life truly interesting is a serial murderer that seems determined to recreate the famous cases from the previous two centuries, while challenging the detective personally with a series of arrogant notes.
Full Review: As with the rest of the series, the mystery does not feature truly deep exploration of the characters or moral issues, but it provides plenty of easy entertainment. The Dallas/Roarke romance is a bit less intrusive, and all major continuing characters experience minor but satisfying developments, with frequent but integrated spots of slapstick humor.
The investigation plot is competently handled, and the end result is a satisfying, slick but not particularly taxing entertainment.
Overall: 6; Plot: 6; Characters: 5.5; Style: 5.5; World-building: 4; Originality: 5.5;
Copyright date 2003, Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley), September 2003, Mass market paperback, 342 pages
ISBN: 0-425-19158-3 Order from: Amazon.com